Who should be the starting power forward this season?

[leeprettyp]

So the starting PF position hasnt been filled yet coming into camp. In my opinion the real legit options will be either Jordan Hill, Chris Kaman or Shawne Williams. Here's my breakdown of each guy and what they have to offer and where they could possibly hurt us at also.

1) Jordan Hill
Pros:

Athletic
Solid team defender
Decent shot blocker from the weakside
Good Rebounder
Decent finisher at the rim
Good at defending the pick n roll on defense

Cons:

Unrealiable jumpshooter
Injury prone
Hasn't played heavy minutes in his career


2) Chris Kaman

Pros:

Great Locker room guy
Solid pick and pop big
Solid midrange game (made 52%fg from 16ft)
Nice face up post game
Good rebounder (avg around 9rpg in his better seasons in his career)

Cons:

Not really athletic
Not a great interior presence around the rim
Injury prone
Will struggle defending PF in today's NBA (probably even worse than Pau did)
Slow on team defense rotations
Turnover machine
Stays in foul trouble (4 fouls per game per 36 minutes in his career)

3) Shawne Williams

Pros:

Had his best season playing under Mike D in NY (familiarity with the offense)
Good Shooter/Floor spacer
Athletic
Good on ball defender (can defend the longer SF and PF we're gonna encounter this season)
Solid at switching the pick n roll on defense


Cons:

Questionable focus at times throughout his career
Not a good passer (we'll need that versatility in MIke D offense)
Not a real great interior presence on D
Not a good rebounder for his size



Me personally would really hope that Jordan Hill put up enough jumpers to get a consistent midrange game for this season. Alongside Pau were going to need more of a defensive and rebounding presence. So I would think its more of Jordan's Hill starting spot to lose coming into camp. I know there's still a chance Ryan Kelly and Marcus Laundry could make the team but I doubt they'll ever be in consideration.


Who do you personally feel should be the starting PF this season? (any darkhorse?)

[ROballer]

Hill

And I think he's the favorite for the job too considering one of MDA's quotes that he needs some defense out of the PF spot(how bout that ) and the fact that he urged him to improve his jumper

At this point,Gasol is probably starting at C and Kaman is the backup C although if something goes wrong and Hill is injured I can see us going with a Pau/Kaman duo

I'll be damned if we get a player who couldn't find a job in the league and promote him straight to a starter....Williams AFAIK doesn't even have his job guaranteed yet,there are about 2 spots left on the roster and 6 players fighting for that spot

[ratra_1211]

ffs, anyone except chris kaman
jordan hill is preferable since he's the most athletic of the trio you just mentioned









and don't forget d'antoni assigned him to expand his range aall the way to downtown so i guess spacing isn't a problem

[leeprettyp]

I thought Kobe advised Jordan Hill to work on his jumpshot this offseason? I maybe wrong here though

[leeprettyp]

I also think Shawne will make the team, he fits Mike D system to well not to

[ROballer]

I thought Kobe advised Jordan Hill to work on his jumpshot this offseason? I maybe wrong here though

Yeah,I forgot about what he said.....we all went during the summer with the assumption that it was D'Antoni(articles quoting him about this issue surfaced)
Hill said at the media day it was Kobe

It really doesn't matter who told him though...don't think anybody is upset with him getting a decent J

[ROballer]

I also think Shawne will make the team, he fits Mike D system to well not to

Don't know....apparently Harris' deal is actually guaranteed so we have 12 bodies set for the season
I expect 13 guys on the final roster,although we might take 14

Johnson Odom
Boateng
Henry
Gadzuric

Are all camp fodders IMO

Landry
Williams
Kelly

Will fight for 1 or 2 spots

[hazy_01]

Jordan Hill, if he's a more capable midrange shooter this season, then he will mesh well with Pau. Starting Kaman would mean him or Pau at PF which would suck guarding the opposing frontcourt and I don't even know if Shawne Williams will make to the final roster tbh.

