Suggestion: Brandon Roy - Super Sub!

[Rastapopoulos]

Okay, so Brandon wants fewer minutes because he's reached the rickety old age of 26. And Brandon can't work out how to play with Andre. Plus Wesley isn't doing well off the bench, perhaps because he's being put into more of a central scorer's role than when he was the fifth starter in Utah. So... start Wesley, and move Brandon to the bench.

Okay, in part this is motivated by exasperation at Roy, but actually it makes sense. I was trying to think of a player like Roy who's had injury problems but remained useful and productive, and I thought of Manu Ginobili. Now, Pop managed to limit Manu's minutes, and at the same time, Manu had no problem coming off the bench for most of his career, even when the person ahead of him was a scrub. So why can't Roy do that? I think it would actually be a pretty genius move: the bench could be ALL ABOUT ROY, whereas the first unit could get more out of Andre, Batum and LaMarcus.

The question is: does Nate have the nads to suggest it, and could Roy's ego handle it?

(Talking of Manu - I thought this was a hilarious (but nice) reaction to his countryman's retirement.)

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Okay, so Brandon wants fewer minutes because he's reached the rickety old age of 26. And Brandon can't work out how to play with Andre. Plus Wesley isn't doing well off the bench, perhaps because he's being put into more of a central scorer's role than when he was the fifth starter in Utah. So... start Wesley, and move Brandon to the bench.

Sounds good. I'd like to see it, say, for the rest of the month. It's early in the season. Let's experiment. Plus, we need more scoring punch off the bench and better defense in the starting lineup. This accomplishes both.

The question is: does Nate have the nads to suggest it,

Seriously doubt it

and could Roy's ego handle it?

Doubt it even more.

The only way something like this ever happens is if it's Roy's idea. Which it won't be. Ever.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Yeah, but San Antonio aren't playing Manu $85m.

 

[RR7]

San Antonio also has Parker and Duncan starting, which makes Manu off the bench better. But yeah. Roy off the bench. Great suggestion.

 

[BigVolcano]

LOL

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The only way something like this ever happens is if it's Roy's idea.

Agreed.

Which it won't be. Ever.

If sitcoms have taught me anything, it's that you have to plant the idea in his head but make him think that it's his idea. Can HCP manage to slip subliminal messages in video that Brandon will watch?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

LOL

You're just hoping that Roy will tank so that taking Bargnani with the #1 pick looks slightly less moronic.

 

[Natebishop3]

Never happen.

 

[BGrantFan]

Never happen.

I can't believe that somebody actually took the time to author such a ridiculous and unrealistic thread. Not all ideas are good ideas, S2 Nation.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Never happen.

Why not?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Jesus, I never thought it would come to this: A) This being floated as a serious suggestion by a fan and B) me actually thinking it might be a good idea.

It'll never happen, but if he really can't go more than 30 minutes a night moving forward it's a solution (of sorts). The main problems I see: He's probably got too much professional pride to become a super-sub at only 26 and after being the face of the franchise for each of his five years here and secondly, I don't think this team has enough elite talent to make do with Brandon as it's bench scorer like San Antonion has done with Manu all these years. LMA is no Timmy.

 

[LittleAlex]

Jesus, I never thought it would come to this: A) This being floated as a serious suggestion by a fan and B) me actually thinking it might be a good idea.

It'll never happen, but if he really can't go more than 30 minutes a night moving forward it's a solution (of sorts). The main problems I see: He's probably got too much professional pride to become a super-sub at only 26 and after being the face of the franchise for each of his five years here and secondly, I don't think this team has enough elite talent to make do with Brandon as it's bench scorer like San Antonion has done with Manu all these years. LMA is no Timmy.

Understatement of the decade.

 

[Reep]

I think it is a great idea; and I think it won't happen. Roy has too much pride to let it happen. I wish he would consider it. I would just like to see what would happen over a few games.

 

[BGrantFan]

I think it is a great idea; and I think it won't happen. Roy has too much pride to let it happen. I wish he would consider it. I would just like to see what would happen over a few games.

Holy Shit. I must be going nuts, because this was literally a laugh out loud idea to me when I opened this thread. Yes, move a 3-time All-Star to the bench because he's off to a slower start than normal. That's not an overreaction at all!

