Will Hill Start?

[Covert Rain]

You are bringing up two issues:

Is Hill's health more vulnerable starting or coming off the bench?

Will D'Antoni shock everyone and go to a conventional lineup with a big to go alone with Amare?

IMHO, a player who plays the same minutes is LESS likely to get injured than coming off the bench because he has a chance to get warmed up.

Getting Hill probably ensures that D'Antoni will play the small ball lineup more because he will have the talent to make it work. I would hope he goes big against teams with major low post threats, but that is fewer than a third of the teams.

To me he is more likely to get injured staring and logging 35 minutes a game because of the nature of his injuries. It's not a warm up type injury. Your talking about his ankles which is more wear and tear.

You're able to state this with confidence based on D'Antoni's history of developing his bench and not overplaying his stars, right?

Bottom line is that adding Hill adds more depth. If I see the same crap out of D'Antoni and his bench management next season, I will be joining the fire D'Antoni bandwagon. Then again, if that means Diaw getting less minutes and he continues to play like crap...maybe that's a good thing.

 

[Nasser22]

You're able to state this with confidence based on D'Antoni's history of developing his bench and not overplaying his stars, right?

He doesn't overplay slow players. Hill is a good, slow player which is why he'll reach 20 minutes. I also said that I think Diaw will do better and take some of his minutes away. Marion and Amare will play close to 40 unfortunately and Kurt will take around 10 so most of Diaw's minutes will come in relief of Hill. Also, that line-up with Nash-Barbosa-Bell was affective so we'll see that at times too.


Edit: I'm also hoping Tucker gets 5-10 minutes....I think he'll get a chance to play at least.

 

[azirish]

yeah and plus Dias sucks at the game of basketball...

Fortunately, Dias doesn't play for the Suns.

Diaw doesn't do well in a lineup with Stoudemire and Marion, which is why I prefer to having him come off the bench.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

18 is pushin it...

to say the least! but i'd be stoked with that beyond all comprehension. i think we'll see something like 14ish.

i think amare's scoring may increase this year, and barb's as well. i could see nash's dipping toward 14 and marion's to about 16.

 

[Ronin]

I’d rather have Grant Hill start than Barbosa.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

He doesn't overplay slow players. Hill is a good, slow player which is why he'll reach 20 minutes. I also said that I think Diaw will do better and take some of his minutes away. Marion and Amare will play close to 40 unfortunately and Kurt will take around 10 so most of Diaw's minutes will come in relief of Hill. Also, that line-up with Nash-Barbosa-Bell was affective so we'll see that at times too.


Edit: I'm also hoping Tucker gets 5-10 minutes....I think he'll get a chance to play at least.

I don't get why it's unfortunate to play Amare and Marion cose to 40 minutes. Around the league the best players get minutes. You're NEVER going to have 12 guys playing 20 minutes each and win a title, you will be Memphis of 2005.

Furthermore, you're probably going to be dead wrong on his minutes, Hill if healthy will probably log close to 30 minutes a game just like last season. Saying D'Antoni does not play slow players is rediculous considering he loves Diaw and he is a slow fat bastard.

 

[Cheesebeef]

to say the least! but i'd be stoked with that beyond all comprehension. i think we'll see something like 14ish.

i think amare's scoring may increase this year, and barb's as well. i could see nash's dipping toward 14 and marion's to about 16.

in all honesty, this offense may challenge Showtime as the greatest offensive team EVER assembled when all is said and done.

if they're healthy come playoff time, no one will be able to stop us - period.

 

[Suns_fan69]

What happened to cheese?

And who is this optimistic imposter posting in his place?

 

[Nasser22]

I just don't like players, especially one who came off micro-fracture surgery, being overplayed and would like the bench player behind Diaw get a chance at some minutes. I'm not saying they should only player around 20. Hmm, looking at all the minutes each player would play I guess Hill could get around 30, but I think it would be smart to give a 9th guy a serious chance to fit in with the team. I don't like just having 8 guys, some of which don't show up in big playoff series.

 

[azirish]

I just don't like players, especially one who came off micro-fracture surgery, being overplayed and would like the bench player behind Diaw get a chance at some minutes. I'm not saying they should only player around 20. Hmm, looking at all the minutes each player would play I guess Hill could get around 30, but I think it would be smart to give a 9th guy a serious chance to fit in with the team. I don't like just having 8 guys, some of which don't show up in big playoff series.

