Starting two guard- Jim Jackson or Raja Bell?

[Amare32]

Thought I would ask this question as with JJ gone either guy could start and be a a very good fit next to Steve Nash

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Raja Bell

2004-05

Statistics
PPG-12.3
RPG-3.20
APG-1.4

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Jim Jackson

2004-05
Statistics

PPG-10.5
RPG-4.20
APG-2.9

Bell shot 40% from three while Jimmy Jax shot over 45% coming off the bench. So should Jimmy stay a bench player or does Raja fit that spot better? personally watching them both play. Bell did much better as a starter in Utah although during the playoffs...Jim Jackson was more productive when he started. Example being the Dallas series.

 

[scotsman13]

none of the above.

i think that james jones will start at the 2 guard. with raja backing up him up and jim jackson at small forward back up marion and when we go small.

 

[Amare32]

James Jones? he is not starting quailty. You only start him If you are trying to rebuild. Not when you are contending for a championship.

 

[Joe Mama]

none of the above.

i think that james jones will start at the 2 guard. with raja backing up him up and jim jackson at small forward back up marion and when we go small.

James Jones is not a shooting guard. He's no more a shooting guard than Shawn Marion is. I think, at least to start the season, it will be either Jimmy Jackson or Raja Bell starting at the 2.

Personally I think they'll be fine going with either one of them as the starter. I'm going to go with Bell in the starting lineup, but I think they should ideally each get 25-30 minutes per game. I wouldn't mind if Bell started, but Jimmy Jackson averaged a little more playing time.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

I can already see another JJ versus Penny debate begin.

The defining aspect will be JJax defense. He is not as quick as Bell. However, JJax is simply the more complete offensive player. His playoff stats of 11.0 ppg, 48.8% shooting and 51.6% for three while averaging 31.6 minutes were pretty impressive. Equally important, JJax has much more of a mid range game than either Bell or Jones.

I would not expect JJax to play more than 30 minutes a game (probably less), but I think it will be hard for D'Antoni to keep him out of the starting lineup.

 

[elindholm]

Wow, I'm surprised by the results of this poll so far.

Jackson has been a starter his entire career and performed very well when pressed into the role following Johnson's injury. Bell, on the other hand, has had one season where he looked like starter material, and even then he didn't shoot a lot of threes, which will be one of the starting SG's main jobs.

 

[SweetD]

I like Jackson I just feel he will be better coming of the bench. Raja will be in for defence and if the team needs more offence, you should see Jackson and others.

 

[boisesuns]

I like Jackson I just feel he will be better coming of the bench. Raja will be in for defence and if the team needs more offence, you should see Jackson and others.

I agree. I think we need Bells defense in certain situations, but we need Jim Jacksons style of play in others. If anything we can be versitile depending on who we play. There might be some games where starting Bell would be the best thing, and others where it wouldn't. At least we have options!

 

[Chaz]

Yea, I tend to like having some reliable offense coming off the bench.

I would prefer to wait until after training camp and preseason before we make a decision though.

As far as I am concerned only Stoudemire, Marion, and Nash are guaranteed to start this year. Thomas will probably start as well but I don't think that is guaranteed.

 

[Forrestham]

They both have differnt styles. Jjax did an excellent job coming off the bench and will be best to be left in that role. Hopefully one of the young guys will step up

 

[F-Dog]

I'd prefer Jackson, because he was so much better when he got extended minutes after Joe Johnson went down. Also, Raja does a lot of fouling, and his defense graded out much better in Dallas (coming off the bench) than it did when he was starting in Utah.

My guess is that the Suns' BT will decide who's starting at the three first, then pick the SG who best compliments the other four starters.

 

[fordronken]

I'd prefer Jackson, because he was so much better when he got extended minutes after Joe Johnson went down. Also, Raja does a lot of fouling, and his defense graded out much better in Dallas (coming off the bench) than it did when he was starting in Utah.

My guess is that the Suns' BT will decide who's starting at the three first, then pick the SG who best compliments the other four starters.

Isn't Marion starting at the 3?

 

[elindholm]

Isn't Marion starting at the 3?

One of F-Dog's pet theories is that Stoudemire and Marion will continue to start as the two bigs, with Thomas coming off the bench. We argued about this at great length before, until I gave up.

 

[F-Dog]

Isn't Marion starting at the 3?

One of F-Dog's pet theories is that Stoudemire and Marion will continue to start as the two bigs, with Thomas coming off the bench. We argued about this at great length before, until I gave up.

Smart move.

 

[coloradosun]

If we are going to have any semblence of last year's offense we are going to have to have a three point threat in the lineup with Amare. I see Thomas starting and the need to have Jackson in the lineup for offense out weighs the need for perimeter defense. The interior defense will be improved with Thomas and that will eliminate some of the easy baskets that were given up because the guards and forwards were beaten off the dribble.

