Most people assume the starting lineup will consist of: jones, hughes, james, marshall and ilgauskas. but i've heard some remarks of the cavs using a bigger starting 5 with :hughes, james, marshall, gooden and ilguaskas. which lineup do u think would work best for the cavs. 1 would be quicker but the other could outsize most any other team.
I think they will have a starting line up like this: PG - Jones SG - Hughes SF - LBJ23 PF - Gooden C - Ilgauskas That would allow them to be tall and athletic but also have some spark off the bench with Marshall. I could be wrong but that is the line up I would be trying first up.
I also agree with the jones, hughes, lebron, marshall, and ilgauskas. I think gooden will be better of the bench.
They need to surround James with shooters so why put Marshall on the bench? Just cause he came off the bench for Toronto last year? I don't think they need to enforce a tall ball line up... just go with what will seemingly fit the best which IMO is: DJ Hughes LBJ Marshall Z
PG-Damon Jones SG-Larry Hughes SF-LeBron James PF-Drew Gooden C-Big Z 6th Man: Donyell Marshall Marshall as a 6th man would give you more depth than Gooden. Plus Gooden can play off the ball and let the other guys do their thing.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Heat4Life:</div><div class="quote_post">PG-Damon Jones SG-Larry Hughes SF-LeBron James PF-Drew Gooden C-Big Z 6th Man: Donyell Marshall </div> I agree with this. It's nice to have shooting off the bench. We already have Damon Jones are the primary outside threat. Marshall can come of the bench and still be effective as well as provide a consistent scorer on the bench squad. Allow Gooden to be the starter. He's produced when given the starting roll, but I'm not sure how effective he will be coming off the bench. He's still young and hopefully he can improve on a very good year last year.
Jones, Hughes, LBJ, Marshall, Big Z Marshall isn't a scorer kind of guy, he is the ultimate team player guy. He will hustle, play good defense, score some down low, great 3 point shooter. Gooden from what I've heard many many times, is a good athlete and capable on offense, however gets lost on defense. I think Gooden would be good off the bench to give a punch when Lebron goes to the bench or needs someone else to score for a posession or two.
I think starting Gooden over Marshall will be best. Ilgauskas has a tendency to drift out to the perimeter, so Gooden would be best to hang around the paint and crash the boards when shots are taken. If you have Marshall on the floor with Ilgauskas, on some possessions you won't have anyone in the paint. Also, Marshall is proven off the bench. He did well as a sixth man in both Chicago and Toronto, while Gooden struggled with his confidence when Juwan Howard started over him on the Magic. Also, what would happen to the Cavs' perimeter shooting woes when both Jones and Marshall are out? By bringing in one of them off the bench, it'll ensure the presence of an outside shooter most of the time.
Marshall and Gooden both have their advantages to start. Gooden is bigger, a better rebounder (though Marshal is good as well). Marshall can create space for Ilgauskus as well as block shots and defend and rebound well. Marshal is more versatile as he can play 2 positions which is good for bench players while Gooden can only play one position. I would start Marshall because he is a better defender and a threat from the outside which would accomodate LBJ, Hughes, and Z's inside games.
I think Marshall is going to have a lesser role than expected and he'll probably end up backing up Gooden. Gooden is much younger, still improving and finally getting his career on track. Damon Jones is a veteran who knows the ropes and he can be a good addition, but he wont have that big of a role either. Mike Brown stresses defense doesnt he? If he does then he's gonna probably go with Eric Snow for the starter and Alfred will bring it off of the bench. Heres my prediction of the starting lineup. PG: Eric Snow SG: Larry Hughes SF: LeBron James PF: Drew Gooden C: Zydrunas Illgauskas
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TmacGarnett:</div><div class="quote_post">I also agree with the jones, hughes, lebron, marshall, and ilgauskas. I think gooden will be better of the bench.</div> Makes no sense. Gooden isn't a scoring spark off the bench. His energy is better when he's playing out of the gate. His selfless-ness is a major plus too. How about Hughes James Marshall Gooden Z And use Damon off the bench. Actually, I'm only saying this as another option, I wouldn't use it too much if I was the coach.
