Rivers shouldn't start yet. He isn't ready, and Monty and Demps don't want to rush him into this. He'll come off the bench. Vasquez will start. Rivers will absolutely be our 6th man.
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Austin River's placement on the depth chart is predetermined by the teams make up.
Rivers might beat out Vasquez for the starting spot. In that case he will start and not come off the bench as the 6th man.
If he doesn't win the starting position the 2 most likely starting line ups will be:
Vasquez, Gordon, Anderson, Davis, Lopez; or
Vasquez, Gordon, Aminu, Anderson, Davis
(I don't see them giving Anderson all that money to not start.)
In either of those two line ups they will bring in the sixth man after 8 minutes or so. I highly doubt the first person they switch out will be the point guard. Aminu or Lopez will probably be the first person rotated out. Neither of them are likely to be replaced by Austin Rivers.
So because of the situation, I think that Austin will be number 7 off the bench, even if he is number 6 in our hearts.
Rivers shouldn't start yet. He isn't ready, and Monty and Demps don't want to rush him into this. He'll come off the bench. Vasquez will start. Rivers will absolutely be our 6th man.
You have a source or link where Monty said he's not to back that statement up?
Emeka Okafor - Al Jefferson - Carmelo Anthony - Manu Ginobili - Aaron McKie
Joe Smith - James Posey - Mateen Cleaves
If you look at last season. Most of the teams that had a point guard as a 6th man first rotated him in at the 2 and then slid him over to the point once he had time to transition into the offense. I just don't see Eric Gordon being the first starter off the court for the Hornets.
Why can't they bring in Rivers for Aminu and just play 3 guards? Vasquez is 6'6 211 lbs and can easily guard most SFs not named Lebron. I have a feeling we'll see a lot of 3 guard lineups with Anderson and Davis because it will allow us to space the floor with 4 shooters and pick and roll options with anyone handling the ball.
I'm one of the biggest Rivers fans on this board, and I wanted us to draft him months and months before the actual draft happened. That said, he isn't ready to start yet. Vasquez knows the offense, and he has played in the league for a couple of years now. Rivers will get his minutes off the bench, but Monty won't throw him in the fire.
Vasquez would come off the floor, and Rivers would run the point. There isn't a rule that your SG has to be the 1st off the bench.
Ha, a bit, but Rivers deserves the hype, IMO. He has some elite tools/intangibles to work with, but he is playing a different position in the NBA than he played in college, and that transition takes time. He'll have his growing pains this year (and perhaps next year too), but there is little doubt in my mind that he won't become what we hope he will become. I expect big things from him - great attitude/work ethic, and he has a great relationship with Monty - almost father/son.
If Rivers end up as a starter early in the season, there's 2 line of thought that comes to mind: Vasquez is injured or Vasquez regresses as a starter. Rivers has a lot to learn before he is ready to take command of an NBA team as a point guard. From what we've seen of him professionally, there will be at least be transition period before he's ready.
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The title seems as though it is fact, but the entire original post is opinion. Just pure speculation.
Last time I checked Norris Cole didn't win the ROY
Perhaps by mid to late season Rivers could be starting IF he transitions well to the NBA and shows he can set up team mates. Right now I think hes best suited to just be aggressive on offense with the second unit.
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