MavsBoard

(09-30-2022, 01:21 PM)F Gump Wrote: [ -> ]I think you underestimate the minutes to be played by Luka-SD. They played a combined 64 last season (35 1/2, 28 1/2), and I would look for about the same this time. Perhaps even a tick higher, with Brunson no longer here needing minutes.

So that would make 16-18 minutes of overlap inevitable, which in a simple iteration would have them playing together the first 4-5 minutes and the last 4-5 minutes of each half. Obviously there are many other ways to script that, but that keeps one of them on the floor at all times, and still offers about 1/3 of the game with 2 of them.

I’m aware it was 35/28 last year (and Luka was 34 and 33 the two years before that).  I’m splitting things 32/28 on the assumption that we have much more depth than in years past and having been there before, being ready for the post season will be the overriding goal.  If so, I could see them lowering his average minutes a bit.

With that said, how they play OKC on a Tuesday in November won’t be the same way they play a team like Denver on national TV in late March.

(09-30-2022, 05:01 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: [ -> ]I’m aware it was 35/28 last year (and Luka was 34 and 33 the two years before that).  I’m splitting things 32/28 on the assumption that we have much more depth than in years past and having been there before, being ready for the post season will be the overriding goal.  If so, I could see them lowering his average minutes a bit.

With that said, how they play OKC on a Tuesday in November won’t be the same way they play a team like Denver on national TV in late March.

Players wanna play. Luka's in even better condition. I think it would be "problematic" if you cut his minutes (this is where Kidd says, "You want Luka to play less? YOU tell him!). While you are worrying about what happens if he plays fewer, I think it's going to be moot because he will play more than before.

Even when there are scrub teams to pick on, I expect he will be looking to play at least until the game is way out of reach. IMO he will get his "rest" when he is injured and a DNP - and there's where the issue will lie.