ROSTER TALK: Mavs favs for Vogel if no HC job exists. Kyrie handshake deal?

[DanSchwartzgan]

I'd start Wood and just have *gulp* THJ become more a focal point when Luka/Wood sits. 

Not meaning to pick on you as your post was really about a trade more than a call for Wood to start.  But it is at the end of a thread and had the words I wanted to respond to.

As I’ve written, it is obvious to me that Kidd is dubious about Wood’s ability to defend as a solo big.  The change in the substitution pattern in the third quarter of the NO game just reinforced what I’ve been saying.  My point is that it is easy to call for our second best scorer to start, but it is much harder to draw out a rotation that checks all of the necessary boxes,

1. McGee was promised a starting job
2. Wood WILL NOT start as a solo big.  I just don’t see it happening given his career and given how he’s been used here defensively.
3. We need a second ball handler in the game to start
4. We need both Bruise Brothers in the starting lineup to create the defensive dynamic Kidd wants.

IF Wood starts, you have to violate at least one of the above.  So, when people call for Wood to start, I’d love them to finish the sentence…instead of who?  To be clear, I’m not saying Wood will never start.  I just think he will have McGee, Maxi or Powell next to him when he does.  

I think you are wise to think through the impact on the bench, but it goes deeper than THJ.  Each half we have basically four lineups.  Starters (first six minutes of each half), Bench 1 (with Luka to finish the quarter), Bench 2 (with SD starting the 2nd/4th quarters) and Finishers (final six minutes of the half).  Moving Wood to the starting lineup doesn’t change that much for Hardaway.  The challenge I see is how you re-jigger the big rotation depending on who you start alongside Wood.  I know some still cling to the idea of 5 out and Wood as the solo big, but as I’ve said for months, knowing Kidd, I think that is a specialty lineup rather than a starting lineup.