[Buha] Darvin Ham confirms the team’s starting backcourt is D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves. The third frontcourt spot and fifth spot in the starting lineup next to LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Reaves and Russell is up for grabs in training camp, according to Ham.
by daftmunt
23 Comments
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Pretty much what we knew after the offseason settled. It’s going to be Rui vs Vando.
Like the LFR guys proposed, I wonder if Ham is open to opponent based starters but it comes at the expense of some level of continuity. Rui and Vando are both very viable against specific teams.
We should bring Bron and Ad off the bench and start
Christie JHS Vincent DLO Reaves🔥🔥🔥
As it should. Realistically it’s rui vs vando ?
Vando should be the starter. Gabe + Rui leading the bench squad
It has to be Vando, don’t need more offense in that line-up
Rui has to be our sixth man, and the main offense off the bench along with Gabe
Can’t go wrong with either, its just matchup dependent. Vando brings lockdown defense and rebounding, he’s an elite offensive rebounder which is nice when Lebron is chucking more 3s (which is inevitable when he’s playing with non-shooters like Vando). Rui brings more shooting and slashing. Rui prob makes more sense in most matchups until Vando is absolutely needed like against the Mavs
I think Rui has all star potential and the front office is going to do whatever they can to let him live up to that. The kid is so freakin talented he was even giving Jokic a lot of trouble in the western conference finals and he’s only 24 years old. His 3 ball looks clean as well. I’m so excited to see him play alongside bron on the wing this season!
Pete mentioned it in the LFR podcast, but the 5th spot should be platooned by Vanderbilt and Hachimura. Against teams where Vanderbilt’s defense is needed, he starts. Against teams where Rui’s size is needed, he starts.
Works great in baseball, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work in basketball.
Vando is the most overrated player I’ve ever seen on this sub. He’s not good, and Rui should start.
He’s leaving the third spot for Vincent to complete his lineup.
“Gave earned it with his play in practice and preseason. I don’t think his size is a disadvantage, he plays much bigger and can be a huge mismatch on offense”
Vando starts to keep the opposing team’s stars in check i.e. Luka, Booker, Ingram. Our defensive rating is higher when AD and Vando pair as we hope to offset some of the backcourt weaknesses on the defensive side. We have enough offensive firepower already in that first unit so let Rui cook as a 6th man coming off the bench as he gets more touches.
Rui’s size, athleticism, and presence alone can be Kawhi-esque. Having that dynamic be present in the second unit is troubling for the other team and is complimented even more by the extra size and depth the Lakers now have.
Lakers will go as far as Reaves take them. Reaves gonna average 21ppg, 5 rpg, 5apg shooting 50/40/90 and get voted into allstar reserve.
Most games I’d start Rui because he is a two way player. We already play 4 vs 5 on defense when Dlo is on the floor, but he is our best PG. There is no need to give advantage playing 4 vs 5 on offense too unless the other team have a dangerous offensive wing, this is when Vando should be used to save LBJ legs.
I always prefer starting the best 2 way players on the team bringing specialists as they are needed.
Im concerned about the perimeter defense. I want Rui to start but it might need to be Vando.
Vando should be starting. Rui is a decent post defender, but not amazing on the perimeter. We definitely do not want LeBron guarding elite wings at this stage of his career either. That starting lineup will have plenty of scoring if LeBron even returns to average from the arc, which he will with a healed foot.
DLo, Reaves, Vando, LeBron, AD
Vincent, Christie, Prince, Rui, Wood,
That bench lineup competes with some lower level teams starting lineup. We’re good
Rui primarily but Wood for AD at the 4 lineups or Vando when a star pg is in
Why don’t we bring everyone off the bench, it’ll surprise the other team. Sun Tzu probably has a quote about how surprise is really important
I’m still betting Ham reverts to the 3 guard offense
Gabe Vincent should be starting imo. His defense is better utilized against starting guards. DLOs playmaking is more valuable when Bron and Reaves are not on the floor, plus his lack of defense won’t matter as much against bench players
If Rui’s playoff three % is legit I would love to see them try a lineup with Bron-AD-Rui-Vando and one of Reaves or D’Lo.
Vando is effectively a guard on defense when you need him to be anyways, and the size advantage would be a huge problem from other teams.
It’s going to be Rui and you are all going to love it. More spacing than Vando and he is very switchable.
As others have said, Rui should be the one coming off the bench. Imo, he should be gunning for 6MOTY with how well he could dominate bench lineups playing with Vincent and Wood.