Starting Lineup for Game One

[BackHome]

Yeah Pop has to have Poeltl ready to be starting by playoff for us to have a chance. If that happens we are going to do some serious damage come playoff time.

[TimmyBuckets]

If Bertans and Murray increase the level of their play, Spurs are top 2.

[cutewizard]

If Bertans and Murray increase the level of their play, Spurs are top 2.

They will......

[cutewizard]

Bellineli shall light a fire under Bertans......

[cutewizard]

Yeah Pop has to have Poeltl ready to be starting by playoff for us to have a chance. If that happens we are going to do some serious damage come playoff time.

Jacob over Gasol?

[Dverde]

I could see Poeltl getting some run in the regular season even starting the getting benched in the playoffs like Dedmon and Blair. Pop trying to conserve Pau’s minutes.

[cd021]

If Manu returns;

Murray, DDR, Gay, LMA Gasol
Mills, Belinelli, Manu, Bertans, Poeltl

If Manu retires;

Mills, Murray, DDR, LMA, Gasol
White, Belinelli, Bertans, Gay, Poeltl

[cd021]

I could see Poeltl getting some run in the regular season even starting the getting benched in the playoffs like Dedmon and Blair. Pop trying to conserve Pau’s minutes.

I don't think that is out of the question- Poeltl starting, especially if Manu retires. Gasol and Gay would come off the bench and be focal points, while Poeltl would probably play the first 6 minutes of each half and a few on the second in an energy role similar to Blair.

[SpursDynasty85]

Big question is who starts at the 2? Assuming DeRozan slides to the 3? Or is Bertans the 3 with DeRozan at the 2? Lol. So confusing this year.

[Fusternino]

If Manu returns;

Murray, DDR, Gay, LMA Gasol
Mills, Belinelli, Manu, Bertans, Poeltl

If Manu retires;

Mills, Murray, DDR, LMA, Gasol
White, Belinelli, Bertans, Gay, Poeltl

Definitely agree with the second one.

[TD 21]

If Manu returns;

Murray, DDR, Gay, LMA Gasol
Mills, Belinelli, Manu, Bertans, Poeltl

If Manu retires;

Mills, Murray, DDR, LMA, Gasol
White, Belinelli, Bertans, Gay, Poeltl

Why would Ginobili retiring change the starting lineup when White could just take his role? Ginobili is no more of an "SF" defensively than Belinelli or White. There's certain types of wings all 3 will be able to defend and certain types all 3 won't.

When they're playing against 1 they can't, obviously they'll have to split them, likely by having Gay do what Gasol did last season: sub out mid 1st/3rd, sub back in late 1st/3rd, then sub back out early 2nd/4th, with a decision on crunch time to be made during the game. I suspect we'll see a good amount of that anyway.

There's too much focus on strict designations, specifically starting/bench and "SF".

[cd021]

Why would Ginobili retiring change the starting lineup when White could just take his role? Ginobili is no more of an "SF" defensively than Belinelli or White. There's certain types of wings all 3 will be able to defend and certain types all 3 won't.

When they're playing against 1 they can't, obviously they'll have to split them, likely by having Gay do what Gasol did last season: sub out mid 1st/3rd, sub back in late 1st/3rd, then sub back out early 2nd/4th, with a decision on crunch time to be made during the game. I suspect we'll see a good amount of that anyway.

There's too much focus on strict designations, specifically starting/bench and "SF".

A Mills, White, Beli, Bertans and Poeltl bench, really doesn't have a player that can consistently create shots for themselves or others. Moving Gay to the bench adds a focal point to that unit; Pop ran a number of post-up plays for Gay and he showed some ability as a ball handler in P&R situations, he would be the new 6th man, a role that needs filling if Manu retires.


Mills fills a the of a high volume shooter in the SL, while White fills his role off the bench. White has potential to carve out a role for himself; he can shoot, looks like he can be a decent to average NBA defender, move without the ball, handle the ball and has good court vision.

I mentioned in a post from a few weeks ago that he could be a dark horse starter but I would doubt it. If White is able to do all of those things I mentioned and the Mills version of the SL struggles to defend, I could see Pop doing some tinkering and White getting a chance.

[TD 21]

A Mills, White, Beli, Bertans and Poeltl bench, really doesn't have a player that can consistently create shots for themselves or others. Moving Gay to the bench adds a focal point to that unit; Pop ran a number of post-up plays for Gay and he showed some ability as a ball handler in P&R situations, he would be the new 6th man, a role that needs filling if Manu retires.

Mills fills a the of a high volume shooter in the SL, while White fills his role off the bench. White has potential to carve out a role for himself; he can shoot, looks like he can be a decent to average NBA defender, move without the ball, handle the ball and has good court vision.

