Starters?

[Speed]

May be too early, but we are officially 3 weeks away from the first training camp practice, my friends.

So who are the starters?

I think we can comfortable state this.

DC at the Point
Roy at the Center
Granger at 3 or 4.

What's that leave us?

I, personally, have no idea, but I'm interested to hear what others prefer.

[count55]

Re: Starters?

May be too early, but we are officially 3 weeks away from the first training camp practice, my friends.

So who are the starters?

I think we can comfortable state this.

DC at the Point
Roy at the Center
Granger at 3 or 4.

What's that leave us?

I, personally, have no idea, but I'm interested to hear what others prefer.

Hibbert, Granger, Collison.

I'd like to see either Hansbrough or McRoberts show enough in Training Camp to at least get the "short minute" starts - similar to what Hibbert got as a rookie.

Rush will be the starting 2, once he returns. I'm not sure what happens with the backup wings. A lot depends on how well McRoberts or Hansbrough can play in order to solidify the 4. If they struggle or aren't healthy enough, then you'll see Danny get more minutes at the 4, which will open more time for George/DJones/Dunleavy/Posey. It's impossible to tell at this point who will get minutes among those guys.

I am also hopeful that Price is ready to go at least short minutes from the start of the season, and he would be the backup 1. I do not expect Stephenson to be a part of this team.

[Unclebuck]

Re: Starters?

I tend to agree with count. Ideally I don't want Granger to start at the 4 (although I fully expect and accept the fact that he is liable to play more minutes at the 4 than anyone else we currently have on our roster)

Rush - who knows at this point. I suppose if he plays well in training camp he'll be in the starting lineup in game #6.

[Speed]

Re: Starters?

Here's what I've been thinking about.

What about Foster starting next to Roy at PF?

I think there are a bunch of question marks with Jeff's health, coaches M.O. for the PF position, who then backs Roy up at Center?

As far as an on-court fit, my mind keeps going back to this possibility. Match up flexibility (Jeff takes the better frontcourt player defensively, veteran prescence, energy, offensive rebounding.

If you start Jeff, his back will be warmed up, too. If you could get 8 minutes each half I think it would maybe set the tone and give some consistency to that starting group.

[bphil]

Re: Starters?

My best guess...

PG - Collison (lock)
SG - Dunleavy (I think he'll return to form and stick past game 5)
SF - Granger (lock)
PF - McRoberts (hopefully Hans can play at some point this season)
C - Hibbert (lock)

Call me crazy, but I don't think BRush will start at any point this season. In fact, I'm hoping against all hope that PG will come in and shine big time and take the backup minutes at SG from him as well...

[count55]

Re: Starters?

Here's what I've been thinking about.

What about Foster starting next to Roy at PF?

I think there are a bunch of question marks with Jeff's health, coaches M.O. for the PF position, who then backs Roy up at Center?

As far as an on-court fit, my mind keeps going back to this possibility. Match up flexibility (Jeff takes the better frontcourt player defensively, veteran prescence, energy, offensive rebounding.

If you start Jeff, his back will be warmed up, too. If you could get 8 minutes each half I think it would maybe set the tone and give some consistency to that starting group.

I have never liked this idea in the least, and it wastes the only backup center we have. I don't expect O'Brien to seriously consider it, and I don't think pairing them helps the team in any significant way.

At this stage of his career, Jeff is basically just a center.

[Jay@Section12]

Re: Starters?

Just like last season, there is no "3" and there is no "4". If you really want to use the old 1-2-3-4-5 numbering system, Troy was an oversized wing (2/3) in a three-wing lineup, not a "4".

Anyway, I think this year, after game #5, the lineup will be:

Collison - Rush - Dunleavy - Granger - Hibbert.

Except on the rare occasions we anticipate a matchup problem at one of the forward spots, and then it will be Collison - Rush - Granger - Tyler - Hibbert.

[ksuttonjr76]

Re: Starters?

Indiana is going to have to do one more trade to get rid of some of our wing players. Plus, there's no real information on Hansbrough and Foster. Until we hear something different, my guess will be Dunleavy at the 2 and McRoberts at the 4 to start the season.

