Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary

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Crow
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Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary

Post by Crow »

Every month a less good w-l record. February has worst offense yet. Most 3s made per game but also most turnovers and worst FT%. Most offensive rebounds but least stocks. Defensive rating has been steady for 3 months. Opponents with least turnovers and most stocks. Least FTAs and worst FT%. Most FGM.

-3 actual wins compared to net margin expected.
Crow
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Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary

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21 lineups last night. 10 of the 13 smallest negative with one neutral. 4 of biggest 8 positive. Too much experimentation imo, not near enough winning time. 15 never before used lineups. Could have been 5 or 8 new and 15 or less lineups. But Daigneault loves to play around.
Crow
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Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary

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Dort has a -2 BPM and a -3 raw on / off. Shooting efficiency is least good in 3 seasons. Short mid-tange is horrible, longer mid-range is great.

Darko has him as 127th best. Top 40% on offensive, top 15% on defense. But bottom 20% on recent change. Peak to date overall and on defense came at beginning of season. Offensive peak was 2.5 years ago.

Pay to stay, at what price, or not?
Crow
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Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary

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$50 million over the the Thunder picked up all team options for next season, they'd be $50 million over the tax level and close to $30 million over the 2nd apron. They'd owe over $200 million in tax.

I expect changes but don't know how many or which. Dort and Hartenstein are the biggest pieces but others could be released or traded.
Crow
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Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary

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Bill Duffy representation of Jalen Williams and Holmgren could be a concern in longer term. Also represents Doncic and several other Lakers.
Crow
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Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary

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5 possible 1st round opponents. Doubt Thunder will maneuver for or against but will they?
Crow
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Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary

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Thunder depth is both a game & season management strategy and an emerging salary cap strategy. Still need to see what Prest does this off-season and next to understand the design. Lots of options is part of the design and part of the mystery.
Crow
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Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary

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Lineups total reaches 672.

Arguments for this include keeping guys ready and reasonably content and making them think.

Arguments against include 2nd lowest concentration / testing on 5 most used lineups among top 10 contenders. almost 10 new lineups every game and an average lineup usage of barely 5 minutes for the season.

Could do all of the first group of positives in a different way with far far fewer lineups.
Crow
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Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary

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Minutes distribution and size analysis:

https://x.com/bballstrategy/status/2037 ... 48724?s=20
Crow
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Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary

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If the draft follows consensus, the Thunder should have a variety of good or even great options, imo.
Crow
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Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary

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2/3rds of minutes given to 5 most used lineups so far in playoffs. I'd do that or close to that in regular season too. I take this as justification for concentration.

Starter minutes are decent but could be higher or much higher. Next biggest lineup immediately jumps to SGA and 4 bench and lots of others with 2-4 bench. I generally want to see a lot of 4 starters and 1 bench. Will study more.
Crow
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Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary

Post by Crow »

Crow
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Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary

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With the roster as is, Spotrac says Thunder are $49 million over the luxury tax line and would owe $213 million in tax next season without changes.

Assume they make moves to get tax to $100 million or less.
Crow
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Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary

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Easier half done, the tougher tasks start next week.
Crow
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Re: Thunder lineup analysis and other commentary

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Conference finals not yet set against Spurs, bit assuming it will be.

1W-4L. 82 lineups. Starters were -5 pts / 100p but only in 3 games. I highly doubt 2nd and 3rd most used lineups get used. 4th was good, 5th terrible. Both depend on JDub being available and helpful. 6th & 7th terrible, 8th neutral, 9th bad.

Only 4 of 82 lineups got 10+ minutes across all games. What do they know against Spurs? Almost nothing at lineup level. What's good? Very little.

Past is not necessarily predictive. But it is a worry. The matchups. The lineup management. The results.

Only 1 of 16 most used Thunder pairs was positive against Spurs. SGA - Caruso. Will that be prominent in series? Successful?

Wiggins had a few of the rare positive pairs, Will they come back / work?

Plenty of combinations of Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins, Jalen Williams, Jaylin Williams, Ajay Mitchell did well, a few didn't. Will they play the good ones more and less Dort, Wallace & Joe?

SGA - Dort vs Spurs was -15. SGA - Wallace, -12. SGA - Joe, -39. Small samples but does it move you or not, or when?
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