Posted: Wednesday, September 24, 2008, 12:28 PM | 11 comments |
 

Projecting A Lineup
options
 

I just finished reading Marty Burns' interesting take on the top 10 battles for starting spots in the NBA, and -- surprise -- none of those involved the Sixers.

But, at least from where I sit, only 60 percent of the Sixers' lineup is set in stone: Elton Brand at power forward, Andre Miller at point guard and Samuel Dalembert at center.

After that, though . . .

Is Andre Iguodala the shooting guard and Thaddeus Young the small forward? Or is Iguodala the small forward and either Lou Williams or Willie Green the shooting guard?

I can't envision a lineup without Iguodala, but I could conceivably see Young coming off the bench, at least in the early part of the season. I see Williams as being far too valuable as instant offense and a pace-changer off the bench, and I see Green playing less than he did last season.

If you pinned me down right now, I'd project Iguodala at shooting guard and Young at small forward. As the Sixers prepare to leave for their camp headquarters at Penn State, I submit that the next few weeks will focus on putting in a system and developing chemistry and a rotation rather than a pitched battle or two for starting spots.

Where Are They Now

Ex-Sixers Shavlik Randolph and Bobby Jones are bound respectively for Portland and Sacramento. Joel Bell, the agent for both young players, says Randolph is ''100 percent, maybe 110'' after last season's fractured and dislocated ankle.
Posted by Phil Jasner @ 12:28 PM  Permalink | 11 comments
11
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:36 PM, 09/24/2008
    I know Young and Iguodala have been working on their games to transition to small forward and shooting guard respectively, but I'm not sure they are at the point where the line-up you suggested gives them the best chance to win right now (although, I strongly agree that it give them the best chance to win in the future). Do you think Young handles the ball well enough to start at small forward right now? Can Iguodala shoot well enough to be as good of a shooting guard as he is a small forward? Would the Sixers be better served with Young coming off the bench in the early part of the season, unitl both he and Iguodala get more comfortable in their new roles? Just curious what your thoughts are...
    — BFrank
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:52 PM, 09/24/2008
    agree preseason/camp will be more about integrating the new and returning players but with that said, cheeks is likely to start gauging rotations/minutes. having young and williams come off the bench provides some instant energy (not just offense). but is green (or rush, improbably) really the answer at starting sg? will green be more effective a year further removed from surgery? is it probable cheeks will try to involve almost the entire roster on a fairly regular basis or will the rotation really be only 9 deep? will speights have any meaningful time/contribution or will he be better off in the d-league? thoughts from phil, john, bfrank, others?
    — 127sixer59
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:02 PM, 09/24/2008
    I don't think who starts is that important. When you have 4, 5 players that can play multiple positions, it gives you more options. I'm more curious to see how Cheeks mix-n-matches.
    — mfecani
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:31 PM, 09/24/2008
    good luck to shavlik.....he showed a lot of potential before the injury.
    — mdriban
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:02 PM, 09/24/2008
    A lot of people (media and fans both) have sort of assumed that Iguodala will be the starting SG and Young will be the starting SF, but after watching the summer league games, I'm not sold on Young being ready to start at SF in the NBA yet. I don't think his ballhandling is where it needs to be yet to go up against some of the really quick and athletic 3s he'd be facing on a regular basis. I'm guessing that Green might up getting the starting nod at SG, at least early on in the season. Can you imagine a second unit of Lou Williams with Ivey or Rush in the backcourt, Young at SF, Evans at PF and Ratliff at C? That would be a strong second unit, probably the strongest we've had in 25 years.
    — JimG
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:07 PM, 09/24/2008
    We asked Stefanski that and he said Iguodala at 2 and Thad at 3 (he's been working on his handle).
    — JONatMVN
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:24 PM, 09/24/2008
    I think Thaddeus is ready. We doubted him last year and he came on and performed. At some point in time they have to make a commitment to him at small forward. That is why they traded Kyle Korver. Thaddeus is a prototypical small forward and it is time to hand him the reins. He has enough talent and upside to handle the position. You are never going to develop young talent is you keep yanking them and cutting their playing time. He has far more upside at small forward than Iguodala. I don't know when people are going to realize that Iguodala can't shoot. He was the first scoring option on the team last year and scored less than 20 points a game. He is no 2 guard in the NBA. He is not a better shooter or scorer than Kareem Rush. I also like Speights to back up Brand. Evans is such a drop off from Brand. He cannot shoot and that is putting it mildly. So you are going to go from a first option to a dud? Speights shows much more than Evans and we need that consistency. The bottom line is there is a new first option in town, Elton Brand. Miller will feed him the ball. Who is going to keep them from backing down and double teaming Brand. I can assure you it won't be Dalembert. So we need someone in the back court who can flat out shoot. The two closest we have are Louis Williams and Kareem Rush.
    — Horlet
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:28 PM, 09/24/2008
    I agree, the 2 needs to be able to shoot consistantly. I hope someone on the team can do that, but I'm not sold on any of them.
    — RichNC
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:28 PM, 09/24/2008
    Iguodala will shine as a 2 guard. The whole point of all of this was that the Sixers were playing out of positon, because they lacked sufficient talent at the front court. Of course Igoudala didn't score as well as he might, playing out of position, against longer and stronger FORWARDS! As a 2 guard, he will be the bigger, stronger player against the opposing team's 2. Against Detroit, that's the difference between being guarded by Tayshaun Prince and Chauncey Billups. Stefanski didn't sign Iggy to that contract to sit on the bench. If you don't like Iggy as a player, you're going to be disappointed. Young has to be able to play the 3 of course, I'm sure he's worked on his handle the entire summer. He's certainly coordinated enough to develop those skills. The biggest question in my mind is, who backs up Brand and Dalembert? Ratliff was brought in as insurance, but the Sixers aren't going to scare anyone with Ratliff in the middle. If Speights has a strong rookie camp, he will earn himself a spot on the bench, and might be the first player off the bench at the 4 and 5 spots. Rush may stir things up, if he can demonstrate the ability to be a solid player at the 2 spot. That would give Cheeks more flexibility with Iguodala. Lou is going to have to get his minutes at the point now, sharing time with Miller. The point position just got a lot easier to play, now that they have a real post-up player. And, Dalembert will be fine as the other big. Brand gets doubled and he lobs the ball to Dalembert for a slam.
    — ricky
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:25 PM, 09/25/2008
    Horlet... you're only looking at one-side of the court. What makes Iguodala and Dalembert good players is their ability to play defense. A line-up of Miller, Rush, Young, Brand and Speights might score a lot of points, but you're going to give up just as many. That's where players like Iguodala, Dalembert, Evans and Ivey help balance this team.
    — BFrank
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:57 PM, 09/25/2008
    The sixers have not had a shooter like Rush that spreads the floor since the Andew Tooney days. Andre Iguodala can play the big guard position the big guard doesn't always shot good but post up smaller guards, remember Sidney Moncreef. Thaddues Young is nothing but a small forward that played out of position lastyear. He runs the floor and plays very hard. I think other small forward will problems with him. I know the power-forward did lastyear. Andre Miller is the point guard the sixers need, he's the Mo Cheeks on this team. Lou Williams will get the time he deserve, he can also play the scoring point guard when needed. Brandon is a bigger stronger Charles Barkley and that's needed. Sam Dalembert will be the Shot blocker Caldwel Jones from the old sixers Everyone else will fall in at their right positions on this team. IF it sounds like I am making references to the old sixers just take a look at this team and you make your own thoughts.
    — Benn


11 comments
About Bob Cooney
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.

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