Anthony Davis Discussion: Thanks For The Ring AD!!!

No but you'd know if your opponent's team had a front line center that you were worried about the physical matchup or not.

 

Why not? It's not set in stone. We jerked Javale in and out of the lineup frequently. He was technically our starting center but he probably played less at 5 than AD or Dwight.

 

abeer is right though. Typically teams don't do that. Not saying anything is right or wrong, but starting fives are usually a lock when everyone is suiting up.

 

right. does it make sense to me to run different lineups? yes. my high school did sometimes, depending on matchups. i started at sf a couple times despite being 5'10" just due to matchups.

but i'm not sure i recall a single nba team that routinely and intentionally ran different starting lineups in the regular season dictated by the opposition. within games? sure. but starting them out?

 

when you are good, other teams react to your lineups, not the other way around

#dobetter

 

I think a lot of Coach Ham's thinking of starting AD at the five is due to the play of Bryant and Jones. They have neither looked very good. Bryant had a few minutes but they don't either one look like a starter to me so far. I'm hoping one of them stands out these next couple of games. The other thing is AD is so darn good at the five. Right now he just looks unstoppable anywhere. I think if AD gets through the first couple weeks of the season we need to change Mr. Glass to Iron Man or something for some positive vibes...lol.

 

I used to play at the park. Lineups changed all the time, so meh.

 

I can buy in in playing AD at the 5 more when we can get offense advantage when we face Looney, Rob Williams/Horford or Siakam. But protect him against Embiid, Valanciunas, Adams...

Nonetheless until the playoffs I favor Jones/Bryant in the lineup and change rotations depending on the matchup rather than changing the lineup

 

I want to see both Cs next to the other 4 starters (whatever mix that's going to be) before I'm ready to move AD over. There's been a lot of lineup combos due to rest and availability that we will likely never see in a game this year. Like I don't expect we'll see TB out there with Christie, Ryan, and Pip Jr for one single possession in the regular season.

 

Also, with AD at the 5 they give up a TON of offensive boards.

 

Did we have to go the 3rd person route?

 

abeer3 doesn't get the about-face from ham on AD at the 5, and i'm guessing AD is also confused by it.

 

He's trying to optimize the spacing with Russ on the floor, IMO.

And to be quite honest Jones and Bryant haven't set themselves apart with their play.

 

oh i get that, but it's not like that wasn't known prior, when he was initially planning on starting AD at the 4.

it's a little concerning that he abandoned the plan that quickly--what was he seeing?

 

Can be concerning, but he is the one in practices.

What I've seen? Jones is better when he's the only 5 on the floor and we slot him as a vertical threat/finisher.

Bryant hasn't shot well and the pairing with him and AD is just clunky, IMO.

AD could start at the 5. Doesn't mean he has to play all his mins there.

Or just go trade for Turner.

 

I agree with this. I wasn't expecting a ton from Jones and Bryant but they just don't look like starting material yet. Maybe they will. I think Ham thought he would get more from them. I also think he is realizing that Russ starting isn't going to work and trying anything before bringing him off the bench. We can struggle through Russ starting but I don't think you can start him and Beverly. AD will be much more effective with Nunn and Reaves in the starting lineup.

 

I think its a combination of TB, Jones being underwhelming and all 6 guards showing that they are need mins.

 

Translation: “Russ is NOT working out. Rob please bring me Myles Turner”