1 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:20,719 What is craft acting? Fellow THERMONI, Beer a Evert, I and Belly 2 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:25,320 coming at you with a reaction podcast, mini pod whatever. We haven't done 3 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:28,359 one of the even a while. We have an interview up later this week 4 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:31,399 I think Wednesday, and then Grant will be back for a podcast that drops 5 00:00:31,399 --> 00:00:34,439 on Friday. So very excited about that. We're trying to get you guys 6 00:00:34,439 --> 00:00:38,399 a third episode per week when I have the time. Won't guarantee that all 7 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:40,840 during the off season, but let's get to it, you know the drill. 8 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:44,159 If you have not subscribed already YouTube, hit that subscribe button, like 9 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:47,359 comment, help the algorithm, love us back, subscribe on Apple and Spotify, 10 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,960 throw us ratings, leave reviews on Apple five star ratings and reviews. 11 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:53,960 Help us out a ton. Check out our merch linked that's in the podcast 12 00:00:54,039 --> 00:00:57,840 and YouTube description. Follow us on all the socials. The handles are at 13 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:02,520 Hardwood Knocks on Twitter and TikTok at Harvard Underscore Knox on Instagram, and join 14 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:04,480 our discords link to that is in the podcast and YouTube descriptions. Finally, 15 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,280 as always, remember to shout us out, tell people about us, help 16 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:11,319 us continue to grow the community. Going to be reacting to an article I've 17 00:01:11,359 --> 00:01:15,799 not seen yet posted on bleacher Report, So it's not It is not one 18 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:18,760 that Grant nor I have written, although we did a trades one. Maybe 19 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:22,439 I should go through that. However, it is called the weakest link in 20 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:26,519 every nba team's projected starting five for next season. So I've not seen it 21 00:01:26,599 --> 00:01:27,840 yet. We're going to go through it, see what I disagree with, 22 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:32,400 see which teams we need to spend the most time on, just to see 23 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:34,599 how things are shaping up. These could of course changed, and I'll talk 24 00:01:34,599 --> 00:01:38,120 about any disagreements in the lineup projections, let alone the weakest links. So 25 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:42,400 let's go throw this up on the screen here for anyone watching on YouTube. 26 00:01:42,439 --> 00:01:46,359 There's a fancy new thing that I built where it should look like I don't. 27 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:48,680 I hope you can at least read it, but it should look, 28 00:01:48,719 --> 00:01:53,120 you know, like a more cooler background instead of the screen taking up so 29 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:57,200 much room on your actual screen, you can see the share a little bit 30 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,920 more. I don't really like using obs. I just I didn't enjoy my 31 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,000 experience there. That's a cleaner look. You can split up the screens with 32 00:02:02,079 --> 00:02:06,239 stream Yard doesn't let you do it as cleanly. Useless information, but you 33 00:02:06,239 --> 00:02:08,759 can go check it out on YouTube. So we begin the weakest link in 34 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:15,639 every NBA team starting lineup, the Atlanta Hawks projected DeAndre Hunter, with projected 35 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:19,199 starters of Trey Young, Dejan Day, Murray, DeAndre Hunter, Sadiq Bank, 36 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:23,840 Clink Cappela. I think i'd probably agree with this starting five. I 37 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:27,000 don't know who Atlanta would start. It would be the Sadiq Bay spot. 38 00:02:27,039 --> 00:02:30,199 That's up for debate. Do they go small right away with Bogdanovich, But 39 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:32,319 I think you need his creation off the bench. You're not going to play 40 00:02:32,319 --> 00:02:36,840 out Congo next to Clink Cappela. I don't think you'd give this spot to 41 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:39,759 AJ Griffin. Maybe Jalen john Kin gets in there regardless. I think this 42 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:45,479 is the wrong, wrong answer. DeAndre Hunter a weaker shooter than we think. 43 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:49,960 But I just think Sadiq Bay has not shown enough consistency on the defensive 44 00:02:50,039 --> 00:02:53,439 end to think that he wouldn't be the wink Week link here, and you're 45 00:02:53,439 --> 00:02:58,080 gonna need defense from that spot a great deal. So unless you really just 46 00:02:58,199 --> 00:03:00,599 believe in Sadique Bay's offense, I think he's the weakest link. The Boston 47 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:05,960 Celtics. Whoever starts at the five that's interesting. Projected starters Derek White, 48 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:09,240 Jalen Brown, Jason Tatum, Christops Porzingis, and then i Al Horford or 49 00:03:09,319 --> 00:03:14,759 Robert Williams the third. This is probably right, but you could make a 50 00:03:14,759 --> 00:03:19,240 case that there's a weak link in Derek White as the actual starting point guard. 51 00:03:19,599 --> 00:03:23,240 He is a good connective passer and a good playmaker overall. Is he 52 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:25,520 someone who can take you and run you through your sets? Do you trust 53 00:03:25,599 --> 00:03:29,520 Jason Tatum or do that more? And if you need someone to do that, 54 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,039 there's Jalen Brown become a weaker link. And if Porzingis isn't as available, 55 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:36,759 is he a winkly week linked? Is he compromised your defensive versatility at 56 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,039 all? There are a ton of answers here. I think whoever plays the 57 00:03:39,039 --> 00:03:43,240 five is probably the right one. But there might be a case for Derek 58 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,240 White, who's a fantastic player. I just don't know. Is he going 59 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:49,879 to give them what they need on the offensive end? That's an interesting one. 60 00:03:49,919 --> 00:03:52,840 That team is so polarizing and he can't wait to do their there look 61 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:58,800 ahead the Brooklyn Nets Dorian Finney Smith projected starting five of Spencer Dinwoodie mcaal Bridges, 62 00:03:59,199 --> 00:04:05,520 Cam Johnson, Rian Phinny Smith or Royce O'Neill and Nick Claxton. I 63 00:04:05,639 --> 00:04:10,960 guess this is the right answer. It's not Nick Claxton. He's expanded his 64 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:14,840 offense enough and there's so much shooting around him, plus his defense. Is 65 00:04:14,879 --> 00:04:18,680 it Spencer Dinwoody just because he's not a good enough creator to try and drive 66 00:04:18,759 --> 00:04:23,360 the entire offense. He's probably gonna be at that point guard spot. You're 67 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,600 surrounded by Michael Bridges. Let's just call him a net even defender. I 68 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,600 guess you trust his author dribble creation more than Dorian Finney Smith. But what 69 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:33,360 DFS does on defense? Why would we make him the weak link? If 70 00:04:33,399 --> 00:04:36,519 it's Royce O'Neill and you're bringing DFS off the bench, I think this becomes 71 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:40,560 easier. I'm gonna go with Spencer Dinwoody here, just because, again with 72 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:44,920 the nets need advantage, creation is supposed to come from that spot, even 73 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:48,439 though you have Michael Bridges and the fact that he I guess he provides some, 74 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:51,800 but it's below average relative to the point guard spot. Most likely. 