Should Korver be starting SF?

[ATLscrubLove]

I know it wouldn't be ideal but he may be the best or only option we have. I know he can play the 3 a little bit and it would be better to have Korver there than Smoove, assuming we continue to play Horf at center all year. Like I said its not ideal but we will have a lot of flexibility in the inside outside game with 2 good shooters on the perimeter. Horford SmooveKroverHarrisTeague

[ruhiel]

Korver averaged 8 points last year. I rather give Zaza back his starting spot he was great last season, then add a healthy Horford. No need for Korver to start.

[APE]

Korver averaged 8 points last year. I rather give Zaza back his starting spot he was great last season, then add a healthy Horford. No need for Korver to start.

Agreed. Petro> Out backup centers for the past 4-5 years. (except the great Collins, of course)

[capstone21]

Korver is one deminsional...he brings a special role...3 point shooting...he is an asset for certain situations but would become a detriment if he played extended minutes

[clicklandshopping]

Korver is one deminsional...he brings a special role...3 point shooting...he is an asset for certain situations but would become a detriment if he played extended minutes

I really don't know, but if we have all of these shooters, we have to have one of them in the starting line-up. Either Morrow at the 2 or Korver at the 3. I believe a shooter should be on the floor at all times for spacing. Heck, I would say no to Korver starting! Either we get a starting 3 and put Smoove and 4 and Horford at 5, or put Morrow or Jenkins at 2 and put ZaZa at center.

[Peoriabird]

I know it wouldn't be ideal but he may be the best or only option we have. I know he can play the 3 a little bit and it would be better to have Korver there than Smoove, assuming we continue to play Horf at center all year. Like I said its not ideal but we will have a lot of flexibility in the inside outside game with 2 good shooters on the perimeter. Horford Smoove Krover Harris Teague

Start Zaza! I don't understand why people are proposing anything other than the obvious. Start your best players and then mix and match depending on the matchups

[capstone21]

Start Zaza! I don't understand why people are proposing anything other than the obvious. Start your best players and then mix and match depending on the matchups

The problem is means smith at sf and that is bad too

[DrReality]

Wouldn't want to be in drews shoes making this decision. There is the decision about who starts and the who finishes the game!?

[MaceCase]

Starting doesn't mean play 35 minutes every night. Kyle can play his usual 20 minutes total while giving way to Morrow and yes, Devin too because you better believe we will be deploying 3 guard lineups for stretches.

[clicklandshopping]

Has anyone heard much about Korver? I listened to a podcast with him on ESPN Chicago and he didn't sound very keen on coming here. I think it had more to do with him leaving the Bull though, and he did mention getting more PT with the Hawks. And his wife loved the fact they will be in warm climate. Other than that I haven't heard anything.

Edited August 5, 2012 by clicklandshopping

[ATLscrubLove]

Has anyone heard much about Korver? I listened to a podcast with him on ESPN Chicago and he didn't sound very keen on coming here. I think it had more to do with him leaving the Bull though, and he did mention getting more PT with the Hawks. And his wife loved the fact they will be in warm climate. Other than that I haven't heard anything.

Eh it doesn't really matter what he thinks, he will probably only be here for the one year.

[HalfHawk]

Personally, I want to see both Morrow and Korver in the starting line up. Not because they're the best options, but because they would keep the opposing team's defense honest enough at the start to allow Al and Josh to set up their post game without receiving instant doubles. This also sets up Teague for efficient pick and roll play with Al and Josh, since help defenders would be shooting themselves in the foot by cheating even slightly on Korver/Morrow. Not to mention, a bench tandem of Devin and Lou coming in at the 6-7 minute mark would be ridiculous. Also, as much as love what he brings to the team, I really, really, really, really, really, really don't want to see Josh at the 3.

[Jody23]

Personally, I want to see both Morrow and Korver in the starting line up. Not because they're the best options, but because they would keep the opposing team's defense honest enough at the start to allow Al and Josh to set up their post game without receiving instant doubles. This also sets up Teague for efficient pick and roll play with Al and Josh, since help defenders would be shooting themselves in the foot by cheating even slightly on Korver/Morrow. Not to mention, a bench tandem of Devin and Lou coming in at the 6-7 minute mark would be ridiculous. Also, as much as love what he brings to the team, I really, really, really, really, really, really don't want to see Josh at the 3.

If the Hawks want to establish any kind of post game that will allow them to take advantage of shooters, their gonna have to run some of Smith at 3 and Horf at 4. As the 4 and 5, their post games are pretty weak and aren't going to draw doubles from the defense.

