Don't think it is much of a surprise but Rod Boone is now more firmly saying that the tea leaves have Sexton and Plumlee as the starting 2 and 5 respectively.

Sexton was expected. Mason maybe was in the air but I expected him to start. I think Moose plays more minutes and there's a good chance all three of he, Mason and Kalk play throughout a game…I would say that should be the expectation.

What are your thoughts about Mason likely being the starter at C to begin the season?

25 comments

  4. Starting Mason Plumlee is a genuine pisstake and an insult to the fans shelling out hard-earned money to come see the team play.

    This guy was garbage 2 years ago and has only gotten worse. He was so bad that Phoenix viewed Nick Richards as such an upgrade that they paid 3 seconds to get him.

    This is a direct indication that the team is looking to lose this season. 6 years of LaMelo Ball on the team and his only competent roll partner was about 50 games of Mark Williams… embarrassing

  5. Bringing Plumlee back left a bad taste in my mouth that has never gone away. Would’ve preferred literally anybody else

  6. I don’t understand why not Diabate as 5.
    He is the perfect fit imo. He can do all the dirty work, defend well, be a lob menace, doesn’t need the ball to be efficient, is a great offensive rebounder…

  7. Sexton is fine and should be in the starting lineup, Mason though? It screams, ok boys let start pretending to win again by puting a vet outthere.

    Pls no.

  9. Not sure how thats surprising. Diabate was in the bench when we started nurkic. The fact that we thought Plumlee was good enough to be starter tells a lot about how bad our free agency moves were though.

  10. Every Hornet fan should be EMBARRASSED with this announcement

    I am not a Hornet fan and I am embarrassed FOR you guys
    😒

  13. I can live with Plumlee starting to begin the season as long as Moussa is still averaging more mpg than him. We saw a bit of this last season where Taj would start a game but Moussa would still end up playing more minutes than him. 

    It’s a little stupid, but if they think that having a veteran on the floor is good for player development then whatever. It won’t massively impact our ability to win or lose games. Moussa probably shows why he should be the starter pretty early on anyways.

    I just hope that Kalkbrenner works his way into the lineup ahead of Plumlee at some point in the season.

  16. Man people care WAY too much about who starts.

    Total minutes and the closing line up is what matters.

  18. This was always the obvious choice. I was perplexed by others thinking either Kon, Ryan or Moussa was going to start. Rookies shouldn’t be starting unless they are just that good like Cooper Flagg, you have a huge hole in the position or you’re just full on tanking. While the hole at center is massive you can’t start a second round pick in his rookie year at that spot, you’re just not setting him up for success.

    Finally Moussa just doesn’t have the physical profile to start every night at center. He’s not Ben Wallace where he can use his brute strength to muscle up bigger centers every night. He’s more of a change of pace guy.

  19. I’m just curious why we didn’t sign guys like Thomas Bryant or Mo Bamba who literally just signed for minimums for other teams this past week.

    I’m just a little wary of this FO seemingly over indexing on “character” I can’t imagine whatever “hard working mentality” Plumlee brings exceeds the basketball ability of other potential centers…

  20. I think it has to do more with having a big out there that is experienced and can handle the first 5 min or so with the opponents starter. Mason has familiarity with every other teams starting centers game and can set the foundation. Then Moussa subs in early and gets the last couple minutes with the opposing teams starter before ultimately being the anchor of the second unit. It gives him a little time with the ones and have him warmed up for better matchup with our opponents’ #2. I think it’s smart. If Kon is our future starting 2, you want Moussa running as much minutes with him if you also think Moussa is a future starter as well.

    We have to build this thing.. give the young guys the minutes that won’t hurt our team if they get lost early in a game. Also remember we have Grant as a matchup/situational big too. We want to win games first so I am cool with the projected rotation so far. If Moussa proves he can handle it all, he will get more and more opportunities.

    Lastly, like someone else said, it really doesn’t matter who starts. Rotations, matchups, in-game player development on second/third units and hiding deficiencies with lineups is what it seems we should do.

  21. Sadly, this is the right decision. Mason probably gives the team the best chance of winning.

  23. It looks like a wait-and-see roster right now.

    If Lee is actually a good coach and his offense produces Top 10 efficiency,
    AND Lamelo and Miller stay healthy,
    then that will be enough to keep them in the playoff mix (in the East at least) until January when the FO can trade for a real C. In that scenario Sexton and Dinwiddie provide insurance for a shorter term Lamelo injury down the stretch.

    If it’s more of the same from Lamelo and Lee, then the hole at C solidifies the tank job without having to create fake injuries for players like Bridges, Connaughton and Sexton that the FO wants to flip. In the spring the sub is talking up Mann as a potential 2027 MIP and the Petersen memes reign down like holy fire on our dreams.

    We’ll know by Thanksgiving which way it is going.

  25. “Surely this isn’t OUR move at center” was a lie we told ourselves, but Plumdog is inevitable. Plumdog is life.

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