Jimmy Smith: Lopez immediately becomes the team's starting center

[Pelicans78]

Any possibility Davis comes off the bench? I know its unlikely, but I have a hard time believing someone as good as Ryan Anderson will be coming off the bench on a rebuilding team. He would start on a lot of teams and his shooting will open the floor for Gordon. We could see Lopez and Anderson starting with Davis and Smith off the bench. Long-term wise, Davis and Anderson will the consensus starters.

[UptownFuz504]

Anderson will be the 6th man. Forget about his salary. Davis is a PF. Stop trying to make him a C because that isn't what he is. You can't compare AD to Garnett and Bosh playing C because he's not as strong as them. Look at how he's getting muscled in the Olympic games. He is awesome in zone D or when he's roaming but that doesn't justify starting him at C just because Anderson makes 8m a year and needs to start. Let him mature at his natural position. Anderson will get a bunch of minutes coming off of the bench and will be on the floor with AD in a lot of game situations. Also, we'll need a scoring spark off of the bench which Anderson will provide. If Lopez, Henry, Aminu, Smitty all come off of the bench, how are we going to score? Rivers cannot be counted on for that at this point in his career. If this team felt that it had no need for a traditional center because traditional positions are a thing of the past, why even trade for Lopez? We could have gotten a pg and gone with a non-traditional style of play where the best athletes are on the court but we didn't which means that the team felt a need for a traditional C. I said all of that to say that Lopez is the starter. Just my 2 cents.

[Pelicans78]

Anderson will be the 6th man. Forget about his salary. Davis is a PF. Stop trying to make him a C because that isn't what he is. You can't compare AD to Garnett and Bosh playing C because he's not as strong as them. Look at how he's getting muscled in the Olympic games. He is awesome in zone D or when he's roaming but that doesn't justify starting him at C just because Anderson makes 8m a year and needs to start. Let him mature at his natural position. Anderson will get a bunch of minutes coming off of the bench and will be on the floor with AD in a lot of game situations. Also, we'll need a scoring spark off of the bench which Anderson will provide. If Lopez, Henry, Aminu, Smitty all come off of the bench, how are we going to score? Rivers cannot be counted on for that at this point in his career. If this team felt that it had no need for a traditional center because traditional positions are a thing of the past, why even trade for Lopez? We could have gotten a pg and gone with a non-traditional style of play where the best athletes are on the court but we didn't which means that the team felt a need for a traditional C. I said all of that to say that Lopez is the starter. Just my 2 cents.

Eventually Davis will be a center when he matures physically. Probably not this season but soon. Bench scoring is overrated. No proven fact that shows teams needs scorers off the bench. Quality minutes and production across the board is more important.

[GeauxPelicans]

Vasquez/Rivers/?????
Gordon/Rivers/Henry
Anderson/Aminu/Henry/Warrick/Miller
Davis/Anderson/Thomas/Warrick
Lopez/Smith/Davis

My (current) prediction

Before anybody says, Anderson can't guard any SF on defense!!! Davis can (for now) and still play help defense which is what he'll be best at until he gains weight. He'll be dominated by most PF until he adds a good amount of weight. Just my opinion of course

[GeauxPelicans]

Eventually Davis will be a center when he matures physically. Probably not this season but soon. Bench scoring is overrated. No proven fact that shows teams needs scorers off the bench. Quality minutes and production across the board is more important.

I agree with this. Garnett played SF early in his career until he gained his weight

[Pelicans78]

Vasquez/Rivers/?????
Gordon/Rivers/Henry
Anderson/Aminu/Henry/Warrick/Miller
Davis/Anderson/Thomas/Warrick
Lopez/Smith/Davis

My (current) prediction

Before anybody says, Anderson can't guard any SF on defense!!! Davis can (for now) and still play help defense which is what he'll be best at until he gains weight. He'll be dominated by most PF until he adds a good amount of weight. Just my opinion of course

I like how you went out on the limb. I guess its my turn.

C - Lopez, Davis, Smith
PF - Anderson, Davis, Smith, Warrick
SF - Aminu, Henry/Miller
SG - Gordon, Henry/Rivers
PG - Vasquez, Rivers

I think Davis will start. However, I think Anderson and Aminu need to be on the floor together. Anderson is a stretch PF while Aminu is the opposite.

