CJ Miles should start

[dalekjazz]

This should be starting lineup next season:
PF: Carlos Boozer
SF: Andrei Kirilenko
C: Mehmet Okur
PG: Deron Williams
SG: CJ Miles

The Jazz need at least one wing player in the starting lineup who can consistently make outside shots. Brewer and Kirilenko together in the lineup is a liability because neither has a consistent outside shot making it easier to play off them and defend Boozer, Okur, and Deron with double teams. Kirilenko is a better defender than Brewer so he needs to be in the starting lineup to cover up the defensive deficiencies of Boozer and Okur. Korver cannot start because of his defensive limitations. Almond is not ready for big minutes. Miles is a good shooter and has all the physical tools to be an effective defensive player. He could be a Kevin Martin-type player if given the minutes. The Jazz should move Brewer because of his offensive limitations and possibly Almond for the defensive big man the Jazz have been craving for the last couple of years. Miles is a possible most improved player candidate this year. He could be the missing championship piece this season.

[fivas14]

Disagree

[schneiderjazz]

The Jazz didn't really seem to have any trouble scoring with last season's starting line-up. Both Memo and Deron are pretty good shooters and Brewer's midrange jumper is decent. Plus Brewer gets a ton of easy baskets. The guy is a SG scoring 12 points per game while shooting 56% from the floor. What more can you possibly want? Jazz starting line-up already has enough scoring. Unless you think CJ is a better defender than Brewer, I don't see why he should be starting. Now if opposing teams go into a zone, it makes sense bringing him in. Starting him? Not so much IMO.

[dr0welf]

Miles can score, we have seen brief episodes of it so far. But I disagree with him starting. Reason being: We already have 2 shooters on the court with Okur and D Will. Brewer gives us an added dimension of slashing and playing the baseline. Miles can slash at times but I think the edge goes to Brewer here. Also, Miles will be a key coming off the bench when DWill and Okur are out. Miles can play the three with Korver at the 2 so we still have 2 shooters on the court to help spread the floor. We know Knight doesn't shoot well, Millsap has a decent midrange, and any center on our team besides Okur will not get a lot of outside shots. We will need Miles with that 2nd team.

[Pappyman]

With the current makeup of our team, the only feasible way Miles can start is if Memo is moved to the bench. This would be the depth chart:
PG: Deron Williams, Ronnie Price, Brevin Knight
SG: C.J. Miles, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Price
SF: Ronnie Brewer, Matt Harpring, Morris Almond
PF: Andrei Kirilenko, Paul Millsap, Kosta Koufos
C: Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, Kyrylo Fesenko

I just don't see it happening anytime soon.

[fivas14]

Why does EVERYONE put CJ as a SG? HE PLAYS SMALL FORWARD

[babyjax13]

Brewer fits in great with our starting lineup. I don't think people give him enough credit for what he does. Without Ronnie, defenses would be able to double up on Boozer in the post, but because Brewer moves so well on the baseline (we've seen it countless times) Boozer is just able to dump off the ball to a slashing Brewer and roll to the high side of the post.

[erudite23]

um, no.

[jazzfan1971]

Because he did so well last time we let him start?

[kerplunk]

Trade AK and that's when CJ will start.

[fivas14]

Because he did so well last time we let him start?

He plays SF though.

[Fido]

CJ can start--when he earns it. He has not been able to beat out his competition for reserve minutes much less the starting spot. The opportunity will be there again this preseason to earn his time. But no freebees...

[The Sheik]

Because he did so well last time we let him start?

He plays SF though.

Fivas, bro...chill out. He doesnt play SF exclusively. He is a 6'6" wing man. He can play either position, as can Brewer and Korver. If we started Ronnie and CJ together it wouldnt matter who started at what position. Brewer gets the nod at SG because he is stronger physically and there are more gifted SG then SFs.

As for the trade AK thing then CJ will start. I dont think he should start then either. I think it makes most sense for Korver to start. He and Brewer will play an inside outside game just like Memo and Booz do and Korver plays great help D.

[dalekjazz]

Guys like Deron Williams and Lebron James have commented on how CJ Miles has improved his game big time this off-season. Deron was pushing for the Jazz to resign Miles and the Jazz are obviously committed to him long term. Brewer's ceiling is a Desmond Mason-type role player who provides energy, steals, athletic ability, and flashy moves, but playing long minutes is a liability because of his offensive limitations. CJ Miles has a much, much higher ceiling. We saw glimpses of his potential last year. Given big minutes he could make Kevin Martin-type improvement. I think CJ Miles has the most physical tools of any player the Jazz have ever had at the shooting guard position including Griffith, who was not a good defender. I want to see what he's got. Brewer has a high shooting percentage because most of his shots come from short range. In the long term this is a liability especially in the fourth quarter when layups are hard to come by. Team are going force Brewer to make outside shots. I am tired of Kobe etc. going off against the Jazz because they only have to worry about playing one side of the court. As Jerry Sloan says a shooting guard has to be able to shoot. Sometime the best defense is a good offense. Its time to make the Kobe's of the world work on both sides of the court. CJ Miles gives the Jazz the best chance of doing that.

[The Sheik]

If this was a David Thrope chat you would get a ban. Name drops Lebron, like thats gonna wow us. What exactly did Lebron say? I know Deron said he took notice, but what did he say?

Did you even watch Ronnie Brewer play a game last yr?

How are teams gonna force him to make outside shot?

The guy gets no plays ran for him and just works the baseline, backdoor cuts and constant movement without the ball to score. I swear to you that purely offensively speaking Ronnie Brewer is Sloans favorite player. AK would average 16-18 ppg if he did what Brewer did. Brewer has legit range to about 15-18 ft. Teams arent going to focus in on his scoring because nobody in the NBA plays that kind of D. Deron will continue to slash and Brewer will cut. If anything I only see his average staying stable till he gets a really consistent mid range and respectable outside game...then he will be averaging 15-18 ppg.

Finally you do realize even Kobe doesnt guard Brewer, he usually guards AK so he doesnt have to work on D. Farmar or Sasha would guard Brewer.

haha CJ will make the Kobes of the world work.

[hoops4life]

oh okay so lyou claim lebron has commented on how well he is doing... yeah that means that we should start him.

[fivas14]

HE PLAYS SMALL FORWARD

[jazzfan1971]

I think he's played more SG than SF Fivas. Maybe youve been watching another team?

[The Sheik]

HE PLAYS SMALL FORWARD

No he doesnt.

He is a wing player, the 2/3 are interchangeable in Sloans offense. CJ can play either position. He played and started at both during injuries to either Brewer or AK.

Please stop saying he plays SF, please.

[loserX]

HE PLAYS SMALL FORWARD

Perhaps if you post it 10 more times it'll be true?

Last year CJ played 15% of the team's minutes at SG. He played 2% of the team's minutes at SF.

Of the team's minutes at SF last year (according to 82games.com):
Kirilenko played 51%
Harpring played 33%
Brewer played 6%
Korver played 4%
Miles played 2%

Of the team's minutes at SG last year (same source):
Brewer played 46%
Korver played 22%
Miles played 15%
Price played 6%
Giricek played 5%

The rest was made up of bit parts of various players playing out of their usual positions, spot minutes for Almond, those kinds of things. So in fact, Miles was the FIFTH-string SF on the team last year. So why you try to shout down anyone who says he plays SG, I'm not sure.