Rotation for 21-22

[TaylorTag]

48 minutes each for the 1-5 position. This is how we think we start the year.

5: KAT (34 minutes), Naz (14 minutes)
4: Vando (28 minutes), McDaniels (15 minutes), Prince (5 minutes minutes)
3: McDaniels (19 minutes), Prince (19 minutes) Ant (10 minutes)
2: Ant (26 minutes), Beasley (22 minutes)
1: D’Lo (32 minutes), Beverley (16 minutes)

9 player lineup. Turn to the remaining bench based on play, foul situation, development opportunities.

Starting lineup features our most balanced look: Russell, Ant, McDaniels, Vando, KAT (as predicted by Zach Lowe today). That starting group plays for first 7 minutes or so. Then Beasley comes in for Vanderbilt and Beverley comes in for Russell, so we go small with Beverley, Beasley, Ant, McDaniels, KAT, hoping that Beverley’s perimeter defense can make up for Beasely’s shortcomings. When we aren’t running the floor, think Ant and KAT can develop a lethal pick n roll game.

Then Prince comes in for McDaniels in around the 10 minute mark. Naz Reid replaces KAT and Vanderbilt replaces Ant around Q1’s end, so it’s Russell, Beasley, Prince, Vanderbilt, Naz as our second unit, with us hoping that Vando can provide enough D to make for the rest of the unit’s shortcomings on that end. (I thought our second unit featuring Naz, Vando, Hernangomez, Russell and McLaughlin did not look that bad defensively.)

Few thoughts: Think we will play more than 9 guys. And also think we find a way to play Beverley and Russell together, but I think that Finch will want to go back to Russell playing a lot with the second unit, which means he will have to make some sacrifices to get the rotation to work.

Edit: 9 guys not 8

[Note30]

Beasley needs more minutes

[KGdaBom]

Beasley needs more minutes

Agreed.

[winforlose]

48 minutes each for the 1-5 position. This is how we think we start the year.

5: KAT (34 minutes), Naz (14 minutes)
4: Vando (28 minutes), McDaniels (15 minutes), Prince (5 minutes minutes)
3: McDaniels (19 minutes), Prince (19 minutes) Ant (10 minutes)
2: Ant (26 minutes), Beasley (22 minutes)
1: D’Lo (32 minutes), Beverley (16 minutes)

9 player lineup. Turn to the remaining bench based on play, foul situation, development opportunities.

Starting lineup features our most balanced look: Russell, Ant, McDaniels, Vando, KAT (as predicted by Zach Lowe today). That starting group plays for first 7 minutes or so. Then Beasley comes in for Vanderbilt and Beverley comes in for Russell, so we go small with Beverley, Beasley, Ant, McDaniels, KAT, hoping that Beverley’s perimeter defense can make up for Beasely’s shortcomings. When we aren’t running the floor, think Ant and KAT can develop a lethal pick n roll game.

Then Prince comes in for McDaniels in around the 10 minute mark. Naz Reid replaces KAT and Vanderbilt replaces Ant around Q1’s end, so it’s Russell, Beasley, Prince, Vanderbilt, Naz as our second unit, with us hoping that Vando can provide enough D to make for the rest of the unit’s shortcomings on that end. (I thought our second unit featuring Naz, Vando, Hernangomez, Russell and McLaughlin did not look that bad defensively.)

Few thoughts: Think we will play more than 9 guys. And also think we find a way to play Beverley and Russell together, but I think that Finch will want to go back to Russell playing a lot with the second unit, which means he will have to make some sacrifices to get the rotation to work.

Edit: 9 guys not 8

1. I don’t see the minutes as a set thing on any given night. Putting aside foul trouble, I believe in feeding the hot hand. For instance if Reid is on fire then play him next to KAT and sit someone else. As a good rule of thumb I like keeping any players minutes under 35 unless overtime is involved, but again this is fluid.

2. Beasley needs proper support or he will go from 25 PPG down to 10 or less. I fear your rotation may lack sufficient scoring to accomplish this. I could see us going small with Bev, Nowell, Beasley, Vando, and Reid, although I prefer a mixed lineup of starters and bench players. The more time KAT spends on the floor with Beasley the more open 3s Beasley will take and make. As for Vando starting, I can see it working only if he can consistently catch passes. If not then start Prince and let Vando run with the second unit.

3. I want to see 10 and maybe even 11 man rotations. I want Okogie and Bolmaro as situational defenders and I want Nowell getting significant minutes every game. I might also run Nowell with the starters after a quick sub with Dlo and let Dlo and Beasley lead the second unit. It all depends on who we are playing and how well we are competing on that given night.

