'25 Playoff Rotation Predictions: A Collaborative Deep Dive

[F Gump]

That's the way it has worked lately, as in the last few games, but not the way it started, and even Dinwiddie, himself, said the other day he doesn't even know if he'll be in the rotation when everyone is back, so it must not seem so black and white to him. 

Also, I'll make any bet you or anyone else wants that there will be a shortened (fewer than 10) rotation down the stretch and in most playoff games. There is a 0% chance their plan A will be to play 10 guys. There will be important playoff games in which 10 or even 11 GET IN, sure, but that will indicate a reaction to less than favorable circumstances. The actual rotation will be down to 9, at least, if not 8.

The number in the rotation depends on how you define the rotation. And also on whether there are injuries that deplete the choices Kidd has to work with.

Kidd having a fairly well defined depth chart is not saying they will all get lots of minutes, because in the playoffs some starters play a lot. To be specific, Luka, Kyrie, and PJW would be likely to play in the upper 30s, and maybe even 40 or more in a game or three, which leaves sparse minutes for their backups. 

I do think we are seeing a bit of fluidity in the backups to Luka-Kyrie-Klay, since Kyrie slides to the 1 especially when Luka sits, which varies what else is needed on the floor at SG and SF. But I think Kidd's 4s and 5s have become well defined, with the only variable being whether he has Maxi also playing a bit at C for a changeup look. 

I do think in the playoffs there may be series where they go off script a bit more, because when you are playing the same team over and over, you find and focus on what is working. Or in tough times, you are going off script to find solutions.

It's a long season. Injuries. Slumps. Nagging limitations. All those can come into play. But I still think Kidd's general thinking on the rotation is that each position is different, each will have distinct backups, who are the best backup in that slot, and that the slotting is already starting to emerge.