[TRC1991Participant]

Here are some big time positional battles for the upcoming season

1)
Battle: Jose Calderon vs. Jarrett Jack
Job: Starting PG Toronto Raptors

Who Wins? I think Jack has this one simply because he was more successful as a starter last year than Calderon was. I know Jarrett isn’t your perfect point guard but he provides athleticism and defensive backcourt stability that Jose doesn’t…On the flipside, Jose is a very solid true point guard but the loss of Bosh will inevitably affect his numbers.

2)
Battle: Tyson Chandler vs. Brendan Haywood
Job: Starting C Dallas Mavericks

Who Wins? I think Haywood will initially start the season but he will see his production slip and he will become disgruntled. Then, Chandler will take over and have a very nice season getting his looks on 2nd chance points and from running the floor…Beaubois, Terry, Chandler, and either Jones/Marion = one of the best 2nd units in the league

3)
Battle: Trevor Ariza vs. Shane Battier
Job: Starting SF Houston Rockets

Who Wins? Honestly, I think Trevor is the superior basketball player but with all the offensive weapons in Houstons lineup already (yao, scola, brooks, martin) i can see Rick Adelman taking the Popovich approach by surrounding 4 solid offensive players with a defensive-minded wing and having an offensive weapon off the bench

4)
Battle: DeMarcus Cousins vs. Samuel Dalembert/ Jason Thompson vs. Carl Landry
Job: Starting C Sacramento Kings / Starting PF Sacramento Kings

Who Wins? Well, we know what Dalembert gives you- above average d, solid rebounding, minimal offense…what we dont know is how gifted Cousins will be….my guess is Dalembert gets the nod due to his veteran presence but his job is in serious jeopardy…As for the 2nd matchup, I think the organization likes Landry as an off the bench type and for that reason Thompson will probably get the starting nod…all 4 guys are very interchangeable IMO

5)
Battle: Serge Ibaka vs. Nenad Krstic vs. Cole Aldrich
Job: Starting C Oklahoma City Thunder

Who Wins? In this three-way battle, all three players are significantly different…Ibaka is a raw shot-blocker with serious upside but not much of an offensive game to speak of beside put-back dunks…Krstic is your prototypical euro center who is better suited as a 12 minute per game type guy where he can come in and knock down 2 or 3 open 16 footers….Aldrich is the answer long-term and is the most polished of the group but he’s also the least experienced…My guess is the Thunder start Aldrich from day 1

6)
Battle: Lance Stephenson vs. TJ Ford
Job: Starting PG Indiana Pacers

Who Wins? I don’t think its that close…Born Ready is currently unready to start at the point at the next level…I think he is being groomed as the future PG however…TJ Ford isn’t special but hes not the worst starting 1 in the NBA in my opinion

7)
Battle: Kris Humphries vs. Derrick Favors
Job: Starting PF New Jersey Nets

Who Wins? I dont know who wins but the Nets lose…Humphries is your perfect banger off the bench and Favors isn’t nearly ready to start at the 4 position…Humphries gets the nod unless they want to play small and start Outlaw at the 4

8)
Battle: Derek Fisher vs. Steve Blake
Job: Starting PG Los Angeles Lakers

Who Wins? One of the toughest ones to predict…I think it goes to Fisher simply because L.A. is forever in debt to him for his titles he has brought the organization…Blake will compete but in the end, Kobe and Fisher backcourt isn’t broken so no need to change anything

9)
Battle: Al-Farouq Aminu vs. Ryan Gomes
Job: Starting SF Los Angeles Clippers

Who Wins? Gomes is the starter from Day 1 simply becaue he is a veteran and will be used as the stop-gap until Aminu is prepared to step in for good….It may take an entire season before Aminu gets the starting nod however

10)
Battle: Darko Milicic vs. Nikola Pekovic
Job: Starting C Minnesota Timberwolves

Who Wins? Nikola is the better player, let’s get that at least straight…but Darko will throw another tantrum and exclaim his desire to return to Europe if he isn’t the starter from day 1…I think Pekovic will prove to be too talented off the bench for Kahn to keep him there..Expect a different man in the middle for the Wolves come december

who has another battle?

