What an awful game. It was cool to be there, though and sitting so close. Flea actually came and sat in front of us for the end of the game which was pretty awesome. Funny thing I noticed courtside. Whiteside gets a technical for saying "He ****ing hit my hip". Then Deng walks over to him as the Laker player is shooting the FT and asks him what he said. Whiteside told him and Deng gave him a look of disappointment and I could have sworn said, "Go apologize." Deng may not be having a great year, but I like what he brings to this team.
I'm guessing it's cause he's still fouling a bit too much, outside of that I can't see why you wouldn't play him as much as possible, kids got the goods.
Why are people so hung up on this? It's not the starting position that matters, it's the total amount of minutes played in the game that matters. He played 21 minutes last night, 28 against the Clippers. That's pretty good for a guy who was in the D-league 2 months ago. I'll take this kind of production over 21 minute stretches every single time.
It matters because we need to get off to better starts than we have so far in games. I hate starting off and being in a hole that we have to dig out of. We're not built like that right now. Start Whiteside, give us a more competitive start to games, and try to maintain leads.
This. It's the turd quarter for a reason. The Heat start games just fine. They start second halves terribly. That's where Whiteside needs to come in, and where the point guard play has to improve. And then Whiteside picks up 2 fouls and is out for most of the first quarter. Not effective use of him.
SO..Hassan Olajuwon finishes with 15 pts. on 7-9...9 Rebs. with 5 blocks. Ok...he might not be as good as Bill Russell...but not to get carried away....he is already a top 5 center of all-time. Hall of Fame awaits.
Considering we're not in the running for a title right now, I say start him and let him learn the ropes. He'll only get better with more playing time and experience. I remember Alonzo Mourning would routinely get into foul trouble his first few years in Charlotte and Miami. You gotra take your lumps but the payoff will be worth it IMO.
Highly, highly disagree with this line of logic. That's not the standard by which you start your lineups in January.
The East is weak as hell but we're not championship material right now. I want to see what we have in guys with upside. No better time than now. Would you rather wait til after the All-Star break?
I would rather not throw in the towel at all. Pat Riley teams don't say "Better luck next year". You recall 2008 and 2009, right? This organization is not in the "let's see what we have for next year" frame of mind that you're in.
Not at all. What do the Heat have to trade? Why would Riley endanger his 2016 plan? The current roster basically expires after the 2015 season, except for Bosh. Riley did the same thing in the lead up for 2010. This is why I asked you if you remember the 2008 and 2009 seasons. They still tried to win in those seasons, they just didn't try to endanger their future plans to win RIGHT THEN.
You got any juicy tidbits for me about my Knicks? The only things Ive found are Knicks trying to trade Calderon and Barfnani. And there is a POSSIBILITY of them buying out Amare.
I don't think Riley would ever intentionally tank but I also don't think he would make moves to contend right now if he wants to wait til 2016.
This is still a world of difference from the towel-throwing you're advocating for. The Heat need better PG play and consistent health from the starting lineup to make noise in the playoffs. It's not like this team is the Kings.
The only things I have heard are the same things I have repeated before. Phil Jackson is not "in" on the Superstar Super Splash in FA. It's Marc Gasol, LA, Horford...guys like that. In fact..make a list of PF's/C's that can shoot from the elbow and those guys will be targets. I would say that the Knicks are OUT on any of the point guards that shake loose in FA in 15' and 16'. Phil is gonna push this Triangle thing till the wheels come off.
You actually think Aldridge or Gasol leave? I'd be stunned if either left. I think NYK pursue younger, Greg Monroe before Gasol. I figured PGs were out since he looks for Fisher/BJ Armstrong types at PG. Horrors could be interesting
Be honest... Who do you guys honestly think we will land in 2016? Dont say Durant... Because thats not happening.
Possible the Knicks move Calderon and land Kawhi Leonard (RFA) and Monroe? Draft Okafor/Towns? Worry about PG later? Or am I dreaming?
Noah. I can definitely see that happening. He and Bosh compliment each other. Chicago will still have Roses bloated deal and an aging Pau Gasol. Can't see the allure to staying.
You're saying two entirely different things. Either the point of starting Whiteside is to use a non-contending season to let the young guys play, which is what you advocated for first, or the point of starting Whiteside is to improve chances of contention, of which I think the reasoning is ridiculous and is contradictory to what you originally stated. So which is it? Do you want to start Whiteside because you want him to get more time (and please explain how starting would do that), or do you want him to start because you think it turns a non-contender into a contender (please explain why)?
I'm sure this is played by pretty much every team that faces the Warriors. I'm really just scratching it off the list. [video=youtube;NwwY9y6O3hw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwwY9y6O3hw[/video]
All I'm saying is I don't see no downside to starting him whether we're contenders or not. We don't have much to lose.
