Platoon?

[bucsrule8872]

Pope obviously wants to play a lot of players, especially during the regular season. The way things have shook out so far, maybe he should platoon?

Most of us fans are calling for Lowe, Q, and Williams to start with Oweh and Dioubate, and if Pope is going to tighten his rotation, those guys need to play 25-30 minutes each. But if he is dead set on going 10 deep and limiting minutes, why not platoon?

Aberdeen, Chandler, and Moreno are use to starting now, if Pope wants to keep them in the starting five, then a platoon system kind of makes sense. He’s wanting to limit Lowe’s and Q’s minutes anyway.

1st unit

G Aberdeen
G Oweh
G Chandler
F Dioubate
F Moreno

2nd unit

G Lowe
G Johnson
G Williams
F Garrison or Jelavic
F Quaintance

We know the platoon system can run teams out of gas, while keeping our guys fresh throughout the season. This might be a good strategy for a defensive minded team that needs to try to score in transition or early in the shot clock. It’s a method that could allow us to really focus on defensive intensity.

Thoughts?

[South jones]

May not be a bad idea but pope gets paid big bucks to make those decisions.
those two line-ups you laid out there are both pretty good.

[Catsrock]

Platoon could be fine. But platoons could get 30/10 minute split rather than 20/20.

[bucsrule8872]

Platoon could be fine. But platoons could get 30/10 minute split rather than 20/20.

If you are trying to limit minutes and also wear teams out by sending waves of fresh bodies at them, then a 30/10 split makes no sense.

Not really a platoon system, IMHO, if one group is getting 3/4ths of the minutes. 25/15 or 24/16 would seem like a more effective split, if you want to give your best five more minutes.

It’s semantics, but to me 5 in, 5 out isn’t really platooning. Platooning is using waves of players, with 5 guys playing a few minutes, then another five coming in and playing a few minutes, and repeat throughout the game for all or most of the game.

But to each their own.

I think a 30/10 split is what we would have seen if Lowe hadn’t hurt his shoulder. I doubt he is able to play that much per game this season. Hope I am wrong, because we are way better with him at the point.

If we could ever get to a 30/10 split across the board I would be okay with it. Lowe, OO, Williams, Mo D, and Q should play as much as they can handle.

Unless Pope decides to platoon.

[SportsFan]

Great movie! There's a reason it won Best Picture. IMHO it's what put Charlie Sheen on the map!

What? Oh. Never mind.

[Catsrock]

If you are trying to limit minutes and also wear teams out by sending waves of fresh bodies at them, then a 30/10 split makes no sense.

Not really a platoon system, IMHO, if one group is getting 3/4ths of the minutes. 25/15 or 24/16 would seem like a more effective split, if you want to give your best five more minutes.

It’s semantics, but to me 5 in, 5 out isn’t really platooning. Platooning is using waves of players, with 5 guys playing a few minutes, then another five coming in and playing a few minutes, and repeat throughout the game for all or most of the game.

But to each their own.

I think a 30/10 split is what we would have seen if Lowe hadn’t hurt his shoulder. I doubt he is able to play that much per game this season. Hope I am wrong, because we are way better with him at the point.

If we could ever get to a 30/10 split across the board I would be okay with it. Lowe, OO, Williams, Mo D, and Q should play as much as they can handle.

Unless Pope decides to platoon.

By your definition of platooning then I’m 100% OUT. Play your best players the most minutes by far and use the inferior players to give them a breather to come back fresh.

[Pete Hogwallop]

Nah. It's not that simple and it wouldn't be feasible to do it much after the first rotation or two. Situations often dictate rotations. Even in the year lazy Cal said he was going to do it, they didn't really end up doing it all that much.

To expand that, trying to come up with some standard lineup or rotation is a fairly pointless and futile exercise. I don't really understand why fans devote so much time to it. Generally, you're playing your best 5, but there are so many variables - one guy could have the flu, for example - and a coach is more often than not forced to deviate from the plan and come up with a new plan on the spot.

[bucsrule8872]

By your definition of platooning then I’m 100% OUT. Play your best players the most minutes by far and use the inferior players to give them a breather to come back fresh.

I tend to agree, but with Pope wanting to limit the minutes that Lowe and Q play, our best players aren’t going to be able to be out there together most of the game.

If Lowe and Q can only play limited minutes a game, then run a platoon system and use our depth to our advantage.

The only “best player” that would take a major hit on their minutes would be Oweh (averaging 27 minutes a game right now).

A compromise would be a 24/16 split, if Lowe and Q are ready to play that many minutes.

If Lowe and Q were a 100%, I wouldn’t even be entertaining the question.

