Just checkin up to see who you all think will be the starting five for next season. Being a Lakers fan, I feel that the Lakeshow will have some serious competition next season from Houston, Dallas, Sacramento, and San Antonio. With the addition of Ming on Houston, if he's able to contribute 10pts a game and play some defense, Houston will be a team to reckon with. I'm not to familiar with Houston's line up so some feedback would be appreciated.
This subject has been discussed quite frequently. Actually, there is a friendly bet on this board on that particular subject. I guess most believe Ming will come off the bench early in the season. But, Ming should start by the new year.
Actually, Eddie Griffin might start the first five games since Maurice Taylor has to serve his suspension. But after that, Rudy is going to start Taylor. Rudy would rather have the more experienced Taylor starting. I don't agree with it, but it's going to happen. Smoothie, on your roster you have Kenny Thomas on our team for garbage time. Why don't we just let Kenny Thomas walk or trade him, instead of keeping him on our team for limited time. He will just get angrier and will have an unwanted contract.
C-Ming(Rudy T will not like Cato attitude and bench him) PF-Giffin(Taylor out the first 5 games and Griffin will prove he is the starting 4) SF-Rice(Can't start two rookies) SG-Mobley PG-Franics Top Bench Players Norris Taylor Nochbar Thomas
PG- Franchise- Moochie- Tierre SG- Mobley- Oscar- Francis- Nachbar SF- Lewis- Rice or Nachbar- TMo PF- Eddie- Kenny or Mo (one of them will probably be gone) C- Yao-Cato
Since your a Lakers fan, I guess only the post-season counts, huh? Well, Personally, by the end of the season, this is how our team will look. Of course, I'm assuming KT is traded mid-season at the LATEST. Cato/Ming Griffin/MoT Rice/Nachbar Mobley/Francis Francis/Moochie That's the main rotation. Ming, Nachbar and Moochie provide one of the best benches in the league, to say the least. Inside we have 2 shotblocking forces in Cato and Griffin. On the perimeter, we have Rice and Nachbar, and we know they can drain those 3's. Then we have the best backcourt in the league. Having cato and Griffin in the middle, backed up by Ming, obviously, our defense will have improved. Actually, 2 minutes ago, I was discussing in another thread how our team is well-equipped to match up against the Lakers.
At the opening night: C Cato PF Taylor SF Rice SG Mobley PG Francis One month into the season: C Cato PF Griffin SF Rice SG Mobley PG Francis Mid season: C Cato PF Griffin SF Nachbar SG Mobley PG Francis End of the regular season: C Yao PF Griffin SF Nachbar SG Mobley PG Francis
I would start Francis, Mobley, Ming, Griffin, and Thomas. The starting lineup for Rudy will likely be Francis, Mobley, Cato, Taylor, and Rice if he is healthy.
KT has to be the starting 4. He earned it with last season's play. Griffin is still inconsistent and has not yet earned the starting role. I expect Griffin to come of the bench for the entire year unless he clearly takes his offensive game to the next level. As for the SF slot, Rice should win be default. Nachbar will need some adjustment time to the NBA and that will means limited minutes at first. The wild card is Cato. How soon until he loses his starting spot??? How many minutes will Taylor get at the 5 spot? Rudy's been loyal to Cato but there are now 5 talented big men on the team and Cato's is the least prodoctive of these guys.
1st 5 games; Starters 1 Francis 2 Mobley 3 Rice 4 Griffin 5 Cato Bench: 1 Moochie 2 Torres 3 Nachbar 4 KT 5 Ming Spare Parts Brown TMo IR Tayler (suspension) Collier After 5 game suspension - Taylor starts & Brown goes to IR with Collier. By the end of the season: 1 Francis 2 Mobley 3 Nachbar (not sure Rice can stay healty all season) 4 Taylor (Grif will get most of clutch time. Rudy likes to start the older players ala Kenny Smith.) 5 Ming (around mid-season he will overtake the starting job from Cato)
