In today's newsletter:
- Mailbag question (the 5th closer).
- Previewing tonight's game against the Lakers.
- Link roundup.
Mailbag
"Looking at closing lineups, which “5th man” should we be hoping Doc plays in important games? Interested in the net ratings of lineups with: The Big 4 + each of Thybulle, Green, Niang, or anyone else. I’m sure sample sizes are small. And wondering if you have any opinions on the context for which matchups each “5th man” excels in." – Greg
We'll get the raw lineup data out of the way first.
| 5th Player | Poss | Net Rtg | Off Rtg | Def Rtg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thybulle | 361 | +23.3 | 126.0 | 102.8 |
| Niang | 68 | +11.3 | 126.5 | 115.2 |
| Green | 33 | +6.6 | 124.2 | 117.6 |
| Milton | 22 | +79.2 | 122.7 | 43.5 |
(Net rating for lineups with Joel Embiid, James Harden, Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris. Data from CleaningTheGlass.com).