 

[George O'Brien]

I think the Suns are going to be facing a lot more zone defenses this season, which is why the Suns need to start their best three point shooting wing.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

I honestly believe the 2-spot is wide open, and that it won't be settled until the last game of preseason.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I think the Suns are going to be facing a lot more zone defenses this season, which is why the Suns need to start their best three point shooting wing.

Doubtful. The zone is becoming less and less prevelent. IIRC, the most any team had their offense coming from a zone situation was less than 4%

 

[George O'Brien]

Doubtful. The zone is becoming less and less prevelent. IIRC, the most any team had their offense coming from a zone situation was less than 4%

From what I can tell, the best way to stop the pick and roll is the zone. The success the European teams had against the USA team last year is very suggestive. Two years ago the Suns had enormous problems with variations on the zone which might have continued if it hadn't been for the Suns three point onslaught. Without JJ on the wing, opposing coaches may decide it is worth the risk if they can limit Amare.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

From what I can tell, the best way to stop the pick and roll is the zone. The success the European teams had against the USA team last year is very suggestive. Two years ago the Suns had enormous problems with variations on the zone which might have continued if it hadn't been for the Suns three point onslaught. Without JJ on the wing, opposing coaches may decide it is worth the risk if they can limit Amare.

A zone would shut down the pick and roll pretty quick, although it leaves open to many other offensive options.

With the Suns ball movement they would get plenty of outside looks against a zone. Add in that they have 5 players that shot over 40% from 3 last season on the team and an opponent would be committing suicide letting all those guys shoot.

Or Amare could get into the middle of the zone where he would just dominate the defense.


A well run zone can be very effective in stretches. The problem is no team in the NBA can run a zone very well because they just don't practice it. The last team to have a nice zone was the Wolves the first year it was allowed.

Trying to throw the zone in for just a couple of games won't work, any good team will disect it. It takes to much commitment to get the zone perfect so coaches are worrying more about their normal defensive schemes.

To give you an idea of how little it is being used, the company I work for will be dropping the zone catagory for the upcomming season since it was too underpopulated.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Wow, I'm surprised by the results of this poll so far.

Jackson has been a starter his entire career and performed very well when pressed into the role following Johnson's injury. Bell, on the other hand, has had one season where he looked like starter material, and even then he didn't shoot a lot of threes, which will be one of the starting SG's main jobs.

I agree. Bell came in here thinking he was going to be a reserve. I like everything he brings to the table, but he has shown he can be very effective in that role.

Jackson on the other hand has a tremendous increase in output the longer he is on the floor. Allowing him to start and get his rythm early is key to having a constant scoring punch IMO. If Jackson was to be the 6th man we would have a dry spell of a few minutes from the 2G spot while he gets going. That wouldn't happen with Bell.

 

[sly fly]

I picked Raja Bell. However, I'd like the Suns to give L. Barbosa a chance to start at the 2.

Barbosa has all the tools to succeed at the 2. Only things missing are game experience and confidence. Let's see what the kid can do.

With the 4 variables (Jim Jackson, Diaw, Bell, and James Jones), PHX is going to need to tinker to see what works best with Amare, Marion, and Nash.

I can't wait to see the defensive intensity that these guys are going to bring.

Also, Jim Jackson should be treated with kid gloves. Really hope PHX watches his minutes. I'd rather have Jackson peaking at the right time. His experience is invaluable come playoff time, and I don't want him have tired legs.

 

[elindholm]

Barbosa has all the tools to succeed at the 2. Only things missing are game experience and confidence.

And any sort of mid-range game, and a shot mechanic that will work with someone right on him.

The only shots Barbosa has in his repertoire are open threes and drives to the basket. Maybe Andy can quote some statistics for us, but I'd guess that shots in the 12- to 20-foot range constituted less than 10% of his total attempts, and that he didn't do particularly well with them. A starting SG needs to have a whole lot more in his arsenal than that.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Maybe Andy can quote some statistics for us, but I'd guess that shots in the 12- to 20-foot range constituted less than 10% of his total attempts, and that he didn't do particularly well with them.

These are for his jump shots:

He shot 41% from 17 feet to the 3 point line, but only took 24 of them all season.

He took 20 shots less than 17 feet and 139 3 pointers.

 

[haverford]

These are for his jump shots:

He shot 41% from 17 feet to the 3 point line, but only took 24 of them all season.

He took 20 shots less than 17 feet and 139 3 pointers.

Wow, hats off to your encyclopedic knowledge. Thanks for that piece of impressiveness.