Playoff Rotations

Kava · Star Player Joined: 10 Mar 2010 Posts: 2173

Vogel's got some important decisions to make.

Assuming all our guys are healthy and ready to play in the playoffs, where does everyone fit in terms of playoff minutes & rotations?

This season's most common starting lineup (DS, KCP, LBJ, AD, Marc) lasted only for 20 games! The next most common starting lineup (DS, KCP, LBJ, Keif, D. Jones

) lasted for only 4!!!

Insane to think that our assumed playoff starters have NEVER all been on the court together (DS, KCP, LBJ, AD, AD2). Is this correct???

Assuming Vogel shortens the rotations who is in and who is out?

Kava · Star Player Joined: 10 Mar 2010 Posts: 2173

Closing lineup still has to end with AD as our 5 right?

DS, KCP, Wes/Kuz, LBJ, AD

vcdplaya3002 · Starting Rotation Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 272

One thing the last few games have highlighted is that Vogel cannot trust Mclemore, THT, Drummond, Trezz in any crunch time scenarios as all 4 have serious deficiencies on defense or make boneheaded turnovers.

quartzcharm · Starting Rotation Joined: 30 Mar 2016 Posts: 551

In a 9 man rotation: DS, KCP, LBJ, AD1, AD2, AC, Kuz, Harrell, and Gasol.

To close the game: DS, KCP, Kuz, LBJ, AD1.

vcdplaya3002 · Starting Rotation Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 272

Wesley Matthews is going to get minutes, I think THT is the odd man out.

1995Lakers · Star Player Joined: 26 Aug 2020 Posts: 4232

Close the game with DS, KCP, LJ, Davis and tossup between Wes/Caruso based on matchups.

LakerSD · Franchise Player Joined: 10 Nov 2016 Posts: 23778

Matchup based, but the best closing lineup for the Lakers is DS/AC/KCP/Lebron/AD.

If it’s against the Clippers, one of Kuz or Wes will be in because the Clippers have 2 wings that would eat up a 3 guard lineup.

mad55557777 · Franchise Player Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 23128

Mamba Mentality · Posted: Fri May 14, 2021 10:16 am Post subject:

Kava · Star Player Joined: 10 Mar 2010 Posts: 2173

Unfortunately - THT and Keiff and Marc (unless we play Denver) are the odd men out.

Caruso is a more reliable & better defending back up PG.

Wes should get minutes as backup SG.

Trezz comes in for AD2.

Kuz backs up LBJ.

BMac could see some limited minutes to stretch the floor.

Just not seeing where THT/Keif/Marc get much playing time unless 2nd rotation gets into foul trouble.

vcdplaya3002 · Starting Rotation Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 272

Kieff and Marc can only get minutes if a team is going primarily small ball(Clippers/Suns), or if they are beefy up front(Denver/Utah). Mclemore will get limited 2nd quarter minutes to see if he can get hot from three.

Vogel usually likes to run a lineup of Bron,Caruso,THT or Mclemore, Kuzma, and Trezz to start the 2nd quarter. Mclemore has a role if he can hit 3s otherwise he can't play anywhere else in the game.

BandwagonLBJhopper · Star Player Joined: 07 Feb 2020 Posts: 3579

I don't trust Kuz not to do dumb ish at the end of games but we will need him to close against teams with bigger wings.

The real question for Vogel will be in the backcourt. He trusts Caruso (as he should) so I bet his instinct will be to close with Caruso, but then you are stuck playing two small guards with DS - both are great defenders but that doesn't work against the Clips. It works great for Utah, Phx, Den, but it doesn't fly for the Clips.

I think against the Clips and maybe the Nets, you will see Vogel have to go with Wes Matthews because for all his flaws, the guy has a high IQ and will never get punked out there - defensively he is rock solid and he can stay on the floor offensively since he is a 3pt threat.

Kava · Star Player Joined: 10 Mar 2010 Posts: 2173

Kuz just hit a game winner for us in crunch time. I think he's built some equity.

