PG: Tyreke should start. He's gotten enough exposure at the PG position to understand the position, and puts him at the greatest point of mismatch against tiny and scrawny little PGs. Beno backs him up off the bench, we need him to be the floor general when Tyreke isn't on the floor.
SG: Garcia should start, both to give Tyreke a great mismatch at PG and to maintain balance in the rotation. Good defender, good shooter, passable ballhandling skills, ability to play off the ball is perfect. I think with Tyreke/Beno/Garcia we have the PG/SG spots covered, since Tyreke can play both positions.
SF: Greene should start because I think he's been more impressive in Summer League and fits chemistry-wise better in the starting 5 that includes Tyreke and Cousins. His defense should be top notch at this position. Casspi comes off the bench as a single-minded gunner, this role probably fits him best.
PF: Cousins. He has shown me enough to believe he can be like Pau Gasol at this position with his length and quick feet. Probably will be the second option on offense after Tyreke. Obviously when we go up against the Amares and the Boozers of the NBA he's going to need help, but we would have to help on them no matter who is here. Landry off the bench is ideal for him, he has a history of murdering opposing benches as a sparkplug.
C: Dalembert. Helps cover for Cousins defensive problems by erasing mistakes, plus fits in well with both Cousins and Tyreke on offense by being a finisher at the rim. Also can help show Cousins the ropes in terms of being a defensive anchor for a squad so that when Whiteside emerges Cousins can take his natural C position and be the main anchor with Whiteside being the athletic weakside help. For the coming season JT should back up this position, he's got size and energy to be an ideal bench big.
So in conclusion:
Tyreke/Beno
Garcia/Beno
Greene/Casspi
Cousins/Landry
Dalembert/JT
Our starters will have a size advantage every night (6'5, 6'7, 6'10, 6'11, 7') and there really are no weak links defensively in that lineup (except maybe Cousins guarding quicker PFs). Offense runs through Tyreke and Cousins, with Garcia spotting up for threes and cutting, Donte taking advantage of holes in the defense off the dribble, and Dalembert always as an alley-oop lob threat. Not to mention that I love our bench, imagine the firepower that Beno/Landry/Casspi/JT rain down on opposing benches.
Anyone else excited for next year?
