It’s official, the LA Clippers will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Play-In tournament. The Clippers need to knock out Minnesota on the road in order to secure their playoff participation. It is no easy task, however. The Timberwolves currently lead the league in points per game, pace, and possessions. In addition, they face a team with tremendous talent in Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell, and Anthony Edwards. Oh yeah, and a motivated guard in Patrick Beverley. Projecting playoff rotations is no easy trek, and head coach Ty Lue has tough decisions ahead.
Projecting Playoff Rotations for the Clippers
As players return from injury, Lue has been experimenting with lineups to fine-tune his playoff rotation. Paul George recently returned and is looking great. The Clippers also welcomed back guard Norman Powell. After fracturing a bone in his toe, Powell returned against the Phoenix Suns and scored 24 points off the bench. “We got a lot of firepower,” Powell said in his media availability. He’s not wrong. His return means that the Clippers now have two 20 point-per-game scorers, balancing the offensive attack. Powell brings a lot to be desired to this Clippers squad. His rim pressure, three-point shooting, float game, mid-range, and ability to get to the line are just what the team needs with no Kawhi Leonard.
Replicate the rotation from the Suns game?
So what should the playoff/play-in rotation be? The Clippers’ biggest advantage is their length on the wings. So maximizing as many lineups with switchable and versatile wings is crucial in the postseason when the defense tightens up and possessions are valued more than ever. For this reason, I can see Lue sticking with the same starting lineup he used against the Phoenix Suns. The unit of Reggie Jackson, George, Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris, and Ivica Zubac only played 16 minutes together. However, they had a +33.9 net rating. Though it was against a skeleton crew Suns, that lineup maintained size and switchability. They looked cohesive and locked in from the start.
Because of this, Powell is relegated to the bench. But, that is not necessarily a bad thing. Powell coming off the bench means that the Clippers get a boost when George rests. Pairing George with Powell is even better. In the second quarter, Lue ran a unit of Terance Mann, Powell, George, Robert Covington, and Isaiah Hartenstein. The unit broke the game open for the Clippers and was arguably their best lineup. Covington continues to be a godsend for the Clippers with his shooting, cuts, defense, and overall glue guy ability. Essentially, giving the team another Batum. There is no question that he deserves to play in critical minutes in the postseason.
Who is left out?
The biggest question mark for the rotation is who is left out of the rotation because of Powell’s return. This one is tough for Clipper fans because it means that likely Mann or Luke Kennard might not see minutes. There are cases for both to play, but ultimately it may come down to defense. Mann is a better defender when guarding the point of attack. This is no slight at Kennard, whose defense is much improved from the year prior. But Mann may be the one that sees time.
However, there is certainly a case for Kennard. Again, his defense is not terrible and he leads the league in three-point percentage. That is a major factor that could come into play. Especially if Mann is hesitating or not hitting threes at a reliable rate. Teams will hunt both players. Whether it is leaving Mann open and making him beat them, or abusing screens to get Kennard to switch onto a preferred offensive option. The Mann and Kennard rotation situation is fluid, and one that will likely be based on Lue’s feel for what the team needs.
The Final Playoff Rotations
If I were the coach, I would do exactly what Lue did in the Suns game. Starting Jackson, George, Batum, Morris, and Zubac gives the Clippers plenty of length and versatility on defense. With just enough offense. Jackson and Morris carried the Clippers on that end this season. And the addition of George will slot them back into their complementary roles. Batum and Zubac are both valuable on defense and round out the starters as guys who will do dirty work to surround the playmakers.
This means that Powell will come off the bench and provide a spark in the second unit. When George, a 20 point-per-game scorer rests, another one enters. Additionally, when George comes back in the game, he will be slotted next to Powell and Covington. A trio that should no doubt close games.
Closing games will come based on feel and matchups. Slot any combination of Jackson, Batum, Morris, Zubac, Mann, or Kennard and you cannot really go wrong. The Clippers have a wealth of wings and combinations they can create with the roster that the front office assembled. Getting past Minnesota won’t be easy, and neither will New Orleans (if the Clippers lose on Tuesday). But Lue has some of the best tools to go along with his elite coaching ability. And Clipper Nation should have faith that he will lead the team in the right direction.
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