RealGM

This team has a lot of options but, if healthy, I envision a starting five of Bynum/Thompson/Gee/Waiters/Irving.
I'm guessing they end the game with some combination of 5/4/3/Irving/Jack.

Who starts, who finishes the game?

Barring health:

Starting 5
Irving
Waiters
Gee
Varejao
Bynum

Closing 5
Irving
Waiters
Gee
Varejao
Bynum

One exception for the closing 5 would be a three guard lineup featuring Jack in place of Gee.

Starting 5

Irving
Waiters
Gee
Thompson
Bynum

Ending"

Irving
Waiters
Clark
Thompson
Varejao

Irving/Waiters/Gee/Verejao/Bynum
Irving/Jack/Waiters/Verejao/Bynum

Well I guess I'll play:

Irving
Waiters
Clark
Thompson
Bynum

Lots of variables and options this year. Depth is a not a bad thing.

mcfly1204 wrote:Barring health:

Starting 5
Irving
Waiters
Gee
Varejao
Bynum

Closing 5
Irving
Waiters
Gee
Varejao
Bynum

One exception for the closing 5 would be a three guard lineup featuring Jack in place of Gee.

I'd like it if Irving were a few inches taller, though they could still get away with it against some teams. A Thompson-Varejao frontcourt also seems possible if Bynum is on a minutes limit to start the season.

Otherwise I agree! They have a few intriguing variations.

I'm a Laker fan here so let me throw that out there.

Starting: Irving/Waiters/Gee/Varejao/Bynum
Closing: Irving/Jack/Gee/Varejao/Bynum

XtotheDeezy wrote:I'm a Laker fan here so let me throw that out there.

Starting: Irving/Waiters/Gee/Varejao/Bynum
Closing: Irving/Jack/Gee/Varejao/Bynum

Curious to know if you think Clark can play the 3 well if called upon. Its not like Gee is Jesus Shuttlesworth...

TT will, and should start. Probably with Bynum.

I could see the Cavs closing games they're behind in with this lineup:

Irving/Waiters/Jack/Bennett/Varejao

If Karasev can play, he could be subbed for Waiters or Jack ... and Clark is another possibility if we need some more height or need to protect Bennett.

If they've got a lead to protect, they have a bunch of options and can let the defensive matchups dictate who they use while maintaining some offensive viability.

Irving/Waiters/Bennett/TT/Bynum

IMHO wrote:Irving/Waiters/Bennett/TT/Bynum

So do you think Bennett is going to win the job out of camp, or is that your end five? From what the team has said he is a PF period. To be honest, I don't see a real difference between what Gee has been and what Clark is projected to be at the SF position, a guy who can defend and occasionally hit the corner three. Other than Clark is 4 inches taller so maybe Bennett can win the job at some point.

mcfly1204 wrote:Barring health:

Starting 5
Irving
Waiters
Gee
Varejao
Bynum

Closing 5
Irving
Waiters
Gee
Varejao
Bynum

One exception for the closing 5 would be a three guard lineup featuring Jack in place of Gee.

Irving, Waiters, and Jack closing a game? I can't see this happening, for the obvious reasons, at the end of any competitive game.

Starting 5

Irving/Waiters/Clark/Thompson/Bynum

Ending 5

Irving/Waiters/Jack/Varejao/Bynum

gordito wrote:

mcfly1204 wrote:Barring health:

Starting 5
Irving
Waiters
Gee
Varejao
Bynum

Closing 5
Irving
Waiters
Gee
Varejao
Bynum

One exception for the closing 5 would be a three guard lineup featuring Jack in place of Gee.

Irving, Waiters, and Jack closing a game? I can't see this happening, for the obvious reasons, at the end of any competitive game.

Did GSW ever run Curry, Jack, and Thompson late in games, because I would be interested in seeing what the results were. With Jack creating, that would leave use with Irving and Waiters to knock down any open looks. Plus, as the adage goes, you want your best players on the floor closing out games.

mcfly1204 wrote:

gordito wrote:

mcfly1204 wrote:Barring health:

Starting 5
Irving
Waiters
Gee
Varejao
Bynum

Closing 5
Irving
Waiters
Gee
Varejao
Bynum

One exception for the closing 5 would be a three guard lineup featuring Jack in place of Gee.

Irving, Waiters, and Jack closing a game? I can't see this happening, for the obvious reasons, at the end of any competitive game.

Did GSW ever run Curry, Jack, and Thompson late in games, because I would be interested in seeing what the results were. With Jack creating, that would leave use with Irving and Waiters to knock down any open looks. Plus, as the adage goes, you want your best players on the floor closing out games.

I don't know for sure, but I wouldn't doubt it. Difference is, Klay Thompson is one of the best shooters in the league. Kyrie is up there as well, but I don't think he is best utilized as someone to knock down open shots. Not to mention, a guy like Kyrie (unlike Klay) is rarely just going to be left wide open so the other team can double team or close out on Jack and Waiters, given that HE is the most dangerous option on the team.

Also, I was referring to more of the defensive implications. Klay Thompson is 6'7. While he's not a great defender, he's capable of guarding SFs given his size.

gordito wrote:Irving, Waiters, and Jack closing a game? I can't see this happening, for the obvious reasons, at the end of any competitive game.

lol, I'm pretty sure we'll see it.

When were behind in the game and the offense is struggling and needs a spark, there's no reason not to try going small in order to force the other team in to mismatches they'll have to deal with.

Now, maybe those guys won't click, or maybe some other combination of players will prove they can give us that spark without giving up so many inches, but that's tbd ...

JonFromVA wrote:

gordito wrote:Irving, Waiters, and Jack closing a game? I can't see this happening, for the obvious reasons, at the end of any competitive game.

lol, I'm pretty sure we'll see it.

When were behind in the game and the offense is struggling and needs a spark, there's no reason not to try going small in order to force the other team in to mismatches they'll have to deal with.

Now, maybe those guys won't click, or maybe some other combination of players will prove they can give us that spark without giving up so many inches, but that's tbd ...

Well yeah, I'm not doubting that they can possibly all be on the court together. But if you're "behind in the game and the offense is struggling" I wouldn't consider that a "competitive game", which is the point I'm trying to make.

Maybe when their backs are against the wall and they have no other choice, they'll run with that lineup. But do you honestly think that will ever be in the gameplan prior to a playoff game for instance? Btw, we're talking about closing a game, and nothing else.

Any game you can fight your way back in to is a competitive game, and whether you'd go small against a playoff caliber opponent is simply going to depend on the success you've had with that lineup and the desperation level.

Given a choice, we know Mike would prefer to go with length but we'll just have to see how the lineups work out. Until someone else proves otherwise, Waiters and Jack would seem to be our most offensively talented players behind Kyrie.

Keep in mind that Mike Brown ran a legit defense with 6' 3" Delonte West as our starting SG and best perimeter defender.