Do these dominant lineups (already) signal a tight playoff rotation?

Wannabe MEP · Post #1 » by **Wannabe MEP** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 7:01 pm

These eight lineups have been dominant — double-digit net rating — so far (minimum 20 minutes):

There are exactly eight players who appear in this group:

Green — 8
Lowry — 7
Siakam — 6
Ibaka — 6
Kawhi — 5
FVV — 4
Valanciunas — 2
Anunoby — 2

It's early, and some of these are pretty small sample size. But it's pretty obvious that there are things here that are just flat working, and seem sustainable (e.g., the main starters, the Ibaka/JV swaps, Lowry & FVV playing together, large doses of Green & Siakam, lots of "speed"/mobility/hustle, the starters even without Kawhi).

This crew sure seems like it could become an elite 8-man playoff rotation, e.g.:

PG — Lowry 36; FVV 12
SG — Green 24; FVV 24
SF — Kawhi 36; Green 12
PF — Siakam 36; Anunoby 12
C — Ibaka 32; Valanciunas 16

This is in stark contrast with last year, when many of the team's most effective units were heavy with bench players.

Post #2 » by **niQ** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 7:04 pm

Green ranger FTW

vini_vidi_vici · Post #3 » by **vini_vidi_vici** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 7:05 pm

Matchups will dictate alot of min allocation in the POs. If were facing guys like Embiid (who JV traditionally owns), its probably better served to invert that.

I think the guarantees are high mins for KL/Kawhi, and alot of DG/Skills. I also think Delon is going to get more than 0 mins.

OakleyDokely · Post #4 » by **OakleyDokely** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 7:06 pm

I'd say a 9 man rotation is likely. Those 8 + Delon will probably play some kind of role.

Miles/Norm/Monroe will be matchup based plays or injury replacements.

Danny1616 · Post #5 » by **Danny1616** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 7:11 pm

It will for sure be a tight rotation.

Playoffs minutes should look like this:

Kawhi - 42 minutes
Lowry - 40 minutes
Green - 40 minutes
Siakim - 35 minutes
Ibaka - 35 minutes

JV - 10 minutes (depending on the match-up could be more)
Fred - 10 minutes (depending on the match up)
OG - 5-10 minutes (depending on he match-up/foul trouble)
Delon - 5-10 minutes (depending on match-up/foul trouble)

Also in the playoffs Kawhi and Lowry should never be sitting at the same time.

Maybe you have the starting line up play together until the 3 minute mark of the 1st.

Bring in JV and OG for Kawhi and Ibaka.

Then beginning of the 2nd reinsert Kawhi for Siakim, Fred for Lowry and Delon for Green.

At the 8 minute mark reinsert Lowry for either Fred or Delon.

At the 6 minute mark reinsert Siakim for OG and Green for either Fred or Delon.

Qhawe · Post #6 » by **Qhawe** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 7:17 pm

LOL the starting lineup is ranked last in there. Interesting note.

Wannabe MEP · Post #7 » by **Wannabe MEP** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 7:20 pm

Qhawe wrote:LOL the starting lineup is ranked last in there. Interesting note.

Large sample size against everyone else's best. + double-digits in 293 minutes is really really good against starters.

Lukeem · Post #8 » by **Lukeem** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 7:22 pm

Qhawe wrote:LOL the starting lineup is ranked last in there. Interesting note.

With the most minutes
Against the opposing best lines

Still with a a net rating above 10

Wannabe MEP · Post #9 » by **Wannabe MEP** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 7:23 pm

vini_vidi_vici wrote:I also think Delon is going to get more than 0 mins.

Probably true, but he's not necessary. His net rating doesn't look good right now, but it's possible his numbers would look better with more minutes alongside more starters.

VanWest82 · Post #10 » by **VanWest82** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 7:35 pm

No. You only have one line up in there sans Lowry (Fred + starters). Is Lowry expected to play 44 MPG?

We don't have the bench line ups figured out yet. I like FVV/DW/OG/PS/JV. They're -2.0 Nrtg in 22 minutes. It's a good blend. I also like the idea of Kawhi in Siakam's spot on that unit, or even Serge so we can play big.

We have two problems: we only have one true PF on the team (Siakam), and CJ has actually been unplayable. I think it ends up being a nine man rotation with Siakam, Serge, and Kawhi taking turns as the PF with the bench unit depending on match ups.

C_Money · Post #11 » by **C_Money** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 7:42 pm

I’ve always been for tightening the rotation in the playoffs. You’ve gotta have your best guys on the court at all times.

Find your 8 best players and roll with it.

Wannabe MEP · Post #12 » by **Wannabe MEP** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 8:03 pm

VanWest82 wrote:You only have one line up in there sans Lowry (Fred + starters). Is Lowry expected to play 44 MPG?

Well, I wrote 36 min.

But the point was that I think something like this could be pretty good:

FVV
Green
Kawhi
Siakam/Anunoby
Ibaka/JV

I think you cover the 96 guard minutes by always keeping 2/3 of Lowry, FVV, and Green on the court: that's just low 30s minutes for each (I'd go with a little more to give Green some minutes at the three so all of them can play together).

Jcity08 · Post #13 » by **Jcity08** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 8:16 pm

FVV meshs well in the starting unit, while Siakam brings life to our bench. I think I like:

Starters: FVV - Lowry - Green - Kawhi - Ibaka
Bench: Delon - Powell - OG - Siakam - JV

TerryTate · Post #14 » by **TerryTate** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 8:23 pm

Danny1616 wrote:It will for sure be a tight rotation.

