CDR vs. Courtney: Who You Got?
by Sebastian Pruiti
Oct 8, 2009 Analysis, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Courtney Lee, Rotation
The Nets line-up is basically all set. You got Devin at the point, Hayes at the SF spot (hopefully this is just temporary until T-Will gains his bearings), Yi at the 4, and Brook at the center spot. That leaves one position up in the air…yup, you guessed it, the SG spot. It seems that the two players battling for this spot are CDR and Courtney Lee. Whoever wins this “competition” will be starting, and whoever doesn’t will most likely be the 6th man. One thing is for sure, these two guys are really battling it out:
“It’s nasty,” Harris said. “Just nasty. From watching, two guys I can point out are Courtney and CDR. That’s going to be a battle all year long. Those guys are really competitive, they do a lot of different things on the court. Obviously, Terrence (Williams) has got a bit of a bulldog in him, too, but that matchup right there … you can see it from playing in pickup. It’s just going to be nasty. That’s good for the competition and guys pushing each other.”
I know that CDR is the fan favorite here (I love him too! Don’t get it twisted), and I might catch a lot of stuff for this, but I really think that he should be coming off of the bench this year.
Just Handing It Over?
A big thing that you have been hearing the past couple weeks (especially with Lee having foot issues), is that if Courtney gets the job, the Nets staff will be handing over the job to him. That is such a joke in my opinion. Courtney “earned his job” by playing fantastic during the playoffs and being a starter on a team that made the NBA finals last year. If anything, CDR would be getting the starting job “handed over to him.” CDR has never proven himself when getting extended minutes during the regular season. I know…I know…he has never been given the opportunity, but clamoring about handing the starting job over to Courtney need to put things into perspective. Courtney Lee has proven a lot more in the NBA than CDR at this point.
Poise Under Pressure
I have said it a couple times in the past, but the poise that Courtney Lee played with last year really impressed me. There were times that I would watch him last year, and I would forget he was a rookie. He was taking (and making big shots) and defending the opposing teams best player. You normally don’t see rookies do that.
On the other hand, CDR still looks a little uneasy on the court and you saw that in the first preseason game. For the record, I am not talking about CDR’s herky-jerky style, I am talking about how timid he looks in the beginning of games (only 4 of 21 points scored in the first quarter last Sunday). I think it is because when he starts, he isn’t just in “score” mode, like he is when he comes off the bench. It takes him a little while to get into the flow of the game. Don’t get me wrong, once he does, he is a scoring machine, but it takes a while to get him going.
Getting Defensive
There is no question about who is the better defender out of these two (C.Lee hands down), but the big question is should you start defense over offense. I say yes. I have always believed that if there is no real drop on the offensive end (sorry Trenton), you should put your best defenders out there to start the game…especially at the SF spot. Let’s say the Nets are playing the Cavs. If Courtney Lee can get all up in LeBron, make him work, and keep him from scoring that is an advantage for the Nets. Maybe LeBron gets tired because of this and he needs to come out a little sooner. Maybe the Nets can end the quarter with the lead because of Courtney Lee’s tough defense and then when CDR gets out there (going against the second stringers), he can help the Nets extend the lead?
Who’s The Better 6th Man?
This is a question that doesn’t get asked a lot, but it is an important one. I honestly think that CDR is the better 6th man out of the group, mainly because of his ability to score in bunches. Plus when he is the 6th man playing with the second unit, he is going to be the go-to scorer (think about it – Alston/T-Will/CDR/Battie/Boone) and because of that we avoid one of the issues we talked about earlier (CDR thinking too much) and that makes CDR a better player. I can honestly say that if CDR starts the season as the 6th man, he is a top 5 candidate for 6th man of the year.
Will CDR Embrace The Role
We don’t know for sure because it hasn’t happened yet, but there hasn’t been any indication (especially with how professionally he handled the whole playing time situation last year) that it would be a problem. As the 6th man position becomes less of a stigma and more of a embraced role (guys like Manu and Jason Terry), I don’t expect stuff like this will be an issue anymore. If CDR gets his minutes (I believe he will) it shouldn’t matter to him where they are coming from.
October 8th, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Ah don’t make me choose!
I agree CDR seems like the energy off the bench that we need, and would prob fit really well with Alston as two fast scorers, since Boone and Williams are less then stellar on the offensive end.
