Who’s Going to Win the Position Battle: Shooting Guards
Gordon vs. Hughes in the Chi?Yesterday, we fast-forwarded to October to forecast the impending training camp showdowns across the League. We started with the point guards, arguably the foundation of the squad. Today, we’re examining what’s going on at the shooting guard spot from coast to coast.
Who do you think is going to win the job with each one of these battles?
* Chicago: Ben Gordon vs. Larry Hughes
* Cleveland: Sasha Pavlovic vs. Wally Szczerbiak vs. Daniel Gibson (does he count as a two?)
* Orlando: Keith Bogans vs. Mickael Pietrus vs. Courtney Lee vs. J.J. Redick
* Washington: DeShawn Stevenson vs. Nick Young (we’re calling Gil a one)
* Utah: Morris Almond vs. Ronnie Brewer vs. Kyle Korver
* Minnesota: Mike Miller vs. Rashad McCants vs. Rodney Carney
* New Orleans: Jannero Pargo vs. Morris Peterson vs. Bonzi Wells (he’s probably gone) vs. James Posey - news out of the Bayou is that Posey is the early choice for the sixth man
* Memphis: O.J. Mayo vs. Greg Buckner
* Dallas: Jason Terry vs. Jerry Stackhouse vs. Eddie Jones vs. Shan Foster vs. Antoine Wright
* Phoenix: Leandro Barbosa vs. Raja Bell vs. Gordon Giricek vs. D.J. Strawberry
* LA Clippers: Eric Gordon vs. Cuttino Mobley vs. Quinton Ross vs. Kelenna Azubuike (if he officially comes)
* Philadelphia: Willie Green vs. Louis Williams
July 24th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Ross says:
in Pheonix, it wont be Giricek or Strawberry.
July 24th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Promoman says:
J.J.’s on the way out in Orlando by the look of things
July 24th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
shake&bake says:
I think Gordon is going to stay in the 6th man role cause Hughes probably isn’t willing to come off the bench.
July 24th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Bond says:
I think Pietrus will start for Orlando at the 2.
July 24th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
JoV says:
I’d start Mayo over Buckner. Conley and Mayo can be a good tandem for years to come.
Nick Young still needs to develop, he can be the sparkplug off the bench along with Blatche (if he does not start)
July 24th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
NobleMike says:
J.J. actually might get burn? I doubt it. The one game I saw in Seattle he was on the floor for 3 mins. Result: 3 fouls, 4 points. Too bad, I think he would be a good player if he got burn. I would take him over Wally World in Cleveland. Imagine LeBron kicking out to Boobie and or J.J.?
July 24th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Amar says:
don’t forget about Ceejay Miles!
July 24th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Celts Fan says:
Darkhorse in Phx: Matt Barnes? I’d start him over those other guys other than maybe Raja.
Minn: Mike Miller, no question
Memphis: O.J. Mayo vs. Greg Buckner. That’s a joke, right?
Chicago: Any reason you can’t start Rose and Hinrich? Larry Hughes sucks and BG is best as a 6th man. Hinrich’s a hell of a defender/shooter, so he could compliment Rose well, and if he plays like he did last year you can trade/bench him (I don’t see that happening again personally. Any team that can get him cheap this summer absolutely should while they can. Think AK47 a few years ago.)
July 24th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Justice says:
THERE’S NO RACE IN MEMPHIS,HAS BUCKNER EVER STARTED?
PAVLOVIC HAS TO START CAUSE HE IF THE BEST DEFENDER(WOW) THEY NEED HELP SERIOUSLY,WALLY IS TOO SLOW,BOOBIE TOO SMALL
I THINK U ALSO START MCCANTS AND MILLER 2,3, UNLESS BASSY LOOKS LIKE HE DID THE END OF LAST YEAR IN CAMP THEN U GO BASSY,FOYE,MILLER..AND JUST OUT RUN EVERYBODY AND PLAY ZONE
July 24th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Kobeef says:
* Chicago: Larry Hughes - Ben never has and never will start - and might not even be with the team.
* Cleveland: Lebron? ugh
* Orlando: Pietrus - and it will be by a big margin.
