Darvin Ham has not been shy about dropping hints as he appears to want to create his own narrative and throughout the first week of training camp Darvin ham has been moving their team in a clear Direction with that involving an emphasis on defense that has been the big thing they repeatedly mentioned and his words are now becoming action with their entire team beginning to Echo that statement and that appears to be translating to their starting lineup as well.
Darvin Ham going with the players that he believes fit that Criterion although not everybody tends to agree with them and while they have yet to choose an official starting lineup they do seem to be favoring one lineup combination in particular and that lineup would appear to involve Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Nunn, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Damian Jones which is definitely not what many were expecting again there is no guarantee that this will be either game number one lineup.
But there’s certainly a chance that it will be and with that in mind what are the pros and cons of going with that lineup and is it really their best option we will talk about exactly that, breaking down that lineup combination along with a few more that.
Their go-to lineup throughout training camp it definitely was not what many expected to be the early favor bread but I can understand why Darvin Ham is trying it out as both Kendrick Nunn and Damian Jones can provide what others cannot in regard to Kendrick Nunn he can offer more three-point shooting than almost anyone on their team, and he’s already played into a combo guard role before as well.
If they do plan to keep Westbrook in their starting lineup which they clearly do at this point then Kendrick Nunn might have to be included with them neither Lonnie Walker nor Austin Rivers can provide the three-point shooting that none can or at least they haven’t shown the ability to do it routinely quite yet the only problem with including none is that their backcourt would be very small and not very defensive minded which would not appear to fit.
What Darvin Ham is looking for along with that it would put a lot of pressure on both LeBron and Westbrook to play good defense and that is something that neither of them did very often last season although it does appear that Dravin ham is confident in this lineup’s ability to play defense and very likely because of their front Court we watched in the past so Anthony Davis along with another athletic ring protector can do wonders for their defense and Damian Jones might be able to fill that role for them now he’s not quite the defender that JaVale McGee was for them.
But he is certainly capable of feeling a similar role and if he can do that would make up for having average to even below average backcourt defense it’s really not that hard to believe happening either the Cleveland Cavaliers for example had a very poor defensive backcourt last season, and yet they ended up finishing as the fourth overall rated defense and given that this lineup would actually resemble what the Cavaliers went with both in regard to height and athletic ability.
I think that is what Darvin Ham is hoping for he is trying to put Anthony Davis back into a help Defender role and one that he is likely comparing to the role that Giannis or Evan Mobley currently fail the only thing I don’t like about it is where they’re requiring LeBron to regularly play defense and match up with the best Wing player on the court it’s not that he can’t do that it’s simply that I would prefer him not to do it as I would very likely be putting too much burden on him and the only other option would be to put Westbrook on them which would probably not go very well and with that in mind what other lineup combinations could or should be considered to make up for that as they have plenty of other options however if they do plan to keep Westbrook in their then they are fairly limited they do not have a backcourt player who fits perfectly with him in their lineup.
And that will hinder their ability to make an effective lineup combination if they go with Kendrick Nunn then they’re lacking height on defense and if they go with Austin Rivers then they’re lacking three-point shooting even if they were to swap out Damian Jones for Thomas Bryant that wouldn’t fix everything either they would be getting more three-point shooting, but they would immediately be downgrading their defense to me the best option for them would be to bring Westbrook Off the Bench it would help both their offense and defense along with putting him in a better situation do my ideal lineup for them would be with either Dennis Schroder or Patrick Beverley, Austin Rivers, LeBron, Anthony Davis and then Damian Jones that to me would best fit their needs and allow everyone to play freely that lineup would provide them with an effective well-spaced offense and a tall formidable defense.
It would really resemble what worked for them in the past for one it would finally allow LeBron and Anthony Davis play the way they want to again they would be surrounded by players who fit with them and the same could be said for Westbrook Off the Bench I believe that is their best option will it actually happen I kind of doubt it but if West Begins the year poorly again then maybe they could eventually try it if they do insist on keeping him in their starting lineup though another option could be going with Thomas Bryant.
And then Troy Brown Jr rather than Kendrick Nunn up until this point I have not seen many people mentioning Troy Brown Jr and it probably does not help that he is currently dealing with a back injury although he might be a better option than either Kendrick Nunn or Austin Rivers he is kind of the happy medium between them and is significantly bigger than both of them too unlike Kendrick Nunn, Troy Brown can match up with bigger Wing players and then unlike Rivers he’s shown the ability to be a reliable three-point shooter not only that though.
But Troy Brown Jr’s underrated rebounder and passer as well both of which would complement their lineup quite well and then with Thomas Bryant included with him it might be just enough three-point shooting for them to get by with as they definitely need at least average three-point shooting to surround LeBron and Westbrook with now it would hurt their wing death by including Troy Brown in their starting lineup with them no longer having a backup small forward behind LeBron fun but it might be something to consider anyway, I really do not see a better option for them if they keep Westbrook in their starting lineup and unless they are confident in Kendrick Nunn being a good defender or with Austin Rivers becoming a reliable three-point shooter then Troy Brown should definitely be giving consideration.
If I had to give a prediction on what they would go with though I imagine they’ll go with Damian Jones over Thomas Bryant and then ultimately end up going with either Kendrick Nunn or Austin Rivers at shooting guard up until this point we have not seen Darvin Ham, pat Beverly and Westbrook together and Lonnie Walker appears to be a better fit off their bench.
I mean I would not be entirely shocked if he did end up going with Beverly but I feel like he prefers a slightly bigger backward and then with how complimentary span of Damian Jones along with him resembling what they did back in Milwaukee it’s hard for me to believe that he won’t end up in their starting lineup what do you guys think though what do you believe this starting lineup should be and then what do you think it actually will be let me know your thoughts by commenting down below.