75 00:04:53,519 --> 00:04:56,120 I guess you could be viewing this as well. Do you need that kind 76 00:04:56,160 --> 00:05:00,439 of ball skill from Dorian Phinney Smith on the wings, and that's why he's 77 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,560 the week link. I just if you're considering him the day facto four or 78 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,879 three, I'm gonna go with Spencer Dinwoody here. That's a tough one, 79 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:11,319 though I could under I could see the case for him or DFS slash who 80 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:15,399 ever starts at the four. The Charlotte Hornets Brandon Miller in parentheticals for now 81 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:19,800 projected starting five of Lamello, Terry Rosier, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, 82 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:24,839 and Mark Williams. Notably, PJ. Washington is not signed as we're recording 83 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:28,480 this or as I'm recording this. This is an interesting pick. I think 84 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:30,800 that has to be the answer, but there is a chance. I'm just 85 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:31,959 gonna say. I mean, you could say maybe Mark Williams, but he 86 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:35,240 came a long way by the end of last season, looking at his defensive 87 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:40,519 reads, block and jumpers, rim protection, got better tested out his midie 88 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:43,920 on the offensive end, I think he could be super complimentary on that. 89 00:05:43,959 --> 00:05:46,199 Leould see him set maybe some more physical screens. I'll be more quick as 90 00:05:46,199 --> 00:05:50,480 a decision maker going downhill needs enough spacing around him to make that impact. 91 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:55,439 I think you could probably make the case Miles Bridges has to serve the balance 92 00:05:55,439 --> 00:05:59,759 of the thirty game suspension. There's ten games left for pleading no contest to 93 00:06:00,079 --> 00:06:02,920 felony domestic violence. You could like he's been gone. Is he the weak 94 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,480 link? I think you can also make a case for a Terry Rozier just 95 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:09,720 if his shooting falls off. He did seem to settle down once they put 96 00:06:09,759 --> 00:06:12,079 him in the proper role last season, and so this isn't the lineup with 97 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:15,000 he'll be tasked with creating. Bredon mill is probably the right answer. I 98 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,639 think they're probably gonna ask him to do some things on ball offensively, since 99 00:06:17,639 --> 00:06:23,000 you only really have Bridges in the mellow here, and so that could be 100 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,240 an issue for him as a rookie. Is he gonna be able to generate 101 00:06:25,319 --> 00:06:28,800 the type of on ball separation or even give you anything on the ball. 102 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:32,639 If PJ. Washington is playing and he's in this lineup, I want I 103 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,639 guess the pick is Terry Rozier, But I don't love the idea of Bridges 104 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:39,879 being your day Facto three either. I'm not gonna lie. I think this 105 00:06:39,959 --> 00:06:43,959 is probably the right pick, though. Chicago Bulls Patrick Williams is this spicy 106 00:06:44,079 --> 00:06:47,959 projected starting five for Chicago. I'm all over the place here Alex Caruso, 107 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:54,800 zach Lavine, Demarderos, and Patrick Williams in the Klavukovich I think I might 108 00:06:54,879 --> 00:06:58,079 go in to Kola Vukovic here. Is he going to give you? He's 109 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:00,399 not going to give you enough for in protection, even if you don't think 110 00:07:00,399 --> 00:07:02,040 there's gonna be any sort of regression as he goes into his mid thirties, 111 00:07:02,399 --> 00:07:06,120 really fine offensive player. Yes, the low volume from Patrick Williams and Alex 112 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:11,040 Cruiser can help you for a team that was so elite defensively last year. 113 00:07:11,079 --> 00:07:13,639 But they were so elite defensively not really because if anything they did from the 114 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:15,879 big man spot, it just kind of started with their ball pressure, a 115 00:07:15,879 --> 00:07:20,199 lot of their wing defense and then sort of protecting the rim that way. 116 00:07:20,319 --> 00:07:25,040 And Patrick Williams is a fairly prominent part of that, as is Alex Caruso, 117 00:07:25,439 --> 00:07:28,319 demard Rose. And unless he regresses not a week lak zach Lavine, 118 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:30,639 I finally believe he's probably become underrated. I think the answer is honestly voots 119 00:07:30,639 --> 00:07:33,160 here, just because you have to think of what he's going to how much 120 00:07:33,199 --> 00:07:36,000 is he going to give you as a shooter on offense, will the threes 121 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:39,560 go down in a really good clip? And then how much is he going 122 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:43,519 to potentially compromise your defense? And this team needed rim protection. That's not 123 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,160 someone they're going to give him. If you just believe that Patrick Williams is 124 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:48,680 an offensive zero, I get why you would include him though. Moving on 125 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:54,439 to the Cavaliers, Max Struce projected starting five of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, 126 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:57,240 Max Struce, Evan Mobley, and Jared Allen. This is the right 127 00:07:57,319 --> 00:08:01,240 answer. I guess you could make a case for Jaron Allen just does he 128 00:08:01,319 --> 00:08:03,759 shrank their offensive spacing? But at that point, it's he's giving you so 129 00:08:03,839 --> 00:08:07,480 much defensively and it's part of the reason why Evan Mobley can be allowed to 130 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:11,519 roam. Does that really make him a weak link? Because you could just 131 00:08:11,519 --> 00:08:13,879 turn around and say the same thing about Mobley. I do think he's ready 132 00:08:13,879 --> 00:08:16,519 for more grabbing ghost stuff and even slowing things down and being able to attack 133 00:08:16,839 --> 00:08:20,160 that way. But he's not spacing the floor either, And so I think 134 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:22,560 you just look at it and you have to say, Okay, Maxter's clearly 135 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:26,120 the worst player, and that's maybe the best way to approach this exercise. 136 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:31,680 Dallas Mavericks, Dwight Powell. Dwight Powell's telling the Mavericks projected starters lukadan Ji, 137 00:08:31,839 --> 00:08:35,600 Kyrie Irving, Tim Hardaway Junior, Grant Williams, and Dwight Powell. 138 00:08:35,639 --> 00:08:39,360 I think I would agree with this starting five. We've had some really, 139 00:08:39,519 --> 00:08:43,320 I haven't quippled about the starting five inclusions much here. I don't think they 140 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:46,399 would start Rashaun Holmes. I don't think you're gonna look at starting Maxi Kleiba 141 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:50,879 right off the bat. Do you look at just because you want wing defense 142 00:08:50,399 --> 00:08:56,600 starting a Josh Green? I mean maybe, but then you're just you're so 143 00:08:56,679 --> 00:09:00,679 small at that point, and you don't want Grant Williams playing the five right 144 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,360 off the bat. Maybe he comes off the bench. That's something that you 145 00:09:03,399 --> 00:09:05,240 could look at. Or is Tim Hardaway Junior coming off the bench, and 146 00:09:05,279 --> 00:09:09,440 that's when you look at kind of slotting in Josh Green for the wings defense. 147 00:09:09,879 --> 00:09:13,519 Regardless, if Dwight Palell's in the starting five, it's probably him. 148 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:18,080 I guess you could in theory make a case for Tim Hardaway Junior specifically on 149 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:20,000 the defensive end, but he's going to be an important shooter. When you're 150 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:24,759 looking at this makeup the week link does probably come from the front corner. 