Does Dedmon keep the starting job?

[Nolan]

I know he hasn't been starting for that long but since he's taken over as the starting center we've looked really really good on both ends. He compliments the four starters perfectly and takes a lot of pressure off of Kawhi and Danny on the defensive end. Dedmon got himself into the starting five on January 31st and since then as a team we've been allowing 95.4 points per 100 possessions. Dedmon himself has been averaging 8 and 10 since taking over as the starting center and he's also first in the league in defensive rating 94.8!!

On the flip side Pau has looked a lot better coming off the bench. In his first 3 games back from the hand injury he's been averaging 17 and 8, playing solid defense and shooting the lights out. He's looked very comfortable coming off the bench and most importantly he's actually being properly utilized.

The swap has actually worked really really well so far. I know it's only been 3 games but do you guys think that Pop's is going to stick with this lineup? Also should he?

[imagump1313]

I know he hasn't been starting for that long but since he's taken over as the starting center we've looked really really good on both ends. He compliments the four starters perfectly and takes a lot of pressure off of Kawhi and Danny on the defensive end. Dedmon got himself into the starting five on January 31st and since then as a team we've been allowing 95.4 points per 100 possessions. Dedmon himself has been averaging 8 and 10 since taking over as the starting center and he's also first in the league in defensive rating 94.8!!

On the flip side Pau has looked a lot better coming off the bench. In his first 3 games back from the hand injury he's been averaging 17 and 8, playing solid defense and shooting the lights out. He's looked very comfortable coming off the bench and most importantly he's actually being properly utilized.

The swap has actually worked really really well so far. I know it's only been 3 games but do you guys think that Pop's is going to stick with this lineup? Also should he?

Yes, I'm really liking Dedmon starting. That first unit really doesn't need another scorer like Gasol. It balances out much better with a defender like Dedmon.

I don't want to claim I was right just yet, but like I said when it happened, that injury to Gasol might have been a blessing in disguise. He looks really fresh and engaged right now and is playing great. Only a few weeks until the playoffs.

With that in mind, I might just sit Parker for a week or so right now also. I don't know his exact injury status but we could use him fresh for a playoff run. I think we would be just fine without him for a bit.

[inDe_eD]

I know he hasn't been starting for that long but since he's taken over as the starting center we've looked really really good on both ends. He compliments the four starters perfectly and takes a lot of pressure off of Kawhi and Danny on the defensive end. Dedmon got himself into the starting five on January 31st and since then as a team we've been allowing 95.4 points per 100 possessions. Dedmon himself has been averaging 8 and 10 since taking over as the starting center and he's also first in the league in defensive rating 94.8!!

On the flip side Pau has looked a lot better coming off the bench. In his first 3 games back from the hand injury he's been averaging 17 and 8, playing solid defense and shooting the lights out. He's looked very comfortable coming off the bench and most importantly he's actually being properly utilized.

The swap has actually worked really really well so far. I know it's only been 3 games but do you guys think that Pop's is going to stick with this lineup? Also should he?

It's kind of the dream scenario for me. Pau has been super professional so far, and I have no complaints about him, his contract, playstyle, etc if he embraces the bench thing. He could legitimately be 6MoY next year ala what Z-Bo is doing in Memphis this year.

Now if we could only figure out how to ̶d̶u̶m̶p̶ move Aldridge...

[Chinook]

I'm not sure. I think Gasol is really underrated, especially when he plays with fire. Dedmon makes the defense unreal, but you also need to be able to score reliably. Until LMA gets back into star mode on that end, starting Pau will be a temptation.

[inDe_eD]

I'm not sure. I think Gasol is really underrated, especially when he plays with fire. Dedmon makes the defense unreal, but you also need to be able to score reliably. Until LMA gets back into star mode on that end, starting Pau will be a temptation.

I've really come back around on Gasol, but I just don't think two immobile bigs is gonna work against any of the other contenders. I think the starting lineup lacks a lot of energy at times, which gets us into trouble. Starting the statue lineup again is only gonna make that worse, know what I mean?

[Chinook]

I'm not sure. I think Gasol is really underrated, especially when he plays with fire. Dedmon makes the defense unreal, but you also need to be able to score reliably. Until LMA gets back into star mode on that end, starting Pau will be a temptation.

I've really come back around on Gasol, but I just don't think two immobile bigs is gonna work against any of the other contenders. I think the starting lineup lacks a lot of energy at times, which gets us into trouble. Starting the statue lineup again is only gonna make that worse, know what I mean?

I'm trying to figure out who the other immobile big is besides Pau.

[inDe_eD]

I'm not sure. I think Gasol is really underrated, especially when he plays with fire. Dedmon makes the defense unreal, but you also need to be able to score reliably. Until LMA gets back into star mode on that end, starting Pau will be a temptation.

