Who has the best frontcourt this year C/PF?

[dhsilv2]

A front court is 3 players though lol

Throw in that SF and it probably changes the answers.

Not sure how a "wing" is front court. I know we used to have essentially second power forwards at the 3. But today some "front courts" are just 1 player.

Nah, front court has always been 3 guys.

3, 4, and 5.

1 and 2 are the guards.

Lots of teams plays guards at 3 and now days sometimes even the 4 but it doesn't really change a back court has always been a duo so by default a front court is a trio.

This is an old school classic diagram of where the positions naturally setup. There two front court players. There's a reason today we have points, wings, and centers. And really the games always been played like that. We just sometimes had two centers and sometimes have two points. But the 3 has almost always been a wing and thus back court. Unless you really feel standing 2 feet inside as this shows makes them "front court" and then I guess...

[JujitsuFlip]

Not sure how a "wing" is front court. I know we used to have essentially second power forwards at the 3. But today some "front courts" are just 1 player.

Nah, front court has always been 3 guys.

3, 4, and 5.

1 and 2 are the guards.

Lots of teams plays guards at 3 and now days sometimes even the 4 but it doesn't really change a back court has always been a duo so by default a front court is a trio.

This is an old school classic diagram of where the positions naturally setup. There two front court players. There's a reason today we have points, wings, and centers. And really the games always been played like that. We just sometimes had two centers and sometimes have two points. But the 3 has almost always been a wing and thus back court. Unless you really feel standing 2 feet inside as this shows makes them "front court" and then I guess...

Brother, all 5 guys in this photo are in the front court of the physical basketball court...

Anything beyond half court, for the offense, is the front court. Hence, if ya go back behind the mid court line, it is a back court violation.

Teams generally would have the SF, PF, and C in the front court while the SG inbounded the ball to the PG, in the back court.

[cupcakesnake]

The C/PF combo who got exposed in the post season, twice. No.

I still don't think they are good fit. Sure, they will win a lot of regular season games, but come playoff they are not hard to game plan against because they don't complement each other's skill set especially on the offensive end.

Currently, it's Jokic and Gordon, not close.

Giannis and Turner has the potential to be 2nd, but we will see.

Before the Luka trade I would put AD and LeBron the close 2nd, let see how AD and Flagg look in their season debut. Paolo and Franz deserve a mention too.

*Exposed* when Allen was out for the entire series against Boston and Mobley got injured in Game 1 and missed all of Game 2 against the Pacers.

I understand, but to be frank injuries almost become an excuse of not aware of the fact that Mobley is playing out of position with a defensive center in Allen. Team just comfortable to let Mobley shot a bunch of jumpers. Both him and Allen make an excellent defensive frontline, but they are not good enough offensive player to spread the floor for the Cavs offensive minded backcourt to operate. I agree they should running it back in the wide open Eastern conference, but I just think the combination of two defensive minded frontcourt player and two offensive minded backcourt player is too much inbalance for contending teams to expose in a 7 game series. The book is out on defending the Cavs, it's a copycat league.

There wasn't any real problems with the Cavs offense in the playoffs. I mean, jesus, they put up a 137.2 Ortg against the Heat, which was a top 10 defense last year. The wheels fell off due to injuries to Mobley, Garland, Mitchell, and De'Andre Hunter. The injuries put them in a deep hole, and then several of those players looked pretty hobbled when they returned. Mobley though, played very well.

The idea your presenting makes sense, but it doesn't fit at all with the actual basketball that the Cavs played last year. Ridiculous offensive production all year long and the bigs in no way held them back. Mobley and Allen attacking the rim hard is the exact thing that opens up all those 3s.

[cupcakesnake]

So AD and who ever doesn't have much a choice? I think Dallas is up there IMO.

I think Jokic and Giannis are just way above where AD is and then whoever else you put out there with AD is probably pretty even with Turner and Gordon.

Sorry seen this earlier ... been busy. What did you end up voting? Jokic is in west so guessing you voted "other insert comment" and Giannis is on the poll soooo?.

Can you explain wtf you're talking about and what the subject of this topic is supposed to be? You keep saying "Jokic is in the West" but make no mention of conferences in your OP, and 4 of the poll options are the West as well.

Is this intentional trolling of Denver/Jokic fans, or what's the deal?

[SlimShady83]

Can you explain wtf you're talking about and what the subject of this topic is supposed to be? You keep saying "Jokic is in the West" but make no mention of conferences in your OP, and 4 of the poll options are the West as well.

