<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kevin Durant?s regular-season opening may be the most anticipated debut in Sonics history. You?ve seen the highlights, with Durant deftly pouring in fall-away jumpers and jamming down monster dunks while at the University of Texas. And then you watched him do the same thing for Seattle in the Las Vegas summer league. Now it?s time to see the Kevin Durant show at KeyArena. Some will consider him a natural at small forward because of his ability to score both inside and outside. But I think the Sonics like the mismatches he creates for other shooting guards, and will start him out here. Front Runners Kevin Durant (6-9, 225, Rookie) He hasn?t played a minute in the league yet and Durant already has raised the expectations for his first season in the NBA. Durant was invited to try out for Team USA and put on such an impressive shooting performance that Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was tempted to include him on this year?s team. NBA prognosticators have him scoring between 15 to 25 points a night. His summer league numbers weren?t impressive (24 ppg, 2 rpg, 33% FG, 23% from 3-point line), but I don?t think you can glean too much from those numbers because of the lack of quality play at the point guard position and the fact that he could pretty much shoot from anywhere he wanted on every possession. Coach P.J. Carlesimo will force Durant to have better shot selection during the season, and his shooting percentage will go up. Pros: An ample skillset: A feathery shooting touch with a shooting range that extends beyond the 3-point-arc; the quickness to take his man off the dribble; polished, low-post moves on the block; an ability to defend both inside and on the perimeter; a will to win; very coachable. Cons: Durant?s wiry frame could benefit from a couple hours spent in the weight room. His lack of bulk will probably limit his ability to finish inside in his first year. And his shot selection can be suspect at times. But he definitely will make some spectacular plays during the season and will be a big draw at the turnstile. In the mix Wally Szczerbiak (6-7, 244, 9th year) If Carlesimo chooses to play Durant at small forward, Szczerbiak seems the likely choice here. He?s probably the best shooter on the team, with a career 50 percent field goal percentage, and 40 percent from 3-point range. However, Wally has played in only 32 games in each of the last two seasons, and needed season-ending surgery on his left ankle. According to reports Szczerbiak has recovered and is ready to go this season. If healthy, Wally, who will make $12 million this upcoming season and $13 million next year, is a consistent scorer who plays hard and will help fill a leadership role for the Sonics. Pros: Provides the Sonics with another scoring option and has value as a starter or coming off the bench. Szczerbiak adds a veteran presence on a young team. Cons: Health is a major concern. If he can keep his legs under him Szczerbiak could be a solid contributor for Seattle. Damien Wilkins (6-6, 225, 4th year) He?s followed in Ray Allen?s footsteps for the last three seasons, and now we?ll see if Wilkins, who has three years left on a $15 million contract, is ready to emerge into the limelight and earn starters? minutes. So far, the reviews have been mixed at best. Wilkins averaged 24.8 minutes a contest last season, finishing with 8.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.41 turnovers a game. Wilkins started 31 games, and Seattle was 10-21 in games he started. Pros: A good athlete, and like his father Gerald and uncle Dominique, can create his own shot. He?s a good defender who will take the challenge of guarding the other team?s best scorer. Wilkins is an okay shooter from the perimeter but a bit inconsistent, although he did finish shooting 40 percent from the 3-point line last season. Cons: Got his chance to start when Ray Allen was hurt and did not perform up to expectations. Maybe he tried to force things a bit in his zest to do well. </div> The roster is set up so that we can use 5 players for the 2 and 3. Durant, Green, Wilkins, Wally, and Gelabale can play either position. Maybe not Wally because of the quickness he lacks to play defense. It's probably safe to say that mostly everyone is expecting Durant to start at shooting guard. Tacoma News Tribune
Maybe they could use Wally at SG on offense and then put him on the opposing teams SF on defense. Having him on the floor with Durant is probably a good idea, because Wally will command some attention with his ability to score. There's a lot of versatility on this roster, should be interesting to see which combinations PJ can make work. Must of their forwards can handle the ball, too which is an added bonus.
I just can't see Wally doing much for the team except being the designated shooter off the bench. His shooting has been pretty solid... His Floor % has ben close to 50% for the past few years though was at it lowest (47%) last season. His Effective FG % has been around 50% as well though agina was at its lowest (47%) last season. I have to say from a Net Points perspective he has never been a great player. He only has one partial season of positive (+1.26) which was 2005 in Minnesota before he was traded. He has been around -2 plus change outside of that fairly consistently. He creates points (from shooting and assists) but his best year was 2005 in that area (~18 in MIN and ~17 in BOS.) He has been more around 9-14 historically. Top that off with the multiple ankle injuries and I just don't see him getting much more than 6th man status on the team.
Wally was never that great at creating his own shot when he first came into the league, let alone now with all the injuries. Without anyone consistently drawing a double team down low, how effective is he going to be? He'll be a liability at the defensive end no matter which position he 'guards' too.
Ideally, Wally Sczerbiak wouldn't be starting at all... I'd probably play Durant at SG. Assuming he can handle and has the quickness, he could shoot over the top of almost any SG in the league. That'll mean the guard has to get in the air, and Durant can pump fake has way to a boatload of free throws. The more I think about it, it makes sense.
<div class="quote_poster">Sir Desmond Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Wally was never that great at creating his own shot when he first came into the league, let alone now with all the injuries. Without anyone consistently drawing a double team down low, how effective is he going to be? He'll be a liability at the defensive end no matter which position he 'guards' too.</div> Having a veteran on the floor with all the youth shouldn't be overlooked. Wally doesn't need to create or draw double teams, but he can prevent his defender from cheating off him because of his shooting ability. The more scorers on the court to take defensive pressure off Durant the better for his development. Eventually Wally should come off the bench, but I'd have him in the starting lineup to begin the season. The Sonics are one of the few teams in the league with a position battle at all 5 starting spots.
Durant will be playing power forward once he gains some muscle, all this talk of him playing shooting guard is permanently is just silly.
The impact Wally can have with Durant on the floor should not be ignored. Yeah, it would be nice to send out Green and Durant for them to progress and develop chemistry together. However, with Wally and Durant on the floor together the defense cant just key in on Duratn as the Sonics only threat. With Wally out there the defense has to respect his shooting ability and he should be able to take some pressure off Durant.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Casual)</div><div class='quotemain'>Durant will be playing power forward once he gains some muscle, all this talk of him playing shooting guard is permanently is just silly.</div></p> I dont think its silly, I think he if best suited for small forward, not power forward. Obviously it depends on the type of offense the Sonics will run in the future, but Durant at SF puts him in the best position corresponding to his talent.</p> </p> </p>
i'd say start damien. can't go long there, with solid defense. and he's not a completely bad offensive player.</p> or, start 2 pg's.</p>
