Hopefully, this doesn't come across as another cleverly disguised Dwight Howard appreciation thread, but I'll have to give the nod to Orlando right now. Howard - Player of the month for November...book it! Lewis - Can score from anywhere on the floor, excellent FT shooter and good three point shooter Turkoglu - Excellent utility player. Does a little bit of everything. This is who Battier wishes he was. Nelson - Can blow by anybody. Mediocre three point shooter, but doesn't take many bad shots. Almost 2.5 assist/turnover ratio. Bogans - Great spot up shooter. Doesn't really need to score much with three 20 point scorers in the lineup, so I was a little suprised by his 10 ppg average. Of course, Orlando probably has the thinnest bench in the NBA, but that's a whole different thread
Phoenix has a pretty good lineup: Amare Marion Hill Bell Nash But who can compete against the likes of Rafer Alston and Chuck Hayes??!!
Utah and Phoenix are sort of obvious. I think Detroit has pretty good starting five, especially since they have 3 all-stars, one borderline all-star who might be pound for pound the best defender in the league, and usually a decent young PF or a former all-star star caliber player. I also say this because, 4/5ths of this team is the only team to win title beyond, Shaq and TDs teams. Wallace-C McDyess/Maxiell-PF Prince-SF Hamilton-SG Billiups-PG Houston potentially could have one, if they used this lineup Yao-C Scola-PF Battier/Wells-SF T-Mac-SG Francis-PG Dallas Dampier-C Nowitzki-PF Howard-SF Terry-SG Harris-PG
In speaking of general roles of individual players, right now, Houston has probably the most standard starting lineup. Yao- inside threat Hayes- rebounding defensive player Battier- three-point shooter/ defensive player McGrady- outside threat Alston- ball handler It has a good balance of inside and outside, offense and defense, all-star talent and role player talent. But thats just in theory. The Spurs are actually similar to how the Rockets have been built up. Oberto- rebounding defensive player Duncan- inside threat Bowen- three-point shooter/ defensive player Finley- three-point shooter Parker- penetrater Magic are also similar to the Rockets. Howard- inside threat Lewis- outside threat Turkoglu- three point shooter Bogans- glue player Nelson- playmaker The Pheonix lineup is pretty interesting. It's the simplest out there. Stoudemire- dunker Marion- dunker Hill- scorer Bell- three-point shooter Nash- playmaker The Celtics have a pretty uneven distribution of talent in their lineup. ie Perkins doesn't deserve to be there. But they still win games. Perkins- big person Garnett- inside threat Pierce- slasher Allen- outside shooter/scorer Rondo- ball handler The Dallas lineup is mainly just about scoring. Dampier- shot blocker Nowitzki- inside/outside threat Howard- scorer Terry- scorer Harris- penetrater I actually like the Hornets lineup. They could rival Pheonix one day because of that one guy CP3. But they have a little more defense. Chandler- rebounder/ defensive player West- scorer Stojakovic- three-point shooter Peterson- three-point shooter/ defensive player Paul- playmaker
The major weakness here is the backcourt. I guarantee you that Jameer Nelson will implode sometime this season. He's doing OK for now, but there is a reason the Magic waited until the end of the pre-season to extend him. My guess is Bogans cannot keep shooting the way he is. When his shots start clanking from long range, he will be exposed as the offensive liability that he is. If not, he is one of the most improved players I've seen in a long time. Where was that shooting touch when he was a Rocket? Just think if Grant Hill had stayed and Bogans was backing him up. The key is Nelson. Let's suppose he's an average performer during the entire regular season. In the playoffs, he will crater and let them down. You heard it here first: Orlando's big priority next summer will be getting another PG. Regarding their bench: Big improvement since the trade. I promise you 1 Jameer Nelson and 2 Bogans will be their biggest problems later on in the season and playoffs.
Detroit has a pretty good starting five, i wouldn't call orlando the best starting 5. The suns also have a pretty good starting five.
Okur Boozer Kirilenko Brewer Williams vs. Amare Marion Hill Bell Nash Hmmmmm......I think it's push for right now, but I think as the season progresses and within years to come, Jazz will slowly pass the Suns, simply because Nash is not a spring chicken and Williams is just in his 3rd season and is already a top-notch point guard.
Suns Jazz Pistons Celtics Mavs Magic ... ... Could fit 5 more teams in til you get to the Rockets Suns: Before Phoenix, Nash was already very good. Marion was an excellent player before Nash and Grant Hill's good anywhere he goes. Amare is the one "system" guy but even he was almost 20pts 10rbs with Marbury. Position to Position I wouldnt swap any of those guys with the Magic except Dwight Howard
I actually liked Denver's starting lineup.. Marcus Camby Kenyon Martin Carmelo Anthony JR Smith Allen Iverson they just can't seem to stay consistent.
