01-24-2020, 10:47 AM
(01-24-2020, 08:14 AM)DanSchwartzman Wrote: A couple of notes on lineups and strategy...
In both halves Carlisle substituted out THJ and KP and left Luka in with some subs and some starters (Jackson and Maxi were the first bench players in in both halves). Then THJ and KP came back in when Luka went out. Maxi and KP didn't play together then entire game. So, this was truly 5-out with both centers able to spread the floor.
Portland's front line is pretty devastated by injury. I'm not sure some combo of DFS, Jackson and Luka at PF will cut it against teams with stronger front lines (think LAL or Denver...or even a healthy Portland). But for at least one night, i was pretty fun to watch (at least in the first half).
I noticed the overlapping sub pattern that had Luka and KP playing without each other. It didn't work at the beginning of the season but it seems to work pretty well now. I think KP's time with the team while Luka was out helped him to develop some needed chemistry with non-Luka lineups. It's a good development I think.