151 00:09:24,759 --> 00:09:28,919 It will be the four or the five spot. Dwight Powell probably the right 152 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,879 answer with this starting five. If you're looking at Josh Green being subbed in 153 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:35,399 for Grant Williams or even Tim Hardaway Junior, I don't I don't think that 154 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:41,200 changes it at all. Moving on to the Denver Nuggets, Kent Tavia's called 155 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:46,320 bell Pope, but really no one that's high praise, and yeah, that's 156 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:50,720 probably the right answer. I think Jamal Murray KCP, Michael Porter Junior, 157 00:09:50,759 --> 00:09:52,639 Aaron Gordon, Nicole Yokich. It's not going to be Murray or Yokich. 158 00:09:54,039 --> 00:09:56,960 I think Aaron Gordon can be sometimes two low volume on the offensive end. 159 00:09:58,039 --> 00:10:01,200 Put he had some really really high moments in the playoffs, and he's just 160 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,480 so important to what you do defensively. I think you could make a case 161 00:10:03,519 --> 00:10:07,679 for Michael Porter Jr. His offense does sort of ebb and flow, But 162 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:11,240 if any of the defensive progression he made in the playoffs, like consistently defending, 163 00:10:11,519 --> 00:10:15,240 sort of translates into the regular season, I know he had some rough 164 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:18,879 stints as we got later into the playoffs, that winds up being huge again. 165 00:10:18,919 --> 00:10:22,720 I think you just a fault too. Who's technically the worst player of 166 00:10:22,759 --> 00:10:26,159 this group? That's KCP. But this is probably the best starting five in 167 00:10:26,279 --> 00:10:30,720 basketball. Maybe Phoenix could come pretty close to it as we get there. 168 00:10:31,039 --> 00:10:35,600 Certainly the best starting five we've seen Detroity Wiseman, Detroit Pistons, James Wiseman. 169 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:39,200 Excuse me, the projected starters here are Kaig Cunningham, Jade and Ivy 170 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:45,759 or Sar Thompson, Boyan Vadanovich, and James Wiseman. Jalen during not being 171 00:10:45,799 --> 00:10:48,639 here is really weird. Why is ja? I mean, James Wiseman is 172 00:10:48,639 --> 00:10:52,720 the right answer? If it's this, why wouldn't it be Jalen Durant. 173 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:56,000 I'm just trying to see if there was any of a There was no none 174 00:10:56,039 --> 00:10:58,279 of a reason. It was really given here. If it's not Jalen Duran 175 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,120 I would love to know Monty Williams is doing. And I could also see 176 00:11:01,159 --> 00:11:05,519 it being a situation where we're looking at not even Boyan Magdonovitch, but is 177 00:11:05,519 --> 00:11:07,679 he coming off the bench or is there a star Thompson coming off the bench. 178 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:13,080 So that you can see the like the dual big setup where it might 179 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:16,039 be I would imagine Isaiah Stewart with I would say Jail and Durn I would 180 00:11:16,039 --> 00:11:20,519 be I'd be if it's Wiseman, and if it's it won't be Wiseman and 181 00:11:20,639 --> 00:11:24,360 during. So I disagree with this starting five And I purposely haven't dug into 182 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:26,759 any research on whether teams have come out and said X y Z about it. 183 00:11:26,799 --> 00:11:30,320 So maybe this is based off of but I don't see a link anywhere. 184 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,480 It's something I have not seen just yet. The answer is right, 185 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:37,840 but I just don't think he's there. And if you're slotting in Jail and 186 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:41,200 Duran, I think the weak link becomes or Sara Thompson, who's going to 187 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:43,799 be a terrific defender, And I do believe just looking at the speed at 188 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:48,600 which he's able to get off jumpers, I believe in the development of that, 189 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:50,600 But just right off the bat offensively, I think it's probably going to 190 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:54,360 be a struggle for him. Although this and does this lineup specifically, we 191 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:58,679 really only have if we're being on this one plus shooter with Boyan Madonovitch, 192 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:03,759 that could make it difficult for him to operate. So I think the answer 193 00:12:03,919 --> 00:12:07,919 is Osa Thompson because you're going to wind up starting Jail and Dur instead of 194 00:12:07,919 --> 00:12:11,960 Wiseman. And you might even start if you plug in Isaiah Stewart and Boyon 195 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:15,159 Madonovitch's spot, or even a Star Thompson spot. So if you plug him 196 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:18,200 in in Boyon spot, the answer is still or Star Thompson. And if 197 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:20,279 you just plug him in our Star Thompson spot, I think it would then 198 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:26,039 become Yeah, it could it be Jay and Ivy over a Stewart or even 199 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:28,480 I guess you want to say, and how Durn is too important defensively, 200 00:12:28,919 --> 00:12:31,000 then then it's a discussion there. I guess I'd probably default to Stewart. 201 00:12:31,159 --> 00:12:35,919 I just believe in Ivy now that much after being fairly low on him. 202 00:12:35,919 --> 00:12:37,639 But it would have to be Stewart or Ivy in that situation. But I 203 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:41,759 think the right starting five I feel like, is this starting five with Duran 204 00:12:41,799 --> 00:12:46,440 in place of Wiseman, and then Osa Thompson is your weakest link. You 205 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:48,879 have some real shooting coming off the bench. Then though, by the way, 206 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:52,960 Monte Morris, Alec Burks and Joe Harris, like you could really that's 207 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:54,519 that's a lot of space. And then even if Stewart's coming off the bench, 208 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:58,039 you know he can get off a three here and there. Actually really 209 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:03,679 like that the Golden State Warriors, Kavon Looney unless Chris Paul starts projected starters 210 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:09,120 Steph Clay, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Cavon Looney. Yes, but 211 00:13:09,799 --> 00:13:15,480 I mean, are are we just sure that like Klay Thompson kind of the 212 00:13:15,519 --> 00:13:18,039 way he closed the season not on the strongest note. Could it be him? 213 00:13:18,159 --> 00:13:22,960 And you know what you're at least gonna get from Kevon Looney defensively and 214 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:26,399 the reason he's going to make offensively again the worst player here, it's Kevon 215 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:28,879 Looney. So you call him the weak link. But when you're trying to 216 00:13:28,879 --> 00:13:33,440 look at weak points to attack, Clay Thompson is kind of easier to attack 217 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:35,600 on the defensive end this time, and he's just not as quick on offensive. 