What are you hoping our starting lineup looks like next year? PG-Francis SG-Stevenson SF-Hill PF-ZAZA!!!!!!(sign him in FA) C-Dwight Our bench would be very solid with Cato, Battie, Jameer, Hedo, Dooling coming off of it. Plus it has shooters like Diener and Garrity deep down the bench. I would say scoring options 1. Francis 2. Hill 3. Dwight 4. Zaza 5. Stevenson Stevenson would be there for defense, we would have a semi tall backcourt with Francis and Stevenson there(taller than PG's and smaller than most SGs) He hustles a lot and wouldn't be a defensive liability.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GatorsowntheSEC:</div><div class="quote_post">What are you hoping our starting lineup looks like next year? PG-Francis SG-Stevenson SF-Hill PF-ZAZA!!!!!!(sign him in FA) C-Dwight Our bench would be very solid with Cato, Battie, Jameer, Hedo, Dooling coming off of it. Plus it has shooters like Diener and Garrity deep down the bench. I would say scoring options 1. Francis 2. Hill 3. Dwight 4. Zaza 5. Stevenson Stevenson would be there for defense, we would have a semi tall backcourt with Francis and Stevenson there(taller than PG's and smaller than most SGs) He hustles a lot and wouldn't be a defensive liability.</div> I agree with your starting line up that back court would not be undersized like others.
PG- Jameer Nelson SG- Steve Francis SF- Grant Hill PF- Dwight Howard C- Tony Battie I'm guessing this is the starting lineup that Brian Hill will experiement with in the opening week of the season but I wouldn't be suprised if it changes a lot. Another thing I would like to see the Magic try is: PG- Steve Francis SG- Hedo Turkoglu SF- Grant Hill PF- Dwight Howard C- Tony Battie I don't see anything wrong with that lineup and I would like to at least give it a chance. We would have a perimeter option on offense and at 6'10", Hedo would have a height advantage over many guards. It worked last year when Doug Christie was hurt so I think we should give it a try.
My ideal starting lineup would be Jameer Nelson - I was/still am the biggest supporter of Jameer Nelson. I really followed him since he got to St. Joseph's until now. He has had a few rough moments (such as missing the game winner to go to the final four), but he ahs always responded to controversy well. He has the potential to be top ten in the league in the future in terms of on the court leadership. I honestly hope the Magic hold on to this kid, and start him. I think he is not near his peak yet, and is equally talented dif not better than Dooling. To not start him because of his size is disrespecting everything he give to the team with leadership, point guard skills, and scoring ability. If we start Dooling over him I do think our offense will be turnover prone more so then when we had Francis as our starting point guard. (and that's saying something) Steve Francis- Nothing needs to be said. He is our franchise player, and a proven scoring option. He is also the best all around player on this team he is capable of averaging 20-6-6 every season. Grant Hill- He is nearing the end of his career. Sadly his best days were lost due to injury. However, he is still a veteran leader and a 19 point per game scorer when healthy. Will he have another all-star season I don't know, but he is the best small forward on our roster. Dwight Howard- I still would not put him at center right now. He is got the game of a power forward in terms of athletes, etc. We all see how badly Amare is at times at defending centers when he is at the five spot. I think power forward is a better matchup for him. Kelvin Cato- Despite the popular opinion that many have that we will start Battie. Cato is a superior center in my mind. He has more of an offensive game, and overall game. His health has been questioned, but when healthy he was a 10-10 guy last season. Also how many times has Battie been a full time starter in this league? Having a Shaq and Battie matchup is worse than a Cato Shaq matchup. Coming off the bench... Sixth man- Hedo- He is still our best scorer coming off the bench and should we keep him the best option we have to come in, and give us some instant scoring. I think he will receive the most amounts of minutes out of all the bench players due to the fact he does so many things well. 7. Keyon Dooling- He is getting played to much money so you know they are going to play him. I think he will be a good spark plug in the second unit Hedo and Dooling coming off the bench is a good offensive duo. I don?t see any drop off in the offensive game with these two in the second unit. 8. Tony Battie- Solid backup for Cato one of our most reliable big men. I thought when we acquired him it was basically has a mentor to Howard, but he really has become a lot more than that. We need to acquire a big man next off-season though should we not resign Cato. I never have, nor will look at Battie as a starter. 