Discussion on CW's last mailbag - MBB starters

[Cyrok]

Gocubs2118 writes: If you had to project a starting lineup for basketball right now, what would it be?

CW: With the current roster as it is for game No. 1 on the season...

PG: Bubu Palo
SG: Matt Thomas
F: Dustin Hogue
F: Melvin Ejim
F: Georges Niang
The only debatable positions are point guard and the three-spot. I think that Palo will start the year at the one but wouldn't be surprised at all if Monte Morris takes the reigns at some point. The fact that Palo has never shown a consistent ability to score points at this level scares me. Fred Hoiberg's offense is most effective when all five guys on the floor can put the ball in the hoop. However based off of what has gone down over the last year, I wouldn't be surprised if Palo has improved a ton either.
The forwards are interesting. Ideally, Percy Gibson would take a major step forward and start at the five allowing Ejim and Niang to run the three and the four. I don't have a ton of faith in Gibson at this point though. I think that Hogue can be a lock-down defender but question what he can do with the ball in his hands.
That is the safest lineup to project at this time but I think we can all agree that 1) it is early and 2) Hoiberg has some options.

1) I agree we start the season with Bubu and if Morris is good enough to take the spot from him later on, we are in good shape there. I want to point out one thing - I've seen this sentiment a lot around here that Bubu can't score, but I would argue he has never been asked to be a scorer. He is athletic enough to drive past his man and score or dish and his outside shot isn't bad.

2) I think SDW starts over Matt Thomas. But now with Kane's commitment I think he starts here or at the three.

3) I could see Kane, Hogue, or Ejim here.

4) Niang/Ejim's spot.

5) I hope that we find someone here so Niang can play the 4. I'll say that the senior, Amardi, will provide the interior defense and court-running big man we've been missing.


So here's my starting 5 for the first game of the season:

Bubu
Kane
Ejim
Niang
Amardi

I'm going with the seniors to start the season. Kane, Bubu and Niang are all elite driving to the rim. That will pack in the defense, so let's hope Ejim can keep improving his outside shot like he has the last couple years and SDW/Thomas are as good as advertised. These guys could be a fantastic rebounding group (based on one game I've watched of Kane - he reminds me of Curtis Stinson as far as rebounding goes - and the highlights I've seen of Amardi). I also see more full-court pressing than in the past.

 

[ISUCubswin]

Kane
Thomas
Hogue
Ejim
Niang

Bubu, Morris, and SDW contribute a lot of the bench. Niang and Ejim play 40 minutes a game because Hoiberg realizes Percy only has one shot and every team has figured it out.

 

[CycloneErik]

Not Bubu and Kane. Kane is better, and Bubu would be a better spark/role player on the current roster.

Kane, Thomas, Ejim, Niang, and someone who is probably either Hogue or SDW or Amardi, depending on the approach Fred takes.

 

[KFitzy87]

IMO, Matt Thomas is going to start and I don't think Fred is going to have Melvin at the 3.

To start the year:

Bubu
Thomas
Kane
Ejim
Niang

Then as the year progresses on, Morris will start eating into Bubu's minutes.

 

[peteypie]

Kane will start at point. There is a reason the staff asked him about playing point before he signed here. If they did not want him to play point they wouldn't have asked him about it.

 

[peteypie]

And how many threads are we upto now on starting line-ups for this upcoming season? Hopefully we can break last years record of 713.

 

[cy4prez7]

Kane will start at point but also play a lot of 2 and 3 giving us options with two distributors on the court. I'd go Kane, Thomas, Hogue, Ejim, and Niang.

 

[nickcyv]

1. Kane
2. Thomas
3. Hogue
4. Ejim
5. Niang

Only spot there is really a debate is at the 3, maybe the 2.

 

[Clones21]

All I know is that we are going to have a VERY small line-up and run the floor very quickly. This also goes back to the people worried about the defense. Well, stop. Like CW said as well, I don't think Hoiberg will ever have a great defensive team. His teams will most likely score in the 80's every night. Hoiberg's defense is being able to out score teams on offense.

 

[Luth4Cy]

Fred has said Ejim will play more 3 and it sounds like Kane will be the point guard from statements he's made. Although I struggle to see Ejim at the 3 playing out.

Kane
Thomas
Hogue
Ejim
Niang

I see Amardi, Bubu, SDW, and Morris all getting good time off the bench. Morris will be the backup point over Bubu, IMO, but Bubu will still get a lot of time to give Hogue a rest from guarding the opponents stud.

 

[brokenloginagain]

All I know is that we are going to have a VERY small line-up and run the floor very quickly. This also goes back to the people worried about the defense. Well, stop. Like CW said as well, I don't think Hoiberg will ever have a great defensive team. His teams will most likely score in the 80's every night. Hoiberg's defense is being able to out score teams on offense.

I don't agree with that at all. Hoiberg knows that if he wants to win at a high(er) level, his team needs to defend much better.

 

[gocubs2118]

1. Kane
2. Thomas
3. Hogue
4. Ejim
5. Niang

Only spot there is really a debate is at the 3, maybe the 2.

I don't really even think the 2 is debatable. I know people think SDW is going to start but I just don't see it. I think Thomas already has the body and game to come in and start from day 1.

 

[IAStubborn]

Kane will start at point. There is a reason the staff asked him about playing point before he signed here. If they did not want him to play point they wouldn't have asked him about it.

Yeah plus cw's interview with MA made pretty clear he was playing point and competing with bubu and morris.

 

[brokenloginagain]

1. Kane
2. Thomas
3. Ejim
4. Niang
5. Amardi

 

[Clones21]

I don't agree with that at all. Hoiberg knows that if he wants to win at a high(er) level, his team needs to defend much better.

I agree they need to defend "better", but that won't make them a great deffensive team. I just don't see Hoiberg having a fantastic deffensive team ever. Maybe Doc Sadler will change that.

 

[CyBri]

1. Kane
2. SDW hoping that he and Thomas are even skilled and SDW gets nod b/c of redshirting
3. Ejim
4. Niang
5. Percy/ with Amardi maybe taking over later.

 

[BallSoHard4Cy]

Kane
Thomas
Ejim
Niang
Amardi

there is a good mix of offense and defense in that lineup. The competition to start on this team will only make it better. Palo and Morris want the 1. SDW wants to start at the 2/3. KJ and Naz are eyeing the 2 man off the bench. Hogue wants the 3. Edozie and Percy both want playing time. Should be a good year.

 

[Istater4life]

1. Kane
2. SDW
3. Hogue
4. Ejim
5. Niang

 

[Rabbuk]

we literally have one of these threads from yesterday.

 

[Dingus]

I just don't see Palo starting. PG will be Kane unless Morris is ready to start from day 1. At the start of the season I'm guessing Kane, Thomas, Ejim, Niang, and one of Hogue/Amardi.