Raptors Referendum: Who starts in Sullinger's absence

[Troubadour]

The candidates:

Patrick Patterson + Pascal Siakam

Who should start on Wednesday night?

[toronto16]

Siakam

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[Patman]

Siakam should be groomed as our PF of the future, but for now, go with Patterson. Siakam will get plenty of burn regardless. Let him do well against other back-up bigs first.

[mintsa]

It's really a no brainer. It keeps our rotation the same.

[mademan]

Keeping the Cojo/Lowry/Ross/Ppat bench unit should be a priority. Go with Scal

[Spex]

I thought I read somewhere here Casey already said Siakam was starting.

[nabbs]

Ppat struggled as a starter in the playoffs. I really think you gotta let Siakam start and let Pat come off the bench. Man Sully was going to be a key for our second unit small ball lineups. This is so disheartening.

[slothrop8]

Patterson should start. Siakam will start.

[witnessraps]

Siakam will start at the 4 but probably only play 10-15 minutes, with Patterson getting the majority of the burn and Carroll filling in for a few minutes.

[dhackett1565]

What? How is the poll skewed to Siakam? Patterson is the only correct answer.

[Senbonzakura]

What? How is the poll skewed to Siakam? Patterson is the only correct answer.

Seriously, Patterson is in almost all of our best lineups by netRTG from last season including our 3 best lineups that played over 100 minutes. He fits excellently with DeMar and Jonas especially.

I would argue that Patterson should be starting even IF Sullinger was healthy.

[anj]

What? How is the poll skewed to Siakam? Patterson is the only correct answer.

[Rapcity_11]

Keeping the Cojo/Lowry/Ross/Ppat bench unit should be a priority. Go with Scal

Just stagger PP the same as Lowry. It's not rocket science.

[Rapcity_11]

The Raptors also really need ~32 mins from PP now. Asking him to play anywhere near that coming off the bench is ridiculous.

[dTox]

There should only be one answer : PP

[C_Money]

I don't want to see Siakam for more than 10 minutes a game. Patterson and Carroll should get the bulk of the PF minutes.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

Siakam could start the game, but Pat Patterson and/or Carroll will play the vast majority of the minutes at PF. Unless, of course, Siakam pulls a Powell, and earns more PT.

[ruckus]

What? How is the poll skewed to Siakam? Patterson is the only correct answer.

Because it's been drilled into our heads that Patterson doesn't like or, cannot handle starting. The thing is, he hasn't had much of a chance to start other than a handful of games.

Personally, I like Patterson coming off the bench just due to the synergy and chemistry the bench unit seems to have. I also like the energy that Siakam brings starting off the game. We don't need a whole lot of offense from the PF position in our starting lineup and Siakam seems to have a good enough jumpshot to hit the open ones he'll be getting.

Our front court is looking kinda fragile at the moment.

[dacrusha]

Siakam starts games, Patterson finishes. Not only will this be a great way to get Pascal solid and predictable minutes playing with our top unit, it also keeps Patterson's bench role intact.

[dhackett1565]

Siakam starts games, Patterson finishes. Not only will this be a great way to get Pascal solid and predictable minutes playing with our top unit, it also keeps Patterson's bench role intact.

But this is the same problem we had last year. If Patterson comes off the bench, it's very hard to get him enough rest to have him play heavy minutes. If he's playing 30+ MPG (as he should be with Sully out), and the first 6 minutes of each half have him on the bench, that means he's playing 15 minutes out of 18 in each half. That's a lot of minutes with no breaks. Start him, and you can spread those 15 minutes per half over the entire 24, with lots of room for breathers in there.

Nevermind that Pascal's fit with the starters is very questionable, and Patterson's is basically perfect.