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My opinion:

Larry Drew is making a big mistake. He's shortening the rotation in preparation for the playoffs, but the error is the lineup he's choosing. We're almost assuredly the 5th seed unless we fall completely apart and get passed by the Sixers. That in turn means that we are 95% likely to face Orlando in round 1. The lineup that worked best against the Magic was the "big" lineup with Collins, ZaZa, Thomas playing C. Al at PF. Josh at SF. The lineup allows playing Dwight man-to-man and sticking to shutting down the perimeter players. Larry Drew has abandoned that lineup to go back to the small lineup that starts Marvin. Right now we should go to the big lineup for the last 10 games regardless of matchups to get everyone in tune to playing that lineup.

I suspect the small lineup is an attempt to appease the players (because they are more comfortable with it) as they grasp for solutions to the problems of why do we suck so bad now. That in itself is poor motivation because it is the small lineup that has been eaten alive consistently by our likely first round opponent. The Hawks might be more comfortable, but it will likely lead to a 4 or 5 game first round exit. It's time for Drew to step up and try to be the coach, the leader, and the man. The downside of taking the chance is no worse than the likely outcome of the cowardly path he seems headed down.

evildallas wrote:My opinion:

Larry Drew is making a big mistake. He's shortening the rotation in preparation for the playoffs, but the error is the lineup he's choosing. We're almost assuredly the 5th seed unless we fall completely apart and get passed by the Sixers. That in turn means that we are 95% likely to face Orlando in round 1. The lineup that worked best against the Magic was the "big" lineup with Collins, ZaZa, Thomas playing C. Al at PF. Josh at SF. The lineup allows playing Dwight man-to-man and sticking to shutting down the perimeter players. Larry Drew has abandoned that lineup to go back to the small lineup that starts Marvin. Right now we should go to the big lineup for the last 10 games regardless of matchups to get everyone in tune to playing that lineup.

I suspect the small lineup is an attempt to appease the players (because they are more comfortable with it) as they grasp for solutions to the problems of why do we suck so bad now. That in itself is poor motivation because it is the small lineup that has been eaten alive consistently by our likely first round opponent. The Hawks might be more comfortable, but it will likely lead to a 4 or 5 game first round exit. It's time for Drew to step up and try to be the coach, the leader, and the man. The downside of taking the chance is no worse than the likely outcome of the cowardly path he seems headed down.

+1 but those centers get in early foul trouble

Ruhiel wrote:

evildallas wrote:My opinion:

Larry Drew is making a big mistake. He's shortening the rotation in preparation for the playoffs, but the error is the lineup he's choosing. We're almost assuredly the 5th seed unless we fall completely apart and get passed by the Sixers. That in turn means that we are 95% likely to face Orlando in round 1. The lineup that worked best against the Magic was the "big" lineup with Collins, ZaZa, Thomas playing C. Al at PF. Josh at SF. The lineup allows playing Dwight man-to-man and sticking to shutting down the perimeter players. Larry Drew has abandoned that lineup to go back to the small lineup that starts Marvin. Right now we should go to the big lineup for the last 10 games regardless of matchups to get everyone in tune to playing that lineup.

I suspect the small lineup is an attempt to appease the players (because they are more comfortable with it) as they grasp for solutions to the problems of why do we suck so bad now. That in itself is poor motivation because it is the small lineup that has been eaten alive consistently by our likely first round opponent. The Hawks might be more comfortable, but it will likely lead to a 4 or 5 game first round exit. It's time for Drew to step up and try to be the coach, the leader, and the man. The downside of taking the chance is no worse than the likely outcome of the cowardly path he seems headed down.

+1 but those centers get in early foul trouble

We'll still have Horford for foul trouble and I doubt all 3 will accumulate alot of quick fouls.

The lineup worked against Orlando during the season. My point is that we should be working it into shape right now instead of the smaller lineup with only two of the bench unless its a blowout system. I thought this was going to be the year that Joe entered the playoffs fresh because of better utilization of the bench and Drew is throwing that all away down the stretch.

In the end, Drew is simply Woodson II. Same determination to play the guys who can win TODAY, with no consideration of the players necessary for tomorrow, or even in the approaching 4th qtr. The hires by management have been self-destructive, as we've chosen to go the developmental route so far as our choice in players but with a "win-now, forget about development" mentality at coach.

How could any management decide on this contradiction of vision versus practice?