Who should be the starting two guard when Rip comes back?

[ChiSox]

Belinelli, has been playing well as a starter. I believe he should be the starting 2 guard the rest of the year. What do you think?

[AAU Teammate]

(1) great handle, OP
(2) Not sure, but I do foresee the following happening...Marco dips back into a little of his former lazy/casual play (at times) self........Thibs punishes him with some doghousing (happened to Korver as well).......and hopefully he responds to that and becomes a hardworking 24/7 kind of guy.

Part of his evolution will also be learning to pass up wild shots, and valuing the squaring up prior to shot more. DRose of course makes this more possible for a guy like this.

[League Circles]

I think rip should be, and for no other reason than to maximize whatever offseason trade value he'll have and to minimize whatever FA value Marco might have. I think if Marco starts he's very likely to price himself above what we're allowed to pay him (MMLE).

[johnnyvann840]

I think rip should be, and for no other reason than to maximize whatever offseason trade value he'll have and to minimize whatever FA value Marco might have. I think if Marco starts he's very likely to price himself above what we're allowed to pay him (MMLE).

He'll be gone by the deadline. Offseason trade value is of no consequence. It's the easiest way to get the team under the tax, and you can rest assured knowing they will be under the tax. Hopefully, they can use the extra $1.75 million to find a back up big, who can defend, for the roster.

And, sorry man, but trying to boost Rip's trade value is the dumbest reason to start him, when the team is clearly better with Marco starting. Especially someone as fragile as Rip... chances are better that he gets hurt again than we somehow magically increase his value. The guy is 35 yrs old, if teams don't know who Rip is by now, they never will.

[DuckIII]

There is no legitimate basketball argument for Rip over Belli. Belli as a starter is averaging 17/4/2 and shooting 42% from range, and has shown he can penetrate. He offers a completely different dimension to the Bulls' offense and it has translated directly into the win column.

The only legitimate questin about Rip is if he should even play at all when he returns. Belli and Buckets should remain the rotation at the 2. I know Thibs won't do that because Thibs is like that with Vets and, more importantly, Rip is a little bitch about things like this. In fact, sadly and possibly tragically Rip will most likely return to his starting role, thereby making us worse.

I never root for an injury. But since Rip is already injured, lets just say I don't have a problem with his current status. That's not because he sucks. Its because is return will lead to a product worse than the current one.

[johnnyvann840]

I never root for an injury. But since Rip is already injured, lets just say I don't have a problem with his current status. That's not because he sucks. Its because is return will lead to a product worse than the current one.

Well stated. The offense is just more fluid and ball movement is so much better since Rip's injury. The team is better and has gotten through the toughest part of the schedule with a near .700 winning %.

Case closed.

[Ice the knees]

I agree about Marco bringing another dimension. I get real excited thinking about Rose/Marco together.

Marco's ball fakes alone are really going to open up the floor in a way Rip cannot. When defenses collapse on Rose, Marco is going to make it really tough on the guys closing out. Hand up? Stay down? Marco is going to put defenses on roller skates, I think...I hope. Could be a beautiful thing

[SimonFish]

Marco should, Rip will.

/thread

[sco]

I think Rip should start, but Marco should finish and get more minutes. Rip has a propensity to start hot and cool in the 2nd half, and he is better working with Boozer. I think Thibs needs to go with more small line-ups to make-up for a lack of bigs. Ideally, I'd like to see:

PG Kirk 24/Nate 24
SG Rip 18/Marco 30
SF Deng 27/Rip 7/Jimmy 14
PF Boozer 26/Taj 10/Deng 6/Jimmy 6
C Noah 33/Taj 15

Small line-ups
Kirk or Nate/Marco/Rip/Deng or Jimmy/Noah or Taj

[bentheredengthat]

Are they even hinting that Rips ready to come back soon?

[Dioxide]

I honestly believe Beli could become a 20/4/3 type player when Rose returns with how much attention Rose draws.

[khufure]

Rip is far better at coming off screens and posting up. Pasta has better range, handle/PG, and defense. It's good to have diversity but the 3pt shot favors starting Pasta when Rose is back.

[Dioxide]

Rip is far better at coming off screens and posting up. Pasta has better range, handle/PG, and defense. It's good to have diversity but the 3pt shot favors starting Pasta when Rose is back.

Idk about the posting up, Hamilton actually was doing rather poorly at it for some of the height advantages he had early in the season, that and beli actually has a pretty decent fadeway jumper from down in the post he used the few times we posted him up. I do agree Hamilton is much better coming off screens, Beli hesitates way too much when put in those types of plays.