[Michael Lucky]

Jordan Hill obviously. lol

[leeprettyp]

I would think but MIke D. did say in a recent radio interview that he hasnt decided yet. ( He could just be saying that though). He also said he'd consider starting Kaman alongside Pau (I hope we dont do that) But we will be running alot of Kurt Rambis strongside zone defense so maybe thats still an option

[DEEP3CL]

It's gotta be Hill, he's a throwback type of 4 because today's 4's are floor stretchers. When MDA told Hill in his exit meeting to work on his perimeter shot and then Kobe took the time to advise J-Hill also on the manner that tell me he's the one.

He doesn't have to be lights out on the perimeter, just decent enough from mid range to keep the interior open for Pau or Chris to work and for our other guys to have penetration.

Plus he's a strong rebounder if given minutes, but we have options there at the 4 too so it's not like he'll have to log 30-35 a night. He'll be in the 24-28 range.

[XtotheDeezy]

Hill. We need defense from the PF position more than anything and out of our options, Hill gives us the most power there. If he really did add a decent jumper to his game, then all the better.

[crazyeights]

Depends on who is starting at SF too. Haven't heard exactly, is Nick Young for sure our starting 3?

If NY is starting, I think Hill is the man for the job.

Nash/Kobe/Young/Hill/Pau. There's a little bit of a rub between how Kobe and Nick Young's games coalesce in my mind, not saying it'll be a problem, but just curious how it'll shake out.

I wonder if Wesley Johnson hasn't improved his shooting enough, and he starts, what having two mediocre shooters at our forward spots would do to our spacing.

If we find that Kobe's quickness on defense is a problem, maybe Nash/Farmar/Kobe/Hill/Pau is an interesting lineup. For spacing anyway.

[leeprettyp]

Depends on who is starting at SF too. Haven't heard exactly, is Nick Young for sure our starting 3?

If NY is starting, I think Hill is the man for the job.

Nash/Kobe/Young/Hill/Pau. There's a little bit of a rub between how Kobe and Nick Young's games coalesce in my mind, not saying it'll be a problem, but just curious how it'll shake out.

I wonder if Wesley Johnson hasn't improved his shooting enough, and he starts, what having two mediocre shooters at our forward spots would do to our spacing.

If we find that Kobe's quickness on defense is a problem, maybe Nash/Farmar/Kobe/Hill/Pau is an interesting lineup. For spacing anyway.

There was an unconfirmed rumor out there that Mitch sold Nick Young on the fact that he'll be the starting SF here. Not sure how true that is or not

[ak7]

I also think Shawne will make the team, he fits Mike D system to well not to

Don't know....apparently Harris' deal is actually guaranteed so we have 12 bodies set for the season
I expect 13 guys on the final roster,although we might take 14

Johnson Odom
Boateng
Henry
Gadzuric

Are all camp fodders IMO

Landry
Williams
Kelly

Will fight for 1 or 2 spots

I do believe Harris' deal is only literally like $100,000 guaranteed. Small price to pay for a waived player who isn't good enough to make the roster, should that be the case.

[crazyeights]

Harris is the most intriguing player to me.

[Danny Darko]

I think you have to go with Hill just to make the rotation at C work.... otherwise you are counting on Sacre to play the main backup C when you are wasting some options at PF

[leeprettyp]

I think you have to go with Hill just to make the rotation at C work.... otherwise you are counting on Sacre to play the main backup C when you are wasting some options at PF

Good point

[Tiesto_Lakers]

I expect Jordan Hill to start. The twin tower lineup doesn't make sense because it puts Pau out of position, which is the worst mistake. Plus, D'Antoni hates centers, so it makes no sense for him to start 2 of them.

[ballaholick]

I also think Shawne will make the team, he fits Mike D system to well not to

Don't know....apparently Harris' deal is actually guaranteed so we have 12 bodies set for the season
I expect 13 guys on the final roster,although we might take 14

Johnson Odom
Boateng
Henry
Gadzuric

Are all camp fodders IMO

Landry
Williams
Kelly

Will fight for 1 or 2 spots

I think Henry will make it over Laundry