Starting Position Battles

This topic contains 26 replies, has 7 voices, and was last updated by T Rex 8 years, 6 months ago.

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Posted on: Wed, 10/28/2015 - 6:46pm #61735

valentine
List any starting-5 position battles that are currently taking place, or
any that you feel warrant a change even if a "battle" isn’t taking place.
I like a good battle for starting positions. What more can a mid-tier NBA player ask for than to be given an equal opportunity to make a statement in this league.
An interesting thing about battles for the starting-5, is that coaches will rarely hint that players are competing for the spot. Usually they will publicly back their guy, and if there’s a change it will likely catch everyone by surprise when it happens.
I have a couple of good position battles.
Utah: Entire Backcourt minutes are open, but mostly at Point Guard where Trey Burke and Raul Neto are the contenders. It’s safe to say, that both would be the 30th ranked NBA starting point guard in the league. Gordon Hayward is really a SF, but plays SG in big Utah line-ups that can’t score to save their life.
Phoenix: Alex Len and Tyson Chandler: Something’s gotta give here. You think Len’s agent isn’t in his ear about demanding minutes or a trade. Chandler just seems a bad fit in Phoenix, I hate that move.
Cleveland: Delly and Mo-Williams. Both guys have started the season well, and are obviously trying to prove that they are deserving starters until Irving comes back. Delly with +29, 12pts, 3ast, 2stl in just 17 minutes.
Who you got?

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Posted on: Wed, 10/28/2015 - 6:58pm #1020774

NBAjunkie81
Participant
I Luv Kobe but I really think the Lakers need to let Jordan Clarkson & D’Angelo Russell solidify that backcourt,… I really like Clarkson… I think L.A. missed an opportunity by passing on Okafor… I believe Okafor at center also makes Randle better b/c Oak gets doubled so much & then Kobe is at #2 spot….
But that ship has sailed… It’s kind of a shame that Russell won’t have a chance to just quietly develop but I worry that if he doesn;t get enough touches he could stagnate & if he struyggles on defense with all those great Guards in the West attacking him on defense it could really affect him mentally – especially if he’s not getting the chanmce to "return the favor" at the offensive end…
I want to see the Lakers succeed – the League is better when the Lakers are in the mix but I think Russell, Randle & Clarkson could struggle if Kobe is holding the ball for the entire shot clock… It’s going to be a fascinating Drama watching Coach Scott try to get Kobe to share the ball – it could get ugly in La La Land…

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Posted on: Wed, 10/28/2015 - 6:58pm #1020916

NBAjunkie81
Participant
I Luv Kobe but I really think the Lakers need to let Jordan Clarkson & D’Angelo Russell solidify that backcourt,… I really like Clarkson… I think L.A. missed an opportunity by passing on Okafor… I believe Okafor at center also makes Randle better b/c Oak gets doubled so much & then Kobe is at #2 spot….
But that ship has sailed… It’s kind of a shame that Russell won’t have a chance to just quietly develop but I worry that if he doesn;t get enough touches he could stagnate & if he struyggles on defense with all those great Guards in the West attacking him on defense it could really affect him mentally – especially if he’s not getting the chanmce to "return the favor" at the offensive end…
I want to see the Lakers succeed – the League is better when the Lakers are in the mix but I think Russell, Randle & Clarkson could struggle if Kobe is holding the ball for the entire shot clock… It’s going to be a fascinating Drama watching Coach Scott try to get Kobe to share the ball – it could get ugly in La La Land…

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Posted on: Wed, 10/28/2015 - 7:09pm #1020776

Magic Jordan
Participant
Kobe, 23 shots in 26 minutes… with a little time still left. Can’t wait for him to retire. I am beyond tired watching him jack up shots. I guess a silver lining is he will shoot the Lakers out of pretty much every game they are in all year, which will give them the best possiblity of keeping the pick.
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- Posted on: Wed, 10/28/2015 - 7:10pm #1020778
  
  Rip256
  lol get a load of these disgruntled lakers fans
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  - Posted on: Wed, 10/28/2015 - 7:14pm #1020780
    
    Magic Jordan
    Participant
    How’s your podcast going?
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    - Posted on: Wed, 10/28/2015 - 7:25pm #1020782
      
      Rip256
      Delayed. Major Edit needed. I accidently put the Lakers 28th in my Power Rankings.
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      - Posted on: Wed, 10/28/2015 - 7:28pm #1020784
        
        Magic Jordan
        Participant
        Not because you get poor sound quality in your moms basement?
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        Posted on: Wed, 10/28/2015 - 8:18pm #1020936
        
        trelos6
        Participant
        That says, please, help me. I’m down here.
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        Posted on: Wed, 10/28/2015 - 8:18pm #1020794
        
        trelos6
        Participant
        That says, please, help me. I’m down here.
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        Posted on: Thu, 10/29/2015 - 12:58am #1020955
        
        Cynthia
        Participant
        Omg laughed so hard, well played sir.
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        Posted on: Thu, 10/29/2015 - 12:58am #1020812
        
        Cynthia
        Participant
        Omg laughed so hard, well played sir.
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      - Posted on: Wed, 10/28/2015 - 7:28pm #1020926
        
        Magic Jordan
        Participant
        Not because you get poor sound quality in your moms basement?
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    - Posted on: Wed, 10/28/2015 - 7:25pm #1020924
      
      Rip256
      Delayed. Major Edit needed. I accidently put the Lakers 28th in my Power Rankings.
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  - Posted on: Wed, 10/28/2015 - 7:14pm #1020922
    
