If Nate keeps improving (and listen's when LB tells him to hold the damn ball at the end of the game) then last night's backcourt works for now. If Craw continues to improve then I think it looks more like this:

Steph
Craw
?
Frye
Curry

We need perimeter defense and shooting from a better 3 than Ariza (or Rose or Barnes). Ariza may grow into that over time, since he is so young now, but he isn't there yet. He should come off the bench behind whatever 3 we trade for. Keep the rooks, Butler, and Ariza. Trade AD, Penny, MoT, Rose, and/or Barnes. Even if it's just for picks, in which case we draft that 3.

lets make craw win 6th man, we need the spark from him on the bench

keep q on starting line up lets see wat happens in the next few games

JJ's minutes better be at the expense of AD.

I'd keep starting Nate and benching him for Craw when he does something stupid. Craw would end up playing a lot between that and the three guard O and he's been our best 6th man since Cazzie lately.

Good stuff!!!!! Man my excitement level for this team just grew considerably!

C-Curry
PF-Frye
SF-Rose
SG-Crawford
PG-Marbury

I'd start Rose over Ariza because Ariza is so much more effective off the bench since he brings a spark. Rose should start and finish games at SF because Larry likes him, he's a smart player and SF's cannot stop him! He can post them up all day long! Unlike when he plays PF and gets blocked 50times

I'd start Nate only when we play lightning quick PGs since he can keep up with them better than steph and jamal can

[Edited by - gunsnewing on 12-02-2005 1:47 PM]

FYI: Guns... thats exactly my favorite lineup as well. With those guys Rose goes from old waste of space to saavy veteran that gets little things done. Plus he's got fire. The one thing that made me like Malik was last year when we were stinking it up and Malik kicked the scorers table and put his foot through one of those signs. I thought at least SOMEONE here is pissed about the losing

yeah I hate Malik last year because he was forced to do too much with our depleted frontline. Right now he's perfect in his role as defender and is an extension of Larry Brown on the court and most important of all the guy wants to win and plays like it! He's got to stop shooting those jumpers when there are better options on the floor like Frye, Crawford and Marbury or at least start making them consistently! He really has a nice post up game against these 6'5-6'7 SF tweeners. He's just too strong for them and defensively he works hard at staying in front of them. If we face a lightning quick SF then obviously Ariza can be put on him.

As far as Lee goes I hope he bulks up and takes AD's minutes away eventually this year or next year. Lee is a PF he can't do anything a SF can do. Like Ariza his skills are very limited but he is more savy on the court so I think there's more hope there. Once he he learns how to rebound the right way he's going to be unstoppable on the boards. He needs to bulk up to so he can defend NBA PFs. Until then his role will be limited. Damn why do we have to play the Pistons on a friday! its going to ruin my weekend!

oh and another thing. that starting lineup is so young as is. Adding the out of control Ariza to the mix would be a disaster. Thats all we need out of Malik. Out of him, Q, Lee and Ariza Rose adds the most intangibles like veteran stability, toughness, defense & taking care of the ball.

Posted by nyk4ever:

Great posts Guns and Fish, no disagreements. Malik has done a great job as the starting SF, these are the types of player movements WITHIN the roster that you get from Larry Brown, he's so good at using players to the strengths and limiting their weaknesses. Malik is a gritty player who has very limited basketball skills but knows how to play the game THE RIGHT WAY aka the Larry Brown way. Great posts by everyone, I can't add much more.

[Edited by - nyk4ever on 12-02-2005 3:46 PM]

yeah you originally brought up the point that Rose is an extension of Larry Brown on the court, its a very good point. He plays hard, sets an example and makes fewer mistakes than Lee and Ariza. I've been surprised at how good his post game has been against opposing SF's that a serious weapon for us now! I much rather have him do that all game long than shoot those bricks from the baseline when we don't need him too. Lee & Ariza are going to see very little time this year because of Rose's play. There's no point in forcing Ariza and Lee to do more than they are capable of doing at this point. If we're going to make a run at the playoffs Rose will be a big part of it. If we want to continue to turn the ball over 30times a night then lee and ariza will get more minutes than they should. 10-15mins for both lee and ariza will be more than enough for them to develop one step at a time,year to year. Ariza is not starting material and Lee is a PF, hopefully he gets AD's minutes. Jackie has done a fine job as the backup center. Things are shaping up quite nicely compared to last year!

[Edited by - gunsnewing on 12-02-2005 4:13 PM]