10-14-2021, 07:46 AM
Rotations were probably more normalized through three quarters yesterday. I suspect Bullock will play in place of Green and play a bigger role than Green played. Otherwise, what they did makes sense:
Between 4:30 and 3:24 Brunson, WCS, Maxi and Sterling subbed in for the non-Luka starters.
34 seconds later Green came in for Luka and you had all bench players for 13 seconds before KP came back for WCS.
For about the next six minutes of game time it was KP with "his" subs (Maxi, Green, Sterling and Brunson).
I suspect it will be Bullock instead of Green when everyone is available and the "non-Luka" minutes will be OK
At 9:08 in the second, Powell, DFS and Luka came in for KP, Green and Brunson.
So Luka's guys were Powell plus DFS and holdovers Maxi and S. Brown. THJ came back for Brown about four minutes later.
The four minutes without KP, THJ or Brunson are the weakest link in the rotation.
This is where Luka gets to take over and be PnR ball dominant Luka with rim running Powell and the floor spread.
This is where having Bullock and/or S. Brown makes a huge difference over JRich. These minutes were rough last season.
At 4:25 WCS replaced Powell and at 3:34 Brunson and KP replaced DFS and Maxi
This provided a half closing lineup of Luka, Brunson, THJ, KP and WCS
Despite the score, the third quarter started out similar to the first. The Maxi, WCS, Brunson grouping came in at 6:00.
1:40 later Luka and THJ sat and it was all bench players...WCS, Maxi, Green, Brown and Brunson.
There were only 30 seconds of time without two bigs. KP played next to all three of Powell, WCS and Maxi. Other than Powell and WCS, they seem willing to play any combination of the four bigs. Powell started and WCS was first off the bench, but Maxi actually got the longest burn of the three.
Offensively it seems the plan is to keep at least two of Luka, KP, THJ and Brunson on the floor as much as possible. Brunson doesn't sub in directly for Luka, which gives him some time next to Luka before Luka sits. On this night at least, Brunson finished the half putting our four best offensive players on the floor simultaneously for the only time all night they played together.
The above gives Brunson an expanded role. But, it appears DFS will lose some minutes if we keep two bigs on and at least one of Brunson or THJ on with either KP or Luka (or both) for 44 minutes like we did this night. It only leaves so many minutes to be divided between DFS, Bullock, S. Brown and players outside the top nine (like Green).
This isn't that different than what was done last year. If you watched lineups very closely, they were actively trying to hide JRich. Having more capable shooters in Bullock and S. Brown helps that. Healthy KP, Powell and Maxi is also huge. Between Frank, Green, Moses (and maybe Burke) we seem better equipped to absorb injuries to the top nine in the rotation.
One of the biggest things I've noticed is it feels like the shackles of Rick's super-cautious "make no mistakes and take only efficient shots" approach have been removed. That approach isn't bad for a young team as it keeps them from beating themselves. The question is whether this group can be more creative and move the ball more without negatively impacting TO's and the efficiency of their shooting. Right now that freedom seems to have totally transformed the atmosphere around the team. That creativity and freedom can also increase the upside of the team as players can better use their instincts and athleticism. The key is knowing your limits (looking at you Willie). I'm really high on where this thing can go. I see 54/55 wins as long as we don't lose KP, Luka, Brunson or THJ to injury for a significant number of games. The first three especially would be difficult to replace, though we are better equipped this year than last.
Between 4:30 and 3:24 Brunson, WCS, Maxi and Sterling subbed in for the non-Luka starters.
34 seconds later Green came in for Luka and you had all bench players for 13 seconds before KP came back for WCS.
For about the next six minutes of game time it was KP with "his" subs (Maxi, Green, Sterling and Brunson).
I suspect it will be Bullock instead of Green when everyone is available and the "non-Luka" minutes will be OK
At 9:08 in the second, Powell, DFS and Luka came in for KP, Green and Brunson.
So Luka's guys were Powell plus DFS and holdovers Maxi and S. Brown. THJ came back for Brown about four minutes later.
The four minutes without KP, THJ or Brunson are the weakest link in the rotation.
This is where Luka gets to take over and be PnR ball dominant Luka with rim running Powell and the floor spread.
This is where having Bullock and/or S. Brown makes a huge difference over JRich. These minutes were rough last season.
At 4:25 WCS replaced Powell and at 3:34 Brunson and KP replaced DFS and Maxi
This provided a half closing lineup of Luka, Brunson, THJ, KP and WCS
Despite the score, the third quarter started out similar to the first. The Maxi, WCS, Brunson grouping came in at 6:00.
1:40 later Luka and THJ sat and it was all bench players...WCS, Maxi, Green, Brown and Brunson.
There were only 30 seconds of time without two bigs. KP played next to all three of Powell, WCS and Maxi. Other than Powell and WCS, they seem willing to play any combination of the four bigs. Powell started and WCS was first off the bench, but Maxi actually got the longest burn of the three.
Offensively it seems the plan is to keep at least two of Luka, KP, THJ and Brunson on the floor as much as possible. Brunson doesn't sub in directly for Luka, which gives him some time next to Luka before Luka sits. On this night at least, Brunson finished the half putting our four best offensive players on the floor simultaneously for the only time all night they played together.
The above gives Brunson an expanded role. But, it appears DFS will lose some minutes if we keep two bigs on and at least one of Brunson or THJ on with either KP or Luka (or both) for 44 minutes like we did this night. It only leaves so many minutes to be divided between DFS, Bullock, S. Brown and players outside the top nine (like Green).
This isn't that different than what was done last year. If you watched lineups very closely, they were actively trying to hide JRich. Having more capable shooters in Bullock and S. Brown helps that. Healthy KP, Powell and Maxi is also huge. Between Frank, Green, Moses (and maybe Burke) we seem better equipped to absorb injuries to the top nine in the rotation.
One of the biggest things I've noticed is it feels like the shackles of Rick's super-cautious "make no mistakes and take only efficient shots" approach have been removed. That approach isn't bad for a young team as it keeps them from beating themselves. The question is whether this group can be more creative and move the ball more without negatively impacting TO's and the efficiency of their shooting. Right now that freedom seems to have totally transformed the atmosphere around the team. That creativity and freedom can also increase the upside of the team as players can better use their instincts and athleticism. The key is knowing your limits (looking at you Willie). I'm really high on where this thing can go. I see 54/55 wins as long as we don't lose KP, Luka, Brunson or THJ to injury for a significant number of games. The first three especially would be difficult to replace, though we are better equipped this year than last.
![[-]](https://www.mavsboard.com/images/collapse.png)