218 00:13:35,639 --> 00:13:39,320 He's asked to do anything with the ball. You trust his shooting, 219 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,679 but it feels like they are more highs and lows, and it feels like 220 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:43,960 he has more variants in his performances than at Kavan Looney would be from night 221 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:48,639 tonight and so I would just leave open the possibility that the answer here's lay 222 00:13:48,639 --> 00:13:52,000 Thompson. If you're gonna go with that variability, he could maybe also say 223 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,759 Wiggins, but he's become more of a studying force over the past couple of 224 00:13:54,799 --> 00:13:58,960 years. The Houston Rockets Dylan Brooks projected starters Fred Van Vleet, Jalen Green, 225 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:03,200 Dylan Brooks, Jabari Smith Junior and Alpa and Shangoon. I think this 226 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:07,759 is the right starting five. They'll probably bring Am and Thompson off the bench 227 00:14:07,799 --> 00:14:11,320 just because I think that will give him the most maybe not spacing around him, 228 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:13,320 but the chance to operate with the ball in his hands. Then if 229 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:16,720 you were going to have Green and Van Fleet and even Jabari Smith with him, 230 00:14:16,759 --> 00:14:20,960 and yeah, it's Dylan Brooks and Shangoon. By the way, all 231 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:24,879 these players around him are just decidedly like they could. They could be pluses 232 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:28,519 on offense, and I don't think Dylan Brooks will be. I'm expecting a 233 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:33,360 huge year from Jabari Smith Junior, by the way. So yes, if 234 00:14:33,399 --> 00:14:35,320 you wanted to pivot to an alternative, I think it would have to be 235 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:39,399 Shangoon if you're worried about his defense. But I just don't even think he's 236 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:43,679 nearly as detrimental on defense as Dylan Brooks can be on the offensive end. 237 00:14:43,679 --> 00:14:46,639 Now, if you just plugg Dylan Brooks into a role where he has to 238 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:48,720 keep the ball moving or fire away, maybe he can attack the occasional clothes 239 00:14:48,759 --> 00:14:54,159 out and he doesn't fancy himself like this, you know, smaller Carmelo Anthony 240 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:58,240 or whatever, or sometimes thinking he's like Damian Lillard or something. Then yeah, 241 00:14:58,399 --> 00:15:01,279 there might be more of a debate here, but he's the clear answer. 242 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:03,919 I can't. I'm trying to talk to myself into another one. I 243 00:15:03,919 --> 00:15:05,440 can't. I can't. You would have to be really low on Jabari and 244 00:15:05,519 --> 00:15:09,200 just the way he progressed like incrementally, and how he closed the season, 245 00:15:09,399 --> 00:15:13,440 and even what he did in brief summer league action. I don't know why 246 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:18,759 you would projected starters for the Pacers Tyrese Haliburt and Bruce Brown, Buddy Healed, 247 00:15:18,799 --> 00:15:22,840 Obie Toppin, and Miles Turner with Obie Toppin as the weak link. 248 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:28,879 This is interesting because if you want to start kind of the traditional four sized 249 00:15:28,919 --> 00:15:33,159 player, I would go with Obie over Jalen Smith or even Isaiah Jackson. 250 00:15:33,159 --> 00:15:37,639 Don't even think that would be in a consideration. But you do have Benn 251 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:41,639 Nick Mathern here. I guess he's less likely to start because Bruce Brown is 252 00:15:41,679 --> 00:15:43,759 not a pure three, and we're just gonna assume that Buddy Hell doesn't come 253 00:15:43,799 --> 00:15:48,879 off the bench, so this gets all sorts of messy. This is the 254 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:52,799 right answer for this starting five, without question. I'm just trying to think 255 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:56,360 based off how the Pacers played, is there a chance that we could see 256 00:15:56,360 --> 00:16:00,200 Aaron Nie Smith sneak in here instead of Obie? And then would they be 257 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:07,519 willing to start that small for you know, for that like for that many 258 00:16:07,559 --> 00:16:11,960 games in a season, like to rely on that it's sort of their every 259 00:16:11,039 --> 00:16:17,279 night starting five. I honestly don't know, just because the Bruce Brown calculus 260 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:18,919 kind of changes things for me. If it's this starting five, the answer 261 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:26,720 is absolutely Obie topping. Otherwise I think you'd go with it would probably still 262 00:16:26,759 --> 00:16:27,679 be Obie because he would be the four, you know, if you wanted 263 00:16:27,679 --> 00:16:30,919 to start bigger. I guess you could make a case if Nie Smith is 264 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:33,559 put in for Buddy healed, and I don't think they would do it for 265 00:16:33,559 --> 00:16:38,720 Bruce Brown, like because you bring him off the bench. When Nemhart is 266 00:16:38,759 --> 00:16:41,600 there, and then if mathin I'm trying to figure out a way would it 267 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:45,720 even be if you want to fit Mathroin into this, you pull Buddy Healed 268 00:16:45,799 --> 00:16:48,320 and go that route. The answer is still Obie Topping. And if you 269 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:52,600 want to start ultra small, you would put Mathron and Nie Smith in and 270 00:16:52,639 --> 00:16:57,240 then go with Brown those two Haliburton and Turner, and then I would think 271 00:16:57,399 --> 00:17:02,559 Nie Smith is the we glink there. The Pacers can do all sorts of 272 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:07,440 things. It does feel a little weird that Obie Topping could go from barely 273 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:11,880 playing with the Knicks Twode and starting with the Indiana Pacers. I guess I 274 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:17,279 didn't give much consideration to what they're starting five would be based off this makeup. 275 00:17:17,319 --> 00:17:21,160 I kind of assumed that we would see Mathren graduate into that, and 276 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:26,119 I know that they weren't. They weren't above starting small. Last year we 277 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:30,279 saw like Nemhard, Nie Smith Healed to play a bunch of minutes together, 278 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:33,440 and so I would think you would favor that set up again, wouldn't you? 279 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:38,279 And so at that point you might as well go with Mathren instead of 280 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:42,240 Topping. And then maybe you still like, do you bring Buddy Healed off 281 00:17:42,279 --> 00:17:47,240 the bench. This is like an impossible one answer. I'm spending way too 282 00:17:47,319 --> 00:17:49,720 much time on the pacers. I think you rip Obie out and then probably 283 00:17:49,839 --> 00:17:56,039 throw. I might go with Mathren and Nie Smith and put Buddy Healed and 284 00:17:56,200 --> 00:18:00,480 topping on the bench here. I'm like I might even like starting them hard. 285 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:04,119 I'm kind of looking at this just for like defensive reasons too. Would 286 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:08,079 you start him instead of me Smith and go small that way? I'm gonna 287 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:15,000 predict that Aaron N. Smith starts, and then it's kind of by defall 288 00:18:15,319 --> 00:18:18,160 the weak link because there are a lot of questions about him on offense. 289 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:19,720 You're not gonna ask him to do anything with the ball, but is he 290 00:18:19,759 --> 00:18:23,519 going to continue to give enough shooting kind of as an off ball accessory? 