A Look at the Rotations of the NBA Play-In Tournament Participants
We know LeBron and Steph will be ready to play, but who else will these eight teams have on deck?
The NBA’s first-ever Play-In Tournament kicks off on Tuesday night, and there is no shortage of exciting matchups. After experimenting with a play-in game in the Bubble last season, the league dove headfirst into the play-in deep end this season — and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
With a season that was wonky for a number of reasons, standings were more uncertain than ever, making this the optimal season for the first Play-In Tournament. Will we still feel the same way next season when some poor 7-seed is way ahead of the play-in pack but still has to participate anyway? We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it because this year’s lineup is juicy.
Let’s take a look at the rotations of these eight teams with a four-category system: Stars, Proven Playoff Contributors, Intriguing Chess Pieces, and Use In Case of Emergency.
Los Angeles Lakers
Stars: LeBron James, Anthony Davis
Proven Playoff Contributors: Dennis Schroder, Kyle Kuzma, Marc Gasol, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso, Montrezl Harrell, Markieff Morris, Wes Matthews
Intriguing Chess Pieces: Andre Drummond, Talen Horton-Tucker, Ben McLemore
Use In Case of Emergency: Damian Jones, Jared Dudley
By virtue of being the only true contenders languishing in the Play-In (although I’m not ready to count out Wardell), the Lakers have significantly more proven playoff contributors than the rest of the field. Outside of the high-wattage star power of LeBron and AD, LA has a number of returnees from last year’s Bubble title run, plus the addition of Harrell, Schroder, Drummond, THT, and a couple others.
The most intriguing math problem will be how Frank Vogel splits up the big man platoon of Harrell, Gasol, and Drummond depending on matchups and AD’s status. I’ll also be interested to see if Horton-Tucker can live up to his regular-season promise.
Golden State Warriors
Stars: Stephen Curry, Draymond Green
Proven Playoff Contributors: Kelly Oubre (injured), Kevon Looney
Intriguing Chess Pieces: Andrew Wiggins, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Kent Bazemore, Jordan Poole, Eric Paschall
Use In Case of Emergency: Jordan Bell
I wouldn’t count Steph and Draymond, especially this year’s version of that duo, out of any one-game, winner-take-all situation. But facing a full seven-game series with that supporting cast is dire. Looney, and I guess technically the return of Bell, mark the only holdovers from the dynasty era. We’re going to see some Supernova Steph fireworks and some prime Draymond goading to lift this group. I mean beyond the top two, who are you trusting with your season on the line?
Memphis Grizzlies
Stars: Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr.
Proven Playoff Contributors: Jonas Valanciunas, Kyle Anderson, Justise Winslow (if healthy)
Intriguing Chess Pieces: Dillon Brooks, Brandon Clarke, De’Anthony Melton, Grayson Allen, Tyus Jones, Desmond Bane, Xavier Tillman
Use In Case of Emergency: John Konchar, Killian Tillie
The #NxtGenGrizz have nearly the exact opposite problem of the Warriors — too many good players and hardly any playoff experience. I mean, they have at least 13 legit NBA rotation players. That’s rare! But beyond Valanciunas, Slo Mo, and Winslow, none of these kids have even played in a playoff game before. They’re going to play hard, and they won’t be scared, but that sort of inexperience will be tough to overcome.
San Antonio Spurs
Stars: DeMar DeRozan
Proven Playoff Contributors: Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, Jakob Poeltl, Patty Mills, Rudy Gay
Intriguing Chess Pieces: Keldon Johnson, Lonnie Walker, Devin Vassell, Trey Lyles
Use In Case of Emergency: Gorgui Dieng, Drew Eubanks
It’s a shame that DeRozan’s season has gone so under the radar because he really has been great at times. There are several good pieces here, including many you can count on in a playoff series, but it’s a weird fit in an impossible situation.
Boston Celtics
Stars: Jayson Tatum
Proven Playoff Contributors: Kemba Walker, Marcus Smart, Evan Fournier, Tristan Thompson, Semi Ojeleye
Intriguing Chess Pieces: Payton Pritchard, Robert Williams, Grant Williams, Aaron Nesmith, Jabari Parker
Use In Case of Emergency: Romeo Langford, Luke Kornet, Carsen Edwards, Tacko Fall
Boston was already a listless, disappointing mess sputtering into the playoffs even before Jaylen Brown’s untimely injury. Can they cobble together Brown’s production on both ends from some combination of Walker/Smart/Fournier/Ojeleye/Nesmith? Will the Williams boys or Thompson hold down the paint? Will Jabari Parker get serious playoff minutes in the year 2021? (He might, and I think he should!) Can Kemba resemble anything close to his peak?
Washington Wizards
Stars: Bradley Beal, Russell Westbrook
Proven Playoff Contributors: Robin Lopez, Davis Bertans
Intriguing Chess Pieces: Rui Hachimura, Thomas Bryant, Raul Neto, Daniel Gafford, Garrison Mathews, Ish Smith, Alex Len
Use In Case of Emergency: Jerome Robinson, Chandler Hutchinson
Brad and Russ have been on a tear for what feels like months now. With those two guys playing at a torrid pace, I think they have to be the favorites to make it out of the East Play-In Tournament. Throw in a bevy of steady (if inexperienced) role players, including Lipscomb legend Garrison Mathews, and this team will be a hard out for whichever Eastern favorite they match up with in the first round.
Indiana Pacers
Stars: Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert
Proven Playoff Contributors: Myles Turner (injured), Justin Holiday (?), T.J. McConnell
Intriguing Chess Pieces: Doug McDermott, Oshae Brissett, Jeremy Lamb, Aaron Holiday, Edmond Sumner
Use In Case of Emergency: Goga Bitadze, Kelan Martin
If everyone were healthy, the Pacers might be the favorite to make it out of the East Play-In. Alas, their top five players have struggled with health all season (outside of a flaming-hot Sabonis), Bubble Hero T.J. Warren had surgery in March, Turner is currently dealing with a tear in his toe, and Brogdon and Levert are day-to-day. If any or all of those players remain injured, Indiana will be serving up way too many Holiday brothers for an elimination situation.
Charlotte Hornets
Stars: Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward (injured)
Proven Playoff Contributors: Cody Zeller (?), Bismack Biyombo, Brad Wanamaker
Intriguing Chess Pieces: Lamelo Ball, Devonte Graham, Miles Bridges, P.J. Washington, Malik Monk, Jalen McDaniels, Cody and Caleb Martin
Use In Case of Emergency: They better hope there aren’t any emergencies
Let the kids run! With Hayward still out with a foot injury, just give Lamelo and (and Scary Terry!) the keys and watch them go. Charlotte doesn't stand a chance to make it out of the Play-In Tournament, they have a shocking lack of playoff experience outside of the former Celtics on their team, and the young dudes play hard — that’s a perfect recipe for letting Lamelo rev the engines.