 

[barfo]

Maybe the minutes Brandon wants off are the minutes down around the opponents basket.

Basketball needs a DH rule.

barfo

 

[Ghost Pepper]

Um.... when you score 8 flippin points against our hated Lakers... you should be coming off the bench! That seems logical! Just saying, no bigger game to prove you deserve to ride the pine than that one!!!!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The main problems I see: He's probably got too much professional pride to become a super-sub at only 26 and after being the face of the franchise for each of his five years here

How much professional pride can you continue to have if you're sucking? Either shut it down completely or try something new.

and secondly, I don't think this team has enough elite talent to make do with Brandon as it's bench scorer like San Antonion has done with Manu all these years. LMA is no Timmy.

Of course we haven't got Timmy, or even Parker, but we could see if Batum can do anything if plays are actually run for him. Of course, if Rudy hadn't laid such an egg in the playoffs last year, I would suggest that it should be Rudy starting over Matthews, and then the offense could involve a fair amount of him running around a ton of screens.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Maybe the minutes Brandon wants off are the minutes down around the opponents basket.

In fact, he only wants the minutes between the two three-point lines, where he gets to jog sedately.

 

[Nikolokolus]

How much professional pride can you continue to have if you're sucking? Either shut it down completely or try something new.



Of course we haven't got Timmy, or even Parker, but we could see if Batum can do anything if plays are actually run for him. Of course, if Rudy hadn't laid such an egg in the playoffs last year, I would suggest that it should be Rudy starting over Matthews, and then the offense could involve a fair amount of him running around a ton of screens.

Well I have thought about the possibility that this team's starting lineup could have a very different look if the injuries to some of our key guys prove to be cumulative and debilitating.

3 years from now it's entirely possible our starting five looks something like this:
Armon
Matthews
Batum
LMA?
Oden???

Hmmmm ... that doesn't exactly fill me with warm fuzzies, but at least the perimeter defense would probably be pretty good.

 

[44Thrilla]

If Red Auerbach was the coach, this would happen.

 

[Natebishop3]

Why not?

Because I don't think Nate would do it. I don't think he would bench our star shooting guard as long as he's healthy.

 

[handiman]

Simple solution: play Roy the first minute or two of the game, then sub him out until late in the 1st quarter and play him in effectively a reserve role while still getting the ego massage of starting.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Because I don't think Nate would do it. I don't think he would bench our star shooting guard as long as he's healthy.

What if he's not a star any more?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Simple solution: play Roy the first minute or two of the game, then sub him out until late in the 1st quarter and play him in effectively a reserve role while still getting the ego massage of starting.

I like your thinking! But the way things are going, it might just be better if he sat out altogether.

 

[Natebishop3]

What if he's not a star any more?

Well, considering I said that before the whole Roy injury thing broke, there's a chance that he might not be our star shooting guard anymore. But I can tell you right now that they won't play him at all until he's healthy, so you can forget your super sub idea.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I can tell you right now that they won't play him at all until he's healthy, so you can forget your super sub idea.

Good to know we have a Blazers insider on the board. But anyway, if he really is injured, the point is moot. His reason for crappiness is not failing to mesh with Andre, or sulking because the offense is not running through him - it's injury. And if he's injured, he wouldn't be a "super" sub anyway.

 

[Natebishop3]

Good to know we have a Blazers insider on the board. But anyway, if he really is injured, the point is moot. His reason for crappiness is not failing to mesh with Andre, or sulking because the offense is not running through him - it's injury. And if he's injured, he wouldn't be a "super" sub anyway.

You're misreading my post. You quoted something I said yesterday, before the whole Roy/knee thing broke. I'm saying you might be right, and maybe Roy ISN'T our star shooting guard anymore if he's not healthy.

 

[BigVolcano]

You're just hoping that Roy will tank so that taking Bargnani with the #1 pick looks slightly less moronic.

Yea that's it...
First of all, you proposed that the best/highest paid player on the team be brought of the bench because he is going through a slump?
Secondly, i don't regret taking Bargnani as Roy was not even being considered as a top pick. I prefer Bargnani to Tyrus Thomas, Adam Morrison, even Aldrige. Hindsight is 20/20, I'd rather have taken Rondo over any of those guys..