Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

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  • Nuntius
    Member
    • Jan 2012
    • 35969

    Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

    Originally posted by speakout4
    N=1/2 pre-season game?

    Lance has looked great in all 3 games this year and pretty damn good last season.
    I have already answered your questions so I will just quote myself:

    Originally posted by Nuntius
    During the pre-season did you see Danny playing fine with the second unit? I certainly didn't. On the other hand, he looked great when he played with the starters. Then again it was a small sample size and it was pre-season as well.
    Originally posted by Nuntius
    If you asked me before the season I'd say that Danny provides better spacing because this is what the numbers indicate. However, Lance is shooting so well at the moment that he is making that point moot. Right now he seems like an awesome fit in both units and I'm extremely glad about that.
    Are we clear?
    Originally posted by IrishPacer
    Empty vessels make the most noise.

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    • BlueNGold
      Banned
      • Aug 2005
      • 32249

      Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

      Originally posted by Nuntius
      Harden is a lot more like Lance. Harden can both score and facilitate. Lance can score and facilitate as well. Danny is not good at facilitating.
      Which is why our bigs will starve. LeBron will enjoy being guarded by Danny as well. He'll be able to operate the offense easily compared to facing Paul George who will instead be chasing DWade around the floor...as LeBron easily dishes to Birdman for a dunk or Chalmers for a three because Danny can't move fast enough to get into the passing lanes........

      Edit: the thought of an aging and, at best, recovering Granger guarding LeBron James is a HORRIBLE thought.
      Last edited by BlueNGold; 11-02-2013, 11:54 PM.

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      • CableKC
        Member
        • Mar 2005
        • 36687

        Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

        Originally posted by Nuntius
        I'm pretty sure that Bird is going to trade one or more members of the bench if the danger of losing Lance appears.
        I assume that will be the case ( bye bye Copeland )......with the way Lance is playing, I guarantee u that he will get a contract in between $6 to 8 mil a year. It will be more than the full MLE and at most what GH got. He's a Sixth Man to Starter quality Combo Player and will be paid accordingly.

        I think that the Pacers will need to clear $2 to 3 mil in salary cap to offer Lance such an offer.
        Last edited by CableKC; 11-02-2013, 11:53 PM.
        Ash from Army of Darkness: Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the gun.

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        • Nuntius
          Member
          • Jan 2012
          • 35969

          Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

          Originally posted by Sollozzo
          This isn't meant to sound cold, but our team isn't about what makes Granger looks best. He hasn't been a part of this team since the end of 11-12, and several guys' roles have changed since then while the team made it to Game 7 of the ECF's. It's looking like the Pacers will be at their best with the current starting lineup. Even if Granger looks better with the starters, it's still a bad move overall if the team itself isn't as strong. This team shouldn't revolve around doing what's easiest for Granger.
          Who said that I want the team to do what's easiest for Granger?

          A team plays at its best when its players play at their best. It's really, really simple.

          Hibbert at his best + West at his best + PG at his best + Lance at his best + George Hill at his best + Danny at his best + Scola at his best + Ian at his best + CJ Watson at his best + Orlando Johnson at his best + Solomon Hill at his best = Indiana Pacers at their best.

          The goal is to have this team play at its best, right? Isn't this what we want to do?
          Originally posted by IrishPacer
          Empty vessels make the most noise.

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          • ilive4sports
            Member
            • Oct 2005
            • 8679

            Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

            Originally posted by BlueNGold
            I agree with about half of this. Rather than point out difference, I have a question.

            What happens if Danny plays, gets up to maybe 85%, then he builds up enough scar tissue (again) by March that he can't finish the season? All that time spent when Lance could be fine tuning his game with the starters?

            Based on my readings, that tendon will never be the same physically. It has been operated on and scraped. There will always be scar tissue and I suspect it will be more susceptible to inflammation and building up more of it.

