BTBP Roundtable #2: Spacing, Point Guards and Big Men

Mar 18, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Tyler Ennis (11) dives for a loose ball in the third quarter during the game against the San Antonio Spurs at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

It seems like a given that MCW will keep rolling as the Bucks starting point guard, but do you feel more comfortable with Ennis or Bayless logging heavy minutes behind him?

AMcG: Ennis has been really impressive. Considering how little he played in Phoenix, this is almost like the first few weeks of his pro career in terms of minutes. When thrust into the limelight and asked to start, he was measured, composed and efficient. That’s exactly what you want from your point guard.

Bayless is a talented veteran who can go off at any time, but we already know his ceiling, and he has a habit of being selfish at times. Why not see what Ennis can bring, seen as we’re already all in on trusting young guys.

TW: Definitely Ennis. His shots haven’t been falling as much lately, but he’s a rookie who had eleven assists and just three turnovers in his first career start. Those are some efficient numbers to be sure, plus Ennis is a tenacious shooter and a guy who always seems to be playing as hard as possible. I don’t even know if Bayless ever throws eleven passes a game, he’s usually too busy taking a contested jumpshot from the free throw line with 18 seconds left on the shot clock.

DG: Ennis. Jerryd Bayless is the known quantity – he has played for a variety of teams at different stages of contention, and has always functioned similarly in the roles that he has had. It seems more important to find out whether or not Tyler Ennis is worth keeping around over the next few years of his rookie deal.

JT: I think Ennis should get all the minutes he can. He’s very raw at this point, but this is basically his first time logging big minutes in the NBA. He definitely can jump the gun on some possessions shooting early in the clock, which is a little frustrating, but that’s what comes with a guy at his age. Since the all-star break, Bayless seems to have lost his momentum that he had built up before the break. Some of that is due to injury, missing 3 games before returning to action recently, but he’s been a liability when he’s been on the court, with his oRtg dropping from 105 pre-ASB to 88 post-ASB. That stat just says it all.

AL: At the beginning of the year I was drinking the Bayless kool-aid pretty thick, but his shot selection has been hot garbage for the last month. Ennis makes some rookie mistakes, but he plays under control for the most part. At the same time, I don’t think Ennis has done well enough to steal minutes from a heady veteran like Bayless.

Next: MCW or the Lakers' Pick?