* Washington: DeShawn Stevenson -Mister 50!!
* Dallas: wow. They need a new 2 guard. Is Eddie still in the NBA?
* LA Clippers: Probably Cuttino but he sucks. Which sucks for Baron. They need a better player here.
* Philadelphia: Id’ say Iggy for that one actually because Thad Young is going to push him to the 2.
July 24th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Kobeef says:
How is it possible that all of these teams have garbage at the 2 yet JR Smith is not getting a contract?
July 24th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Cause nobody wants JR to poison there team, especially if they are young w good chemistry.
Mike Miller is a no brainer.
Pietrus is gonna start I guess Larry Hughes since he makes so much damn $
OJ will start of course
Raja and Barbosa will split time
And Cutino will start but Gordon will take over at some point
July 24th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
doc says:
Chicago-Hughes because Ben is a 6th man.Cleveland-Sasha just because the comp is weak.Orlando-Pietrus just better than the others and Lee a rookie.Washington-I didnt see Deshawn do something to lose that job.Dallas-Jet been holding it down why stop now.LAC-Eric Gordon.Philly-Iggy gonna play the 2 with Lou Will the 1rst man off the pine.Royal Ivey just took Willie Green spot.
July 24th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
doc says:
Oh and T-Wolves Foye should be the 2.
July 24th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
doc says:
Suns Raja with Barbosa coming in and Im not even answering that Memphis one.
July 24th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Kevin says:
Putting Dallas on that list is ridiculous.
July 24th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Smooth says:
* Chicago: Larry Hughes
* Cleveland: Wally Szczerbiak
* Orlando: Mickael Pietrus
* Washington: DeShawn Stevenson
* Utah: Ronnie Brewer
* Minnesota: Mike Miller
* New Orleans: James Posey
* Memphis: O.J. Mayo
* Dallas: Jason Terry
* Phoenix: raja bell
* LA Clippers: Cuttino Mobley
* Philadelphia: Louis Williams
July 24th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
nowwhatyo says:
McCants at the 2 and Miller at the 3… that should open things up for Big Al down low
July 24th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
the mamba says:
Chicago _ thabo will start. Gordon the 6th man, and hughes will get traded or waived.
Cleveland _ should start lebron at pg and gibson at sg. But it won’t happen
Orlando _ pietrus by far
Washington _ deshawn
Utah _ brewer, kover 6th man
Almond has a lot talent but he’s not ready yet
Minnesota _ mccants at the 2, mike miller starts at the 3
New orleans _ posey will start and will gaurd the other teams best perimeter play since peja has a snowballs chance in hell of locking someone up. Plus they will find mo pete more useful as an offensive sparg plug off the bench to spell posey or peja.
Memphis _ OJ, the glove fits
Dallas _ terry
Phoenix _ bell should start and barbosa will get more minutes and be in during crunch time
Clips _ kelenna should start. Gordon the 6th man. And cuttino should be send packing along w/ camby for a decent pf
Philly _ lou
July 24th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
jace says:
* Chicago: Ben Gordon vs. Larry Hughes is a toss up. dont really kno del negro’s style. but im thinkin one of them is gon be traded or not signed.
* Cleveland: sasha cuz wally sucks. i wouldnt consider boobie a 2guard. he wont start but he’ll get time at the 2.
* Orlando: i heard jj is on his way out. keith bogans has never impressed me. im gonna go with pietrus. they need some defense in that starting lineup.. plus he can hit the 3 almost as good as the rest. he’ll fit in. courtney lee will get the job next year.
* Washington: probably deshawn. nick young is pretty good.. but hes most likely comin off the bench.
* Utah: ronnie. ronnie. kyle cant guard anyone. and the 2 spot is where he’ll get shaken the most. morris will play a better role this year tho.
* Minnesota: most likely mike miller. rashad is still too inconsistent. rodney will probably play the 3 more often.
* New Orleans: bonzi SHOULD play this spot if he gets back to old form. buttt they’ll prolly stick with mo’pete. james posey will prolly play the spot sometimes.
* Memphis: O.J. Mayo. period.
* Dallas: jason terry. he was never meant to play the 1 anyway.