[johnnyvann840]

I honestly believe Beli could become a 20/4/3 type player when Rose returns with how much attention Rose draws.

Hell, he's done almost just that as a starter without Rose. 17, 4 and 2 and throw in over 1.5 steals per game. And we're 10 games into the Marco as a starter. The sample size is getting larger and he isn't showing any signs of letting us down.

[Dioxide]

I honestly believe Beli could become a 20/4/3 type player when Rose returns with how much attention Rose draws.

Hell, he's done almost just that as a starter without Rose. 17, 4 and 2 and throw in over 1.5 steals per game. And we're 10 games into the Marco as a starter. The sample size is getting larger and he isn't showing any signs of letting us down.

I know, i think the biggest thing is to get him to be a little more selfish on shooting. He needs to put up a little more volume than he does, but that may come about naturally with the open looks Rose will provide.

[League Circles]

There is no legitimate basketball argument for Rip over Belli. Belli as a starter is averaging 17/4/2 and shooting 42% from range, and has shown he can penetrate. He offers a completely different dimension to the Bulls' offense and it has translated directly into the win column.

The only legitimate questin about Rip is if he should even play at all when he returns. Belli and Buckets should remain the rotation at the 2. I know Thibs won't do that because Thibs is like that with Vets and, more importantly, Rip is a little bitch about things like this. In fact, sadly and possibly tragically Rip will most likely return to his starting role, thereby making us worse.

I never root for an injury. But since Rip is already injured, lets just say I don't have a problem with his current status. That's not because he sucks. Its because is return will lead to a product worse than the current one.

Sure there is a solid basketball reason to start rip, and i just made it. Its just a long term basketball reason prioritized over a short term reason. I dont know how people can be so casually in favor of Marco pricing himself out of staying on the bulls.

[Dioxide]

Rip at this stage of his career is far too injury prone to be a better long term decision to start him. Getting Beli more and more confident and acclimated into the system and better on defense is much better for the long term.

[Ice the knees]

There is no legitimate basketball argument for Rip over Belli. Belli as a starter is averaging 17/4/2 and shooting 42% from range, and has shown he can penetrate. He offers a completely different dimension to the Bulls' offense and it has translated directly into the win column.

The only legitimate questin about Rip is if he should even play at all when he returns. Belli and Buckets should remain the rotation at the 2. I know Thibs won't do that because Thibs is like that with Vets and, more importantly, Rip is a little bitch about things like this. In fact, sadly and possibly tragically Rip will most likely return to his starting role, thereby making us worse.

I never root for an injury. But since Rip is already injured, lets just say I don't have a problem with his current status. That's not because he sucks. Its because is return will lead to a product worse than the current one.

Sure there is a solid basketball reason to start rip, and i just made it. Its just a long term basketball reason prioritized over a short term reason. I dont know how people can be so casually in favor of Marco pricing himself out of staying on the bulls.

I don't buy the priced out thing. We have him for the year, so we better maximize his ability in that year. After that let the pieces fall where they may.

[Tenchi Ryu]

I think Rip should start, but Marco should finish and get more minutes. Rip has a propensity to start hot and cool in the 2nd half, and he is better working with Boozer. I think Thibs needs to go with more small line-ups to make-up for a lack of bigs. Ideally, I'd like to see:

PG Kirk 24/Nate 24
SG Rip 18/Marco 30
SF Deng 27/Rip 7/Jimmy 14
PF Boozer 26/Taj 10/Deng 6/Jimmy 6
C Noah 33/Taj 15

Small line-ups
Kirk or Nate/Marco/Rip/Deng or Jimmy/Noah or Taj

Someone with some common sense and not looking through homer glasses. Take yesterday's game for example. Marco got 22 points, 8 in the first half and 14 in the second on 40+ mins. This has been the norm with Marco, he's ALWAYS performed better in the second half compared to the first. On the flip side like you mentioned, Rip plays his best in the first quarter when he has a good game, and he's had a number of them.

I see no logical reason for Belli to start when he should not only get more minutes, but finish games. We'll literally put him in a Manu Ginobili role.

But this is all moot anyway because every logical person knows Rip will be starting, Thibs is old school and just doesn't do that. Lots of folks will be butthurt, but what can you do.

[Dioxide]

I just worry if not starting would be a bit of a confidence killer for Beli. Some players don't do too well coming off the bench no matter the minutes they get.