[End Game] Who should start at C right now?

Okay, let's it all right here, right now. Who should start and why? Please let's keep this civil, bring arguments to the table that we can actually counter and are actually about the starting Center position. I will present my case without actual stats, but partially what I've read on Twitter in recent weeks, so forgive me if my memory is off.

I think Sengun should start, plain and simple. He's our best overall big man, brings enough on offense to offset any defensive deficiencies or lack of a lob threat as people have argued. Forgive me, but in presenting my case in why Sengun over Bruno in particular, I have to address some of what has been said online by others.

Now, I respect Clutch among others who are trying to go with the narrative that KPJ & Green are limited / held back w/ Sengun on the court. However, if that is factually true or even something you believe, then Yao should not have been a starter w/ Cat & Francis. You are also saying Yao should not have been a starter in this era, because he’s not an outside threat, clogs up the lane and needs touches.

If you want to make a point about defense, go ahead, but then Bruno has no case over Garuba and the latter should start. And if we think Yao over Sengun as a flaw in the point I’m making, remember Sengun is actually a great passer who would’ve even fit Adelman’s offense to a T. This is to me the most important part of his game since he attracts so much attention lately that his passing is what is opening up our offense in ways that we would not have without Sengun on the court.

Alpi creates plays, causes double teams and thus allows Green & KPJ to thrive. We just need them to cut and our coaches to put in new sets and plays w/ off ball movement, screens and cutting to maximize Sengun’s talent. If Silas and company believe Bruno makes more sense over Sengun, then I wonder what their arguments would be. Look at Green, he's been allowed to create even w/ Sengun starting. Both KPJ & Green get their iso moments and shoot it a ton.

Now, let's say you (still) think Sengun's defense is really bad - stats I've seen posted on twitter like +- and defensive ratings after certain games say otherwise - and KPJ and or Green are not maximized due to Sengun being a starter, that's fine. Let's look at our other role players. We have been amazing on the offensive glass, mainly due to hard work by our bigs, Tari & Martin. Now at least one or both those guys mentioned thrive by cutting and hanging around the basket, being opportunistic, looking and or moving in open spaces.

The only reason we haven't seen much action coming from those open spaces is because our offensive sets are not catered to it, but we've seen Sengun making great passes when opportunities arise. This is of course only useful if you believe posting up Sengun makes sense. Let's say you don't, well then we have him setting screens, picking and rolling, picking and popping. Popping is almost non-existent, but we can all agree his shot is the best overall, though Garuba might become a serious enough outside threat soon.

Now setting screens, he's not the biggest nor strongest guy, but I'd say he's the most fundamentally sound in setting screens and actually holds guys back. Garuba is more nimble and quicker to the ball and especially on the roll likely superior to both. Garuba also has great hands and has shown flashes in his passing to create plays. However, I believe the eye test in no matter where Sengun catches it off the pick and roll, he can create and has the most diverse skill set to create w/ his dribbling and fakes.

Garuba when facing a a defender or multiple is not going to give you much. Bruno even less. Only as a lob threat. Sengun can get past his man, deal with double teams the best and actually have more than one option. With Bruno you have zero outside threat, very little spacing and only a lob threat. With Garuba you have for the moment a great outside threat, provides spacing, can pass, but is still limited in scoring when he catches it.

Sengun is a solid outside threat, though at the moment his 3pt shooting is definitely off, he provides still provides spacing and has more options - especially for others - due to the variety of skills he has. He might get more easily blocked, but again with those skills, I'm not worried about that. On defense I'm also not worried about the lack of shot blocking and intimidating factor that a Garuba or Bruno potentially provide.

I'm actually surprised how Sengun can hold his own in that regard. Garuba is the only one who clears all when it comes to defensive awareness, knowing where to be, body control to challenge shots, the bounce and quickness to recover once a perimeter player passes him. However, in case of shot blocking, intimidating and quickness when switched onto perimeter players, having Jabari next to our Center offsets a lot of those "issues".

Alpi's ability to grow on defense, in terms of awareness, positioning etc. and his shot blocking is solid enough to make up for any defensive deficiencies. Offensively is so far ahead of Bruno that I personally don't see how he has any case over both Garuba and Sengun. I could see a case for Garuba, but as of right now he works perfect to provide that spark off the bench, works well with Tari to bring that energy and Sengun is doing so well that I don't see any reason to make any changes.

Garuba is making a case for a back-up 4 though, so I don't mind trying out starting Bruno for the sole reason of bringing Sengun and Garuba as our bigs off the bench.

Please discuss and not a poll is intentional, since I'd like to keep this thread for actual discussion. I'm aiming for more than just stating who you want. Please try to keep with the intent and not abuse this thread for your own agendas about Silas, Sengun etc.

Thank you!