I've really come back around on Gasol, but I just don't think two immobile bigs is gonna work against any of the other contenders. I think the starting lineup lacks a lot of energy at times, which gets us into trouble. Starting the statue lineup again is only gonna make that worse, know what I mean?

I'm trying to figure out who the other immobile big is besides Pau.

Well, it's not Lee, Bertans, or Dedmon, and Joel Anthony isn't a contender for minutes

Perhaps I should be clearer that being immobile could in this case be confused with low effort.

[jptremblay]

Hope so...it's the better for the team and for Pau too, just see his numbers since coming off the injury. Lately, he is even looking like a capable defender and on the offensive end he always has been good, but now he's averaging like 20-10 per 36 with amazing TS%.

[Chinook]

I've really come back around on Gasol, but I just don't think two immobile bigs is gonna work against any of the other contenders. I think the starting lineup lacks a lot of energy at times, which gets us into trouble. Starting the statue lineup again is only gonna make that worse, know what I mean?

I'm trying to figure out who the other immobile big is besides Pau.

Well, it's not Lee, Bertans, or Dedmon, and Joel Anthony isn't a contender for minutes

Perhaps I should be clearer that being immobile could in this case be confused with low effort.

Well, it's not LMA. Dude isn't immobile and certainly wasn't last night. I get that you are the rare Spurs fan who thinks he's playing bad defense, but he's definitely not a plodder.

[Ballings7]

Dedmon should stay generally. Situations may need him to be out, and play smaller with more offense (Gasol or Lee or Aldridge in his spot in going small at the 4).

Aldridge has always been underrated defensively due to his length and still above-average agility for someone his size, and can be really good on the glass when he puts his mind to it, or isn't scoring well (most of the time). Aldridge isn't Steven Adams, but he's definitely better than Gasol. He has enough agility + good size, where isn't a liability, and is really good at rebounding and blocking shots later in games. So many examples of that.

[franktony]

Yes

And some of us have been calling it for a long time. With Dedmon we have an athletic shot-blocker and we have no worries about rebounding. Gasol is a good player but he is soft and he is not a good pairing for Aldridge, especially considering how slow they're defending in transition. Smart teams like the Clippers can really take advantage of the Pau/Aldridge pairing.

Dedmon just needs to take care of some dump fouls. Other than that, he is fine as a starting C in our system. Plus, Gasol is playing well of the bench. SA really welcomes Gasol's offensive game when some of the bench guys (especially Patty) have been struggling with their shots.

[Chuck Everett]

Dedmon should start, but the fans have to realize against guys like Boogie/Davis, he legit has no shot to defend them for 30+ mins. He is not skilled enough. However, the defense from the starting lineup is so good, that it doesn't make sense to change it. Not now anyway.

[Chinook]

He can defend Cousins just fine. He's done it before. He's no prime Tiago Splitter in terms of his one-on-one D, but he's capable and should only get better with time.

[Nolan]

Dedmon should start, but the fans have to realize against guys like Boogie/Davis, he legit has no shot to defend them for 30+ mins. He is not skilled enough. However, the defense from the starting lineup is so good, that it doesn't make sense to change it. Not now anyway.

I disagree. He's very capable of doing just that and he's the only guy we have that is capable of playing great one on one post defense for 30+ minutes.

[Chuck Everett]

Dedmon should start, but the fans have to realize against guys like Boogie/Davis, he legit has no shot to defend them for 30+ mins. He is not skilled enough. However, the defense from the starting lineup is so good, that it doesn't make sense to change it. Not now anyway.

I disagree. He's very capable of doing just that and he's the only guy we have that is capable of playing great one on one post defense for 30+ minutes.

He fouled out in like 16 minutes against them on Friday night. I like the guy, but you're asking a lot of him to defend them and then also not make them work on the defensive end. He's an improving offensive player, but he looked terrible against them on Friday (as he should, they much better players than him).

[Nolan]

Dedmon should start, but the fans have to realize against guys like Boogie/Davis, he legit has no shot to defend them for 30+ mins. He is not skilled enough. However, the defense from the starting lineup is so good, that it doesn't make sense to change it. Not now anyway.

I disagree. He's very capable of doing just that and he's the only guy we have that is capable of playing great one on one post defense for 30+ minutes.

He fouled out in like 16 minutes against them on Friday night. I like the guy, but you're asking a lot of him to defend them and then also not make them work on the defensive end. He's an improving offensive player, but he looked terrible against them on Friday (as he should, they much better players than him).

That's one game though, definitely not his best performance. But since he's taken over as the starting center he's gone toe to toe with Jordan, Gasol, Lopez, Val, Vuc and Drummond for 25+ minutes and done very well against each of them.