RealGM

Assuming the season starts tomorrow, STAT is healthy enough and roster stays exactly as it is today (Pavlovic in, Griffin out), you are in Alvin gentry's seat, how would you coach this team?

Starters :

PG : Nash (34 mins)
SG : J-Rich (30)
SF : Hill (33)
PF : Clark (24)
C : Stoudemire (39)

Let me explain why Clark is beginning. Since up tempo Run & Gun style is re-established, I definitely want quickness and try to have a great start, put the pressure on other team, guys running the floor well and have some range. Clark fits that even if he's a rookie and may be inconsistent with his shoot, I let him a chance to feel the game directly. I have 3 guys who can handle the ball and create, that may balance our quickness with fluidity. Paint will be wide open so Steve don't be shy with pick & roll, I can live with couple of turnovers. Real problem is strong possibily of being out rebounded, I count on Hill and clark awareness of weak side and ability to rotate well.

Bench :

Barbosa (24)
Dragic (8)
Dudley (15)
Frye (15)
Lopez (13)
Amundsen (5)

Pavlovic & Tucker split "I'm in suit" and holding Gorilla's "suns win" sign roles.

Roughly, it's just a prediction. Barbosa of course is still my 6th man and his minutes are ajustable depending on who's hot who's not with J-Rich. Of course, most of the time he has to be on the court with Nash and Amare as a third weapon.
- I Let 3 spot to Dudley, I Like his court vision from the wing, if he is focused enough his ball protection is good. He doesn't have to shoot a lot, I'm ok if he feeds well our big mens, puts some good screens. Some 2-3 zone defense with my bench, Dudley is the key, the glue between inside/outside kind of hyperactivity.
- Not sure for big mens. Frye and Lopez have to play, mostly together because I think frye is a true 4 and I want him to shoot with lopez near the rim fighting for rebound. Big issue is their slowness going back in defense and honestly I don't know how to fix that . Maybe with some kind of pressure of Dudley or Barbosa on ball handler. Depends if it hurts us too much, I give Amundsen better athleticism more minutes...Anyway, Lopez and Dragic must have some rythm to feel confident enough in their role so I guess I can cut back minutes from Amare and Nash.

- The more important thing is Nash-Barbosa-STAT presence on this second five. They know each other so well playing alongside for five years.

- Frye and lopez are not starters because I'm not sure (can be wrong) they are able to play with STAT, especially Frye who's not known as the toughest player in this league. Plus, Amare has played C most of his career, when Shaq wasn't here. He's comfortable with it .

- With this rotation, bench can be productive...well I hope it to be^^. That's one of multiple possibilities this versatile roster can be exploited, feel free to share yours.

PS : In fact i'm not using Pavlovic, his chances to be waiwed are strong so you can put a guy you think can be signed.

I like your rotation, but I wouldn't play Nash more than 30 minutes, nor would I play Amar'e more than 34. Give Nash's 4 to Dragic, and give 3 from Amar'e's to Amundson and 1 each to Lopez and Clark. Also let Grant stay at an even 30 with Nash, and give the extra 3 to Duds too.

Looks more like:

Nash (30)/Dragic(12)/Barbosa(6)
Jrich (30/Barbosa(18)
Hill(30)/Dudley(18)
Clark(25)/Frye(15)/Amundson(8)
Amar'e(34)/Lopez(14)

Works out pretty well, but I still would much much much rather get a starting C like Foster/Rasho/Oberto/K.Thomas/GORTAT.

le crapaud wrote:Let me explain why Clark is beginning. Since up tempo Run & Gun style is re-established, I definitely want quickness and try to have a great start, put the pressure on other team, guys running the floor well and have some range. Clark fits that even if he's a rookie and may be inconsistent with his shoot, I let him a chance to feel the game directly. I have 3 guys who can handle the ball and create, that may balance our quickness with fluidity. Paint will be wide open so Steve don't be shy with pick & roll, I can live with couple of turnovers. Real problem is strong possibily of being out rebounded, I count on Hill and clark awareness of weak side and ability to rotate well.

I LOVE the idea of Clark starting! Look at other picks like Courtney Lee that flourished this past year becuase of starting!

Ok here's mine, considering that 5 player rotation totals 240 minutes. I'd do a 10 man rotation and use the below team.

Starters:
Nash - 32
JRich - 28
Hill - 26
Clark - 22
Amare - 36

Bench:
Barbosa - 25
Dragic - 15
Dudley - 22
Admunsun - 14
Frye - 20

Lopez, Pav (or whoever it is) and Tucker will sit most games. Lopez will definitely play more than the other 2 though because of Frye's strengths as a power forward. He and Lou will split a lot of minutes during some games.

Depending on the team we're playing, if they are bigger, then Frye may get the start over Clark, and Amare switches to the PF position, and their minutes will probably switch, and Clark will spend more time in the 3 position behind Grant Hill, as well as the 4 behind Stat with Admunsun getting some minutes in there too, when Clark is at the 3.

Overall, the above example is just a single example of the thousands of combinations available, but I have faith in pretty much all the Suns players to get it done. We have so many players around the same skill level off the bench that it is definitely going to be confusing for the coaching staff to figure out what rotation works.

Kerr said Clark isn't going to be ahead of Lou and Dudley in the rotation unless he's mindblowing.

