This has been a problem. TMac at this stage in his career is much better at the SF. We don't have a true 2 guard. That places TMac in the position of trying to guard the other team's SG or Battier who was burned alot last season trying to defend the SG. Since we don't have a legit SG I am sure Tracy will have to play there again.
My projected lineup since months ago, still the same: PG-James SG-Francis SF-TMac PF-Scola C-Yao I believe that these are your starters on opening day. TMac would "last longer" and be more effective at SF. We have plenty of guards. This is a potent offensive lineup, and the subs coming in are better than in years: Battier, Wells, Hayes, Butler, Head, Brooks, Synder, et al.
Rhester, didn't notice you up there. I can't believe we disagree! One of the few things. I think Francis can play more effectively at the SG. I know he isn't big, but if he still has some hops he elevate enough to keep up. Bonzi can also play the SG, and so can Synder. Even James isn't bad at it. True, we don't have alot of size there, but offensively we can be effective. Defense will be more of a challenge, but players switch off anyway.
I agree with you in 100%. Even James, Francis, Snyder can play the SG. But I would put Bonzi as a backup SF. I know he isn't bad at 2 but for me he's 3 ans T-Mac 2
Tmac doesn't guard 2's, Battier guards the best swingman. Shane guarded Kobe for the majority of the time, he guarded Wade, he guarded Manu. Who did Tmac guard last year that wore him out? I thought it was common knowledge that we gave Tmac the easiest matchup defensively. Bottom line, Shane took David Wesley's job as SG that guards everybody.
We should give easy matchups on defense just to save his strength. But Tracy is also a great defensive player and I won't be scared to put him on Kobe or another star player. He even showed it last season
I think you're forgetting that Steve Francis is also a fantastic point-forward. I wanr him in the starting line-up. I think we can do that by putting Shane as 6th man and moving McGrady over. This would be my starting line-up: Point-Forward: Mike James Point-Forward: Steve Francis Point-Forward: Tracy McGrady Point-Forward: Luis Scola Point-Forward: Yao Ming With Battier, Wells, and Hayes being the regular rotation guys to back up point-forward, point-forward, and point-forward, respectively. If Brooks turns out as good as he's promising to be, I'd give him some minutes at point-forward as well.
Of course, that's why Shane's in the game. I think Tmac is very underrated defensively. But people here act like we need to start Francis or Bonzi at SG so that Tmac "won't have to guard the quicker 2's". I'm just pointing out that he didn't even guard those guys last year. Making Tmac strictly a SF won't change anything. Who's going to guard Melo, Lebron, Caron Butler, or Rashard Lewis? Cause it sure as hell ain't gonna be Bonzi or Francis! I remember Wesley guarding Steve Nash one game, then 6'8" Lebron in another. That's what Battier does.
Agree. T-Mac ain't gonna guard the best opponents' scorer. The situation looked and will look like the same way. Battier's gonna get the best oponent's scorer and Tracy can guard him too but only when Battier will be on the bench
Agree 100%. Talk about overkill in the versatiltiy department. Adelman has tons of options at his disposal.
Having James and Francis in there at the same time might sort of negate a bunch of the positives of getting them both in the first place. They both need the ball in their hands more rather than less. Neither is the defensive player that Shane Battier is. Starting both results in Alston/Battier being backups, both of whom are lesser offensive players. I would roll: PG - James SG - T-Mac SF - Battier PF - Scola C - Yao with primary backups being: PG - Alston, Brooks SG - Francis, Head SF - Bonzi, Francis PF - Hayes C - Deke, Butler I think both the starting lineup, and bench are better. James still "demands" the ball, but can be a great initiator, too (see year in Toronto) and this lineup is taller and better defensively. Battier is one of the best 3 point shooters on the team and you need that. Of course, you never know how Alston and Francis will mesh, but skill wise it'd be nice to see Alston, who is best as a spot up shooter and initiating the offense in there with Francis, who should be able to be a scorer and benefit from Adelman's offense as well. The only negative with this lineup is that Bonzi can be his most effective when he is playing 2 guard, because offensively he has such an advantage in the post. I think there'll be a lot of line-up mixing and matching and RAdelman will find one that is successful early in the season. I don't know if it matters so much whether T-Mac or Battier or playing SG/SF or vice versa. As has been mentioned, Battier would generally take the tougher defensive assignment and offensively would still play to his strengths - that corner 3. But I do think both should start.
Lot of good threads are ruined by "should T-Mac start at SF and Bonzi at SG over T-Mac at SG and Battier at SF" AND thats it... We will see it when season starts...
Actually we totally agree. I like that starting line up, I also think SF can play at the 2, what Steve gives up on the defensive end he would make up for on taking his man off the dribble on the other end.
In today's basketball, there are really only 3 positions: the front (C/PF) the wing (SF/SG) the point T-Mac is better than anybody on the team at SG and at SF. The two positions don't really have any difference. So it is not what T-Mac should play, but who should play with him on the wing. Here are the options: Battier Wells Francis James Head Snyder I still think Battier should be the starter over all these other guys. He is the best all around player among the bunch. If Scola pans out, and the PG situation settles, we should have enough offensive firepower. We don't need another high scoring option in the starting lineup.
