The 5th Starter

[Griffin]

Nash (1), Amare (4 or 5), Marion (3 or 4), Bell (2) and...? It seems likely it will be Hill at 3, but that is not guaranteed. That spot is still open and could be decided in the training camp. And it may very well be shared by a couple of players, depending on the opponent.

But regardless of who is most likely to start, who do you want to start? And will your decision make someone unhappy coming off the bench?

It seems to me that:

Hill - really wants to start, but would accept coming of the bench; starter throughout his career
Diaw - doesn't care, but probably a little better as a starter
Barbosa - doesn't care, doesn't really affect his performance either way
Thomas - used to want to start, but already embraced role as reserve

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

Thomas. Gives us a much better defensive outlook, better rebounding, and no small ball.

 

[Covert Rain]

Thomas. Gives us a much better defensive outlook, better rebounding, and no small ball.

 

[elindholm]

Thomas would be best, but it will be Hill. When Hill gets injured, D'Antoni will probably start Barbosa and move Bell to SF.

 

[jbeecham]

My only problem with KT starting is that we don't have anyone adequate enough to back him up right now. We could make it work by subbing Hill for KT around the 6 minute mark of the 1st qtr and moving Amare to C & Marion to PF and then bringing Diaw in for Amare around the 2 minute mark or whatever. Still the NBA seems to be changing and there are a lot more PF's playing C that KT will struggle to be able to guard night in and night out so I chose Hill to start.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'll vote for Diaw as who should be the 5th starter during the early part of the season but only because Hill and KT need to see limited minutes during the season prior to the stretch run. I like LB off the bench.

However, I think Hill will be the starter opening the season because he is a well qualified veteran and a promise is a promise. I mean if Hill is healthy this is not a tough decision if one wants to discount age and injury factors. The same could be argued for KT.

 

[azirish]

We really do obsess over five the first minutes of a game. IMHO, it will vary depending on the opponent.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

IMHO, it will vary depending on the opponent.

Now I wouldnt be surprised if grant hill starts the first game, as he is the new guy everyone will want to see. But the smallball lineup will not be set in stone for the majority of the season.

 

[playstation]

it SHOULD NOT vary with opponent. the opponent should conform to US. and we SHOULD NOT start a team that can beat 29 teams but can't beat 1, because when it comes to the end we won't be able to change to beat that one.

we SHOULD start a team with personnel geared to beat the one and play like it every game, regardless of whether that means more losses. imo, this means KT starts. even if he doesn't play much, it just creates a mindset that is incredibly important imo...'We're not messing around, we play every game as though its again the best offensive/defensive team in the league'

grant still gets his minutes and closes the game, but KT starts

 

[azirish]

it SHOULD NOT vary with opponent. the opponent should conform to US. and we SHOULD NOT start a team that can beat 29 teams but can't beat 1, because when it comes to the end we won't be able to change to beat that one.

we SHOULD start a team with personnel geared to beat the one and play like it every game, regardless of whether that means more losses. imo, this means KT starts. even if he doesn't play much, it just creates a mindset that is incredibly important imo...'We're not messing around, we play every game as though its again the best offensive/defensive team in the league'

grant still gets his minutes and closes the game, but KT starts

Don't hold your breath. After three full seasons of D'Antoni, it is unrealistic to expect him to abandon the speed lineup for most opponents. They cannot play against the Suns and it really does work.

The types of team that would make the most sense to start KT are ones with a physical low post threat that can get Amare into foul trouble. The Suns need to start KT against that kind of team because it will prepare them for the Spurs. But otherwise, this team lacks the third physical big off the bench to play that way most of the season.

 

[carey]

Thomas. The fact is we play better with him in the starting line-up, and when he gets big minutes. I think most realize Hill *will* be the starter but then we also realize who it *should* be.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Don't hold your breath. After three full seasons of D'Antoni, it is unrealistic to expect him to abandon the speed lineup for most opponents. They cannot play against the Suns and it really does work.

The types of team that would make the most sense to start KT are ones with a physical low post threat that can get Amare into foul trouble. The Suns need to start KT against that kind of team because it will prepare them for the Spurs. But otherwise, this team lacks the third physical big off the bench to play that way most of the season.

That's a great point. Amare and Kurt in at the same time opens them up to fouls, refs need to get in the flow of the game too and can often have a quick whistle at the beginning of games.

The message thing is not valid against the Spurs, the Suns sent a huge message in game 5 and still lost the game yet they took the game in the 4th after a weak start to game 4. It's the best team overall not the best starting 5. the Suns are right there, the starting 5 is a minor detail just like those 12 man Memphis Grizz rotations everyone is so fond of here.

