Can't envision them starting Poeltl over JV. He has even less of a floor spacing impact than JV does, and as much as his quick feet help him, he'll be in foul trouble 2 minutes into the game the way he gets called out there (which makes the refs look like JV's best friends by comparison, no small feat).
If JV sits, I can only imagine it is a stylistic choice and they start Ibaka at C, meaning either Siakam starting again, or going super small out the gate with Powell and Miles playing the F spots. I'd think this a terrible idea. But it's the only alternative to starting JV that makes any sense at all to me.
The most obvious rotation is this, IMO:
Lowry-Wright
DeRozan-Lowry
Powell-Miles
Ibaka-Siakam-Miles
JV-Poeltl-Ibaka
Ibaka gets minutes at C at the end of the game if the team goes small, same for Miles at the 4. Otherwise, never, unless guys are in foul trouble or there's an extreme matchup issue.
Bench units will be Wright-Miles-Siakam-Poeltl with a star player (KL or DD) at all times.
There would obviously be some mixed starters/bench transitional lineups as well. For example, JV should probably start the 4th with the bench if Ibaka is going to close every game.
If JV sits, I can only imagine it is a stylistic choice and they start Ibaka at C, meaning either Siakam starting again, or going super small out the gate with Powell and Miles playing the F spots. I'd think this a terrible idea. But it's the only alternative to starting JV that makes any sense at all to me.
The most obvious rotation is this, IMO:
Lowry-Wright
DeRozan-Lowry
Powell-Miles
Ibaka-Siakam-Miles
JV-Poeltl-Ibaka
Ibaka gets minutes at C at the end of the game if the team goes small, same for Miles at the 4. Otherwise, never, unless guys are in foul trouble or there's an extreme matchup issue.
Bench units will be Wright-Miles-Siakam-Poeltl with a star player (KL or DD) at all times.
There would obviously be some mixed starters/bench transitional lineups as well. For example, JV should probably start the 4th with the bench if Ibaka is going to close every game.
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