Open Starting Spot...You choose

[PHILLYLOVE]

With Brand in the fold, we are looking at Andre, Iggy, Brand, and Daly all locks to start...here's my question
who would you rather have round out the 5...
-Lou Williams at the 2 spot
or Thad at the 3 with Iggy at the 2.

I am for Thad at the 3...
this was a tough choice, because i think Lou needs to be able to focus on scoring, as i think he has the potential to be one of our top 3 scorers this year, beating out Miller, but I love his potential to do so off teh bench and still develop his PG game, in case we dont bring back Miller and need him to be the PG
also as show in the DET series, iggy and thad at the 2 and 3, prevents iggy from being guarded by bigger 3men who can shut him down...

[ITK9]

Thad should start.No doubt about that.

[roll]

Season is long... Starting line-up is not a big deal now...

[eyeatoma]

Thad is going to start. sixerfan76 said thats the plan if we could land a legitimate PF...

Lou Williams will be the 6th man...

[51X3RF4N]

Well actually it is a good topic for discussion IMO. We all know Iggy is a lock to start, but with Thad still being raw offensively, and LW being a scoring machine, it is difficult to say for sure who should start. I like LW's ability to score from just about anywhere on the court, and take his man off the dribble. This should free Brand up for easy layups, hence reducing the workload and energy usage it takes for him to score. Leaving him healthier longer, and more able to concentrate on D.

Also, with LW in the lineup, we have someone to catch the passes out of the double-down post and drill shots. Not saying Thad can't do the same, but LW is a better shooter right now, hands down. Not to mention the fact that if LW starts next to Iggy, we can bring in WG and Thad at the same time off the bench and have a similar wing combo style. If Iggy and Thad start, you can't bring 2 fresh guys in at once, you'd have to put in LW first...then wait till Thad or Iggy is ready to go back in, then sub out the other guy.

HOWEVER, with Thad in the lineup, you have an almost 6'9 SF who can defend well, get hands in passing lanes, block shots, rebound extremely well and finish around the rim. You have a scrapper who fights for offensive boards and knows what to do when he gets one. Meanwhile, LW comes off the bench and is likely more effective s an energy boosting offensive threat coming in for Iggy or Thad.

Also, if Thad starts, he is able to develop quicker and more efficiently. We have a better team Defense.

BUT, with Thad starting, we do lack that wing man who can put the ball in the hole every time down if needed. I think LW is REALLY close to being that guy. He takes over sometimes on O where everytime he touches it, he's either at the line or puts in through the net for a FG.

So, it isn't like this is an open-shut case. LW, according to Ed at least, is competing for the starting SG spot. And I for one think it will be closer than many think.

[freshie2]

Easy...Miller/Iguodala/Thad/Brand/Sam

Bench offense- LW
Bench energy player- Evans
Backup Center- Smith/Speights(?)
Backup PG- Ollie/FA vet

Now is where SendEm's theory that quality swing players can be picked up off the street corner...they should be able to get a contributing swing player for the league min to help fill out the bench. Personally, would love to see them get a real backup Center somehow, but this roster is much better suited to win in the playoffs now than before.

[Mozy-76er Fan]

Season is long... Starting line-up is not a big deal now...

Good point - we can always switch around the lineup based on math ups. Look at Ginobli coming off the bench and you realize it doesn't matter if you are in starting lineup, it is about how many minutes you get and when. That being said I think Thad should be in the starting lineup most nights. I like the size of that lineup with 3 athletic guys in the 6-8/6-9 range plus Dally.

[vtime]

Its tough, because with at starting spot, Williams could be a Monta Ellis type player. they were both from that last high school draft class, both taken 2nd round, both major sleepers. Wiliams has a very similar game to Ellis, except maybe that he's more of a pg, but other than that they are basically the same player, but Ellis just got to play and develop sooner. Thad and Lou, both have a chance to be special, but I think Williams is more ready to breakout now and he's earned the chance. Plus Thad coming off the bench could sub for anyone at all 5 positions, even for Miller and you can slide Williams to pg.

[JD76ers]

I think Thad at the 3 is the way to start games and Lou Wil off the bench

[bech01a1]

I would be pretty shocked if Thad does not end up as a starter next year.

[barkley34]

Thad should be a beast against some of the 3's in the league. At the 4 he was playing against bigger guys but with his physical ability he is going to be a nightmare for smaller 3's. Also with Brand drawing double teams Thad will really be tough to keep off the offensive rebounds.

[phiphan]

Part of the problem is that Iguodala is more effective at SF than he is at SG (22.6 PER v. 18.3 PER).

Obviously Thad had an excellent rookie season, but he's had limited time at SF -- it's difficult to judge how he'll perform there. Most of Thad's points came from being able to be active around the hoop. He'll be taken away from the basket playing SF. Furthermore, he will have to handle the ball more at SF, which is, by far, his biggest weakness.

I don't think anything can be set in stone at this point. It might well work out that Lou works better in the starting 5, and that Thad comes in as a backup to play starters minutes at the 3/4.

[Philly_King]

Thad over LWill anyday. A Miller/Williams/Iguodala starting 3 is a much worse defensive team than Miller/Iguodala/Thad. Add Brand and Sammy and may have one of the best defensive starting lineups in the league with that. Anyways, Thad's offensive game should be much better this year.