 

[green machine]

Didn't Hill start for the Magic?

Look, I'm nervous about him getting hurt too, but you can't not play the guy based on that. If he deserves to start then start him. He's going to have to play anyway, right? If he gets hurt he gets hurt. I'm all for limiting his minutes to a reasonable average, of course, but his injury history is no reason not to start him.

 

[dodie53]

imo,
inter change hill and KT depending on who we play

 

[az jam]

No doubt that it will be Grant Hill. IMO Thomas will be traded before the season.

 

[azirish]

No doubt that it will be Grant Hill. IMO Thomas will be traded before the season.

No, he won't.

 

[elindholm]

Every year some people speculate that the starting lineup will depend on the opponent, and every year it doesn't happen. D'Antoni doesn't think that way.

 

[fordronken]

Every year some people speculate that the starting lineup will depend on the opponent, and every year it doesn't happen. D'Antoni doesn't think that way.

It did a few years ago. Back when there was a Voskuhl/Outlaw starting player rotation pre Nash.

Honestly, to me, the most important thing in terms of who starts is getting playmakers on the floor when Nash is out. I also don't want our only three guards starting because foul trouble to any of them just creates huge minutes problems the rest of the game.

I also have been championing Tucker as a starter because I think that if he's given the opportunity over a full season, he'll be a contributor in the playoffs. Also, playing with Nash for more minutes will give him a better shot of finding his spot. I don't think he's a guy who can really succeed as a second or third option on offense, or with a lineup that doesn't really have defined roles. As a final point, I'll say that bringing Hill off the bench helps my goal of having Barbosa, Diaw and Hill on the floor whenever Nash is out.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I voted for Hill because the Spurs blueprint to success was to force other members of the Suns to facilitate the offense. This was the roll that Diaw was supposed to have but had trouble with it while Amare was on the floor.

 

[azirish]

Every year some people speculate that the starting lineup will depend on the opponent, and every year it doesn't happen. D'Antoni doesn't think that way.

I think there is another explanation. D'Antoni is superstitious.

If you go back to early last November, Kurt Thomas started most of the games. It was soon after Mike switched to the Diaw in the lineup they went on their first big run.

 

[Rab]

I went with Grant Hill. I like having the luxury of KT off the bench. It's not like they can't bring in KT for Grant Hill 4 or 5 minutes into the game, and then bring in Grant to play PG when Nash is out.

The Spurs are really the only team who can consistently beat us, and force us to adjust to them, but against most other teams in the league, our speed lineup is what kills. I can't see Mike changing his philosophy there. It's not like it's a lock that we are going to have to go through SA again anyway. Dallas will still be a great team, and we might end up playing them again.

 

[azirish]

I went with Grant Hill. I like having the luxury of KT off the bench. It's not like they can't bring in KT for Grant Hill 4 or 5 minutes into the game, and then bring in Grant to play PG when Nash is out.

The Spurs are really the only team who can consistently beat us, and force us to adjust to them, but against most other teams in the league, our speed lineup is what kills. I can't see Mike changing his philosophy there. It's not like it's a lock that we are going to have to go through SA again anyway. Dallas will still be a great team, and we might end up playing them again.

Winning the most games would help get a better seeding.

 

[Rab]

Winning the most games would help get a better seeding.

Not saying that we get the #1 seed next year, but how many #1 seeds have won the chip in the last 4 years?

T-Wolves - Lost in the WCF's to the Lakers
Suns - Lost in WCF's to the Spurs
Spurs - Lost in WC Semi's to Dallas
Mavs - Lost in 1st Round to Golden St

Just an interesting fact. Getting the #1 seed would help us avoid both Dallas and SA though.

 

[azirish]

Not saying that we get the #1 seed next year, but how many #1 seeds have won the chip in the last 4 years?

T-Wolves - Lost in the WCF's to the Lakers
Suns - Lost in WCF's to the Spurs
Spurs - Lost in WC Semi's to Dallas
Mavs - Lost in 1st Round to Golden St

Just an interesting fact. Getting the #1 seed would help us avoid both Dallas and SA though.

If it gets you to the WCF with home court advantage, I'm not sure you can ask much more from the regular season. Of course if you are the Mavs and deliverately tank a game that leads to playing the team that beats you in the first round, well I guess you get what you deserve.

 

[Rab]

If it gets you to the WCF with home court advantage, I'm not sure you can ask much more from the regular season. Of course if you are the Mavs and deliverately tank a game that leads to playing the team that beats you in the first round, well I guess you get what you deserve.

Unless we get the Spurs in the WCF's. They got us 2 years ago, and even last year even though that was the second round.