Is this intentional trolling of Denver/Jokic fans, or what's the deal?

Done in pm, but yeh totally understand, and to Jokic/Den fans no not trolling. Next time I won't do a poll.

[cupcakesnake]

Can you explain wtf you're talking about and what the subject of this topic is supposed to be? You keep saying "Jokic is in the West" but make no mention of conferences in your OP, and 4 of the poll options are the West as well.

Is this intentional trolling of Denver/Jokic fans, or what's the deal?

Done in pm, but yeh totally understand, and to Jokic/Den fans no not trolling. Next time I won't do a poll.

On the flipside, I'd love to hear your take on why Denver isn't a top 4 frontcourt in the West

[dballislife]

bucks and nuggs should be 1 and 2...maybe give denver a slight edge since that frontcourt actually won it all

[SlimShady83]

Can you explain wtf you're talking about and what the subject of this topic is supposed to be? You keep saying "Jokic is in the West" but make no mention of conferences in your OP, and 4 of the poll options are the West as well.

Is this intentional trolling of Denver/Jokic fans, or what's the deal?

Done in pm, but yeh totally understand, and to Jokic/Den fans no not trolling. Next time I won't do a poll.

On the flipside, I'd love to hear your take on why Denver isn't a top 4 frontcourt in the West

If I were to remove any of the teams on this poll would be Wolves Gobert/Randle, West team for West team. Everyone talking about KD fit with Houston elsewhere, so that's why I added them in, Dallas is insane and I just like Rudy/Randle we'll see how far they can go this year. As for the frontcourt, I guess I should have added Jokic/Denver on the poll instead of Wolves.

Edit: If Wolves made it to finals last year and won, would their opinions change?

[mkot]

The idea your presenting makes sense, but it doesn't fit at all with the actual basketball that the Cavs played last year. Ridiculous offensive production all year long and the bigs in no way held them back. Mobley and Allen attacking the rim hard is the exact thing that opens up all those 3s.

I guess we will see how far a healthy Cavs squad can go this playoffs. I just think an inbalance roster is vulnerable in a 7 game series. The league has too many talents right now that skilled teams would just spam the same actions over and over to expose the opposing team's weakest links, so you just can't have too many one-way players on the court. Games are win on the margin in a playoff series.

[cupcakesnake]

The idea your presenting makes sense, but it doesn't fit at all with the actual basketball that the Cavs played last year. Ridiculous offensive production all year long and the bigs in no way held them back. Mobley and Allen attacking the rim hard is the exact thing that opens up all those 3s.

I guess we will see how far a healthy Cavs squad can go this playoffs. I just think an inbalance roster is vulnerable in a 7 game series. The league has too many talents right now that skilled teams would just spam the same actions over and over to expose the opposing team's weakest links, so you just can't have too many one-way players on the court. Games are win on the margin in a playoff series.

Who do you think of as a 1-way player on the Cavs, besides Garland?

[cupcakesnake]

Done in pm, but yeh totally understand, and to Jokic/Den fans no not trolling. Next time I won't do a poll.

On the flipside, I'd love to hear your take on why Denver isn't a top 4 frontcourt in the West

If I were to remove any of the teams on this poll would be Wolves Gobert/Randle, West team for West team. Everyone talking about KD fit with Houston elsewhere, so that's why I added them in, Dallas is insane and I just like Rudy/Randle we'll see how far they can go this year. As for the frontcourt, I guess I should have added Jokic/Denver on the poll instead of Wolves.

Edit: If Wolves made it to finals last year and won, would their opinions change?

If I were ranking West starting frontcourts, I'd go:

1. Jokic/Gordon
2. Zu/Kawhi
3. Sengun/KD
4. AD/Lively
5. Chet/iHart
6. Gobert/Randle

I'm not sure. I find these frontcourts are all very close, but Jokic being by far the best player, and A.Gordon being such a perfect verstaile fit with him makes them an easy nod. 2-6, I can see a case for any order.

- I worry about the health of Kawhi, KD, and AD. Different variations of old and injury prone.

- Dallas has insane depth. PJ and Flagg are both starting quality 4s, Lively and Gafford are starting 5s, AD can start at either. I'm just not sure any specific 2 of these players are better than the rest of the group. Cooper is going to be on the wing the whole year, due to this roster construction.

- If Chet takes a leap and iHart keeps playing a big role, they could easily become the best duo. Monster dual rim protectors who bring all the little things.

- Sengun and KD is a mediocre defensive frontcourt, but a crazy ton of offense.

