Sloan names new lineup

[HolyToledo]

As I predicted a week ago, Sloan has replaced Ak-47 in the starting lineup for Matthews. Sloan simply does not care about AK-47. AK-47 has been the Jazz most consistent player this year and he gets benched. Why not bench Brewer for Matthews? Why not bench Boozer or Okur for Matthews moving AK-47 to PF? Why not keep Matthews on the bench?

Simply, Sloan has a distrust and dislike of AK-47 that goes back to the crying episode that he nevers gives this guy a break.

Sloan always says who starts doesnt matter. If that is so, then while make the lineup change at all? Sloan is a 2 faced liar to AK-47!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kamazilla]

The deranged usually consider events in a manner which reinforces their confused notions even though simpler and more likely conclusions can be drawn. The choice is yours to relinquish your suffering through release of your attachments. Good luck.

[CareySkyScurry]

Couldn't agree more on this.
You don't have to be an AK homer to realize that a Coach is sending a former all-star/Jazz' best defender to the bench because of friction.
Not to say that Matthews does not deserve minutes-he has earned them. But goodness, what does Brewer do that AK does not?
Just so long as AK plays 32+ minutes, it doesn't matter in the long run.
Wait until CJ gets his starting job back, because "he can't lose it because of injury".
I wonder sometimes.

[MeestR]

remember how awesome ak was when he was playing with scrubs? he was allstar. now he plays with all stars and he is a role player picking up garbage points.

i like him playing with the bench. more leadership possibilities, more responsibilities, more confidence, even more production. maybe a ginobili type player, in that only doesn't start, but plays at or around 30 min a night?

[@ndrew]

I don't think it's about starting role - it's about minutes. If he will play the same minutes and finish the game - why not?

[carrottop12]

The advantage of bring AK off the bench over Brewer is AK can create his own shot, Brewer cannot.

Sloan always praises how AK can come in off the bench and start contributing right away while other guys (Brewer) need a few plays before they get their feet under them.

Matthews brings shooting to the starting line up and is an adequate defender, Brewer is a better defender of the athletic 2's in the league that usually start.

It's the right move by Sloan. It has nothing to do with friction with AK.

AK also gives us another ball handler on the bench who knows the offense to go with Maynor.

[HolyToledo]

The point of this thread is that every player in the NBA wants to start. Even Ginobili wants to start, but his coach went to him and he told him that for the good of the team would he accept the sub-role but still play about the same minutes.

I seriously doubt Sloan even asked AK-47 if he would accept the 6th man role, and simply told him your coming off the bench if he told him at all. Maybe AK-47 read it on the press like us.

How must AK-47 feel? I play well Im benched. Boozer says he wants to start and has played inconsistently and he starts.

The problem with this team is that Boozer and Memo cannot be on the floor together too often. Bench Memo and move Boozer to center and Ak-47 to PF to start the game and adjust playing based on matchups. This would be too innovative for Sloan.

Sloan has benched the Jazz best defender and third best passer probably making him go back into his shell he has been in the past few years until this year. He is playing well why mess with his mind.

[Neon Black]

are you kidding? Do you realize how incredibly weak our bench has been this year until AK came off the bench? It should be a compliment more than anything for Sloan to make AK a leader on the bench. Like @ndrew said, he'll still get his minutes.

Man I always hate on Sloan, but I'm more than willing to give him his due credit when he rewards a rookie with a starting spot, especially a guy like Mathews who directly helps with 2-3 of our major weakness and infuses energy into the lineup.

[erudite23]

HolyToledo
Rookie

Apt.

[@ndrew]

AK said a lot of times that usually he doesn't care whether he starting or not - he sees advantages in both roles, but he just wants to have the ball in his hands, minutes and finish line job. In case everything will be there he will be... happy.

[schneiderjazz]

I have no problems with AK coming off the bench. Although Brewer has been getting more playing time than AK since he was moved to the bench and it's also what happened last season. My guess is once Korver and CJ come back, AK will be getting even less minutes. I do have to agree with Toledo that Sloan has a problem with AK. Memo has been crap and Fes has been good, yet he doesn't even think about benching Memo. Maynor is proving to be a great playmaker and Brewer has shown he can run the offense a little, yet he says the bench needs AK. AK has been our most consistent player this year and this is how he gets rewarded. Coming off the bench and less playing time.

[babyjax13]

I agree with Bat, AK is best off the bench, and starting should never be your player's primary concern, it's performance. AK is great with our second unit, he gets more touches, he gets more creative, and frankly our bench sucks without Korver and Miles - AK will hopefully rectify that problem.