CJ from the Bench?

[Labinot41]

The line up Dame-Et-Moe-Aminu-Nurk was really good and is probably our best defensive line up. We know Dame and Cj are really good on Offense, but they can't coexist on defense. So maybe starting Turner along side Dame in the backcourt, and cj coming from the bench and lead the Second Unit could be better for the Team?

 

[Reep]

Don't tempt me. I'm sure it won't happen for any number of reasons, but many have been saying for years how nice it would be to have a defender at guard and CJ off the bench. Can't see Stott's doing that, unless CJ returns and the defense stalls at the beginning of games consistently. More likely that ET is first off the bench and mirrors the PT of any troublesome shooting guards.

 

[Nikolokolus]

If you're going to have CJ coming off the bench, then you're probably better off trading him.

 

[0-Our!]

Don't tempt me. I'm sure it won't happen for any number of reasons, but many have been saying for years how nice it would be to have a defender at guard and CJ off the bench. Can't see Stott's doing that, unless CJ returns and the defense stalls at the beginning of games consistently. More likely that ET is first off the bench and mirrors the PT of any troublesome shooting guards.

I'm 1 of those that has been preachin' for CJ off the bench forever & still believe this. Honestly, IF CJ's REALLY committed to winning, he'd come off the bench & let ET start; we're a MUCH better/tougher team this way.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm 1 of those that has been preachin' for CJ off the bench forever & still believe this. Honestly, IF CJ's REALLY committed to winning, he'd come off the bench & let ET start; we're a MUCH better/tougher team this way.

That's yet to be seen. Phoenix is not what I would call a valid litmus test.

 

[0-Our!]

If you're going to have CJ coming off the bench, then you're probably better off trading him.

I ALSO was 1 w/ this idea too We could REALLY get something for him now; trading him would DEFINITELY return a piece or TWO that we need to be a better/elite team

 

[Rastapopoulos]

If you're going to have CJ coming off the bench, then you're probably better off trading him.

I agree that there is no way in hell it will happen, but... Ginobili...

 

[0-Our!]

That's yet to be seen. Phoenix is not what I would call a valid litmus test.

TRUE. I WISH every game could look like that 1! Hahaha! #DOMINATION!!!

 

[Schilly]

I think the best idea is to start the best player at each position. I know there have been a few examples of teams not doing that, but it is pretty rare and even more rarely successful.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Besides, CJ would have to wait his turn behind our new scoring sensation, PAT CONNAUGHTON

 

[dviss1]

This thread... You see one game against an "opponent" and suddenly CJ's better off the bench.

Yeah, no...

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I think the best idea is to start the player at each position. I know there have been a few examples of teams not doing that, but it is pretty rare and even more rarely successful.

I agree that it is good to have player at position.

 

[Schilly]

I agree that it is good to have player at position.

Should have said "best player at each position"...

 

[Denny Crane]

If you're going to have CJ coming off the bench, then you're probably better off trading him.

That's sorta like saying the Celtics should have traded McHale.

The question really is whether CJ would embrace the 6th man role. At what point is starting over what's best for the team a bad reflection on the player?

 

[0-Our!]

This thread... You see one game against an "opponent" and suddenly CJ's better off the bench.

Yeah, no...

Again, the truth of the PHX game is that we're actually a pretty good team & PHX has no game, they ARE awful I've said/thought about it for quite some time that we'd b crazy tough IF CJ DOMINATED for us off the bench & Dame scores like crazy w/ the 1st unit; we never let off the gas pedal this way & the opponents never catch their collective breath!Oooofff course, this is all talk from us armchair generals aka CJ isn't going to the bench

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Should have said "best player at each position"...

I kinda figured. But that's ambiguous. Clearly CJ is a better player than ET (actually, that's not clear, because Turner is so much better at D, but let that pass) but is he a better SG?

A better suggestion: start the 5 that work best together. If you have 5 great scorers, don't start them together because their talents do not mesh.

 

[Driew]

That first quarter with that lineup was uggggly on offense. Against better defenses that unit will not score much. They'll shut down nurk and dame and let moe, Turner, and aminu beat them.

 

[Pinwheel1]

The line up Dame-Et-Moe-Aminu-Nurk was really good and is probably our best defensive line up. We know Dame and Cj are really good on Offense, but they can't coexist on defense. So maybe starting Turner along side Dame in the backcourt, and cj coming from the bench and lead the Second Unit could be better for the Team?

