Substitution Patterns
Patterns
Substitution patterns are normally described by stating the starter's "sub out" (aka sub) setting and then the backup player's "sub out" setting. For example if your starting PG was set to sub norm and your bPG was set to sub more, the substitution pattern (aka setting) would be norm/more.
| Starter | Backup | Starter | Backup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norm | Less | 26 | 14 |
| Norm | Norm | 28 | 12 |
| Norm | More | 30 | 10 |
| More | Less | 20 | 20 |
| More | Norm | 24 | 16 |
| More | More | 28 | 12 |
| Less | Less | 28 | 12 |
| Less | Norm | 32 | 8 |
| Less | More | 34 | 6 |
Disclaimer: Some of the numbers in the above table are estimates, I've never actually run a Less/Less sub pattern.
Stamina
Stamina is a hidden attribute that is not tied to any of the other attributes. If your team keeps hitting a brick wall in the last 10 minutes consider giving your bench more minutes. You might want to think about training stamina too, but that's a long term fix
Recommendations
- Don't run a starter on Sub Less all season
- More likely to fatigue and get an injury
- This might be viable if you can afford to rest the player in easier matches
- Run more than one substitution pattern
- This should make it less likely that your entire bench will be in the game at the same time
- I normally mix More/More and Norm/Norm
- If you have a particularly weak player consider subbing him out more
- Some players have lower stamina and your team may benefit by giving them less minutes
- You will have to watch games closely to try and work this out
- If your team is deep at 1 or more positions (or you've got 6 players you want to start) run More/Norm or More/Less at that position.
Should I put shooters behind shooters or Not?
If you've got a lot of shooting throughout your team then it probably doesn't matter whether you put shooters on your bench behind the main shooters that start. Some coaches even argue that this is right thing to do as it will mean that your team finds any weak defenders in the opposing lineup and should take advantage of it.
If however you predominantly score in only 1 or 2 positions in your starting 5 and only have limited scoring options on your bench as well you are probably better off putting your bench scorers behind your starting scorers. This will prevent you from ever getting in the situation where you have all 5 players on the court with low individual shot settings all passing the ball around before rushing a shot up to beat the buzzer, or worse simply turning the ball over repeatedly.
