There is ZERO chance Udoka doesn’t start FVV. The only way Sheppard starts is if he and FVV are the starting backcourt.
They will both play. I don’t care who starts. Not sure who would get more minutes. Probably depends on who performs the best.
Uh, let me see. The coach is Ime and he prefers 1) Players who play defense 2) Players who play DEFENSE 3) AND veterans Reed will be a 6 or 7 player off the bench next yr
FVV has not played one single game off the bench, literally since the Raptors title winning game 7 seasons ago. Been all starts ever since. Expect his perma-starter status to continue. (FWIW, also Dillon Brooks is similar, only played 1 single off the bench during that same time frame. Even with Suns. People wishing they'd be bench players, multiple coaches & teams keeps starting them) So it's not just an "Ime thing" necessarily.
I'm not sure it matters who starts. It's about minutes and lineups. The dilemma is that if you look at all of our top 25 2-man lineups the only negative net rating is the Sengun-Reed pairing. Similarly the worst 3-man lineup of the top 25 most used is Sengun-Reed-Durant. Our top offensive players just don't play well together. In reality, I think the solutions is either trading Sengun and adding a traditional rim protector that allows you to play more dynamic offensive players or build around Sengun with more versatile 3 and D players. The Sengun/Reed pairing just won't work unless Reed becomes a stopper or Sengun becomes a rim protector.
Fred will likely start, but his game is not getting any better. In fact, coming off an injury it could be worse. Reed is still improving and will likely outshine Fred next season.
Fred will %100 start because he's the better defender and Udoka values them. You also can't really play them together. I've always seen Reed as more of a supersub someone who plays 27–28 minutes a night. I want him to be our Ginobili not our Tony Parker. I feel the same way about Reed as i do about Amen. If you want to actually win at a high level, you don't want them dominating the ball. Sure, there will be games where they take 20 shots but that should be dictated by the flow of the game, not forced. If you force him into a Curry type role, he'll end up looking more like Trae and that's how you derail everything.
FVV could propel our bench toward borderline decency... But as many has stated, ain't no way in hell that's happening in 2027...
Honestly it doesn't really matter whether Fred starts - the important question is are we continuing to pass the reigns to others to be our point of the future. As long as some combination of Reed/Amen are getting more of the point reps I'm good. If Fred starts - fine...but if Fred is playing 36+ minutes a game next season at the PG, I'm going to be a VERY vocal critic.
Yes to start the season. I'd still have Reed off the bench unless they add a lot of bench scoring. I think it's fine to have great players like Reed come off the bench. In fact I think its essential. Look at OKC. Ajay Mitchell is easily starter level talent. But he's a bench warrior. Doesn't make him any less good. Fred off the bench seems like a weird fit for his skill set. He's a cheat code on ball security and getting our guys into sets (which is something our stars ALP and Durant greatly benefit from). Also, Reed watching Fred (a vet) work with other vets like Durant and (kinda Sengun (baby vet)) will do him some good.
Ill take an outlier stance and say its too early to tell. Too many factors. How has Fred's recovery gone? How has the roster changed? How do we look closing out the season and in the playoffs? Theres some scenarios where it makes 0 sense to start Fred that even Idiot Udoka cant ignore.
Reed's not good enough to replace Fred. If he surpasses him, then you have to trade Fred rather than asking him to come off the bench.
Oh Jesus, this is so wrong. FVV is slow, a poor shooter, not a creator, can't finish at the rim, and is a risk averse passer. He is a decent defender and protects the ball well, but he isn't anything special - and is coming off of knee surgery........he needs to backup and then we are done with him. DD
