The 5th Starter

[OldDirtMcGirt]

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

If he is then we can kiss our title chances good bye. In a team that has a serious need for a defensive/rebounding big man, getting rid of our only decent one would be a horrible move. If anything we should be pushing hard for PJ Brown. I hope that we can go nine deep with this roster:

PG: Nash
SG: Bell
SF: Marion
PF: STAT
C: Kurt

Bench 1: Starbosa
Bench 2: Hill
Bench 3: Diaw
Bench 4: Banks

I'd really love for us to use both Hill and Diaw when Nash is out. This would help with the lack of playmakers we have. Also, trying Banks out at shooting guard might not be that bad of an idea.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Thomas. Gives us a much better defensive outlook, better rebounding, and small ball with more defense.

fixed that for you.

 

[F-Dog]

If Hill wants to start, he'll start. Starting SF was a gaping hole for the Suns last season.

Kurt Thomas needs to be managed very carefully--he's seen his minutes creep up in each of the last two seasons, and both times suffered a serious injury within the month.



Actually, when Hill gets a game off, the Suns might be best served starting Tucker. They would limit the damage Tucker can do while allowing the other players to stay in the rotations they're comfortable with.

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

fixed that for you.

Our lineup with Kurt starting is hardly small ball, especially compared to today's NBA. Pretty much everybody is playing in their natural position.

 

[Stargazer]

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.

I have another theory: D'Antoni has had wild success during the regular season by starting the same rotation regardless of the opponent. He's not being stubborn -- he's just following a winning formula.

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

I have another theory: D'Antoni has had wild success during the regular season by starting the same rotation regardless of the opponent. He's not being stubborn -- he's just following a winning formula.

Exactly how well is that winning formula doing for us in the postseason?

 

[Stargazer]

Exactly how well is that winning formula doing for us in the postseason?

I hear you, but on the other hand, D'Antoni actually did vary the lineup against the Spurs sort of along the lines that folks have suggested here. Maybe your point is that if had varied more in the regular season, the team would have been more accustomed to it against the Spurs. But on the other hand, to get to the Spurs, the Suns first had to beat the Lakers, and would starting Thomas have really been the right way to do that?

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

I hear you, but on the other hand, D'Antoni actually did vary the lineup against the Spurs sort of along the lines that folks have suggested here. Maybe your point is that if had varied more in the regular season, the team would have been more accustomed to it against the Spurs. But on the other hand, to get to the Spurs, the Suns first had to beat the Lakers, and would starting Thomas have really been the right way to do that?

I think that we would've been able to beat Los Angeles with Kurt starting. IMO, the lineup with Kurt is the most versatile, we can still run, we play better defense, and we rebound better. Then you bring in Barbosa off the bench, Diaw and Hill when Nash is resting, give minutes to Banks, and that's nine guys getting involved. The only thing we need is an extra big man.

 

[Cheesebeef]

No, he won't.

good call as usual george.

 

[HooverDam]

good call as usual george.

Wow- way to be a prick. Dig up an old thread just to call someone out on a silly thing like that? Pretty lame.

 

[Brianellsworth]

Wow- way to be a prick. Dig up an old thread just to call someone out on a silly thing like that? Pretty lame.

You know he was just waiting for Thomas to be traded so he could post this as soon as it happend