It's Official - Lampe is a Power Forward

[George O'Brien]

Suns.com lists Lampe as power forward. It suggests the Suns are counting on Hunter to get a lot of minutes but also reflects the fact that Lampe plays like a forward.

Maciej Lampe

The forward/center began last season on the bench for the New York Knicks, but a mid-season trade to Phoenix gave the NBA rookie a chance to flex his muscles for the Suns. The youngest player in franchise history to appear in a regular season game, the 19-year-old averaged 4.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg in 10.7 mpg for Phoenix.

The 30th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft put in a productive summer league for the Suns in 2004, averaging 13.3 ppg and leading the squad with 7.3 boards a night in Las Vegas. When the site shifted to Utah for the Rocky Mountain *****, Lampe’s 6.2 boards a night paced the Suns.

“What he brings is an unbelievable confidence level as far as making a jump shot,” Weber said. “He has size. He’s 7 feet. And to be a 7-footer and be able to shoot the way he does… his confidence level doesn’t need to grow (laughs). He thinks he’s going to make every shot. He’s got to understand all the different things we’re going to need. We have a very explosive team offensively, so he’s also going to have to rebound, defend and make the open shot when he has it.”

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

George:

The forward/center began

Come on man!

 

[PhxGametime]

He has starter potential as a PF (might be the strongest position player wise in West, possibly 2nd behind SG) and on Suns starter potential at C. Suns do play small but everywhere I've read has him listed strictly as PF (most games I've noticed, he played alongside Amare Stoudemire and played C, although both players are interchangeable). Stoudemire takes the ball stronger to hoop than most PF's and Lampe could open up court with his shot at C (Nash had shooters on the floor with Mavs as well - big and small).

I'm not sure how I'd set rotations but Lampe would play well with starters, possibly 1st bigman off bench. Hunter could be a better match-up with Lampe and Cabarkapa alongside frontline - leaving Voskuhl to start.

Barbosa first PG off bench and at times SG. Richardson first player off bench could come in for Nash (moving JJ to Point), obviously JJ or Matrix, and the starting Center (smallball). Teams don't always play 2 set line-ups but...

Voskuhl, Stoudemire, Marion, Johnson, Nash

Hunter, Lampe, Cabarkapa, Richardson, Barbosa

Jacobsen, Vroman

Jacobsen and Cabarkapa could fight for minutes with the 2nd unit, I do believe Vroman will suprise people (was mentioned by D) but with no Training Camp and depth - he'd still most likely be a 11-12th man. Suns are deep IMO and talented - Division Title?

 

[George O'Brien]

Obviously all five inside guys will play both positions at various times. However, it sounds like the plan is to use Lampe to back up Amare rather than put both guys in together with Lampe at the high post. Of course, this may be the writer's view and not D'Antoni's.