TDL Archived: The 2nd Rnd Pick Yankee Swap

[DanSchwartzgan]

 

To me, the shift to a style featuring pace, running as much as possible, motion, limited iso, ball hopping, and simply being more aggressive may bring out more usefulness in some of the current roster than we previously imagined. 

It also makes me wonder -- I have to figure that this shift didn't happen by accident. They didn't just stumble on the court in Utah and accidentally start playing this way. So, has Kidd been sand-bagging a bit by not doing this earlier? And if so, why? Maybe was the previous snail's pace of play his methodology for trying to lessen the wear and tear on bodies over a long grueling season that will even get much longer if you go very far?

I hope you are right about style.  I'm dubious that Luka won't pound the rock more than we want (and THJ and Wood are always susceptible to ball stopping and 'getting their's' more than I'd prefer).  We tended to play a beautiful brand of ball movement last season when Luka sat, but it didn't always translate to it continuing when he came back into the game.  I'm really curious to see how this plays out.  There are so many more options available with Kyrie and the emergence of Green and Hardy.  I've long said I'd much prefer 27 point 11/12 assist Luka to 34/8 Luka.  He's got the ability to be whichever he chooses, which is kind of amazing.

Back to playoff rotations.  Luka's return is going to wipe out the Pinson minutes and some of the Hardy minutes (hopefully not all of them) and maybe some THJ minutes compared to what he gets currently.  I like the way you are looking at this generally.  I really think Green and Bullock have achieved 'one on the floor at all times' status.  They got 36/37 minutes yesterday.  The key to whether they will be over-used will be how they play Maxi.  Luka and Kyrie will get about 72 of 96 minutes at the one and two in the playoffs.  Give the remaining 24 to THJ.  I still think Bullock and Green will also split about 72.  That leaves 24 wing minutes for Maxi and 48 for some combination of the 3 centers.  If Maxi eats any center minutes then the PT for the others will go up.   They could go to THJ (and maybe even Hardy), but if they don't, then they go to someone from among Luka, Irving, Green and Bullock and I've got those four already averaging 36 each.

Center (DP/CW/JM)  48
Wing (Maxi 24, Green/Bullock splitting 72)
Ball Handler (THJ 24, Irving/Luka splitting 72.