A rotation using Amir to start at power forward, and to back up Tay.

We start Billups, Rip, Tay, Amir, Sheed.

Maxiell spells Amir for the last 6 minutes of the first half.

We start the 2nd quarter (6 minutes) with Stuckey, Afflalo, Amir, Maxiell, Dale Davis.

We end the 2nd quarter with Stuckey, Afflalo, Tay, Dyess, Sheed.

Minutes after one half:

Billups 12. Rip 12. Tay 18. Sheed 18. Amir 12. Afflalo 12. Stuckey 12. Davis 6. Maxiell 12. Dyess 6.

The 2nd half is close to the same, except Dyess plays 6 minutes of the game in place of Sheed to end the 3rd quarter, Billups, Amir, and Rip play the last 6 minutes of the game, and Afflalo plays 3 minutes of small forward in the 4th. (minutes 6 thru 9)

The 2nd half minutes go:

Billups 18, Rip 18, Tay 15, Sheed 12, Amir 18, Afflalo 9, Stuckey 6, Davis 6, Maxiell 12, Dyess 6.

For the game, the minutes go:

Billups 30, Rip 30, Tay 33, Sheed 30, Amir 30, Afflalo 21, Stuckey 18, Davis 12, Maxiell 24, Dyess 12.

Now I will just describe the units:

1st, minutes 1 thru 6: Billups, Rip, Tay, Amir, Sheed.

1st, minutes 7 thru 12: Billups, Rip, Tay, Maxiell, Sheed.

2nd, minutes 1 thru 6: Stuckey, Afflalo, Amir, Maxiell, Davis

2nd, minutes 7 thru 12: Stuckey, Afflalo, Prince, Dyess, Sheed.

3rd, minutes 1 thru 6: Billups, Rip, Tay, Amir, Sheed.

3rd, minutes 7 thru 12: Billups, Rip, Tay, Maxiell, Dyess.

4th, minutes 1 thru 6: Stuckey, Afflalo, Amir, Maxiell, Davis

4th, minutes 7 thru 9: Billups, Rip, Afflalo, Amir, Sheed.

4th, minutes 7 thru 12: Billups, Rip, Tay, Amir, Sheed.

Lee - did we get Dale Davis? I was looking around and could not find anything.

Anyway. My fear would be pilling too much on Amir if he started. He is just getting to the point where he is feeling comfortable out there and is starting to play his game. With the bench unit he can do his thing and not worry about showing up the starting unit. I feel that right now if we started him he would clam up and it would not be the best use of his mins.

I do think that he perhaps should be the 3rd big off the bench in front of Maxiel. Nothing against Maxiel but Amir is proving to be the better player. Its still so early though in Amirs development that confidence is still an issue.

I don't attach much importance to who starts. But Dyess can't play prolonged minutes along side Sheed. No speed to counter the quicker front lines out there today. Dale Davis could start and play the first 6 minutes of each half, with Amir then coming in for most of the rest of each half.

This would only help marginally though. It would do little really for direct help on the perimeter from our bigs. It would mean our middle was protected better though, allowing our perimeter players to play up on their guys a little tighter.

I was thinking about that starting pressure too.

The way that Flip rotated him in with Sheed and Tay in the 2nd was really nice. I think the important thing is that we just get a nice mixture of vets and youth going throughout the interior of the game. Then, Flip can decide on the closers toward the end.

What to do with Ratliff in the mix. I was thinking of something with average mins that can and will of course fluctuate.

Frontcourt Starters: Sheed, Dyess
Reserves in order of PT Amir, Maxiel, Ratliff

Combining the 2 positions PF/C

Sheed for 32 mins
Dyess for 24 mins
That leaves 96-56 = 40 mins left over

Amir for 20 mins
Maxiel for 12 mins
Ratliff for 8 mins.

If Flip ever lossens up his restriction of Amir/Maxiel playing backup SF and decides to bench Hayes then we can get an additional 12 mins of PT for them assuming Tay plays an average of 34 MPG.

All this sounds logical. But we are talking Flip Saunders. It is pretty much a guarantee that he will use change to the roster to worsen the team, not better it.

You giving up?

No, I am not giving up. I like the fans reaction, totally unified for the most part, against Amir not playing in the last game. Maybe their is hope yet. Now if only we can get a few more posters interested in us winning the championship this year vs. apologising for Flip. All the help we can get is appreciated.

Billups, Stuckey.

Rip, Afflalo

Tay, Amir

Sheed, JMAX

Theo, Dyess

Samb and Dixon last two guys dressed.[qoute Lee 365]

=
You know it's going to be the vets Lee.
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Billups, Hunter , [Tay with Amir] Stuck
Rip, Billups, [Tay with Amir] Dixon, Alfalover
Tay, Hayes, anybody but a rookie
Dyess, Sheed, Rattler, Maxi, Amir
Sheed, Rattler, Dyess, Amir
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Amir will have to do something like Tay did in his rookie playoff season in order to explode onto the scene or less than 5 minutes a game if he can't doesn't.

That is a first round exit for sure.