9. Stevenson- His shot is something awful for a shooting guard. He does not shoot the three ball well enough or play enough defenses to really get consistent minutes. I look at him as the John Salmons of the Orlando magic. Except in Stevenson?s case he gets by on athleticism alone. His game in general as a basketball player is pretty weak. 10. Diener- A pretty small guy but has solid point guard skills. Unfortunately, I am expecting an eight-man rotation from the Magic so I do not expect him to get many consistent minutes. He is still a good player who I would not be surprised to see him work himself into the rotation. I will cut it off there I only see those ten guys as players we will consistently see on the court next season. The rest will come in on occasions, but will not really have a great impact. You could inter change one of these guys and possibly substitute Kasun in for someone at the nine or ten spot in the rotation. I don?t s e Augman, Garriety, etc. Getting many minutes. As far as scoring options go I look at it like this... 1. Steve Francis 2. Dwight Howard 3. Jameer Nelson (only because he will handle the ball more than grant meaning he can get his own shots easier.) 4. Grant Hill (he will still be I believe third or second in the team in scoring.) 5. Kelvin Cato Off the Bench (remember this is for offense) 1. Hedo 2.Dooling 3.Stevenson 4. Diener 5. Kasun (you saw he has a pretty good offensive game last season) I know this leaves us with a small back court, but I feel Hill is a coach with enough of a open mind to put the most talented players in there. He will of course switch it up at times do to matchups, but for the most part it will be Jameer. A lot of people take shots at his defense, because of his size, but lat year was his first NBA season he was a decent defender at St. Joes I think he can be the same for the Magic this season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GatorsowntheSEC:</div><div class="quote_post">What are you hoping our starting lineup looks like next year? PG-Francis SG-Stevenson SF-Hill PF-ZAZA!!!!!!(sign him in FA) C-Dwight Our bench would be very solid with Cato, Battie, Jameer, Hedo, Dooling coming off of it. Plus it has shooters like Diener and Garrity deep down the bench. I would say scoring options 1. Francis 2. Hill 3. Dwight 4. Zaza 5. Stevenson Stevenson would be there for defense, we would have a semi tall backcourt with Francis and Stevenson there(taller than PG's and smaller than most SGs) He hustles a lot and wouldn't be a defensive liability.</div> Unfortunately, Zaza won't come. Afaik, he signed an offersheet from Atlanta 4years / $16million, we can't give him that much money. [offtopic]Why did we ever leave him unprotected in the expansion draft?[/offtopic] As far as the S5 goes, I mostly agree with BKS, but hope that Francis is going to be traded. We've got just too many players competing for minutes...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">My ideal starting lineup would be Jameer Nelson - I was/still am the biggest supporter of Jameer Nelson. I really followed him since he got to St. Joseph's until now. He has had a few rough moments (such as missing the game winner to go to the final four), but he ahs always responded to controversy well. He has the potential to be top ten in the league in the future in terms of on the court leadership. I honestly hope the Magic hold on to this kid, and start him. I think he is not near his peak yet, and is equally talented dif not better than Dooling. To not start him because of his size is disrespecting everything he give to the team with leadership, point guard skills, and scoring ability. If we start Dooling over him I do think our offense will be turnover prone more so then when we had Francis as our starting point guard. (and that's saying something) Steve Francis- Nothing needs to be said. He is our franchise player, and a proven scoring option. He is also the best all around player on this team he is capable of averaging 20-6-6 every season. Grant Hill- He is nearing the end of his career. Sadly his best days were lost due to injury. However, he is still a veteran leader and a 19 point per game scorer when healthy. Will he have another all-star season I don't know, but he is the best small forward on our roster. Dwight Howard- I still would not put him at center right now. He is got the game of a power forward in terms of athletes, etc. We all see how badly Amare is at times at defending centers when he is at the five spot. I think power forward is a better matchup for him. Kelvin Cato- Despite the popular opinion that many have that we will start Battie. Cato is a superior center in my mind. He has more of an offensive game, and overall game. His health has been questioned, but when healthy he was a 10-10 guy last season. Also how many times has Battie been a full