Starting SG if Dunleavy is back

[fienX420]

I'm sure I'll get ripped, but I actually like Mike as our best defensive option on the wing. He's not a great man-to-man defender, but he's excellent at playing within the team scheme. He's often among the leaders in charges taken - and those are even better than steals. Of course, my opinion on this matter really more reflects that I don't really consider Granger, Rush, or Jones very good defenders (yet).

[MillerTime101]

Hes actually more then among the leaders in taking charges, he is the leader in the NBA per minutes (the last full year he played).

I get your point but I dont agree about Rush, Granger and Jones not being good defenders. Granger is solid, very solid considering how much energy he expends on the offensive end. And if you watch late in games Granger plays tremendous defense down the stretch he just has problems sustaining it throughout the 45+ minutes we play him.

Rush ill let slide because you threw in the term "yet" although you could say he is already an above average defender.

Jones I dont agree with at all, he has already proven he is a good defender to the point where he started in an ECF team and was signed to a multiyear deal for his defense. You dont sign a player to play defense if he isnt good at defense unless your an idiot, which Bird is not.

[jowglenn]

I think there's a lot of directions to go here.

1. Dunleavy as starting SG

Reward: Dunleavy is the best one we've got, is veteran, brings all his positives to the table. Would allow Rush to play w/o having the weight of the starting position on him. Rush would still get lots of minutes.

Risk: We are overoptimistic, play Dunleavy too many minutes, and he gets hurt again.

Prognosis: Bad idea. Dunleavy needs to be brought back more slowly, eased into the rotation, build minutes as we are surer and surer that he is ok.


2. Rush as starting SG

Reward: Dunleavy gets to come back more slowly. Rush gets the vote of confidence from O'Brien that he is ready for it. We get to see what the future Rush/Granger starting combo looks like, and cement it into place.

Risk: Rush might falter in his sophomore season, and be unable to handle the full starter's load. Dunleavy would likely re-earn his starting position as he got healthier and got more minutes. Moving Rush from starter to 6th/7th man could be a confidence-killer.

Prognosis: not a terrible idea if Dunleavy is likely to remain a bench guy for most of the season. If it's clear that Dunleavy is ready to retake his 30 mpg starter's role, we would have to give it to him. I'm afraid this idea would hurt Rush's development if Dunleavy comes back to form.

3. Dahntay Jones as starting SG.

Reward: Jones would serve in a similar role as he did in Denver, starting SG who only plays backup minutes. Rush would back him up a la JR Smith, a backup who gets starter's minutes. Dunleavy could start out as Granger's backup, play 10-15 minutes a game. As Dunleavy gets healthier, the decision can then be made whether to make Dunleavy or Rush the starter.

Risk: Jones is a weak offensive player. He might end up as a disappointment (underrated guy signs new contract, becomes overrated).

Prognosis: I like this idea. Rush still gets his minutes, but becomes used to coming off the bench, in case that's what's necessary when Dunleavy takes over the starter's position. Jones's minutes could be reduced without worrying about his confidence like we would have to with Rush.


So I think that's actually the best case scenario. Game 1, starting SG Dahntay Jones. Play him 20 minutes a game, give Rush 28 mpg as a 'backup starter'. Give Dunleavy Granger's backup minutes until he's ready for more. At that point, decide whether we want Rush or Granger as the starting SG, and reduce Jones's minutes.

[spudmonkey31]

Prognosis: I like this idea. Rush still gets his minutes, but becomes used to coming off the bench, in case that's what's necessary when Dunleavy takes over the starter's position. Jones's minutes could be reduced without worrying about his confidence like we would have to with Rush.

Your effing crazy if you want Jones starting dude. Rush or Dunleavy is the go for shizzle, dont be daft and get into Jones being anyhting more than a defensive matchup player.

[Gremz]

That's probably what i have been leaning towards, and would probably be correct in logistics.
I would hope that by say 1-2 months into the season that Rush would be incredibly effective as a starter, or 6th man, allowing for variance.

[MillerTime101]

Prognosis: I like this idea. Rush still gets his minutes, but becomes used to coming off the bench, in case that's what's necessary when Dunleavy takes over the starter's position. Jones's minutes could be reduced without worrying about his confidence like we would have to with Rush.

Your effing crazy if you want Jones starting dude. Rush or Dunleavy is the go for shizzle, dont be daft and get into Jones being anyhting more than a defensive matchup player.

To be fair spudmonkey, Jones started on a team way better then the Pacers just last year so I wouldnt call it an "effing crazy" idea to have him start and play 15-20 minutes a game until Dunleavy is fully healthy. Even then I think Dunleavy would best be served coming off the bench to give our defensive minded 2nd unit some offensive punch.

[Kuq_e_Zi91]

When you say Dahntay Jones started on a team better than the Pacers last year it implies that Dahntay Jones is really a starter. Maybe technically by definition of the word but I don't think he'd start on many other teams. George Karl really has a thing against JR Smith, it's hard not to believe that that might be a factor in why Jones started. George Karl is not stupid, though. He knows he has a better chance of winning with Smith on the floor which is why he only played Jones 18 MPG.

Here's the five man units info from 82games showing the difference between having Jones on the floor or Smith on the floor:
http://www.82games.com/0809/0809DEN2.HTM

They went from a +/- net points of -18 to +63 when Jones isn't on the floor. Their winning percentage also jumped from 44.4 to 68.9

Now I thought to myself, OK so Jones isn't the offensive player Smith is, we know this but should the difference be that great? Shouldn't the great defense he's known for factor in and make the difference less than it is?

So I looked at individual floor time stats next and boy was I surprised. I was looking and looking for Jones' name and couldn't find it for a minute until I looked all the way at the bottom. Other than Johan Petro who only played in 5% of the Nuggets total minutes, Dahntay Jones had the worst individual +/- net points for the Nuggets and he played in 36% of their total minutes.
Here's the link for anybody curious:
http://www.82games.com/0809/0809DEN1.HTM

Dahntay Jones is a role player, a specialist you bring off the bench. Rush starting is crucial to the future of this franchise.

[MillerTime101]

They also went 49-23 with Jones as the starter, its not the numbers he puts up its the defensive tone that he sets for the game.

I was not implying he is a starter quality player only that it is an option that should not be insulted for suggesting. If we dont have Dunleavy healthy for opening day (still unlikely) then having Rush come off the bench and playing 35mpg isnt a terrible idea. Its just an option worth discussing at the very least.