if strawberry has a jumpshot, would you start him?

[playstation]

sounds crazy, but if he can get in and play the first 4 minutes with great defense and somewhat of a threat to make a jumper, that just saves grant hill for later in the game.

i'm not saying he'd play any more than those opening 4 minutes, but that'd be a pretty nice curveball to start out.

not only that, but you come on the floor with great defense too. like bringing ginobili off the bench.

i figure if you start the game with all this firepower, much of it won't even get used. why not have defense with the firepower? of course this all depends on whether strawberry can shoot, but if so, why not?

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

I doubt we see DJ and start in the same sentence at any time in the season. Besides the only way he would spell Hill was if Bell started at SF, not the type of formula Dantoni would experiment with.

 

[playstation]

I doubt we see DJ and start in the same sentence at any time in the season. Besides the only way he would spell Hill was if Bell started at SF, not the type of formula Dantoni would experiment with.

i just sent you the invite btw. draft next tuesday, autopick if you can't be online at that time

 

[Louis]

I doubt we see DJ and start in the same sentence at any time in the season. Besides the only way he would spell Hill was if Bell started at SF, not the type of formula Dantoni would experiment with.

"DJ is starting to get splinters."

Doubt may be too strong of a word.

 

[fordronken]

It sounds like he's kicking ass, though. As much as I want Banks to be successful, I think Strawberry could have a shot at the rotation.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

The only way that DJ ever starts is if 2 of the 3 (Nash, Bell, Barbosa) get injured.

 

[Suns_fan69]

I could potentially see him starting if (knock on wood) Nash is injured but even then it's more likely Barbosa gets the nod over him. As well as he is doing I just don't see him in the starting rotation any time soon.

 

[mribnik]

No, I wouldn't start him. I wouldn't be surprised to see him become a star in this league in a few years though. I'm pretty excited to hear the positive things D'Antoni has been saying about both DJ and Skinner.

 

[Gaddabout]

For the first time since Nash got here the Suns have a glimmer of hope they finally found a PG who could spell Nash without embarrassing himself ...

... and you want him to take someone else's minutes?

DJ *doesn't* have a jump shot. Right now he has a jump thingy that seems to be going in, but will stop going in as soon as guys start showing him NBA regular season defense. I will be happy if this season he:

- Shoots 45% FG
- Shoots 36% 3-pt FG
- Has a 2-to-1 assist to turnover ratio
- Averages 15 mpg
- Has a stat line that looks something like this: 5.5 ppg, 4 apg, 2.5 rpg, .75 spg
- Provides general stability while Nash is off the floor

That would be a very good, productive rookie season from Strawberry, IMO, one that just might extend Nash's (productive) career another year or two. People keep talking about what Hill can do handling the ball but I'm more interested in what Straw can do running the offense. I will be disappointed if Hill is always the man running the show when Nash is off the floor to start the season. At the very least you need to see if the kid is worth further investment, and how much more productive would Hill be if he could move more off the ball?

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

I'd bust a nut if he deemed himself worthy of 15 mpg

 

[Griffin]

i'm not saying he'd play any more than those opening 4 minutes, but that'd be a pretty nice curveball to start out.

Not sure that would really have any positive effect. Hill would be in the lineup at the very first opportunity. DJ would sit for a long time after that.

And, of course, in the NBA there is a sense of pride and achievement associated with being in the starting five, thus a rookie like DJ would never start over an accomplished vet like Grant Hill, regardless of how humble and unselfish Hill may be.

I do think that DJ, if given a chance, may surprise a lot of people who maybe expect Tucker to be the better player. Although I expect Tucker to play pretty well too.

 

[PHX 32]

I can actually see DJ getting a start here or there throughout the year. We all know how D'antoni likes to shake things up with the starting line-up once in a while, and if DJ is performing well enough in his garbage minutes and in whatever they are doing with him at practices, you never know. I say, he gets at least 2 starts this season.

 

[slinslin]

4 apg in 15 minutes?

 

[Errntknght]

You never know what kind of role guys will fit the best but it strikes me as a rather weird stab in the dark to imagine that starting, playing four minutes then sitting for the rest of the game would speed DJ's development - particularly if you're hoping he'll play point.

I'm all for giving DJ some playing time - I think his and Tucker's youthful legs are just what we need to keep the tempo high for all 48 minutes. If he has a jumpshot all the better but even if its a sometimes thing, strong D and playmaking will make him a positive factor.

 

[JCSunsfan]

You never know what kind of role guys will fit the best but it strikes me as a rather weird stab in the dark to imagine that starting, playing four minutes then sitting for the rest of the game would speed DJ's development - particularly if you're hoping he'll play point.

I'm all for giving DJ some playing time - I think his and Tucker's youthful legs are just what we need to keep the tempo high for all 48 minutes. If he has a jumpshot all the better but even if its a sometimes thing, strong D and playmaking will make him a positive factor.

Don't forget Skinner either. His speed and athleticism might get him more consistent minutes than KT got, even if his overall effectiveness is less.

 

[HooverDam]

DJ was a late 2nd rounder, and you think he'll start? I'll be happily surprised if he plays at all.

 

[azirish]

If you read the draft reports, everyone said he'd be a mid first rounder if he could shoot. Obviously he's been working on it, but it is not clear how he will do once teams start guarding him.

As for whether he'll play more than garbage minutes, I think it will depend on matchups. During the playoffs, the Suns had no real answer to Parker and using the team's best rebounder on the opponent's point guard creates other defensive problems. For DJ to play, he has to be able to lock down guys like Parker, Iverson, etc. who attack the rim so relentlessly (thus getting Amare into foul trouble).

Is he THAT good on defense? I wouldn't expect it this year, but if he turns out to be the defensive stud he's billed as - you never know.

 

[Gaddabout]

4 apg in 15 minutes?

I was trying to weigh that stat in my head and ended up doing bad math. How does an assist every 5 minutes sound? So 3 in 15? That would be pretty good for a rookie, but attainable for a decent PG on a team with so many possessions.

 

[jandaman]

I'm hoping he becomes a Arenas-type.. or Barbosa-type..

picked late but basically worth a top 5 pick when all said and done...

Maybe I'm just too wishful, Strawberry seems to have the size and athletic ability. He can atleast be like Alvin Willams correct?.. with a small chance of being a poor man's Payton perhaps... yes too hopeful