291 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:27,680 And so, yeah, I don't feel confident and I just don't. I'll 292 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:30,559 be shocked kind of if Obi starts, unless they've been something out there that 293 00:18:30,559 --> 00:18:36,319 says he will. The Los Angeles Clippers Marcus Morris, Russell Westbrook, Paul 294 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:40,279 George Kawhi, Leonard Marcus Morrison of vich Zubots. Yeah, that's the right 295 00:18:40,319 --> 00:18:42,200 answer. Marcus Morris is pretty bad last year. If they're sticking with this 296 00:18:42,319 --> 00:18:45,920 five. Could you see them start even smaller and throwing Terrence Man and which 297 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:52,680 case I think Russell Westbrook becomes the weakest link. So yeah, I think 298 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:55,039 this is the right answers, not much an argument. Could James Harden be 299 00:18:55,079 --> 00:18:56,440 involved in this? And then and then who who do we choose? We'll 300 00:18:56,440 --> 00:19:00,359 cross that bridge when we when we get to it. The Lass Angels, 301 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:04,480 Lakers with Ruby Hatchimura projected starting five De'angelo Russell, Austin Reeves, Lebron, 302 00:19:04,599 --> 00:19:10,319 James Ruey, Hatchimore and Anthony Davis. I did see a report this just 303 00:19:10,519 --> 00:19:12,359 it was a notification on my phone. I wasn't reading that Jackson Hayes could 304 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:15,839 start this. Just commitment to trying to make it like Anthony Davis is in 305 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:21,759 the five is honestly hysterical. I don't think Jackson hazel starts the anteloill be 306 00:19:21,799 --> 00:19:25,720 him if he does. If it's Ruey or if it's Vanderbilt here, I 307 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:30,400 think there'll probably be answers just because Russell has a lower floor than Vanderbilt, 308 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:36,079 for sure, but like Vanderbilt can provide you nothing on offense to the point 309 00:19:36,079 --> 00:19:38,000 that he's a detriment Delo can do the same thing on defense, but just 310 00:19:38,039 --> 00:19:44,599 as someone who might be able to initiate and maybe and not maybe, you 311 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:47,799 know that Vanderbilt is not going to do that. I think with Ruey, 312 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:51,279 though, he would be considered the weakest link until we just know that the 313 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:56,279 offensive performances he had in the playoffs translate to more of a normalcy in the 314 00:19:56,319 --> 00:19:59,799 regular season. Could you bring Delo off the bench and then start Dave Vincent? 315 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,799 Don't think that changes the answer here, so it would be really But 316 00:20:02,799 --> 00:20:06,319 if you want to start Vanderbilt instead, I'm sure some people can make the 317 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:07,720 case for Delo. I think it would probably still be Vanderbilt, to be 318 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:11,720 honest with you. Memphis Grizzlies, John Conchar, So we're doing this without 319 00:20:11,799 --> 00:20:15,559 John Moran since he'll be suspending for the first twenty five games, Marcus Smart, 320 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:19,279 Desmond Bain, John Conchar, Jaren Jackson Junior, and Steven Adams. 321 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:23,079 Yeah, I mean that's the answer. And then when this starting five has 322 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:30,880 John Moran, I think Steven Adams is probably the weak link just because he's 323 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:33,359 done. Aside from the offensive rebounding, he's not gonna give you a ton 324 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:37,200 on offense. He's a smart offensive player. I guess you can make the 325 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:41,200 case no, because you've John Moran. If you're looking at Marcus Smart to 326 00:20:41,279 --> 00:20:45,279 be like this true wing defender rather than someone who plugs all these different holes 327 00:20:45,799 --> 00:20:48,880 and guards up and can switch a ton like if you need him to be 328 00:20:48,039 --> 00:20:52,640 the Dylan Rooks type guy during the regular season. I just I can't bring 329 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:55,039 myself to pick that one. So, yeah, it's John conchar for now. 330 00:20:55,039 --> 00:20:57,640 It'll be Steven Adams when this team is at full strength that heat, 331 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:03,880 Kevin Love, projected starters, Tyler Hero, Josh Richardson, Jimmy Butler, 332 00:21:03,279 --> 00:21:07,720 Kevin Love, and bam at a bio. Yeah, this is probably the 333 00:21:07,799 --> 00:21:11,559 right answer. It's not Tyler Hero. I don't know. You could say, 334 00:21:11,559 --> 00:21:14,480 like maybe it's Josh Churchison, but I don't. I feel like I 335 00:21:14,519 --> 00:21:18,200 know Josh church doesn't had a rough go of it when he was in for 336 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:23,200 the like hot second that he was in Philly, but like he was fine. 337 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:26,240 I thought he was fine for Boston. I thought he ended up being 338 00:21:26,279 --> 00:21:32,559 fine for San Antonio and New Orleans this year, and so I loved that 339 00:21:32,599 --> 00:21:34,359 signing, especially in the middle. I think he gives you more than people 340 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:37,799 think and so with Kevin Love, yeah, rebounding, passing, shooting, 341 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:41,960 I think he could potentially hurt your defense. And Josh Churchison, I don't 342 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:45,000 think he's gonna hurt you at either end of the floor, even if he 343 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:51,880 doesn't necessarily elevate you. The Milwaukee Bucks Grayson Allen. They're projected starting five 344 00:21:52,319 --> 00:21:55,759 is Drew Holiday, Grayson Allen, Chris Middleton, Joanna's attend to coopom Brook 345 00:21:55,799 --> 00:22:00,119 Lopez. This is the right answer. I would fuck around with the starting 346 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,400 five and I would test out. I think Jake Crowder is too big for 347 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:07,640 the spot, but I would consider Pat Connaughton. I would consider trying a 348 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:11,680 leak Beasley out. I mean, why not, just if he can really 349 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:15,079 get off threes, and I guess great graysound. I guess Graysound was better 350 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:18,519 than him last season. I do think Beasley as a higher ceiling as a 351 00:22:18,559 --> 00:22:22,400 high volume shooter, but Allen's probably gonna give you more defensively, even though 352 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:26,920 Beasley should have the tools to do that. So I would consider it. 353 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:30,480 But either way, the fifth is just going to be the weak point. 354 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:33,400 No more West Matthews to consider in this spot. That's a that's a little 355 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:36,519 sad RP to that tenure. Maybe mar John bow Champ sneaks in here, 356 00:22:36,559 --> 00:22:40,319 but now I think this is the right starting five. And even if it's 357 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:41,839 not, whoever you thought in that fifth spot is going to be the right 358 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:48,319 pick. The Minnesota Timberwolves Woo Mike Conley, Mike Conley, Auntie Edwards, 359 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:52,880 Jade McDaniel's, Connethy Towns and Rudy Gobert speaking of what could be the best 360 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:56,480 starting five in basketball? Are we sure it's I'm high on the Wolves. 361 00:22:56,680 --> 00:23:00,119 I'm not sure if the clip will be up, but if you listen the 362 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:03,319 podcast where I talked about the Wolves, I'm extremely high on the Wolves. 363 00:23:03,599 --> 00:23:08,039 Do you like, couldn't it be Rudy Gobert is basically what I'm going It's 364 00:23:08,039 --> 00:23:11,720 not gonna be Aunt Edwards. It's not I know about Towns and what he 365 00:23:11,759 --> 00:23:15,559 does on defense, but he's such a transcendent offensive player. Gobert's defense felt 366 00:23:15,559 --> 00:23:19,400 like it's sort of waxed and waned a lot last season, and if he 367 00:23:19,559 --> 00:23:23,279 is sort of diminished in any capacity from I think you have to ask yourself 368 00:23:25,039 --> 00:23:29,960 this, who is adversely impacted more by the dual big setup? And the 369 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:34,039 answer is probably Rudy Gobert over Karl Anthony Towns. So I understand that Mike 370 00:23:34,079 --> 00:23:37,759 Conley is the oldest, theoretically the worst, the most volume player here, 371 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:41,400 but his importance as just like sort of a connector someone who's not going to 372 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:45,880 get absolutely torched on the defensive end, still just being this high IQ player. 