            What a shame if that happens when we could have used Danny as a "plus" for the bench. Instead, he upsets the starting unit that will indeed close the vast majority of the time, particularly in the playoffs against Miami.
            Lance has played 100 games with the starters between last season, post season and this season. Even if he comes off the bench, Lance will still play with the starters. As well as practice with the starters.

            I don't know why so many Lance "supporters" are acting like if Lance comes off the bench, he won't get any burn with the first unit. And if he does start, Danny won't get any time with the starters. Thats not how its going to work. You can see that right now with how Vogel is using Lance. If Granger starts all season until March and goes down with an injury, Lance's chemistry with the starters is the last thing I'm worried about. Because he will have chemistry with the starters, he already does. Thats not just going to disappear. It doesn't work like that.

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            • ilive4sports
              Member
              • Oct 2005
              • 8679

              Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

              Originally posted by BlueNGold
              Which is why our bigs will starve. LeBron will enjoy being guarded by Danny as well. He'll be able to operate the offense easily compared to facing Paul George who will instead be chasing DWade around the floor...as LeBron easily dishes to Birdman for a dunk or Chalmers for a three because Danny can't move fast enough to get into the passing lanes........

              Edit: the thought of an aging and, at best, recovering Granger guarding LeBron James is a HORRIBLE thought.
              Things are so black and white to you. Its either option A or B. Rather than the mix which is what we will have.

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              • Sollozzo
                Member
                • Jan 2004
                • 27435

                Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

                Originally posted by Nuntius
                Who said that I want the team to do what's easiest for Granger?

                A team plays at its best when its players play at their best. It's really, really simple.

                Hibbert at his best + West at his best + PG at his best + Lance at his best + George Hill at his best + Danny at his best + Scola at his best + Ian at his best + CJ Watson at his best + Orlando Johnson at his best + Solomon Hill at his best = Indiana Pacers at their best.

                The goal is to have this team play at its best, right? Isn't this what we want to do?

                Sure in theory, but my point is that if the current starting unit is what's best for the team, then it really doesn't matter what's best for Granger. My point is that even if Granger himself looks better with the starters, it's still not a good thing if the team is even better with Lance starting.

                When a team is as stacked as the Pacers, sometimes you can't maximize every single player.

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                • Nuntius
                  Member
                  • Jan 2012
                  • 35969

                  Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

                  Originally posted by BlueNGold
                  Which is why our bigs will starve. LeBron will enjoy being guarded by Danny as well. He'll be able to operate the offense easily compared to facing Paul George who will instead be chasing DWade around the floor...as LeBron easily dishes to Birdman for a dunk or Chalmers for a three because Danny can't move fast enough to get into the passing lanes........

                  Edit: the thought of an aging and, at best, recovering Granger guarding LeBron James is a HORRIBLE thought.
                  Paul George will guard the opposition's best player. Period.

                  One of the reasons that the Heat were able to crowd our bigs in the post was because they didn't respect Lance's 3 point shot. Lance shot 30.4% from 3 in the ECF series and didn't make the Heat pay for cheating off of him. The situation was even worse when Sam Young played because it allowed LeBron to play free safety since he knew that Sam wouldn't score.

                  Now, if Lance keeps up the shooting that he is exhibiting NOW. Then hell yeah. It will be a lot harder for them to guard us. But Lance has to keep this up. Please, keep it up, Lance
                  Originally posted by IrishPacer
                  Empty vessels make the most noise.

                  Comment

                  • BlueNGold
                    Banned
                    • Aug 2005
                    • 32249

                    Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

                    Originally posted by ilive4sports
                    Things are so black and white to you. Its either option A or B. Rather than the mix which is what we will have.
                    Let's say the score is tied with a minute to go against Miami in the playoffs. Are you saying you want Granger guarding LeBron? Honestly, I don't think Granger has the foot speed to adequately guard either LeBron or DWade.

