10-27-2025, 11:07 AM
(10-27-2025, 10:29 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: You can kind of see what he’s trying to do if you look at the game flows on popcorn machine. Forget the first few minutes of each half where the starters are in. That’s just window dressing. Once the substitutions start, he is pairing Lively with Flagg and AD with PJ. The first two games, he left AD/PJ in longer (or would have if not for PJ foul trouble) and let Flagg/Lively get a quick blow and come back a few minutes later. In this game, he took AD/PJ out first and let Lively/Flagg get a few minutes with the subs before taking them out and bringing AD/PJ back in.
It isn’t a perfect platoon as he eventually wants to end halves with PJ/AD and Flagg (Lively appears to be the odd man out to end halves so far). Part of what worked well last night was the Lively/Flagg with the subs time when AD/PJ sat. I like leaving Flagg/Lively in longer because Flagg defers less (and the team runs more) when AD sits. There was a nice run in the first quarter and especially in the third with this set up.
Klay is a starter in name only. Kidd does this with someone every year. Christie is clearly the closer and Klay’s minutes are used to set up where he wants Christie.
Marshall and DLo are the 7th/8th men and Kidd is using the 9th spot in the rotation to give people some spot minutes. He’s done this in the past also. It is really an 8 man rotation right now, but he can get two more guys some run in the 9th spot. So far, it has been slightly different guys each time.
I’m not sure what happens to Klay/Christie when Kyrie returns. And, the ability to play AD significant minutes at the five dries up when Gafford is healthy. Of course, there is no telling who else might be hurt by the time those things happen.
Just based on my uncalibrated eye test, what you say makes a lot of sense.
Apart from the starters, last night I really noticed contributions from Naji, Max and DLo. I think DLo really needs minutes to get his rhythm right, but once he made that deep, off-balance, Luka-esque 3pt shot it was like his confidence went through the roof. Naji brings a toughness defensively and he has a floater game that really helps keep the offense balanced. I really like Max's demeanor. Very calm, which helps his efficiency from deep.
I keep having to remind myself that Flagg is performing at this level at 18. If that's not a prodigy, then we need to redefine the term. As he continues to evolve, he's going to be a force in this league.
Interested to see how he fares against the champs tonight.