2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[KillerLeft]

So, let me fix this and then make a few comments because I don't agree with KL's thoughts on an 8 man rotation (and I don't think the team does either).

You and @"dirkfansince1998" are both missing my point (or maybe it's more accurate to say I didn't articulate it sufficiently). 

The point wasn't the arbitrary number 8. The point was that Carlisle KNOWS who his TOP guys are, and they all have roles that have been carefully defined through much regular season tweaking and experimentation. Whether he plays big, bigger, small, smaller, whatever...he does so by forming different combinations of his BEST, most plugged-in players. By contrast, the ongoing debate among Clippers fans (and I believe among the coaching staff, too) is more like: "should Mann be in the rotation? Should Rondo be ahead of Jackson? How does Batum fit in with all of this? What about Ibaka?"...etc. Partly because they've had so many players sit out for extended periods, and partly because Lue is quite obviously not (yet) near Carlisle's level, they do not KNOW the answers to these questions definitively. That was my point. 

I DO think there is a number (perhaps it varies based on roster construction) of players who can be played in a game effectively. But...

Could another person be added to the rotation in future seasons? Sure, but I don't think Markannen's people are trying to navigate him to Dallas (if that's in fact what they're doing) so that he can play 10 minutes in the playoffs behind Kleber. WE might want him in that role, and you might even think that's the ideal role for him, but I have a hard time imagining that's what HE wants, or that it's going to happen. 

You kind of support my point (the one I was trying to make) by NOT including a sexy, new guard in your example above. You have Brunson and Richardson playing all bench guard minutes, which they'd of course do if they're on the roster. I agree that there's room behind Kleber (where your X is) but NOT for a Collins-level or even a Markkanen-level guy. Now, a Batum, who would help and be ok with not playing every playoff game? Yeah, maybe. That's essentially a Melli upgrade, no?

Not to mention that none of this conversation deals with the fact that Powell (who you and I both like a lot) is being paid as a 4th or 5th starter or at least a celebrity bench guest and not really even in the real rotation against the Clippers. That might change in future rounds, but then again, maybe not. 

Most of YOUR stuff makes sense to me, and the point was directed (gently, I hope) at the posts that have NOBODY we like leaving and have Markannen, Dragic AND Batum (just random examples) incoming. That's ridiculous, imo. 

Moral of the story, for me, is this: the BIG names we discuss daily aren't coming here to be depth, they're (hypothetically) coming here for INCREASED opportunity. In other words, to take jobs away from guys like DFS, Kleber, Brunson, etc. That's fine, if it makes the team better.