Who would you guys start at the SF/PF/C spot in the playoffs (depending upon our matchup)? (Disclaimer: I know consistency is probably best, but we just made a change recently. Based upon the other team I think we need to put our best matchups out there to start to have a chance) Here's my thoughts: Vs. Clippers Henderson/Aminu/Plumlee - The Clippers aren't very strong at the SF spot and we might be able to get away with sticking McCollum on who ever there SF is for a couple possessions, which would allow Henderson to play Redick and bother him coming off of screens. We need to speed the game up so we go small. Having Aminu defend Paul/Griffin pick n rolls would be a bonus and he could do a solid job in the low post. Vs. Thunder Aminu/Harkless/Plumlee -Both guys could do a solid job on Durant and Ibaka (who is now more of a stretch 4). We all know Stotts tendencies to switch the pick n roll and both would do an ok job if they were switched onto Westbrook. Since the Thunder love to run in transition, having forwards that are quick to get back is a bonus, and both are very good at blocking shots that are created from the fast break. Vs. Spurs Crabbe/Harkless/Davis -Defending Kawhi is really going to be a challenge but I'd try putting Crabbe on him to start. Crabbe has a big enough wingspan to have a chance against him, but really it's his spacing on the other end that we'd benefit the most from. Harkless would have a tough time on Lamarcus but I think he could entice him to take his turnaround jumper which nobody on our team can defend anyway. I think the key is to beat LA down the floor, and we need to take advantage of all the easy baskets that we can get. Therefore Harkless is the best option at the 4. Davis would also do a better job at defending Duncan than Plumlee would, and he'd also contribute to easy baskets to get the game flowing with his offensive putbacks and high percentage shots in the paint. Vs. Warriors Crabbe/Vonleh/Plumlee -Hitting 3s is the key against the Warriors, therefore I think you start Crabbe the 3. They may be able to take advantage of him by posting up Harrison Barnes but I'd rather them try to do that than have Curry go to work. Crabbe is also good at playing the passing lanes and the Warriors have shown to be lazy at times and flutter passes out there. I think Vonleh might be Draymond's kryptonite. Draymond wouldn't be able to take him off the dribble and Vonleh's long wingspan makes it harder for him to get passes through. Vonleh is also bigger than him so Green doesnt have the option of posting him up.
Harkless/Aminu/Plumlee against all of those teams. That group is working great, can defend any of these opponents as well as any starting group of ours, and presents many challenges to defend. If that group struggles in a series consider adjustments at that time. Ed Davis, Hendo and Crabbe our the main players off the bench. Ed Davis has been awesome in the bench role but advanced stats say less so against starters so I'd leave him where he's excelled. Crabbe isn't ready to be a starter. Hendo has good activity off the bench. Rotate the bench in often as always having Dame or CJ in alongside fresh bodies is a unique weapon of this team.
Its working well because teams haven't been able to scout it yet. Best believe that going into a playoff series the team we play will learn to play off those 3 to help with CJ and Dame. However, going into it with a lineup taylor made to match-up with them that they also aren't ready for its the way to go.
I'm not a fan of having a different starting lineup for every opponent, just way overkill. It's more important for us to build chemistry, timing, players adapt to a consistent role than the gain in deception by being unpredictable and harder to scout. Now if we find a matchup against one team that really works well such as the Warriors starting Iggy last year sure make that change then.
Changing the starting lineup once for playoffs is overkill? Players won't have different roles. Crabbe starting doesn't mean we want him to try to be a distributor. Aminu on the bench doesn't mean we don't want his defense. They'll play the same roles, but the rotations will be tweaked to give us a better start which we need to get flow going for the rest of the game. A change in the starting lineup would screw with our chemistry? Wrong. They have been playing together all year. Changing 1 or 2 guys in the starting lineup won't hamper our chemistry... Starting Iggy was smart, innovative, fearless thinking by Kerr. You can't be scared to make a move and just sit there and hope for the best. If the move is there, make it, and not after we're down 3-0 in a series. The problem is, is if we change the starting lineup and play bad most people will attribute it to that even if we would've played bad regardless.
I am ok starting with Dame CJ, Harkless, Aminu, and Plums. As long as CJ and Dame are shooting often and early to get warmed up. Who we start is not as important to me as who we finish with. Both will include Dame and CJ but after that Terry will have to see what is working. Usually Henderson or Crabbe finishes at SF. I like Aminu finishing at the 4. (With either Davis or Plums at the 5 spot)
To me it's less about who starts than about who sticks...I don't think we need to worry about the tipoff roster as much as keeping momentum on the floor..our bench mob is capable of building a lead. I think Stotts will start Aminu, Harkless and Plumlee every game now that Meyers is shut down.