Playoffs minutes should look like this:

Kawhi - 42 minutes
Lowry - 40 minutes
Green - 40 minutes
Siakim - 35 minutes
Ibaka - 35 minutes

JV - 10 minutes (depending on the match-up could be more)
Fred - 10 minutes (depending on the match up)
OG - 5-10 minutes (depending on he match-up/foul trouble)
Delon - 5-10 minutes (depending on match-up/foul trouble)

Also in the playoffs Kawhi and Lowry should never be sitting at the same time.

Maybe you have the starting line up play together until the 3 minute mark of the 1st.

Bring in JV and OG for Kawhi and Ibaka.

Then beginning of the 2nd reinsert Kawhi for Siakim, Fred for Lowry and Delon for Green.

At the 8 minute mark reinsert Lowry for either Fred or Delon.

At the 6 minute mark reinsert Siakim for OG and Green for either Fred or Delon.

Are you Thibs?
Seems like a lot of mins for the starting lineup

ropjhk · Post #15 » by **ropjhk** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 8:28 pm

I think come playoff time (maybe sooner) Nurse will abandon the bench mob rotation and instead go with a 9 player rotation (Delon is the 9th man).

The Raptors are crazy versatile and have so many possible lineup combinations. There's no lineup that the Raptors can't counter.

Danny1616 · Post #16 » by **Danny1616** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 8:43 pm

TerryTate wrote:
Danny1616 wrote:It will for sure be a tight rotation.

Playoffs minutes should look like this:

Kawhi - 42 minutes
Lowry - 40 minutes
Green - 40 minutes
Siakim - 35 minutes
Ibaka - 35 minutes

JV - 10 minutes (depending on the match-up could be more)
Fred - 10 minutes (depending on the match up)
OG - 5-10 minutes (depending on he match-up/foul trouble)
Delon - 5-10 minutes (depending on match-up/foul trouble)

Also in the playoffs Kawhi and Lowry should never be sitting at the same time.

Maybe you have the starting line up play together until the 3 minute mark of the 1st.

Bring in JV and OG for Kawhi and Ibaka.

Then beginning of the 2nd reinsert Kawhi for Siakim, Fred for Lowry and Delon for Green.

At the 8 minute mark reinsert Lowry for either Fred or Delon.

At the 6 minute mark reinsert Siakim for OG and Green for either Fred or Delon.

Are you Thibs?
Seems like a lot of mins for the starting lineup

I'm talking playoffs...not the regular season.

Wannabe MEP · Post #17 » by **Wannabe MEP** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 8:44 pm

Danny1616 wrote:Fred - 10 minutes (depending on the match up)

... and...

Danny1616 wrote:Delon - 5-10 minutes (depending on match-up/foul trouble)

I sorta think Fred is just... better at basketball than Delon. No? I view Fred as pretty clear 6th man. I also like Fred getting minutes alongside Lowry.

C_Money · Post #18 » by **C_Money** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 8:45 pm

TerryTate wrote:
Danny1616 wrote:It will for sure be a tight rotation.

Playoffs minutes should look like this:

Kawhi - 42 minutes
Lowry - 40 minutes
Green - 40 minutes
Siakim - 35 minutes
Ibaka - 35 minutes

JV - 10 minutes (depending on the match-up could be more)
Fred - 10 minutes (depending on the match up)
OG - 5-10 minutes (depending on he match-up/foul trouble)
Delon - 5-10 minutes (depending on match-up/foul trouble)

Also in the playoffs Kawhi and Lowry should never be sitting at the same time.

Maybe you have the starting line up play together until the 3 minute mark of the 1st.

Bring in JV and OG for Kawhi and Ibaka.

Then beginning of the 2nd reinsert Kawhi for Siakim, Fred for Lowry and Delon for Green.

At the 8 minute mark reinsert Lowry for either Fred or Delon.

At the 6 minute mark reinsert Siakim for OG and Green for either Fred or Delon.

Are you Thibs?
Seems like a lot of mins for the starting lineup

That’s how it works in the playoffs fam.

Danny1616 · Post #19 » by **Danny1616** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 8:46 pm

Los Soles wrote:
Danny1616 wrote:Fred - 10 minutes (depending on the match up)

... and...

Danny1616 wrote:Delon - 5-10 minutes (depending on match-up/foul trouble)

I sorta think Fred is just... better at basketball than Delon. No? I view Fred as pretty clear 6th man. I also like Fred getting minutes alongside Lowry.

It really depends on the match-up.

If we play teams with big guards like the Bucks and Sixers we will need Delon because of his length. Against teams like the Warriors we will need Fred because he can match up well with Steph.

Vexxed · Post #20 » by **Vexxed** » Thu Dec 13, 2018 9:15 pm

Los Soles wrote:
Danny1616 wrote:Fred - 10 minutes (depending on the match up)

... and...

Danny1616 wrote:Delon - 5-10 minutes (depending on match-up/foul trouble)

I sorta think Fred is just... better at basketball than Delon. No? I view Fred as pretty clear 6th man. I also like Fred getting minutes alongside Lowry.

Depends on the matchup, situation and how either is playing on any given night. I like FVV out there when he's knocking down his shot but last night aside, he isn't really a great on ball defender. If you want stops and transition, you put Delon out there. Its an important position to have situational matchup possibilities I think