The Most Intriguing Experiments Inside The NBA's Bubble

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In the NBA bubble right now, everyone has one goal in mind: bringing home the NBA Finals trophy. In every team's quest to do so, teams are now experimenting with different lineups in order to find the best way to effectively win basketball games. Some teams are even trying something completely new and unique to try to win. This article is going to break down several of the best and most intriguing NBA "experiments".

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Ben Simmons' Transition To Power Forward

Via: YahooSports

One of the most interesting lineup experiments right now is one that you might not expect. Head coach Brett Brown has created a lineup where Ben Simmons is playing power forward and Shake Milton is playing point guard. Now, we play in a positionless era where anyone can play anywhere and strict position labels have kind of gone out of style but this move could be incredibly effective.

The reason Philadelphia is doing this is pretty obvious: they want to move Al Horford to the bench. It's really no secret that Horford has made this team a lot worse and the less minutes he plays, the more successful this team will be. However, let's talk about Shake Milton's promotion to the starting lineup. Milton has been a pleasant surprise for the 76ers this season. His scoring and shooting off the bench has been incredibly key and he filled in marvelously when Simmons went down with injuries towards the end of the season. His fit with this team is great and I think he can thrive alongside Simmons. While Simmons has proven to be a horrific three point shooter, nobody has created more three point opportunities for his teammates since entering the league than Simmons, Shake is a terrific three point shooter who shot 45% from distance and is terrific in the catch and shoot. He can create his own shot but he won't take the ball out of Simmons' hands too often.

As for Simmons, the transition to power forward is an interesting one. It may not seem like a great move on paper due to Simmons' lack of shooting but this could inspire him to start taking some shots from behind the three point line. It also gets other guys more involved in the offense and it spaces the floor for Joel Embiid down low. Simmons' biggest knock right now is his lack of perimeter shooting. Now is the time to really start developing that shot. Simmons will still have the ball a lot due to his elite playmaking abilities but playing off ball will really do wonders for him.

I really like this move a lot for the Sixers. It's obvious that Brett Brown will be coaching for his job these upcoming playoffs and he had to do something to shake it up (no pun intended) after a disappointing regular season. Out with Al Horford, in with Shake Milton, and a new role for Ben Simmons? It's intriguing, it's exciting, and I honestly love the move. Brown deserves major props for this.

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Nikola Jokic: Skinny Edition

Via: NikolaJokicOfficial Instagram

Nikola Jokic has been one of the NBA's best centers for a long time now. His elite passing and scoring along with his ability to make teammates better has made for a ton of team success and multiple individual accolades. Jokic was always known for being a bit, well, out of shape. He didn't really look like the physical freaks you see today with Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James. However, since the end of quarantine, Jokic has shed off quite a few pounds and now looks completely different.

Now, we don't actually know how much this will affect his overall game but we've seen a couple of clips and of course, the man looks faster and a lot more athletic. Jokic always played at a slow pace and wasn't extremely mobile but this newfound weight loss has helped him move around faster than he ever has before and he's a lot more athletic. Hopefully, Jokic will become a better slasher and he will become a more aggressive scorer when attacking the basket. He's never really been the type to run a fastbreak but now he can. When you combine all of those things with great passing vision, you get a beautiful run-and-gun style of offense and the Nuggets just become that much more dangerous.

However, this move is not without its downfalls. Jokic used a lot of his built-up fat to bully players down low in the post. Now, he most likely won't be able to do that and may not be the effective post threat he once was. His game will also likely be more perimeter oriented than it ever was before and that of course means more three point opportunities. Jokic hasn't been a bad three point shooter but 31% isn't anything special. However, perhaps with an increased amount of opportunities there's a chance that his production takes a step forward.

Overall, I think there are way more positives than negatives. I think a more athletic Jokic and a faster one is something that might even be more effective. Again, I get the concerns that he won't be as physical down low but I just think the positives outweigh the negatives here. Nikola Jokic is certainly someone to watch out for in the NBA bubble.

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Bol Bol At Small Forward?

I think a majority of NBA fans, including myself, forgot about the second round pick out of Oregon, Bol Bol. He spent a majority of the season rehabbing an injury and then we saw him playing for the Windy City Bulls.

Now, Bol Bol is playing for the Denver Nuggets at... small forward, which is interesting to say the least. I never thought Bol was properly suited for center but I figured he would play as a stretch four. However, I was wrong as the Nuggets decided to use him at small forward and he erupted for 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 blocks. Granted, it was only preseason and it was again the Washington Wizards and their historically terrible defense, but it was incredibly promising.

In his little time in action, Bol showcased his elite range and shooting ability while also blocking several shots. There was even a play where he blocked a shot, grabbed the ball and run up court, and pulled up for three. That's the kind of potential Bol Bol has and that's the kind of talent you want in the NBA. Bol also showcased great chemistry with Nikola Jokic, as the two seemed to always know where each other were on the court at all times.

If you know me, you know I've always been a big believer in Bol Bol if injuries do not come back to bite him. He's got all the offensive talent in the world and is the perfect stretch big for the modern NBA. He's a Porzingis-lite with a more diverse offensive skillset and I love it. I think - again as long as he stays healthy - he will be a star in the NBA alongside Nikola Jokic.

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Toronto's Jumbo-er Lineup

Via: Sky Sports

This lineup isn't as talked about as some of the other ones but it was something I saw on Twitter. Josh Lewenberg tweeted this out on his page:

"Nick Nurse, a known fan of his 'jumbo lineup', says he went even jumbo-er towards the end of practice today, using a unit without a traditional PG (no Lowry or VanVleet). Powell and Siakam were the guards and Siakam did most of the ball handling."

Pascal Siakam running point guard? That sounds incredible, but I'm not too surprised by this decision. Nick Nurse has shown time and time again that he's willing to think outside the box and he's got a great basketball mind. Pascal Siakam has also proven that he's a great ball handler and now he'll be put to the test. We also get to see how well he's going to perform as more of a facilitator. Alongside Norman Powell in the backcourt, the lineup consists of OG Anunoby at the three, Serge Ibaka at the four, and Marc Gasol at the five.

The use of this lineup is incredibly obvious. The Toronto Raptors are currently matched up with the Boston Celtics in the second round, a team that notoriously lacks an interior presence. This way, Toronto can completely expose that but going even further, this helps them match up against other bigger teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers if they hope to make the Finals.

Toronto clearly thinks that they have another shot at a ring, and they rightfully should think that. They were much better than pretty much anyone thought this year and have the talent to go and compete with the best. Sure, they don't have a true facilitator but Siakam and Powell can spread the ball out offensively and the defense is going to be overpowered. A frontcourt trio of OG-Serge-Gasol is not only versatile but they have crazy length as well. This lineup is very circumstantial but I think it can be extremely effective if used properly, and it's just another classic example of why Nick Nurse is the best head coach in the NBA.

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