    Magic Jordan
    Participant
    How’s your podcast going?
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- Posted on: Wed, 10/28/2015 - 7:10pm #1020920
  
  Rip256
  lol get a load of these disgruntled lakers fans
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Posted on: Wed, 10/28/2015 - 7:09pm #1020918

Magic Jordan
Participant
Kobe, 23 shots in 26 minutes… with a little time still left. Can’t wait for him to retire. I am beyond tired watching him jack up shots. I guess a silver lining is he will shoot the Lakers out of pretty much every game they are in all year, which will give them the best possiblity of keeping the pick.
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Posted on: Wed, 10/28/2015 - 8:01pm #1020932

T Rex
Jose Calderon vs Jerian Grant. Grant had 10 points and 3 steals in his victorious debut off the bench, and already looks like a poised veteran.
Mario Hezonja vs Fournier. Fournier got the start at SF, but Hezonja looked good and put up points off the bench in his first game.
Avery Bradley vs Terry Rozier. Bradley had a quiet night but dropped some passes. Rozier tends to not have quiet nights, and is always aggressive, and is a much better ball handler, with better hands on defense.
Rozier/Smart/Crowder/Olynyk/Amir Johnson is the starting lineup I can’t wait to see.
IT4/Bradley/Turner/Jerebko/Zeller would still compliment IT4 very well.
But then David Lee might be disgruntled, and he’s clearly the team’s vocal veteran leader, even taking over a time out from Brad Stevens.

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Posted on: Wed, 10/28/2015 - 8:01pm #1020790

T Rex
Jose Calderon vs Jerian Grant. Grant had 10 points and 3 steals in his victorious debut off the bench, and already looks like a poised veteran.
Mario Hezonja vs Fournier. Fournier got the start at SF, but Hezonja looked good and put up points off the bench in his first game.
Avery Bradley vs Terry Rozier. Bradley had a quiet night but dropped some passes. Rozier tends to not have quiet nights, and is always aggressive, and is a much better ball handler, with better hands on defense.
Rozier/Smart/Crowder/Olynyk/Amir Johnson is the starting lineup I can’t wait to see.
IT4/Bradley/Turner/Jerebko/Zeller would still compliment IT4 very well.
But then David Lee might be disgruntled, and he’s clearly the team’s vocal veteran leader, even taking over a time out from Brad Stevens.

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Posted on: Thu, 10/29/2015 - 2:29am #1020961

Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers
Participant
Tayshaun prince should not be starting for anyone at this stage of his career. I thought lavine had the starting 2 spot locked up and Wiggins would start at 3, which is his more natural position.

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Posted on: Thu, 10/29/2015 - 2:29am #1020818

Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers
Participant
Tayshaun prince should not be starting for anyone at this stage of his career. I thought lavine had the starting 2 spot locked up and Wiggins would start at 3, which is his more natural position.

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- Posted on: Thu, 10/29/2015 - 4:02am #1020977
  
  T Rex
  Nope. Wiggins and LaVine are 20+ lbs underweight for those positions at the NBA level, assuming the Wolves are trying to win games.
  
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- Posted on: Thu, 10/29/2015 - 4:02am #1020834
  
  T Rex
  Nope. Wiggins and LaVine are 20+ lbs underweight for those positions at the NBA level, assuming the Wolves are trying to win games.
  
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- Posted on: Thu, 10/29/2015 - 7:15am #1021032
  
  phila9012
  Participant
  Yeah, muhammed, lavine or martin should be starting. Ideally trading martin to a team that can use him. He can still get 15 to 20 a game for most teams. He shouldn’t be wasted on a lottery bound twolves team. That way muhammed and lavine can both get their 25 to 30 minutes a game and make it so that lavine shouldn’t have to play pg for more than 10 mpg ideally none though
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- Posted on: Thu, 10/29/2015 - 7:15am #1020890
  
  phila9012
  Participant
  Yeah, muhammed, lavine or martin should be starting. Ideally trading martin to a team that can use him. He can still get 15 to 20 a game for most teams. He shouldn’t be wasted on a lottery bound twolves team. That way muhammed and lavine can both get their 25 to 30 minutes a game and make it so that lavine shouldn’t have to play pg for more than 10 mpg ideally none though
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  - Posted on: Thu, 10/29/2015 - 7:24am #1021038
    
    T Rex
    Only if the Wolves plan on tanking. Wiggins sucks az trying to defend small forwards, and shooting guards make LaVine fall down just by breathing on him.
    Wiggins is much better on both ends of the court at shooting guard, as you would, or at least should expect from any 205 pounder. Same with LaVine at PG, as you would expect from any 180 pounder with great quickness.
    Nothing wrong with having a defensive role player like Prince starting at SF. Better than getting beat up to start games and having Wiggins once again have the worst plus minus in the entire NBA again, with LaVine close behind.
    Wolves actually have a good defensive starting 5, and for a team that appears to actually be trying to win games, that’s a very good thing to have.
    
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  - Posted on: Thu, 10/29/2015 - 7:24am #1020896
    
    T Rex
    Only if the Wolves plan on tanking. Wiggins sucks az trying to defend small forwards, and shooting guards make LaVine fall down just by breathing on him.
    Wiggins is much better on both ends of the court at shooting guard, as you would, or at least should expect from any 205 pounder. Same with LaVine at PG, as you would expect from any 180 pounder with great quickness.
    Nothing wrong with having a defensive role player like Prince starting at SF. Better than getting beat up to start games and having Wiggins once again have the worst plus minus in the entire NBA again, with LaVine close behind.
    Wolves actually have a good defensive starting 5, and for a team that appears to actually be trying to win games, that’s a very good thing to have.
    
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