I think Lee will win the starting job but if you asked me which jersey i would want, I go CDR.
October 8th, 2009 at 11:24 AM
yea i agree the first unit doesn’t need extra scoring from cdr, but after watching the 2nd unit against the knicks im convinced that we will desprately need more scoring when devin and brook sit
October 8th, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Jesse – you would hope Frank employs some kind of strategy a la Doc Rivers who always seems to have at least one member of his “big three” on the court at all times. With the way this team is built, Devin and Brook can not sit simultaneously or the offense is doomed.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:49 PM
I think lee is the all around better player. He clearer is the better shooter, probably all around better scorer. and it is the same with defense. But i has to say, CDR is the smarter player. HE takes high percentage shots and he gets to line, putting the bigs in trouble. I thinkg CDR should come off the bence, but should get lots of minutes with LEE of the court at the 3.
October 8th, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Who here thinks Lee is going to make the sophmore game???? I certainly do lol. he and brook is gonna represent the nets.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:09 PM
If CDR comes off the bench he’ll be a top 5 candidate for 6th Man of the Year? Here’s at least 10 that are more likely:
Jason Terry
Manu Ginobili
Ben Gordon/Rip Hamilton (whomever doesn’t start)
Allen Iverson
Lamar Odom
Nate Robinson
Leandro Barbosa
Trevor Ariza/Shane Battier (whomever doesn’t start)
Jamal Crawford
Rudy Fernandez
October 8th, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Thanks for the comment Jay, but I think CDR is more explosive scorer, than the last 5 names you mentioned…I also don’t think AI really has a shot at the award this year (will he really be happy coming off the bench)…boom CDR in the top 5…that is just my opinion though…
October 8th, 2009 at 4:43 PM
Thank you Jay…
I was just scrolling down to post about how there is no chance that CDR is in the top 5 for 6th man. Hes got skills, but theres not even a possibility of that occuring…
October 8th, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Thanks for the comment Kyle, I guess we can agree to disagree here…we will see how things work out by the end of the year…
October 8th, 2009 at 4:48 PM
A.I is starting in memphis…
October 8th, 2009 at 5:30 PM
[...] Howard(notes) on replacement refs, playing with VC and his struggles at the free throw line.PG: Nets Are Scorching. Who should start for the Nets at SG: Chris Douglas-Roberts(notes) or Courtney Lee(notes)?6th: [...]
October 8th, 2009 at 6:18 PM
CDR a more explosive scorer than Barbosa, Robinson and Crawford?? Really??
Ariza/Battier also have that rep going for them as elite stoppers in the league too now remember…
October 8th, 2009 at 6:20 PM
Guess Devin had it all wrong when he said CDR and Lee are “battling it out”. The nerve of Devin to say that there is some equality in skills between the 2 players. Wonder what Devin was thinking? He must not have been on the court with them at all! The way
this article sounds, there is no question that Lee is the better player hands down!! But wait a minute. Devin is an all star point guard on this team. Somehow Devin’s assessment resonates more with me than yours.
“If CDR gets his minutes..it shouldn’t matter where they come from.” You can’t even fake being objective.
I want to see Lee play as a Nets first.
October 8th, 2009 at 6:22 PM
I believe so yes…especially over Barbosa and Robinson (Crawford might be a toss up). And yes Ariza/Battier are much better defenders, but that is the point I made in my post. Defenders are more valuable in the starting line-up then coming off the bench. This makes CDR more valuable then them in terms of being a 6th man…I am not saying CDR is a better player than them, I am saying he fits the 6th man role better
October 8th, 2009 at 6:27 PM
Thanks for the comment Slim…I am not saying that Courtney is a much better player than CDR, I am saying that he fits the starting role better…CDR fits the 6th man role better…that is all I am saying…let me ask you something. Lee playing at a high level on a better team than and in more important games than the Nets means nothing to you?
October 8th, 2009 at 6:45 PM
Response to Pruiti 6/27 pm post:
It means that Lee was afforded a better opportunity to excel as a rookie, i.e., play on a contending team with all star support. I do think Lee maximized the opportunity, but do I think that means he should automatically start as THE NETS 2 guard? No I do not. Not without fair competition. Your article exhaustively supports your preference. I respectfully disagree.
