Who should replace Tucker in the starting lineup for the first 3 games?

[sunsfan88]

Let's just put Bledsoe on Dwight Howard and Anthony Davis too, since he is the best defender on the team. Someone who is barely 6 feet tool will not be able to guard a 6'7 player who happens to have low-post game.

Yea I just don't understand how 6-7 inches doesn't make a huge difference. The shorter player could do everything perfectly and still just watch as the much taller guy just shoots right over him despite the contest.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm just not that concerned about who's guarding Kobe. If he's the Kobe of old, we don't have anyone than can do much with him. Unlike a lot of people here though, I don't worry about Bledsoe's height. His length and his strength allows him to play much bigger than his height would suggest. I still wouldn't want to see him on Kobe though as his strength really is guarding the ball handler. But if all it comes down to is who would likely guard Kobe better, Gerald or Eric, I'd take Bledsoe. I think Marcus would guard the old man version of Kobe better than either of them though.

Steve

 

[Phrazbit]

Let's just put Bledsoe on Dwight Howard and Anthony Davis too, since he is the best defender on the team. Someone who is barely 6 feet tool will not be able to guard a 6'7 player who happens to have low-post game.

Come on... to act as though I'm making some reach here, and then you compare Kobe as a post player to Howard or Davis, its absolutely laughable. Kobe is not some demi-god SG who can post up like a center and pass like Jesus. He is not going to threaten for 40/20, he also is not 6'7". I'm surprised you're fighting this. Green is our worst defender, it does not matter how tall he is if he is not in position to challenge shots or stop a guy from attacking angles, I know Bledsoe does a much better job of challenging dribbles and forcing players into uncomfortable areas of the floor than Green.

And we're also talking about a guard defending another guard, Green certainly won't be a starting guard that game, so now you're asking Bledsoe or Dragic to defend Nick Young, a taller player than Kobe... and as the only line of logic for Green being a better matchup is his height then its pretty self defeating to juggle your point guard to cover a forward.

And really, doesn't it seem as though Green and Nick Young were made to cover each other?

 

[SirStefan32]

Come on... to act as though I'm making some reach here, and then you compare Kobe as a post player to Howard or Davis, its absolutely laughable. Kobe is not some demi-god SG who can post up like a center and pass like Jesus. He is not going to threaten for 40/20, he also is not 6'7". I'm surprised you're fighting this. Green is our worst defender, it does not matter how tall he is if he is not in position to challenge shots or stop a guy from attacking angles, I know Bledsoe does a much better job of challenging dribbles and forcing players into uncomfortable areas of the floor than Green.

And we're also talking about a guard defending another guard, Green certainly won't be a starting guard that game, so now you're asking Bledsoe or Dragic to defend Nick Young, a taller player than Kobe... and as the only line of logic for Green being a better matchup is his height then its pretty self defeating to juggle your point guard to cover a forward.

And really, doesn't it seem as though Green and Nick Young were made to cover each other?

There is a big difference between Dragic guarding Young and Bledsoe guarding Bryant. If you can't see the difference between Young and Bryant, then this discussion is pointless.

 

[Phrazbit]

There is a big difference between Dragic guarding Young and Bledsoe guarding Bryant. If you can't see the difference between Young and Bryant, then this discussion is pointless.

I can see the difference, but seeing as you've, in this conversation, claimed Kobe is capable of 40/20 and compared him as a post player to some all-star centers I'm also struggling to see the point of this conversation.

That Bledsoe is a better defender than Green is unquestionable. That Bledsoe and Kobe are both guards and will essentially be starting at the same position is also a given. It makes very little sense to deliberately slide Green over to guard someone who is perceived as a threat. Green is simply a bad defender. Height does not help (and the difference is being exaggerated anyway in this argument) if you're not in the right spots and you're bad at challenging shots anyway.

BTW, I would not be at all surprised if Nick Young scores more points than Kobe Byrant this season. And that is not a ringing endorsement of Nick Young.

 

[Errntknght]

I can see putting Green on Kobe to start the game as a rather devious ploy - scoring at will early Kobe might well decide to take over the game, then once he's in that mode we put PJ on him so he doesn't go crazy and actually win the game for them.

Ooops, PJ won't be playing so we better forget that ploy.

 

[Chaz]

Who ever plays better in TC/preseason.

 

[BC867]

At the 3. Sure! Surprised BC suggested it yet.

Bryan Colangelo?

