STICKY: The Offseason Thread Part 2

[Never Fear 33 Is Here]

Disagree. I'm not saying we have a different lineup, I'm saying that every 5-10 games we sit Hill. Your not going to like the idea, but hes not exactly the best option for this team right now at SF. Obviously they want to play every night, but Hills 38 freaking years old, and hes not even that great of a player that we need him desperately every single night.

That isn't what you said before. You want to run with a bunch of different line-ups every other night, that is what I think is the most ludicrous idea I have ever heard. Sure, I night off every now and again (which by the way I don't like, regardless of if your name is Hill or LeBron James) isn't the worst idea, but again, that is not what your proposal was.

As for not being the best option at SF for us, this is arguable. Sure who is the better offensive player right now, I would probably go with Hedo because of his range. BUT, other than that Hedo sucks balls and until he proves me otherwise, which by the way I hope he does, I will continue to do so. He played one good year after Grant left the Magic and other than that he hasn't done squat. Just ask Magic and Raptor fans, you will soon find out what I am talking about. My last point regarding Hill and why he should start at SF over any of our other options and probably the most important one is.............HE PLAYS DEFENCE. Hedo does not. Case closed.

Alright, my bad for making it look that way. Seriously my bad.

Of course Turk is a horrible defender at the 4, but I think Hedo could be a more than good defender at the 3. He has the length and quickness IMO. Of course I would like to point out that Hill looked very very good last night.

On another sitting note, I want to know what people think about not only playing Nash only 30minutes per game, but maybe purposely missing say, 4 games not due to injury? We need to get Goran in the game and used to starting!

Granted Hedo is a horrible defender at the 4, I definitely agree with you there. But he is also a terrible defender at the 3. If he actually used his quickness and length (the guys is 6'10") then maybe he could be a decent defender. How long has he been in the league? 10 years? (I have no idea and couldn't be assed looking it up ) and still he hasn't got it. I am not convinced he is going to.

[lilfishi22]

Hedo is hardly a good defender at either spots but I think he's more accustomed to guarding 3's since he's played mostly SF. He isn't exactly quick enough laterally to guard SF's but he isn't strong enough to guard 4's either. But I think he may be better suited to guarding 3's since from what I saw with the Magic, even though he isn't always quick enough to stay with 3's, he's smart enough to funnel them into Dwight Howard.

[Never Fear 33 Is Here]

Hedo is hardly a good defender at either spots but I think he's more accustomed to guarding 3's since he's played mostly SF. He isn't exactly quick enough laterally to guard SF's but he isn't strong enough to guard 4's either. But I think he may be better suited to guarding 3's since from what I saw with the Magic, even though he isn't always quick enough to stay with 3's, he's smart enough to funnel them into Dwight Howard.

I just had a thought. Why not get GH to guard the 4 spot? I know it isn't ideal but neither is getting Hedo to do it. Grant did a good job on TD and Dirk when he had to. Like I said, not ideal, but it just may be the answer? Personally I don't like the idea, but I sure as hell like it more than Hedo guarding anyone.

[DRK]

I would be happy with either Hill or Dudley guarding the 4 spot. Although with Dudleys recent weight loss its more likely he will be guarding the 2 instead.

[Sun Scorched]

But guys, hate to burst it, that's it. That's Dudley. Love him or hate him, that's his ceiling. Hustle guy with great D and a spot-up 3pt shot.

...

Put frankly, our team does not improve by starting Dudley.

You really think thats his ceiling? I think thats garbage.

I didn't say Dudley should start. I said Hedo should, and since Dudley fits s damn well with our seond unit, We should consider doing with Grant what I mentioned in my previous post.

Maybe one night...

And then back to the first... I'm just saying that we should try this year to start giving players like Nash and Hill the night off. Maybe start Dragic and sit Nash some games. Sitting Hill. Hell, sitting HEDO. Thats one of the advantages no one is talking about. This team has the tools to sit our best player and still be competitive. I don't know how Steve played 81 games last year. Uncanny. But I don't like it. The less games Nash plays, the more games he plays into the future, and the more fresh EVERYONE is during the playoffs.

To answer both questions:

Yes. I do think that is Dudley's ceiling. The guy can't shoot much better from beyond the arc (not that he needs to, his % is crazy good). His defense can improve marginally because it's already very high, and he's maxing out with BBIQ. The "ceiling" i'm referring to is physically imposed. He could continue to expound upon those current positive attributes if he could do more things physically. But he can't.

Based on my understanding of the Suns FO's desires, I think Childress was acquired to replace Dudley. They are almost identical, but Childress has the athleticism that Dudley lacks.

Also, I understand what you're saying about the rotation and starting lineups, but I think that messing with playing time should come down directly to production.... not some arbitrary, "Okay it's Tuesday, that means Hedo starts." etc.

If Hedo is in and lighting it up from downtown, he stays in. Forget Hill's minutes at that stage, but Hill would also agree with you. I guarantee you that Hill would be the first to tell Gentry to leave him in. I just don't like the arbitrary "Hill is old" or "Hill hurts us because he is starting" logic.

If the team was truly better off having Hill come off the bench, it would have happened by now.

