who starts, how are the minutes for the bigs distributed when dwight returns?

DMo is our worst defender at the PF spot...

Check the defensive dashboard at nba.com. Jones has the best 'opponent FG%', and it isn't even close. Add to that he is a weakside shotblocker, and we have the very obvious choice for defensive purposes. DMo had one hot month, Jones has been consistent across the year.

 

Dwight shows his hook and TJones for the rebound slam!

Rocket River

 

Wow, that would be news to me. I admit I'm going off informative posts in the past and the eye test.

I wonder if part of this has to do with the fact that D-Mo has played against first units more often and guarded the best opposing big routinely this season? Jones has played with Howard, D-Mo and Smith.. I've seen that he typically guards the worst big on the floor at any given time.

In any case, I'm really indifferent to the thought of individual competition. My post was intended to say our 4 needs to be the best defender out of D-Mo and T Jones. Both of those guys are good compliments to our stars and that should be the #1 consideration on this team. To me, Smith is too ineffective from outside the paint and inefficient in everything he does to be considered a good fit to pair with Harden and Howard.

 

Dwight needs to play duncan type of minutes. He may be only 28 but the wear and tear of his right knee suggests that he needs to truly be limited in his play time. We need to focus on his longevity and start using alot of Spurs methods of preserving players. Save him for the playoffs and last month.

 

You mean the D.H. who hasn't looked very good this season?

 

Yea dude has been hurt, but I would take a 75 percent d12 in the playoffs. Just was a beast in the playoff last year #neverforget

 

I want to see dwight and dmo starting with all the post ups going to dmo.

 

I like having dual post threats in the starting lineup with Dwight and Dmo. I am more inclined to keep an offensive weapon like Dmo with the first group. I like How Jones, Smith, and Brewer play together off the bench, and I'm not sure DMO fits with them so much

 

Dmo starting just makes us too slow on rotations defensively on the perimeter IMO. But offensively he is a better fit due to his 3 point shooting and low post games.

 

Start Howard and Jones, about 28 minutes each. DMo and Smith off the bench, about 20 minutes each.

 

I think we have a lot of talent in the front court, but I'm not sure how they fit together.

In the starting lineup, Howard is of course a given. And I think Jones meshes best with Howard. (Though honestly, if there were more time, I'd like to see how Smith would do second time around as a starter)

Then, it's a matter of figuring out the second unit. My dilemma would be that Smith and Dmo are not the best fit together. Actually, DMo's ideal front court parter in our lineup would be Dorsey. However, there's really no room for Dorsey once Howard gets back.

So, the lineup would be

PF: Jones/Smith
C: Howard/DMo

Pretty good, but not a perfect fit, IMO.

 

Jones/smith
Dwight/DMo

Minutes depend on match ups and how close the game is. I have really enjoyed seeing jones and smith play together

My favorite line up so far is

Harden/brewer/ariza/smith/jones

 

I agree with this completely. Each and every one of your points is spot on. We've really only seen a Jones/Howard line-up twice this season and although it was very efficient and effective, D-Mo makes more sense as the starter.

 

can he PLEASE come off the bench?

 

DMO should start IMO.

 

Good in theory, but in almost every game that those two players started together, DMo seemed to lack aggressiveness. It's like he defers to Howard, and I don't think it's McHale telling him to either. I'm not sure if this dynamic can be resolved in the remaining regular season games.

 

I'm guessing with DMo being the least experienced in the playoffs, he's going to lose the most minutes when the real games start. I don't see McHale not setting a set lineup and mixing it up, he's not that imaginative. So whomever it is who loses the most minutes is going to be a disappointed and at least inwardly unhappy player.

I'm guessing when DHo comes back, he'll increase minutes as time goes by leading to the playoffs, but the fact is they need his rebounding and defense but whatever time he takes, someone else is going to be losing time. The good thing is all 3 of those guys have different games, so it may go by matchups but most likely, 1 of them is going to lose a lot if not all of their minutes.

 

I concur.

We're playing well right now. Best thing is for Howard to come off the bench until he is fully back in the groove and we see how his knee is doing.

 

Even though DMo's post game is better. Jones is the better overrall player at this point. He rebounds, defends & just does all the intangibles better. I don't know who should start. If DMo keeps hitting his 3's I'd lean towards DMo. But if Jones keeps playing at this level then why not bring DMo off the bench behind Dwight?