Predict the opening night starting PF

[PtldPlatypus]

It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Vonleh would have the starting PF spot to start the season. But now that he's injured, it's wide open.

Yes it's premature, but heading into training camp, who do you think is most likely to start at the 4 on 10/18, and why?

 

[Blazinaway]

Aminu most likely IMO

 

[Chris Craig]

Aminu. Though we will see Biggie start during preseason and if Stotts is enamored he may start game 1 of the regular season. I guess it all depends on if he wants to put all his best in the starting lineup or leave some for the bench. We may see Turner start at the 3 and Harkless at the 4. It depends on how Stotts wants to balance it out.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Aminu. Though we will see Biggie start during preseason and if Stotts is enamored he may start game 1 of the regular season. I guess it all depends on if he wants to put all his best in the starting lineup or leave some for the bench. We may see Turner start at the 3 and Harkless at the 4.

Very possible. There's a plausible scenario for everyone in the poll.

Except Layman. That would be insane.

 

[42N8Bounce]

Aminu. Unfortunately he's the best available. That says a lot about the current state of our PF position. And for that matter, our SF position. Ugh.

Dame - Napier - (Briscoe)
CJ - Turner - Morrow - Connaughton - (Goodwin)
Harkless - Layman
Vonleh* - Aminu - Swanigan
Nurk - Davis - Leonard - Collins

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Aminu. Unfortunately he's the best available.

Is he though? If Davis is healthy and back to his 2015-16 form, he wouldn't be better? Or couldn't Swanigan's indomitable work ethic couldn't help him to be a better 4 than Aminu from day 1? And of course, there's always the possibility of a trade for Melo.

I'd agree that Aminu probably has the inside track, but I wouldn't put it past any of our other bigs to pass him up.

 

[Chris Craig]

Is he though? If Davis is healthy and back to his 2015-16 form, he wouldn't be better? Or couldn't Swanigan's indomitable work ethic couldn't help him to be a better 4 than Aminu from day 1? And of course, there's always the possibility of a trade for Melo.

I'd agree that Aminu probably has the inside track, but I wouldn't put it past any of our other bigs to pass him up.

I could see Davis at the 4....isn't he really a 4 anyway

 

[BBert]

I could see Davis at the 4....isn't he really a 4 anyway

He can't shoot.

 

[Natebishop3]

Frankly.... I'd like to throw Collins in there and see what he does.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

He can't shoot.

Neither could Vonleh these past couple years.

 

[Scalma]

Biggie is gonna take that job.

 

[42N8Bounce]

Is he though? If Davis is healthy and back to his 2015-16 form, he wouldn't be better? Or couldn't Swanigan's indomitable work ethic couldn't help him to be a better 4 than Aminu from day 1? And of course, there's always the possibility of a trade for Melo.

I'd agree that Aminu probably has the inside track, but I wouldn't put it past any of our other bigs to pass him up.

Agreed. I've always thought Davis would be a good starting PF. But last year Stotts pretty much kept him as backup center. Maybe because Plumlee and Davis both were liabilities from the outside and would clog the middle. Nurk and Davis playing together would bring an interesting dynamic. I'd like to see that.

I'd love to see Swanigan (or Collins) battle for that starter spot, but I try to rein in my optimism with rookies.

 

[Natebishop3]

Biggie is gonna take that job.

I think people are putting waaaaaaaaay too much faith in him just because of SL.

Vonleh looked pretty damn good in SL as well.

 

[Scalma]

I think people are putting waaaaaaaaay too much faith in him just because of SL.

Vonleh looked pretty damn good in SL as well.

Naw I've been a fan of biggie. He has "it." He didn't even shoot well in summer league.

 

[THE HCP]

Didn't they say he was out 2 weeks? Opening night is 3 weeks away.

 

[Natebishop3]

Didn't they say he was out 2 weeks? Opening night is 3 weeks away.

They said November. They mean he'll be out 2 weeks of the season.

 

[dviss1]

Vonleh is good as gone. We're not thinking he's really injured are we?

 

[dviss1]

I think people are putting waaaaaaaaay too much faith in him just because of SL.

Vonleh looked pretty damn good in SL as well.

Vonleh's numbers are pedestrian in comparison. He didn't even avg double digit rebounds.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Vonleh would have the starting PF spot to start the season. But now that he's injured, it's wide open.

Yes it's premature, but heading into training camp, who do you think is most likely to start at the 4 on 10/18, and why?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Same as it was always going to be: Aminu.

 

[dviss1]

Biggie.

Swags.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I don't think Biggie works well with Nurkic, which will hold him back. Also, when our backcourt is Dame and CJ, you HAVE to have a good defender at PF, and that's Swanigan's Achilles heel.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The best pairing for Swanigan is probably Collins, which is a bad sign for both of them for a while.

 

[Natebishop3]

Vonleh's numbers are pedestrian in comparison. He didn't even avg double digit rebounds.

Meh....

Vonleh's second SL outing - 17.2 ppg, 8.5 rebounds, 55.8% from the field, 50% from three, 76% from the strip, 25.6 PER, 125.8 ORtg, 103.6 DRtg

Biggie's SL stats - 16.1 ppg, 10.6 rebounds, 43.8% from the field, 27% from three, 80% from the stripe, 20.7 PER, 104.6 ORtg, 96.7 DRtg.

I don't think those stats look pedestrian next to Swanigan's stats.

 

[dviss1]

Meh....

Vonleh's second SL outing - 17.2 ppg, 8.5 rebounds, 55.8% from the field, 50% from three, 76% from the strip, 25.6 PER, 125.8 ORtg, 103.6 DRtg

Biggie's SL stats - 16.1 ppg, 10.6 rebounds, 43.8% from the field, 27% from three, 80% from the stripe, 20.7 PER, 104.6 ORtg, 96.7 DRtg.

I don't think those stats look pedestrian next to Swanigan's stats.

You sure it's not the other way around?

 

[Natebishop3]

You sure it's not the other way around?

You know what else is interesting? You specifically mentioned Biggie's rebounding.

Vonleh's rebound %

1st SL - 19.88
2nd SL - 18.32
3rd SL - 14.74

Biggie's Rebound %

18.82%

 

[masieo]

Biggie must be making an impression in camp.

 

[theprunetang]

Biggie must be making an impression in camp.

Damn. He didn't say much, but that's some high praise. I know that Dame goes to bat for his teammates, but I've never heard him say something like that.

 

[Scalma]

Biggie must be making an impression in camp.

Good

You know what else is interesting? You specifically mentioned Biggie's rebounding.

Vonleh's rebound %

1st SL - 19.88
2nd SL - 18.32
3rd SL - 14.74

Biggie's Rebound %

18.82%

What's even the point of this argument? Vonleh can rebound. Is someone debating that?

 

[BBert]

Caleb is not going to be ROY unless he starts.

Hmm.....