Was everyone happy with the line up change?

[Thorn]

Duhon
Hughes
Chandler
Gallo
Lee?

I liked it last night, the match ups seemed to work out for us. Going into it I was concerned David Leee would be exposed. That was not really the case.

I loved taking Jefferies out of the starting line up. I also have been pushing for Chandler to move out of the two spot because I think we all know he is not a two. I would be happy to see him come off the bench too but that is another discussion. I think this approach worked wonders.

Naturally I would worry about Gallo against some of the bigger and stronger PFs in the league but the ones who come to mind demand double teams anyway and Gallo has been aggressively defending, pounding the glass, and looking to block/contest shots.

Like Hughes or not, he is a legitimate ball handling options who can pass and push the ball effectively and he is a true PG which helps us a great deal. His busy hands help in those passing lanes and I think he is going to help us if he can restrict himself from launching threes. I think coach needs to preach stepping in for mid range shots or dribbling in when you have the advantage of two kincks to one defender on one side of the floor. Even wide open threes are not the always the best shot. We need to be smarter about that as a team.

All in all while it is not all the changes I was looking for I think I like the moves over all and I am content to ride them out to see how they end up working out for us.

[Rasho Brezec]

It looked to me like Wilson was having some problems guarding West. But I can't complain as it meant less time for Mr Indiana.

[mrpoetryNmotion]

Yes.

This is a better starting line up than the previous ones. Harrington is so much more better off the bench. I wonder how thats going to work out when Nate comes back? Somebody needs to get traded.

[knicksfan5494]

Makes you kinda wish we took that Nate + Jeffries for that scrub from Sac-town right?

[Galvationknicks]

During the post game show Coach said chandler is the starting 4 and will guard 4s so its


Duhon
Hughes
Gallo
Chandler
Lee

Im ok with that but against some teams it will kill us

[BelieveTheDream]

I still think we really need a PG and to play Darko more.

[4PointPlay]

I still think we really need a PG and to play Darko more.

I agree but Lee/Duhon ran the pick and roll very well late in last night's game.

I think the starting line up last night was great. 4 of the starters are our 4 best 2-way players and our 2 best energy players are now on the bench where they can be controlled a bit more.

[haterade]

I like the line up change, against smaller teams I think the Knicks match up well but against bigger teams with a real Center I think the line should be like so.

Duhon
Hughes
Gallo
Lee
Darko

I really like what I see from Darko on the floor. D'Antoni needs to find ways to get him on the floor more often and be more of a part on offense. I saw that his teammates were trying to get Darko the ball several times and Darko was not paying attention. I hope he understands that with screening and rolling he will get the ball passed to him unlike other teams.

[4PointPlay]

I don't know what games other people have been watching but Darko's looked pretty darn shakie to me in the first 4 games. I'm certainly not yelling "BUST!", but I certainly don't think he's ready for starter minutes. I think he needs a bit more time to adjust to the system. I remember him saying that he was looking forward to playing a "facing the basket" game more but everytime he gets the ball he turns his back at the moment. That to me screams that he's still very much in the Memphis mind state and he looks a bit unsure. Another 10 games or more and I'm sure he'll be more comfortable.

[cshoops]

Chandler doesnt have footwork to guard 2's like Hughes can.

[GalloFan22]

Chandler doesnt have footwork to guard 2's like Hughes can.

yup and hes strong enough to guard a lot of 4s and creates a lot of mismatches on defense.

[Fat Kat]

I don't know what games other people have been watching but Darko's looked pretty darn shakie to me in the first 4 games. I'm certainly not yelling "BUST!", but I certainly don't think he's ready for starter minutes. I think he needs a bit more time to adjust to the system. I remember him saying that he was looking forward to playing a "facing the basket" game more but everytime he gets the ball he turns his back at the moment. That to me screams that he's still very much in the Memphis mind state and he looks a bit unsure. Another 10 games or more and I'm sure he'll be more comfortable.