October 8th, 2009 at 6:52 PM
Fair enough. I guess we agree to disagree on this one. Thanks for the comments…oh and I just wanted to say this post doesn’t mean I don’t think CDR is going to play a big role on this team. He is a solid player who I expect to play well this year…wherever it is…
October 8th, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Gotta be Lee. SVG thought enough of the rookie to have him check LeBron AND Kobe. Plus he goes hard to the rim, draws fouls on the other team’s bigs. Gotta be Lee.
October 8th, 2009 at 7:15 PM
im sorry but i think we should all flash back to last year when either vince or devin got hurt…
i seem to remember a certain guard called keyon dooling. i know hes small and isnt a true 2 guard but i mean this is the same team that had jarvis hayes and bobby simmons at PF last year for big stretches. i wouldnt be surprised to see him in the starting rotation again unless theyre playing against a prolific scorer at the off guard position like kobe dwayne or brandon roy. then maybe courtney lee might get the nod.
October 8th, 2009 at 7:21 PM
Dooling is still recovering right now, so who knows…I think he had a career year last year though…I don’t think he can duplicate that performance…
October 8th, 2009 at 7:31 PM
As a magic fan I just want to chime in and say Lee is by far the starter. He did excellent against 95% of the NBA elite that are under 6′10(even against lebron he did pretty good given the strength/height disadvantage). Lets remember Lee is 6′4 so he’s at a disadvantage in height to most elite 2 guards, but he still showed poise and very good judgement(not biting on too many fakes, keeping in front of his man, etc.). The only guy who consistantly lit up CLee and his Leefense was Dwade and I’m sure courtney can get around it eventually, just dwade is so smooth/quick on his pump fakes lee bit almost every time he played against him. Lets also not forget lee is probably one of the fastest players in the NBA, seriously.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:05 AM
My money is on Rasheed Wallace, 6th Man of the Year.
October 9th, 2009 at 12:02 PM
the expectations on Lee are big. I don’t see many SG that are supposed to be the best perimeter defender of their team and second or third option in scroing.
Lee better be in good shape for this challenge. Anyway I doubt that we’ll see the same defender as last year because now his offensive role is way bigger
October 9th, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Lee is going to be the starter. he has to be its the only way you can make sense out of trading Carter for him other than for money purposes. CDR is a good starter and sebastian is right when he says he fits the sixth man role better and Lee fits the starter role better because of his defense he is going to have to play the bulk of the minutes defending the other teams best scorer. i want to know whos our starting SF opening day and does that person eventually change.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:59 AM
I guess coach made the wrong decision not to start Lee against Boston last nite. CDR started, but Lee did get a chance to play. Although CDR didn’t have a great game against Boston, his effort and stats were better than Lee’s in every category. Again, I am not convinced that Lee is a better overall player than CDR and/or deserving of the starter job.
October 13th, 2009 at 9:57 AM
CDR wouldn’t have missed that in-bounds lob, C. Lee did and now he’s a Net.
October 13th, 2009 at 2:35 PM
CDR is indeed THE MAN for the position. He is taller than Lee which was Lee’s weakness in the playoffs.
Lee was abused by taller and heavier 2 guards and SFs… Lee stayed in foul trouble because of lack of size in the latter rounds and his “D” was ineffective against the giant guards in the playoffs. Kobe creamed the guy.
Shout out to J Dubb
October 19th, 2009 at 8:48 PM
CDR LEAD MEMPHIS TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, PEOPLE OVERLOOKED HIM AND THOUGHT ROSE WAS THE REASON AND NOW HE’S BEEN OVERLOOKED AGAIN? THAT JUST MAKES CDR PLAY BETTER WHEN U DOUBT HIM. SO GO AHEAD AND SAY LEE IS BETTER. U HAVE BEEN WARNED. CANT WAIT TIL CDR POSTERLIZE KOBE LIKE HE DID KEVIN LOVE
October 19th, 2009 at 8:53 PM
I am approving this comment even though the capslock indicates you are yelling at me. For the last time, nobody is saying that Courtney Lee is better than CDR, neither of them have played enough to prove anything. I just feel that CDR fits the role of the 6th man better. That is all. There is this negative connotation of coming off the bench, but to me that is just mumbo-jumbo. Seriously, I know it is a cheesy saying, but it isn’t who starts the game but who finishes. Look at Manu and and Ben Gordon, nobody is calling them bad players, they are just better off the bench, the numbers say so. So can everybody stop saying that we think CDR sucks, because that is putting words in our mouths…