View Poll Results: What pair should start at the "other" guard and forward positions?

**MJG** · 09-05-2005, 11:48 AM

Okay, we all know that Arenas, Jamison, and Haywood will be three of our starters this year, at guard, forward, and center respectively. However, this still leaves two holes in our lineup that can be filled by several different combinations of player. I'm curious as to who people think should fill those spots. My views on the more realistic possibilities, guard listed first and forward listed second:

Daniels & Caron
+ Starting our best five, nobody playing especially out of position
- Thins the bench

Daniels & Hayes
+ Daniels helps make up for Hayes' lack of ball handling
- Unsure of Caron's ability to play off the bench

Daniels & Jeffries
+ Likely the best combination of ball handling and defense
- Weak scoring duo, Caron off the bench again

Caron & Hayes
+ Hayes plays better as a starter, two can play interchangeably
- Neither player is really a G

Caron & Jeffries
+ JJ allows Jamison some SF minutes
- Daniels may lose minutes if Caron is forced to play a lot of G

I'm sure there are other wacky choices, like starting Etan or Ruffin, but they don't seem as likely. Definitely post if you think something else would work best though.

LamarButler · 09-05-2005, 12:46 PM

It depends how much Caron improves IMO. If his ballhandling, speed, and jumpshot have improved, then it's safe to play him at SG.

I wouldn't want to see Jamison at PF too much since there are a ton of good scoring PF's in this league.

PG- Gilbert Arenas
SG- Caron Butler
SF- Antawn Jamison
PF- Jared Jeffries
C- Brendan Haywood

I think that should be the starting lineup.

**MJG** · 09-05-2005, 04:13 PM

It may be the opposite of what some others think, but of the two major new additions, the guy I definitely want starting is Daniels. He is the only guy on our team that can approximate the Hughes role from last year, playing interchangeably with Arenas in the backcourt on offense and guarding the better player on defense. It'll let us play our game and make the transition easier.

That said, my preference is to start both Caron and Daniels. I think sending either to the bench presents some problems. As I noted, Caron has more or less never come off the bench in his career, so I'm a little uncertain as to how effective he'd be if placed into that situation. My worry with Daniels is that he'd lose out on minutes if he were a backup this year. Arenas is going to get his 40 a night in the backcourt, and if Caron is starting at SG, then odds are he'll probably get a decent chunk of his minutes in the backcourt as well. I want Daniels getting 32ish MPG, which is a total that would be hard to come by if Caron is spending 24 minutes a night as a guard. I really would like to see both guys starting this season.

Also, I see it mentioned all the time, but it something I must have missed. Did JJ really play all that much PF last season? Specifically, on defense? I've read a lot of people that want JJ starting that it will allow Jamison to slide over to SF, but I didn't notice that happen at all last year when the two were starting at the forward spots. JJ guarded a lot more swingmen than bigs, and Jamison was more likely to guard a center than a SF. A lot of lineup predictions seem to have Jamison at SF and JJ at PF, but I think the reverse is much more accurate to what goes on in the games.

Yes, JJ in the lineup does allow for the possibility for the two to change up on assignments and such, a possibility that would not exist with Hayes or Caron playing forward. However, I don't think we take advantage of the opportunity all that much anyways. If someone wants JJ starting at forward, that's fine, but I don't think Jamison being able to match up again SFs is much reason to go that way.

(Heh not picking on your idea LB, I've been thinking about it all summer)

sportkingJSP13 · 09-11-2005, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJG

It may be the opposite of what some others think, but of the two major new additions, the guy I definitely want starting is Daniels. He is the only guy on our team that can approximate the Hughes role from last year, playing interchangeably with Arenas in the backcourt on offense and guarding the better player on defense. It'll let us play our game and make the transition easier.

That said, my preference is to start both Caron and Daniels. I think sending either to the bench presents some problems. As I noted, Caron has more or less never come off the bench in his career, so I'm a little uncertain as to how effective he'd be if placed into that situation. My worry with Daniels is that he'd lose out on minutes if he were a backup this year. Arenas is going to get his 40 a night in the backcourt, and if Caron is starting at SG, then odds are he'll probably get a decent chunk of his minutes in the backcourt as well. I want Daniels getting 32ish MPG, which is a total that would be hard to come by if Caron is spending 24 minutes a night as a guard. I really would like to see both guys starting this season.

Also, I see it mentioned all the time, but it something I must have missed. Did JJ really play all that much PF last season? Specifically, on defense? I've read a lot of people that want JJ starting that it will allow Jamison to slide over to SF, but I didn't notice that happen at all last year when the two were starting at the forward spots. JJ guarded a lot more swingmen than bigs, and Jamison was more likely to guard a center than a SF. A lot of lineup predictions seem to have Jamison at SF and JJ at PF, but I think the reverse is much more accurate to what goes on in the games.

Yes, JJ in the lineup does allow for the possibility for the two to change up on assignments and such, a possibility that would not exist with Hayes or Caron playing forward. However, I don't think we take advantage of the opportunity all that much anyways. If someone wants JJ starting at forward, that's fine, but I don't think Jamison being able to match up again SFs is much reason to go that way.

(Heh not picking on your idea LB, I've been thinking about it all summer)

couldnt have said it better

View Poll Results: What pair should start at the "other" guard and forward positions?

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