Let's Talk Rotation & Minutes. Also Different Lineups...

3 guard lineup is going to be a lot better this year

 

Would LOVE to see some Cam Oliver out there for some front court offensive power and backside shot blocking. It is not going to happen but I like the kid’s skill set nonetheless.

His time will come if/when Anderson breaks down. Anderson my not get all of his playing time back. I think Oliver is like a hybrid of Josh Smith and Robert Horry type player that will do what is needed to win. I hope he is more about team play than personal fame IF he ever gets any playing time. He is a highly skilled 4/5 but shoots and runs like 3. I can’t see him cracking the rotation with out someone out with injuries. If given the chance I think he will be a keeper sooner than most think. Cam Oliver is a rotation worthy player I just don’t see where he fits here, yet.

 

Nene. Might only be good for 50 games in the regular season but hopefully he will be there for all of the post season.

 

but nene can't get you 20 points in back-to-back games. even dumars & isaiah needed aguirre. mj & pippen needed kukoc. drexler and cassell needed hakeem. okay last one was a joke. but point is you need a reliable shot creator and finisher in the frontcourt for offensive balance, something that SAS just exposed for us a few months ago

 

Biggest mistake in everyone's rotation is giving Luc around the same minutes as Tucker. That won't happen.

They are both solid on defense but Tucker shoots the 3 at a slightly better % and at a much higher volume. Luc has never been a volume 3 point shooter and only shot it well for one year which could easily be fluky. In this system, that makes one of them invaluable and the other barely playable. Not to mention besides defense Tucker brings toughness and leadership. There is a reason why he was paid the MLE and Luc got the minimum.

With that said I'd like to see the regular season rotation expanded, so Luc should still see time. However, Tucker will get at least 25 mpg while Luc gets at most 15 mpg.

 

For the 20 points on any night Gordon is your 3rd scorer. I'm not sure you need balance in the front court. GS is all peremiter, Cle has Love but he just spots up in their system like Ryno.

Sas exposed that we can't play Morey ball all layups and 3s 100% of the time. That, and Harden shutting down in game 6. Cp3 will solve both those problems. His mid range game will be the real offensive balance for our system. Still not enough talent against GS though, but then melo wouldn't have put us over the top either so I'm not too mad.

 

agree melo probably wouldn't have been enough. but i still think we need a frontcourt player to occupy and cause problems for opposing frontcourt defenders. doesn't even have to be a star name like melo, just a guy who can put the ball on the floor, finish at the rim, and keep the defense honest from behind the arc. in hindsight now, maybe we should have tried to at least pick up mook morris this summer - no joke!

 

It doesn’t even need to be a player as good as Morris just a soild role player type would work. Offensive minded and take what is there or keep the ball movement happening. That small wrinkle in the second string would do wonders for this team. It goes against the team Philosophy but a mid range power forward would help open up both the inside and outside for every player to benefit from. Would help on the offensive boards too. We don’t want to run the offensive trough him but give him touches to keep all honest. With Harden or CP3 on the floor all should be well.

 

Contrary to popular opinion, I want this starting lineup:

Paul
Harden
Ariza
Capela
Nene

This is the most balanced lineup with proper size, shooting, defense, and rebounding like a traditional team. We don't have to use this lineup for heavy minutes, but I would like to start and end the game with it.

 

the balance is bad in this lineup especially for a mda offense, which is why it isn't used. your 4 position needs to be able to stretch the floor to maximize spacing/productivity and allow your best players harden and now cp3 to do what they do.

 

And that is exactly why the Rockets lost to the Spurs. Gasol and Aldridge destroyed us on the boards and second-chance putbacks.

Look we've been down this road before many times on this board arguing the merits of the stretch-four juju everyone is trying to justify as some higher philosophy. Playoff Ryno was trash.

Again, like I said you don't have to use the balanced lineup for long stretches, but that's the personnel that I want to end the game.

 

it wasn't why we lost. and there isn't some set lineup that gets chosen at the end of games. you go with what works and what is best given the situation. that's the plus of versatility and trust in players for these type of situations. you say playoff ryno was trash but in reality he was one of better players in the spurs series. but hey the narrative for some will continue that want to believe otherwise.

 

Replace the 4 with tucker or mootay and slide Capela or nene to the bench.

 

You will never see this on a MDA coached team. The PF has to be able to shoot from range.

The days of "traditional team" are over. It is about SPEED, SPACE, and SHOOTING.

 

Here is my lineup.

Nene.

Will overtake warriors.

 

Last year's MPG:
Paul: 31.5 (LAC)
Harden: 36.4
Gordon: 31.0
Ariza: 34.7
Tucker: 27.6 (PHX/TOR)
Mbah a Moute: 22.3
Anderson: 29.4
Capela: 23.9
Nene: 17.9
Black: 16.3 (LAL)

So I would think that Paul and Harden would be about the same, maybe dropping Harden a bit if we get the chance (now that we actually have another creator). Gordon and Ariza will drop just a bit with more wing depth. Tucker/Luc's minutes will certainly be lower than on the teams last year. Capela's time should increase, while Nene's stays the same or drops a bit...Black should take Harrell's role as the backup C when Nene sits. Anderson's spacing will be needed but with the Melo debacle I wonder if he doesn't get shafted just a bit.

I think the backcourt's pretty much set, with Paul getting his 32 at PG, Gordon getting about 28 at SG, and Harden getting 36 splitting between the two positions. Hopefully Taylor steps up or we pick up a vet as insurance, but they won't play much (if at all) if those three are healthy.

The frontcourt is way too fluid to split it by the archaic SF/PF/C positions. The only guys who can play one position are the Cs -- Capela, Nene and T.Black. None can shoot the 3, so if they're in the game, they're playing in the middle. Capela should get about 28 mpg (in my opinion), with Nene getting around 12-15, and Black getting those minutes and being our "Harrell" when Nene is resting.

But Ariza, Tucker and Mbah a Moute can all play small-ball 4, and some have even talked about playing Tucker at 5 for short stretches (which is nuts because he's 6'5", but why not try it out in the preseason? He's not Draymond or even Chuck Hayes, but it's worth a shot against certain teams/lineups...or perhaps try Luc there, as he's at least 6'9"). Anderson will inevitably be the biggest guy on the floor in some lineups, technically making him the "C" for stretches.

Starters: Paul / Harden / Ariza / Anderson / Capela
Typical bench rotation: Gordon (6th, in for Paul, moving Harden to PG); Tucker (7th, in for Anderson); Nene (8th, in for Capela); Luc (9th in for Ariza, pushing Tucker back to the 3)...Then you bring Paul back in for Harden etc
Death lineup: Paul / Gordon / Harden / Ariza / Anderson (sub in Capela for more balance, especially if he ups his FT to 60%+)

 

our defensive potential this year is just gonna be insane. part of me wishes that Zhou Qi was ready because a line up of:

Paul
Harden
Ariza/luc
Qi
Capela

would be awesome defensively

 

I'm intrigued by our big "small ball" lineup potential

Harden/Ariza/Tucker/Luc/Ryno

 

Paul / Harden / Gordon / Ariza / Tucker.

Wouldn't be surprised to see that lineup at key moments.