BTW, I think those of you who posted that we will see Marcus get a lot of time at PF, but not with Markieff on the floor, will be in for a surprise.

I think Kieff will get as much time at C as Marcus gets at PF, as much as I don't like that idea.

That's what I am thinking, JC.

Hmmm . . . JC and BC. Is this really us or them? That would make you Dad. Which would make you at least 95.

 

[AzStevenCal]

BTW, I think those of you who posted that we will see Marcus get a lot of time at PF, but not with Markieff on the floor, will be in for a surprise.

I think Kieff will get as much time at C as Marcus gets at PF, as much as I don't like that idea.

I don't know how the minutes will break down but I think most of us expect to see the twins playing together at the 4 and 5 occasionally. I think the degree to which we see it will reflect how effective Markieff is at spreading the court at the 4. If he fails, we'll likely see more of it as Marcus appears to be a much more consistent 3 point shooter. But I think it's the hope and the intention that Markieff plays the lion's share of minutes at the 4.

Steve

 

[JCSunsfan]

Bryan Colangelo?

BTW, I think those of you who posted that we will see Marcus get a lot of time at PF, but not with Markieff on the floor, will be in for a surprise.

I think Kieff will get as much time at C as Marcus gets at PF, as much as I don't like that idea.

That's what I am thinking, JC.

Hmmm . . . JC and BC. Is this really us or them? That would make you Dad. Which would make you at least 95.

Nah. Cant be. You sure BC has nothing to do with when you were born?

Honestly, I have no idea about the rotations yet. We have 15 players on the roster. Only 10 will be in the regular rotation. Randolph and Ennis will not see much burn. That leaves three more riding pine. My guess that two of them will be Tolliver and Archie. One more is going to be odd man out. It will likely be one of Green, TJ, or Marcus. I do not see any other way of looking at it. If it is Len, well, that will be unfortunate.

 

[sunsfan88]

Nick Young is out for this game

http://www.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/nick-young-kobe-bryant-lakers-surgery-guarding-kobe-100714

 

[Covert Rain]

Well, not exactly, Dragic would move up. It's a lineup we're all expecting to see a lot of, so we might as well end the suspense and have it open the season. D'Antoni would do it. Didn't he have Raja Bell or someone like that jump center once?

I think you are right. I seem to remember some ridiculous jump match up one time.

 

[Phrazbit]

Have any of you caught the Lakers so far? That team is hot garbage, and their defensive back court is mega-super-extreme-poopy-doo-doo bad. We are not going to need to worry about who is covering Kobe's 35% barrage of 16-20 foot jumpers, but the Lakers are going to have a serious problem keeping the Bledsoe/Dragic/IT combo from dropping a combined 70+ points on 60% shooting.

The Lakers are going to suck out loud.

 

[elindholm]

The Lakers are going to suck out loud.

Maybe in January the Suns can trade them Bledsoe and their pick back for Hill.

 

[Errntknght]

Has anyone heard why the Lakers didn't bring Kendall Marshall back? I know he has limitations but he got his 3pt shot on target and he ran their offense quite well.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Has anyone heard why the Lakers didn't bring Kendall Marshall back? I know he has limitations but he got his 3pt shot on target and he ran their offense quite well.

Not really. He had decent stretches but overall, he was more liability than asset even ignoring his porous defense. He played well enough for someone to want to keep him around but I don't know if he was any more effective than Ish Smith was for us. They both had moments but that's all IMO.

Steve

 

[Hoop Head]

Maybe in January the Suns can trade them Bledsoe and their pick back for Hill.

I don't believe you meant this to be taken seriously but since Bledsoe signed a 5 year deal with us doesn't that mean he can't be traded until the 2015/16 season? I could be wrong but I know sign and trade deals can't be done anymore for the full 5 years that a home team can offer, does that restrict the ability to move a player in the first year of a 5 year deal?

 

[elindholm]

I don't believe you meant this to be taken seriously but since Bledsoe signed a 5 year deal with us doesn't that mean he can't be traded until the 2015/16 season?

I think it's sometime in mid-December, but I could be wrong.

 

[Suns_fan69]

I believe it's 90 days from when the deal was signed so mid December sounds roughly correct. The whole season was if he had signed the qualifying offer, and I think it's a case of he would have to approve the trade because it'd be sending his bird rights (or something like that).

 

[sunsfan88]

Maybe in January the Suns can trade them Bledsoe and their pick back for Hill.

Jordan Hill?

 

[sunsfan88]

Looks like Marcus Morris will be the starter.