Wouldn't surprise me in the least bit to see Caruso instead of DS & Wes instead of Kuz in late game lineups.

youcantguardme · Star Player Joined: 10 Jan 2011 Posts: 1114

Play the bench players that are hot or that match up better. The idea that you can leave, Keif, Trez, McLemore, THT, Gasol or Matthews out is crazy. But if you had to THT is the first guy out because of decision making. I actually think Matthews and McLemore may need a bit more time in games where KCP can't hit a shot.

leking006 · Star Player Joined: 12 Oct 2018 Posts: 6339

Laker4lifer4real · Star Player Joined: 15 Jul 2017 Posts: 3483

THT comes in as a spark in the 2nd quarter like he has all season before injuries.

Lakesh0wtime · Star Player Joined: 28 Mar 2016 Posts: 5351

mad55557777 · Franchise Player Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 23128

This team is too deep now with all the guys coming back from injury. On top of that, marginal guys like Wes, Bmac, THT, Marc all have been playing very well. We can’t play 12 man rotation, so it will be up to Vogel to decide who plays.

lakersfever714 · Franchise Player Joined: 05 Jan 2016 Posts: 11757

Kuz, AC and KCP are playoff vets. We can trust those guys. Maybe THT or Mac out?
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blackmamba08 · Posted: Sun May 16, 2021 10:51 pm Post subject:

For me it should be like this:

Starting 5
LBJ
AD
AD
DS
KCP

Bench

Caruso
Kuzma
Trez
Marc
Markieff

I still dont trust THT in playoff games and Ben is atrocious defensively.Wes is crap player at this moment in time.

wolfpaclaker · Retired Number Joined: 29 May 2002 Posts: 58336

Warriors, you probably want to take advantage of their lack of defensive ability inside. I think Warriors will zone, so we need to have Bron playing very high IQ basketball and AD to be right in the middle of the spacing at the FT line area, IMO. If Warriors zone heavy, we need to get AD at the 5, and also get Marc Gasol in as his backup. If Warriors play man, we can probably just use Drummond and AD to beat them up inside.

If we play with a level of urgency, our size and skill is enough. Even without Bron at full speed. We are so much bigger and more skilled than these other teams, that we simply have to play with a level of urgency and it is enough. Rebounds, defensive stops, pushing the ball.

3 pointers will come simply by teams wanting to zone or double on AD-Bron or our size.

Toughest call against Warriors will be Trez. I wonder if Trez gets some PT over Gasol. Because historically he is like an all-star against them. But I think Warriors will zone. Again, the IQ of Bron will come into play. Bron's game management has to kick in immediately.

Sina · Star Player Joined: 12 Jul 2015 Posts: 1801

Lakers are very deep and versatile this year.

The front court are big, deep and versatile. They almost can out-rebound, out-score any front court in the league:
Drummon, AD, LBJ are simply too big and too strong to handle
Gasol, AD, LBJ are big, smart and spacing option
Harrell, AD, LBJ are scoring option
AD, Morris, LBJ are balance option
AD, Kuzma, LBJ are uptempo option

The backcourt are deep and versatile and are good in defense
KCP, AC, Matthews are smart and seasoned players make no mistakes
Schroder and THT are good scoring guards
McLemore is good shooter and McKinnie is under the radar

leking006 · Star Player Joined: 12 Oct 2018 Posts: 6339

Please sit Harrell's ass than playing him @ center spot.

danzag · Posted: Thu May 20, 2021 5:57 am Post subject:

As expected, things aren't looking very good for THT, Harrell and Drummond.

Gasol, Matthews and Morris should play more.

lurklurk · Starting Rotation Joined: 08 Mar 2016 Posts: 621

Drummond looked fine. Most of the people disappointed in him expected something different than what he is supposed to bring to this team. He played fine within his role, although there is definitely room to improve. He will continue to start for us until the situation demands otherwise (like game 6 of finals last year).

Im seeing this rotation for us:

Schröder
Pope
James
Davis
Drummond

Caruso
Matthews
Kuzma
Harrell/Morris/Gasol - depends on matchup
Tucker/McLemore - spot minutes/foul trouble