Here's an interesting tidbit from the NBA page, one of the questions from a recent Q&A with Jack Ramsey...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Q: Pat Riley has traditionally used only 8 players at the end of a season
and in the playoffs. If you were the coach of the Heat this year, would you use
more players to increase endurance and/or to find someone who has the hot hand
or can provide a defensive spark? I know it's hard to second-guess Coach Riley.
Thank you.
Dan Greenberg, Miami, Florida
Dr. Jack:Riley has always been a 7- or 8-player coach, and he's had success with that system. The results speak for themselves. Each coach uses a system that he's comfortable with. I was more inclined to go deeper into my bench in my coaching days. I liked to have a pressing unit that I could put in the game for short segments or specialty defenders or shooters. If you're going to use a system like that, you have to play them every game. I felt that it made every player feel like he was a contributor, which he was.