373 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:51,200 You could maybe make the case for Rudy, But there's if the ant. 374 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:52,799 If your answer is Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley is your weakest link, 375 00:23:52,839 --> 00:23:56,240 I think you're in a pretty good spot. When you're looking at your starting 376 00:23:56,279 --> 00:24:02,039 lineup New Orleans Pelicans. You ownis Valanciunist. I wish the Pelicans would have 377 00:24:02,079 --> 00:24:06,680 really diversified their five rotation projected starters. CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, Trey 378 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:10,160 Murphy, Zion Williamson, and Jonas valanc Tunis. This is the right answer 379 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:12,839 depending on how you If you wait their ability, then I get it. 380 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:17,359 You can consider Zion there. I really want to see the Pelicans get the 381 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:21,559 lineup this year where Herb Jones is playing in Jannas valon Tunis is place. 382 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:23,240 I don't know if Zion is gonna give you enough defense there. How much 383 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:26,279 you want to play in the five. That lineup just screams all sorts of 384 00:24:26,319 --> 00:24:30,640 awesome to me. And I also wouldn't mind if you're really trying to launch 385 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:36,440 up the defense in that situation, We'll hold thee Alvarado give you enough shooting 386 00:24:36,519 --> 00:24:41,519 or would Diyson Daniels give you enough shooting or scoring or offensive impact whatsoever to 387 00:24:41,559 --> 00:24:44,359 try that. I mean, that's the like, that lineup isn't even that 388 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:47,759 small. If you go Dison Daniels, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Brandon 389 00:24:47,839 --> 00:24:49,119 Ingram and Zion. I don't really know what that looks like, but that 390 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:55,640 might be my favorite quirky lineup for New Orleans to try out. Right answer 391 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:57,000 here though, for sure, just Jona jound Tunis is not going to give 392 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:02,200 you enough on the defense, and his peak on offense is just it's not 393 00:25:02,279 --> 00:25:04,160 it's like a stretchy ish five, like he just doesn't have that. He 394 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:08,079 has the efficiency, but he doesn't have the volume to necessarily prop it up 395 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:11,680 and you know, get defense to respect him in the way they're gonna go 396 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:14,960 after a Miles Turner or even a Brook Lopez. Still a really good player 397 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:18,039 that Pelicans full strength have a really great starting five the New York Knicks. 398 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:22,599 RJ. Barrett, I'm prepared to go to war here projected starters Brunson, 399 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:27,200 Grimes, Barrett Randall, Mitchell Robinson. Yeah, why is Mitch's defense is? 400 00:25:27,519 --> 00:25:30,079 It can't be Julius. We all know how I feel about Julius Randall, 401 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:33,920 but it's not going to be random unless he goes. He had the 402 00:25:33,039 --> 00:25:37,519 MP campaign and then that follow up and he makes all NBA last year too, 403 00:25:37,599 --> 00:25:41,000 So does he have a drop off again? So let's make clear it's 404 00:25:41,039 --> 00:25:45,799 not Brunson. They told him, you want to prepare to say it won't 405 00:25:45,799 --> 00:25:48,920 be Grimes is just sort of I don't think he's gonna have enough offensive responsibility 406 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:52,039 to nuke you there. And we know he's this defensive try hard, a 407 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:55,920 little bit undersized if you want him defending wings. So I don't think he 408 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:57,400 could be Brunson. I don't think Grimes will have a prominent enough role for 409 00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:03,240 it to be him. Mitchell Robinson's defense is so important. I guess in 410 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:07,920 fury, like how do we define wink week link here in a vacuum, 411 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:11,799 I guess RJ. Barrett's the worst player. Mitchell Robinson's floor on offense is 412 00:26:11,839 --> 00:26:15,160 just so low. Is he gonna shoot forty eight percent from the free throw 413 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:19,000 line or not? Can you do anything aside from catching Finnish at the basket 414 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:22,240 grab some offensive rebounds. I'm gonna say no, just because if we're doing 415 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:26,640 this relative to their positions, I think there's a case for Julius Randall because 416 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:29,279 he limits so much of what you can do. Why is RJ Barrett in 417 00:26:29,599 --> 00:26:33,160 in such a herky jerky spot? In part because he's playing with Julius Randall 418 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:34,799 and Jalen Brunson a lot at the same time and edition of Less Basing with 419 00:26:34,839 --> 00:26:40,119 Mitchell Robinson there the answer. The answer is probably RJ. Barrett. I'm 420 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:44,799 like really getting ahead of myself here. I would love to see different sorts 421 00:26:44,799 --> 00:26:48,279 of lineups with RJ, and I would consider to maybe getting him those lineups. 422 00:26:48,559 --> 00:26:52,079 If you feel like you need to start him for diplomatic reasons, then 423 00:26:52,079 --> 00:26:56,000 can you give him the quick hook and throwing Josh Hart or maybe even a 424 00:26:56,079 --> 00:26:59,759 Donte di Vincenzo in his spot. Let's move on to the Oklahoma City Thunder. 425 00:26:59,759 --> 00:27:03,519 The week link is lut Dort. They're projected starting five is Josh Giddy, 426 00:27:03,519 --> 00:27:06,200 Shay Gil, Just Alexander, Jale Williams, Lue Dort, and Chet 427 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:11,799 Holmgren. Yeah. I mean it's not Shay, it's not Jal Williams, 428 00:27:11,799 --> 00:27:15,880 who's just so plug and play. Josh Kid got a lot better last year 429 00:27:17,519 --> 00:27:19,920 and to the point where you shot on thirty three percent from three, but 430 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:23,440 he had really extended pockets where he was shooting the ball better. He's definitely 431 00:27:23,519 --> 00:27:26,200 not as hesitant there. It gives you a lot of defense, rebounding, 432 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:30,319 excellent passing. Blue Dort's a great defender, but he's so up and down 433 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:33,079 on the offensive end. So, yes, this is the right answer. 434 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:37,440 I guess unless you feel that Chet Homegern's gonna be a rookie, they're gonna 435 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:38,319 have him play a lot of five. It looks like is he able to 436 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:42,720 contribute? Leave it dent right off the bat? Blue Dort's most likely the 437 00:27:42,799 --> 00:27:47,440 correct answer, though the magic with Gary Harris, the projected starting five of 438 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:51,799 faults Harris, Wagner, Ben Caro, Window, Carter Jr. I probably 439 00:27:51,839 --> 00:27:56,319 agree with this. Would they consider starting Anthony Black and Gary Harris's space? 