- I'm worried Gobert will continue to decline, and/or that the Wolves haven't put any interior passers around him (an absolute must if you want any offense from Gobert). Randle really found his niche on offense as a driving playmaker and aggressive shooter, but his off-ball defense is still so ugly.

[SlimShady83]

1. Jokic/Gordon
2. Zu/Kawhi
3. Sengun/KD
4. AD/Lively
5. Chet/iHart
6. Gobert/Randle

Shouldn't Kawhi be more SF? Clippers just got John Colllins so there line up C/PF anyway, would be Zubac/Collins No?
And Wolves just last year made it to the conference finals, probably this year too unless LaLuka has something to say about it.

[cupcakesnake]

1. Jokic/Gordon
2. Zu/Kawhi
3. Sengun/KD
4. AD/Lively
5. Chet/iHart
6. Gobert/Randle

Shouldn't Kawhi be more SF? Clippers just got John Colllins so there line up C/PF anyway, would be Zubac/Collins No?
And Wolves just last year made it to the conference finals, probably this year too unless LaLuka has something to say about it.

We'll see what the Clippers do at full strength. They could put out a ton of different lineups. Last year they went Harden/Dunn/Powell/Kawhi/Zu in the playoffs. Collins, Beal, Dunn, DJJ, CP3... any of those guys could start or come off the bench. Bball ref listed Kawhi as a 4 for 80% of his minutes. His defensive role has trended more and more towards the 4 every year as he slows down and prefers to help on the backline rather than chase. He's so reluctant as a screen navigator these days, you almost have to treat him as a big.

Yes the Wolves are a pseudo-contender, and their frontcourt is a part of that. Ant is their best player. Their frontcourt has really excellent depth with Naz and Jaden, but I'm not sure Rudy/Juju on their own is clearly better than these other duos.

I don't view LA as a definite playoff team. They're more on of those "if everything goes right" kinds of teams. I actually like the roster, but their second best player will be 41 soon, was a net negative last year (for the first time in his entire career), and really struggles to bounce back from injuries. It seems now, when Lebron gets a small injury, it nags at him all year. He's going into the season hurt. I think this team has defensive problems either way.

[SlimShady83]

1. Jokic/Gordon
2. Zu/Kawhi
3. Sengun/KD
4. AD/Lively
5. Chet/iHart
6. Gobert/Randle

Shouldn't Kawhi be more SF? Clippers just got John Colllins so there line up C/PF anyway, would be Zubac/Collins No?
And Wolves just last year made it to the conference finals, probably this year too unless LaLuka has something to say about it.

We'll see what the Clippers do at full strength. They could put out a ton of different lineups. Last year they went Harden/Dunn/Powell/Kawhi/Zu in the playoffs. Collins, Beal, Dunn, DJJ, CP3... any of those guys could start or come off the bench. Bball ref listed Kawhi as a 4 for 80% of his minutes. His defensive role has trended more and more towards the 4 every year as he slows down and prefers to help on the backline rather than chase. He's so reluctant as a screen navigator these days, you almost have to treat him as a big.

Harden/Beal/Kawhi/Collins/Zubac would be my go to, You've seen my predcitions <> viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2471466 for the West. Let's just hope for a reasonable healthy season for all.

[Nazrmohamed]

Nobody brought up Allen and Mobley?

[RoyceDa59]

Jokic Gordan
Giannis Turner
Mobley Allen

[Bobbymcgee]

John Collins
Kawhi Leonard
Ivica Zubac

[Godymas]

Casuals will say KD and Sengun

The ones who think they know ball will say Giannis and Turner

The chronically online will say Jokic and Gordon

and the smart ones will give the correct answer which is Jarrett Allen with Evan Mobley.

[eyriq]

Orlando Magic

Paolo/WCJ

[cupcakesnake]

Orlando Magic

Paolo/WCJ

Wendell would have to make some kind of leap this year, to make this duo worth mentioning in the conversation. He's never averaged 30mpg in a season, and last year the promise of him a spacer died with his 23% on 3s (and only 31% on long 2s). He's long intrigued with his versatility and 2-way play. You can squint and imagine he's the second coming of Al Horford, but he absolutely hasn't gotten there. Right now, Wendell is a low-end starting center.

Or...Paolo would need to figure out his scoring efficiency and playmaking potential, essentially becoming a real MVP candidate, for this pairing to be worth consideration.

Or... mini version of both of these. Paolo increases his scoring efficiency above league average and trends up as driving passer, while Wendell just has a super solid season where you want him on the court for starter minutes.