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Message: [QUOTE="IthacaMatt, post: 73312, member: 405"] If Christmas starts, I think you've got to have Dion out there with him instead of Triche. I think Triche is just not the offensive player that Dion is. Everyone who doubts this will be sold by Christmas. But I don't think Dion will start. He's going to have to be happy being a 15 point scorer off the bench this season. Fair is a very good player, and although he may not be the rebounder that Christmas is, and Christmas looks like a real contributor, if we play Triche AND Christmas in the starting lineup, we risk falling behind early in games if Brandon isn't scoring and is feeling out the game. So I think J.B. has to start Fair. We risk too many slow starts on offense otherwise. I think Brandon pairs better with C.J. Fair, and we saw Brandon dogging the defensive boards a few times today when he happened to be paired with Fair. That pair works better together. Another pairing I like is Christmas with Keita. Christmas showed an awareness of posting up on offense, and provides some nice bulk alongside Keita. I like Fair paired with Melo. This would be my starting line up right now, based on what I've seen in these 3 games: C: Melo PF: Fair SF: Joseph SG: Triche PG: Jardine First in depends on who is playing best and worst after 4 to 6 minutes - I like bringing in pairs of guys, with the depth on this team. It takes pressure off younger players, and it doesn't necessarily single out one guy who's coming out. I think that typically, though, if you're going to see a starting lineup with Fair & Joseph at , you're likely to see a sub add rebounding, so I see Christmas for Fair at the first break. First rotation in (15 minutes left in 1st half): Christmas & Waiters for Fair & Triche leaves on the floor: C: Melo PF: Christmas SF: Joseph SG: Waiters PG: Jardine So this would be the time to bring in Dion for that "take charge" scoring threat in the offense. This allows him to settle in with Kris and Scoop on the floor, so he doesn't have to doo too much right away. Sometime around here, you would expect Melo to pick up a second foul. Whenever that happens, Keita comes in. If that hasn't happened yet, next subs, after about 4 more minutes (~ 10 minute point in 1st half): Keita, MCW & Fair for Melo, Scoop & Joseph leaves on the floor: C: Keita PF: Christmas SF: Fair SG: Waiters PG: MCW This allows you to give Kris some rest for his knees early in the first half, after about 8-10 minutes. Dion has been on the floor for a few minutes and settled in, so he takes pressure off MCW and has Fair out on the wing and running lanes. After about 4 more minutes (6 minutes left in half): Jardine, Joseph & Triche back in for Waiters, Fair and MCW If Melo doesn't have 2 fouls, bring him back in, too, to close out the half, or at least play as long as he can until he gets into foul trouble. and you close out the first half with: C: Melo / Keita (depending on Melo's foul situation) PF: Christmas SF: Joseph SG: Triche PG: Jardine Theoretically, the 3 steady guys, and the beefy guy at PF, since players will be getting a little winded toward halftime, and can get worn down. That's how I look at it, anyway. [/QUOTE]

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