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                    • Nuntius
                      Member
                      • Jan 2012
                      • 35969

                      Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

                      Originally posted by Sollozzo
                      Sure in theory, but my point is that if the current starting unit is what's best for the team, then it really doesn't matter what's best for Granger. My point is that even if Granger himself looks better with the starters, it's still not a good thing if the team is even better with Lance starting.

                      When a team is as stacked as the Pacers, sometimes you can't maximize every single player.
                      If Lance is awesome with both the starters and the bench while Danny is awesome with the starters but mediocre with the bench what will you do? Because honestly this is what I think that will happen. I don't think that the bench would work with Danny since he is not a facilitator.
                      Originally posted by IrishPacer
                      Empty vessels make the most noise.

                      Comment

                      • aamcguy
                        Member
                        • Mar 2012
                        • 4134

                        Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

                        Originally posted by BlueNGold
                        I agree with about half of this. Rather than point out difference, I have a question.

                        What happens if Danny plays, gets up to maybe 85%, then he builds up enough scar tissue (again) by March that he can't finish the season? All that time spent when Lance could be fine tuning his game with the starters?

                        Based on my readings, that tendon will never be the same physically. It has been operated on and scraped. There will always be scar tissue and I suspect it will be more susceptible to inflammation and building up more of it.

                        What a shame if that happens when we could have used Danny as a "plus" for the bench. Instead, he upsets the starting unit that will indeed close the vast majority of the time, particularly in the playoffs against Miami.
                        My answer is simple: I don't think a change from Granger to Stephenson would upset anything. George Hill was leading our team in touches by far, and we still did fine with him sitting. I believe you go with your best lineup at the given time. With Granger coming off of a fresh injury while still rehabbing from the old, make him prove he's recovered from all short-term injury problems. Once he's playing 25+ minutes without incident and 10 games or so off the bench, move him to the starting unit. The only caveat being that if while Granger is coming off the bench the Pacers are just steamrolling everybody, you don't make that change.
                        Time for a new sig.

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                        • BlueNGold
                          Banned
                          • Aug 2005
                          • 32249

                          Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

                          Originally posted by Nuntius
                          Paul George will guard the opposition's best player. Period.
                          LeBron? Then we are cool. Granger in no way can guard DWade.

                          Comment

                          • BlueNGold
                            Banned
                            • Aug 2005
                            • 32249

                            Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

                            Originally posted by aamcguy
                            My answer is simple: I don't think a change from Granger to Stephenson would upset anything. George Hill was leading our team in touches by far, and we still did fine with him sitting. I believe you go with your best lineup at the given time. With Granger coming off of a fresh injury while still rehabbing from the old, make him prove he's recovered from all short-term injury problems. Once he's playing 25+ minutes without incident and 10 games or so off the bench, move him to the starting unit. The only caveat being that if while Granger is coming off the bench the Pacers are just steamrolling everybody, you don't make that change.
                            Well, we are 3-0 right now. So, you would start Granger even if Lance is playing better huh? Personally, if Granger comes back and plays better than Lance, I want Granger playing with the starters. Ain't happening though.

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                            • speakout4
                              Member
                              • Aug 2006
                              • 3710

                              Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

                              You seriously want to base your statement on a half pre-season game with Danny playing great and ignore how lance performed with the starting unit over a year?

                              OK, that's fine. We don't need to discuss this further.

                              Are we clear?

                              Comment

                              • The Future
                                Member
                                • Jun 2010
                                • 1850

                                Re: Four big IF's about Lance Stephenson.

                                Originally posted by Nuntius
                                If Lance is awesome with both the starters and the bench while Danny is awesome with the starters but mediocre with the bench what will you do? Because honestly this is what I think that will happen. I don't think that the bench would work with Danny since he is not a facilitator.
                                I think Granger will play with one of Stephenson or George regardless if hes coming off the bench or not.

                                Granger will most likely replace Orlando Johnson/Solo Hill off the bench.

                                SG: Stephenson (32 minutes), Granger (16 minutes)
                                SF: George (36 minutes), Granger (12 minutes)

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