Murray...take the keys

[SAGirl]

I think maybe one or two people at the most are saying Tony SHOULD start. A number of folks think he will because of politics or rotation. I think Murray will fall off, but if he doesn't I don't want Tony starting. People underrate what Tony's done and what he can do, though. That much is true. Even bad Parker runs an offense better than Murray does, and as Kawhi gets back and Pop tries to fit everything together, having a steady hand to implement the game plan is definitely welcome.

Anyway, my horse is not about if Murray is a better option than Tony starting. It's about whether Murray can play the two if that's what needed to get the best 10 on the floor. I think he can and should if the team can get the other guards going. Until/unless that happens, it's obviously moot. But there are folks who think Murray/White is a bad pairing physically because both should play PG exclusively. That's how absurd the "Murray's a PG only" movement has become.

We shall see what happens. As I said, I am not even going to worry about when Tony gets back, until Tony shows game and puts up a real challenge. If he's washed up, in minutes restrictions or brittle/injury prone all season then it's no contest.

He's going to be better as PG there is no question but Pop is going to play guys however he likes and slide them up and down positions however he likes... so I don't even worry about it. Kyle as a SG was probably one of his worst experiments that I hope to not see again, but you get my drift... it doesn't matter what we think Pop is going to experiment and mix guys up all season, from tiny lineups to huge/long lineups... In the playoffs I hope he will do what is right. When he wants to win in the 4th Q he stops the shenanigans. Murray can crossmatch defensively with a SG while playing next to a tiny SG like Patty for example... Patty/Murray I hope is not a Pop closing lineup unless there are injuries frankly.

[DAF86]

You listed five players for six positions. That leaves the final position open for one of the PGs. Whether the bench is Mills/Murray or Mills/Parker makes little difference.

Anyway, the reason for the "hypotheticals" is because the debate is about the philosophy of Murray playing the two in general, not the efficacy of him doing it right now. I've been extremely clear that I would like Murray to keep starting at the one provided he keeps playing well. I don't think he'll be as good, as his current performance is unsustainable, but that's whatever. He could easily remain the best option when all is said and done. But as the team looks to its future, the team will find itself in situations where Murray will be the bigger guard on the floor and the functional SG. It shouldn't be an issue.

You have folks saying White couldn't play next to Murray because they're both PGs, and that's ridiculous.

That would be true if Pop didn't play with two bigs together for most of the game. Anyway, if you need an extra wing, play Bertans in there, and I don't know why you say playing Mills or Tony out of position would be better than playing Paul. I liked what I saw from him the other day and his skillset (playmaking, three pt shooting, athleticism and defense), if it pans out, figures to be better than what Tony or Patty could provide out of position.