Slam Dunk Reporter Stephen Rhodes’ Projected 2009 NBA Opening Night Lineups

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA Analysis, NBA Regular Season Opener

Well folks, tonight is the night. Everyone has hope and start out with a clean slate; everyone is on equal footing (with the possible exception of the Los Angeles Clippers, thank you very much Blake Griffin). And the thing on everyone’s mind at this very early stage is who will fill up the 30 NBA teams’ starting lineups for the season openers?

After careful consideration of players’ performances and on occasion the police blotter (character still counts despite the rumors), I have compiled the teams in the league and who I predict will be in the starting lineups for opening night for the 2009-10 NBA season. So in the words of veteran NFL malcontent Terrell Owens, “Get the popcorn ready.” Below are the projected NBA Opening Night lineups:

Atlanta – PG Mike Bibby, SG Joe Johnson, SF Josh Smith, PF Marvin Williams, C Al Horford, Sixth Man Jamal Crawford

Boston – PG Rajon Rondo, SG Ray Allen, SF Paul Pierce, PF Kevin Garnett, C Kendrick Perkins, Sixth Man Rasheed Wallace

Charlotte – PG Raymond Felton, SG Ronald Murray* SF Gerald Wallace, PF Boris Diaw, C Tyson Chandler, Sixth Man D.J. Augustin

Chicago – PG Derrick Rose, SG John Salmons, SF Luol Deng, PF Tyrus Thomas, C Joakim Noah, Sixth Man Kirk Hinrich

Cleveland – PG Mo Williams, SG Anthony Parker**, SF LeBron James, PF Anderson Varejao, C Shaquille O’Neal, Sixth Man Jamario Moon

Dallas – PG Jason Kidd, SG Quinton Ross***, SF Shawn Marion, PF Dirk Nowitski, C Drew Gooden, Sixth Man Jason Terry

Denver – PG Chauncey Billups, SG J.R. Smith, SF Carmelo Anthony, PF Kenyon Martin, C Nene Hilario, Sixth Man Arron Affalo

Detroit – PG Rodney Stuckey, SG Richard Hamilton, SF Tayshaun Prince, PF Charlie Villanueva, C Ben Wallace, Sixth Man Ben Gordon

Golden State – PG Stephen Curry, SG Monta Ellis, SF Stephen Jackson, PF Ronny Turiaf, C Andris Biedrins, Sixth Man Corey Maggette

Houston – PG Aaron Brooks, SG Shane Battier, SF Trevor Ariza, PF Luis Scola, C David Andersen, Sixth Man Chuck Hayes

Indiana – PG T.J. Ford, SG Brandon Rush, SF Danny Granger, PF Troy Murphy, C Roy Hibbert, Sixth Man Earl Watson

Los Angeles Clippers – PG Baron Davis, SG Eric Gordon, SF Al Thornton, PF Marcus Camby+, C Chris Kaman, Sixth Man Ricky Davis

Los Angeles Lakers – PG Derek Fisher, SG Kobe Bryant, SF Ron Artest, PF Pau Gasol, C Andrew Bynum, Sixth Man Lamar Odom

Memphis - PG Mike Conley, SG O.J. Mayo, SF Rudy Gay, PF Zach Randolph, C Marc Gasol, Sixth Man Darrell Arthur

Miami - PG Mario Chalmers, PG Dwyane Wade, SF Michael Beasley, PF Udonis Haslem, C Jermaine O’Neal, Sixth Man Daequan Cook

Milwaukee - PG Brandon Jennings, SG Michael Redd, SF Joe Alexander, PF Hakim Warrick, C Andrew Bogut, Sixth Man Charlie Bell

Minnesota - PG Jonny Flynn, SG Ramon Sessions, SF Ryan Gomes, PF Al Jefferson, C Mark Blount, Sixth Man Damien Wilkins

New Jersey - PG Devin Harris, SG Courtney Lee, SF Eduardo Najera, PF Yi Jianlian, C Brook Lopez, Sixth Man Rafer Alston

New Orleans - PG Chris Paul, SG Julian Wright, SF James Posey, PF David West, C Emeka Okafor, Sixth Man Peja Stojakovic

New York – PG Chris Duhon, SG Nate Robinson, SF Wilson Chandler, PF Al Harington, C David Lee, Sixth Man Danilo Gallinari

Oklahoma City – PG Russell Westbrook, SG James Harden, SF Kevin Durant, PF Jeff Green, C Nenad Krstic, Sixth Man Nick Collison

Orlando – PG Jameer Nelson, SG Vince Carter, SF Mickael Pietrus, PF Rashard Lewis, C Dwight Howard, Sixth Man Ryan Anderson

Philadelphia – PG Louis Williams, SG Andre Iguodala, SF Thaddeus Young, PF Elton Brand, C Samuel Dalembert, Sixth Man Jason Kapono

Phoenix - PG Steve Nash, SG Jason Richardson, SF Grant Hill, PF Amare Stoudemire, C Channing Frye, Sixth Man Leandro Barbosa

Portland - PG Steve Blake, SG Brandon Roy, SF Nicolas Batum, PF LaMarcus Aldridge, C Greg Oden, Sixth Man Rudy Fernandez

Sacramento - PG Tyreke Evans, SG Kevin Martin, SF Andres Nocioni, PF Jason Thompson, C Spencer Hawes, Sixth Man Beno Udrih

San Antonio - PG Tony Parker, SG Manu Ginobili, SF Richard Jefferson, PF Tim Duncan, C Antonio McDyess, Sixth Man Michael Finley

Toronto - PG Jose Calderon, SG DeMar DeRozan, SF Hedo Turkoglu, PF Chris Bosh, C Andrea Bargnani, Sixth Man Antoine Wright

Utah – PG Deron Williams, SG Ronnie Brewer, SF Paul Millsap, PF Carlos Boozer, C Mehmet Okur, Sixth Man Andrei Kirilenko

Washington – PG Gilbert Arenas, SG Nick Young, SF Caron Butler, PF Andray Blatche, C Brendan Haywood, Sixth Man Mike Miller

Please keep in mind that these projections are for Opening Night only; after that is anyone’s guess.

*Raja Bell (Charlotte) is injured. **Delonte West (Cleveland) is out due to personal issues. ***Josh Howard (Dallas) is injured. + Blake Griffin (LA Clippers) is injured.

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