I agree. Darko should be good to go in a few weeks, but as of now he not ready to start.

[NoLayupRule]

Duhon
Hughes
Chandler
Gallo
Lee?

I liked it last night, the match ups seemed to work out for us. Going into it I was concerned David Leee would be exposed. That was not really the case.

I loved taking Jefferies out of the starting line up. I also have been pushing for Chandler to move out of the two spot because I think we all know he is not a two. I would be happy to see him come off the bench too but that is another discussion. I think this approach worked wonders.

Naturally I would worry about Gallo against some of the bigger and stronger PFs in the league but the ones who come to mind demand double teams anyway and Gallo has been aggressively defending, pounding the glass, and looking to block/contest shots.

Like Hughes or not, he is a legitimate ball handling options who can pass and push the ball effectively and he is a true PG which helps us a great deal. His busy hands help in those passing lanes and I think he is going to help us if he can restrict himself from launching threes. I think coach needs to preach stepping in for mid range shots or dribbling in when you have the advantage of two kincks to one defender on one side of the floor. Even wide open threes are not the always the best shot. We need to be smarter about that as a team.

All in all while it is not all the changes I was looking for I think I like the moves over all and I am content to ride them out to see how they end up working out for us.

Great post!

I agree with most everything you have to say here.

The three point chucking is what gets us out of games and it should only be used when its the best shot. Last night there was a play when Duhon was like 4 feet from the basket and he dished out to the 3point line. NO!

Also this team has a horrific habit of standing at the 3point line and waiting to get a pass. Lee is about the only one who doesnt. Harrington has been driving to the basket a lot these last 2 games and we've had success when he does. Chandler however really needs to stop shooting and get a lot closer. Hes like 10x more effective from 15+ feet than 30 feet

About Jeffries, Im pleased hes trying to contest a lot of shots but hes a liability as well. im more than fine with him coming off the bench.

Gallo however at the 4 is a major defensive liability. Hes not fast enough for the Turkeyglue's or Lewis' or Gerald Wallaces. Hes not strong enough for the Brands and Okafurs and Duncans, etc. He does play hard and Im happy to give him the benefit of the doubt but last night we saw Chandler guarding west a lot! West is smaller so it sorta worked but thats not gonna work most nights. On offense Gallo will be guarded by SFs or SGs since he shoots so much from long range. But he seems more than able to take advantage of this situation. I like Gallo on the floor.

Hughes I think is maybe a game away from a breakdown. He'll start missing those shots and then he'll stop passing and then he'll gamble on D and turn the ball over. Just watch. But we should ride him as long as we can!

[dk7th]

I like the line up change, against smaller teams I think the Knicks match up well but against bigger teams with a real Center I think the line should be like so.

Duhon
Hughes
Gallo
Lee
Darko

I really like what I see from Darko on the floor. D'Antoni needs to find ways to get him on the floor more often and be more of a part on offense. I saw that his teammates were trying to get Darko the ball several times and Darko was not paying attention. I hope he understands that with screening and rolling he will get the ball passed to him unlike other teams.

i think this is sound reasoning. after all your starters should have the basketball skills that allow them to mesh and to gel. this lineup conveys that. players like robinson, harrington, and perhaps both chandler and douglas do not have those requisite basketball skills, primary among which are passing skills and court vision, so they should be coming off the bench where their style of play is fully exploited and not at the expense of cohesiveness.

let the second unit pull a ssol or a golden state style: harrington, douglas, robinson, jeffries, and chandler.

[Capn'O]

Yes. I had assumed Hughes would be our starting 2 coming into the year but he played like such garbage during the preseason... He won't keep this great shooting up but he is the only guy we have that is really suited to start at the 2.

I think ultimately Chandler will/should be the first guy off the bench with Gallo at the 3 and Lee/Darko manning the 4/5. The OP's lineup would be good against smaller teams, though.