Let's Start Ben Gordon!

[fan_of_a_fan]

If we are going to continue to lose like we are, and Hendo is going to continue to show his inconsistencies on the offensive end, all the while easily being the worst defensive team in the league, why not just start BG at shooting guard to raise his trade value to the highest point possible?

BG is currently scoring at a better rate than Joe Johnson, Monta Ellis, Jamal Crawford, and J.R. Smith by averaging 14 points, 2 assist, and 2 rebounds in just 22 minutes per game. He's also sporting a 56% true shooting percentage and 53% in eFG. If we gave him starter minutes he would easily average 20+ points per game, actually 22 points, 4 assist, and 3 rebounds. If we are planning to trade him next season to the highest bidder as an expiring contract, we should at least make the perception of him more appealing. I'm sure we'd have a better chance at getting a 1st round pick or a solid young 10pts/10reb big from a team for him if he wasn't just perceived as a bench player.

What do we have to lose?

[CampNightmare8]

I think Gordon thrives off coming off the bench. We're not making the playoffs anyway.

[fan_of_a_fan]

I think Gordon thrives off coming off the bench. We're not making the playoffs anyway.

Our whole roster would be coming off the bench in a typical NBA setting sans Kemba and MKG. It's a blind fact that Gordon started games the majority of his career with the Bulls.

[kitch0202]

If we're able to extrapolate his 20 minute production into 30 minute production then so to are GMs around the league. Besides his role will be that of a bench scorer for whoever gets him ... so we're actually auditioning him in the role he will be asked to fill.

Hendo starting, Gordon off the bench for points and Taylor for defence (in addition to his SF duties) looks about right to me.

[fan_of_a_fan]

The way I see it is if any of Joe Johnson, Monta Ellis, Jamal Crawford, or J.R. Smith were on our roster, they would be starting. I don't see Hendo as a starting SG in our future, so I wouldn't mind auditioning him for his role in which he is better suited as our backup G/F. The ideal reason for why Gordon wouldn't start for most NBA teams is because he's undersized and a defensive liability. Those problems will exist on our team if he started or not.

[DY_nasty]

The way I see it is if any of Joe Johnson, Monta Ellis, Jamal Crawford, or J.R. Smith were on our roster, they would be starting. I don't see Hendo as a starting SG in our future, so I wouldn't mind auditioning him for his role in which he is better suited as our backup G/F. The ideal reason for why Gordon wouldn't start for most NBA teams is because he's undersized and a defensive liability. Those problems will exist on our team if he started or not.

Ben Gordon isn't consistent though. His numbers are from time to time but he's not consistent and although he's not a huge ballstopper he has a habit of completely unhinging the offensive rhythm of the team he's playing for regardless of whether or not he's putting up points or bricks. He's flourished off the bench for the most part of his career. The Bulls let him go for that reason (and the fact that they're cheap and Detroit is retarded) but he's just not someone you can bank on. Henderson and JT starting are, like someone else said, auditioning for the starting role possibly and while their future's aren't certain on the team by any means, they are much MUCH more likely to be on Cho's mind going forward than Gordon is.

[fan_of_a_fan]

I guess I loss this rant, but I can't help but to think that teams would offer us much more in a trade based on perception if Ben Gordon was averaging 20 points as a starter than 13 points off the bench on the league's worst team.

[DY_nasty]

I guess I loss this rant, but I can't help but to think that teams would offer us much more in a trade based on perception if Ben Gordon was averaging 20 points as a starter than 13 points off the bench on the league's worst team.

Ben Gordon has been around the league long enough and played in such a static way that he's not going to surprise anyone. His contract eclipses his play completely as well. No contender is going to jump up and say "we need BG" because of a hot streak or dozen games of elevated play. No young team is going to give him 30+ minutes per game and a large role because they're trying to build. A team looking to rebuild fast or re-tool will have to consider his expiring though. That's why he's important.

[Plowright]

It doesn't really matter who starts, It all depends who is playing the majority of the minutes anyway

[StakJak]

He is a trick-or-treat player (don't know what you're going to get). Coming off the bench is ideal for that. For you NBA newbs, a 6th man (especially a BG type who can heat up in an instant) can spark an offense on his hot night: its a wrinkle in an offense that can throw off defenses a la his scoring which defenses cannot adapt to as easily if he's coming off the bench ...kind of a curveball.
(see Stak, Crawford, JJ Barrera, N Robinson, Fredette, and Redick...basically score specialists). Taylor is solid ad SG, but Ben can explode..start the solid guy and bench BG the dormant earthquake.

Cannot believe this hasn't been brought up.