Historical Draft 2011: LA Lakers: Coach: Glenn "Doc" Rivers
C - Kareem70-71/B. Wallace04-05/J. O'Neal03-04/R. Sampson85-86
PF - KG03-04/B. Wallace04-05/E. Brand05-06/R. Sampson85-86
SF - Worthy87-88/Michael Cooper86-87/KG03-04/E. Jones97-98
SG - J. Dumars88-89/L. Sprewell93-94/E.Jones97-98/M.Cooper86-87
PG - G. Payton95-96/R.Rondo09-10
Hmm ...
Big lineup
PG - Payton
SG - Garnett
SF - Worthy
PF - R.Sampson (jump-shooting), Jermaine O'Neal if more D is required
C - Kareem
Quick Lineup
PG - Payton
SG - JJ
SF - McGrady
PF - Worthy
C - Kareem / Garnett
Who - thank you for the lineup suggestions. Everything except JJ checks out for me. I think with you quick lineup suggestion, you mean:
PG - Payton
SG - Eddie Jones
SF - Michael Cooper
PF - Worthy
C- Kareem / KG
And yes your Big Lineup suggestion is very possible, in that for the year I picked KG (03-04) he was very capable (and often did) of playing all positions on the floor for Sota.
Slightly off-topic, but I think Flip Saunders is an under-rated coach because of this. He saw the talent, considerable skills, and leadership in KG - and allowed him to flourish to that extent.
KG is the main cog in my team that makes it work and allows for multiple matchup problems with opponents.
He also allows us, with the quick lineup, to become one of the fastest teams here in this draft.
Ah yes, sorry, I got confused between two teams when I wrote that post. I thought you had Joe Johnson and Tracy McGrady.
I even quoted your team in my post too. Awful. Clearly wasn't awake yet.
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Hmm ... okay, I don't like your teams backup wings. Too many SGs. I think you lack balance there and that that limits your teams versatility.
I think your small lineup, with Worthy at PF, will struggle to compete on the wings with Eddie Jones and Michael Cooper. In terms of overall talent relative to the opponent, they are just not good enough. You'll be at a disadvantage there on a regular basis when you use it.
Also, when you go small at the four (with Worthy), ideally you want perimeter players who are strong rebounders to help offset the loss in rebounding (at PF). E.Jones and M.Cooper are average rebounding SGs who will struggle to pickup that slack. Payton gives you a little extra but not enough to make up for the decline in rebounding at the two forward positions. This small lineup would probably struggle on the backboards vs other teams.
Given that, I think I would avoid those small lineups for the most part and stay big. That is where your team's best strengths lie.
Keep Worthy as a full time SF instead of a combo forward. Need his size and rebounding at that position. Keep two bigs on the floor and maintain your interior D + rebounding.
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In terms of matching up against small lineups, Garnett's defensive range at PF will let you matchup against just about anybody so you can stay big comfortably without being forced to go small. Get or eliminate the matchup advantage that way.
I just enjoy James Worthy as a part time undersized PF. I was hoping to get him some minutes there. It is not to be.
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I really like that big lineup and it's ability to create mismatches across the whole perimeter. That will give you a dynamite post up team.
Payton, Garnett and Worthy. Very strong post players especially when you can create a size advantage.
On the big lineup, you can't play Ben Wallace because it will teams to hide their defender on him and keep their PF on KG. Neutralizes the advantage you are trying to create. It needs to be someone with offensive talent (R.Sampson, J.O'Neal, E.Brand).