[Soundwave]

The best case scenario is having Anderson come off the bench (for Lopez no matter the position he and Davis play) and coming in when we need free throw shooters. I can see him coming in towards the end of the first and staying in most if not all (but definitely there at the end) of the second. Same thing for 3rd and 4th quarters.

With EG, Rivers, and Davis hopefully we will be in the bonus quickly.

In this case, Anderson is not starting but playing just as many or more minutes than anyone.

[djpaul89]

I don't think anyone have a clue what Monty Williams have plans for depth chart. Let's stop pretending like we or anyone else in the local media knows. Hell, I don't even think Monty himself knows at this point.

Agreed. And let's not forget that the Sultan of Speculation himself Jimmy Smith came to this definitive conclusion, just like his conclusion that Tyler Zeller would be our franchise center at #10. Oh wait...

[Topdawg26]

I guess I'm going to give it a shot too! But I'm just going to do starting five and reserve roles:
PG- Vasquez (the game manager)
SG- Gordon (the key scorer)
SF- Aminu (the wing defender)
PF- Davis (defense, shot blocker and second scorer)
C- Lopez (hustle, defense, shot blocker)

Key Reserves:
Anderson F (first big off the bench, and scoring punch that causes match-up problems)
Warrick F (hustleman for defense and energy)
Rivers G (first guard off the bench and scorer off the bench)
Smith F/C (back-up big for shot jumpers and defense)
Henry G/F (back-up wing)

Other Reserves:
Miller F (developmental forward)
Thomas F (back-up big that can come in for small minutes)

[GeauxPelicans]

I like how you went out on the limb. I guess its my turn.

C - Lopez, Davis, Smith
PF - Anderson, Davis, Smith, Warrick
SF - Aminu, Henry/Miller
SG - Gordon, Henry/Rivers
PG - Vasquez, Rivers

I think Davis will start. However, I think Anderson and Aminu need to be on the floor together. Anderson is a stretch PF while Aminu is the opposite.

That's a great point, I've never really thought of Aminu that way but you might be right. That kind of throws my whole big lineup out the window though.

The best case scenario is having Anderson come off the bench (for Lopez no matter the position he and Davis play) and coming in when we need free throw shooters. I can see him coming in towards the end of the first and staying in most if not all (but definitely there at the end) of the second. Same thing for 3rd and 4th quarters.

With EG, Rivers, and Davis hopefully we will be in the bonus quickly.

In this case, Anderson is not starting but playing just as many or more minutes than anyone.

Good post, I agree with this also

[Westbank23]

Marcus Camby is skinny and played center his whole career and has been a great post defender...not because of size but length...so why cant anthony davis....plus how many post dominant centers are in the league..(Andrew Bynum,Marc Gasol, Roy Hibbert, Brook Lopez and Dwight) they're more post dominant pf than that..and I wouldnt want him gaurding Kevin Durant, Melo, Lebron, Iggy, or Rudy gay cause even though he's long I don't believe he'll be capable of keeping up and I rather him down low blocking shots not on the perimeter chasing SF on screens and things of that sort

[Westbank23]

Ryan Anderson may not start but he will get his minutes I think Aminu, Vasquez, and AD23 are the only 3 for sure starters by the beginning of the year..I cant wait to see Aminu in the olympics

[neworleanshoo]

Eventually Davis will be a center when he matures physically. Probably not this season but soon. Bench scoring is overrated. No proven fact that shows teams needs scorers off the bench. Quality minutes and production across the board is more important.

why does he need to be a center? you really think that's where he'll be most suited with some more muscle? i disagree and think he can be much more valuable with his versatility at 4.

[Westbank23]

I just pray that no one expects him to be a kevin durant

[Pelicans78]

why does he need to be a center? you really think that's where he'll be most suited with some more muscle? i disagree and think he can be much more valuable with his versatility at 4.

Not really.

Anyway, his length, athleticism, and skill will make him a nightmare in the paint. Plus, Anderson is a PF and a very good one. He and Davis will complement each other. Anderson will roam around the perimeter and Davis will control the paint.

[Eman5805]

I just pray that no one expects him to be a kevin durant

Why? If they do and they're wrong the world will keep right on spinning, my man.

[AD23forMVP]

There still hasn't been one person come up with a good situation why Anderson should come off the bench or Lopez to start.