Yes, but we're fortunately not Kerr. The poster was saying if we were Alvin Gentry, what would we do. well, that is what I would do if I were the coach.

rsavaj wrote:Kerr said Clark isn't going to be ahead of Lou and Dudley in the rotation unless he's mindblowing.

Thank god he isn't coaching this team. I mean how can you say that 2 months before the season starts?

Anyway I'd give 20 mins or more to Dudley, the guy is VERY good and I think we played better last year when he was playing more time.

In my honest opinion, I don't think Clark will be starting right off the bat, he may earn the starter spot, but I really don't see him starting right away. Besides, I think Dudley has earned more playing time. In my opinion as the team stands now, I see Frye or Lopez starting, at least in the beginning.....I'm not completely sold on that idea, but looks to me like that is what it is for now.....

I do think that Dudley and Amundson deserve more minutes than an unproven rookie...they worked their butts off and contributed big time last season. Of course, if Clark starts beasting away then by all means up his minutes and unleash the beast!

Its a new season. Players don't deserve minutes, they earn them. I'd much rather have Clark play more than Dudley and Amundson because he has more potential than those players. At the same time, I like the energy and hustle Dudley and Amundson bring on the courts.

Here is my rotation
Nash-30, Dragic-12, Barbosa-6
Richardson-30, Barbosa-18
Hill-28, Dudley-16, Clark-4
Frye-24, Clark-16, Amundson-8
Amare-34, Lopez-10, Amundson-4

Dudley averaged 8 points per game when Amare left, but he also played more. He isn't too productive unless given more minutes, I think if he improves offensively over the summer he'll be more of a weapon for the Suns. Richardson also needs to be more consistent, there was a 5 game span where he averaged 27 points.

Clark will most likely start in the pre-season, from there the Suns will calibrate his minutes to see how much he improved since SL.

Amare-35/Lopez-13
Clark-30/Frye-18
Hill-30/Dudley-18
Richardson-25/Barbosa-23
Nash-30/Dragic-18

rsavaj wrote:I do think that Dudley and Amundson deserve more minutes than an unproven rookie...they worked their butts off and contributed big time last season. Of course, if Clark starts beasting away then by all means up his minutes and unleash the beast!

Good point. Both played well last season and earned their minutes. As austin says, it depends on the team we're playing, our roster seems pretty deep thanks to Gentry who tried to develop young guys last year despite the fact suns fought for last spot in PO. Right move to buy some time this year in terms of chemistry. I'm just curious about what can bring a STAT-Clark frontcourt.

sd1306 wrote:I like your rotation, but I wouldn't play Nash more than 30 minutes, nor would I play Amar'e more than 34. Give Nash's 4 to Dragic, and give 3 from Amar'e's to Amundson and 1 each to Lopez and Clark. Also let Grant stay at an even 30 with Nash, and give the extra 3 to Duds too.

Looks more like:

Nash (30)/Dragic(12)/Barbosa(6)
Jrich (30/Barbosa(18)
Hill(30)/Dudley(18)
Clark(25)/Frye(15)/Amundson(8)
Amar'e(34)/Lopez(14)

Works out pretty well, but I still would much much much rather get a starting C like Foster/Rasho/Oberto/K.Thomas/GORTAT.

OT:i would love Foster/Oberto

Johan Petro

I, like many others on here, love the idea of Clark starting next to Amare. No disrespect to Duds or Sweet Lou, but just like Frye is a shooting Big Man, so is Clark, except Clark can defend better as well...and pass.

All of that and for us to build some confidence in this kid. That squad should stretch the floor pretty well. Nash will also have 2 big targets running the lane on the break.

Maybe start him , but keep him at 20 minutes, making sure that Duds, Lou, and Frye get their time also. We can then increase minutes if it looks like Clark is being effective.

Amare(38)/RoLo(10)
Amundson(22)/Channing(18)/Amare(4)/Clark(4)
Hill(28)/Dudley(12)/Clark(8)
Rich(30)/Barbs(14)/Pavs(4)
Nash(32)/Barbs(8)/Dragic(8)

We need amundson in alot hes a animal if he gets these minutes expect David Lee #s

azballer53 wrote:Amare(38)/RoLo(10)
Amundson(22)/Channing(18)/Amare(4)/Clark(4)
Hill(28)/Dudley(12)/Clark(8)
Rich(30)/Barbs(14)/Pavs(4)
Nash(32)/Barbs(8)/Dragic(8)

We need amundson in alot hes a animal if he gets these minutes expect David Lee #s

Damn no love for Clark?
12 minutes isn't gonna get him anywhere and he will end up just being another useless pick.
I'd rather have Amundson off the bench, when the starters get tired he goes in there and cleans up. Makes the opposition stay on their feet all game.

if were trying to win i think 12-15 is good for him

My ideal starting line up is.... Oh Wait.... Obama is on to talk about health care, a highly charged issue that should be important to all Americans...

whoa.... sorry O... Funny Home Videos is on...

I don't know about time, but my favorite lineups

Starters
Nash
JRich
Hill
Amare
Frye

Small Ball
Nash
LB
JRich
Clark
Amare

Closers
Nash
Dudley (If he can hit the open three)
Hill
Clark
Amare

Amare 48