SVG: Shard will start immediately after suspension

[magicfan4life05]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/o ... 1341.story

Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said on Thursday --- an off-day for his team --- that he will start suspended forward Rashard Lewis the very game he becomes eligible. There'll be no easing Lewis into the lineup.

Lewis, suspended by the league for the first 10 games of the season for taking a banned supplement, can play on Nov. 16 against the Charlotte Bobcats at home.

"I'm starting him the first game --- for who, I don't know," Van Gundy said. "It's like when we got Rafer (Alston) at midseason last year. When you know a guy is going to be there long term, you don't mess around."

good stuff

Van Gundy said last week he would keep Lewis at power forward instead of moving him to small forward,

ok so who do you guys want to be the 5th starter at SF ??

barnes, pietrus, anderson ??

or slide VC to SF and start redick at the 2 (I personally love this idea)

[DiplomaticMagic]

Matt Barnes!!!!!!! He's a great 5th guy, he'll do the little things with the other 4 all-stars.

[magicfan4life05]

Matt Barnes!!!!!!! He's a great 5th guy, he'll do the little things with the other 4 all-stars.

yeah, I agree good point

[MitchellUK]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/orl-orlando-magic-rashard-lewis-start-110509,0,1331341.story

Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said on Thursday --- an off-day for his team --- that he will start suspended forward Rashard Lewis the very game he becomes eligible. There'll be no easing Lewis into the lineup.

Lewis, suspended by the league for the first 10 games of the season for taking a banned supplement, can play on Nov. 16 against the Charlotte Bobcats at home.

"I'm starting him the first game --- for who, I don't know," Van Gundy said. "It's like when we got Rafer (Alston) at midseason last year. When you know a guy is going to be there long term, you don't mess around."

good stuff

Van Gundy said last week he would keep Lewis at power forward instead of moving him to small forward,

ok so who do you guys want to be the 5th starter at SF ??

barnes, pietrus, anderson ??

or slide VC to SF and start redick at the 2 (I personally love this idea)

Personally I'd like Barnes. He's shown himself to be the kind of "little things" player who would be the perfect glue guy in an offense-heavy lineup of Vince, Dwight, Shard and Meer. Let JJ, Peaches, Bass, Anderson and co. fight for the minutes and get their offense with the second unit.

[MitchellUK]

Matt Barnes!!!!!!! He's a great 5th guy, he'll do the little things with the other 4 all-stars.

Or Diplomatic Magic could just sum up my thoughts in a single sentence while I jabber on

[darthmerrick]

You guys did catch the part in the article were SVG says he's thinking about other lineups with Lewis. As in sometimes Lewis will start at 3, sometimes he'll start at 4.

[MitchellUK]

You guys did catch the part in the article were SVG says he's thinking about other lineups with Lewis. As in sometimes Lewis will start at 3, sometimes he'll start at 4.

He also said he would start him at power forward, right above the "different lineups" part. I'm guessing by different lineups he is trying to decide who will be the regular starter at the three (or two, with Vince sliding to the three).

[DiplomaticMagic]

Matt Barnes!!!!!!! He's a great 5th guy, he'll do the little things with the other 4 all-stars.

Or Diplomatic Magic could just sum up my thoughts in a single sentence while I jabber on

[darthmerrick]

Van Gundy said last week he would keep Lewis at power forward instead of moving him to small forward, where Mickael Pietrus has been starting. He said he has started thinking about Lewis and various lineups

I don't know to me that sounds more like he originally was set to keep him at Power Forward but has since started thinking about Lewis in various lineups. Anderson has impressed since he made that statement about starting Lewis at the four.

[Shishnizzle]

It does sound like he may be rethinking his idea but I think it will be Reshard at the 4. I also think Anderson does a lot of the little things just like Barnes. Specially on offensive rebounds.

[MitchellUK]

Van Gundy said last week he would keep Lewis at power forward instead of moving him to small forward, where Mickael Pietrus has been starting. He said he has started thinking about Lewis and various lineups

I don't know to me that sounds more like he originally was set to keep him at Power Forward but has since started thinking about Lewis in various lineups. Anderson has impressed since he made that statement about starting Lewis at the four.

Good point, you could be spot on with that.

[Shishnizzle]

and while I'm at it. MP has been balling. I like both those players better than Barnes. Not that I dislike Barnes but he has been turning the ball over and he takes some ill advised threes.

[MitchellUK]

It does sound like he may be rethinking his idea but I think it will be Reshard at the 4. I also think Anderson does a lot of the little things just like Barnes. Specially on offensive rebounds.

Barnes is a far better defender, and passer. (I say that, but I've no idea how good at passing Anderson is because I have yet to see him do it). Either way, Barnes is going to get you a few assists, some steals and the odd block. Anderson at the moment is very much a one-way player. I can see him doing what we saw Brian Cook do a few times during his time here - come off the bench and change/increase momentum with some instant offense and dagger three-pointers - except he will be much, much better than Cook.

[MitchellUK]

and while I'm at it. MP has been balling. I like both those players better than Barnes. Not that I dislike Barnes but he has been turning the ball over and he takes some ill advised threes.

You can't really criticise Barnes for taking ill-advised threes and not level the same accusation at Ryno, J-Will or JJ. All of them have been guilty of jacking up the longball with lots of time on the clock. The difference is that for the most part, the latter three have been shooting fairly well, whereas Barnes has started the season a little cold. But you can't have watched the Detroit game and not wanted to throttle Ryan Anderson and his god-awful shot selection (i.e, if he has the ball, he is shooting).

[slamjunkie]

barnes fills the role of glue guy to a T. he will do whatever the other 4 need him to do, whether it be to score, assist or defend. he just spread his skillset so evenly that you just can't help but love the way he plays the game. pretty good signing considering what we're paying him for. that said, shard can concentrate on other facets of the game if it is barnes that's out there to support him at the frontline along with dwight.