VC

How about rather than having Vince start at the 2 or 3 have him start for the Warriors or the Knicks or anybody really.

While I think Magic would probably still dominate during the regular season with Vince at that spot, you do have to take into consideration the playoffs. You admitted that VC wouldn’t be able to handle Pierce or Lebron, and the Magic will more than likely be facing off against those 2 teams in the playoffs. When that happens, VC would be destroyed and so would the Magic’s chances of a championship.

The reason why there should be somebody else at small forward the entire season is because the starting lineup needs to gell as a unit so the Magic can give its best shot in the playoffs. It would be very tough to make a major change that late in the season and expect success. Since we figure VC isn’t up to snuff at the small forward position against our primary competition and the Magic does have other options, it’s best to leave Vince at shooting guard.

I know its been said but really, vc should come off the bench.

Starting 5:
5. Howard (Gortat, Bass)
4. Lewis (Bass, Anderson)
3. Pietrus (Carter, Q-Rich)
2. Reddick (Carter)
1. Nelson (Duhon)

When you need offensive boost sub VC in at 3, or Relieving reddick. If you need to relieve reddick and can’t find offense sub in Q-rich at 3 and VC at 2.

When Howard’s out use bass at 4 and move your offensive players(Q-rich @ 3/VC @ 2) off the bench into the game. You lose howard in the middle so need bass for presence and defense along side gortat but make up for it by create your won shot guys off the bench.

Ideally when Howard was off floor we’d take Meer off too, and if we need the offense I would like to see JJ pull a heinrich and slide over to point as long as his stamina holds out then bring duhon in till Meer is ready.

The non- Howard lineup would like this:

5. Gortat
4. Bass
3. Q-Rich (Lewis acceptable)
2. Carter
1. Reddick (Duhon when Reddick’s face starts getting red)

This way your complete starting 5 besides reddick is getting rest when howard is out and the second team on the floor is viable on both offense and defense and as a unit would probably make the playoffs if they were the starting 5 in Charlotte.

If reddick exhausts from the minutes, leave carter in with the other fresh starting 4 then repeat.

The argument isn’t reddick > carter, its having a starting 5 that can score and defend and a second unit that can score and defend.

Reddick at the point is an experimental thing, but my logic is if Heinrich can do it, why couldn’t reddick do it with carter and q-rich on the wings. The other upside to sliding reddick to the point is that reddick will be tired and you’ll get more use out of carter when the starting unit comes back in and reddick is resting, then it’ll look just like the starting line-up you want, except with a fresher version of carter.

Its not just this player > this player so this player should start. there are other things to consider like if Howard is out you need to shove defense(bass/gortat) and offense into other positions which is why you bring your Q-rich and carter in for the second unit rotation and slide reddick over long enough for his face to get red and bring duhon in till the first unit is ready aside from reddick. All this is assuming reddick can pull it off, if he couldn’t then oh well forget that step and insert duhon and use the same logic.

Point is the starting 5 as I put it can score and Defend well against any starting 5 and the second unit needs to be able to at least score and play “place holder” defense while dwight is out.

The offense the magic uses works better with reddick at the 2 when Howard is in, better shooter to kick out to who makes fewer mistakes. But when howard/meer are out you need someone else to activate the offense and thats where bringing carter off the bench becomes handy. Add gortat and bass down low just to dirty work, not to score though I’m sure they’ll get their bucket off their work and let Q-rich and carter keep the offense pumping fresh off the bench.

It works, think about it.

if only it was worth something ;/