[lilfishi22]

Hedo is hardly a good defender at either spots but I think he's more accustomed to guarding 3's since he's played mostly SF. He isn't exactly quick enough laterally to guard SF's but he isn't strong enough to guard 4's either. But I think he may be better suited to guarding 3's since from what I saw with the Magic, even though he isn't always quick enough to stay with 3's, he's smart enough to funnel them into Dwight Howard.

I just had a thought. Why not get GH to guard the 4 spot? I know it isn't ideal but neither is getting Hedo to do it. Grant did a good job on TD and Dirk when he had to. Like I said, not ideal, but it just may be the answer? Personally I don't like the idea, but I sure as hell like it more than Hedo guarding anyone.

We got by in small stretches with Dudley/Hill "guarding" the 4. But that normally meant we were playing small ball and using zone D, so technically it's team defense guarding the 4. I think Hedo has better size to guard the 4 than Hill or Dudley. Hill is quick but not all that strong which makes him better suited to guarding wings than big men. Same with Dudley. Hedo isn't all that quick but he's quick enough to guard bigs and he's probably still stronger than Hill and Dudley and he has the size too. Honestly outside of Lopez (and Lawal, but he's a bit undersized too), we don't really have anyone ideal to guard big men. Dampier could be an option.

[Never Fear 33 Is Here]

Hedo is hardly a good defender at either spots but I think he's more accustomed to guarding 3's since he's played mostly SF. He isn't exactly quick enough laterally to guard SF's but he isn't strong enough to guard 4's either. But I think he may be better suited to guarding 3's since from what I saw with the Magic, even though he isn't always quick enough to stay with 3's, he's smart enough to funnel them into Dwight Howard.

I just had a thought. Why not get GH to guard the 4 spot? I know it isn't ideal but neither is getting Hedo to do it. Grant did a good job on TD and Dirk when he had to. Like I said, not ideal, but it just may be the answer? Personally I don't like the idea, but I sure as hell like it more than Hedo guarding anyone.

We got by in small stretches with Dudley/Hill "guarding" the 4. But that normally meant we were playing small ball and using zone D, so technically it's team defense guarding the 4. I think Hedo has better size to guard the 4 than Hill or Dudley. Hill is quick but not all that strong which makes him better suited to guarding wings than big men. Same with Dudley. Hedo isn't all that quick but he's quick enough to guard bigs and he's probably still stronger than Hill and Dudley and he has the size too. Honestly outside of Lopez (and Lawal, but he's a bit undersized too), we don't really have anyone ideal to guard big men. Dampier could be an option.

Don't get me wrong. I completely agree with you. Was just throwing it out there as an option. We really need to play a bucket load of zone this season with our starting line-up, but not sure that we will.

[Kerrsed]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_qi62hkfe4[/youtube]

[lilfishi22]

Don't get me wrong. I completely agree with you. Was just throwing it out there as an option. We really need to play a bucket load of zone this season with our starting line-up, but not sure that we will.

We're going to see plenty of zone this season. We'll be able to get by playing man on man against half of the teams I reckon, but the other half will be zone.

[JohnVancouver]

"Hustle guy with great D and a spot-up 3pt shot."


also High IQ.

That could be a description of Havlicek

[Frank Lee]

I wonder if the coaching staff is a confused as we are about who to play and where. My guess is all of this versatility will lead to a muddled start with a stretch of good BBAll come mid season, and squeakin into the playoffs.


Now for some more of my Frankstradamal thoughts....

I think GHill will sit on Back2Backs, and have limited minutes in 'not so close' games. (Duh.... just warming up)

I believe Childress was signed to replace Hill, and that this is G's last yr. NeverFear will erect an eternal flame, causing his friends and family to worry about the hours he spends dancing around it chanting some aborigine resurrectional mojo.

Chill will become a crowd favorite and there will be a section of rooters donning afro wigs. Too bad he fixed his teeth, else it could be quite entertaining.

I think Hedu will end up as an important piece on the second unit, and we could see a very surprising starting PF in Lawai or Clark.... .... just for rebounding and D. Yep... I just said that. Many successful teams have had a non offensive rebounding banger at PF... ala Rambis, Rodman, Mason. Those two kids are the best we have. This of course could lead to a HunterMeltdown.

I'd bet we will be sub .500 until Dec/Jan.

I do not think we will be able to trade JRich, and will then consider dealing Dudley... but not get a good deal so he stays.... but the process will tarnish his desire to be a lifer here. Retaining him will get messy.

We will keep both Janning and Siler, and put them together on our DLeague team. They will change their names to Lenny and George.

We will run 2 or 3 different types of Zones.

Nash will continue his crafty criticism of this roster to the point where other teams start inquiring on the secret Bat-phone.

Some company will redesign the Big-Foam-Finger for a more appropriate message for our front office as this team will be slow to gel.

More to come.... I now must nap for future-ing is tiresome to me

[Never Fear 33 Is Here]

You crack me up Frank!!!

[Kerrsed]

lol, NF33IH has a custom Grant Hill Real Doll.

[Never Fear 33 Is Here]

lol, NF33IH has a custom Grant Hill Real Doll.

Oh if only................

[lilfishi22]

I could see NF33 on his driveway with that doll saying, "that's not how you do a lay up" and then have a giggle.

[Miklo]

We just made probably our final roster cuts so time to sticky the Around the NBA thread!