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Who starts at 4??

Zerol

Zerol

Active Member
From Deseret News:

https://www.deseretnews.com/article...at-power-forward-still-yet-to-be-decided.html

Outsiders who debate whether the Utah Jazz will start C.J. Miles or Andrei Kirilenko at small forward might have been asking the wrong question.

After the open scrimmage Saturday, the more pertinent question might be: Will Kirilenko or Paul Millsap start at power forward?

Kirilenko started at the 4 spot on the blue team, alongside Miles and probable starters Deron Williams, Raja Bell and Al Jefferson. Millsap was the starting power forward for the white team, which included several guys likely to play reserve roles — Earl Watson, Gordon Hayward, Kyrylo Fesenko and roster hopeful Sundiata Gaines.

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has repeated that it's too early to name starters, so it's unknown whether that was a sign of things to come or simply a scrimmage strategy to spread out talent and playing time.

With Mehmet Okur out rehabbing his surgically repaired Achilles heel, Jefferson has been concentrating on the center position, and Kirilenko has been practicing a lot as a power forward.

"When we look at our team, he's probably going to have to play some at 4," Sloan said of Kirilenko. "That's where he's always played some of his best basketball."

Even became an All-Star playing there in 2004.
Click to expand...

Thoughts?
 
No way do they alienate Millsap by starting AK at the 4. Paul has been a good soldier, but he's ready for a shot. AK may or may not be with the Jazz for the entire season. And I'd say it's 50/50 at best if he returns next year.

What I would do is start AK at SF and play him about 7-8 mins. Then you bring in Evans or Hawyard. Millsap plays the entire 1st/3rd at PF and sits down at the quarter break, with AK then re-entering the game at PF for 6-7 mins. before Millsap comes back in to finish up.

At SG, I'd start Raja to set the early tone on defeense. You want the best defender on their starting SG, who will usually be a scorer. Don't let the opposition get into a rhythm. CJ can be a main option as the 6th man. I think he's good for that role.

Here's what I see happening until Okur returns:

C - Jefferson (34); Elson (10); Fes (4)
PF - Millsap (32); AK (16)
SF - AK (16); CJ (14) Hayward (13); Evans (5)
SG - Raja (28); CJ (14); Price (6)
PG - Deron (34); Watson (14)

Obviously, some of the mins will be different depending on the opposition. Fes won't play at all against smaller, quicker teams. I also see Sloan using some 2 PG line-ups. In that case, Deron is probably the one that plays off the ball, just like he did last season with Maynor. I love a Jefferson/AK/Evans lineup against smaller teams. That just seems unfair rebounding-wise.
 
GlassEater said:
C - Jefferson (34); Elson (10); Fes (4)
PF - Millsap (32); AK (16)
SF - AK (16); CJ (14) Hayward (13); Evans (5)
SG - Raja (28); CJ (14); Price (6)
PG - Deron (34); Watson (14)
Click to expand...

That looks about right to me. The one thing I would add, is that I wouldn't be surprised to see Jerry go with a Deron-Watson lineup every once in a while. That would mean that either Deron or Watson should have some minutes at SG.
 
colton said:
That looks about right to me. The one thing I would add, is that I wouldn't be surprised to see Jerry go with a Deron-Watson lineup every once in a while. That would mean that either Deron or Watson should have some minutes at SG.
Click to expand...
The only reason that lineup is used is if we have injury problems or foul trouble in a game. If a midget is gonna play SG, it will be Price.
 
GlassEater said:
No way do they alienate Millsap by starting AK at the 4. Paul has been a good soldier, but he's ready for a shot. AK may or may not be with the Jazz for the entire season. And I'd say it's 50/50 at best if he returns next year.

What I would do is start AK at SF and play him about 7-8 mins. Then you bring in Evans or Hawyard. Millsap plays the entire 1st/3rd at PF and sits down at the quarter break, with AK then re-entering the game at PF for 6-7 mins. before Millsap comes back in to finish up.

