Ten to 1. More votes please.
I mean, I voted for '17 cuz I'm confident that the top 4-5 guys aren't worse than last year, but it's hard to conclusively answer because of the back end of this year's 8 man rotation.
1) Kyrie's stats won't be better than IT's last year, but I think Kyrie is 'better' than IT.
2) I loved AB but Hayward's near-elite scoring and playmaking makes a much bigger impact than AB's elite D and solid scoring, so he's better.
3) Horford this year vs. last year should be a wash, maybe he's a bit better after a year in the system, not getting concussed / slumping so hard mid-season I hope, and seeing the impact of him stepping up his game / assertion in the playoffs. But he could be a tad worse too.
4) I think we all hope Smart this year is better than Smart last year. It's easy to see him being about the same but barring injury I don't really see him being worse. His D shouldn't drop off and he looks really fit, and he has nowhere to go but up on offense.
5) I actually think Morris this year could be better than Crowder last year. I think he could surprise us. He played great when Detroit played Cleveland in the playoffs a few years ago, he's a pretty talented shooter with a rugged game, and he did put up 14 ppg last year.
Beyond these top 5 guys, it's up in the air. I think if things break right, Tatum could end up starting at PF by the end of the year or being our 6th man if Smart starts at SG, but I don't think it's likely. If that happens, that's a major feather in the cap of this year's rotation.
Do Brown and/or Rozier make leaps? Cuz either/both would be a huge deal.
Also, if this list is correct and Baynes is the 9th guy in our rotation, I think he can be more valuable than at least one guy in the 8 man rotation last year, prolly Amir.