Who's going to be our fifth starter when the dust settles?

[Rastapopoulos]

So obviously Dame, CJ (sorry haters), Covington and Nurk are mortal locks. But who else do you think will/should end up starting by about mid-season, health permitting?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

As I've said before, I think Olshey is trying to duplicate Harkless/Aminu with Jones Jr./Covington.

 

[GDiama]

Why isn't Zach an option? He is the favourite

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Why isn't Zach an option? He is the favourite

D'oh - I added him AND Hood.

 

[e_blazer]

Hood.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

 

[e_blazer]

D'oh - I added him AND Hood.

You can count my “other” vote as Hood. I think that Zach, once healthy, will start against bigger lineups and that will move RoCo to the SF spot, with Hood coming off the bench.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

 

[Natebishop3]

Knowing Terry like we do, I bet Melo still starts.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

It's weird Neil says starting Melo is Terry call, but he likely comes off the bench. Maybe he wants to take the pressure to start Melo off Stotts.

 

[PCmor7]

Keljin Blevins.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Of course, I would prefer to have 1 of those guys be an all-star type player, but I do like that we have 6 options that you can make a case for. It bodes well for our depth next year.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Why isn't Zach an option? He is the favourite

Because he's injury prone.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Trent earned the starting SF spot.

 

[blazerkor]

It really depends on Terry. If he starts moving the ball and the players off the ball (which it seems Neil wants him to do) then the fifth starter will be Jones for sure. I picked Jones anyway because even if Stotts doesn't use him correctly, he gives us the best defensive lineup and that might be what Stotts ultimately goes with, especially if the Dame/Nurk action is working well, if CJ is getting his and if RoCo is hitting all of the open threes he'll get. I also haven't given up hope that Jones will be hitting open threes "when the dust settles". Seriously look at the guy's mechanics, his shot is nice... so with the spacing and setup that Dame brings to all of his teammates I believe Jones will hit over 1/3 of his threes and that's all it takes to keep opponents honest and keep the spacing if we are playing Stotts' stagnant offense.

 

[riverman]

I think Melo starts and plays the first 4 minutes or so....after that he'll come in at the end of qtrs with the bench the rest of the night...the first guy off the bench will probably be Kanter depending on foul calls

 

[Tince]

Knowing Terry like we do, I bet Melo still starts.

I will take that bet!

 

[blazerkor]

I think Melo starts and plays the first 4 minutes or so....after that he'll come in at the end of qtrs with the bench the rest of the night...the first guy off the bench will probably be Kanter depending on foul calls

So Melo starts at the 4 and then Kanter comes in after 4 minutes to play PF next to Nurk?

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Its Trent or Jones.

I think with the shooting of the other 4 guys and opponents unlikely to trap at tipoff I'd try if Jones works.

If more shooting is needed then probably start Trent. Id say Trent is the better and more important player on our team regardless of who starts.

My fear is if you can't play Jones with the starters you may not be able to play him at all.... we'd have to wait until Collins is healthy or another 3pt shooting Center to put him in such lineups.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

So Melo starts at the 4 and then Kanter comes in after 4 minutes to play PF next to Nurk?

The only thing this accomplishes is having one of our two worst defenders on the court at all times.

 

[mook]

I initially voted Hood because jesus the guy shot 50% from three before he went down. And then I remembered how it went with Matthews' achiles. Yuck.

Then I went with Jones, because of the defense and the $9m/year contract.

Then I thought to myself, you know Gary Trent and Jones are basically the same age and both are plus defenders, but GT shoots 41% from three as a rookie (on 4.4 attempts) and we have his Bird Rights.

We have every incentive to see Trent blow up, whereas Jones has a player option next year. So if you hand him a starting job there's a good chance he's gone at the end of the year.

If it's even close between these two guys, we'll put all our chips in with Trent.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I think to start the year it goes Dame, CJ, Hood, Covington, Nurk

 

[kjironman1]

I went "other". Too many variables right now.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I went "other". Too many variables right now.

So "too many variables" means that it definitely WON'T be any of the ones listed?

 

[kjironman1]

So "too many variables" means that it definitely WON'T be any of the ones listed?

Just didn't like the wording on "It will change depending on the opposing team" That almost never happens. Rotations change and crunch time players change due to matchups but the Starters usually start.
Then there is "When the Dust Settles" in the title. That alone puts like 5 or 6 different twists on the thread.
Like I said "Too many variables"
We will see who Stotts starts in preseason. Then who starts to begin the regular season. Then where they will be at 20 games?
Ask me again then. Disclaimer! - There still might be "Too Many Variables".

 

[James lamphear]

I said Zach but will depends how the starters doing until he come back. So if the starters are playing well when Zach comes back then the common sense thing to do keep riding it and if not I see Zach getting his starting spot back.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I said Zach but will depends how the starters doing until he come back. So if the starters are playing well when Zach comes back then the common sense thing to do keep riding it and if not I see Zach getting his starting spot back.

This is true, but I think Zach fits well next to Kanter with the 2nd unit. I see Covington starting at the 4 and Jones starting at SF.
Melo is the one I can't find consistent minutes for.

This is what I want to see while Zach is still out

Dame- CJ
CJ -Trent
Jones -Hood
Covington - Giles (Zach)
Nurk-Kanter

Melo and Simons when possible

 

[James lamphear]

This is true, but I think Zach fits well next to Kanter with the 2nd unit. I see Covington starting at the 4 and Jones starting at SF.
Melo is the one I can't find consistent minutes for.

This is what I want to see while Zach is still out

Dame- CJ
CJ -Trent
Jones -Hood
Covington - Giles (Zach)
Nurk-Kanter

Melo and Simons when possible

Melo will be playing in Stotts DNA with veterans. Yes Zach would be nice fit along side Kanter. But we will see how Nurk covington Jones front line looks first.

 

[riverman]

So Melo starts at the 4 and then Kanter comes in after 4 minutes to play PF next to Nurk?

No....the bigs usually get in early foul trouble and sit first....Kanter would probably be spelling Nurk to keep him from picking up early foul trouble. They won't worry if Melo is on the court with 2 fouls early and Jones will sub in for him probably as next man off the bench

 

[Rastapopoulos]