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

[Kibner]

After Robinson got old/injured/busted, Duncan was the primary center on defense for the Spurs. He still played PF on offense. :shrug:

[luckyman]

After Robinson got old/injured/busted, Duncan was the primary center on defense for the Spurs. He still played PF on offense. :shrug:

So they put even slower players like Mohammed and Nesterovic (both shared time as the starting C) on the opposing team's PF on defense?

[AD23forMVP]

You're looking far too much into positions.

I'll even say who you are guarding doesn't dictate what your position you're playing.

[Pelicans78]

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.

If Duncan was never drafted by the Spurs, he would have been a center his entire career.

Davis and Anderson are the long-term future in the frontcourt.

[nolaslim213]

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

Why would he have to? He has played with Howard his entire career.

Monty and Demps both said that they think Anderson can do a lot more than he showed in Orlando because his role was somewhat limited. I think he is strong enough to stand his ground against most Centers in the league. With weak side defensive help from AD, he should be fine. There aren't many dominant low-post Center nowadays.

[Pelicans78]

How many quality centers would Anderson and Davis really have to guard? Outside of the obvious two, what else is really out there? An oft-injured Bogut who isn't nearly what he was 2-3 years ago? Gortat who relies on the pick and roll? Tired old Timmy? Who else am I missing?

[nolaslim213]

How many quality centers would Anderson and Davis really have to guard? Outside of the obvious two, what else is really out there? An oft-injured Bogut who isn't nearly what he was 2-3 years ago? Gortat who relies on the pick and roll? Tired old Timmy? Who else am I missing?

Gortat is going to take a big leap backward this year, IMO. Steve Nash made his career, offensively, and he is going to have a lot of trouble now that he is gone. If Marshall is as advertised, that may ease the transition, but he'll never be the same.

And to answer your original question, I can't think of many. Pekovic? He scores, but I haven't watched him play much. I'm inclined to think it is mostly from Rubio setting him up (see Gortat) and putbacks. Tyson Chander is purely defense, so he isn't a worry. Marc Gasol? He isn't much of a deep post threat, as he is more of a high post shooter/facilitator. Not much else off the top of my head.... The league is void of good centers right now - check out the Olympic team.

[Perth_Hornet]

Gortat is going to beast this year IMO.

Why oh why did he waste away in Orlando all those years

Immense talent and my fave non Hornets player.

Hands down most underrated in the league.

[Ryno_33 NOLA]

You're kidding yourself if you think the team is paying Anderson 9 mill a year to be a full time reserve. IMO he starts the majority of games, except perhaps for one's against strong low post scorers such as Howard, Bynum, Marc Gasol (more of a high post player), Roy Hibbert, Al Jefferson, Brook Lopez and Al Horford. These in total only account for 18 regular season games, in which Lopez can potentially start. Barring injury, Ryno should start almost every other game. I've followed his career (being a former magic fan), and he has drastically improved his low post D, to the extent where he should be able to comfortably match up with every other center in the league, and in time, as he further improves, he should be able to guard nearly all of them.

[DroopyDawg]

Why is it such a bad thing to come off the bench? Anderson doesn't have to start... but he'll get "starter" minutes coming off the bench as does Hardin and Manu.

Not sure why this is such a hard concept to understand. He won't start at 4 over AD, and we just traded for our starting center.

NOTHING's wrong with coming off the bench as long as he gets his minutes. Dude is too lethal of a shooter not have him on the floor.

[UptownFuz504]

Why is it such a bad thing to come off the bench? Anderson doesn't have to start... but he'll get "starter" minutes coming off the bench as does Hardin and Manu.

Not sure why this is such a hard concept to understand. He won't start at 4 over AD, and we just traded for our starting center.

NOTHING's wrong with coming off the bench as long as he gets his minutes. Dude is too lethal of a shooter not have him on the floor.

^^^what he said. AD is the PF. Lopez is the starter. If the Hornets didn't need or want a starting center, they would not have gone through all that trouble to get him. Anderson's salary has nothing to do with him starting or not. Anderson is not a SF so he's not our starter there either.

[RaisingTheBar]

I'll even say who you are guarding doesn't dictate what your position you're playing.

smart man!

You're kidding yourself if you think the team is paying Anderson 9 mill a year to be a full time reserve. IMO he starts the majority of games, except perhaps for one's against strong low post scorers such as Howard, Bynum, Marc Gasol (more of a high post player), Roy Hibbert, Al Jefferson, Brook Lopez and Al Horford. These in total only account for 18 regular season games, in which Lopez can potentially start. Barring injury, Ryno should start almost every other game. I've followed his career (being a former magic fan), and he has drastically improved his low post D, to the extent where he should be able to comfortably match up with every other center in the league, and in time, as he further improves, he should be able to guard nearly all of them.

you just dont get it, and its not worth explaining for the 56th time.

[Eman5805]

I mean Thabo Sefalosha starts for OKC, yet Hardin is an Olympian and will get a max contract someday.

People put way too much emphasis on who is standing on the court for tip off or positions.

[AD23forMVP]

I mean Thabo Sefalosha starts for OKC, yet Hardin is an Olympian and will get a max contract someday.

People put way too much emphasis on who is standing on the court for tip off or positions.

It's all about how beneficial it is though.

What is the benefit of bringing Anderson off the bench?

