Strike Out: Go With Rose

[Marcus Bryant]

Right, but the concept put forth by timvp is that the 3rd big doesn't necessarily have to be a 'starting quality' big that you blow a lot of your cap on.

[Dunkel Weizen]

However much a player costs that puts in 25-30 minutes, defends, rebounds, and isn't totally an inept shot, is how much the Spurs should spend.

If they get that kind of guy, I really don't care whether he starts or Malik does. But they DO need that guy.

I just don't want to see the Spurs miss every decent frontline player available, settle for some bottom-of-the-barrel sap for peanuts or whatever, then plug Malik into the starting lineup and say "No Worries! Malik is just fine!"

That would be utter BS.

[Marcus Bryant]

Yet the only reason the Spurs would start Rose is if they add significant talent at other positions. It's not like the Spurs don't already have a Tim Duncan in their frontcourt. TD's enjoyed the luxury of having a David Robinson watch his back ever since he entered the league. Now's the time for him to strike out on his own. If he has to deal with that yet he has the best Spurs backcourt to play with since Ice left town then it evens out. There is no reason why the Spurs must stick with the Twin Towers concept.

[Shaq H8ter]

The main thing with Rose is most the time he can't spot Tim long enough defensively, to allow him to rest.

We need to be able to rest Tim during certain times in the game.
That doesn't mean that person has score and be Tim.
Just that we need to keep outside guys outside and maintain the defense.

We can't just play Tim into the ground.

[Marcus Bryant]

In that case you load up the bench with veteran bigmen like Willis, Tyrone Hill, and Elden Campbell.

[ShoogarBear]

1. WHen Malik starts, he can't come off the bench. Obvious, I know, but the Spurs major advantage last year, other than whatizname, was depth. Moving Malik to the starting slot hurts our depth.

2. Almost everyone who should know says Malik is only 6'5" tops, despite how he's listed.

[Marcus Bryant]

Not saying Rose's the same caliber of player but CBarkley was reportedly only 6'4".

[gunawanspurs]

For an undersized guy in this league to thrive on, he has to be more talented than other who have better physical attribute, or having a great heart and hustle, unlimited energy to contribute in a limited role.

For Malik, the second description is more appropiate on him. He has a great hustle, and provide a great spark and energy off the bench. But if we load him with more burden -minutes- and responsibility, i'm affraid his limited physicality and TALENT would show their ugly rears.

I like Malik's situation as it is right now, and his contribution off the bench actually is affecting in a great way one of our strong point as a team, which is a good bench quality.

Actually, with a player in malik's quality coming off the bench, we don't really have to have a SUPERSTAR quality BIG to start alongside TD. As long we could get some help in our perimeter talent, a player in the level of Rasho, Kandi -for cheap-, or Brendan haywood would suffice in my book, as long they're long enough to balance Malik's disadvantage when they're playing together for a short stint in the paint.

How we could break the mins distribution at both BIG position for next season :

TD 38 mns
Starting BIG 28 mins

Malik 24 mins
T-Rex 6 mins

[ShoogarBear]

Hey, Marcus. We get a Charles Barkley in his prime, I will give my permission to start him.

:p

[MannyIsGod]

Malik's game is precipitated on hustle and effort.

That being said, his hard work has also translated into an ac ulation of skills. His shot is MUCH better now than at any time before, and he also has acquired more moves. He still gets himself trapped under the basket more than I'd like, but the fact is he is a quality "big" man in this leauge.

I think he'll end up playing a larger role this year whether he starts or not.

Hopefully he steps up to the plate and elevates his game.

[Ghost Writer]

timvp, you and all the Spurs homers think Rose can start in this league. Jaques Vaughn and Bruce Bowen start in this league, so that doesn't mean much obviously.

Can the Spurs thrive with Rose starting?

I don't think so.

Rose gives the SPurs so much from off the bench. He brings hustle, energy, rebound putback and big time mathchup problems with the second unit.

You start him and you lose that compe ive advantage off the bench.

Plus, he still sucks at jumpshooting. His jumpshot was pathetic in the postseason.

[Marcus Bryant]

What's wrong with Rose starting when he'd be counted on to be the 4th or 5th best player in the lineup? Beyond that do you honestly feel that Rose is that bad of a player? He's not. Just as there are fans who are "homers" there are fans who can only be described as "self-hating." You fall in the latter category, fyi.

[scott]

I don't think Rose would be a bad starter with a competent backup (despite my dislike for Neteri , I think he'd be a great backup big- too bad we're looking at him to start).

My only problem with starting Rose are the ones mentioned above- by starting him we lose a pretty great bench player (a guy who has been in the running for 6thMOY a few times). Our bench was a huge reason we are world champions, and it would be a damn shame to go from having a bench that had guys like Kerr, Smith, and Ferry who never even played to a bench that has Tyrone Hill actually getting regular minutes. That's is a pretty good indicator that your bench has gone to total .

[Ghost Writer]

Marcus if you bothered to read what I wrote, Rose's size and skill set is more condusive to coming off the bench as a undersized, hustling center who can cause choas for the opposing team, much like Ginobili does in the backcourt from the bench.

You start him and he's no longer a positive mismatch off the bench. he's something the other team can exploit and then when you bring a traditional big off the bench, things slow down for the Spurs and become more deliberate and predictable — two dirty words for Spurs fans.

Oh, and Rose still can't hit a jumpshot to save his life.


We need Rose off the bench.


P.S.

Nesterovic hasn't been a cench player for two years and would most certainly start for the money we'd be paying him.

[timvp]

Then explain Rose's numbers as a starter and the Spurs being like 17-2 with him in the starting lineup.

Apology Accepted, Ghost




P.S.

Yeah, Steve Smith was surely starting with the money the Spurs were paying him.

[Ghost Writer]

1. Starting in the regular season isn't worth a d@mn to me, timvp. If I had my druthers, I'd have a less-talented prototypical center start and enjoy the benefits of Rose off the bench as clearly articulated twice for your reading pleasure.

2. I told you Steve Smith wouldn't be starting last season when most of you typically stood by Marcus's incorrect assumptions.

We will most certainly be striking out if Rose starts. Nice jumper.

[klubyreturns]

Ghost is the only one here who makes any sense. I'm glad he's my ally and buddy.

[Dunkel Weizen]

I gotta go with Ghost on this one. I think Malik loses some effectivness long-term in the starting lineup. He's a prototypical bench stud.