4. The smaller rotation has a few drawbacks I don’t like. Not only does it add unnecessary rust to guys who can contribute, but it adds unnecessary stress to the remaining players. I think we are talented enough and deep enough to run 10 and give our stars reasonable time on the bench.

[Note30]

Beasley needs more minutes

Agreed.

First time for everything

[KGdaBom]

Beasley needs more minutes

Agreed.

First time for everything

That may be why he's traded in a Simmons package. So he can get more minutes.

[minimus]

I mainly expect two things:
* - no more lineups with two bad shooters (Rubio+Vando, Rubio+Okogie etc) we added Prince and Beverly who can defend and shoot 3s
* - more flexible, matchup based rotations with timely in-game substitutions

[FinnTheHuman]

Yea, Beasley only 22 minutes discredits you tbh. He’s too good to be under 32 min per game, and he can get 32 min if you take away Vando’s 28 min which he has no business playing, and play Edwards more at SF or even PF situationally while playing McD and Prince more at PF and less at SF.

[Biff Cooper]

In my opinion, O.P. has much too many minutes for Vando and D'Lo. I'd put Vando at about 14-16 and D'Lo at about 24-26. Maybe slightly too many minutes for McDaniels, Beverley, and Prince. Too few minutes for Naz and Beasley. I think we are going to see JMac, Bolmairo, and Knight each getting at least a little run on almost a nightly basis as well.

[PerkinsFor3]

I mainly expect two things:
* - no more lineups with two bad shooters (Rubio+Vando, Rubio+Okogie etc) we added Prince and Beverly who can defend and shoot 3s
* - more flexible, matchup based rotations with timely in-game substitutions

Dont hold your breath for Prince's defense!

[TaylorTag]

48 minutes each for the 1-5 position. This is how we think we start the year.

5: KAT (34 minutes), Naz (14 minutes)
4: Vando (28 minutes), McDaniels (15 minutes), Prince (5 minutes minutes)
3: McDaniels (19 minutes), Prince (19 minutes) Ant (10 minutes)
2: Ant (26 minutes), Beasley (22 minutes)
1: D’Lo (32 minutes), Beverley (16 minutes)

9 player lineup. Turn to the remaining bench based on play, foul situation, development opportunities.

Starting lineup features our most balanced look: Russell, Ant, McDaniels, Vando, KAT (as predicted by Zach Lowe today). That starting group plays for first 7 minutes or so. Then Beasley comes in for Vanderbilt and Beverley comes in for Russell, so we go small with Beverley, Beasley, Ant, McDaniels, KAT, hoping that Beverley’s perimeter defense can make up for Beasely’s shortcomings. When we aren’t running the floor, think Ant and KAT can develop a lethal pick n roll game.

Then Prince comes in for McDaniels in around the 10 minute mark. Naz Reid replaces KAT and Vanderbilt replaces Ant around Q1’s end, so it’s Russell, Beasley, Prince, Vanderbilt, Naz as our second unit, with us hoping that Vando can provide enough D to make for the rest of the unit’s shortcomings on that end. (I thought our second unit featuring Naz, Vando, Hernangomez, Russell and McLaughlin did not look that bad defensively.)

Few thoughts: Think we will play more than 9 guys. And also think we find a way to play Beverley and Russell together, but I think that Finch will want to go back to Russell playing a lot with the second unit, which means he will have to make some sacrifices to get the rotation to work.

Edit: 9 guys not 8

1. I don’t see the minutes as a set thing on any given night. Putting aside foul trouble, I believe in feeding the hot hand. For instance if Reid is on fire then play him next to KAT and sit someone else. As a good rule of thumb I like keeping any players minutes under 35 unless overtime is involved, but again this is fluid.

Of course this would vary game by game depending on play. Not calling for rigid rotations

2. Beasley needs proper support or he will go from 25 PPG down to 10 or less. I fear your rotation may lack sufficient scoring to accomplish this. I could see us going small with Bev, Nowell, Beasley, Vando, and Reid, although I prefer a mixed lineup of starters and bench players. The more time KAT spends on the floor with Beasley the more open 3s Beasley will take and make. As for Vando starting, I can see it working only if he can consistently catch passes. If not then start Prince and let Vando run with the second unit.

In my rotation about I have Beasley playing with Beverley, Edwards, McDaniels, KAT, which is a small ball lineup that allows Beasely to stretch the floor with other great shooters and Russell, Prince, Vando and Naz Reid—outside Vando, all those guys are above average 3-point shooters; Russell and Reid provide a lot of scoring.

3. I want to see 10 and maybe even 11 man rotations. I want Okogie and Bolmaro as situational defenders and I want Nowell getting significant minutes every game. I might also run Nowell with the starters after a quick sub with Dlo and let Dlo and Beasley lead the second unit. It all depends on who we are playing and how well we are competing on that given night.

