The LA Clippers' playoff rotation, this season in particular, must be comprised of a flow that is molded around James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. This differs from how head coach Tyronn Lue addressed the Dallas Mavericks last season, as he had Paul George in the command center with Leonard absent.
Furthermore, Lue must merge Harden and Leonard with the appropriate talents. This is why guys like Norman Powell, Ivica Zubac, Bogdan Bogdanović, Kris Dunn, and Derrick Jones Jr. will be playing nearly the entire game in every matchup the Clippers face.
With enough room for two more players, Lue must evaluate which skill sets within the roster can be sent into games without becoming a liability. This means no room for error, giving opponents limited access to expose the team's weaknesses.
That said, as Lue gears up for the first round, he must finalize soon which players out of Nicolas Batum, Ben Simmons, and Amir Coffey will be added to complete the rotation.
Tyronn Lue must take notes in film study to complete the best possible Clippers' playoff rotation
Tyronn Lue will make in-game transformations in the playoffs, as he has done every year since being promoted, but preparing for round one, he must have a solidified nine-man rotation. Currently, he must pick between three high-end producers in the second unit.
Nicolas Batum is the clear choice of the three possible guys. He has been a stud on both ends, averaging 5.3 points and shooting 50.8% from three since the all-star break.
Batum's game allows Lue to play him as a big when going small. This could put opponents in a conundrum, as he can stretch the floor, forcing defenses to clear the paint by respecting his jumper. Thus, aggressive finishers like James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Norman Powell can fill the stat sheets with easier layups at the rim.
Between Amir Coffey and Ben Simmons, Lue should begin the postseason with the former first-overall pick. Simmons can dribble and dish assists while thriving in minutes at center. This will be useful, especially if LA's first meeting is with the Denver Nuggets or Los Angeles Lakers.
Conversely, what appears abnormal is that Coffey, Batum, and Simmons are the 8th-10th men in minutes post-all-star break. This must coerce Lue into thoroughly questioning whether he can trust Simmons and how much energy Batum has remaining at 36.
With 13 days left and the Clippers' seeding coming down to game 82, Lue must finish his playoff to-do list.