Who do you think should be the fifth starter on this team? Marcus Smart or Rui Hachimura
September 25, 2025
Who do you think should be the fifth starter on this team? Marcus Smart or Rui Hachimura
26 comments
Why is the comparison for starter always smart vs Rui, and not smart vs AR? Everyone already knows the defensive reputation of a luka AR backcourt
Rui
I think Marcus Smart will come off the bench but he’ll play with the starters majority of the time and JJ will try to separate Luka and Reaves’ minutes so that Reaves plays with the second unit more.
We need a perimeter defender in the starting 5 so I could see Marcus becoming the starter as the season progresses
Of those two? Rui will start.
…startem both
Rui
Rui. I expect Luka to be able to improve his defense with his renewed fitness. Smart will play the minutes his body allows, but he most likely won’t play starter minutes in terms of volume to prevent injury.
I think Austin should come off the bench.
For the regular season, probably Rui.
With AR, LeBron, Luka, and Ayton, the 5th guy on offense is just going to be permanently camped in the corner with the occasional cut. Rui is fine in that role. Smart is not.
I think Smart is better if he still gets some on-ball minutes. He’s not getting that with LeBron, Luka, and AR. But, he can get those minutes with the bench in a pairing with 1-2 of those guys.
The 4-man line-up of AR, Luka, LeBron, and Rui also had a perfectly fine defensive rating last year in their highest minute line-ups. They might have match-up specific issues but this is for the regular season.
Both. Luka, Smart, Bron, Rui, Ayton.
They don’t play the same position.
i dont get signing smart and not starting him to defend the perimeter. I would rather bring austin off the bench than sit smart
trade Reaves, start Smart or Eason at the 2.
Rui no doubt!
The Black Samurai
Who’s the fourth starter? AR should be 6th man, the Manu Ginobilli !
Make Reaves 6th man and start Smart or Laravia
Rui
Smart should start over austin but austin should still get high 20 minutes a night
It’s Rui’s spot til it’s not
Rui
Rui
Rui definetly. Even on an off-night offensively he still has so much more to deliver. Smart is a bit washed
Smart will start on the bench. If he plays like he did when he was DPOY or at least close to it, he will probably replace AR in the starting 5.
You start the same crew from last year with Ayton. LukA, AR, Rui, lebron, Ayton. Then you assess and adapt after a couple games for a while.
26 comments
Why is the comparison for starter always smart vs Rui, and not smart vs AR? Everyone already knows the defensive reputation of a luka AR backcourt
Rui
I think Marcus Smart will come off the bench but he’ll play with the starters majority of the time and JJ will try to separate Luka and Reaves’ minutes so that Reaves plays with the second unit more.
We need a perimeter defender in the starting 5 so I could see Marcus becoming the starter as the season progresses
Of those two? Rui will start.
…startem both
Rui
Rui. I expect Luka to be able to improve his defense with his renewed fitness. Smart will play the minutes his body allows, but he most likely won’t play starter minutes in terms of volume to prevent injury.
I think Austin should come off the bench.
For the regular season, probably Rui.
With AR, LeBron, Luka, and Ayton, the 5th guy on offense is just going to be permanently camped in the corner with the occasional cut. Rui is fine in that role. Smart is not.
I think Smart is better if he still gets some on-ball minutes. He’s not getting that with LeBron, Luka, and AR. But, he can get those minutes with the bench in a pairing with 1-2 of those guys.
The 4-man line-up of AR, Luka, LeBron, and Rui also had a perfectly fine defensive rating last year in their highest minute line-ups. They might have match-up specific issues but this is for the regular season.
Both. Luka, Smart, Bron, Rui, Ayton.
They don’t play the same position.
i dont get signing smart and not starting him to defend the perimeter. I would rather bring austin off the bench than sit smart
trade Reaves, start Smart or Eason at the 2.
Rui no doubt!
The Black Samurai
Who’s the fourth starter? AR should be 6th man, the Manu Ginobilli !
Make Reaves 6th man and start Smart or Laravia
Rui
Smart should start over austin but austin should still get high 20 minutes a night
It’s Rui’s spot til it’s not
Rui
Rui
Rui definetly. Even on an off-night offensively he still has so much more to deliver. Smart is a bit washed
Smart will start on the bench. If he plays like he did when he was DPOY or at least close to it, he will probably replace AR in the starting 5.
You start the same crew from last year with Ayton. LukA, AR, Rui, lebron, Ayton. Then you assess and adapt after a couple games for a while.