440 00:27:56,359 --> 00:28:00,359 That would really destroy their shooting, But up there their ball handling at a 441 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:03,680 little bit. I don't know if you need extra ball handling when you have 442 00:28:03,799 --> 00:28:07,319 Bank Carrow, Franz Wagner, Marquel folt Here. I just want to leave 443 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:10,279 open the door that it could be a Mark el Foltz. He's become a 444 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:15,720 very serviceable offensive player and a very good playmaker. Just the absence of a 445 00:28:15,759 --> 00:28:19,319 consistent perimeter jumper, and how that changes the way defenses defend you and what 446 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:25,319 that can do to their half court offense can really submarine them. So it's 447 00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:30,839 Hammer Harris. I would probably lean. I'd probably lean Harris. I think, 448 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:33,880 well, yeah, just markol Folts defense, and I think you're going 449 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:37,319 to trust him at least as a ball handler. So yes, Harris is 450 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:40,119 going to be the right answer here with the possibility though that it's that it's 451 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:45,640 faults Philadelphia seventy six ers, PJ. Tucker, I don't know projected thirty 452 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:49,160 five of Harden, Maxie Tobias Harris, PJ. Tucker and Joel embiide this 453 00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:52,000 is the right answer in a vacuum. But if James Harden is still on 454 00:28:52,039 --> 00:28:57,079 this team and he goes full when he wanted out and was in Houston and 455 00:28:57,119 --> 00:29:00,559 then also was in Brooklyn, he comes your weekly so I just want I 456 00:29:00,720 --> 00:29:03,359 just want to throw that out there. Otherwise he has PG Tucker because he's 457 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:07,640 so low volume on the offensive end, and then just older overall, is 458 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:12,079 there any defensive slippage Phoenix Suns. Whichever non max player starts Brady Beale, 459 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:17,200 Devin Booker, Josh a Kogi or Kata Bates, Diop, Eric Gordon or 460 00:29:17,279 --> 00:29:19,960 Utah want an Abby than Kevin Rant DeAndre and so it's not Beal, it's 461 00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:25,880 not Booker, it's not the Rant. I just want to say that if 462 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:29,079 it's a Kogi, yes, If it's Kadabates the Upp, I'd probably say 463 00:29:29,119 --> 00:29:30,599 yes, unless you're just shooting the lights on the ball. If it's Eric 464 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:33,480 Gorn or Utah want an Abby. We need to see what DeAndre and just 465 00:29:33,559 --> 00:29:37,480 looks like on defense and kind of offense first, because there was some drop 466 00:29:37,559 --> 00:29:41,519 off on defense and then just his offensive shnanigans where there's just too much finesse 467 00:29:41,559 --> 00:29:45,400 and bailing out. I'm just it's obvious that it has to be one of 468 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:48,200 the other, like whoever they start in that fifth spot. But the gap 469 00:29:48,599 --> 00:29:52,880 of effectiveness, especially if you maybe look at well some of the catchalls for 470 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:56,960 DeAndre might be a little inflated. But if you're just looking at it, 471 00:29:56,039 --> 00:29:59,440 okay, who can you count on from a night to night basis, there's 472 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:03,279 a chance that there's less of a variants in the performance of this fifth starter 473 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:07,559 than there is some DeAndre And that is all all I'm saying. Portland Trailblazers 474 00:30:07,599 --> 00:30:11,759 Shaden Sharp projected starting five, Damian Lillard, Amfrey Simon, Shaden Sharp, 475 00:30:11,839 --> 00:30:15,599 Jeremy Grant. Use of Nurkicch No, I'm ready to go full use of 476 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:18,720 Nurkicch here. Just I don't care. I mean, it's we know Dame, 477 00:30:18,759 --> 00:30:21,160 if he's still there, he will play. It's I know Shaden Sharp 478 00:30:21,319 --> 00:30:23,039 is young, but he can hit some really tough shots when he gets going 479 00:30:23,119 --> 00:30:26,640 downhill. I think he's going to be an impactful defender. It's use of 480 00:30:26,759 --> 00:30:30,240 nurkich for me. I just this is not the center that's going to be 481 00:30:30,279 --> 00:30:32,920 able to anchor even close to a league average defense for them. And I 482 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:37,680 do think his offense becomes the redundance, not the word, but just not 483 00:30:37,799 --> 00:30:41,000 as useful when you have Lillard and Simon's and Sharp and even Grant on the 484 00:30:41,079 --> 00:30:44,640 floor here. This is not a unit that you want to run stuff through 485 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:48,480 for him, and I don't trust him enough as a screener to say if 486 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:52,000 you want to use him to create separation for everybody else, that's just not. 487 00:30:52,839 --> 00:30:55,640 You know, you could any of their bigs. I would argue that 488 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:57,079 you could slot in here, and the answer is going to be them. 489 00:30:57,119 --> 00:31:02,160 I'm just ready to go full blowing them out on the use of Nurkics experience, 490 00:31:02,279 --> 00:31:04,319 and that's not you could throw. I don't even have a lot of 491 00:31:04,359 --> 00:31:07,960 other bigs on this roster. So yeah, look, there's not I'm not 492 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:10,839 even saying there's a good alternative, but the five spot is going to be 493 00:31:10,920 --> 00:31:12,359 a week link here. Just start small, Let's get some noss little in 494 00:31:12,359 --> 00:31:15,720 there, maybe some of Tise Tablon, and we'll we'll run it that way. 495 00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:18,599 It's it's a nurkicch for me. It could be sharp, I get 496 00:31:18,599 --> 00:31:21,440 it. I'm just going Nurkis. I need to lean into it. It's 497 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:26,319 the belief the Sacramento Kings and Harrison Barnes projected starting five of Fox Hurder, 498 00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:29,240 Barnes, Kegan Murray, and Sabonis. This is really a hat tip to 499 00:31:29,319 --> 00:31:33,000 Kegan Murray. H Barnes had did not start the year. Great last season, 500 00:31:33,079 --> 00:31:37,359 but he finished pretty strong and gave them a good two eight equilibrium for 501 00:31:37,359 --> 00:31:42,119 actually most of the year. It's not Fox, it's not Sabonis, it's 502 00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:45,559 probably not Hurter. There can be some variants in his shooting, but like 503 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:48,160 you know what you're getting from him. I guess Barnes just being older, 504 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:51,640 and if Kegan Murray kind of just has that floor game in addition that we've 505 00:31:51,680 --> 00:31:55,400 seen during his I think it was two Summer Leaue appearances this year in addition 506 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:56,759 to what we know with him as a shooter, can he hold up a 507 00:31:56,799 --> 00:32:00,440 little bit more defensively this year? I think I can get on board with 508 00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:06,000 this pick. It's it's probably Barnes or Herder. If you're trying to think 509 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:09,200 of who has the lowest ceiling this ceiling this season, excuse me while looking 510 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:12,599 at these players, which might be the best way to look at it. 511 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:15,240 When you're dealing with four like five, I would say, good players, 512 00:32:15,279 --> 00:32:19,119 It's okay, Well, who's the lowest ceiling next season? And it'd be 513 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:22,319 Barns or Hurder. There the Spurs, Jeremy Sowing, Oh this hurts my 514 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:27,119 soul, Trey Jones, Devin Missel, Kelden Johnson, Jeremy sow and Victor 515 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:31,400 Wemban Yama. If I was the Spurs, I would consider bringing Keldon Johnson 516 00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:37,920 off the bench in this scenario and then seeing, okay, like do we 517 00:32:37,079 --> 00:32:43,480 start? I guess you wouldn't start Malachi Brandam. It just feels like you're 518 00:32:43,519 --> 00:32:46,000 gonna run into some weird positional overlap at some point. I'd rather see Zach 519 00:32:46,079 --> 00:32:50,720 Collins next to Wemby, to be honest with you. And so if the 520 00:32:50,839 --> 00:32:54,680 answer is then if this is the five, it has to be Jeremy Sowen. 