Looks like they're battling right out of the gate: RIcky vs Jiri <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"'The guy who doesn't start could be one of the five best players on our team,' said Rivers. 'We just feel that he might be better coming off the bench. I don't know who that's going to be yet. You know Gary [Payton] and Paul and Mark [Blount] and Raef [LaFrentz], but that other spot is the one that's open. Starting means nothing to me. It's the five guys that finish. You should want to be a finisher.'"</div> Me thinks Ricky might be the 6th man, by that statement(because I believe him to be ther better of the 2 players), but who knows? Maybe Jiri's fundamental solidity will make him the finisher?
correct me if i'm wrong, but i remember hearing somewhere that pierce was going to be at the 3 spot this year. anyways i believe davis is more effective off the bench.
It goes back and forth. I believe Pierce is officially listed as a 2, but his game often resembles a 3, so it's as much semantics as anything.
Guys, isn't Jiri a PG and sometimes a SG? How tall is he? And wouldn't his small frame get eaten up at the 3spot?
Jiri's not a PG. He may play the spot from time to time, but he's a 2 or 3. Keep in mind, size isn't everything. However, Jiri's listed at 6'7" and 208 lbs. Jiri's about as fundamentally sound a player as you're going to see in this league. He's the kind of guy who does nothing excellent, but just about everything well. Positioning, defense, ball handling, etc. are all big parts of being able to play any position effectively. Not to mention that PP, Davis, Welsch, Allen are all interchangable at the wing positions. As I said earlier, whatever spot they're listed at is as much semantics as anything. The run style offense we'll be using, by it's very nature creates mismatches. On defense, there's no rule that says 2's have to guard 2's, etc. We'll match up according to who can handle what. Jiri can match up with most 2's and leave the 3 matchup to PP or someone else. That's the beauty of the system: Fluidity.
Delonte will fight Banks for backup PG duties - I don't think they want him splitting time at the 2 - he's being groomed for the point
^^ Agreed. Delonte will spend at least the first half of the season (depending on how long GP stays in BeanTown) fighting with Banks for backup priveldges. West doesn't possess Banks athleticism or defense, but seems to possess a better head for the point position, in terms of floor spacing and ball distribution.
If I remember correctly, I remember the C's doing decent when Jiri was starting, and having Davis come off the bench. But in those games, Davis was also finishing most of them. I think that's exactly what Doc was talking about. My vote would be to keept that rotation, with Davis ending up playing more minutes. Teams that have a super-talent/offense/energe/athleticism guy off the bench that can change the pace of the game do real well. Think of Denver with Boykens, Sac with B Jackson, Dallas when they had NVE, etc. Jiri has real high basketball IQ, and it'll be good to have another player like that start the game, to ensure that we start with lots of smarts on the floor. Then you bring in an energy guy off the bench like Davis, and that spells wins.
It's a tough call. On one hand you've got an enigmatic but freakish baller, on the other you've got a guy high on fundamentals. I'd say they'd go with Jiri early, and see how Ricky responds to the bench.
Well if I were coach I would let the player who is the most fundamentaly sound start.That gives the Celtics a player who can play well as a 6th man,and bring tons of energy off the bench.
I think Ricky Davis is the better and more electrifying player, and Jiri Welsch has been a little bit dissapointing so far in his career. But I would for the most part split time between them. Neither one of them are going to put up eye-popping numbers. But they will both put up wuality numbers. By the mid-season we will know wich player is better.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hagrid:</div><div class="quote_post">I watched both guys live on OCt 16th and neither impressed.</div> I don't put much faith in the pre-season. Form can be very deceptive.
Jiri Welsch came out last year with alot of heart and ran the floor well. But when it comes down to skillZ Ricky Davis for sure. He can be selfish and may not always have a 110% attitude but he is a good player.
I really don't see why there has to be a definiant starter on any team. Dallas two years ago used many different starting lineups, and finished with the best record in the league. Its all about matchups, and what type of game will be played on a given night. Half-Court game, Jiri's passing, and ability to shoot the 3 will be important. In a running game, Davis would be the hands down player running the wing. Nothing should be definant, that was the Mavericks problem last year. In some games, Walker was the better choice, and in Others Jamison should have started. But that's another story...