It's hard to give everybody the minutes they want and deserve. Eric is right about D'Antoni not giving young players minutes. But in Mike's defense, he played Barbosa when a lot of people were really down on Leandro.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

I just don't like players, especially one who came off micro-fracture surgery, being overplayed and would like the bench player behind Diaw get a chance at some minutes. I'm not saying they should only player around 20. Hmm, looking at all the minutes each player would play I guess Hill could get around 30, but I think it would be smart to give a 9th guy a serious chance to fit in with the team. I don't like just having 8 guys, some of which don't show up in big playoff series.

I think Amare can handle 35-40 minutes. he is already working out everyday 90+ and nobody seems to be in an uproar.

With Hill, Tucker and assuming Banks gets another shot that gives you 9 guys in the rotation.

 

[Nasser22]

Well that would be 10...you are leaving someone out. I'd just like a 9th spot open to give Banks, Tucker or Strawberry a shot for 10-15 minutes a game. Enough to get them to be part of the team and hopefully increase the rotation, but not enough to drop us below the #2 seed if they don't play well.

 

[Rab]

I just really wish that Banks could play a role other than D'Antoni's whipping boy.

*Sigh*

 

[Griffin]

AP reported that no promise was made that Hill would start.

Babby said Phoenix didn't promise Hill a starting job, and he wasn't looking for one.

"I think all he was seeking was the opportunity to start," Babby said. "It was the same promise that was made to him when he went to Duke. Nobody guarantees you anything and he wasn't asking for guarantees."

I do think that come opening day Hill will be in the staring lineup at SF. Diaw already lost his staring spot last season, and though I hope he really improves, I would rather have him come off the bench for now.

The other thing to consider is Marion. With Hill in the lineup, once again Marion will be asked to play PF. Everyone knows that's not his preferred position, though he is very effective there.

 

[Gaddabout]

in all honesty, this offense may challenge Showtime as the greatest offensive team EVER assembled when all is said and done.

if they're healthy come playoff time, no one will be able to stop us - period.

Wow! Cheese, you're not wearing white Adidas and waiting for the mother ship, are you? Hope you're right ...

 

[TucsonDevil]

in all honesty, this offense may challenge Showtime as the greatest offensive team EVER assembled when all is said and done.

if they're healthy come playoff time, no one will be able to stop us - period.

This will never happen. Period. I say it every year... but this year I will finally learn the lesson that history is screaming. The playoffs are slowed down, and pushing, shoving, elbows, are legalized in the post-season. The Suns can't win unless they address this issue.


They haven't done it yet!

 

[sharkman]

The playoffs are slowed down, and pushing, shoving, elbows, are legalized in the post-season. The Suns can't win unless they address this issue.

The solution? Sign Randy Couture or Tito Ortiz...they can use elbows pretty effectively.

 

[playstation]

if by some chance we can get garnett while losing marion and barbosa from the core (+draft pics & filler), i'd be highly confident about winning a title.

as it stands, this team is better suited than a potential garnett one to be gangbusters in the reg season. marion will kill it in the reg season for the most part and the lackadaisicalness that takes over in the middle will be a LITTLE less with a 35 yr old hungry lunchpail-kinda guy coming to work every day.

if healthy (big if i know), this team will push for 70 wins. that's not even being optimistic though because i still think they'd be underdogs for the title because of a lack of interior size/rebounding issues. they'd beat everyone except for SA, but that's not good enough.

 

[Cheesebeef]

This will never happen. Period. I say it every year... but this year I will finally learn the lesson that history is screaming. The playoffs are slowed down, and pushing, shoving, elbows, are legalized in the post-season. The Suns can't win unless they address this issue.


They haven't done it yet!

Amare will not get suspended again and we now have another player who can actually go to the hole, draw fouls and create shots for himself and others.

again, calling my shot - if we're healthy and the top eight remain as is right now, no one can stop us. Only thing is the if - and it's a BIG if.

 

[nashman]

Amare will not get suspended again and we now have another player who can actually go to the hole, draw fouls and create shots for himself and others.

again, calling my shot - if we're healthy and the top eight remain as is right now, no one can stop us. Only thing is the if - and it's a BIG if.

Agree 100% I think the Suns learned and grew a lot this season and will be better for it. I believe they are not gonna give anyone a chance to steal their season away this year!

 

[dodie53]

i think hill will start..

diaw and LB are used to playing off the bench

 

[cly2tw]

I think the most important advantage of having Hill is that, between him and Diaw we'd have a consistent reliable alternate ball-handler other than Nash on the court all time. That makes everybody else's adjustment easier to the two poles of facilitators Nash + Hill/Diaw. If DA is wise, he'd play Nash off the ball more often in the style of Stockton's. Also, Hill can be a much better and more willing passer into Amare at low post than Marion/Bell/LB.

His presence could really set off a great positive chain reaction for our team. All that is left to do now is just to trade Marion for Miller/Swift.