So now that our roster is set, what will our starting lineup be? Is it a given Anderson starts at the 4 and Ariza at the 3? Will it depend on match-ups? I’d say 99% sure it’s the same with CP3 replacing Beverley, but with Tucker and Mbah as defensive specialists it might serve us better to start either one. Why? 1. MDA will have Harden or CP3 on the court at all times. That means elite play making to create so we won’t have to worry about guys doing things they can’t or force shots. This means our forwards only need to be able to hit outside shots with Capela and Nene on the inside. Starting or off the bench on offense is pretty much the same. 2. Ariza and CP3 are elite defenders, despite what some idiotic haters of Trev on here claim. However, Harden and Ryno are pretty bad and Capela is decent. This leaves us vulnerable especially against the better teams like Spurs, OKC, Cavs, Celtics and Warriors. Until proven otherwise, Capela can really need all the help on the inside against plenty of bigs, so we need a defender next to him. The starting forwards are 90% of the time the hardest to guard over the bench brigade. 3. CP3, Ariza and Harden are great 3pt shooters when spotting up and even very good when creating themselves. Defenders will have to pick their poison between 2 of these on the perimeter, Capela inside and on the pick and roll and whomever controls the ball from every range. These 3 things have me convinced we need defense over offense in our starting lineup. Mbah and Tucker are no slouches from three, especially from the corners. If one of them proves they can knock down some shots while providing that good defense, I’ll take either. You don’t necessarily need that crazy space in the starting line up that Anderson provides. Harden and CP3 along with Ariza and a good enough shooter at the 4 will be more than enough. When Harden or CP3 sits, Gordon comes in to spread that floor and having Anderson then makes way more sense. That is pretty much a line up we had last year without CP3. Spot up shooters surrounding Harden or 1 elite playmaker makes way more sense than surrounding 2 if that means regressing on defense. Anderson’s task against bench 4’s also takes some burden off his shoulders. So who would you start and why? For now I’d go with Tucker as the better player over Mbah though the latter would provide the length for Ariza to stay at the 3. With PJ he’d move over. It’s a tough call, but for me Ryno off the bench could be a good move. Still, with that contract and knowing MDA, it will never happen. Thoughts?
I voted CP3 / Harden / Ariza / Mbah / Capela but would this work? CP3 / Harden / Tucker / Mbah / Capela
Why? Is it that outrageous to think we need defense more from our starters? I know MDA won’t even consider it, but I think even from a competitive standpoint, it’s good having guys battle for a starting spot.
I voted Ryno for now but I do think it's only a matter of time before he's moved to the second unit. But I don't think it will be for awhile until some other players are acquired. I thought Dekker might move in the starting lineup eventually when he was here. That type of player starting makes more sense to me. There is a reason why Ryno was a bench scorer with NOLA.
Why exactly would Ryno not be the starter? He's the best shooting frontcourt player on the team. I'm not even sure how people could say that Moute would be a starter or that Mike would start games with both Tucker and Ariza in favor of Ryno. Finish? Sure. Start? I don't think so. if Ryno just absolutely sucks for a long period of time then maybe u could see him coming off the bench, but I'll think he'll be fine during the regular season with CP3 and Harden as our backcourt. The playoffs is a different story tho.
Teams change things up during the playoffs all the time. There's no reason to believe that Ryno won't be the starter on opening night.
Zhou Qi might be really good with the starters. He can shoot, play defense, and he would definitely be mismatch at the 4.
I would definitely not be starting Moute over Ryno, and a lineup of Tucker at the 3 and Ariza at the 4 is something I'm going to to finish games or when I need more defense on the floor starting lineup CP3 Harden Ariza Ryno Capela just like what MDA is going to do Moute and Tucker are not threats offensively
With CP3 out and thus Gordon starting, I think now it makes way more sense to have Ryan off the bench for scoring and Mbah in for defense. Thoughts?
