Starters: Hill, Parker, Duncan, Dice, Jefferson
Bench: Manu, Blair, Bogans, Mason, Hairston, Bonner
If you want zero production from 14 million dollar Jefferson this is a great lineup. It's unfortunate that Jefferson needs really good playmaking surrounding him in order to be productive but that's the reality of his game.
If you want production from RJ you either have to have Manu in the starting lineup or Jefferson coming off the bench.
Hill
Manu
Jefferson
Blair
Duncan
Bench should be able to spread the floor for Parker!
Parker
Mason or Hariston
Bogans or Hairston
Bonner
Dice.
But we can all dream rite
I love the idea of keeping the current starting five in the playoffs and Parker off the bench.
Hill runs the point for the first eight minutes of the firts quarter and then Parker comes off the bench and kicks the game up into another gear.
Parker will destroy the second team point guard or force big minutes from the first teamer. In a playoff run, Parker off the bench makes a lot of sense to me, especially if this current starting five keeps it up.
Big 3=Manu, RJ and Duncan?
RJ has already said that he wants to play alongside Manu as much as possible so I'd place him whetever Manu is, bench or starting line-up.
Manu Ginobili gives the starting lineup a college NCAA tournament vibe to it. Everybody is out there moving, cutting, passing/sharing the ball, and playing contagious defense.
They can even play some triangle offense with Duncan because of Manu's and Hill's shooting abilities. Then attack the second units with Tim and TP pick n rolls. Mix it up a little!
Everybody plays better with Manu. Unfortunately, we can't stick ten guys out on the floor.
Unless we can clone Manu Ginobili. One for the bench and one for the starting lineup.
I agree, recent games have convinced me even more that RJ needs Manu to be at his best. So, I figure the starting lineups should either be:
Hill, Manu, Jefferson, Duncan, McDyess
or
Parker, Hill, Bogans/Hairston, Duncan, McDyess
I suppose you could do a starting lineup of Parker/Manu/RJ/Duncan/McDyess and relegate Hill to the bench, but that would be really hard to do considering how well Hill has played the last two months.
It should be clear to everyone that you have to play your best players as starters--with traditional starter minutes of 35 per game to have a chance. Pop's mad quest for a super strong bench that could operate as a unit is unattainable.
Many is a better passer than Tony Parker. He gets more players into the game with his passes in the lane and on the pick and roll. Look at how he makes Blair and Jefferson better scorers on offense. Parker can't do that. We need Manu in the game for 35 minutes.
Tony's assists mostly come as a result of his drive into the lane and then a kickout to a perimeter shooter who is just standing there waiting. That's okay--if the 3pt shooters are hitting. He remnds me of Steve Francis, a point guard who really has a shooting guard mentality. Dribble around til it's proven I can't get a shot then hit someone else on the perimeter with a couple of seconds left to shoot.
Per minute played, Parker and Manu have almost the exact same assist per game, but in my opinion Manu's assists are more crucial to team play.
If Tony is healthy, I have no problem with him starting alongside Manu but both of them need to get hefty minutes. If Parker isn't 100% by the playoffs then he shouldn't play big minutes whether he starts or not. Hill is an adequate replacement as long as Manu is there to run the show and stabilize things.
No Manu, no Jefferson. Simple as that. He can't play well with Parker and/or some other guard. He needs Manu to complement his play.
I haven't seen the "Miracle of the Second Half of the Season" for McDyess yet and am betting we won't see consistent play out of him. He's past it. So he'll have to split some time with Bonner as a starter IMO depending on the matchups. If Bonner's shot has stabilized, he starts because he spreads the court better for Tim, Parker, Manu and Jefferson to operate in. I don't see Blair as a starter in the playoffs, but he should get some minutes.
If we go with our best players, that leaves Bogans out of the starting lineup and fighting for minutes, mostly as a spot defensive player. Mason fights for minutes as a offensive shooting guard and we pray his shot returns from whatever garbage dump he left it at.
So my choice is Duncan, Manu, Parker, Jefferson and McBonner.
Manu and Jefferson should stay together.
Starters: Duncan, Parker, Manu, Jefferson, McDyess
Bench: Hill, Blair, Bogans, Bonner, Hairston
You would need a Vet comin off the bench with the second group. That's why I would put Blair in the starting pos. Dice gives them some kinda D! Parker I'm sorry needs to come off the bench!
Parker-Hill-Bogans-TD-Mcdyess
Hill-Manu-RJ-Blair-Bonner
If we continue to do well for the rest of the regular season, I think the current unit will start the playoffs. Tony will come off the bench. As soon as we lose, and it's attributed to a mediocre performance from the bench, Pop will move Manu back to the bench and Parker to the starting lineup.
It doesn't matter if they start or not, but I think Blair and Jefferson's playing time should be spent mostly when Manu's on the floor.
PG: TP
SG: Manu
SF: RJ
PF: Duncan
C: Dice
2nd Unit:
PG: Hill
SG: Centerpiece
SF: Malik
PF: DaBeast
C: Bonner
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