[llperez]

here’s who i think should win:

1-calderon over jack

2-tyson over haywood

3-battier over ariza

4-dalembert over cousins and landry over thompson

5-ibaka over krstic and aldrich

6-stphenson if it comes down to these two although watson should start once again over both if they resign him

7-favors over humphries

8-fisher, but blake should play slightly more minutes

9-aminu over gomes

10-darko over pekovic

[tli232]

Raptors’ starting PF spot:

Ed Davis vs. Amir Johnson 

These two guys are so raw and pretty much play the same type of hustle game. Both will be EXPOSED in a half court set against good front courts. 

Regardless of who wins the starting job, the Raptors lose many games.

[nateoak10Participant]

1. Jack
2. Haywood
3. Both will start
4. Cuz and Landry
5. Ibaka
6. Lance
7. Favors
8. Fish
9. Gomes
10. Darko

[nateoak10Participant]

1. Jack
2. Haywood
3. Both will start
4. Cuz and Landry
5. Ibaka
6. Lance
7. Favors
8. Fish
9. Gomes
10. Darko

[omphalosParticipant]

How about Childress vs Turkoglu vs Hill at the 3 in Phoenix?

[PlatypusParticipant]

Rip Hamilton vs Ben Gordon

Mike Bibby vs Jeff Teague

Jerryd Bayless vs Andre Miller

Jordan Hill vs Patrick Patterson

Maggette vs Chris Douglas-Roberts vs Carlos Delfino vs Luc Richard Mbah ah Moute

[JNixonParticipant]

1) Jack has it. He provides steady play, solid shooting, and most importantly he provides defense and leadership. And as was said, the team played better with him running the show

2) I think Chandler starts. They forked all that money to Haywood for God knows what reason, but I think Chandler will emerge over Haywood. They both do the exact same things, and Haywood was paid a bunch, so it could go either way though.

3) Battier should start. Ariza proved to be overrated and overpaid like I thought. Battier provides efficiency and defense, both of which slipped from Ariza’s grasp last year with more responsibility.

4) Something tells me Dalembert will start on opening day. Cousins will take the job early in the season though, after they realize Dalembert isn’t good or the defensive presence he should be. I also think Thompson beats out Landry as the starting PF. Landry is better off the bench IMO.

5) I think OKC will start Cole Aldrich from Day 1. Ibaka isn’t a C, and Kristic is soft. Krstic could very well start, but Aldrich is my guess. Gives them a rebounder and defender for a team in need of a post defender and rebounder.

6) I think they let Lance come off the pine for the 1st 5-10 games or so, and then he’ll be their starter at PG over Ford.

7) I definitely say Humphries or even Outlaw start at PF over Favors, for at least leading up to the last month and a half of the season when the young guys start playing/padding their stats/gaining experience after they figure out their team won’t be in the playing.

8) Fisher will start. Blake will take Farmar’s time and probably maybe 2 or 3 more. I see Fisher playing like 25 mpg, and Blake playing 20.

9) I got Gomes for at least half the season. Don’t get it twisted though, Aminu will put up about 7 ppg next year despite not starting much. Aminu will eventually be the starter next year.

10) I really don’t know this other guy, but I got Darko starting. Kahn thinks highly of Darko for what ever reason, and forked him all that money to play I’d guess.

[SqortsParticipant]

Hill will get the start but childress will push for it. hedo will get a chance but by the way he played last year i say no

[PlatypusParticipant]

Hedo’s playing powerforward there

[SqortsParticipant]

Robin Lopez or Channing Frye ?
For starting center

[SqortsParticipant]

jermaine oneal or kendrick perkins?

[OhCanada-Participant]

Youre kidding with Calderon and Jack right? Calderon has long lost that battle and is going to be moved from Toronto this offseason.
Excellent post thou.

[TRC1991Participant]

thanks ohcanada

i have a really quick question for nate oak

you think both battier and ariza start? where does that leave kevin martin

symbol…jordan hill vs. patrick patterson? sorry but scola and yao are the starters in houston’s frontcourt

[Author]

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