521 00:32:54,799 --> 00:32:58,480 But I'll leave open the door that's Johnson because I'm that high and Jeremy 522 00:32:58,559 --> 00:33:04,519 Sowen, and I think that because of what he showed when they put the 523 00:33:04,559 --> 00:33:07,240 ball in his hands and then kind of just had the best player, the 524 00:33:07,359 --> 00:33:12,799 best defender on a really good team type of vibe from him, I would 525 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:15,960 leave open the door that. Okay, his ceiling is higher than Keldon Johnson 526 00:33:15,319 --> 00:33:21,240 Johnson's even now, but I do think that the Spurs should consider starting Kelden 527 00:33:21,359 --> 00:33:24,319 Ducks, starting Zach Collins over Keldon Johnson. Then the week link would be 528 00:33:24,759 --> 00:33:29,480 Zach Collins there. So Jeremy, you're gonna be First of all, your 529 00:33:29,519 --> 00:33:31,640 hair is just always on point, and you're gonna be a fantastic NBA player. 530 00:33:32,079 --> 00:33:36,960 Might already be there. You're probably the pick with this five. I 531 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:38,839 would leave open the door for Keldon Johnson. I won't consider Wemby. I'm 532 00:33:38,839 --> 00:33:43,920 just all in on the Wemby train. The Raptors Dennis Shrewder in the projected 533 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:46,160 starting five of Shrewder, O Gianna, Nobi, Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, 534 00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:51,440 and Jacca Peurdle. Okay, so no, it's not Dennis Shrewder at 535 00:33:51,519 --> 00:33:53,359 Jacob Peurdle. This is someone who doesn't hit enough free throws to be on 536 00:33:53,400 --> 00:33:59,160 the court during crunch time, and he's gonna need more space to be effective 537 00:33:59,319 --> 00:34:01,960 as a screener and a roller, and the Raptors cannot give it to him. 538 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:06,599 And I think he's he's not the worst player of this group. That 539 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:08,480 would be Dennis Shrewder, But when you're kind of looking at the makeup of 540 00:34:08,519 --> 00:34:12,599 the roster, it feels like he's going to be the one that suffers the 541 00:34:12,679 --> 00:34:15,639 most here. And so maybe he comes in and he's just like a super 542 00:34:15,679 --> 00:34:17,880 stingy rim protector. He's making some really smart passes for them, and he's 543 00:34:19,039 --> 00:34:21,880 maybe he's finishing well and they find ways to generate space. I don't know 544 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:24,039 what else you do as a starting five, because I don't think you're going 545 00:34:24,119 --> 00:34:28,199 to bring Scottie Barnes off the bench, and unless you trust him to run 546 00:34:28,280 --> 00:34:30,760 point guard now with him in siakam and throw Gary Tren Jr. In here 547 00:34:30,880 --> 00:34:36,000 just a hope that you get some more shooting on the court. That is 548 00:34:36,320 --> 00:34:38,920 bad. The spacing on this team is so bad. Who is the O 549 00:34:39,119 --> 00:34:44,440 Gianoby's the closest thing to an above average shooter that you have in this lineup? 550 00:34:44,519 --> 00:34:46,480 That's wild. I would consider a starting Gary Trent junior over shooter. 551 00:34:46,559 --> 00:34:52,280 They they won't. They won't want to see how Darko Royakovic like decides to 552 00:34:52,840 --> 00:34:57,599 field this team. But it's like in terms of raw talent shooter, but 553 00:34:57,760 --> 00:35:01,760 the makeup of this I think Yaka Pearle ends up being a terrible fit on 554 00:35:01,960 --> 00:35:06,639 offense and not doing enough on the defensive. And again the limitations of Kenny 555 00:35:06,719 --> 00:35:12,199 close games I think matters. The Jazz Ohi Baji projected starters Jordan Clarkson, 556 00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:15,079 Ochak Baji, Larry Market and John cons and Walker Kessler, we had to 557 00:35:15,159 --> 00:35:20,119 leave open the door for maybe a John Collins, like we just all assume 558 00:35:20,199 --> 00:35:22,559 is shooting is going to get better, and if this team can figure out 559 00:35:22,559 --> 00:35:25,119 how to use him as a screener more than Atlanta did, and look, 560 00:35:25,360 --> 00:35:30,199 OCHI has a real two way shops. This is not This is someone who 561 00:35:30,239 --> 00:35:31,440 can really sling it, put the ball on the floor a little bit on 562 00:35:31,519 --> 00:35:35,840 offense, even though they don't really necessarily need him to. I do think 563 00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:39,159 you can also say that Jordan Clarkson might be the answer because you're tasking him 564 00:35:39,239 --> 00:35:43,960 with being sort of your de facto point guard and you don't get enough playmaking 565 00:35:44,039 --> 00:35:46,360 out of any of these spots right now. I don't know if that makes 566 00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:51,039 him the weak link just because it's he's playing the one and so is it 567 00:35:51,119 --> 00:35:53,800 his responsibility provide that or is it sort of a collective deficit and we don't 568 00:35:53,840 --> 00:35:58,400 penalize him for it like himself. So there's a lot. I think there's 569 00:35:58,559 --> 00:36:02,800 there's three potential answers here, Clarkson, Acbaji or Collins. I think I'm 570 00:36:02,840 --> 00:36:07,480 just going to go with Clarkson because I don't know if you need what he 571 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:12,039 brings as much in this lineup and what you're going to start him as I 572 00:36:12,079 --> 00:36:15,320 guess he improved of the past or last year, so I understand it we 573 00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:19,840 plently need to default to John Collins until he proves more of what he can 574 00:36:19,880 --> 00:36:22,880 do. I think a Baji just when they started playing him, he looked 575 00:36:22,920 --> 00:36:27,360 like a real NBA player. And this is someone who I don't really know 576 00:36:27,519 --> 00:36:29,960 who to compare him to, but it feels like he's going to be the 577 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:32,920 member of a starting five that's a really good team, like a contender where 578 00:36:32,960 --> 00:36:37,679 it's three in D plus more type of contributor, and so everyone wants those 579 00:36:37,719 --> 00:36:39,519 three ind wings, but he's the three in D plus a little bit more, 580 00:36:39,639 --> 00:36:43,440 maybe even a lot of bit more. But I understand why you would 581 00:36:43,440 --> 00:36:49,719 gravitate towards him. The Washington Wizards Corey Kissbert projected starting five of Tayas Jones, 582 00:36:50,239 --> 00:36:55,079 Jordan Poole, Corey Kissbert, Kyle Kuzma, and Daniel Gafford. Yeah, 583 00:36:55,119 --> 00:36:58,800 I don't know, Like you're not going to start Gallo or Shamid or 584 00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:01,360 Delon Wright, Denny Avdya not being in here is weird. I know that 585 00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:07,920 he can stand to get more touches if he is leading the bench. But 586 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:12,920 I just kind of wonder you have so much offense with Kuzma and Pool. 587 00:37:13,639 --> 00:37:16,559 I know you probably want shooting and Kissburt has been a little bit better defensively 588 00:37:16,679 --> 00:37:21,880 than his reputation coming in the league two years ago, and you want to 589 00:37:21,920 --> 00:37:24,119 have Denny Avdya with the ball in his hands more so it probably makes sense 590 00:37:24,159 --> 00:37:28,760 to not start him. Jordan Pools the answer for me right now though, 591 00:37:28,840 --> 00:37:30,159 when looking just because you don't know where you're gonna get from tonight tonight, 592 00:37:30,239 --> 00:37:34,840 and is he gonna play within himself, within his role or when he's freelancing, 593 00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:39,079 is it's just going to be an absolute tank job. So Corey Kissbert, 594 00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:42,920 of these five, I guess Gaffer technically right belowest ceiling, but I 595 00:37:43,039 --> 00:37:45,440 think I would go with I'm gonna go with Jordan Pool. I just he 596 00:37:45,559 --> 00:37:47,239 was so bad last year. I know we averaged twenty points per game, 597 00:37:47,280 --> 00:37:50,719 that's what everyone likes to look at. But he's the weak link for Washington 598 00:37:51,039 --> 00:37:53,320 for now. He is so bad defensively and you're not like you're not getting 599 00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:55,719 a ton of defense out of this line up, which is why might also 600 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:59,800 argue maybe you do start Denny Afy and just kind of deal with it. 601 00:38:00,039 --> 00:38:02,719 You can stagger his minutes just to get that extra defense in there that does 602 00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:07,639 it. Here until next time, and as always remembers, subscribe and shout 603 00:38:07,679 --> 00:38:12,639 out to the one you'llly be indelible, the legendary and never a week link 604 00:38:12,679 --> 00:38:15,840 and someone sign him already to commit. Frank Heels here