You used 82games to affirm your feelings. Yet stated when talking about Powell you didn't believe them. Yes, I have reservations about Hart playing SF.
people here (including our staff) are so dismissive of that notion, but it's OK to stagger Dame/Ant and let them each cook in separate lineups for 10-15 mins a game. He got paid already; i doubt he'd gripe about starting since he will be in finishing lineups anyway. And he'd be a better playmaker leading the second unit than CJ was given his inclination to do more than chuck.
I wouldn't say he is passive but if you are saying that then I contend that having someone who is passive is better to be in our starting lineup when we have a lot of scorers already then someone coming off the bench (where we need the scouring punch).
I'm not going to go back and figure out the context of whatever post of mine you dredged up to try and make for a gotcha moment. Especially considering that in the post earlier in this thread you took exception too, I took the time to explain my reasoning and frame some context. I saw Powell at SF and I've seen Hart at SF, and there's no doubt at all in my mind that Hart is much more suited to the position than Powell. as far as Hart as the staring SF, I'd say he's at least as good as any available at the position. Maybe Grant would be better at SF if Winslow was PF. But at this point, IMO, Hart is a better alternative than the inexperienced Sharpe or the wildly inconsistent Little with his injury history.
I am actually really disappointed with Little’s play. I was really hoping that we could have had Hart come off the bench or maybe even start at the 2 guard.
start winslow until nas is ready. keep hart on the bench so that he can create for himself and others alongside just Ant instead of Dame/Ant/Grant.
I think a lot of this worry is overblown. Who gets the start isn't as important as who logs the minutes and who is in the closing lineup the last 5 minutes Unless you have multiple all-stars in the starting unit, and unless you have a legitimate 6th man or dynamic scorer coming off the bench, then the roles are pretty interchangeable. And Portland has none of those components
If Simons doesn't start he won't be able to play 35-40 minutes per game, he can't play nonstop once the starters come out. I'm not sure what the ultimate split of minutes your trying to propose with Simons not starting; should he just be Dame's primary backup? That doesn't make sense to pay $100 million as the second highest paid player on the team playing 13 minutes per game? If your only trying to stagger minutes and each plays over 30, well that can be done with both players starting. There is no way the Blazers will have Simons come off the bench. Its crazy that fans are suggesting it. Can you ever think of a team that had their second highest paid player come off the bench? Ginobili is the only elite player I can think of that happening, and the Blazers are not a title contending team like that Spurs dynasty.
I basically agree with this; having Simons start or not start won't change anything. Assuming he is playing 32 minutes per game either way with him and Dame are staggered on both units. The Blazers problems are #1 lack of talent......... distant #2 lack of height (all Guards). Having Simons starting or on the bench doesn't solve either one.
Going back in time, I seem to recall Havilicek playing off the bench regularly, however, that may have been later in his career. My memory may not be accurate though.
It's not uncommon for an NBA team to let salaries impact playing time decisions. The alternative would be to admit that the GM (gasp) made a mistake!
Tyler Herro just got a 130 mil contract and will come off the bench again. Sure the contract won't start until next season and he's not the second highest paid player on the team, but the example remains. Ant would still get 30-35 mpg off the bench; he would just play about 15-20 mpg without Dame instead of 10-15 like he is now. not sure why him coming of the bench is such a big deal.
Not to pick nits, but Dame would have to be playing only 28-33 mpg for there to be 15-20 mpg of non-Dame court time available for Simons. As it stands, I assume the current plan is already for Simons to play during all minutes Dame is off the court. If that's the case, I don't see how bringing him off the bench helps anything.
Pairing one shooter with weak defense with a strong defensive guard both on the starting unit and off the bench is the reason....balance on both sides of the court...keeps the team from having to dig out of big holes like the game last night...blown out in the first qtr and no 3 pt defense...Dame with Hart and Ant with Payton or Keon works for me
Do you expect Ant to only play when Dame is off the court? How many (or few) mpg do you think Ant should be given?
Example rotations: Start: Dame/Hart/Winslow/Grant/Nurk 6 min mark 1st quarter -- sub Ant for Hart; Nas for Winslow; Watford for Nurk (Dame/Ant/Nas/Grant/Watford) 3 min mark 1st quarter -- sub GP2 for Dame; Sharpe for Grant (Ant/GP2/Sharpe/Nas/Watford) 9 min mark 2nd quarter: Sub Nurk for Watford, Hart for Sharpe (Ant/GP2/Hart/Nas/Nurk) 6 min mark 2nd quarter: Sub Dame for Ant; Grant for Nas (Dame/GP2/ Hart/Grant/Nurk) 3 min mark 2nd quarter: Sub Ant for GP2; Winslow for Nurk. (Dame/Ant/Hart/Winslow/Grant) In the first half, this rotation would approx translate to: Dame - 15 min Ant - 15 min Hart - 15 min Grant - 15 min Nurk - 12 min Nas- 12 min GP2 - 9 min Winslow - 9 min Sharpe - 6 min Closely repeat in the 2nd half the same cycle but bring back Dame/Ant early so they can get ~ 3 extra minutes to end with 33 each. Take those 6 minutes from Hart/Nas/GP2 in the second half.
The point is not only to increase the time Dame/Ant spend apart. It's to maximize Hart/others as well.