[bucsrule8872]

Nah. It's not that simple and it wouldn't be feasible to do it much after the first rotation or two. Situations often dictate rotations. Even in the year lazy Cal said he was going to do it, they didn't really end up doing it all that much.

To expand that, trying to come up with some standard lineup or rotation is a fairly pointless and futile exercise. I don't really understand why fans devote so much time to it. Generally, you're playing your best 5, but there are so many variables - one guy could have the flu, for example - and a coach is more often than not forced to deviate from the plan and come up with a new plan on the spot.

Good points.

But like I have said, it is due to the fact that two of our best five guys are limited that I am even bringing this up.

Under normal circumstances, you play your best five as much as possible, but with two of them limited, then it might be time to think outside the box a bit and use your depth to your advantage.

I’m not married to the idea, but I do like the idea of a platoon, especially on a team where your best players can only play so much.

[Catsrock]

Lowe’s shoulder is a massive concern. But I sincerely hope the limiting of JQ’s minutes is nearly in the past.

[bucsrule8872]

Lowe’s shoulder is a massive concern. But I sincerely hope the limiting of JQ’s minutes is nearly in the past.

Agreed.

But for a while it is going to be day to day, game to game, managing his minutes.

[bucsrule8872]

If Lowe and Q get to the point where they can play big minutes, I feel like we need play the best five as close to 30 minutes a game as possible.

Once we get to the postseason, tighten up the rotation. Lowe, Oweh, Williams, Mo D, and Q starting and Aberdeen as the 6th man. Chandler, Moreno, and Garrison see limited minutes off the bench.

G Lowe(30)/Aberdeen(10)
G Oweh(30)/Chandler(10)
G Williams(30)/Aberdeen(10)
F Dioubate(30)/Garrison(10)
F Quaintance(30)/Moreno(10)

If Jelavic can step up, then he replaces Garrison. Johnson could replace Chandler, but I don’t think either guy is ready yet. Noah should only get spot duty. Love his heart, but he’s just a step slow.

[SportsFan]

If Lowe and Q get to the point where they can play big minutes, I feel like we need play the best five as close to 30 minutes a game as possible.

Once we get to the postseason, tighten up the rotation. Lowe, Oweh, Williams, Mo D, and Q starting and Aberdeen as the 6th man. Chandler, Moreno, and Garrison see limited minutes off the bench.

G Lowe(30)/Aberdeen(10)
G Oweh(30)/Chandler(10)
G Williams(30)/Aberdeen(10)
F Dioubate(30)/Garrison(10)
F Quaintance(30)/Moreno(10)

If Jelavic can step up, then he replaces Garrison. Johnson could replace Chandler, but I don’t think either guy is ready yet. Noah should only get spot duty. Love his heart, but he’s just a step slow.

Rather than replacing Chandler, how about Johnson replacing one of the two Aberdeens?

[bucsrule8872]

Rather than replacing Chandler, how about Johnson replacing one of the two Aberdeens?

I am not as down on Aberdeen as some people are. He’s been the scape goat for a lot of our problems and people don’t give him the credit he is due. He’s an excellent backup guard/wing and deserves close to starter minutes off the bench.

Leaving Johnson out is more about making sure Aberdeen gets plenty of minutes than a slight on Johnson. My main concern with Johnson is his maturity, mainly his physical maturity. He needs to fill out a bit before he can really contribute. I would play him throughout the SEC season, but probably sit him in favor of the older more physically mature guards (DA and CC) once postseason play started.

I like the five guard rotation of Lowe, OO, KWill, DA, and CC.

Then a four man rotation inside with Q, Mo D, BG, and MM.

If healthy, that’s a solid rotation, IMHO.

[SportsFan]

I am not as down on Aberdeen as some people are. He’s been the scape goat for a lot of our problems and people don’t give him the credit he is due. He’s an excellent backup guard/wing and deserves close to starter minutes off the bench.

Leaving Johnson out is more about making sure Aberdeen gets plenty of minutes than a slight on Johnson. My main concern with Johnson is his maturity, mainly his physical maturity. He needs to fill out a bit before he can really contribute. I would play him throughout the SEC season, but probably sit him in favor of the older more physically mature guards (DA and CC) once postseason play started.

I like the five guard rotation of Lowe, OO, KWill, DA, and CC.

Then a four man rotation inside with Q, Mo D, BG, and MM.

If healthy, that’s a solid rotation, IMHO.

I think you missed the point.

You had Aberdeen "backing up" BOTH Lowe AND Williams, both listed at Guard. You mentioned Johnson could replace Chandler, also a Guard. I suggested using Johnson to be the backup for EITHER Lowe OR Williams....meaning there's enough room to leave Chandler in the equation rather than automatically being odd man out. It was NOT any reflection on Aberdeen whatsoever.