I think they can coexist on defense against 80 % of the teams. The issue on D last year was way more than just the guards.

Dame is obviously starting and playing over 35 minutes a game regardless. And this team desperately needs CJ's shooting so you know he is getting 30+ minutes a game. If you start Harkless and Aminu then you need CJ and Dame in there. If you find an excellent shooting forward to start then maybe you switch ET and CJ in the starting lineup. But does it really make any difference who plays the first six 6 minutes of each half? ET either starts the 1st 6 minutes and also the 2nd quarter, or he comes in after 6 minutes and stays in to start the 2nd qtr.

I like the idea of ET in the game with Napier and Pat with the 2nd unit. But don't underestimate CJ's shooting. Defense is improtant but if you can't score in this league you are lottery bound.

 

[Denny Crane]

This thread... You see one game against an "opponent" and suddenly CJ's better off the bench.

Yeah, no...

Not just one game. We saw Dame miss 7 games last year and thus one of CJ/Dame paired with a tall guard who can play D.

I am a fan of CJ. I like him as a starter if that's how it goes. The strategy is just different for us if he does.

We saw the potential of being able to hide one bad defender at the defensive end while still having enough firepower to more than compete on offense. The defense was stifling. It is likely to be considerable against even great teams. Our lineup was 6'7, 6'9, 6'9, 7'0 at four positions.

If we start CJ, the defense has to allow for two positions getting beat. We'd still have 3 solid defenders on the court, but I think the D would be turned down a notch.

On the other hand, having fresh legs off the bench and ability to bring in 4 or 5 guys who defend and hold their own on offense is pretty sweet to have while the stars rest.

 

[Schilly]

That first quarter with that lineup was uggggly on offense. Against better defenses that unit will not score much. They'll shut down nurk and dame and let moe, Turner, and aminu beat them.

Great point the team was struggling til Pat came in and started knocking down shots.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Naw--let's start Pat at the 2, and bring both CJ and ET off the bench.



Yes, I know there's someone missing...

 

[julius]

If he is willing, sure.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I think we need to be careful about the PHX game,

First, they shot like garbage, but it was more than that. They were missing bunnies. SHort floaters, open J's, a couple of dunks and layups that rolled off. I'm not saying we wouldn't have still crushed them (20? 30?) but we didn't become the Bill Russell Celtics overnight. Especially missing 2 of our top 6 players.

I don't remember thinking last year "damn, this offense is too efficient with CJ/Dame on the floor together...let's split them up and see how it goes!"

 

[Reep]

Bottom line is we need to see CJ starting with the newish defense and see how it goes. If for some reason it doesn't work, then you can consider changes.

I still kind of like CJ and Dame starting (firepower) and then bringing in ET if it looks like the opposing SG is going off on CJ.

 

[Mediocre Man]

We played a glorified d league team. Don't judge the team on that game. They did EXACTLY what they should have

 

[Sinobas]

Most NBA stars get really pissy about coming off the bench. Guys like Rasheed are rare. And since both Damian and CJ are going to play at least 3 full quarters, you can only separate them by a max of 12 minutes. And that can come throughout the game, it doesn't need to happen all in the 1st quarter, and risk pissing off CJ.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Great point the team was struggling til Pat came in and started knocking down shots.

Yep that is when Harkless went out with a couple of fouls.

 

[illmatic99]

1 game.

Against a d-league level team.

Dudes need to stop jumping to conclusions.

 

[noknobs]

The line up Dame-Et-Moe-Aminu-Nurk was really good and is probably our best defensive line up. We know Dame and Cj are really good on Offense, but they can't coexist on defense. So maybe starting Turner along side Dame in the backcourt, and cj coming from the bench and lead the Second Unit could be better for the Team?

 

[illmatic99]

I kinda figured. But that's ambiguous. Clearly CJ is a better player than ET (actually, that's not clear, because Turner is so much better at D, but let that pass) but is he a better SG?

Dude, it is pretty freaking clear. One of them is a borderline all star in the loaded western conference who nearly had a 50/40/90 season.

The other is a glorified 6th man who can't shoot. I think you're overstating ET's defense.