Jermaine O'Neal looked really good tonight

[Fafnir]

This Morning Tanguay was on T&R, and he was talking about JO.  Talked about how good he looked but then said he wasn't a starter.  If Nenad is out for an extended period of time, and Shaq can't play more then 20 minutes, arent we going to see a ton of JO if he is able to give it?


Also does anybody know he if is playing tonight?  I question it since it's a back to back.

As far as I know he is supposed to be playing in back to backs or no limitations. Obviously we have to see how he is feeling today but I'm assuming and hoping he plays.

I think as for JO starting he probably won't. He is just coming back so they will bring him slowly and Shaq should be back probably by the time JO would be able to start anyway.

Big Baby will start at Center in the meantime. He replaced Nenad to start the second half after the injury but he also replaced him the game before when he wasn't injured.

I think we will see a lot more of JO but I don't mind Baby starting in the meantime. JO needs to get familiar with the second unit and IMO Baby has been in the system long and enough and has excelled with the first and second unit. He also usually ends the 4th quarters with them so why not start the 1st quarters for now as well

Honestly, I don't see why JO would not start. Doc prefers BBD coming off the bench whenever it's feasible, and at the end of the day, JO starting doesn't mean BBD won't have more minutes then JO and/or not close the game.

I mean, if BBD starts, then fine, but it's been pretty well documented that Doc prefers BBD being off the bench.

Also, BBD would usually start if KG was out, not our starting center, and that's how it probably should remain.

Not starting Jermaine would allow Doc to keep one of KG/Jermaine in the game at all times more fluidly as a rotational matter.

[CelticG1]

This Morning Tanguay was on T&R, and he was talking about JO.  Talked about how good he looked but then said he wasn't a starter.  If Nenad is out for an extended period of time, and Shaq can't play more then 20 minutes, arent we going to see a ton of JO if he is able to give it?


Also does anybody know he if is playing tonight?  I question it since it's a back to back.

As far as I know he is supposed to be playing in back to backs or no limitations. Obviously we have to see how he is feeling today but I'm assuming and hoping he plays.

I think as for JO starting he probably won't. He is just coming back so they will bring him slowly and Shaq should be back probably by the time JO would be able to start anyway.

Big Baby will start at Center in the meantime. He replaced Nenad to start the second half after the injury but he also replaced him the game before when he wasn't injured.

I think we will see a lot more of JO but I don't mind Baby starting in the meantime. JO needs to get familiar with the second unit and IMO Baby has been in the system long and enough and has excelled with the first and second unit. He also usually ends the 4th quarters with them so why not start the 1st quarters for now as well

Honestly, I don't see why JO would not start. Doc prefers BBD coming off the bench whenever it's feasible, and at the end of the day, JO starting doesn't mean BBD won't have more minutes then JO and/or not close the game.

I mean, if BBD starts, then fine, but it's been pretty well documented that Doc prefers BBD being off the bench.

Also, BBD would usually start if KG was out, not our starting center, and that's how it probably should remain.

Another reason could be chemistry to start the games. Throwing a player out there who hasn't played since the beginning of the year could screw things up for them at the start of the game. With Baby I think they are more likely to get off to a good start especially for now and especially since these games still matter right now

[Tai]

This Morning Tanguay was on T&R, and he was talking about JO.  Talked about how good he looked but then said he wasn't a starter.  If Nenad is out for an extended period of time, and Shaq can't play more then 20 minutes, arent we going to see a ton of JO if he is able to give it?


Also does anybody know he if is playing tonight?  I question it since it's a back to back.

As far as I know he is supposed to be playing in back to backs or no limitations. Obviously we have to see how he is feeling today but I'm assuming and hoping he plays.

I think as for JO starting he probably won't. He is just coming back so they will bring him slowly and Shaq should be back probably by the time JO would be able to start anyway.

Big Baby will start at Center in the meantime. He replaced Nenad to start the second half after the injury but he also replaced him the game before when he wasn't injured.

I think we will see a lot more of JO but I don't mind Baby starting in the meantime. JO needs to get familiar with the second unit and IMO Baby has been in the system long and enough and has excelled with the first and second unit. He also usually ends the 4th quarters with them so why not start the 1st quarters for now as well

Honestly, I don't see why JO would not start. Doc prefers BBD coming off the bench whenever it's feasible, and at the end of the day, JO starting doesn't mean BBD won't have more minutes then JO and/or not close the game.

I mean, if BBD starts, then fine, but it's been pretty well documented that Doc prefers BBD being off the bench.

Also, BBD would usually start if KG was out, not our starting center, and that's how it probably should remain.

Another reason could be chemistry to start the games. Throwing a player out there who hasn't played since the beginning of the year could screw things up for them at the start of the game. With Baby I think they are more likely to get off to a good start especially for now and especially since these games still matter right now

How would throwing JO out there "screw things up" when he's already been practicing and has started before? I think in Doc's mind, having BBD starting over having him come off the bench, ESPECIALLY at center, would "screw things up". It sounds to me you're more worried about JO than the team as a whole. If Doc's gonna have JO play, then JO will probably start. At least JO's an actual center.

And Fafnir, I'm not sure having one of KG or JO on the floor at the same time is a big deal, either, considering our only bigs right now are KG, JO, and BBD. Doc could even get creative by going small and having KG play the 5. Either way, having JO starting and BBD coming off the bench doesn't really deter Doc from having KG or JO out there at all times, assuming he really wants to.

[Spilling Green Dye]

I liked what I saw from Jermaine last night.  IMO Davis should only be in the game when he is playing alongside a capable shotblocker:  i.e. Shaq or Jermaine.  But Davis & Shaq together might not be a good fit either.

If things work out well in the health department I hope the playoff minute breakdown is as follows:

-Shaq starts and plays 22 min / game (at Center)
-Jermaine plays 22 min / game (at Center)
-Davis plays 15 min / game (mostly PF but some Center)
-Green plays 18 min / game (mostly SF, but some PF in a small ball lineup)

It will be interesting to see, but I've never been a big fan of Doc's rotations when he's actually had options.  This year he has options.