time starter in this league? Having a Shaq and Battie matchup is worse than a Cato Shaq matchup. Coming off the bench... Sixth man- Hedo- He is still our best scorer coming off the bench and should we keep him the best option we have to come in, and give us some instant scoring. I think he will receive the most amounts of minutes out of all the bench players due to the fact he does so many things well. 7. Keyon Dooling- He is getting played to much money so you know they are going to play him. I think he will be a good spark plug in the second unit Hedo and Dooling coming off the bench is a good offensive duo. I don?t see any drop off in the offensive game with these two in the second unit. 8. Tony Battie- Solid backup for Cato one of our most reliable big men. I thought when we acquired him it was basically has a mentor to Howard, but he really has become a lot more than that. We need to acquire a big man next off-season though should we not resign Cato. I never have, nor will look at Battie as a starter. 9. Stevenson- His shot is something awful for a shooting guard. He does not shoot the three ball well enough or play enough defenses to really get consistent minutes. I look at him as the John Salmons of the Orlando magic. Except in Stevenson?s case he gets by on athleticism alone. His game in general as a basketball player is pretty weak. 10. Diener- A pretty small guy but has solid point guard skills. Unfortunately, I am expecting an eight-man rotation from the Magic so I do not expect him to get many consistent minutes. He is still a good player who I would not be surprised to see him work himself into the rotation. I will cut it off there I only see those ten guys as players we will consistently see on the court next season. The rest will come in on occasions, but will not really have a great impact. You could inter change one of these guys and possibly substitute Kasun in for someone at the nine or ten spot in the rotation. I don?t s e Augman, Garriety, etc. Getting many minutes. As far as scoring options go I look at it like this... 1. Steve Francis 2. Dwight Howard 3. Jameer Nelson (only because he will handle the ball more than grant meaning he can get his own shots easier.) 4. Grant Hill (he will still be I believe third or second in the team in scoring. 5. Kelvin Cato Off the Bench (remember this is for offense) 1. Hedo 2.Dooling 3.Stevenson 4. Diener 5. Kasun (you saw he has a pretty good offensive game last season) I know this leaves us with a small back court, but I feel Hill is a coach with enough of a open mind to put the most talented players in there. He will of course switch it up at times do to matchups, but for the most part it will be Jameer. A lot of people take shots at his defense, because of his size, but lat year was his first NBA season he was a decent defender at St. Joes I think he can be the same for the Magic this season.</div> That's pretty much our lineup in a nutshell and I couldn't agree more. Best Kept Secret for MVP!
Im going with the same as BKS but maybe with Battie and Cato can share time playing the 5. PG-Jammer Nelson SG-Steve Francis SF-GRANT HILL PF-Dwight Howard C-Tony Battie/Kelvin Cato
PG - Jameer Nelson SG - Steve Francis PF - Dwight Howard SF - Grant Hill C - Kelvin Cato (I really want Tyson Chandler to come and play Center for us, but if we don't sign him, then Kelvin Cato is our best option.)
PG - Dooling SG - Francis SF - Hill PF - Howard C - Cato Bench PG - Nelson SG - Stevenson SF - Turk PF - Battie C - Kusan Scoring Options 1. Francis 2. Hill 3. Howard 4. Dooling 5. Turk 6. Nelson
Dooling has an amazing first step, tremendous leaping ability...needs to work on his shooting more. I doubt he will be in the starting line-up, especially with Stevie and Nelson in that position. other than that, congrats on getting dooling...great player
It's not so much Jameer that I worry about in defense. It's more of Francis guarding the 2's. I know Jameer would do at least a decent job against the 1's, but I couldn't see Francis guarding any 2's well, which is why with either Stevenson or Dooling, we can put Francis against the worse of the 2 G's, with Dooling/Stevenson guarding the better G. I kinda like your experimentation lineup Swish, but I think we would have Hill at the 2, I heard before the draft that there were rumors of him moving to the 2(but that was when we thought we were gonna get Granger or Graham). The only problem with that is that our SF spot is extremely weak on the bench, because we have no one who can back up Hill/Hedo. With Zaza not being likely, I say Dwight at PF and Cato and C, Cato and Francis have a great chemistry together and when Cato wants to play, he's a very good center. Injuries and laziness are his biggest problems, but since it's his contract year, I wouldn't be surprised to see him work hard to take off the lazy rap to get a better contract.