At SG, I'd start Raja to set the early tone on defeense.
Click to expand...
You already have AK in there to set the early tone on defense. And you need a wing in there to set the early tone on outside shooting. I don't think AK or Bell is the best for that. Perhaps most importantly, you don't want to have Elder Hayward and Catch 'n Jack to be playing a lot together, and there might be a benefit for Bell to come in as an enforcer after the opposition has worn down a little bit. More often than not, playing two defense-oriented players (e.g., AK + Brewer) or two shooting-oriented players (e.g., CJ + KK) doesn't work. Let Bell be backup; despite his history with the Jazz he's the new veteran wing on the team, he can help to mentor Hayward or even CJ, and he won't get worn down so quickly. Oh--and he was winded on the first day of camp.

So the first wing substitution in should be Bell for AK so that there is a wing defender on the court at all times. Then AK comes in at the 4 for Millsap in late Q1 or at the beginning of Q2.

Of course this rotation can vary depending on the matchups and other In-Game Strategy.

P.S. Elson shouldn't get more minutes than Fes unless he proves that he deserves them. No more veteran carte blanche. I don't care who's better, as long as someone is effective as backup C. And the evaluation should be what the team does when they are on the court, not what they do in the individual box score or in practice.

Given that Fes's team impact showed promise (without many historical minutes) in the playoffs, he should get the initial nod, but that could change from the preseason to the start of the season if Elson performs significantly better than Fes. Elson having a nice showing in the scrimmage game isn't enough.
 
What's so messed up about this thread is your numbers you have for each players' game minutes. It's completely wrong.

For example, you didn't even account for an overtime game? That's gonna totally change your numbers here.

Please try to think before posting. Some of us don't have time to read something that's not accurate on the internet. :D
 
They are definitely starting Millsap. Jefferson is more of a 4 then a true 5 but he has to start too. So that leaves AK at the SF rotating into the 4. AK is not a true 4 so he will not be starting there. No way they start anyone else at SF over AK.

My thoughts anyway.
 
InGameStrategy said:
You already have AK in there to set the early tone on defense. And you need a wing in there to set the early tone on outside shooting. I don't think AK or Bell is the best for that. Perhaps most importantly, you don't want to have Elder Hayward and Catch 'n Jack to be playing a lot together, and there might be a benefit for Bell to come in as an enforcer after the opposition has worn down a little bit. More often than not, playing two defense-oriented players (e.g., AK + Brewer) or two shooting-oriented players (e.g., CJ + KK) doesn't work. Let Bell be backup; despite his history with the Jazz he's the new veteran wing on the team, he can help to mentor Hayward or even CJ, and he won't get worn down so quickly. Oh--and he was winded on the first day of camp.

So the first wing substitution in should be Bell for AK so that there is a wing defender on the court at all times. Then AK comes in at the 4 for Millsap in late Q1 or at the beginning of Q2.

Of course this rotation can vary depending on the matchups and other In-Game Strategy.

P.S. Elson shouldn't get more minutes than Fes unless he proves that he deserves them. No more veteran carte blanche. I don't care who's better, as long as someone is effective as backup C. And the evaluation should be what the team does when they are on the court, not what they do in the individual box score or in practice.

Given that Fes's team impact showed promise (without many historical minutes) in the playoffs, he should get the initial nod, but that could change from the preseason to the start of the season if Elson performs significantly better than Fes. Elson having a nice showing in the scrimmage game isn't enough.
Click to expand...

Do you realize that Bell is probably the best shooter on our team? I would start Bell to set the tone on defense but also for his shooting and toughness. We need to intimidate the opposition from the start, and Bell is our man when it comes to that.

I do like your point about keeping Bell fresh. I think this applies to AK as well. We need both of them to be in great shape come playoff time. I guess we just have to hope CJ has improved and Hayward is ready to contribute 15 quality minutes.
 
Here is a crazy thought: Lets go real big in real way.
1. Deron
2. Bell
3. Milsap
4. AK
5. AL
I know it sounds crazy but AK needs to be on the block to get those hands in the interior passing lanes, and disrupt interior shots with his spontaneous shot blocking. Although I know many will come out and disagree with me, I think Sap is athletic enough to body quicker 3's but still be able to play D, and manhandle on offence. Remember AK is taller then Sap.
 
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