[PSSSHHHRRR87]

I'd rather have Smoove start at SF than give a specialist extended minutes. I believe Pachulia has earned a nod to have the starting gig he has been begging for.C - PachuliaPF - HorfordSF - SmooveSG - MorrowPG - TeagueThat would be my starting lineup. Morrow has the more complete skill set out of the guys we have for the position. Smoove won't be a bad thing a SF. There are really only two match-ups where he would be bad there and that's against LBJ and Carmelo which even against them, he was played decent with JJ2 (now DeShawn or Teague) and Horford's help defense. He shouldn't have a problem against any other team in the league.

[HalfHawk]

I'd rather have Smoove start at SF than give a specialist extended minutes. I believe Pachulia has earned a nod to have the starting gig he has been begging for. C - Pachulia PF - Horford SF - Smoove SG - Morrow PG - Teague That would be my starting lineup. Morrow has the more complete skill set out of the guys we have for the position. Smoove won't be a bad thing a SF. There are really only two match-ups where he would be bad there and that's against LBJ and Carmelo which even against them, he was played decent with JJ2 (now DeShawn or Teague) and Horford's help defense. He shouldn't have a problem against any other team in the league.

I don't understand why you think giving someone the starting position implies receiving extended minutes. I'm simply saying that having both of them on the court at the start of the game is going to create the spacing Josh and Al need to operate. I also don't understand why you're so comfortable with Josh playing the 3.. He's a below-average perimeter defender who could probably get beaten off the dribble by Paul Pierce's fossil-ass, his own perimeter game is nothing to be excited about either, as he has trouble getting around other 4's without dribbling the ball of his damn foot, and his jumper... that jump shot... oh god... the number of jump shots he would let fly at the SF position makes me cringe. And though I agree with you that Zaza has earned himself more minutes, a starting role and/or getting more than 30 minutes a game is out of the question as we now have Petro who despite the criticism, is a serviceable big man. They should be played with either Al/Josh, but not both. And I'm not saying Josh at the 3 is going to kill us in short stints at different points in the game, but we definitely shouldn't consider it as a first option.

[MaceCase]

If the Hawks want to establish any kind of post game that will allow them to take advantage of shooters, their gonna have to run some of Smith at 3 and Horf at 4. As the 4 and 5, their post games are pretty weak and aren't going to draw doubles from the defense.

The irony is that with Al and Josh at the 4 and 3 you therefore have less shooters on the court to actually take advantage of. We've already seen and documented both Al and Josh being able to score 15+ points against 4s and 5s so I'd venture to guess that that efficiency will be maintained if not increased with the benefit of deadeye shooters on the floor allowing them more one on one opportunities. Giving that they are the best passing big men in the league the shooters themselves will benefit greatly but most blatant in all of this is that you've decided to dumb down post play to just them having their back to the basket and getting their Hakeem on. Zilla mentioned the pick and roll and with Ferry mentioning having the ball in the guards hands and going out to acquire penetrating guards, the floor is more open and defenses will have to either gear their coverages to prevent penetration off the PnR and prevent the bigs from rolling to the basket or stay home on the shooters. That's your "double" right there, a soft double or zone. Amar'e has never had a back to the basket game thus why it's taken him up until the age of 30 to finally decide to work with Hakeem yet he's been amongst the most explosive post scoring big men in the NBA. It's all due to pick and roll play/face up game and the Suns and pre Carmelo Knicks offenses have been based upon getting open shots off the attention that he requires. This is what I'm sure Ferry envisions and LD will have to implement, defenses will have to pick their poison between letting our guards score on their own penetration, laying the ball off to rolling bigmen or hitting open shooters. There's a tear in "Joker's" eye.

[Peoriabird]

The only problem is scoring is 1/3 of the major categories in basketball...The others being defense and rebounding which are more important. Zaza proved to be a 12 rpg type center when given the opportunity. Add 10 and 8 from Josh Smith, then you have a good rebounding team instead of a bad one with Korver in the starting line up. And those of you making the argument that Korver is a better defender at the 3 than Josh Smith...Just stop!

[yungsta]

You can switch morrow or korver in the starting SF. Here is the starting line up I prefer. our defense will suck but o well and I really hope jenkins gets some decent mins atleast 20.teagueJenkinsMorrow or korverSmooveAl HorfordWe will run our offense through teague/smoove or maybe al. While always having a couple of elite shooters to keep the floor spaced. Harris and Lou will be the first players off the bench and they will help us maintain our offensive firepower. while smoove/teague/al are on the bench.