STARTING LINEUP 2010-2011 SEASON

[Jackson Jiggle]

Lance has the tools and potential to be an above average starter in the NBA at the Point Guard position. With that being said, he is 19, that is tough to accomplish at that age. We have been patient this long, lets wait another couple years and have a good point guard to go along with our nice core group.

[Moooose]

As much as i looooove Paul George and Lance Stephenson, they would likely not get the starting SG and PG positions in their first year. They could start occasionally depending on the match-ups, but they would probably spend their first year in the league watching and learning the system, same for the smoking Magnum Rolle.
BUT.. with the PG situation still unresolved, and assuming we'll be going through with the current roster, maybe we could expect Obie to play Lance as a starter in maybe a good number of games so that he could gain first-hand experience of playing PG in the pro league. Everybody knows how talented and confident Lance is, he just needs to convince his doubters and himself that he can really play in this league. Experience would add fuel to his fire, i think Obie and Larry knows that.
Also, if we're gonna end up unsuccessful with trying to deal away our expirings, i expect Obie to give Dunleavy and Murphy heavy minutes, and maybe Ford too. Players with expiring contracts usually produce differently in their contract year, like a breakthrough of some sort or something. The typical "expiring contract" scenario. Playing convincingly good will definitely help them get a better contract, so i expect them to come up big. So with that, my lineup for next season would be:

Ford (optional)/Stephenson/Price
Rush/George/D. Jones
Granger/Dunleavy/McRoberts
Murphy/Hansbrough/Rolle
Hibbert/Foster/S. Jones

[HomieOmey]

No chance that Paul AND Granger start at the forward spots?

I can see Indiana experimenting a lot. Will probably try starting Paul at SG a few games and then playing him with Granger, Murphy, and Dunleavy.

[Boneman2]

Ford (optional)/Stephenson/Price
Rush/George/D. Jones
Granger/Dunleavy/McRoberts
Murphy/Hansbrough/Rolle
Hibbert/Foster/S. Jones

That's where I am at too Moose, although I believe Solo is a better b/u than Jeff.. I definitely agree that all of our expirings ( Murph/Dun/TJ/Foster/ Solo) will play with a renewed sense of urgency. There truly is no motivator quite like money.

If healthy this team could possibly finish near .500, and potentially make the playoffs. Our play at the end of last season is how this team is capable of playing all the time imo... it wasn't a fluke.

The biggest change to our roster is obviously our draft picks.

I am comfortable that Stephenson has just as much to offer as say, Earl Watson, in regards to atleast being a capable b/u.

Also, Paul George will eventually turn into a spark-plug off the bench. Highlight dunks, thefts, range. He'll have Conseco rocking a little.

Magnum is our next ADavis. Second-round gem. He makes up for the SWilliams snafu.

We have the same team, but with more depth, and Tyler Hansbrough's 2nd rookie season. I think we can potentially play better than the team that closed out last season.

[OnFire]

For some reason, I'm not all
that worried with the PG
situation.

I think the versatility that's
teeming in our roster really
makes so many things possible
that we'll give opponents a
different look each night.

Dunno if it's a long shot, but
if we're not ready to hand the
starting PG reins to Lance,
has anyone else explored the
idea of Dunleavy orchestrating
the offense? He's got the smarts
and handles for it; and his height
is an overwhelming advantage.

He could also play off the ball as
instantly as he distributes it.

Imagine the role Pippen played
for the Bulls in their heyday.

Maybe worth a thought?

[Scoot McGroot]

No chance that Paul AND Granger start at the forward spots?

I can see Indiana experimenting a lot. Will probably try starting Paul at SG a few games and then playing him with Granger, Murphy, and Dunleavy.

Granger will rarely, if ever, play the PF in any meaningful minutes. He's a pure SF, and no need to shorten his career.

However, for Indy, the SG and SF positions play almost identically. Therefore, you'll see George and Granger on the court together at the swing positions, but not at the forward positions.

[count55]

Granger will rarely, if ever, play the PF in any meaningful minutes. He's a pure SF, and no need to shorten his career.

Danny played 1,145 minutes at PF last season, and roughly 750 minutes at PF the year before that.

He's far from a "pure" small forward - size-wise, he's something of a 'tweener, a little big for the three, a little small for the four. Offensively, his game is almost prototypical shooting guard.

[Scoot McGroot]

So about 18.5 minutes a night last year, and about 11 minutes a night the year before.

However, on the 2nd paragraph, I view that as a pure SF. He's not big enough for the PF, and he's too big for the SG spot. He plays more like a SG than a PF offensively, and tends to defend the SF spot the best. He's also about the same size as Scottie Pippen, whom I view as a near prototypical SF. A guy who might be big enough to play the PF spot, but in all reality plays more like a PG or SG than anything else.

[aquatic92]

it's irrelevant because JOB uses 82 starting lineups every season.

first post, long time reader

[Kuq_e_Zi91]

it's irrelevant because JOB uses 82 starting lineups every season.

first post, long time reader

Welcome! Good first post.

[Boneman2]

whats up aquatic92, welcome aboard.

[Solid]

Best
Ford, Lance, Price
Dun, George,Rush, Lance (one of these guys need to go)
Granger,George,Dun
Murphy,Hans, Rolle, Mcbob (one of these guys need to go)
Hib,Foster

I'd Play the young guys, Showcase vets. Trade when the deals good for young PF or Vet PG. Think defense.
Two trades, one more good draft ...one more year and we'll be good

[Wizop]

you list 13 and have left out both Jones. you say two need to go but three can simply be inactive.

[Solid]

Was thinking more in terms of dividing time than filling spots. Thirteen is plenty to give adequate development time - rotation of nine or ten and a few spares. I'd rather unclog the roster a bit and let the pups get plenty of PT.

[writersblock]

I've been reading through this and I have to say there are some pretty solid thoughts here. I've heard a lot of praise for George and Stephenson...and you'd think with the rotating SG spot, George has a chance as any to start or get solid minutes there.

But Stephenson is a completely different issue. Watson just went to Chicago in a sign and trade, AJ Price won't be ready at the start of the season with an injury, and TJ Ford is so far in Obrien's dog house that he's taken up permanent residence. It seems like Stephenson is the ONLY option for the first few months, isn't he?

For what it's worth, USAToday has him listed as the starter.
http://fantasybasketball.usatoday.com/c ... ?sport=NBA

[Indy2thaWindy]

I think you have the wrong Watson.

[blaha112]

i thought the same thing. but you are talking about cj watson, not earl watson...

[writersblock]

i thought the same thing. but you are talking about cj watson, not earl watson...

just saw that

Still wondering if Price or Stephenson will start though...

[Indy2thaWindy]

If no trade is made, Ford will be the starter. He will eventually be benched for Price or Stephenson because O'brien has done this the last two seasons. He makes a player try to adjust to his system and not adjust the system to the player. This doesn't work tho. Why make a player play a style that doesn't fit his strengths?

[michaellam_1986]

IND is still out of playoff anyway. Should try to upgrade the roster using their expiring contracts. FS wont come to IND next year. Or IND would become this year's NJN.