(10-21-2025, 10:21 AM)mvossman Wrote: The champs staggered their two bigs, one of them can shoot, and those are the only two players in the playoff rotation over 6'6". I would not use the champs as an example of this move to size.
I will believe playing two non shooting bigs works when I see it. That Houston lineup looks more like desperation after they lost VanVleet for the season, and if Mavs run out the lineup that just got trucked by Laker G League team in preseason, it will have the same hint of desperation due to Kyrie being out.
Yeah no one is playing double bigs all game long so that's not the point. Most of the time bigs will be staggered but they will also be played together at times where at one time 2 centers would hardly ever be played.
Its definitely a thing that OKC did which was taken note of across the league and being utilized by other teams too, not just my observation. OKC combines the bigs with a big 6'6' MVP point guard, so yeah, they have size.
It's a rotation changeup that results in the being big or even super big for matchup advantage minutes just as teams can and do go small for extended stretches.
https://www.si.com/nba/thunder/news/okc-...jt8mpgszp8
Quote:What has changed, though, is Oklahoma City's size and how it has been able to utilize it. Picking up Isaiah Hartenstein to accompany Chet Holmgren has been yet another masterful move from Thunder general manager Sam Presti. Presti set out his vision, and made certain that he would grab Hartenstein in free agency.
...
It was a severe weak point for that Oklahoma City team. Now, the tables have turned in Hartenstein's presence.
He and Holmgren average around a combined 16 rebounds per game thus far in the playoffs, helping Oklahoma City manage 46.3 rebounds in four games against the Memphis Grizzlies, which has been the very best at this point in the postseason. It played a massive role in that series sweep for OKC, and has allowed them to get off the most shot attempts among all teams in the playoffs so far, also sitting second in field goals made.
It's no mistake, rebounding is a vital indicator of team success and ultimate wins and losses. The pairing of Hartenstein and Holmgren has now altered and addressed the weak point of this team from a year ago—from now on, they just need to go execute.