Starters C - Robert Parish (1985-86)
PF - Charles Barkley (1992-93)
SF - Jayson Tatum (2021-22)
SG - Danny Green (2019-20)
PG - Mark Price (1991-92)
Bench C - Bo Outlaw (2000-01)
F/G - Anthony Parker (2009-10)
G - Marcus Smart (2018-19)
Rotations (subject to matchups)C - Parish (36), Outlaw (12)
PF - Barkley (40), Tatum (8)
SF - Tatum (32), Parker (16)
SG - Smart (24), Green (24)
PG - Price (38), Smart (10)
FGA Per PlayerWe can hurt you in a number of ways on the offensive end, starting with Chuck either backing down or facing up. He's unstoppable around the rim, and an excellent passer who can punish the defense when it collapses on him. Chuck's gravity allows Tatum to function in his ideal role as a #2 option. Price knits everything together at the point, a dynamic off-the-dribble creator and finisher whose lethal shooting helps space the floor for the big guns. Parish will feed off the other stars for dumpoffs, transition layups, and midranger jumpers. Green, Parker, and Smart space the floor. Defensively, Chuck and Price are our weakest links, but the rest of the rotation ranges from above average to elite. In particular, the perimeter help instincts of Tatum, Green, and Smart make it harder to isolate favourable matchups, and there's strong rim protection at all times from Parish and Outlaw.
Matchup- Smart moves into the starting five to match up with Nash, as we need someone who can fight through screens so we aren't forced into problematic switches. This gives us the best chance to contain flaco's pick-and-roll attack, especially since Nash himself getting off a shot is one of the worst outcomes for us. Price guards Bridges, Tatum T-Mac, Chuck-Cliffy, Parish-Amar'e.
- Cliffy is a great defender, but his major weakness is his putrid defensive rebounding which is even more damaging against a guy like Chuck. On the other end, he's legitimately one of the most horrific playoff scorers in NBA history, so his ability to attack Chuck in any meaningful way is very much in question.
- We've got a pick-and-roll maestro of our own in Price, who should be able attack Amar'e in space to either create for himself or hit Parish on the roll/pop.
- Outlaw aside, we're generally getting more two-way ability from our role players with the shooting of Green and Parker and the secondary playmaking of Smart (who is at least comfortable taking threes if not very consistent). Ben and Miami Bowen are offensive liabilities, and Caruso isn't much of a threat either.
Good luck flaco.