I think we need more than just a couple of preseason games to work out how BIG the trouble really is. Is it big, BIG or BIG?
I think with Theis in the lineup we have a defensive unit that can cover a majority of the teams we play...the issue will be against playing with teams that have dominant bigs that have solid post games, like Philly and Embiid or LA and AD. Embiid had Theis for breakfast when they played each other the last couple of years, he just doesn't have the bulk. My hope is that Poirier might be the defensive center that we can deploy against someone like Embiid. I also saw Brad go with a two-big lineup with Timelord and Poirier at the 4 and 5...that suggests that maybe we play Timelord at the 4 in certain situations.
But no doubt about it, we will miss Big Al. Unfortunately we can't replace him with another Big Al, or even a Little Al...it has to be an ensemble effort from the team.