NBA Starting Lineup Rankings for the 2016-17 Season: Top 5 Teams with a Promising Set of Starting Players
With the free agency grown thinner and trade agreements becoming a rare occurrence in NBA recently, it is almost safe to conclude how teams will look like come the 2016-2017 season. Some clubs sport best players from the league and therefore becoming early favorites to take home the championship cup. Here is the snapshot of the top five teams with their current lineups:
Golden State Warriors is one of two teams in the previous season that look more like the dream team of old with their array of superstars and choices of weapons in their arsenal. This season is even more promising for the GSW after brushing Harrison Barnes and adding Kevin Durant in the already formidable squad. The Warriors is arguably the best there is right now to land in the 2017 finals.
Projected Starters: Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Zaza Pachulia
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Cleveland Cavaliers proved to be the most resilient team in the past season after beating the Warriors with sheer will and coming up strong from 1-3 down the finals. The next season will basically look the same if the Cavs can work it out with now free agent J.R. Smith and retain him. Even if it was observed that Kevin Love shows wear and tear recently, the Cavs will still be unstoppable if he is paired with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.
Projected Starters: Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson
Los Angeles Clippers may not be as flashy as other teams in terms of finals appearance but if coach Doc Rivers is to be asked, the team has the best offensive efficiency. Aside from assuring that Blake Griffin will stay with the team, Clippers boasts top-five point guards, power forwards, centers and shooting guards within their arsenal. The only missing link is failing to get another top-tier small forward within the squad.
Projected Starters: Chris Paul, J.J. Redick, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan
San Antonio Spurs may never look the same without Tim Duncan, after all, he is the best there is defensively and offensively. The dent that Duncan leaves does not mean, however, that the Spurs' squad is not an offense specialist with the addition of Pau Gasol.
Projected Starters: Tony Parker, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol
Utah Jazz made a leap into becoming an offensive team after trading for George Hill and reserving Raul Neto instead. The Jazz is also arguably at par with the Spurs in offensive efficiency but fell at fifth because of questions regarding defense factor. However, the Jazz sport a better big-man tandem and a more reliable shooting guard.
Projected Starters: George Hill, Rodney Hood, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert
