Stark
The Winds of Winter
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Anybody feel like starting lineup depth is way down in the NBA this year? Maybe it's just me, but I feel like there are a lot of either washed up or just plain below-average guys starting this year.
Here is everybody (who's played) so far's starting lineups for their opener:
Boston
PG - Kyrie Irving
SG - Jaylen Brown
SF - Jayson Tatum
PF - Gordon Hayward
C - Al Horford
One of the deepest starting fives in the NBA as long as Hayward can rebound and Kyrie stays healthy.
Philadelphia
PG - Ben Simmons
SG - Markelle Fultz
SF - Robert Covington
PF - Dario Saric
C - Joel Embiid
Another cohesive and well put together starting five, but Fultz needs to have a good year for it to be considered elite. He was a team worst -16 on opening night.
Brooklyn
PG - D'Angelo Russell
SG - Caris LeVert
SF - Joe Harris
PF - Jared Dudley
C - Jarrett Allen
Solid upside for Russell, LeVert, and Allen in my opinion. Harris is a solid role player, and Dudley is washed. Bad starting lineup for a bad team.
Detroit
PG - Reggie Jackson
SG - Bruce Brown
SF - Luke Kennard
PF - Blake Griffin
C - Andre Drummond
Jackson is a solid PG and the Griffin/Drummond pivot down low is one of the leagues better big men pairings. Bruce Brown and Luke Kennard starting at the 2/3 is absolute shit.
Atlanta
PG - Trae Young
SG - Kent Bazemore
SF - Vince Carter
PF - Taurean Prince
C - Alex Len
The Hawks started 41-year old Vince Carter on opening night. 'Nuff said.
New York
PG - Frank Ntilinkina
SG - Trey Burke
SF - Tim Hardaway Jr.
PF - Lance Thomas
C - Enes Kanter
Another garbage starting five. Zinger is out obviously, but Lance Thomas and Trey Burke should not be starting in the NBA and Frank N hasn't proved much of anything yet either.
Toronto
PG - Kyle Lowry
SG - Danny Green
SF - Kawhi Leonard
PF - Pascal Siakam
C - Jonas Valanciunas
One of the best starting fives in the NBA on the defensive side of the ball. Their bench could throw out a five-man unit that I think beats Atlanta, New York, and Brooklyn's starters (VanVleet, Powell, Miles, Anunoby, Ibaka).
Cleveland
PG - George Hill
SG - Rodney Hood
SF - Cedi Osman
PF - Kevin Love
C - Tristan Thompson
At this point, I don't think Thompson, Hood, or Hill are NBA starters, so that says about all you need to know about the Cavaliers this year.
Don't have time to keep going in-depth for each team, but the fact that guys like Vince Carter, Bruce Brown, Luke Kennard, Jared Dudley, Tristan Thompson, Lance Thomas, Derrick Jones Jr. (MIA), Rodney McGruer (MIA), Yogi Farrell (SAC), Draymond Green (GSW), Ryan Anderson (PHX), and Isaiah Cannan (PHX) are all starting just makes me feel like either talent is down, or tanking is at an all-time high, or both.
Here is everybody (who's played) so far's starting lineups for their opener:
Boston
PG - Kyrie Irving
SG - Jaylen Brown
SF - Jayson Tatum
PF - Gordon Hayward
C - Al Horford
One of the deepest starting fives in the NBA as long as Hayward can rebound and Kyrie stays healthy.
Philadelphia
PG - Ben Simmons
SG - Markelle Fultz
SF - Robert Covington
PF - Dario Saric
C - Joel Embiid
Another cohesive and well put together starting five, but Fultz needs to have a good year for it to be considered elite. He was a team worst -16 on opening night.
Brooklyn
PG - D'Angelo Russell
SG - Caris LeVert
SF - Joe Harris
PF - Jared Dudley
C - Jarrett Allen
Solid upside for Russell, LeVert, and Allen in my opinion. Harris is a solid role player, and Dudley is washed. Bad starting lineup for a bad team.
Detroit
PG - Reggie Jackson
SG - Bruce Brown
SF - Luke Kennard
PF - Blake Griffin
C - Andre Drummond
Jackson is a solid PG and the Griffin/Drummond pivot down low is one of the leagues better big men pairings. Bruce Brown and Luke Kennard starting at the 2/3 is absolute shit.
Atlanta
PG - Trae Young
SG - Kent Bazemore
SF - Vince Carter
PF - Taurean Prince
C - Alex Len
The Hawks started 41-year old Vince Carter on opening night. 'Nuff said.
New York
PG - Frank Ntilinkina
SG - Trey Burke
SF - Tim Hardaway Jr.
PF - Lance Thomas
C - Enes Kanter
Another garbage starting five. Zinger is out obviously, but Lance Thomas and Trey Burke should not be starting in the NBA and Frank N hasn't proved much of anything yet either.
Toronto
PG - Kyle Lowry
SG - Danny Green
SF - Kawhi Leonard
PF - Pascal Siakam
C - Jonas Valanciunas
One of the best starting fives in the NBA on the defensive side of the ball. Their bench could throw out a five-man unit that I think beats Atlanta, New York, and Brooklyn's starters (VanVleet, Powell, Miles, Anunoby, Ibaka).
Cleveland
PG - George Hill
SG - Rodney Hood
SF - Cedi Osman
PF - Kevin Love
C - Tristan Thompson
At this point, I don't think Thompson, Hood, or Hill are NBA starters, so that says about all you need to know about the Cavaliers this year.
Don't have time to keep going in-depth for each team, but the fact that guys like Vince Carter, Bruce Brown, Luke Kennard, Jared Dudley, Tristan Thompson, Lance Thomas, Derrick Jones Jr. (MIA), Rodney McGruer (MIA), Yogi Farrell (SAC), Draymond Green (GSW), Ryan Anderson (PHX), and Isaiah Cannan (PHX) are all starting just makes me feel like either talent is down, or tanking is at an all-time high, or both.