'25 Playoff Rotation Predictions: A Collaborative Deep Dive

[Smitty]

But as long as Maxi and PJW are healthy, we aren't seeing Naji at the 4, because Kidd thinks that makes them too small (making them poor on defense and rebounding).

Naji has played the 4 plenty this year. Not only by memory, but a quick search on basketball reference shows Naji breakdown as 45% SF and 53% PF. The idea that Kidd doesn't play Maxi at the 5 is wrong also. Last year he played 27% PF and 73% C.

With everyone healthy, the clear path to get your best players on the floor is playing Naji and/or Luka at the 4 when PJ takes a break, even Klay can slide down (11% at PF this year). The recent play of Dinwiddie, Grimes and Naji will dictate such.

The 10th man will either be Hardy or Maxi depending on matchups. The great thing Kidd has at his disposal is the flexibility of lineup construction that maybe you don't see.

Luka 1-4
Kyrie 1-2
Klay 2-4
PJW 3-5
Lively

Dinwiddie 1-3
Grimes 2-3
Naji 1-4
Gafford

Hardy 1-2
Maxi 4-5