I don’t necessarily disagree with this. But think it will be hard to run a 11 man rotation, especially with a team that has so little experience on the floor together.. We need to start developing rotations that can hold their own late in the season if we want to compete in the playoffs. Hard to do when you are rotating guys every couple of minutes to get 11 guys on the court.

4. The smaller rotation has a few drawbacks I don’t like. Not only does it add unnecessary rust to guys who can contribute, but it adds unnecessary stress to the remaining players. I think we are talented enough and deep enough to run 10 and give our stars reasonable time on the bench.

See response to 3
.

[minimus]

I mainly expect two things:
* - no more lineups with two bad shooters (Rubio+Vando, Rubio+Okogie etc) we added Prince and Beverly who can defend and shoot 3s
* - more flexible, matchup based rotations with timely in-game substitutions

Dont hold your breath for Prince's defense!

Yeah, I mean if he can be better than Juancho it will be already a big step forward

[KGdaBom]

In my opinion, O.P. has much too many minutes for Vando and D'Lo. I'd put Vando at about 14-16 and D'Lo at about 24-26. Maybe slightly too many minutes for McDaniels, Beverley, and Prince. Too few minutes for Naz and Beasley. I think we are going to see JMac, Bolmairo, and Knight each getting at least a little run on almost a nightly basis as well.

Russell at only 26 minutes. What are you smoking and can you share with me?

[Note30]

Agreed.

First time for everything

That may be why he's traded in a Simmons package. So he can get more minutes.

I mean regardless of whether or not we trade for Simmons I'd be pissed if we haven't done some form of a consolidation trade by the deadline.

What's the point of expirings that are semi decent poor fit role players (looking at Prince) if you aren't going combine them to get better value

[Biff Cooper]

In my opinion, O.P. has much too many minutes for Vando and D'Lo. I'd put Vando at about 14-16 and D'Lo at about 24-26. Maybe slightly too many minutes for McDaniels, Beverley, and Prince. Too few minutes for Naz and Beasley. I think we are going to see JMac, Bolmairo, and Knight each getting at least a little run on almost a nightly basis as well.

Russell at only 26 minutes. What are you smoking and can you share with me?

The year he was an all-star he averaged 30.2 mpg. He only played 28.5 mpg for us last year. Defense is supposed to be a priority this season, and he is sharing a position with Beverley, JMac, Wright, and Bolmairo who are all better defenders. Limit his minutes and get the most out of him when he is on the floor, and limit the minutes to keep him fresh at the end of games.

[NebWolvesFan]

I also think Okogie plays more than we think. He will hold down the fort at the back-up three until Bolmaro is ready or the Wolves acquire another 4 which moves Prince to the back-up three behind Jmac

[wolves_89]

One guy that I think has a chance to break into the rotation is Knight. The Wolves are incredibly small outside of Towns/Reid (no other big even reaches 220 lbs) and I could easily see Knight getting rotation minutes by December.

[KGdaBom]

In my opinion, O.P. has much too many minutes for Vando and D'Lo. I'd put Vando at about 14-16 and D'Lo at about 24-26. Maybe slightly too many minutes for McDaniels, Beverley, and Prince. Too few minutes for Naz and Beasley. I think we are going to see JMac, Bolmairo, and Knight each getting at least a little run on almost a nightly basis as well.

Russell at only 26 minutes. What are you smoking and can you share with me?

The year he was an all-star he averaged 30.2 mpg. He only played 28.5 mpg for us last year. Defense is supposed to be a priority this season, and he is sharing a position with Beverley, JMac, Wright, and Bolmairo who are all better defenders. Limit his minutes and get the most out of him when he is on the floor, and limit the minutes to keep him fresh at the end of games.

Despite your preferring he only gets 24-26 MPG, I predict he gets more than 24-26 MPG.

[KGdaBom]

One guy that I think has a chance to break into the rotation is Knight. The Wolves are incredibly small outside of Towns/Reid (no other big even reaches 220 lbs) and I could easily see Knight getting rotation minutes by December.

From what I saw of him he will be a HUGE liability for us any time he is on the floor. I would prefer zero minutes for Knight other than the G league.

[wolves_89]

One guy that I think has a chance to break into the rotation is Knight. The Wolves are incredibly small outside of Towns/Reid (no other big even reaches 220 lbs) and I could easily see Knight getting rotation minutes by December.

From what I saw of him he will be a HUGE liability for us any time he is on the floor. I would prefer zero minutes for Knight other than the G league.

With better roster construction Knight wouldn't see the floor, but the way the team currently looks I'm guessing they become desperate for legitimate size after finding that they are again at the bottom of the league in defensive rebounding.