[Mr. West]

In the starting lineup, Anderson has slashers (mostly Gordon) to penetrate, draw the D in and kick it out to an open Anderson. Off the bench he has Miller, Smooth and X. I just don't like Anderson coming off the bench, but hey I trust Monty.

[GeauxPelicans]

Ryan Anderson may not start but he will get his minutes I think Aminu, Vasquez, and AD23 are the only 3 for sure starters by the beginning of the year..I cant wait to see Aminu in the olympics

U forgot our best player

[bradael]

Not really.

Anyway, his length, athleticism, and skill will make him a nightmare in the paint. Plus, Anderson is a PF and a very good one. He and Davis will complement each other. Anderson will roam around the perimeter and Davis will control the paint.

Yeah. Davis needs to protect the paint. Many PFs in this league are stretch 4s now. We don't want Davis out on the perimeter a lot leaving the paint to be defended only by someone else.

I keep going back to the Tim Duncan comparison. They keep listing him as a PF, but he's a Center. Boris Diaw is not a center. Neither is Matt Bonner. When we used to play them with Davis West & Tyson Chandler... Tim Duncan would guard Chandler so that he could still protect the paint.

Davis may guard the David Wests and Dirk Nowitzkis of the league his first season or two, but it won't take long for that to change IMO. I think the Hornets are mainly just protecting Davis his first couple of seasons to make sure he develops correctly instead of immediately putting him out there to bang with the 300 pounders.

[ramsters60]

the entire discussion about who should start and who comes off the bench is pretty refreshing....to me it depicts some balance and depth Williams hasn't had the opportunity to work with yet....it will be a test of his matchup skills and either dictating/countering the action as appropriate....who is in the game and when will be an ongoing decision making process for him and we will learn how good he is at it....

[luckyman]

This is the answer. And you are right - people are way to hung up on traditional "positions."

Anderson will guard the opposing Center, with weak side help from Davis, and he'll play PF on offense. Don't make it more complicated than it is people.

Have you ever seen Anderson routinely guard centers in his career?

[luckyman]

Yeah. Davis needs to protect the paint. Many PFs in this league are stretch 4s now. We don't want Davis out on the perimeter a lot leaving the paint to be defended only by someone else.

I keep going back to the Tim Duncan comparison. They keep listing him as a PF, but he's a Center. Boris Diaw is not a center. Neither is Matt Bonner. When we used to play them with Davis West & Tyson Chandler... Tim Duncan would guard Chandler so that he could still protect the paint.

Davis may guard the David Wests and Dirk Nowitzkis of the league his first season or two, but it won't take long for that to change IMO. I think the Hornets are mainly just protecting Davis his first couple of seasons to make sure he develops correctly instead of immediately putting him out there to bang with the 300 pounders.

Duncan has always been a PF. During his career, he has played with Robinson, Rasho Nesterovic, Nazr Mohammed, Fabricio Roberto, Ian Mahinmi, and Tiago Splitter. Lopez fits that profile outside of Robinson and Splitter.

Its only VERY recently and mostly due to injury that he's played a lot of center. Matt Bonner has never played there and neither had Diaw.

I also agree with your last statement, but also think his skill set (Davis) will place him mostly at PF throughout his career, not C.

[AD23forMVP]

Duncan has always been a PF. During his career, he has played with Robinson, Rasho Nesterovic, Nazr Mohammed, Fabricio Roberto, Ian Mahinmi, and Tiago Splitter. Lopez fits that profile outside of Robinson and Splitter.

Its only VERY recently and mostly due to injury that he's played a lot of center. Matt Bonner has never played there and neither had Diaw.

I also agree with your last statement, but also think his skill set will place him mostly at PF throughout his career, not C.

Pop has gone on record saying Duncan has been a center his entire career:

“Do you know who you’re going to start at the five tonight,” ask San Antonio Express-News NBA beat writer Mike Monroe.

“Tim Duncan, like we have for 15 years,” replied Popovich.

[luckyman]

Pop has gone on record saying Duncan has been a center his entire career:

So Duncan was the starting center over David Robinson huh? I'd like to know why the Spurs went after the 5 guys I listed, but then again, you're probably taking that quote out of context...hence, the beat writer having to ask that question in the first place.