NBA starters at SG and Raja Bell

[mojorizen7]

Boston-Ray Allen
NJ-Vince Carter
NY- Jamal Crawford
Orlando-JJ Redick
Toronto-Anthony Parker
Charlotte- Matt Carroll
Dallas- Gerald Green/Jason Terry
Atlanta- Joe Johnson
Indiana- Marquis Daniels
Miami-Dwayne Wade
Washington-DeShaun Stevenson
Cleveland-Delonte West
Memphis-OJ Mayo
Sacramento-Kevin Martin
Milwaukee-Michael Redd
Nuggets-Dahntey Jones/JR Smith
Trailblazers-Brandon Roy
Golden State-Anthony Morrow(avg 17 ppg and 4 rpg)
Lakers-Kobe
Chicago-Ben Gordon
Houston-T Mac
OK City-Kevin Durant
S.A.- Roger Mason(solid)
Clippers-Cuttino Mobley
Detroit-Rip Hamilton
Philadelphia-Willie Green
Minnesota-Mike Miller
New Orleans-Morris Peterson but Peja is the sharpshooting SUNS killer.
PHX SUNS-RAJA BELL
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Damn i'm missing somebody i think. I thought it would be interesting to look over the position and speculate as to where Raja fits into this group of players.
IMO i'd take all these guys guys over Bell except for maybe two or three. I think that the SUNS could do a helluva lot better there.
I realize that many of these guys are high $ "stars" who's teams have other major weaknesses at other positions but it's interesting to me to look at some the great old & young talent around the league at SG.
IMO it's time to send Raja to the bench.

 

[Ciani]

It doesnt make much sense, you cant have 5 stars on the lineup. You have to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the teams, where there is a great SG, you usually wont find a star PG like Nash.

Actually Raja is a very good fit in this system with Shaq since he is still one of the best 3 point shooters (46%), he helps to spread the floor, and not to mention that Raja is our best defender.

 

[Caliballfan]

Most of those guys may put up better numbers but in terms of impact and giving you the best shot of winning the game here are the guys I wouldn't take over Bell

-JJ Redick (Actually Mickael Pietrus is the starter but still I wouldn't take him over Bell either)
- Anthony Parker (very overrated)
- Ben Gordon (can be put in foul trouble easily and is a very ball dominant guard. He takes a lot of shots to score and does little else)
- Dahntay Jones (who?). JR Smith (Same as Ben Gordon). Also Smith is an even worse defender. For every one thing he does positive on the basketball court he does 2 negative things.
- DeShaun Stevenson...has a big mouth and does little else. When motivated he can be solid but he's not dependable.
- Anthony Morrow...come on he played the piss poor Clips and the struggling Blazers. Not to mention the high pace the Warriors play at and Nellie ball is very guard friendly.
- Cat Mobley? haha...he is ooooooooold. He has like one 20 point game once a month and plays average defense.

 

[mojorizen7]

It doesnt make much sense, you cant have 5 stars on the lineup. You have to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the teams, where there is a great SG, you usually wont find a star PG like Nash.

Actually Raja is a very good fit in this system with Shaq since he is still one of the best 3 point shooters (46%), he helps to spread the floor, and not to mention that Raja is our best defender.

Um...yeah hence this line from the post....

I realize that many of these guys are high $ "stars" who's teams have other major weaknesses at other positions

It's not about needing a "star",it's about upgrading the position & looking at who's starting out there.

 

[Mainstreet]

As I posted on a different thread, I'd like to see Barnes be tried at SG and Hill starting at SF. However, this throws a monkey wrench into the bench rotation.

 

[Griffin]

Raja is still our best 3-point shooter (46.8% on the season) and perimeter defender, and we don't have many of either. To replace him with someone who is younger and better at both ends of the floor would be difficult.

(which was already mentioned in one of the posts above)

 

[mojorizen7]

As I posted on a different thread, I'd like to see Barnes be tried at SG and Hill starting at SF. However, this throws a monkey wrench into the bench rotation.

Interesting. I'd like to see it reversed w/Hill at the 2 & Barnes at the 3.
Problem is that this puts a TON of pressure on Dragic/Bell to run the offense efficiently w/Barbs out indefinately.
Again, Barbosa missing training camp IMO was a huge blow to Porters plans.

 

[mojorizen7]

Raja is still our best 3-point shooter (46.8% on the season) and perimeter defender, and we don't have many of either. To replace him with someone who is younger and better at both ends of the floor would be difficult.

(which was already mentioned in one of the posts above)

Actually i would give Nash the nod as our best 3pt shooter but its debatable. Lets say Bell is our best deep shooter & perimeter defender.....that ain't sayin much. We can do better. &And yes it would be difficult but this is a difficult business.
I think this love affair some(not necessarily you Griff) have with Bell as a legitamit starter is strange.

 

[mojorizen7]

I think this love affair some(not necessarily you Griff) have with Bell as a legitamit starter is strange.

That includes Terry Porter, but i think he starts Bell by default.
Barbs hasn't been here & Tucker has been hurt.
Just sayin.

 

[Mainstreet]

Interesting. I'd like to see it reversed w/Hill at the 2 & Barnes at the 3.
Problem is that this puts a TON of pressure on Dragic/Bell to run the offense efficiently w/Barbs out indefinately.
Again, Barbosa missing training camp IMO was a huge blow to Porters plans.

