UPDATE: Russell Westbrook / Kendrick Nunn / Rajon Rondo Malik Monk / Wayne Ellington / Talen Horton Tucker Lebron James / Kent Bazemore Anthony Davis / Carmelo Anthony / Trevor Ariza Dwight Howard / DeAndre Jordan 13/15 Add Ennis and then Kevin Love when he's bought out. Love plays that Markieff Morris role from that championship team. With Marc gone I like starting Monk instead of Duke for the athleticism. Thats a line up that'll run.
Pretty good depth chart, except we are not paying THT 10million per to bury him at the end of the bench.
@TIME, where do you see him getting most of his minutes? I think the backup 2 has the most potential if he can develop defensively.
Vogel for sure has a problem on his hands. It's not going to be easy to find time for Ellington, Nunn, Monk, THT and Rondo. I would imagine that THT will get backup time at the 2 and some small ball minutes at the three. But, I think the contract is an indicator of the value they place on his potential. The only way that potential is realized is in giving him more than garbage minutes. If I was the coach I would make THT the 6th man. Get him a minimum of 24 minutes every night and let Monk, Ellington and Nunn earn the rest.
SG is up for grabs... I could see Monk starting when I initially thought of Horton-Tucker. Keep an eye out on Bazemore who is committed to playing defense as he said. Horton-Tucker should be paired with Nunn as those two have chemistry knowing each other all their lives. Starting center? Davis to open up driving lanes for James and Westbrook. Howard should get healthy minutes as the first big off the bench. Jordan is here for insurance.
Im really interested in how this is gonna pan out. I'm really wondering what the 2nd unit is gonna look like. I've said it multiple times already but I think Russ gets a lot of minutes on that unit so there's no offensive drop off when LeBron exits the floor. If Monk gets the starting nod I'll be shocked and happy. That dude is crazy athletic and has a sweet stroke. Defensively in this system he can improve immensely with his athleticism. Imagine all the lobs and easy buckets he can get slashing on the starting unit because he'll probably be the guy they double off of the most if he's in the starting lineup. AD is gonna have a huge season this year as well I can just feel it. He plays so much better with guys who can create their own offense so he doesn't get doubled. I don't like him in one on one situations trying to create on his own and he shouldn't have to do much of that this year. Is LeBron gonna relinquish ball handling duties while Brodie is on the court? At this stage of his career I really think that could be beneficial because he's so good anywhere and also wear and tear. How do you defend us? Just glad I'm not Vogel, so many decisions so little time
I’m still skeptical of two things: 1) AD will be a starting 5. (No need to debate. We can do that in the AD thread) 1) Russ as starting PG. Some games, of course. But I still think he’ll be needed to lead the 2nd unit.
You think RW is coming off the bench? I mean, I can see him being responsible for the load of the second unit, but he will be starting every game.
Yeah, I should have emphasized he’d be needed on the 2nd unit. I want him starting, and he should be. But I think he may be needed with the 2nd for a lot of games. But man, just think about the other team. ‘Cool, Bron’s off.’ Then, ‘Damn, here’s Westbrook.’ They’re never gonna get a break, lol.
That SG starting spot is going to be interesting - it'll be about fit. We'll place emphasis on who shoots the best followed by who plays the best defence. Based on that: Ellington - shoots the best Monk - shoots well, is athletic and can be a creator Bazemore - shoots ok, has size and wants to defend THT - doesn't shoot great, but can create and attack the basket I think Bazemore has a good shot to win the starting spot, followed by a toss up between Ellington/Monk. I can't see THT starting at SG. Truthfully our team seems to fit better with Lebron at the 4 and 5. Russell Westbrook / Kendrick Nunn / Rajon Rondo Wayne Ellington / Malik Monk Kent Bazemore / Talen Horton Tucker / Trevor Ariza Lebron James / Carmelo Anthony Anthony Davis / Dwight Howard / DeAndre Jordan We have more shooting in the starting lineup but still good defence. We have a really strong bench with the young guns at the 1-2-3 with Melo and Howard. Rondo gives us great backup at the PG and SG (Nunn can play up), Ariza gives us a great backup at SF and PF and Jordan is a decent third string Center. Imagine Lebron and Ellington going out early - with Melo and Monk coming in. All of a sudden WB and AD can spam pick and roll with three shooters, we can get out in transition with WB, Monk, Bazemore and AD, or Melo can ISO. Then Westbrook, Bazemore and AD go out. Nunn, THT and Howard come in. We look to lock up the other team and get out in transition with Nunn, Monk, THT and Lebron with Howard as the trailer. Lebron can throw to Nunn and Monk as shooters, while THT can be that secondary creator to the some pressure of him. Howard stays his regular lob threat. This is a fun problem to have for a coaching team. So many options. I think there is zero chance Russ doesn't start and finish every game he is healthy for.
i'll still be very surprised if AD starts at the 5, but i'm thrilled to hear more indications that he'll be playing in that spot more frequently. he's always been a 4/5 and not a pure 4 (or 4/3, as seems to be his wish lol). and any situation involving russ not starting and finishing games means we're in a bad place, imo. my money's been on ellington at starting sg, but nothing (not even ariza in that spot) would surprise me.
AD starting games at the 5 will depend on who we're playing imo. I think for guys like Adams and Embid Howard will get the nod with AD at the 4 and guys like Jokic and Gobert AD will start at the 5. We have so many options to throw at teams I think we could see many different starting lineups throughout the year
PF-James/Anthony/Ennis SF-Ariza/THT/Bazemore C-Davis/Howard/Jordan PG-Westbrook/Rondo SG-Nunn/Ellington/Monk
