The 2023–24 NBA season is 20 games in, and thus far it has been an incredible journey. Phoenix is currently tied for the fourth spot in the Western Conference with a 12-8 record. Even though the In-Season Tournament is about to begin, it’s a good idea to start exploring potential lineups for the final rotation now that the playoffs are so far off.
This article will focus on the rotation as it stands and provide the best estimate of what a potential playoff rotation would look like in the future, rather than necessarily offering a playoff outlook.
As the playoffs get closer, it will be fascinating to examine since, as you are all aware, a lot can and will change
between now and May. This article may seem outdated in the early summer due to buyouts, injuries, trade deadlines, and other factors.
Over his tenure, Frank Vogel has served as a coach in 88 playoff games. He has a 49-39 overall postseason record, with one (Bubble) Championship won with the Lakers in 2020.
He played five postseason games with the Pacers, going 31–30, and 61 of the 88 postseason games with Indiana. This featured two trips to the Eastern Conference Finals, when the Pacers were defeated by the Miami Heat headed by LeBron James.
Vogel had an 18-9 record in 27 games over the Lakers’ two postseason campaigns, which included a run to the 2020 NBA Finals in the Bubble.
Upon reviewing Vogel’s previous postseason lineups, it appears that he like to use a nine-man rotation, adding a 10th man in brief bursts. Even though the same eight or nine players will play the most of the minutes, he isn’t scared to start more than ten players in a single game.
He isn’t afraid to make quick adjustments based on matchups and game flow, as we have already witnessed this season.
Each member of the Suns has a tonne of playoff experience. However, as a team, Booker, Durant, Okogie, and Lee were the only four players to share the court in that setting throughout the previous season’s playoff run.
After 20 games, here is the current situation in terms of games played and minutes. After a disorganised start to the season, the rotation is now beginning to stabilise.
In the event of a nine-man rotation, the top nine players on the above list should be included. My next pick after that group is Jordan Goodwin, who may very possibly get brief spurts of playing time should they decide to switch to a 10-man rotation.
Yuta Watanabe, Nassir Little, and Jordan Goodwin are expected to compete with Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop for playoff minutes. Each of the five has displayed flashes, and there are certain matchups where they could be advantageous and others where they might not be.
