Topic: We wonder who should be the Los Angeles Lakers starting point guard to start the season — Jeremy Lin or Ronnie Price?
Context: The preseason has finally ended and the Lakers are set to open the season on Tuesday, October 28, when they host the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.
The Lakers had some good showings and some bad showings this preseason, and numerous players showed themselves to be solid players who could be major contributors this season. While every other position in the starting lineup has been settled, the point guard position remains a question mark.
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Coming into the season, Steve Nash was the expected starter assuming his health was fine. As everyone now knows, Nash has been ruled out for the entire season leaving the Lakers with only two proven point guards on the roster.
Ronnie Price was originally believed to be a last minute signing simply brought in to fill out the training camp roster. But after Jeremy Lin injured his ankle, Price suddenly became the only point guard left, and played very well in the preseason.
Jeremy Lin struggled with the aforementioned ankle injury, but is recovered and has also played extremely well during the preseason. In particular, he has shown excellent chemistry with some of the second string, most notably Ed Davis.
Ronnie Price hurt his knee in the final preseason game against the Sacramento Kings, but hopes are that it is a minor injury and his availability is unknown right now.
Despite that, with opening night only days away, the question remains: Who should be the starting point guard when the Lakers take the floor against the Houston Rockets?
Verdict: We went to Twitter to ask our loyal followers: Assuming everyone is healthy, who should be the Lakers starting point guard — Jeremy Lin or Ronnie Price? These are some of the responses:
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation Price should start. Lin needs to be on the court with Davis #LNDebate
— Jeff Fernandez (@jeff__af) October 26, 2014
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation I think Price might be more valuable coming off the bench providing a spark w/ Randle, Young, Clarkson #LNDebate
— Michael Gartrell (@TeamMike206) October 26, 2014
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation I really think Lin can help out the second unit.Ronnie should start intill Xavier & Nick come back #LNDEBATE
— Charm (@RealLifeEnt) October 26, 2014
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation #LNDebate Lin, hands down on talent. But Price might match better with Kobe. Both Lin and Kobe need the ball.
— dana douglas (@danaruns) October 26, 2014
Jeremy Lin should start. Far more reliable with the ball and has NBA experience against Elite level talent. #LNDebate @LakersNation
— Denzel Copeland. (@TheyCallMeZEL) October 25, 2014
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation #LNDebate Lin by a long shot
— Matthew Baker (@MMBaker5) October 25, 2014
@TheeCoreyH @LakersNation Lin for sure #LNDebate
— Orkhan (@orkhan24) October 26, 2014
This debate brought out some serious fire in the fans. While there were some who felt that Price should start, the majority of the fans were behind Lin, and extremely serious about it.
I don’t think anyone would argue that Lin is the more talented player of the two, but there are numerous instances of a better player coming off the bench because of chemistry reasons, and they finish games more often then not.
In this instance, I feel like that should be the case, at least while the Lakers are not fully healthy.
I feel that Ronnie Price would be better as the starter and the Lakers would benefit more from Lin coming off the bench. With Kobe being the starter, the ball will be in his hands more often than not. As such, a point guard who is more effective with the ball in his hand is not necessary. Price is a slightly better defender as well and I believe he fits with the starters a little better.
More importantly, in my opinion, is Lin’s fit with the second unit. Those players need a true floor general, and really benefit from Lin being able to get them easy shots. Sacrificing that would be very tough to do. When Nick Young is healthy and Jordan Clarkson gets more comfortable things may change, but with the team as is right now, those playmakers aren’t ready just yet.
In the end, despite Lin being the better player in my opinion, the Lakers would be better if he came off the bench for the time being. More than likely he will still end games for the Lakers, which is the most important thing.
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