Here are the essential parts of how we can be successful in today’s NBA, where your point of attack guy must force his man over a screen and be threat enough with his man on his back to cause a power play everywhere else on the court.
Point of Attack: Quickley Burks (maybe rivers when he is healthy)
Sniper: Bullock Knox
Skill guy w suspect shot: RJ Payton
PF: Randle Toppin
Agile rim guy: Mitch Noel
Everyone else, Frank, DSJ, Iggy, and Spellman have to ready themselves to fill one or more of these roles effectively. Their times will surely come this season.
With the Quickley, Bullock, RJ, Randle, Mitch group you have your power frontcourt, Physical wings, and your sniper PG. Noel, Toppin, Knox, Burks, Payton as second unit means your subs at big positions are both more mobile with more range than the guys they go in for while giving up size. The perimeter subs can keep the chain going with Burks putting a two guard on his hip while Quickley does it to ones. RJ and Payton can ride herd on the proceedings to finish or otherwise intercede when appropriate. Knox and Obi will either catch lightning or hold the fort. I expect this would vary game to game. If RJ or Quickley hit a funk or are getting outfoxed, putting in Payton or Burks to carry through the game you get at least a scratch player at the position and should still be able to give yourself a chance to win.
I expect that in the scrimmage portion of the practices between the Cleveland preseason closer and the Indianapolis regular season opener, battles for these starting jobs are being staged and assessed by the staff along with seeing what situational combos work best.
If this all looks different opening night, I’ll be willing to believe it’s for good reason.