Opening Night Starting Lineup

[42N8Bounce]

Given that the current roster is what we have to work with on opening night, what should the starting lineup be? Will Billups agree with your choices?



Should Snell start at small forward? Is Nas ready for primetime?

So many options....

 

[blazerkor]

I'm hoping we've moved CJ for a legit starting forward by opening day but I've been hoping for that for a long time.

Maybe coach Billups will be so dedicated to defense and the offense will be so good anyways that we forget about the absurd three guard lineup. So I voted for Dame, Norm, RoCo, Nance and Nurk to start opening night. If Nance, RoCo, Snell and Nas can cover the minutes at the 3 and 4... you could still give Dame, Norm and CJ 30+ minutes at the 1 and 2. This doesn't give Ant enough time but it's what I'd like to see done.

Let's give CJ a chance at winning sixth man of the year.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Tempted to vote "Other" because I think Ben Simmons should start...

 

[Mr. Robot]

dame/cj mccollum/powell/roco/zeller

trade nurk for deande jordan or blake griffin

 

[Natebishop3]

trade nurk for deande jordan or blake griffin

 

[Fairly-Hard]

This has been posted elsewhere.
You seem to keep thinking they will not start Powell?

 

[Natebishop3]

This has been posted elsewhere.
You seem to keep thinking they will not start Powell?

Actually, if you read his post, he's saying they won't start CJ.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Actually, if you read his post, he's saying they won't start CJ.

I did read his post.
It says this-

Given that the current roster is what we have to work with on opening night, what should the starting lineup be? Will Billups agree with your choices

And this.

Should Snell start at small forward? Is Nas ready for primetime?

So many options....

Then he proceeds to put Powell in the SG spot instead in the SF spot.

Powell will start in the SF spot unless there is some kind of trade which is looking less and less likely.

My statement stands.
Snell or Nas will not start over Powell.

 

[Chris Craig]

CJ is not coming off the bench. Neither is Powell.

It's going to be Dame, CJ, Powell, Roco, Nurk

Nor only is not coming off the bench, Billups won't have him lead the 2nd unit like Stotts did. He said he wants a real 2nd unit.

So it will be

Dame, CJ, Powell, Roco, Nurk starting

With

Simons, Snell, Little, Nance, Zeller probably in the 2nd unit.

 

[42N8Bounce]

This has been posted elsewhere.
You seem to keep thinking they will not start Powell?

The other thread was asking what we should do with the 14th roster spot. At some point we need to consider that NO is done dealing and will just be filling out the roster with a few vet mins or young potential players that will spend most of their time at the end of the bench.

I for one am a fan of CJ. But as the roster is constructed now, I think Powell is a better fit next to Dame starting games. CJ would be best used as firepower coming off the bench.

We have a new coach. I have no idea what Billups will do. Starting 3 guys 6’3 and shorter brings challenges. If this is the hand we’re dealt, how should we play it?

 

[42N8Bounce]

Keep in mind, I’m not asking what you think the starting lineup will be. I’m asking what you think the starting lineup should be.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Keep in mind, I’m not asking what you think the starting lineup will be. I’m asking what you think the starting lineup should be.

If CJ were to come off the bench, the press would make it a huge distraction all season - not worth it.
#Starthimortradehim

 

[Mr. Robot]

nurk needs to win that chip

 

[blazerkor]

CJ is not coming off the bench. Neither is Powell.

It's going to be Dame, CJ, Powell, Roco, Nurk

Nor only is not coming off the bench, Billups won't have him lead the 2nd unit like Stotts did. He said he wants a real 2nd unit.

So it will be

Dame, CJ, Powell, Roco, Nurk starting

With

Simons, Snell, Little, Nance, Zeller probably in the 2nd unit.

When did coach Billups say that he wanted a "real second unit"? I just want to know because in the NBA a second unit is a myth. There are rotations not line changes. So it would be radical (not in a good way) for our new coach to have two "units".

 

[Orion Bailey]

hmmm what I voted for as should be, likely wont be though.

 

[Zach Collins Enthusiast]

There is no way Powell is ahead of CJ in the depth chart. You want to use CJ as a 6th man? That's a possibility. But he's a better player than Powell

 

[Orion Bailey]

There is no way Powell is ahead of CJ in the depth chart. You want to use CJ as a 6th man? That's a possibility. But he's a better player than Powell

i think we are a better team coming out of the gate with powell on the court and let cj get his buckets without worrying about defending.
But we all know Billups will start out with what NO believes will work… the three guard line up. So the starters wil be dame, cj, powell, roco, nurk.
If its not hot to start, i hope Billups pulls the plug quick.

 

[Strenuus]

nurk needs to win that chip

So we fuck our team over by starting

*checks notes*

Zeller.

 

[Strenuus]

There is no way Powell is ahead of CJ in the depth chart. You want to use CJ as a 6th man? That's a possibility. But he's a better player than Powell

In this specific instance, fit is more important.

And cj is WAAAAAAAAY too one dimensional. At least Powell gives us other things. If cjs shot doesn't go down he's fucking worthless.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I'm eager to see the starting lineup with Norm at SF, everyone healthy, and a full training camp.

Having a player of Nance effectiveness off the bench is a huge addition. If we can get someone else to become a legit 6th man/starter quality player and make one other decent addition all the sudden we would be a deep balanced team.

Also I want to see what happens on the court with Billups talk of prioritizing defense and sharing the offense. Can he get much more out of this team than Stotts?

If a bunch of those things happen this team is right there with the Phoenix/Milwaukee level contenders.

 

[Chris Craig]

Nance needs to come off the bench for it to be balanced.

 

[Chris Craig]

When did coach Billups say that he wanted a "real second unit"? I just want to know because in the NBA a second unit is a myth. There are rotations not line changes. So it would be radical (not in a good way) for our new coach to have two "units".

I read it somewhere. I think from an interview he did or something. He wants to alleviate some of CJs offensive responsibilities to get better on defense. Part of that is not having him lead the bench. It appears Billups feels the best way to hold players accountable is to ask the bench to play a bigger part offensively. He doesn't want the Blazers to have to be saved by Dame or CJ all the time. He wants team effort.

 

[blazerkor]

I read it somewhere. I think from an interview he did or something. He wants to alleviate some CJs offensive responsibilities to get better on defense. Part of that is not having him lead the bench. It appears Billups feels the best way to hold players accountable is to ask the bench to play a bigger part offensively. He doesn't want the Blazers to have to be saved by Dame or CJ all the time. He wants team effort.

Fair enough... yeah, I've heard him talking about the bench carrying their weight so that Dame and CJ aren't always having to rescue the team. So I get what you were saying now. Thanks for clarifying, it's appreciated.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Simmons should start

 

[Tince]

The starting lineup to open the year will be the same one it was to close last year... but we're not running it back at all.

The starting lineup SHOULD include a second all-star, but that guy isn't on our roster, so I'll just stick with what it will be.

 

[Scalma]

The starting lineup is and should be dame CJ Powell Roco and Nurk. Those are the five best players on the team and worked well together last season, albeit in a smaller sample.

That being said, Nance should still see starter type minutes. I think a better question would be who’s gonna be in the regular rotation and how many players will Billups use.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

There is no way Powell is ahead of CJ in the depth chart. You want to use CJ as a 6th man? That's a possibility. But he's a better player than Powell

Yeah nobody anywhere is talking about a Powell/Simmons trade straight across. Sure are talking about CJ straight up for Simmons.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Simmons should start

I'll add to that. If Simmons should start it should be with Dame, Powell, Roco and Nurk.
But I still don't want him here.

 

[tykendo]

dame/cj mccollum/powell/roco/zeller

trade nurk for deande jordan or blake griffin

Survey says "X"

 

[TBpup]

If it is the same as the team that lost in 6 to a depleted Nuggets team in the Playoffs, it's hard to see how the ending is much different. 'Periphery' Olshey has yet to change anything that gives us an advantage.

Nice little team....but no more.