New line up, good or bad?

[desertdawg]

Yes or no. No cheap shots or reasons. Everybody has made their opinion abundantly clear.

 

[Chaplin]

Dudley coming in was certainly good in this game--don't know over the long run, but I have high hopes.

Gortat played great, but he would have gotten the same numbers whether he started or not, so I say "incomplete".

 

[sunsfan88]

Does yes mean good and no mean bad on the poll?

 

[desertdawg]

Does yes mean good and no mean bad on the poll?

Yes means good. (no means bad)

 

[BC867]

Gortat played great, but he would have gotten the same numbers whether he started or not, so I say "incomplete".

If "incomplete" means it's going to take time to build a new foundation for the team, that's a good point.

But I don't think a team's success is based on one player's "numbers". There is so much that goes into building a winner that doesn't show in the box score. I know you know that, Chap.

 

[jibikao]

It's a bit hard to tell because it's only one game that both Dudley and Gortat start. Hopefully they can stick with this starting lineup for the rest of the season.

Well, Suns is not good at closing games so it's easier for them to build bigger lead early on and then slowly lose that lead and then eventually win. This means if the new starting lineup can give us more chance to build lead, then I vote Yes.

Lopez sucks even as bench player standard anyway and Vince Carter probably doesn't give a s@#$ about playing as a bench player.

 

[Sunshooter]

yes

but the bench is a disaster right now

 

[Absolute Zero]

I voted Yes the new line up is good or bad

 

[desertdawg]

I voted Yes the new line up is good or bad

:concur:

 

[Chaplin]

If "incomplete" means it's going to take time to build a new foundation for the team, that's a good point.

But I don't think a team's success is based on one player's "numbers". There is so much that goes into building a winner that doesn't show in the box score. I know you know that, Chap.

What exactly are you saying? That you disagree with me? You haven't refuted my claim that his numbers would be the same whether he started or not. And of course, we lost the game with a pretty poor offensive showing.

 

[Stargazer]

Is the new lineup a sign that Carter and Brooks are leaving and Nash is staying? Would make sense to finish the season with the lineup that we plan to play next year.

 

[Covert Rain]

What exactly are you saying? That you disagree with me? You haven't refuted my claim that his numbers would be the same whether he started or not. And of course, we lost the game with a pretty poor offensive showing.

His numbers might be similar but it sure was nice not to be in the hole at the start of the 1st or 3rd and getting killed on the boards.

 

[Mainstreet]

I voted "Yes," but only because this is the Suns best starting line-up now. It needs to be revisited next season. Who knows what it will look like then.

 

[SirStefan32]

I voted "Yes," but only because this is the Suns best starting line-up now. It needs to be revisited next season. Who knows what it will look like then.

I agree. If Frye is the best 4 we have, then we need a real go-to scorer on 2 or 3. If they managed to get a 4 who can score in the low post, then Dudley/Chilli are fine as 2 and 3.

 

[jagu]

Does it matter? Yes its better but who cares, this team is done and the starting lineup will most likely be very different than this year next year.

 

[leclerc]

It does not matter but nice to see Gortat earn it and bye bye Vince Carter.

 

[BC867]

What exactly are you saying? That you disagree with me? You haven't refuted my claim that his numbers would be the same whether he started or not.

But I did when I posted. "I don't think a team's success is based on one player's "numbers". There is so much that goes into building a winner that doesn't show in the box score."

And of course, we lost the game with a pretty poor offensive showing.

I feel that we lost the game because Gentry offset a good move (starting Gortat so he would no longer be playing 18 consecutive minutes in the 1st and 2nd halves) by a bad one -- resting Gortat for 2 1/2 minutes in the whole 2nd half.

And with our starting Power Forward and backup Center and Power Forward getting limited (or no) minutes in the 2nd half, it was the Amar'e Syndrome all over again. Marcin was our only big man on the court.

And when he had a couple of minutes of rest, Childress and Hill were our two Power position players.

