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Could Naji end up starting ahead of NAW?
Posted on 8/12/21 at 6:37 am
Posted on 8/12/21 at 6:37 am
Jake Madison teased the idea a little on his show this morning.
The idea has some appeal, in that Naji would be better to put on a team's best offensive threat at the beginning of a game, especially if that guy is a SF or a big guard.
Like, who do you want defending Luka at the beginning of a game? Kawhi? Tatum? LeBron?
I think that I want Naji on those guys, because NAW just doesn't have the size to handle them, and we all know that BI isn't going to do much to slow them down, and those guys are too big for Graham as well.
The idea has some appeal, in that Naji would be better to put on a team's best offensive threat at the beginning of a game, especially if that guy is a SF or a big guard.
Like, who do you want defending Luka at the beginning of a game? Kawhi? Tatum? LeBron?
I think that I want Naji on those guys, because NAW just doesn't have the size to handle them, and we all know that BI isn't going to do much to slow them down, and those guys are too big for Graham as well.
11
Posted on 8/12/21 at 6:44 am to GOP_Tiger
I mean it makes sense since Griff has said a bunch of times that BI is really more of a SG than small forward. It just would make a ton more sense if he could consistently knock down wide open 3s.
Posted on 8/12/21 at 6:49 am to GOP_Tiger
You couldn't hear what the question was so it could be any player, but in the post game presser Willie talked about a player who played well yesterday and said something along the lines of "he's going to play a lot with Zion and Ingram so he's going to pick his spots." Naji makes the most sense as both a player that had a good enough game yesterday that he would say that and as a player that would be good enough to be playing with both Zion/Ingram (implying starters IMO).
This post was edited on 8/12/21 at 6:50 am
Posted on 8/12/21 at 7:14 am to GOP_Tiger
Maybe I’m wrong, but I feel like unless we bring in another player, NAW is going to be starting at one of the guard spots. I guess the other is up in the air, but as it stands I would think it would be Graham.
I think people make too much of Griff’s comments about BI. He’s more referring to skill set, rather than “position”. Positions matter more for defensive role than offensive role anyway.
I think people make too much of Griff’s comments about BI. He’s more referring to skill set, rather than “position”. Positions matter more for defensive role than offensive role anyway.
Posted on 8/12/21 at 7:41 am to GOP_Tiger
I would rather start NAW, Naji, Ingram, Zion, Val, and have Graham as the 6th man.
Let Zion be your creator to start the game, Graham comes in when Zion goes out and runs the bench unit, then close the game with Graham, NAW, Murphy, Ingram, Zion.
There's alot of potential to have some lethal lineups.
Let Zion be your creator to start the game, Graham comes in when Zion goes out and runs the bench unit, then close the game with Graham, NAW, Murphy, Ingram, Zion.
There's alot of potential to have some lethal lineups.
Posted on 8/12/21 at 8:38 am to GOP_Tiger
I can see hun using Naji to set the tone, especially on defense
Our summer league guys possess more intensity and leadership than our star players and high draft picks
Our summer league guys possess more intensity and leadership than our star players and high draft picks
Posted on 8/12/21 at 9:30 am to GOP_Tiger
If NAW can maintain the numbers he put up as a starter last year, then there isn’t much Naji can do. You have to start NAW if he can keep up that level of play
Posted on 8/12/21 at 9:36 am to GOP_Tiger
Naji has looked darn good in two summer league games but I would be cautious with putting too much stock in summer league performances. They are playing against a lot of guys that aren't NBA talent.
With that being said, Naji should be going into training camp with a legit shot to battle it out for a starting spot.
With that being said, Naji should be going into training camp with a legit shot to battle it out for a starting spot.
Posted on 8/12/21 at 10:03 am to GOP_Tiger
I was thinking
NAW, BI, Naji, Zion, Val
Anyway, finishing 5 is way more important than starting 5, which is more of an ego thing
I might even expect 3M3 to have a larger role by the end of the season
NAW, BI, Naji, Zion, Val
Anyway, finishing 5 is way more important than starting 5, which is more of an ego thing
I might even expect 3M3 to have a larger role by the end of the season
This post was edited on 8/12/21 at 10:06 am
Posted on 8/12/21 at 10:07 am to GOP_Tiger
It will be Graham, NAW, BI, Zion and Val starting. Naji will be the 6th man from what I can see unless Hart came back and I have no idea what’s going to happen with him. I’d say the backup forwards will be Naji and Murphy and the guards will be Sato and Kira. Hayes is the backup 5 with Billy barely playing and Temple as the designated bench defensive lockdown / veteran presence guy.
Posted on 8/12/21 at 10:43 am to GOP_Tiger
Again, I wasn't necessarily saying that I think that Naji starting will be an everyday thing, because I think I'd normally prefer NAW to start. I'm the president of the NAW fan club and the guy who said two years ago that Lonzo would be traded by the all-star break and NAW would be the starter -- I was just off by a year and a half. 
But NAW was skinny last year and doesn't look to me like he's gained much muscle. Neither he nor Graham has the strength to guard Luka, Kawhi, LeBron, Tatum, Simmons, and the league's other big primary ballhandlers.
I want Naji on those guys, and I want him to start against them, because he has the strength and quickness to make them work for their points.
So, right now, I'm for starting Naji over NAW situationally, against teams where the primary ballhandler is a big guard or a forward.
I don't think that there's any real question that the other starters right now are Graham, BI, Zion, and Valanciunas.
But NAW was skinny last year and doesn't look to me like he's gained much muscle. Neither he nor Graham has the strength to guard Luka, Kawhi, LeBron, Tatum, Simmons, and the league's other big primary ballhandlers.
I want Naji on those guys, and I want him to start against them, because he has the strength and quickness to make them work for their points.
So, right now, I'm for starting Naji over NAW situationally, against teams where the primary ballhandler is a big guard or a forward.
I don't think that there's any real question that the other starters right now are Graham, BI, Zion, and Valanciunas.
Posted on 8/13/21 at 12:41 pm to GOP_Tiger
Jake clarified today that he thinks that we could have a starting lineup of NAW, BI, Naji, Zion, and Valanciunas.
So, not Naji in place of NAW, as my thread title misleadingly suggested.
So, not Naji in place of NAW, as my thread title misleadingly suggested.
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