Rotation

[themasao]

I think Casey's gonna have to move to a 10 man rotation. If you go with only 9, and you want a 4 man big rotation (I can't imagine Casey would go with a 3-big rotation with Amir and Jonas fouling at the rate they are likely to), that leaves 3 wings to split 96 minutes. That's a lot. Especially when no one wing is substantially better than the others.

So I imagine either Lucas or Anderson will squeeze in as the 10th man in many circumstances.

Here's my breakdown:

Starters
Lowry
Derozan
Fields
Bargs
Amir

Bench
Jose
T. Ross
ED
JV
[10th man] Lucas/Anderson

Matchup specialists
Gray (for the BIG big men)
Maguire (for the Durant/Kobe/Lebron's)

DNP's
Magloire
Acy

Will hopefully get amnestied
Kleiza

[IROR]

This team is 10 or 11 deep. Casey says he is going to use a 9 man-rotation--likely meaning he will use, on average, 9 guys in one game. Who the 9th, or even 8th guy, is will be determined by match ups. But since we are cutting 3 players apparently, I guess I'll play along:

Calderon
Ross
Kleiza
ED/Amir

[Axel]

Starters:
Lowry
DeRozan
Fields
Bargnani
Amir

Bench:
Jose
JV
Ross
Davis

I'm surprised that Casey would go with the shorter rotation, but if it is 9 guys, then there are my picks. I think Amir starts over JV in the beginning but JV will probably take over after 25 games or so. The bench will likely have 2 bigs, so I think you have to have Davis there. I wouldn't be surprised to see some interesting lineups used, Bargs & Davis & Amir at the same time while playing a zone D might work.

I think to be successful without the elite talent, you have to play the match-ups. Kleiza would get minutes on nights where he play small ball PF. Gray gets minutes against true bigs to hack them. Anderson plays when they want to shoot the heck from the 3-line (Lowry, Ross, Anderson, Bargs & JV - 4 shooters, 1 guy on boards).

[Papa Burgundy]

What's with all the love for Lucas? He is a 3rd stringer for garbage minutes or injury coverage ... maybe a situational 3 pointer.

Imo: Lowry, Demar, Fields, Bargnani, Jonas

Bench mob: Jose, Ed, Ross, Kleiza ... Amir & Gray? Having them makes it tough to stick to a 9-man rotation. I'd say 10, by adding Amir.

[theycallmeZZ]

now that the seasons approaching we're going to see a lot more crazies on this site *sigh*

The front page posters are leaking onto the forums...

[planetmars]

If last season proved anything though, Casey loves his vets more than he loves his young guys.

From a rotation standpoint, I would guess the following (at least for the first 20 games of the season):

STARTERS:
Lowry
DeRozan
Fields
Bargnani
Amir

BENCH:
Calderon
Davis
JV
Kleiza

... with Lucas, Gray, Anderson, Ross, McGuire getting spot minutes and Acy going to the D-league.

[Nilanka]

I see Casey basically using an 8-man rotation, plus 1-2 deeper spots as "miscellaneous".

STARTERS:
1. Lowry
2. DeRozan
3. Fields
4. Bargnani
5. Valanciunas

BENCH:
6. Calderon
7. Amir
8. Ross

MISC. depending on Matchups/Who has the "hot hand" (if required):
9. Kleiza/Anderson/McGuire
10. Davis/Gray/Magloire

I've intentionally left out Lucas. I love what I've seen from him so far. But I can see his minutes drastically reduced until Calderon is traded. For all intents and purpose, he's the worst of the three PGs, and I can't envision either of them playing many minutes at SG.

[Nilanka]

now that the seasons approaching we're going to see a lot more crazies on this site *sigh*

lol, funny cuz it's true.

[Puffer]

The Raps have the opportunity to run the hjell out of whoever they are playing. There are going to be spot minutes for Lucas, Gray, Anderson, Kleiza, whoever if they are willing to run their asses off. Being able to easily go 11-12 deep means there is no reason for the Raps to save energy. The second a guy starts looking tired (all other things being equal) Casey has the option of throwing another body out there to effectively exhaust the other team. The Raps biggest advantage this year is their depth. the easiest way to take advantage is to force the starters and key second unit guys on the opponents teams to sit out for a rest. The way for the Raps to do that is to go hard every second, especially in the early part of the season, when no one is in peak game shape.

[RandomGuy]

It will depend heavily on the match-ups. One night 3rd string pg may be needed, another 3rd string sg or sf. So it will include about 12 people, but only +-10 will play on given nights. I mean come on, depth is the only Raptors strength.

[mcHAPPY]

He said 10 would be pushing it. I think Gray will only see minutes against the big Centers(D12, Andrew Bynum, Andrew Bogut, Cousin and Marc Gasol). I could easily put LK a head of TR but, TR seems like his are best shooter outside of are pgs.

I wonder if he meant 10 on any given night.

That is my only point.

Match ups and hot hands will dictate playing time, in my opinion.

[mcHAPPY]

who is wright? I know you don't mean Chris Wright

lol - no. Brain fart. I meant McGuire.

[Sheptor]

All guys should be used in the first month. Expect the 9 or ten to fluctuate quite a bit based on injuries matchups and performance. By Xmas there will be some sort of lineup surprises. Someone who fails to impress and someone who impresses but wasn't supposed to necessarily.

9 deep is fine but Casey doesn't even know who his nine will be until they play some real games.

[NoPropsneeded]

now that the seasons approaching we're going to see a lot more crazies on this site *sigh*

[ball4life]

pg Lowry
sg Harden
sf Fields
pf Barfs
C JV

1st- JLIII
2nd-Amir
3rd-Rosay
4th- Linas Fukin Kleiza

Thats right gentlemen, we just traded DD ED J C and A G for the Beard and the biggest bang for the buck AKA Perk