So who do we start?

[Colby]

So Al's officially on board, only a few days removed from Paul Millsap's sigh of relief, finally getting his chance to get permanent run on the starting lineup.

So with the acquisition of Jefferson, is anybody else besides me absolutely horrified at the idea of pushing Millsap right back to the bench and risking him becoming immediately disgruntled??

While Okur is out, I think we obviously have to start Jefferson at Center (not going through the Fes experiment again, he's a career backup and I'm fine with that) and Millsap at the 4.

Now if AK can return to form, I'd like to see him and Bell starting on the wings, but if AK starts slow, I think it makes a lot more sense to have Bell and Miles start, with AK and Hayward rounding out the wing rotation off the bench. One defender, one more offensive-oriented player for each unit. I especially like the idea of Bell, Miles, and Deron roaming around while Jefferson and Millsap command 3 guys between them in the paint. Leaves 3 shooters and only 2 people to guard them. If a team decides to let Al go one on one, we all have seen what he is capable of.

One more note before I write a novel: Okur was great off the bench in his early years in Detroit, and they won a championship with his ability to spread the floor for the second unit being pretty important for small portions of games. I really don't see a reason why this wouldn't be justified again after the seriousness of his injury, especially at his age.

With AK's ability to play 4 positions, Hayward 2, Jefferson 2, Okur 2, and Miles 2, I really am excited at the prospect of this rotation:

C- Jefferson
PF- Millsap
SF- Miles
SG- Bell
PG- Deron

6th man- AK
Okur
Hayward
Price
Occasional Fes

I smell a deeper team than last year, and really think that it'll be tough for people to decide what to do against us on defense, even tougher than usual.

Anybody else's thoughts? Do we really want to bench Paul? AK or CJ? Bell or CJ at the 2? Price or Deron?

[The Sheik]

Im torn with starting AK vs. CJ and starting Bell vs. CJ. I think on one hand CJ could be a good scoring option with the second unit, but on the other I feel like AK would be more of an asset to the 2nd unit with his play making abilities.

Ultimately I think its who finishes and I see AL, Sap, AK and Deron being there and CJ/Bell getting minutes depending on who is the hotter hand that night.

I say...

Deron, Bell, CJ, Sap, AJ

AK rotates in for CJ, CJ becomes the 2nd unit SG with AK.

[CareySkyScurry]

I think putting AK on the bench is counterproductive to him and this team.
If he starts slow, benching him would be the worst thing.
Let CJ chuck all he wants off the bench.

[CAE15]

I like the bench of Okur,Ak,Hayward,Price,Fes,Evans

Okur can be the new millsap type of guy come in for either Al or paul at about 4 minutes left in the 1st then play till mid way through the 2nd. I do wonder if hayward can be a big bench scorer for us because if he cant then there isn't a whole lot of guys who can score the ball. Which also makes me think maybe you start AK to have CJ as that bench scorer, but then i worry a bit about our starting offense without really a shooter to spread the floor.

[Reckless]

I think putting AK on the bench is counterproductive to him and this team.
If he starts slow, benching him would be the worst thing.
Let CJ chuck all he wants off the bench.

I think CJ plays better off the bench as well, he is shaky as a starter in the NBA

You want to go with your best 5, this is what I think it would be:

D-Will
Bell
AK-47
Millsap
Jefferson

I think Okur could be a good 6th man player, providing needed scoring off the bench.

[Ming Kong!]

I think putting AK on the bench is counterproductive to him and this team.
If he starts slow, benching him would be the worst thing.
Let CJ chuck all he wants off the bench.

I think CJ plays better off the bench as well, he is shaky as a starter in the NBA

You want to go with your best 5, this is what I think it would be:

D-Will
Bell
AK-47
Millsap
Jefferson

I think Okur could be a good 6th man player, providing needed scoring off the bench.

Damn that's a damn good defensive lineup.

[Hikari]

I think I want AK to start as well. If CJ is going to take it to the basket I like him as a playmaker off the bench.

[Farsider322]

PG Deron
SG Bell
SF AK
PF Mansap
C AJ


I was listening to Gordie Cheiasa on the radio and he thought the Jazz will sign another big. Memo may be out until after the All Star game.

Bigs available: Etan Thomas, Tim Thomas, Mikki Moore, Fabio Abrecio?, Jarron Collins (Gordie said not to be suprised if they bring JC back....scares me).

[farzi]

I think if you're start Jefferson, you HAVE to start Andre, and if you're starting both he and Memo, it's absolutely crucial that you do for defensive purposes

[rednecksbasketball]

C- Jefferson
PF- Millsap
SF- Miles
SG- Bell
PG- Deron

I like this line up the best, and think it's going to be the most effective. With Al and Paul down low the Jazz will need someone to spread the floor. Miles and Bell can do that, one on each side of the floor. Deron starting is a no brainer. This to me gives the Jazz the right balance to keep defenses honest and to get the most out of the line up.

[dr0welf]

Jefferson, Millsap, Dwill are the guaranteed starters as I don't think Okur will make it back by start of the season. And no reason to rush him back now.

AK brings a lot of energy off the bench so I see him as the 6th man.

Jefferson
Millsap
CJ
Bell
Dwill

AK 6th man
Okur once he's back
Price
Hayward, Fes on occassion.

That's a pretty solid bench as well. AK and Price solid defenders, Okur and AK can bring some offense off the bench. This is a good playoff team. If Hayward really develops and AJ picks up the offense quick I see us having a chance to really make some noise.

