Who's The Starting 2 in The Powder Bule?

With the departure of Dahntay Jones comes the arrival of Arron Afflalo and yet another controversy on who should be the next starting two gaurd.  With Billups as our starting PG, Melo as our starting SF, Martin as our starting PF, and Nene our starting C who fills the void at the 2?  Jr and his instant offense or Afflalo the more two way player? 

With the team structured as it is right now it has to be Arron Afflalo.  Denver has more than enough offense from Billups, Melo and Nene and not enough defense in the starting rotation.  Also Denver has no scoring off the bench with Bird, Lawson, LK (assumiong he stays), Balkman and Afflalo. With Afflalo starting you are back to how Denver was assembled last year when Jones started, but Afflalo can do much more than Jones.  Afflalo can provide you with a a three point shot as well as tough lock down perimeter D. Smith can of course provide you points and three ball threats but who scores on the bench?  It sure isn't going to be Balkman or Lawson.

If Denver were to start Afflalo then Afflalo instantly gets better looks seeing that teams will be doubling off on to Nene or Melo at times leaving him the man that is quite possibly open behind the arc.  Afflalo can also provide some relief of defenders on Chauncey, because they will have to respect Afflalo much more than they did Jones.  With Afflalo starting this also allows Denver to hit opposing teams with a well balanced bench attack as well with JR coming off the bench and draining three's and Birman blocking you shots and providing energy.  You can run a roatation to where if Chauncey isn't on the floor Smith will be or vise verse.  No more Ac with Billups rotations.

Now the big question is what kind of big man is Denver going to get this off season.  I talked to Travis Heath today about Marc Gasol, Drew Gooden and Jeff Foster and he said Denver is considering all options and will use the TEP for the right price.  That said if Denver brings in a guy like Jeff Foster you still have to start Arron Afflalo because Foster will not give you point production off the bench.  If Denver adds Gooden or Gasol however then you can explore the option of starting Smith knowing you have a low post presence that can score and still get away with Afflalo providing at the 2 off the bench.  It is a big question mark on who will start for the Nuggets next year at the 2 and no one really can tell until Denver's roster is all set and done.  My money says Afflalo will start unless a big offensive big man is added in the near future.