Settling in on a Rotation

[UAZip0510]

@1981grad, some players perform better and contribute more to the team as starters and some coming off the bench. Coaches experiment with different lineups to see how each player responds under different conditions and how team performance is affected. Q has a long track record of producing his best results coming off the bench, as demonstrated by his MAC Sixth Man of the Year Award. The winning formula with Q has been to bring him off the bench about 3-4 minutes into the game, play him longer minutes throughout the game than any other player but Tree, and have him on the floor to finish the game. I don't think that Coach Dambrot is going to mess with this proven formula this deep into the season, but I've been surprised by coaching decisions before.

This was OK when Alex Abreu and Brian Walsh, two starting quality players, were playing in front of him. At this point Betancourt is a bench player and Nyles and Deji probably are as well.

I'd start Diggs/Ibitayo/McAdams/Harney/Treadwell, but that's just me.

[clarkwgriswold]

I think you need to get 5 of your best on the floor and go from there. You can really put subs in a specific rotation as who comes in depends on many factors- who may be struggling, who may be in foul trouble, whether the other size has a speed or size advantage, whether you need a shooter/ballhandler/rebounder, etc. Much of the rotation troubles could be remedied by Harney shaking the attitude and playing hard all of the time, as he can play multiple positions.

At this juncture, I would start Diggs, McAdams, Forsythe, Tree and Harney. Kretzer, Johnson and Evans would be my first options off of the bench, with Betancourt, Ibatayo an Cheahtam only seeing minutes here and there.

[GP1]

At this juncture, I would start Diggs, McAdams, Forsythe, Tree and Harney. Kretzer, Johnson and Evans would be my first options off of the bench, with Betancourt, Ibatayo an Cheahtam only seeing minutes here and there.

Good starting five. Not having a true PG on the floor to start makes me uncomfortable, but considering out PG situation, why not? There have to be 2-3 guys who play until their legs almost fall off or foul trouble. For me, those three are Diggs, Forsythe and Tree. In order to play a lot of minutes, one must get used to playing a lot of minutes with game conditioning.

It isn't really finding a rotation as much as it is finding the 2-3 guys you are going to live and die with. There isn't a team out there who has five "go to" guys so the number is smaller than five and probably four as well. Most everyone has 2-3. Unless there are a lot of unknowns, those players should be identified before the season and conditioned to play loads of minutes. The others come in and out of the game as the game dictates based upon their abilities.

It isn't about throwing a bunch of guys in and out of the game. It's about playing to win and deploying the troops as necessary to win.

[The Hip Zip]

I think you need to get 5 of your best on the floor and go from there. You can really put subs in a specific rotation as who comes in depends on many factors- who may be struggling, who may be in foul trouble, whether the other size has a speed or size advantage, whether you need a shooter/ballhandler/rebounder, etc. Much of the rotation troubles could be remedied by Harney shaking the attitude and playing hard all of the time, as he can play multiple positions.

At this juncture, I would start Diggs, McAdams, Forsythe, Tree and Harney. Kretzer, Johnson and Evans would be my first options off of the bench, with Betancourt, Ibatayo an Cheahtam only seeing minutes here and there.

I agree somewhat but Ibatayo has earned his minutes. He's the one guy that I see out there who busts his ass every minute he's on the floor. He plays with a sense of urgency and passion that I don't see from just about everybody else.

[clarkwgriswold]

Good starting five. Not having a true PG on the floor to start makes me uncomfortable, but considering out PG situation, why not? There have to be 2-3 guys who play until their legs almost fall off or foul trouble. For me, those three are Diggs, Forsythe and Tree. In order to play a lot of minutes, one must get used to playing a lot of minutes with game conditioning.

It isn't really finding a rotation as much as it is finding the 2-3 guys you are going to live and die with. There isn't a team out there who has five "go to" guys so the number is smaller than five and probably four as well. Most everyone has 2-3. Unless there are a lot of unknowns, those players should be identified before the season and conditioned to play loads of minutes. The others come in and out of the game as the game dictates based upon their abilities.

It isn't about throwing a bunch of guys in and out of the game. It's about playing to win and deploying the troops as necessary to win.

I am with you on the concern over the lack of a true point guard, but Evans and Betancourt have been so bad it is worth the risk at his point. If it bites you in the keester, make a quick switch to Evans.

[phil]

Still hoping for a new lineup. Evens only took one shot last game, a three that wasn't even close. He does not even try to drive to the basket and just settles on shooting threes. I would like to see Q get the start. I even think Bentacourt may be better right now if Q comes off the bench. Evens is 0 for his last 10 covering the last 3 games and 7 for his last 43. (16%) He is having a tough year shooting.

