Realizing I'm clueless... Topic

...As it comes to deciding playing time and positioning.

Here's my team:

http://whatifsports.com/hd/TeamProfile/Ratings.aspx?tid=8656

I inherited a good team and have been in "win now" mode the last two seasons, recruiting a number of transfers and jucos. Sure, I've won a few games, but I don't think I'm coaching up to my teams potential.

I'm looking for help with my Depth Chart and Player Game Plan. I use target minutes instead of fatigue. Take a look at my player's IQ's and stats and let me know how much you would play each player, at what position, etc.

I have some really talented players who are quite good at defense (like Bynum, Holbrook, and Bethel) and some guys with high IQ's (like Roth, Shope, Elie, and Caba) and some good scorers (like Caba, Roth, and Connelly). I feel like I could have a good scoring team, or a good defensive team but not quite both. Who's getting too many minutes? Not enough?

Thanks for any and all suggestions!
2/12/2012 7:41 PM
I used to use target minutes, but my mentor referred me to a number of forum users and the like who preach against it. I switched, and do not use it unless I have PT promised and need to manage it. I recommend you switch as well.
2/12/2012 9:33 PM
One thing I think I see is that you are looking at one category as a determinant (ie defense for defensive ability; low post or perimeter for offensive ability, etc.) when it's really a combination of a bunch of ratings (plus IQ) that determine effectiveness. You should start looking at things more holistically both when you are recruiting/evaluating talent and gameplanning to determine who might be good at what and where.
2/12/2012 11:59 PM
You should easily get to the tournament and can do well this season.  Here are a few suggestions (in whatever order they occur to me):
  1. You have good ATH on the bench, I think your team might be able to dominate if the ATH were in the starting lineup more.  Try moving Bethel to C and Williams at 4 and feed them the ball.  Caba can get his minutes off the bench.  [All 3 should be set to -2.]
  2. Also, against an opponent with a star SG, you should adjust your starting lineup to: Roth - 1; Bynum - 2; Holbrook -3...
  3. Even out the distro, Roth is great from 3, but opposing coaches will have more trouble gameplanning if you are scoring in the paint as well.
  4. Roster: I find it difficult to get minutes to 12 players in a M2M defense.  I can see you have some players wallowing on the bench and losing WE.  My suggestion would be (a) always use a redshirt on somebody (it really helps in the long run), (b) in this situation, choose a player with little ability to improve and set him to mop up (and possibly your freshman too); at least when you are not running uptempo, and (c) if you have a no-talent player, permanently bench him to free more minutes for the bench players that have more upside.  They almost never transfer, but hope springs eternal.
  5. System: my belief is that motion teams do better with guards that have huge BH ratings.  For a motion & man team, I look for guards with BH, ATH, SPD,  DEF, P, PE, and sacrifice in reverse order, if need be.  Although somebody will need to shoot 3's for the offense to work.
2/13/2012 9:16 AM
 disagree that he should definitely switch away from target minutes.  i use target minutes probably 2/3 of the time...usually anytime my team runs something other than press. 

in simple terms, the key is to under-distribute your total minutes (I shoot for 150-ish to 190-ish) as the gap will then be made up by giving the extra few minutes to your starters...but if you're in a situation where your best player gets in foul trouble early on and you have him set to 24-28 minutes he'll play the entire 2nd half to try and reach his target.  at 19-23 he can still get to his target while taking some rest in the 2nd half.  and as i said before, if nobody is in foul trouble, and if i have my minutes distributed appropriately relative to a players stamina, then my best guys will be on the floor getting those extra minutes at the end of the game and should have the energy to do so effectively.
2/13/2012 9:43 AM
Realizing I'm clueless... Topic

Search Criteria

Terms of Use Customer Support Privacy Statement

© 1999-2026 WhatIfSports.com, Inc. All rights reserved. WhatIfSports is a trademark of WhatIfSports.com, Inc. SimLeague, SimMatchup and iSimNow are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts, Inc. Used under license. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.