[OrangeJuiceJonesParticipant]

This is a guy who could go off for 30+ on any given night while shooting good percentages.
He’s also shown improvement in his passing and decision-making. His defense leaves alot to be desired, but he has the length and quickness to be a good defender. He’s not gonna stop Kobe, but then again…… nobody can really stop Kobe. He just has to stop using his arms to gamble and start using them to contest shots. So should he start next year, or what?

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

I thought he should have started last year. I understand D Jones is a good defender, but come on.

[gatorheelsParticipant]

He has to start! They can’t start Afflalo…he isn’t good enough yet.

[doubledribblerParticipant]

I think he’s best off the bench for right now, especially for Denver. The kid is explosive and still has a lot of potential that he has not tapped into. Not only on the defensive end, but he would be so much more dangerous if he developed a midrange game too. I think Denver has plenty of offense, but especially if they lose Kleiza they are going to need more scoring off the bench. Even if he comes off the bench, he should end up getting close to starter’s minutes.

[MagikKnickParticipant]

No, hes worthy of starting
But the spark he brings off the bench is great, like no other
Really useful, and also an important piece to there playoff push

[juves4783Participant]

being a denver local, i agree with george karl in bringing j.r. off the bench. if the starting line-up was nene, kmart, melo, jr and billups, there would not be enough shots to go around.

[Bryant24Participant]

i like jr to he should be starting he got a nice jumper he a great athlete he can drive to the paint he is an okay passer he just idnt that good on defense i thimk if he start he can be a all star

[McWinningParticipant]

he would have started last year but they wanted to bring a scorer off the bench. i think he has to start now though because Afflolo isnt good enough to start. maybe they can get Mcants and start him. ot Gereld Green or someone else.

[JNixonParticipant]

JR Smith should start. He is everything you could ask for in terms of talent offensively (except for being a chucker at times), and he was a much better defender last year. He also improved his handles and passing to the point were he played PG a couple of times in the New Orleans series. I think he deserves to start, I mean who would start over him, deservedly?

[jojososaParticipant]

Part of tha reason he has yet to start is bcuz tha organization believes he is immature, billups is his mentor, he has all tha talent n tha world he jus gotta get his mind right

[BasketballGuru24Participant]

Come Off the bench……Him and Anderson give them some unrealistic energy. Affalo should play a dahntay jones role…start 1st quarter and 3rd quarter. The rest Is Smith time

[QHaynes20]

I say keep him on the bench so you know he has to earn his. I think Smith should be kept on the bench and Lawson, Smith and Birdman would be sick off the bench

[doubledribblerParticipant]

I think too many people are getting caught up in who the best five players are instead of what is going to win Denver the most games. J.R. can still get his 30 coming off the bench. Affalo is a drop off from Jones, but I don’t think he is by much. He’s not as good of a defender yet, but he’s a better shooter. You really don’t want anyone out there that is going to try to compete for shots with Carmelo. That’s part of the reason Iverson didn’t work out there.

By the way, for those that disagreed, no one ever mentioned who is going to take up the scoring slack off the bench if JR starts and Kleiza is gone.

[aj81Participant]

come off the bench to score 20 ala ben gordon, jason terry, ginoboli, nate robinson, maggette

[MkadozaParticipant]

JR is most definitely a starter. He’s a prototypical 2 guard a 6’6 220lbs, with unlimited range and an improving floor game. His ball handling and passing have been underrated, and while he may never be a great man-to-man defender (I think Carmelo will end up being better in this regard), JR is great on the weakside, picking off passes and get steals on double teams. He’s a finisher who should average 18 points, 3-4 rebounds, and 3-4 assists and is a threat where ever he is on the court.

And doubledribbler, JR isnt a ball hog like Iverson. He doesnt really compete with Melo for shots, and Melo prefers to isolate a foot inside the three point line or post up, where as JR catches above the three point line, or catches on cuts and crossovers. Plus there’s a real chemistry between Melo and JR. You could tell when Jones was on the court he didnt trust him offensively, and for good reason. But JR and Melo like playing with each other, being each others supporting wings with contrasting but synergistic styles. Let Afflalo develop into a bench player, as thats all he is or will be. starting Afflalo over Smith, IMHO, would be disrespectful to a guy that has worked hard to improve his game on the court and his attitude off it. He’s one of the most naturally gifted shooting guards in the league, so why not give him the minutes to thrive?

As for picking up the scoring, Smith, Carmelo, and Billups can be counted on for 50 a night. Between Lawson, Nene, Martin, Anderson, Balkman and Afflalo, I’m sure they can make up the other 55 points. Plus Denver’s defense, I believe, will continue to improve, and should be considered among the top 3 teams in the West with the Lakers and Spurs.

[OhmilantaParticipant]

it all depends now cuz kleiza has agreed to play in greece for the olympiakos

[billykParticipant]

I might be wrong but JR Smith looks closer to 6’4 than 6’6 and I dont think it would help if Smith was a starter….I think he is best served coming as a SPARK off the bench cause of his ability to HEAT up and score at will…I think Smith will be on the court at the end of games so it would matter if he starts or not…Take Smith off Denvers bench and they will be a pretty weak 2nd unit in trems of scoring…

[bluedevils12Participant]

JR doesnt wanna be a starter for the rest of his career but im wonderin how happy he is coming off the bench. I think the nuggets will eventually let him start 2 keep him happy and show that they want him. But jr is a big time threat off the bench and had an amazing year this year. and i kno that if u go by the numbers jr could probably have put up 30 on any night but i wonder what impact starting could have on him? its not always a good thing

[kaceyParticipant]

It doesn’t matter who starts the game, its who finishes the game. Can he be a starter? Yes he can. But like some of you all have pointed out, the Nuggets bench will not have any offensive firepower if Smith starts.

If he gets his minutes and gets up a quality number of shots he should have no reason to complain or be upset.

[Im Your FatherParticipant]

Jr Smith is 6’5.5 without shoes and 6’6.75 with shoes on, so he could even be listed at 6’7. He is only a little bit shorter than Carmelo, who is 6’6.25 without shoes.

[QHaynes20]

He looks 6-6 because isin’t klezia 6-8?

[kaceyParticipant]

http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2009/0407/nba_g_nuggets_576.jpg

Looks like Smith is a little shorter than Carmelo.

[Author]

Posts