[goat gorilla]

I would not at all be surprised to often see AD, Lopez, and Anderson on the court together. Offensively I see it as AD and Lopez low post and Anderson as our new Peja. Defensively Anderson and Lopez down low with AD as some kind of Zone Hybrid monster who is so unique you really dont know where the hell he is and will block your shot while eating popcorn in the first row if he so chooses.

[BP225]

People put way too much emphasis on who is standing on the court for tip off or positions.

They do, but it's nuts to think that the team will start the game with the best and really only floor spacer on the bench. Anderson is starting not because of his salary but because of what he does on the court. He'd have to be pretty bad on defense to not start.

[RaisingTheBar]

They do, but it's nuts to think that the team will start the game with the best and really only floor spacer on the bench. Anderson is starting not because of his salary but because of what he does on the court. He'd have to be pretty bad on defense to not start.

you admit "they do" but then continue to put too much emphasis on it.

[BP225]

you admit "they do" but then continue to put too much emphasis on it.

The 6th man is often the 3rd or 4th best player on a good team and he doesn't start the game because you often want his scoring punch against the second unit. That is not Anderson's role though. He is not a scorer, he is a floor spacer, he helps make other players better and he relies on other players getting him the ball. He'll probably be most effective opening up the paint for and playing off of Gordon and Davis. Unless Monty wants to start games with a defensively skewed lineup, I just think it'd be a misuse of Anderson to bring him off the bench. If starting doesn't matter then why bother starting Gordon and Davis? Starting matters, it's importance is just overemphasized, or rather the importance of good bench players is often underemphasized.

[Sleeper]

The 6th man is often the 3rd or 4th best player on a good team and he doesn't start the game because you often want his scoring punch against the second unit. That is not Anderson's role though. He is not a scorer, he is a floor spacer, he helps make other players better and he relies on other players getting him the ball. He'll probably be most effective opening up the paint for and playing off of Gordon and Davis. Unless Monty wants to start games with a defensively skewed lineup, I just think it'd be a misuse of Anderson to bring him off the bench. If starting doesn't matter then why bother starting Gordon and Davis? Starting matters, it's importance is just overemphasized, or rather the importance of good bench players is often underemphasized.

Good point. He is more of a decoy who will try and make good perimeter defenses stay one dimensional.

[RaisingTheBar]

The 6th man is often the 3rd or 4th best player on a good team and he doesn't start the game because you often want his scoring punch against the second unit. That is not Anderson's role though. He is not a scorer, he is a floor spacer, he helps make other players better and he relies on other players getting him the ball. He'll probably be most effective opening up the paint for and playing off of Gordon and Davis. Unless Monty wants to start games with a defensively skewed lineup, I just think it'd be a misuse of Anderson to bring him off the bench. If starting doesn't matter then why bother starting Gordon and Davis? Starting matters, it's importance is just overemphasized, or rather the importance of good bench players is often underemphasized.

dude come on. anderson isnt a scorer?

there is no better sg or pf on the team that gordon or davis, thats why that start.

if you get over 30 mins a game, it really doesnt matter if you come off the bench. people need to understand that and stop getting upset that is it a huge possibility that anderson will come off the bench. there is nothing wrong with that, its worked for SA for years.

[luckyman]

They do, but it's nuts to think that the team will start the game with the best and really only floor spacer on the bench. Anderson is starting not because of his salary but because of what he does on the court. He'd have to be pretty bad on defense to not start.

The team's only floor spacer? So they will just leave Gordon all alone to shoot wide open? Is our point guard just going to bring the ball up then twiddle his thumbs?

Yes, Monty would probably like to start with a ”defesively skewed” lineup. That type of lineup can score by forcing turnovers. Anderson comes with the 2nd unit then blends in with starters.

[BP225]

dude come on. anderson isnt a scorer?

A scorer is someone that creates their own shot. Last year 69% of his shots were jumpers, 95% of those were assisted. http://www.82games.com/1112/11ORL12.HTM Those numbers say he was assisted on about 78% of his shots last season. He's not a scorer, he's a floor spacing shooter.

[BP225]

The team's only floor spacer? So they will just leave Gordon all alone to shoot wide open? Is our point guard just going to bring the ball up then twiddle his thumbs?

I expect Gordon will be initiating the offense much of the time. Vasquez only shot 31% from 3 last season so teams will probably leave him open unless he gets hot. Miller looked terrible from 3 in Summer League and so did Rivers, so as the only proven upper 30% or better 3 point shooter that won't be initiating the offense, yes, Anderson is the team's only floor spacer right now.

[Pelicans78]

dude come on. anderson isnt a scorer?

there is no better sg or pf on the team that gordon or davis, thats why that start.

if you get over 30 mins a game, it really doesnt matter if you come off the bench. people need to understand that and stop getting upset that is it a huge possibility that anderson will come off the bench. there is nothing wrong with that, its worked for SA for years.

Anderson doesn't create his own shot. He was brought in as complementary player to Gordon and Davis. He makes those two much better as well since he spreads the floor. He's not a flat out scorer.

Starting Lopez, Davis, and Aminu will make it difficult for Gordon to attack the basket. Too much crowding in the paint. Anderson will open the floor for Gordon. He's not a 6th man type at all. His biggest weapon is bringing frontcourt players to the perimeter.

[BP225]

Starting Lopez, Davis, and Aminu will make it difficult for Gordon to attack the basket. Too much crowding in the paint. Anderson will open the floor for Gordon. He's not a 6th man type at all. His biggest weapon is bringing frontcourt players to the perimeter.

Even though what you said seems sound strategically, I'm pretty sure you're just hung up on labels. Not starting isn't a big deal.