August 23, 2005 It is subjective and highly speculative to rate the best starting fives in the NBA. But to maintain interest in the Summer and keep hoop in your minds, ...and to be on the record early so you can say you heard it here in August when the mainstream media will get hip by Thanksgiving, we offer our opinion on the best starting five in the NBA. Not the best TEAM. The best starting five.

1.         Cleveland. Assuming Donyell Marshall is a three-man, and Larry Hughes as the new point guard, the Cavs get the nod. LeBron James anchors at whatever position he wants to play. Drew Gooden, and Zydrunas Ilguaskas complete the five with the highest combined efficiency in the NBA.

2.         Phoenix. Even without Joe Johnson—the Suns are best in the West. The trio of Nash, Marion, and Amare will likely be joined by Raja Bell and Kurt Thomas.

3.         Miami - Jason Williams, Dwyane Wade, Antoine Walker, Udonis Haslem, and Shaq. An upgrade at the three spot with Walker should be a winner in Heat land.

4.         Indiana - Tinsley, Artest, Stephen Jackson, Jeff Foster, and Jermaine O’Neal.

5.         San Antonio - The NBA Champs five is weighted heavily by Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobilli. Tony Parker, Bruce Bowen, and Nazr Mohammed complete the deal.

6.         Dallas - Folks are underrating Jason Terry. Of course Dirk is the prize player. We assume Jerry Stackhouse, Josh Howard, and Erick Dampier as the starters.

7.         Sacramento - The purpose of this exercise is to calm the giddiness of Sacramentans who think, aloud on talk radio, that the Kings have the best starting five.  Bibby, Bonzi, Peja, Shareef, and Brad Miller is nice though.

8.         Detroit - Hardest working five? Right here. Billups, Hamilton, Prince, and the Wallace’s.

9.         Utah - With a healthy Andrei Kirilenko the Jazz are a different team. Boozer and Okur are as solid at four and five as anyone. Rookie Deron Williams, and Matt Harpring are the assumed backcourt.

10.         LA Clippers - What? Yes. The Clippers. Sam Cassell, and Cuttino Mobley with Corey Maggette are gonna shoot some lights out. The post will always need a double team with Elton Brand, and Chris Kamen.

11.      Denver - Andre Miller, (Greg Buckner—as yet unsigned free agent), Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin, and Marcus Camby.

12.      Philly - A.I., Iguodala, Korver, C-Webb, and Dalembert. Third best in the East.

13.      New Jersey - J-Kidd, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, Marc Jackson (from Philly), and Nened Krstic should have the Nets back to winning some games.

14.      Golden State - The Oakland fans and our friend Tim Roye deserve some happiness. It may come this year. Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, Mike Dunleavey, Troy Murphy, and Adonal Foyle (plus a deep bench) could get the Warriors into the NBA Playoffs.

15.      Memphis - Some re-tooling should lead to a five of Damon Stoudamire (or Bobby Jackson), Mike Miller, Shane Battier, Lorenzen Wright, and Pau Gasol. Houston - Derek Anderson helps Houston. Bob Sura,  McGrady, Juwan Howard, and Yao Ming com

16.      plete the five.

17.      Washington - Losing Hughes hurts but the Wizards softened the blow by getting Antonio Daniels. Arenas, Jamison, Etan Thomas, and Brendan Haywood are the speculative five.

18.      Lakers - L.A. needs a better point guard. Smush Parker, and Sasha Vujacic will battle but the Lakers could go with Aaron McKie. McKie is coming off a low efficiency year so I dislike the signing. One of those guys or Tierre Brown at this point will start. The rest should be Kobe, Lamar Odom, Kwame Brown, and Chris Mihm.

19.      Seattle - Ridnour, Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, Reggie Evans, and Danny Fortson.

20.    Portland - Juan Dixon, Darius Miles, Travis Outlaw, Zach

21.      Randolph, and Joel Pryzbilla.

22.      Orlando - Keyon Dooling, Francis, Hill, Dwight Howard, and Tony Battie.

23.      Boston - Delonte West, Ricky Davis, Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz, and Mark Blount. Chicago - Hinrich, Gordon, Luol Deng, Antonio Davis, and Tyson Chandler.

24.      Minnesota - Jaric, Hassell, Szczerbiak, KG, and Olowokandi.

25.      New York - Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford, Quenten Richardson, Mike Sweetney, and Jerome James.

26.      Charlotte - Brevin Knight, Jason Kapono, Kareem Rush, Sean May, and Emeka Okafor.

27.      Atlanta - Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Josh Childress, Al Harrington, and ZaZa Pachulia.

28.      Milwaukee - T.J. Ford, Michael Redd, Desmond Mason, Joe Smith and Andrew Bogut.

29.      Toronto - Rafer Alston, Mo Pete, Jalen Rose,  Matt Bonner, and Chris Bosh.

30.      New Orleans - Chris Paul, J.R. Smith, Bostjan Nachbar, P.J. Brown, Jamal Magloire.

 

Home