I put them in the position I did because Hill is better at slashing to the basket and I think Barnes may be a better 3 point shooter although I haven't checked the stats. Anyway I think both of these players should be starting. Hill does not seem to play as well off the bench. I couldn't figure out what to do with the bench either.

 

[mojorizen7]

I put them in the position I did because Hill is better at slashing to the basket and I think Barnes may be a better 3 point shooter although I haven't checked the stats. Anyway I think both of these players should be starting. Hill does not seem to play as well off the bench. I couldn't figure out what to do with the bench either.

Yeah that makes some sense. I guess one couldn't go wrong with those 5 on the floor. Maybe when Barbs gets back we can just put him on the floor w/the 2nd unit & tell him to try & score 50 a night and defer to NOBODY. Oh wait D'Antoni tried that.

 

[mojorizen7]

Most of those guys may put up better numbers but in terms of impact and giving you the best shot of winning the game here are the guys I wouldn't take over Bell

-JJ Redick (Actually Mickael Pietrus is the starter but still I wouldn't take him over Bell either)
- Anthony Parker (very overrated)
- Ben Gordon (can be put in foul trouble easily and is a very ball dominant guard. He takes a lot of shots to score and does little else)
- Dahntay Jones (who?). JR Smith (Same as Ben Gordon). Also Smith is an even worse defender. For every one thing he does positive on the basketball court he does 2 negative things.
- DeShaun Stevenson...has a big mouth and does little else. When motivated he can be solid but he's not dependable.
- Anthony Morrow...come on he played the piss poor Clips and the struggling Blazers. Not to mention the high pace the Warriors play at and Nellie ball is very guard friendly.
- Cat Mobley? haha...he is ooooooooold. He has like one 20 point game once a month and plays average defense.

I'd take JR Smith over Raja in a NY minute.... as well as Gordon.

 

[LV-Suns]

DeShaun Stevenson might be one of the biggest big mouth/ego in the league, but I would take him over Bell.

 

[Covert Rain]

I agree it might be time for Raja to go to the bench. According to 82games, the SG position is the least productive on offense and we are giving up more points from the SG position then any other position on the team.

If it's the least productive on both sides of the ball doesn't that say we need a change? If not, what does?

 

[mojorizen7]

I agree it might be time for Raja to go to the bench. According to 82games, the SG position is the least productive on offense and we are giving up more points from the SG position then any other position on the team.

If it's the least productive on both sides of the ball doesn't that say we need a change? If not, what does?

Wow thats a pretty telling stat. I've been very concerned over the lack of points at the position but to read that we're getting torched there is troubling considering Raja has played such "outstanding defense" according to some thus far. I haven't seen it & i've been watching....I've seen the effort from Raja but he's just plain slowing down & not nearly as effective anymore. I noticed at times he won't even put a hand up(which by contrast is something i've noticed Nash improve upon this year).
I'll have to check out this 82games website.

 

[LV-Suns]

According to 82games, our SG is ranked #30 in the league, the worst.
http://www.82games.com/0809/BYPOSIT.HTM

 

[arwillan]

for a better comparison i would compare our starting back-court to others in the league. Most good teams have a star player of some sort at one of the guard positions and a complimentary player at the other spot. Some teams (like new jersey) have star players at both spots, and some teams (like orlando) don't have a star at either. I imagine the combination of Nash/Bell (when both are playing well) is among the best in the league.

 

[dodie53]

i want Joe Johnson back!

 

[French Fries]

According to 82games, our SG is ranked #30 in the league, the worst.
http://www.82games.com/0809/BYPOSIT.HTM

well, we got shaq at 2nd behind dwight, and amare's 5th. it's a stat that i think is garbage but it's still heartwarming

 

[Errntknght]

On the other hand, also according to 82games.com, Raja is tied with Amare for the highest +/- total on the team. So while he doesn't do well compared to his counterpart, the team does well while he's on the floor. That might happen, for example, to a player who is given the toughest defensive assignments...

 

[Covert Rain]

On the other hand, also according to 82games.com, Raja is tied with Amare for the highest +/- total on the team. So while he doesn't do well compared to his counterpart, the team does well while he's on the floor. That might happen, for example, to a player who is given the toughest defensive assignments...

I would imagine that is because teams respect Raja's ability to shoot and that stretches the floor allowing the team to score more often. So, even though Raja is taking on the toughest assignments he is not getting it done on defense. However, what if teams stop respecting Raja's 3 point shot? With the horrible production at the SG on both offense and defense, we would be in huge trouble. We rank at the bottom of the league there.

I guess it's easy to say bench Raja. The reality is Barbosa might beef up production there on offense but we know on defense he is a liability. So, our Net would probably still not be very good. So, do you move Matt out there to SG and play Hill in the starting lineup or Diaw if you want Hill to come off the bench?

There might not be anything the Suns can do about it this year aside from making a trade. The Suns need to at the very least look into the future soon at the SG position.

As for this year, it appears that Raja should to go to the bench. I am just not sure we have anybody on the roster to fill his spot should he go to the bench. If this trend continues the Suns are not going to have an easy task. Again, aside from a trade the Suns only hope might be that Raja snaps out of it.