Portland Trail Blazers: Ranking projected NBA starting lineups part 3
By Andy Quach
Great: the top-10 starting lineups in the NBA
10. Portland Trail Blazers
Projected starting lineup:
G – Damian Lillard
G – CJ McCollum
F – Norman Powell
F – Robert Covington
C – Jusuf Nurkic
The Portland Trail Blazers make the top-10 starting lineups in the league for next season due to Damian Lillard’s MVP-level ceiling and the strength of his supporting cast at every position.
There’s a couple of detractors that are keeping this squad from ranking even higher. Firstly, the glaring lack of size with Powell playing at the three limits this team’s defensive ceiling. While Norm is a high-end perimeter defender, at just 6’4, he’ll have difficulties containing most of the elite small forwards in the league. With two negative defenders playing on the wings beside him, the Blazers lack options when facing an opponent with multiple strong perimeter scorers.
Portland also lacks a championship-level second option. If CJ can play next season the way he did before his injury in 2020-2021, the Blazers will have a significantly higher ceiling. Another option would be Jusuf Nurkic coming into his own under Billups, a coach who intends to unlock the Bosnian Beast. If either CJ or Nurk becomes a true Robin to Dame’s Batman, the defensive hole at small forward can be accounted for with smart substitutions and inspired scheming.
9. Philadelphia 76ers
Projected starting lineup:
G – Ben Simmons
G – Seth Curry
F – Danny Green
F – Tobias Harris
C – Joel Embiid
This ranking will obviously change depending on who Ben Simmons is traded for, but for the time being we can only work with what we have.
If somehow Daryl Morey and Philly can convince Simmons to suit up for the Sixers again next season, they should have one of the best starting groups in the league.
Seth Curry was a revelation for them last year, and appears determined to establish himself as not only one of the best shooters in the league, but one of the most dangerous offensive players period.
Re-signing Danny Green was an underrated move for the Sixers, for whom Green will continue to provide his elite 3-and-D services — a prototype that Philadelphia has needed next to Joel Embiid for years.
If Morey can finesse a high-level ballhandler and shooter for Ben Simmons, the 76ers will likely still finish in the top-10 of starting lineups and could even climb higher.
8. Denver Nuggets
Projected starting lineup:
G – Jamal Murray*
G – Will Barton
F – Michael Porter Jr.
F – Aaron Gordon
C – Nikola Jokic
*Jamal Murray tore his ACL in April and is out indefinitely
Even while waiting for Murray’s return, the Nuggets have the depth to cover for him between Monte Morris and Facundo Campazzo.
Of course, with Morris or Campazzo in the starting lineup, they would fall outside of the top-10. All signs point to the fact that Murray should be able to return before season’s end and be acclimated with his team in time for the playoffs, though. Per The Game Day, Murray could return as soon as January 2022, but with a full year’s recovery, will likely be available in April.
With a healthy Murray and Barton, a more realized MPJ, an acclimated Aaron Gordon, and Jokic coming off an MVP year, the Nuggets undoubtedly have a championship-caliber starting group.
7. Phoenix Suns
Projected starting lineup:
G – Chris Paul
G – Devin Booker
F – Mikal Bridges
F – Jae Crowder
C – Deandre Ayton
The Phoenix Suns with Chris Paul leading the charge took the world by surprise as they shocked their way to the NBA Finals last season. Teams and fans won’t make the same mistake in 2021-2022.
This Suns team is loaded with both top-end talent and depth.
It would have been interesting to see if the Suns could have toppled the Los Angeles Lakers at full strength last year, and hopefully we’ll get somewhat of an answer this season.
While they made the Finals in 2021, there are still a few teams that on paper edge out the Suns in terms of straight basketball talent. If Phoenix can return with a vengeance, increased chemistry, and internal development from Booker, Bridges, and Ayton, they could find themselves right back in the mix for the Larry O — and no one will be as surprised this time around.
6. Utah Jazz
Projected starting lineup:
G – Mike Conley
G – Donovan Mitchell
F – Royce O’Neale
F – Bojan Bogdanovic
C – Rudy Gobert
The Utah Jazz will pick up right where they left off last year. They’ll be an amazing regular season team and an extremely tough out in the playoffs.
That being said, unless Donovan Mitchell can take his game up another level, there’s really nowhere else that the Jazz can draw true championship aspirations from.
Utah has one of the best rosters in the league, but although they’re loaded with depth, their lack of a true top-10 player keeps them out of the title conversation. Unless Mitchell inserts himself into that discussion next season, the Jazz will likely go out the same way they did in 2021.