[JNixonParticipant]

If your team had a more talented guy at a position that had starter ability but might come off the bench for players that arent starter-caliber, such as James Harden being a better player offensively but also a decent/unspectacular defender, while Kyle Weaver and Sefolosha are great defenders but are poor offensively or Mikael Pietrus starting at the SF and letting Bass coming off the pine so Rashard Lewis can provide a “match-up problem” at the PF, would you start a defensive oriented player that isnt good offensively or the player that shows more talent offensively but isnt quite as menacing a defender? It has worked with Jones and J.R. Smith last yr in Denver, but I feel that the better player should play starter minutes instead of coming off the pine for a player thats not as good.

What do you think?

[Michael.S.Participant]

Well even though J.R. Smith came off the bench he had the majority of the minutes at the 2. Jones played very seldomly except for if he started the 1st and 3rd quarters, or had a big matchup to contain like Kobe. VC. would be great coming off the bench if he is willing to, and Pietrus is starting caliber.

[wowthisisneatParticipant]

well for OKC, Sefo should start. Harden’s effectiveness offensively would be limited with Westbrook and Durant and Green. This is because as rookie, albeit a mature one, he will need inefficient touches to get his points. But as a more important role player from the bench he will be better able to have more touches. Also, he will be protected from early foul trouble.

[gatorheelsParticipant]

I would start the best player.  JR Smith should start, so should Harden.  Orlando needs to start Carter SG, Lewis SF, & Bass PF.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

Orlando’s best offense with Howard on the court is surrounding him with shooters… so they should at least start each half with that offensive package (pietrus, lewis as forwards, VC, Nelson as guards) then go from there with matchups, foul trouble etc for the rest of the game

For the record, i never said weaver should start over harden, but I definitely think sefolosha should start… did u see how much better they were after they added sefolosha to the lineup?

[JNixonParticipant]

I think Harden is already better than Sefolosha though, and I think he would make them a better team rather than with Sefolosha starting over him.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

i’d probably agree that they’d have a better starting 5 with harden on the floor, but i dont think they win more games starting him over sefolosha… just cuz he isn’t starting doesnt mean he’ll play less minutes… like someone above said. i definitely think harden should play more minutes than sef…. whether or not those minutes should come against 2nd teamers or starters… that’s the discussion

[JNixonParticipant]

By starting, I mean getting starter minutes. Not playing the 1st and 3rd qtrs and whatnot. Harden should get starter minutes will Sefolosha should get about 15-20 mins a game.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

that’s fine, nobody is arguing about… basically it comes down to, do u want harden chasing around the other teams best wing? or do u want him coming into the game with the 2nd unit and leading that team on offense?

[JNixonParticipant]

I think he can defend the other team’s best perimeter guy. He wouldnt shut them down, but I know he would make them work hard for their shots. He also can get you 15-18 ppg on a 1st unit if he had to and/or get you 4-5 assists.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

see, i dont think he could get that if he’s having to chase around another teams best wing… that’s a lot of work

[Michael.S.Participant]

Harden is good but hell be a 3rd option at best for OKC, they don’t need anymore 1st unit scoring, they need a scoring punch off the bench

[JNixonParticipant]

I do, in the future. As of this year, I think he’ll get 12 ppg and like 3 assists.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

yea… i enjoy arguing with u iguo… ur not a huge jacka$$, we usually disagree, but eventually find a middle ground and see each others points lol

[JNixonParticipant]

Yea, its just basketball. I try not to be an @sshole or anything, because at the end of the day these are just projections.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

seriously though, some people are like NO. that’s not how it is. it’s like jesus… i come here to learn a little something

[AlexBoiiParticipant]

As a fan, I wish we had a scenario like OKC, San Antonio, or Denver. But instead, we have no true SG’s except for…gasp…Willie Green.

If putting the Iguodala at the 2 and Young at the 3 experiment doesn’t work out again, I hope we put Jason Kapano to start at the 2, Iguodala at the 3. Iguodala would still guard the opposing 2 or 3, whichever is better, and let Young come off the bench with Speights and Smith. That’d be dope.

[llperez]

I think it all depends. If the better player is strictly a scorer like a JR Smith or Ben Gordon, then bringing them off the bench is fine if the other guy is a better defender and could help the starting five more. Plus you have to look at the other defenders in the starting five and how much a defensive specialist would be necessary. Carter and Lewis are not very good defensively, so Pietrus might be more important as a starter. But if everyone could hold their own, then you just start the most talented players and the let rest work it’s way out.

[llperez]

And I think it’s similar to what alexboii said with Philideplhia. I don’t think Kapono is better then TYoung, but if the sixers can’t shoot and need someone to spread the floor, then maybe starting Kapono is the better option for the team as a whole.

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