Interesting question. Given your “perfect world” pre-conditions, I would give starters more time on the floor to get them back into a “real-world” game type rhythm.

However, I would be looking at a lot of different combinations of players. I would be putting rookies and new acquisitions into a lot of different situations to see how they responded, and letting them try to work stuff out on the floor, as opposed to calling time outs every time the other team makes a run.

I really like your blog, I look forward to reading during the season…

mojo sends

I can’t wait to see you play again!

for reals though i’m starting
Point guard/Roy/Outlaw/Lamarcus/Oden and I’m saying ‘alright Travis show us you should start’ because if this doesn’t work i’m starting

Point guard/Roy/Batum/Lamarcus/Oden as a scare tactic and then if that doesn’t get Travis into gear i’m going to

Point guard/Rudy/Roy/Lamarcus/Oden only as a last resort because in this lineup Travis becomes the 6th man, and I want Rudy as the 6th man, nor do i want Roy out of position that much and we can’t get Batum and Outlaw both off the bench really… though I do like this lineup

and once I have successfully integrated Travis into starting lineup, those guys just play old-man slow nobody gets hurt ball like Mike Rice in China.

so that once regular season comes along we’ve got
sergio/rudy/batum (webster when he gets back)/you/joel playing more up tempo, and with trav’s asthma I don’t think he’s going to cut it playing that style.

with the idea that eventually we phase out the idea of a ‘backup 3′, and the backup 3 minutes for a more versatile 3 able to play both styles, and those backup minutes get eaten up by getting Batum some run, and playing big with you at the 3, and 3 guard with roy there.

so yeah, i’d spend pre-season with our starting linup and getting different looks at that 3 spot, because I think it has a pivotal role in how and where everybody else fits in, and I leave it up in the air until tip off as far as the lakers are concerned, cause they got to have something to ponder.

but what the hell do i know, i am new in the nba.

Once that is out of the way, I would start evaluating some of my up in the air positions, giving subs more and more time. We all know LaMarcus is going to start, so I would back off a bit. I would start my starters, and then bring in the second unit like normal, but second half is eval half.

Once we hit game five in preseason, I would really start working my planned rotations. The main reason is to give the team a feel for how they are going to be playing together once the season starts. At this point if there are serious questions on say a 15th roster spot, I would focus some substitutions on how they both play with second rotation. One thing for sure, if the game is close, I would end with the first string and try to win the game, get everyone used to stepping it up when tired.

I think every night you try to begin with around 3 regular starters (though injuries could make rotating this tougher) and work maybe one reserve and one guy fighting for a roster spot in at the outset. Chemistry is important, and without creating at least a small chance to establish it in a game situation, a coach would be making a decision with less information than is available. From there as coach, I’d let the rotation flow– I don’t think all the starters should be out there at a time, nor should they all be benched. Unless as a coach I want to create a situation where there are two groups that function completely separately and sub five at a time (which I don’t), keeping a small veteran/starter presence on the floor is helpful. If your starters and players who will see heavy regular-season minutes are going over about 26 minutes a game in the preseason, the daily grind will begin to catch up at just the wrong time.
Lastly,give guys a chance to prove themselves as part of the team, not a selfish individual–all the conditioning has happened for most players, and the opportunity to stay in shape while demanding the mental focus from a flexible lineup is a beneficial one.

hg

Great question. I think that you can experiment a little to see the chemistry and still use your starting rotation enough to keep everyone fresh. Those coming off injuries should not over due! Good luck this season as it will be a pleasure to watch you in action.
Good times ahead! Go Blazers!

Since Outlaw has asthma, I question whether he’s a starter in this league. Not that he won’t be an All Star someday and dominate the game as a 6th man–no disrespect meant. As a smoker, I see what happens to my ratball game when I’m winded: bad decisions, lower basketball IQ, more bricks. We need TO rested for the 4th quarter, which means don’t overdo it on his minutes and figure out who’s going to fill the void at 3. Let’s take a look at Jackson, but I don’t think he’ll get the spot.

We need to see more of what Hill and Randolph can do, whether they’re viable NBA players. We’re down a couple of bigs, as you know, and have a couple of centers that had a hard time staying healthy in the past (knock on wood).

So yeah, play the aspiring pros (since when does a ’scrub’ get invited to an NBA training camp?) because we can’t afford to lose any more guys.

Can’t wait to see you back on the floor.