Who will be our opening night starting lineup?

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

Part of the question is who's healthy. Lauri and Walker start if they're healthy, obviously. Taylor might start because he defends and he's relatively low-usage next to Lauri and Ace.

Keyonte has been starting all preseason, so that likely continues.

 

[KqWIN]

I think I've settled on the idea that Anderson should start. I think he is a great connective piece, won't take up shots, and can actually defend. There are definitely spacing concerns with Anderson, but I think I prefer bad spacing over bad ball movement.

If he's going to play minutes at all I think the starting lineup is the best spot for them. There should always be a dribble handoff guy on the court....it seems central to what Hardy wants to do on offense. Kessler did a little bit more of that last year, so maybe he fills that gap.

 

[HermanG]

I cant decide on the 3rd.

Do you guys think Flip can play with Kessler? I really liked him towards the end of last season and then he dominated the SL.. but the fit seems awkward.

 

[Nate505]

I went Taylor, Key, and Ace, but it feels like throwing darts at a board for the most part.

 

[JazzFever]

Key -> Collier -> Clayton
Brice-> Svi -> Harkless
Ace -> Williams -> Niang -> Tonje
Lauri -> Hendricks -> Love
Kessler -> Flip -> Nurkic

Least confident about Hendricks- he could easily start, just think Ace it going to get the nod, but could see Ace dropping to SG and bumping Brice to make room. Brice has been as good as I'd hoped at the end of last season though, so it will be hard to send him to the bench, even as a sixth man.

Key seems to be a Hardy favorite so I think he gets the nod at PG to get the other pieces starting together and Collier didn't show enough during SL to earn the spot and being a no-show in pre-season will hurt him.

Vets will get plenty of minutes but I'd be surprised at them starting unless it's to advertise them for trades.

Players I've listed at PG may get SG minutes before those I've actually listed at SG as they are more valuable players and need development.

Flip will be fighting Taylor for the most minutes off the bench unless Brice becomes official 6th man.

Overlap between Nurkic and Love with Flip seems very high which is odd to me.

Most in danger of getting traded in order (of those who are otherwise long term pieces) :

Kessler
Lauri
Collier
Key

 

[NAOS_pt2]

I cant decide on the 3rd.

Do you guys think Flip can play with Kessler? I really liked him towards the end of last season and then he dominated the SL.. but the fit seems awkward.

100% they can play together.

 

[NAOS_pt2]

I don't expect this to be the starting lineup, but this is what I would do (if I felt that Hendricks was 100% and relatively rust-free)

Collier
Ace
Hendricks
Lauri
Kessler

 

[HadAnEffectHere]

I don't expect this to be the starting lineup, but this is what I would do (if I felt that Hendricks was 100% and relatively rust-free)

Collier
Ace
Hendricks
Lauri
Kessler

There is like zero playmaking in this lineup other than Collier, lol.

Every Ace-Hendricks-Lauri-Kessler lineup runs into the issue that none of these guys can dribble or pass yet.

I would think Filipowski obviously starts over Hendricks just for that reason alone.

So I would go with

Key
Ace
Markkanen
Filipowski
Kessler

But we'll have like 15-20 starting lineups this year.

 

[KqWIN]

There is like zero playmaking in this lineup other than Collier, lol.

Every Ace-Hendricks-Lauri-Kessler lineup runs into the issue that none of these guys can dribble or pass yet.

I would think Filipowski obviously starts over Hendricks just for that reason alone.

So I would go with

Key
Ace
Markkanen
Filipowski
Kessler

But we'll have like 15-20 starting lineups this year.

I don't know if it's ideal for everyone else, but that situation is ideal for him. One of the most ball dominant/reliant players in the league.

I initially had the lineup you quoted, but I've come around to the idea that your lineup is my favorite.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

Another interesting question is who is out of the main rotation on opening night.

Assuming Nurk and Anderson are in the rotation, I think that means at least 2 rookie contract players will be out of the rotation. If Flip and Collier are injured I guess that's easy, but I thought they should be ready to go by opening day.

If all the young guys are ready by opening night I would guess that it's Cody and Collier that don't play on opening night. I think WCJ is the next most likely, but maybe it's our front court with the logjam and so Flip or Hendricks is out.

 

[jazznik]

Another interesting question is who is out of the main rotation on opening night.

Markkanen

 

[HermanG]

If I think about our frontcourt options I think with Kessler+Lauri you need shooting, passing and playmaking help and with Nurkic you need defensive help out there. So thus my initial 4/5 pairs in rotation would be Kessler + Flip and Nurkic + Hendricks.

1-3 is more fluid and Hardy has shown he can run some weird 3+ guard lineups... but the starters imo with Kessler/Flip pair would be Ace, Key and Lauri, since Flip helps with the playmaking enough to justify having both Lauri and Ace in the starting lineup. Flip and Lauri will be somewhat fluid around the forward positions, where Flip can set screens and space out in the corner, but he can also play with the ball above the break and help facilitate some plays.

Perimeter defense will be rough with the first unit but at least they should rebound like gods and be able to operate pretty well offensively.