Barnes should replace JRich in the starting lineup

[Inconspicuous]

JRich, for all his talent, is the biggest underperformer on this team. Plays no defense, makes the dumbest decisions, and now has lost his only value because his shooting is near nonexistent. Barnes has proven he plays better starting and deserves to start, JRich should have to prove he is worth starting, because I have certainly not seen it.

[nashill]

i believe, barnes should start at power forward since hill is better playing defense agianst 1 to 3, too thin at 4...


i agree then. lets see how jrich respond if he comes off the bench.

[b-ball forever]

I've been for Barnes starting @ PF ever since STAT went down, so I'm not surprised to see him perform well there over the past couple games at all. (Also note that, as expected, Hill plays a zillion times better at SF then @ PF, where he was relatively useless).

Barnes is a very good rebounder for his size, has a strong body, already played PF w/ the Warriors in the past....So he's the best option we've got to start @ PF for now (better to bring Admunson off the bench since he can play center too, and Dudley isn't experienced enuf yet).
He stretches the defense, leaves the entire lane open for Shaq to operate, can be a usefull pick n roll option, and has decent playmaking skills, so he can be our poor man's 05-06 Diaw... He'll struggle defending the physical PFs, but much less so then Hill anyways.


The question should be whether Barbs, Hill, or J-Rich should come off the bench.

I'm fine with either so long as Barnes starts @ PF, but i'd go w/ Barbs off the bench.

Hill could help Dragic with the playmaking if he played 6th man, but I'd rather him start since he's played better as a starter so far, and since we need a perimeter defender starting (Nash/Barbs/Rich all bad wing defenders).

We could try going w/ Rich as 6th man just to see how that goes, and since Barbs plays better next to Nash... but since Barbs is a better ballhandler then Rich and already has been a usefull 6th man for most his career, I rather use him there.

Don't mind trying bringing Rich off the bench just to see how it works out tho.

[lilfishi22]

I'd like JRich to come off the bench. He isn't shooting very well as of late, having him come off the bench with his current production would actually be a bonus while him in the starting lineup is actually holding us back.

[chrice]

J Rich could definitely be in better shape. He'd probably be better off trimming down weight, because he doesn't have any lateral quickness when he tries to play D.

[WTFsunsFTW]

Disagree and it will never happen.

[tigerblood]

I also disagree and it will never happen.

Lose weight? Generally out of shape people can't jump over Shaq for put back dunks.

Jrich has struggled the last two games that have run through Shaq, and minus Nash. If you remember the other Gentry games he average about 25 pts? Once Nash returns, I can assure you that happens again.

[Mr. Sun]

JRich has a bad game and someone out to remove him?

I would start Lou at PF and Barnes at SF.

[scootfu602]

I like the idea of starting Lou at PF.

[b-ball forever]

If Lou starts then there is no backup center. Unless u consider Robin Lopez to be a backup center, which he isn't as of now.

[Mr. Sun]

If Lou starts then there is no backup center. Unless u consider Robin Lopez to be a backup center, which he isn't as of now.

Lopez is more than adequate for 6-8 mins a game of backup.

[b-ball forever]

Backing up Shaq = 14 - 20 mins per game, def NOT 6 - 8 mins... Unless u want him on the mend at the end of the season a la Grant Hill that is...

[Cash]

Lo and behold, Gentry has said that Barnes will continue to start at the 4 going forward, because Hill is much more effective at the 3. Thanks for reading the board, coach, and good luck making the playoffs!

[Mr. Sun]

Backing up Shaq = 14 - 20 mins per game, def NOT 6 - 8 mins... Unless u want him on the mend at the end of the season a la Grant Hill that is...

You are ignoring the fact Lou can play many more mins than Shaq.

[b-ball forever]

^^ ROFL, so you want Lou to play 40 MPG

Top 10 draft pick here we come!!!

Lo and behold, Gentry has said that Barnes will continue to start at the 4 going forward, because Hill is much more effective at the 3. Thanks for reading the board, coach, and good luck making the playoffs!

Good. I hate it when they take too long to start paying attention.

[Mr. Sun]

^^ ROFL, so you want Lou to play 40 MPG

If Amare can do it so can Lou. But Lou won't have to play that many with other rotations thrown in.

[garrick]

It really depends how Barnes is playing, when he is hot and shots are falling he's great. But sometimes he just starts chucking and makes bad decisions and is not that effective on the floor.

[Orange_Blooded]

I like Barnes off the bench. Also I think a problem with J rich is that he hasn't had time to fully acclimate with the team yet... and playing him with bench guys would slow the process IMO.

[durden_tyler]

The problem with bring a Jason Richardson type of player off the bench is the fact that he is a "rhythm player"--- he needs streaks of sorts to be effective and needs to heat up to affect the game especially (and maybe exclusively) on offense.

Meanwhile, Barnes will give all out no matter what the situation is--- major minutes as a starter or coming off the bench.

[TXSun]

he's got one awesome game. 3-4 in a row then you got an argument. He needs to come up big in this eastern road trip.