For me it would be: C: Yao Ming PF: Luis Scola SF: T-Mac SG: Steve Francis PG: Rafer Alston It was proved multiple times that T-Mac plays at his best, when he is SF. At SF, he can use his unusual speed given his height. This special feature pretty much disappears, when he is playing against smaller SGs. I think we have to do it, even if it means putting Shane Battier on the bench. Nowadays, in the league, it's all almost all about speed. With this line-up we have speed advantage at all positions apart from C. What is important we don't have a disadvantage in rebounding department, because most of the players are above average rebounders. My 2nd Unit would be: C: Deke PF: Chuck Hayes SF: Shane Battier SG: Bonzi Wells PG: Mike James How about you?
SF Tmac Battier Scola Yao starters James Head Wells Hayes Deke second team AB Synder Novak landry Bulter third team
Who finishes is as important as who starts. However, choosing the players we have now without further trades (which I believe will happen), here is my roster: Francis, James -- Point Wells, Snyder -- SG McGrady, Battier -- SF Scola, Butler -- PF Yao, Mutombo -- C The 11th and 12th men should be two of Hayes, Brooks and Reed. Brooks, Landry and Novak need to spend time being shuffled from team to NDBL and back to give them maximum experience and training for the future. Luther and JL3 should be traded for a future first and future second respectively. I hope Alston and Sura still can be packaged for another tall 4/5. If you noticed, I have Butler at the backup 4 rather than the backup 5. That's because Adelman can shuffle the roster to create mismatches in our favor -- T-Mc to the 2; James or SF3 to SG, Scola to C, etc. etc. A "Suns" lineup would be James (PG), SF3 (SG), Bonzi (SF), McGrady (PF) and Scola (C), for instance.
Yao Scola Battier T-mac Francis with playing from the bench James 1+2 Head 2 Wells 2+3 Hayes 4 Butler/Mutombo 5 and if possible Brooks should also get some playing time. If Alston is not traded he should get some minutes if their are injuries
Yao, Hayes, Battier, McGrady, Alston. Best starting five in the NBA last year. The players complement each other almost perfectly. Now, though, they've got backups that can do more. Edit: I didn't pay attention, Chuck isn't on the roster. Replace Hayes with Scola, and put Mike James and Rafer Alston as a toss-up.
I like Thumbs line-up. We have 3 frontcourt players that can move the ball, and two guards that excel at cutting to the basket. All frontcourt players can shoot midrange, as well, so the defense can't just sag off to the basket. There is no need for long-range prayers. We should also get some good rebounding for second chance points, for the first time in 4 years. It will be very hard for the other team if they see us miss and then get the ball back again . If we run simple plays effectively, that line-up should score very efficiently, well within the shot clock, with just a few passes. The other team can't defend all the scoring options. Given that, I would think the defense will try to disrupt the passing lanes, and push the ball out, trying to provoke turnovers and setup defensive isolations on the perimeter. We don't want SF3 or James dribbling in circles at the 3 line. So, I see Tmac bringing the ball up, or getting it very quickly from SF3 or James, to make the initial pass into Yao or Scola. Tmac's height and handles should allow an entry when he has two options. If the defense tries to block both guys, well, then Tmac is free.
Agreed, 100%. I made this roster on NBA 2k7 and simulated a season. We lost a 3-1 lead in the conference finals to the Spurs. Just food for thought
I think the line up will look a lot like: 1-either Steve or James 2-T-mac 3-Battier 4-Scola 5-Yao The best thing of this off season is the fact that our bench is so diverse and deep. I know we are going to be a less a few guys If we need to go big we have the guys, if we need to be athletic we have the guys, if we need shooting we have the guys. We are going to be a more dynamic team, and I can't wait for the season to start.
I would try to go with zone or zone-like defense. One of the things I most didn't like about JVG was why his allergy to zone defense. This type of defense does not demand extra talented defenders, just the ones who are active. And in this very quick line-up we should have enough active players to do it. However, obviously, the biggest plus of this line-up should be its offensive prowess, which should allow to compensate for any defensive deficiencies. If it doesn't work, after all, we can still take Shane from the bench to the floor.
As fun as the exercise is, I don't think you can preconceive the starters, lineup or minutes till you get the 15 players into training camp and see what level they are at (skills and will for the young guys and conditioning for the old guys) and how the chemistry works. Deke may retire, Bonzi might not be able to run 94', Tmac may tell Adelman he doesn't want to play any SG and Mike James just might spontaneously combust. I would think this is the most complex and daunting coaching job anyone has ever faced. Don't plan on a lot of sleep Rick.
We'll see how things shake out at training camp and what other roster moves are done, but like this lineup to start the game. James, Tmac, Battier, Scola, Yao with Francis & Bonzi but the super 6th/7th men and Hayes and Butler/Deke seeing some action as well.
