F500ONE wrote:

EnySpree wrote:38 mins is too much for THJr....the only guy that needs to be out there for 38 mins is Melo.

Everyone else is gonna have to live with hovering between 25-35 minutes a game....maybe even 20-30 for some. That's it though. That how we living until we make that Kobe trade lol

Probably too much for him, remember he gets tired

In particular the back half of games

Well he's the superstar so he would be coasting for most of that time like Jordan and Kobe used to do. The offense is gonna allow him to be able to do that. He can take over in spurts. Mofo is going to be guarded one on one which is basically wide open for him

his defense is adequate now. I think playing with team usa helped him greatly, along with the current coaching staff. I believe the kid is ready

Vmart wrote:Hardaway should start what's the difference between Hardaway and Allan Houston or Ray Allen were they defensive shut down SGs. I don't remember Houston or Allen being great at defense. I see THJ being the same as them in the defense dept. He is the future of the franchise let THJ have his run and he probably drops 20 ppg easily. I have always felt that defense can be learned and he can become a good team defender. This an opportunity to create a star player and all he needs is playing time to show case his scoring ability.

Allen and Allen were not defensive stoppers but were probably better than Hardaway Jr. On top of that they were both better rebounders and passers. Ray Allen skill set at Hardaway's age was on a different all around level. If Hardaway Jr did more stuff besides just shoot and become a slightly below avg to sometimes avg defender it would be cool. He is still young so it is possible to improve but he set some all time bad records in things other than shooting. Allen Houston is probably a good comparison though because he wasn't a good rebounder or assist man.

Vmart wrote:Hardaway should start what's the difference between Hardaway and Allan Houston or Ray Allen were they defensive shut down SGs. I don't remember Houston or Allen being great at defense. I see THJ being the same as them in the defense dept. He is the future of the franchise let THJ have his run and he probably drops 20 ppg easily. I have always felt that defense can be learned and he can become a good team defender. This an opportunity to create a star player and all he needs is playing time to show case his scoring ability.

The difference is Ward/spree vs Calderon/Melo. Someone has to guard the perimeter

yellowboy90 wrote:

Vmart wrote:Hardaway should start what's the difference between Hardaway and Allan Houston or Ray Allen were they defensive shut down SGs. I don't remember Houston or Allen being great at defense. I see THJ being the same as them in the defense dept. He is the future of the franchise let THJ have his run and he probably drops 20 ppg easily. I have always felt that defense can be learned and he can become a good team defender. This an opportunity to create a star player and all he needs is playing time to show case his scoring ability.

Allen and Allen were not defensive stoppers but were probably better than Hardaway Jr. On top of that they were both better rebounders and passers. Ray Allen skill set at Hardaway's age was on a different all around level. If Hardaway Jr did more stuff besides just shoot and become a slightly below avg to sometimes avg defender it would be cool. He is still young so it is possible to improve but he set some all time bad records in things other than shooting. Allen Houston is probably a good comparison though because he wasn't a good rebounder or assist man.

I have seen both Allen and Houston play believe me when I say they were very mediocre at best defensively. If a player gets playing time the first thing that gets lost in translation of an offensive player is the defensive side if the ball. He is a better offensive player than JR Smith and Shumpert. His defense is vastly underrated by people here he plays the passing lanes better than JR and Shump. He gets out on the break better than Shump and JR better finishing ability than Shump. To top it off he is made for the NBA. JR more a street baller as you are seeing he is unable to learn set offense and plays. Shump is just one side of the ball defense and I think people vastly overrate him on that side.

So if you want to go forward and choose you future path I think it's a no brainier it's Hardaway in a landslide.