[BobbyMac]

Re: Starters?

I expect the starting lineup, on opening day, to be Collison, Dunleavy, Granger, Hansbrough and Hibbert. After his suspension Rush may get a nod depending on Mike's production. Tyler will have a chance to keep his job, McBob is a possibility if Tyler falters. Twill be interesting to see if George can progress to the point of getting serious minutes.

[MLB007]

Re: Starters?

I have never liked this idea in the least, and it wastes the only backup center we have. I don't expect O'Brien to seriously consider it, and I don't think pairing them helps the team in any significant way.

At this stage of his career, Jeff is basically just a center.

Agreed about it using our backup center. But otherwise I think 180 degrees opposite. I think it would be a very nice combination and it would help the teams rebounding in a very significant way.
Jeff would ave double figure rebounding without a doubt. And our interior defense would be much stronger.
Unfortunately we don't have another center to spell Roy, so that will be a limited time lineup for sure.

[jcouts]

Re: Starters?

What I would like to see as our starting 5 on day 1...

PG - Collision
SG - Dahntay
SF - Danny
PF - McRoberts
C - Roy

From the defensive standpoint:
I like the idea of Dahntay and Collison pressuring the opposing team's backcourt from a defensive standpoint. Danny hasn't shown much dedication to defense throughout the FIBA world championships, so I doubt he's going to blow our minds by showing up to training camp with defense on his mind. I like the idea of having McRoberts over Tyler from the benefit of weak side rotation or help side shot blocking, as well as the ability to guard the athletic 4's that have torched the Pacers early in the game during the Murphy era. If Dahntay and Collison can stay with their man and McRoberts can do even a slightly better job than Murphy did at keeping his man in front of him, I think it will help quite a bit in keeping Roy out of early foul trouble.

From an offensive standpoint:
McRoberts and Roy work better together in my mind than Tyler and Roy, simply due to diversity with Roy taking low post options and McRoberts taking high post options on offense. Tyler's passing ability or court vision is nowhere near that of McBob, so I like having that diversity thrown into the mix. Dahntay gives you someone who can slash, attack the basket and provide mid-range scoring to prevent the sort of "all in or all out" problem the pacers have had at times over the past couple of years. The diversity in the options, I believe, will give Collison the flexibility that he needs in order to orchestrate the offense effectively...again, rather than just having the one or two options that our past PGs have had, those being either throw it in the post, or look for someone out at the arc. Danny can do what Danny seems to feel comfortable doing: fill in the empty spaces, catch and shoot. I would like for him to add "catch and create" to that, but I'm a realist. I really expected him to benefit from the FIBA experience, but from what I've seen on the court, I've seen little improvement in his game over the summer...unlike what I've seen out of Rudy Gay and Iggy which has been very pleasing.


What I think Jim will likely have as our starting 5 on day 1...
PG - Collison
SG - Dunleavy
SF - Posey
PF - Danny
C - Roy

[Speed]

Re: Starters?

Interesting and not to side track things. New Orleans offense had alot of pick and pop with David West built in. Thats really not McBob or Tyler's game. A guy who's game it could be? Magnum Rolle. I'm not suggesting he's a starter or even a rotation guy at this point; he still has to make the team. However, after reading some of these thoughts, I'd love to see Collison and him play together at some point. It seems like a match, maybe.

[Speed]

Re: Starters?

I'm surprised how many people see McBob as a possible starter, I didn't expect that. That's a big jump from where he's coming from.

[luis3ep]

Re: Starters?

I'm surprised how many people see McBob as a possible starter, I didn't expect that. That's a big jump from where he's coming from.

McRoberts is quality. Dumb O'Brien was just stubborn and never gave him a chance until late last year. I've always been high on McRoberts, he can straight out ball. He's fine tuning his game, and would not be surprised if he's a double double guy not this season, but the next.

[Speed]

Re: Starters?

McRoberts is quality. Dumb O'Brien was just stubborn and never gave him a chance until late last year. I've always been high on McRoberts, he can straight out ball. He's fine tuning his game, and would not be surprised if he's a double double guy not this season, but the next.

I'll give you a single double in minutes, but at least that would be a good starting point.