I mentioned in a post from a few weeks ago that he could be a dark horse starter but I would doubt it. If White is able to do all of those things I mentioned and the Mills version of the SL struggles to defend, I could see Pop doing some tinkering and White getting a chance.

I've answered this a bunch of times, mostly in the back and forth with Chinook. Before I refer you to those, I'll just add, White can create for himself and others probably at least as well, if not better than a 41 year old Ginobili could . . .

It's the worst of both worlds if they're played that way for long stretches. In reality, they'll be plenty of mixing and matching, but that 2nd unit doesn't need an "offensive foundation" (look no further than last season's Raptors, who were the league's best). They'll get by with superior basketball IQ.

Gay isn't a p-n-r initiator though; he's a mid post ISO scorer. He's not creating for the rest of the 2nd unit any more than Mills' off ball movement/gravity would.

I don't see it as the burden you do. I suspect they'll be lots of mixing and matching and the stretches they play full 2nd unit, their perpetual motion and IQ will make up for the lack of a static, go-to scorer.

When they're playing against 1 they can't, obviously they'll have to split them, likely by having Gay do what Gasol did last season: sub out mid 1st/3rd, sub back in late 1st/3rd, then sub back out early 2nd/4th, with a decision on crunch time to be made during the game. I suspect we'll see a good amount of that anyway.

[TimmyBuckets]

No more Manu. What's the lineup now along with main bench?

[marinoman]

I just hope white gets at least 20+ a game, wouldn’t even mind him starting next to Murray at some point

[-21-]

I still think it's gonna be Mills/Murray/DeRozan/Aldridge/Gasol to start the season. Hopefully it will be Murray/White/DeRozan/Aldridge/Poetl before the playoffs. Manu's retirement should open up time for White (unless Pop gives it all to Beli and Forbes ).

[SpursDynasty85]

I still think it's gonna be Mills/Murray/DeRozan/Aldridge/Gasol to start the season. Hopefully it will be Murray/White/DeRozan/Aldridge/Poetl before the playoffs. Manu's retirement should open up time for White (unless Pop gives it all to Beli and Forbes ).

Pop would never put his absolute best players in the starting lineup I think. The second lineup you have, if dominating, would be the finishing line up. Popovich likes to spread the minutes around during the 82 game grind so everyone can be fresh and in rhythm by the playoffs. Should be interesting since there are some many combinations and depth with this years lineup. I imagine poeltl and gay would sub for each other depending on matchups in crunch time as well. Now that Manu is gone, we need to go 100% in on our 25 year old prospect (White).

[Truth4sale$]

Due to the lack of playmaking ability on the bench with the loss of Ginobili, I have changed my position on Derrick White starting. He will be vital to the Spurs bench. Let Walker IV start and learn trial by fire. The veterans can carry him for the 1st half. Let Walker learn on the fly

[TimmyBuckets]

Due to the lack of playmaking ability on the bench with the loss of Ginobili, I have changed my position on Derrick White starting. He will be vital to the Spurs bench. Let Walker IV start and learn trial by fire. The veterans can carry him for the 1st half. Let Walker learn on the fly

[keithington1]

Murray Walker Derozan Aldridge Gasol

White Belinelli Gay Bertans Poeltl

Mills Forbes Pondexter Cunningham Metu

Flip Bertans and Gasol depending on matchup

Flip Mills and Belinelli and Walker if you want but I want Walker to start

[Dex]

Murray Walker Derozan Aldridge Gasol

White Belinelli Gay Bertans Poeltl

Mills Forbes Pondexter Cunningham Metu

Flip Bertans and Gasol depending on matchup

Flip Mills and Belinelli and Walker if you want but I want Walker to start

There is no way in Walker will be starting this year, let alone for Game One.

[Walter Donovan]

Murray Ferrari DeRozan Aldridge Gasol
Mills White Gay Bertans Poeltl
Forbes Walker Pondexter Cunningham Metu

[illusioNtEk]

Due to the lack of playmaking ability on the bench with the loss of Ginobili, I have changed my position on Derrick White starting. He will be vital to the Spurs bench. Let Walker IV start and learn trial by fire. The veterans can carry him for the 1st half. Let Walker learn on the fly

This

[SpursDynasty85]

Due to the lack of playmaking ability on the bench with the loss of Ginobili, I have changed my position on Derrick White starting. He will be vital to the Spurs bench. Let Walker IV start and learn trial by fire. The veterans can carry him for the 1st half. Let Walker learn on the fly

Not going to happen. Plus no way he is ready to out play any of the guards except maybe Forbes. He will get little to no playing time or we will lose more games with him in the starting line up. He will progress more in the G league and be ready once he's gained some confidence and gotten used to the Spurs playbook.

[keithington1]

Walkers better than Mills, Forbes, Belinelli, agree?