Randle/Davis > Boozer/Hill

hopandskip · Sixth Man Joined: 12 Oct 2014 Posts: 85

Hill played well last night.

Davis will get his chances to start as the season goes on.

King Randle · Star Player Joined: 21 Jul 2014 Posts: 7313

Davis is a great energy guy off the bench. Leave everything the way it is.

Laker Intervention · Star Player Joined: 21 Jan 2013 Posts: 2201

I love Davis and Randle. But Hill and Boozer played well last night. Boozer has had a string of good games. It's just preseason guys. Although, undersized we have four guys who can bring it in the paint. The other team's bigs are going to get tired, we have the luxury of having a rotation that will be in solid shape.

It's more about defense. Hill needs to be able to hit that shot and be a presence in the paint on defense/rebounding.

Ed Davis needs to be in with Lin or any guard who understands pick n roll/penetration. He also needs to be in if we're facing PGs like Parker, Rose. Boozer's concern is defense. He has actually been playing really well on offense and in a way has the potential to be a steal. It's fair to be skeptic about him making any drastic changes defensively at this stage of his career, but at least he's bought into what Byron wants. Randle has to also get better at defense. If he can hit that shot, great. But I want him to be in more control. He drives like a rookie. He lets his talent create, but I want him to be slightly more methodical.

That being said, playing time will have to do with match ups and who is currently playing well. We're lucky to have four guys.

My question mark right now is with Wes/X/Clarkson. Those three can do so much for us athletically. If they can overachieve until Young gets back, that would be great.

K28 · Franchise Player Joined: 29 Nov 2012 Posts: 10038

I liked the play last night where Hill got hit in the mouth and turned his back to the play. And then Johnson tries to pass it to his butt.

pio2u · Retired Number Joined: 26 Dec 2012 Posts: 54570

Boozer may be weak on defense but occasionally he comes up with something on that end (6 steals in a game earlier this preseason). However he is a good offensive player; he rebounds and every team needs scorers.

since1991 · Sixth Man Joined: 21 Oct 2014 Posts: 85

Boozer/Hill/Wes frontcourt has to be the worst starting frontcourt in NBA

venturalakersfan · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:27 am Post subject:

governator · Retired Number Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Posts: 25075

Actually I think Davis at 5 and Hill at 4 would be best... for now, until I hope Randle will live up to my hype
boozer should lead the second unit with Ronnie price and SwaggyP

yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

rustyray · Sixth Man Joined: 29 Sep 2014 Posts: 31

Lakerpark · Star Player Joined: 09 Nov 2002 Posts: 2117

I actually think Jordan Hill is doing a decent job. He's rebounding, and hitting a good percentage of shots. He's playing ok defense but asking him to defend guys much bigger and stronger than him and to block shots is something he's not physically suited for.

I think the Lakers problems is that they have too many Power Forwards.

Boozer, Hill, Davis, Randle, Kelly and non of them are really complete players....Randle may be the closest to some day being a complete player.

Davis, I heard, is 6'10 and has "hops" so of all those PFs he is best suited to play some center.

Randle is the future.

Kelly seems to be always hurt at least this year (but strained hammys are not major)

Boozer, Hill and Kelly....I do not dislike any of them as they all have pros and cons to their games but it seems like one of them needs to go....

Get a real center and/or a decent Small Forward.

I know, this has all been said before.

Dave20 · Franchise Player Joined: 15 Jun 2013 Posts: 11333

yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

It's still amazing how we went from:

Pau/Bynum/Odom to
Pau/Dwight/Jamison to
Pau/Kaman/Hill to
Hill/Boozer/Davis/Randle.

Yikes.
_________________
From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals

magickobe24 · Starting Rotation Joined: 24 Jul 2014 Posts: 217

Don Draper · Last edited by Don Draper on Sat Oct 25, 2014 5:14 pm; edited 1 time in total

I'm worried that Byron will defer to vets all year despite the fact that the former duo is way better than the latter. Don't get me wrong, Boozer is certainly serviceable but he shouldn't be the starter. And, while Hill is a decent rebounder and offensive threat, Randle already looks way better and Davis has better chemistry with our probable starting PG in Lin.

We know MB and MDA would likely keep Davis/Randle on the bench, but Scott seems to have a slightly more common sense approach to the game than those two.

Will he play the best lineups, or defer to the veterans/guys making the most money?

In my opinion, we should be starting a lineup that looks something like this:

Lin
Kobe
Wes
Randle
Davis

That's a far more balanced lineup than Lin/Kobe/Wes/Boozer/Hill. Lin and Hill have no chemistry, and Hill's defense is terrible (he also sets poor screens). Boozer is ok offensively, but again, no defense, and no chemistry with Lin. That leaves Lin and Kobe as the two creators, but defenses can gameplan for that all day everyday. With Randle, Lin, and Kobe as playmakers, and with the Lin/Davis PnR always available, teams will have a much tougher time defending us. Plus, Randle plays with the kind of physicality I like to see, and Davis defends the rim extremely effectively.

Our bench can be led by Clarkson, Swaggy, Boozer, and Hill. This gives us the best chance to compete with other team's starting lineups, whereas benching guys like Randle and Davis likely puts us in a hole from the very beginning. With Boozer and Swaggy on the bench, we have enough power there to maintain leads against second units, whereas before they'd be tasked with making huge comebacks.

I think the difference between starting Randle/Davis as opposed to Boozer/Hill could mean the difference between breaking into the playoffs and being on the outside looking in. I hope Scott makes the right decision.

al242 · Star Player Joined: 28 Sep 2012 Posts: 3120

ringfinger · Retired Number Joined: 08 Oct 2013 Posts: 29418

Frankly, there are more important considerations than the optimal starting lineup. Manu Ginobili is better than Danny Green.

I hope Randle comes off the bench, until he is bursting at the seams on the verge of a breakout.

I'm indifferent on Hill or Davis. I like Hill much better as a rebounder but I love davis' interior presence.

Don Draper · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 5:00 pm Post subject:

lakerpr · Starting Rotation Joined: 23 Oct 2014 Posts: 104

I wouldn't surprised BS keep all the young/better players in the second unit. He is old school.

Don Draper · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 5:13 pm Post subject:

Damn, thread got merged. Mine was more focused on Byron's coaching but I guess this works.

KeepItRealOrElse · Retired Number Joined: 11 Oct 2012 Posts: 32767

JJack · Rookie Joined: 25 Oct 2014 Posts: 23

Davis/Hill for starter, best 2 post players of the team, you start and finish with your best players.
Booz a better defender than hill but far inferior on rebound, Randle the 2nd best on DReb% and his athleticism and hustle complement booz well on 2nd Unit.