* Phoenix: this ones a tossup between barbosa and bell. probably bell to start but barbosa to play more time.
* LA Clippers: i say give it to eric gordon right away. hes got potential to be better than the other players in his spot. and clippers need some excitement anyway.
* Philadelphia: willie green is only a first half player. give it to louis williams. and make sure hes in the gym all summer workin on his D.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
AB_40 says:
Chi: Gordon. Cle: Pavlovic. Orl: Mike Pietrus. Wsh: Deshawn Stevenson. Uth: Ronnie Brewer. Min: Mike Miller. NO: Mo Pete. Mem: OJ Mayo. Dal: Jason Terry. Pho: Raja Bell. Clips: Mobley at the beginning of the season till eric gordon takes over. Phi: Louis Williams if Andre Miller isn’t injured if so green starts at the 2.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Chaos says:
Chi-Town: Larry Hughes (Ben Gordon is a better scorer off the bench and Hughes can play D)
Cleveland: Sasha Pavlovic(he plays the best D and Wally is better 3 possibly coming off the bench. Boobie can either play the 1 or the 2)
Orlando: Keith Bogans (for now. Pietrus eventually and Lee within the next two years. JJ needs to go to a team that needs a shooter because the Magic already launches enough threes as is)
Washington: Deshawn Stevenson (Nick hasnt done enough to get the starting nod next year)
Utah: Ronnie Brewer (the most athletic and best defender out the three. Morris almond hasnt proven anything yet and korver will proll be a 6th man and shooter off the bench. isnt almond a shooter too)
Minny: Mike Miller (this one is very close, but miller has more experience but could be pushed by either one. seriously anyone of these guys could start and are all really good scorers. dont think it matters here)
Memphis: OJ Mayo (why is this even a discussion???)
N.O.: Mo Pete (Bonzi is gone eventually, Posey will be the 6th man, Pargo will be the 7th man…only way this changes is if they decide to run Julian Wright at the 2)
Dallas: Stack (close one between Stack and Jet seeing as though both are better coming off and can be played on the court at the same time. Wright = D-League, Jones = Retirement and Shan will have splinters in his ass fromhe bench)
Pheonix: Raja Bell (cuz we all wanna see Kobe carve him up on the regular even tho he is a good defender and shooter. Leandro is better at back up and DJ Strawberry could wind up logging a ton of minutes. Giricek to Euroleague)
July 24th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
AG says:
Wow…
All the teams listed had a bunch of rejects fighting it out.
July 24th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
K Dizzle says:
OJ vs. Buckner? LMAO
How about Kobe vs Vujacic?
or Wade vs Dorell Wright?
Joe Johnson vs Salim?
that is all
July 25th, 2008 at 1:46 am
Lady Luck says:
Cleveland still needs to shop around. If they can somehow get JR Smith. Or Ben Gordan. Or Artest. Or Jamal Crawford. or Mike Redd…that would be a great addition to the team. Sasha is not a starter, neither is Gibson and Wally shouldn’t even be in the discussion.
Larry will start in chicago esp. if they trade Gordan.
Pietrus in Orlando
Stevenson for the Wiz
Brewer - Jazz
Miller-Minny
Posey - N.O.
Mayo - Griz - I think they need a bigger vet starting here.
Terry - Mavs - should consider making a move here. Kidd and Terry as your backcourt, I just don’t see it. Terry should come off the bench. So should Stackhouse.
Bell - Suns
Gordan - Clips - another veteran needed here. Cuttino is TOO veteran for this position though. He needs to be traded.
Williams - Philly
July 25th, 2008 at 2:37 am
Jay says:
LOL @ the Grizzlies’ SG “battle”
July 25th, 2008 at 4:17 am
karan says:
* Chicago: Larry Hughes
* Cleveland: Daniel Gibson
* Orlando: Mickael Pietrus
* Washington: DeShawn Stevenson
* Utah: Ronnie Brewer
* Minnesota: Mike Miller
* New Orleans:Morris Peterson
* Memphis: O.J. Mayo
* Dallas: Jason Terry
* Phoenix: Raja Bell
* LA Clippers: Cuttino Mobley
* Philadelphia: Louis Williams