what would be the reason? unless they are confident they are beating the Warriors because thats the only way they would play the Cavs in the finals.
Pop knows who his starting 5 is...imo he still needs to do 2 things in order to make this team a borderline lock to win a title, and just not 1 of x amount of contenders to win a title...
1. Needs to get Kyle Anderson some important minutes at the 4...like he did tonight and at houston...
2. Needs to get Jonathan Simmons some minutes against starters...dude is to good to just be playing with the backup unit and in blowouts...he has reached the point in his career where the only way he is going to get better is to play against players better than him at points in the game when it matters...hence him guarding bron some tonight...
I wouldn't say Pop is playing possum...he is just going into games saying "we are going to try this and see if it works" and if it doesn't...he is just going to keep on doing it...to make sure it doesn't work...
He needs to play KA and Simmons now and let them get clowned on national tv so when the playoffs come they won't be to shook of the moment...i hope every time simmons is on the floor he is guarding the best perimeter player on defense and not kawhi...he needs those reps way more than kawhi does