Everyone including Okur will be back next year, I expect AK to be back. We got atleast 2 years together to build chemistry and see what this team is made of.

[dr0welf]

Actually thinking about it.... didn't AK do better last year when he had starting minutes. It was like he had more confidence.

[CareySkyScurry]

Actually thinking about it.... didn't AK do better last year when he had starting minutes. It was like he had more confidence.

Whether starting or off the bench, AK needs minutes

[Bradford]

I don't want AK47 coming off the bench....He needs to start. I'd like to see:

Deron
Miles
AK47
Jefferson
Okur (when healthy)

Until Okur is healthy, Millsap will start at PF, with Jefferson at C.

[LjJazzman]

Deron
Bell
AK
Sap
Jefferson

And thats without a doubt. I'm so freaking excited to see this team now.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

At this point you can't worry about what AK wants or needs as far as starting or coming off of the bench.

D-Will/Price/Gaines
Bell/Miles/Hayward/Jeffers
Miles/Hayward/AK/Evans
Millsap/AK/Evans
Jefferson/Okur/Fes

To me it looks like our biggest hole is the backup 2. If we can manage to land Brewer or Mason as a backup 2 we should be pretty solid across the board.

Some lineups I would like to see used at some point in time...

D-Will
Miles
Hayward
AK
Jefferson

D-Will
Hayward
AK
Jefferson
Okur

Price
Bell
Hayward
AK
Fes

[BarneyGumble]

I'll throw my hat in there with those who are going with the Williams, Bell, AK, Millsap, Jefferson lineup. I really dont think there's any question those should be our starters. I will throw in one suggestion: I would like to see AK play the 4 (at least defensively) against bigger players and move Sap over to the 3 (at least defensively). Neither player is a great distance shooter, so we will have an offensive weakness at SF....but our system should still get us layups and allow Deron and Bell to be our primary perimeter threats.

I really hope DWill can stay healthy this year. He's such a terrific shooter...maybe the best on the team after Okur. Last season I think that wrist injury hurt his shot all year long.

[HolyToledo]

who starts might depend on how well Miles and Bell play in pre=season. Bell is coming off a missed year and Miles is off a up and down year with a very good playoffs. I think Miles has to start or this youngster will go in the tank. I want AK-47 to play some PF so I want him to play off the bench but Sloan has a tendecy to play the guys that are playing well. AK-47 does too much on the court not to be on the court at least 35 min per game. I suggest the following as long as Bell looks good in preseaon.

PG DWILL (38 min) Price (10 min)
SG Bell (25 min) Miles (12 Min) Hayward (11 min)
C Jefferson (C/PF 30 min) Memo (18 Min)
PF Millsap ( 35 Min) Jefferson ( 8 min) AK-47 (5 Min)
SF Miles (18 min) AK-47 (30 min)

Playing 9 players is enough with Fess getting spot minutes. If Memo out at begining of the year, then fess can get about 12 min with the remaining 6 min divided between Jefferson, Millsap, or Ak-47 depending whose playing well.

Signing Brewer or Mason adds depth but I prefer signing a veteran PG (maybe Mason can play that) taking Price's minutes with Price serving as emergency PG/SG

[maccca32]

Deron
Bell
AK
Sap
Jefferson

100% agree with Jazzman, I definately see this as our opening day starting 5.

Minute Distribution
Williams (36 mpg)
Jefferson (34 mpg)
Millsap (32 mpg)
Bell (32 mpg)
Kirilenko (28 mpg)
Okur (28 mpg)
Miles (20 mpg)
Price (12 mpg)
Fesenko (10 mpg)
Hayward (10 mpg)
Gaines
Jeffers
Evans

Depth Chart
PG Williams, Price, Gaines
SG Bell, Miles, Jeffers
SF Kirilenko, Miles, Hayward
PF Millsap, Jefferson, Evans
C Jefferson, Okur, Fesenko

Comments
SG: Since leaving the Jazz Raja has started 303 of 304 (exception was one game for the Warriors). Avg 36.7mpg in 232 games in first three years in Phoenix. Avg 34.1mpg in 71 games in last two years in Phoenix & Charlotte. Even though FO wouldnt have guaranteed a starting spot to him, the fact that our team has an opening at the 2 if Matthews wasnt matched played some part in him signing with Utah.

SF: Kirilenko should be the starter at the 3. The fact that Miles has another year of experience/maturity and with Okur now in the second unit I dont see the need to have AK come off the bench this year.

PF: This is Millsap's spot to lose. What more can the guy do to prove he atleast deserves first shot at being the starting PF for the Jazz? The only concern is whether Paul will have an issue staying out of foul trouble. If so, maybe he goes back to the bench then.

C: Ofcourse Jefferson is a proven starter in this league (started every game he has played the last 4 years). He has the 'back to the basket' game, not to mention the size, to handle the centre position. The truth is he will be splitting his time between both positions anyway therefore its just a matter of whether he starts at 4 or 5. What a luxury to have someone of Okur's talent, experience and size coming off the becnh. BTW dont you think Jefferson has a better chance to be an All-Star if he is on the ballot as a centre?

[Bullet]

I feel AK needs to start. It was evident in last year's run. He'll be first off the game and comes back at the end of the 1st Q to relieve Millsap-- like what they did when Boozer was out with an injury.

The only toss-up I see is the SG spot. Though I'd prefer Bell starting. CJ (6th man) can help direct the offense with Price in the 2nd unit.