January 30th, 2012 at 9:18 AM ^
HAHAHA!
I no longer consider anything you say valid. Unless we're down 3 with 30 seconds to go and we need shooters in...GRIII isn't playing power forward.
Moving on!
January 30th, 2012 at 12:06 PM ^
And why is that? He is 6'6" and possibly still growing. Novak has played PF extensively for the last few years at 6'3".
He will likely be playing a majority of minutes at the 3, but he is definitely a candidate for some minutes at the 4 as well. He is a thousand times more likely to get minutes at PF than SG.
All depends on how other players develop.
January 29th, 2012 at 7:04 PM ^
I get what you're saying about the distinction in roles between 2 and 3 in Beilein's offense. But if Hardaway and Robinson are clearly our two best wings next year -- as I think is likely to be the case -- then I have a hard time imagining that they won't see significant time on the court together. Robinson will probably get some of his minutes at the 4, but I think there will definitely be times when we go big and put Hardaway/Robinson at the 2/3. I really don't see this as being a problem, either -- I'm sure that Hardaway is going to put a ton of work in on his handle in the offseason, as he's going to have to demonstrate some ability off the bounce if he's got any 1st round draft aspirations in 2013. And not that cross-overs are directly heritable or anything, but his dad is Tim Hardaway.
January 29th, 2012 at 6:48 PM ^
I agree that 5 stars does not mean you should automatically start, but McGary is better than both Horford, Smot, and Morgan, and putting him on the bench just because other people have more experience would be stupid.
January 29th, 2012 at 6:52 PM ^
You definitely cannot make the case he is better than Morgan and Horford's injury makes it unclear of his progress. However, I would definitely prefer McGary to Smotrcyz.
January 29th, 2012 at 7:15 PM ^
With your point but Morgan has really been kind of disappointing...
January 29th, 2012 at 8:47 PM ^
I think most people thought his production would go down without Darius Morris but to me there is an arguable difference between when Morgan is on the court and when he isn't. He may have trouble finishing around the rim but he is a much better option than any one else on the team. Until McGary steps on the court and proves himself I will not pencil him in as a starter (his game film has not blown me away).
January 29th, 2012 at 7:04 PM ^
Basketball is a lot different from football in that it's easier for a freshman to play where as in football sometimes they struggle.
January 29th, 2012 at 7:07 PM ^
Thanks, we got it.
January 29th, 2012 at 7:06 PM ^
My guess is that McGary earns the start, but that JB starts upperclassmen the first game. As soon as McGary proves himself on the floor against live competition, he will start. I am guessing that happens during the first game, and he starts the second one.
That being said, it would be a nice "problem" to have if Morgan, Smot, and Horford all elevate their games to a point where McGary really has to battle for minutes at the 4 or 5.
January 29th, 2012 at 7:51 PM ^
After the play we've gotten out of our 4 and 5 spots this year, that would be amazing.
January 29th, 2012 at 7:52 PM ^
Regardless of lineup combinations, this will be the best team in my lifetime. I'm 17.
January 29th, 2012 at 7:56 PM ^
Burke,Tim Hardaway JR,Glenn Robinson 3?,Evan and Jordan Morgan.
January 29th, 2012 at 8:19 PM ^
MitchMcgary ???
January 29th, 2012 at 8:40 PM ^
Burke | Robinson III | Hardaway Jr. | Morgan | McGary
When that line-up is on the floor, is that our most talented 5 since the Fab 5?
January 29th, 2012 at 9:04 PM ^
I think that is a big thing right now with Morgan-he and D-Mo seemed to be on the same page. Trey has been quite different that D-Mo, much more of an offensive threat and not as much (yet) setting up for Morgan. Though, Trey has been great, no complaints, I just have not been real impressed J. Morgan this year.
January 29th, 2012 at 9:07 PM ^
dictates, but I suspect the norm will be something like this:
1. Burke, Brundidge
2. Stauskis, Vogrich, Brundidge
3. TH Jr., GRIII
4. McGary, Smotrycz
5. Morgan, Horford
January 29th, 2012 at 10:10 PM ^
We just have so many options down low. One option that people haven't been talking about is this small ball line-up:
1- Burke
2- Brundidge/Stauskas/Vog
3- THJ
4- GRIII
5- MM
I think we could see a lot of GRIII at the 4. It's not the line-up that most people want because it's not very tall, but it's a good one. Lots of spacing with GRIII at 4, and lots of talented slashers and shooters=good line-up. Remember, MM can hit the 15 footers, and GRIII can rebound with the best of 'em (36" verticle!!!!).
Yes, this takes Smot, Morgan, and Horford off the court. We're not going to do it all the time. But it is a line-up you could use, especially with Stauskas at the 2 in a 1-3-1. The athleticism would be amazing.
January 29th, 2012 at 11:34 PM ^
January 30th, 2012 at 12:02 AM ^
Beilein seems to like versatility up front, and have Smot able to take it outside with McGary filling the middle. I don't see him playing two down low guys at once a lot. But with a lot of line-up changes based on match-ups, as he does.
January 30th, 2012 at 11:11 AM ^
1.) I think we're all underestimating GRIII's athleticism. (There are links, but I'm just using this as a minute-long break before a midterm so I'll provide them later if you wish).
2.) I will assert that Belein prefers to use a big on the high block (even Morgan stays away from the basket most of the time, setting screens.) This is my counter to your intrinsic assumption that he likes using (only) 1 big down low.
3.) Yes, there will be times where he can go two bigs, but I just don't see it happening unless the highly unlikely case comes where a.) we're not getting the production out of a smaller line-up, and b.) our bigs are all pretty good (MM, Horford, and Morgan playing pretty well).
------------------------------
Conclusion:
1.) GRIII should play 4 for longer streches than people realize. Again, he's athletic enough to get those tough rebounds. He's also going to drastically help spacing (a la having Smot/Novak at 4)
2.) MM should play 4 in a big line-up, but I could see him/Morgan/Horford sharing the 5 duties as we have Smot/GRIII at 4 to increase spacing. Imagine the driving lanes which Burke/Hardaway could use with a slasher/shooter at 4, and a legit 15' shooting threat at the 5.
That is all.
P.S. Let's keep this a reasonable discourse. That crap on the first page was not, and I don't want this to devolve into that.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:54 PM ^
Just not sure I understand it all.
1. How does underestimating Robinson's athleticism have anything to do with where the guy I responded to put Robinson? He's starting, and at a more athletic position, the 3. I can see him playing some 4...and even some 2 if they want to go with a short term tall line-up. But I think his athleticism comes into play more if he's at the 3, where he has the size and can still hang with college 3's. Not saying you're wrong...just not getting how you're applying it.
2. Not sure we're disagreeing. I didn't say he'd never use two big men at once. Just that he prefers stretching the court. But he's gone big before. And thus, only one true big. I think Smot is his kind of second big man. A guy who can go down low, and get rebound, but also pull people out of position by hitting the three. The problem lies when Smot has to be the underneath banger. If he can be an inside-outside guy, everyone will look better. So we're either saying the same thing, or you read what I wrote way too extreme.
3. Wasn't that what I was saying?
Con-1. I wouldn't doubt it, as Beilein likes tall, athletic line-ups. But the question is in those line-ups who's going to be the 3 (or 2 if Hardway plays the 3)? (for extended periods of time)
Con-2. I agree he can play 4, and will when Morgan et al. come in. He's just more athletic than the others. And he's an NBA 4. But in college guys his size play 5 a lot, and with Beilein's smaller, everyone can move the ball and shoot line-ups, he may not be playing true 5, but a college 5 that fits our offense. So again, it almost seems like a post between us was deleted.