You'd be surprised if Lawson play for the second unit?

Exactly. Our players rotate beautifully in either lineup. Tjones and DMo, if both can stay healthy can plug and play in either lineup as well.

 

I'd start Lawson, but do an early sub for either him or Harden so that we always have at least one of those 2 on the floor all game.

 

It doesn't really make a lot of difference to me but regardless of who starts, Lawson will play a lot when James is on the bench.

If the starting 5 is Lawson, Harden, Ariza, PF, Howard; then I could see Lawson and Howard having similar spots in the rotation. Both come out at similar times and both come back in when Harden takes the bench.

Lawson and Howard both subbed for at around the 7 minute mark. Both could come back in to start the 2nd quarter when Harden sits.

 

The last 2 NBA champions had all star players (one won the finals MVP) come from the bench. This seems to be a very good formula for success.

 

Give it up for Lawson and Thornton combo

 

Lawson will start but will absolutely be staggered with Harden so one of them are on the floor at all times.

 

There shouldn't be a question right now that Lawson will run the second unit and will be on the floor when Harden sits. The question is how many minutes will he earn when Harden is on the floor? Because he's got to play defense if he's gonna play next to Harden.

 

I think you start bev, he knows the system, and is ready to go. Lawson off the bench can come in more at first with maybe terry who can teach lawson some things, and and then sub in thorton etc... These are 2 players who are going to be fairly new to mchale playbook..

Lawson would be better coming off the bench for the first half season maybe. Once he gets the system and gels you can start him some games to see how it works out.

 

Lawson is clearly the starter! Bev is perfect in a backup role, his defense struggled at times because he was playing so many minutes going as hard as he can.

Imagine him coming in with Brewer and those two guys bringing energy bursts off the bench! He could be as aggressive as he wants to be without worrying about fouls.

Start Harden and Lawson, bring Bev in for Lawson at the 4-5 minute mark, then bring Lawson in for Harden to start the 2nd. Always have one of them on the floor. And with all this depth, just finish the game with Harden, Haward, and whoever else has played the well that game.

 

I would be surprised if Lawson didn't start but not too much.

 

There's always the chance that starters will not be a constant. Bogut didn't start every game of the finals and he's clearly the best center they have. You go with what works at that time. Let's just hope McHale gets a good feel for what works against each team during the regular season. To me the important thing is getting Harden and Ariza some regular season rest so that they can go longer in playoff games.

 

Lawson definitely should start, but either Harden or Lawson should be on the court at all times. With that being said I can also see stints of small ball with Bev, Lawson and Harden playing together in small bursts or situations.

 

Well we just can't have anything nice, if all we are going to do is fight over it!

 

If Lawson doesn't start, McHale is an idiot. He's 100 x times better than Beverly. Pat simply is an energy guy that provides defensive intensity in a reserve role, so that he stays fresh and Houston doesn't lose that element of his game.

It's s no brainer.

 

I agree, McHale might not be smart enough to maximize both of them. We'll see....

 

If anything other than this, as excited as I am about this team, that would be a head scratch let down. This idea that Harden can't play or doesn't want to play/start with a PG that can handle the ball is beyond me. He actually requested one as soon as last season was over.

 

Lawson is the starter. He and Bev aren't in the same realm as players. I played with the idea of him coming off the bench, but I came back to reality.

 

I still think it is a better idea to bring Lawson off the bench. Not only does Bev know the system but he will be better this season than last and you still need a defensive PG next to Harden.
Plus, Lawson would make our bench squad dam near unbeatable.