The consensus seems to be that Isaiah and Smart are the two best players or the ones with the highest ceilings. Sully is placed on the bubble as a pf with the caveat he needs better conditioning. Bradley is also close, though some believe he is too small to be an effective shooting guard. His dribbling certainly has improved.
Others clearly have great potential but are too young, such as the three draft picks. They will only play a lot as a surprise, maybe Rozier. All three could probably do okay as rookies at the end of the rotation.
Consensus seems to say Zeller is okay and is a traditional back up center, with end of rotation or a little higher potential.
Amir seems to have ankle issues and is in an older KG mode of protect him or lose him.
Lee seems cooked and equivalent to a Gerald Wallace of pf's or a bit better. It was a roll of the dice. It almost worked. Age 32 seems to be when most NBA players fall off the cliff or come back to earth.
Turner is what he is, filler. He looked great, but it was only one game. I see him as a solid guy to have at the end of a rotation.
So I don't want Turner starting. But I also realize Bradley while improved is not a play maker.
I love Marcus Smart, but I'd hate to see him forced into a pg role rather than a hybrid one/two, at least at this early start of his career.
If we are in it to win it, there is thus only one choice for a starting lineup. Of course Stevens can always mix it up depending on match ups. Styles make the fight. But in general, here goes:
pg Smart
sg Bradley
sf Crowder or Jerebko depending on opponent
pf Kelly Olynyk
C Amir or Zeller
Smart and Bradley work, period, in regards to back court defense. On offense, they are a bit challenged at times in regards to team play. And they will be especially at risk to look like bad offensive players if Crowder starts with them.
We need a center to keep the biggest of big opponents neutralized. Zeller is the only pure center. He is slumping, but he was definitely half-decent last year.
Olynyk seems to get little respect for what his perceived ceiling is. He allows the team to not have to rely so much on Turner to safeguard for Smart's inexperience. Isaiah is great, but he's a short guy and though he is spectacular, it seems wrong to start him unless there is complete defense in the other four positions. It is a tricky balance, this offense versus defense debate.
Olynyk may look awkward and he definitely appears to lack confidence at times, but I don't know how the plus-minus stat can be disregarded. Basically when he is in the game, the team is more likely to outscore the opposition. How can that be ignored? When Phil Esposito was asked about his lack of defensive prowess, he responded (going by memory something like this), "If the other team scores two goals and I score three, who wins?"
Olynyk is a total player on offense in contrast to Bradley, Crowder, and Zeller who are always dependent on others.
I admit Sully is our best pf at the moment, but I think Olynyk is the better team player for offense. Sully can't do the work Turner does for Smart. The Canadian can. I don't think Sully/Kelly as a combo works unless the opponent has a pf for their center too. They are a good combo at some point in the game but not together at the start, in general.
And one final comment, if I may indulge. Whenever people make fun of Olynyk's hair, I cringe. What's it to anyone how he likes to let it grow? I was taught that conformity is a sign of weakness. He is obviously a very nice person. I don't get it. I think people should let it go. It's not original and it's not funny.
