'25 Playoff Rotation Predictions: A Collaborative Deep Dive

[Winter]

I agree that Christie is starter quality, but if everyone is healthy, I don't see who he replaces. None of these are weak on defense except Kyrie, and Christie's certainly not starting at PG. I think he's 6th man for now.

C - Gaff/Lively
PF - AD
SF - PJW
SG - Klay
PG - Kyrie

He's certainly the Next Starter Up if any of AD, PJW, or Klay are out, however.

Christie may also close games instead of Klay. It's hard to know Kidd's thinking when it's playoff time, but since it's already happened I'm guessing it's an option.

[Chicagojk]

Christie may also close games instead of Klay. It's hard to know Kidd's thinking when it's playoff time, but since it's already happened I'm guessing it's an option.

Yes I think it is much more likely he closes games than start games.  Klay will finish some and maybe someone else will close a few.   

It feels the team feels comfortable with the ball in Christie’s hands.  I can envision have Kyrie off ball while a guy like Exum or Christie brings the ball up.  They did this quite a bit against Golden State.

[Winter]

Yes I think it is much more likely he closes games than start games.  Klay will finish some and maybe someone else will close a few.   

It feels the team feels comfortable with the ball in Christie’s hands.  I can envision have Kyrie off ball while a guy like Exum or Christie brings the ball up.  They did this quite a bit against Golden State.

There's a lot more options with ball movement when Luka is not part of the offense. 

Most of our players now have multiple skills. We've seen Naji, Exum, Kyrie, Dinwiddie, PJ, and Williams bring the ball up. AD, Prosper, and Klay have not been discouraged from bringing it up off a rebound. Christie seems entirely competent there as well. 

While none of our players have passing skills like Luka, all of them regularly have assists and look for open players either cutting or in set positions. The exception to this is Hardy who frequently just goes to the hoop no matter what.

I can imagine this is a team that will be difficult to defend - especially if Kessler continues his development. There's not a lot of predictable isolation anymore that we saw from Luka. We still see it from Kyrie and Dinwiddie, but no one looks like they are just standing in the corner and watching like they sometimes did with Luka. Not for long anyway. We have some decent 3-point shooters without having a single one you can pick on. All our centers are pretty competent at setting screens out on the elbow, and everyone knows their roles.  Our entire rotation looks comfortable in this system.

Defensively, enough of our wings look like above average defenders. Kessler is a pest, and Christie, Naji, Exum, and Williams all really move well. My excitement is coming back after seeing them win these last two games so short-handed. I hope I get to see them healthy soon.

I miss Luka's theatrics, but I could get used to this.

[Winter]

So at this point, I've seen Kessler, Omax, and PJ run the small-ball center.

Both Kessler (mostly on defense) and PJ have been steller for the most part when going this small. But I cannot get my mind around Omax. When he gets the ball in the paint, he takes a quick look to see if there's anyone close, and if he's even slightly covered,. the ball comes back out to a perimeter player. He just can't body up anyone when gets down low. He looks uncomfortable. Unlike Naji, PJ, and even Kessler at times, he has no short game facing the basket. And the strange thing is that he looks like a body that could power through his defenders.

He looks pretty mobile bringing the ball up and swinging it around the perimeter, but I really can't tell he's going to develop anything down low - even though his body looks equipped to do it.

[Chicagojk]

So at this point, I've seen Kessler, Omax, and PJ run the small-ball center.

Both Kessler (mostly on defense) and PJ have been steller for the most part when going this small. But I cannot get my mind around Omax. When he gets the ball in the paint, he takes a quick look to see if there's anyone close, and if he's even slightly covered,.  the ball comes back out to a perimeter player. He just can't body up anyone when gets down low. He looks uncomfortable. Unlike Naji, PJ, and even Kessler at times, he has no short game facing the basket. And the strange thing is that he looks like a body that could power through his defenders.

He looks pretty mobile bringing the ball up and swinging it around the perimeter, but I really can't tell he's going to develop anything down low - even though his body looks equipped to do it.

Omax is one of the weirdest players I have watched.  It is almost like he can’t jump and land on his feet. Always falls down.  For being such a good athlete he is really awkward trying to get his body in the right position.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Omax is one of the weirdest players I have watched.  It is almost like he can’t jump and land on his feet. Always falls down.  For being such a good athlete he is really awkward trying to get his body in the right position.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, he's a project. He’s suppose to be athletic as you guys say, but he looks gangly and uncoordinated to me. Maybe he turns the corner, maybe not.

[loki]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, he's a project. He’s suppose to be athletic as you guys say, but he looks gangly and uncoordinated to me. Maybe he turns the corner, maybe not.

The stumbling drives did always worry me. I'll be filing away poor body control on a college junior as a red flag from now on.