Even though Frye had a bad shooting night, he pulled down 10 boards. We needed his size on the court alongside or, at worst, in place of Gortat.

And with Gentry having the confidence to play Lopez in 6-minute spurts for so long, he did a complete 180 by benching him completely in the 2nd half.

It's like convincing someone driving 100 MPH on the freeway to slow down, so he does -- to 20 MPH. Either way, he's going to cause accidents.

A coach who knows only one extreme or the other is not a good coach. Nor is one who is concerned only with box score numbers.

 

[dodie53]

i voted no.
it doesn't matter now.

 

[Mulli]

i voted no.
it doesn't matter now.

Me too.

 

[JS22]

I'm starting to lean towards Frye being the starting 4 next year. (Never thought I'd say that.) Over the past few months he has become a totally different player. If you can get 15/7 from him for a full year, along with Gortat and his consistent double doubles, the Suns will be better at the 4 & 5 than they have been in years.

You've got a hybrid big man in Frye that can space the floor and a paint eater in Gortat that is great in the P&R. Gortat is great on the defensive end and Frye is pretty decent.

Plug in a legitimate scoring / ISO threat at the 2 or 3, let Dudley remain the 6th man (but give him more minutes), and you're set. Maybe add a defensive big to round out the bench rotation. Hopefully Lopez can fill that roll.

I actually think the Suns will have a run or two left with Nash and Hill if they can add a legitimate wing that can score on his own without Nash feeding him. But who could fit this role?

 

[jagu]

Robin Lopez should be our center. His moves cannot be replicated by another big man in the game.

 

[BC867]

I actually think the Suns will have a run or two left with Nash and Hill if they can add a legitimate wing that can score on his own without Nash feeding him. But who could fit this role?

With Grant Hill, I agree.

But with Steve, you have to ask yourself two questions:

1) Will he wear down after the All Star break again, with the most minutes per game on the team and another year older?

2) Is there a backup Point Guard who can come in and run his game for 16 minutes a game, every game? We haven't found one yet.

Unfortunately, I think the answers are:

1) Yes, it is probable that he will wear down as the season progresses.

2) No, as long as Steve is our Point Guard, he has to be on the court big minutes for it to work.

A good example. Wasn't it our announcers who said that Gortat is already showing signs signs of wear in the 4th quarter (with Gentry giving Lopez zero minutes in the 2nd half since he lost his starting job)?

 

[Chaplin]

Would anybody here be willing to explore Josh Childress as a starting SG? He's not a shooter and can't stretch defenses, but paired with Grant Hill in the wing positions, we could have some very dynamic (and foul drawing) presences in the starting lineup. He's still pretty long and athletic that he could do some good defensive work either on the 2 or the 3 (or in small lineups, the 4). That allows Dudley to anchor the bench.

Of course, it still means we'd need a better backup C/PF if at all possible (maybe with our pick)...

 

[SirStefan32]

Would anybody here be willing to explore Josh Childress as a starting SG? He's not a shooter and can't stretch defenses, but paired with Grant Hill in the wing positions, we could have some very dynamic (and foul drawing) presences in the starting lineup. That allows Dudley to anchor the bench.

Of course, it still means we'd need a better backup C/PF if at all possible (maybe with our pick)...

I don't know man, I am definitely a Chilli fan, but I don't think he and Hill belong in the same starting lineup.
They are actually very similar to each other. Both are very good defenders and slashers/ cutters, but neither one of them is a shooter.
I see Josh as a replacement for Hill once Hill retires.

 

[Chaplin]

I don't know man, I am definitely a Chilli fan, but I don't think he and Hill belong in the same starting lineup.
They are actually very similar to each other. Both are very good defenders and slashers/ cutters, but neither one of them is a shooter.
I see Josh as a replacement for Hill once Hill retires.

In the last few games he's played, Childress has been really good, but I see what you're saying. I do think, however, that Childress is more active than Grant Hill, especially on the offensive boards. I think Childress is by far our best offensive rebounder--better even than Gortat in that regard.