Would Jason Tatum have started over Justin Jackson?

[Steat]

Just want to get some feedback. I'm having this discussion on the Premium board about Meeks, Hicks and Justin Jackson. My argument is that no freshman OAD player on either Duke of Kentucky's team would have started over Meeks, Hicks and Justin Jackson on last year's team. That is just not Roy's style.

If Jason Tatum would have signed with the Heels would he have started over Justin Jackson? My position was "No". My position is that regardless of how talented those players were and they were not going to start on Roy's team last year. I'm not talking about minutes played in the game, I'm talking about who hits the floor as starters. As good as Tatum is, he was not going to start over Justin Jackson. The opposite may have happened if Justin Jackson was a player at Duke.

What do you guys think? Do you think Roy starts a future guarantee top 3 NBA OAD pick over an established veteran starter? I don't think Roy would do it, but K would do it.

I'm not saying it's good or bad, but perception is the reality when it comes to who these OADs sign with. Will I start Day 1?

 

[JBsmoove2]

No. Jackson was better. Both would have started though. Kenny Williams started for pretty much all the games he was healthy and Tatum definitely wouldve started over him.

 

[Steat]

No. Jackson was better. Both would have started though. Kenny Williams started for pretty much all the games he was healthy and Tatum definitely wouldve started over him.

The choice is Tatum or Jackson.

 

[itstartedwithmj]

Jackson would definitely have started.

 

[JBsmoove2]

The choice is Tatum or Jackson.

Relax bud. Jackson would've started over him like I said since he was better.

 

[gauchoheel]

You're only talking about last year's Duke/UK players right? Because I think Bagley and Carter would start over Meeks and Hicks. At the very least over Hicks for sure.

Even looking at only last year, Monk and Tatum would have started over Hicks and we'd have gone small IMO if we had them on the roster.

 

[gunslingerdick]

You're only talking about last year's Duke/UK players right? Because I think Bagley and Carter would start over Meeks and Hicks. At the very least over Hicks for sure.
.

I'm not sure they would have. That's the thing about Roy. There is no doubt that Bagley and Carter have more talent than Hicks and Meeks. No one would argue differently. But do they do the few things that Roy wants done better than Hicks and Meeks? Do they play the exact role as freshmen better than seniors Hicks and Meeks? Do they fill the right lane on the break as well as veterans Hicks and Meeks? Do they recognize where the double team is coming from as quickly and find the open man as well as the 4 year Hicks and Meeks? Do those two guys as freshman set the screen as solidly and in the exact right spot on the floor as well as a senior Hicks or Meeks? Do they box out as well? Hit FTs as well? Dig in defensively as well?

 

[trestyles]

JJ because of his defense. JJ really locked some key scorers up. Including Malik Monk and Tyler Dorsey. Tatum doesnt play defense well. Even in the NBA. So as a coach, bias aside I'm starting JJ.

Sidenote: Tatum will still be in the starting line up still.
Also if we adding kentucky, Malik Monk would've started at the 2 spot last year.

 

[Comibo84]

I don't know that Tatum starts over JJ. Probably not. But if they're on the same team they're both starting at least toward the end of the season.

 

[dtodd4475]

Losing Brandon Ingram the year before made a HUGE difference. He would of played wing in a very similar role as Jackson. Total different dynamic how Justin would have developed over those two years.

 

[imajericho]

This is why we do not get as many one and dones . We have established players alrdy coming back. Why would Romeo Langford come here with Williams coming back?

Why Zion with Cam Johnson gonna be here?

Maybe they play from day 1. Maybe even probably. But why go to probably when offered a red carpet elsewhere.

 

[pln2013]

I don't think Tatum would've started over Jackson anywhere. Jackson was better.

Coby White vs Kenny Williams is an interesting case for this question (though as of now I think both will start).

 

[gobblercalls]

Precedence says no. Two examples, Stackhouse and Wallace. While Stackhouse and Wallace were under Dean, they didn't start. Roy is an awful lot like Dean. JJ was no worse than equal to Tatum and with 2 years experience. JJ would have started.

 

[diehard34]

That's an easy one. Jackson would have so we would have had a better chance to retain Tatum the following year.

 

[superstar57]

Jackson, why would Roy mess with a championship squad by starting Tatum when he could play him just as many minutes.

To your point about Hicks, Jackson, and Meeks I argued all last year why would you start any OAD over any one of them.

I am a firm believer the best player should start, but I believe even greater the best 5 who play best together should start too. Hopefully your best players make up the best starting 5, but sometimes they don't!