[Dave in Green]

Like it or not, here's the reality of Q. As a junior he averaged 25 minutes per game. This season he's averaging 27 minutes per game. His PT was flat through most of his junior season, and it's been flat most of this season. His minutes are not increasing as the season goes on. We all know how important Q is to the overall performance of this team. So does Coach Dambrot, who would like nothing more than to have Q on the floor 30+ minutes per game like Tree. But Q doesn't have Tree's endurance. When Q's on the floor, he gives it all he's got on both ends of the court. He literally burns himself out. I've seen him at times look exhausted, and that's when his performance starts deteriorating. So there will be about 13 minutes or about a third of each game when Q is not going to be on the floor. If he starts, there will be big gaps in the game when he's on the bench. Pick your poison.

[phil]

Like it or not, here's the reality of Q. As a junior he averaged 25 minutes per game. This season he's averaging 27 minutes per game. His PT was flat through most of his junior season, and it's been flat most of this season. His minutes are not increasing as the season goes on. We all know how important Q is to the overall performance of this team. So does Coach Dambrot, who would like nothing more than to have Q on the floor 30+ minutes per game like Tree. But Q doesn't have Tree's endurance. When Q's on the floor, he gives it all he's got on both ends of the court. He literally burns himself out. I've seen him at times look exhausted, and that's when his performance starts deteriorating. So there will be about 13 minutes or about a third of each game when Q is not going to be on the floor. If he starts, there will be big gaps in the game when he's on the bench. Pick your poison.

Looking good with the new lineup. Akron up 10. KD is brilliant!

[Dave in Green]

And Q thumbs his nose at DiG by playing a solid 34 minutes. Maybe Q has shaken off all the rust of the year off and has worked himself into shape for averaging 30+ minutes per game. We already knew that Tree and Jake were capable of doing it, especially with Jake's back finally getting back to normal. That's a pretty solid foundation of 3 players who can be counted on to play long minutes if needed. That starting lineup worked extremely well against EMU, which presented a unique challenge with the 2-3 zone defense. It especially helped Melo that EMU doesn't press, so he was free to trigger the offense without a lot of pressure. Whether that starting lineup is the most effective against other teams remains a question mark. I don't think the experimentation is over.

[GP1]

When Q's on the floor, he gives it all he's got on both ends of the court. He literally burns himself out. I've seen him at times look exhausted, and that's when his performance starts deteriorating.

This is why a coach needs to decide on who the 2-3 star players are on a team early in the season and play them minutes until they are in physical condition to play a lot of minutes. The reason these guys look tired playing 30+ minutes is they never play 30+ minutes.

At this point, I'd like to thank KD for taking my advice from over the weekend on the importance of playing key players for high minute totals. Do I really have to fix EVERYTHING around here all of the time?

[roopride]

This is why a coach needs to decide on who the 2-3 star players are on a team early in the season and play them minutes until they are in physical condition to play a lot of minutes. The reason these guys look tired playing 30+ minutes is they never play 30+ minutes.

At this point, I'd like to thank KD for taking my advice from over the weekend on the importance of playing key players for high minute totals. Do I really have to fix EVERYTHING around here all of the time?

Anyone notice my prior post on playing Melo. All we need him to do is play defense, minimize turnovers and run the offense. Penetrate a little and no turnovers...

[Dr Z]

"Wholesale lineup changes with a lean toward UA’s best players contributed to that win"

GT Article

If you called for changes, add 1 to your total, if you thought we needed to stay with the same starters, subtract one.

[GP1]

If you called for changes, add 1 to your total, if you thought we needed to stay with the same starters, subtract one.

I'll add 100 if you don't mind. One for me and 99 for saying what 99 others on this board were thinking about the mindless substituting but didn't have the balls to say.

[Dr Z]

EA of the PD

As for Akron (13-6, 5-1), one week ago there was angst over its double-digit loss to the Toledo Rockets. But the Zips rebounded with a pair of road wins -- four road wins overall in league play -- which is something no other league team has. While UT has the tiebreaker edge over the Zips right now, the Rockets have yet to play at Ohio University or at Eastern Michigan, two tough spots where Akron already has road wins.

A lineup change for Akron with Quincy Diggs, Jake Kretzer, Nick Harney and Carmelo Betancourt now starting, seems to have settled the Zips, somewhat, even as turnovers and free throw shooting remain an issue. But the Zips play five of their final seven at home, putting pressure on Toledo not to stumble on the road, and hand the MAC lead back to Akron.

[Z.I.P.]

Still hoping for a new lineup. Evens only took one shot last game, a three that wasn't even close. He does not even try to drive to the basket and just settles on shooting threes. I would like to see Q get the start. I even think Bentacourt may be better right now if Q comes off the bench. Evens is 0 for his last 10 covering the last 3 games and 7 for his last 43. (16%) He is having a tough year shooting.

I like Bentacourt! Or whoever...