Who starts at Power Forward?

[Huskybass]

Wondering who will start at power forward. The rest of the starting lineup will likely be Adams, Vital, Wilson and Carlton, I am guessing. The "4" seems to be up for grabs with MD, Cobb, Whaley, Yakwe, Polley and KW all in the mix. My guess is Mamadou, but Cobb could surprise us if he gets in great shape. Polley strikes me as way more of a wing. It will be interesting to see this play out.

 

[UconnU]

Polley. My dark horse is KW.

 

[BlueMAB]

Gilbert, Adams, Wilson, Diarra, Carlton

 

[Robertelamin]

I think Diarra as well but yeah, it’s up for grabs.

 

[3rdbass]

Knowing how Hurley likes to go with small lineups I think either we go with 3 guards and either Polley/Diarra/Wilson at PF or if we play with only 2 guards I see Wilson at SF and either of Polley/Diarra at power foward. No way we see Cobb and Carlton together as we would have two big guys with suspect speed. I just don’t see that in the way Hurley likes to play uptempo.

 

[UofCT]

Yakwe

 

[Danzz]

Up for grabs but with Wilson as a scoring threat Hurley may be able to have Diarra in the starting line up over Polley.

 

[the Q]

Whaley should be the guy. But i'm not sure how he's gonna fit with Hurley's system.

I agree with the post above that we'll see alot of Wilson and Polley at the 4.

 

[ARIDE]

honestly, any line up is premature...we have no idea who is in the mix ...besides Jalen and Carlton. Wilson hasn't played a minute yet,Cobb is on the rise,Gilbert ? Anyone could be the 4, ..Chemistry,chemistry,chemistry..defense,defense defense...

 

[Fishy]

I expect that we’ll return to being a normal basketball team where we don’t put little people at positions where other teams play big people.

Diarra will likely start. Yakwe and Whaley should see time behind him.

I don’t see Wilson at 175 pounds or Polley at 185 seeing any significant time at power forward.

 

[imno1]

honestly, any line up is premature...we have no idea who is in the mix ...besides Jalen and Carlton. Wilson hasn't played a minute yet,Cobb is on the rise,Gilbert ? Anyone could be the 4, ..Chemistry,chemistry,chemistry..defense,defense defense...

So who starts at the 4?

 

[Palatine]

Diarra definitely has the inside track. Hurley wants him to be a beast/enforcer on the boards and has said his shot is better than many think.

 

[Candyman]

I would say depends on who shows the most toughness in practice will start the 4. I would bet Diarra. I don't think Wilson will play the 4 much as Hurley has said over and over how thin he is and needs to play tougher. Polley will if he puts on the weight Hurley stated he wanted.

 

[StepbackCity]

Gilbert
JA
CV
Diarra,Yakwe
Carlton

But then again it’ll be interesting since Hurley will play pressure man, and Carlton and Yakwe won’t be able to do that. So only one can be on the floor at a time.

 

[SirHypeAlot]

It should be Diarra, but up to this point Kwintin seems to have the better motor and better rebounding skills. I haven't seen yakwe play, but he's likely in that group. I don't know where Whaley fits on this team. Polley and Sid will rotate at the 3. Carlton seems like the clear cut starter at 5.

 

[the Q]

honestly, any line up is premature...we have no idea who is in the mix ...besides Jalen and Carlton. Wilson hasn't played a minute yet,Cobb is on the rise,Gilbert ? Anyone could be the 4, ..Chemistry,chemistry,chemistry..defense,defense defense...

so.....Whaley?

 

[tcf15]

Based on Hurley's comments at the happy hour, I feel like it's going to be Diarra (or at least, Hurley wants it to be Diarra): "We need Mamadou to be a butt kicker. He needs to become a beast out there and I haven't seen that on film and I was giving him a hard time today about that. You know he's got to be like an enforcer type. He's got to do some of the things that [Kevin Freeman] did in terms of being an undersized guy that's pretty athletic, that's a warrior and he's a little bit better shooter than you think so he may be like an undersized 4 man that if you see him stepping out and making some shots this year don't be surprised. But he's gotta battle and become a rebounder and a tough guy out there."

 

[imno1]

Diarra definitely has the inside track. Hurley wants him to be a beast/enforcer on the boards and has said his shot is better than many think.

Had MD taken any shots outside of 3 ft from the basket last season

 

[Horatio]

Gilbert
JA
CV
Diarra,Yakwe
Carlton

But then again it’ll be interesting since Hurley will play pressure man, and Carlton and Yakwe won’t be able to do that. So only one can be on the floor at a time.

I agree with this except I’m uncertain about Gilbert “ starting “. If he does start that must
Absolutely mean that his shoulder has recovered fully and has a low chance of re-jury.

 

[lange10]

People are severely underestimating Diarra's talent. He'll start every game at the 4 for us.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I think Diarra and Yawke, depending on how much Yawke ends up playing at the 5 spot. Hoping Wilson and Polley see zero minutes at the 4 (and plenty at the 3).

 

[UofCT]

Diarra needs to watch every minute Jeff Adrien played from 2005-2009. If Diarra is even half of what Adrien was than I'll be fired up.

 

[Danzz]

It should be Diarra, but up to this point Kwintin seems to have the better motor and better rebounding skills. I haven't seen yakwe play, but he's likely in that group. I don't know where Whaley fits on this team. Polley and Sid will rotate at the 3. Carlton seems like the clear cut starter at 5.

Kwintin could end up getting spot duty only. The kid plays hard but has trouble staying in front of his man although he does have good rebounding skills and instincts. It is possible he could be coached up because the his greatest asset is desire.

 

[Pudge]

If being consistently over 200 lbs is the criteria ... I am definitely a candidate. Since 1970.

 

[Sphinx]

I think Diarra and Yawke, depending on how much Yawke ends up playing at the 5 spot. Hoping Wilson and Polley see zero minutes at the 4 (and plenty at the 3).

Agree. If you take Hurley's comment that a 10-11 man rotation is possible -- and squeeze every nuance out of his individual player assessments -- then it appears that Whaley and Kwintin are the current odd men out. That leaves Diarra and Yakwe battling for the 4. That said, I think that both Whaley and Kwintin will rise in Hurley's esteem when they begin to show their engines in practice.