As the lines that define traditional positions get more and more blurred, the range, diversity, and creativity of lineup combinations that NBA coaches use become more and more fascinating to study. With point guards, power forwards and centers giving way to combo guards, wings, stretch-4s and bigs, studying five-man lineup combinations becomes as educational as it is a rabbit hole.

Many times the How and What are much clearer than the Why. Through the wonder of the terrific www.82games.com, however, there is much we can learn about which lineups NBA head coaches just aren’t using enough.

Here is a list of 10 underutilized NBA lineups, and it isn’t just the bad coaches mishandling their rosters, either. Some of the game’s best strategists are missing the boat.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

Wall-Porter-Butler-Humphries-Gortat (+33 in 33 minutes)

This lineup deploys Washington’s starting center and point guard, along with their first big off the bench and two reserve wings. Like most other teams, the Wizards’ strength lies in their starters. As well as its bench has held down the fort this year when it’s been needed, it’s a pretty substandard group of reserves for a team that believes it can make the Finals.

This particular five-man lineup is the Wizards’ version of putting a silk head on a pig. Marcin Gortat and John Wall simply make the other three guys better. Rasual Butler’s shooting helps, while Wall’s quickness on the perimeter, and Gortat’s rim protection capably mask the defensive deficiencies of the other players. Randy Wittman hasn’t used this lineup a ton, but it would provide a path toward more production from his bench.

CHICAGO BULLS

Hinrich-Butler-Dunleavy-Mirotic-Gasol (+35 in 46 minutes)

Tom Thibodeau is going to have to explore a lot of different lineup options with both Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler going down to injury. Hinrich has proven himself not to be a long term option at point guard, but he’s capable enough in stretches. Butler, when he returns, can mask Hinrich’s defensive deficiencies. Gasol does an acceptable job of protecting the rim, but he needs massive support in defending the pick and roll. The real value of this unit lies in its ability to shoot the rock. Overall, the Bulls struggle to shoot the ball well from the perimeter, and that’s a strength for this group. Even though Hinrich is having a down shooting year, the rest of this group has shot the ball well. Dunleavy in particular has shot 41% from behind the arc. Without Rose, the Bulls are going to need to use a unit like this more that can stretch the floor.

DALLAS MAVERICKS

Harris-Ellis-Aminu-Parsons-Chandler (+28 in 59 minutes)

This is the best Dirk Nowitzki-less lineup that Dallas can utilize. Al-Farouq Aminu is the key piece here — he’s long, athletic, and can defend inside or on the perimeter. Dallas struggles defensively on the perimeter without Rajon Rondo, and this is a lineup with no horrible weak spots and the ability score at a decent clip.

Dirk is still the straw that stirs the drink for the Mavs, but this unit can get them stops when he sits. Devin Harris is also a useful piece in that he can adequately defend the perimeter, and compliments Monta Ellis better than Rondo does.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

Curry-Thompson-Igoudala-Barnes-Bogut (+35 in 32 minutes)

As great as Draymond Green has been for the Warriors, this unit may actually be their best five-man combo against a perimeter-oriented team. There’s plenty of offense on the floor, and they have a defensive wing combination of Klay Thompson and Andre Igoudala that’s flat-out smothering.

Harrison Barnes does not need to be hidden in this lineup, even though he can draw an easier primary matchup when surrounded by these guys. His value gets realized defensively through the Warriors efficient use of switching. Barnes maintains the Warriors use of their 4-out-1-in look because of his range and ability off the dribble. With Andrew Bogut anchoring this unit, Stephen Curry’s defensive deficiencies are also not hard to hide. Plus, the bonus is that Barnes gets to play his most effective position, the stretch-4, with maximum defensive support around him.

HOUSTON ROCKETS

Terry-Harden-Brewer-Smith-Motiejunas (+31 in 30 minutes)

This unit, in which both Jason Terry and James Harden function as combo guards, takes advantage of Harden’s propensity to dominate the ball (and that’s hardly a bad thing when you’re a top candidate for league MVP). The lineup also does very well defensively largely due to Harden’s transformation this season from a defensive liability to a borderline asset, while the other four players are all plus defenders.

Kevin McHale has done a brilliant job deploying Terry, who historically has been a poor defensive player. Josh Smith has also excelled in an expanded bench role, Donatas Motiejūnas gives this unit some plow post offense and Corey Brewer is very skilled at leaking out in transition.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Conley-Lee-Carter-Randolph-Gasol (+48 in 49 minutes)

This is a very viable playoff-finishing unit for the Grizzlies, which makes it surprising that coach Dave Joerger hasn’t used it more often. Yes, Vince Carter’s limited availability this season has something to do with that, but this lineup effectively addresses Memphis’ biggest offensive issue without a major defensive sacrifice.

The Grizzlies struggle to get perimeter shooting from the wings. Courtney Lee has been terrific in that aspect this year, hitting 45 percent from beyond the arc on three attempts per game; Carter, on the other hand, has shot a miserable 27 percent from long distance this season. Coach Dave Joerger needs Carter to play more often with this unit when he returns from injury, so he’ll get used to finishing with the starters in order to have the desired positive impact for the Grizzlies in the postseason.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Bayless-Mayo-Dudley-Antetokounmpo- Henson (+25 in 28 minutes)

Jerryd Bayless has had a very good year at backup point guard and will be needed even more with the recent trade of Brandon Knight. O.J. Mayo is a nice complement to Bayless in the backcourt because he’s a decent secondary ball handler, and Bayless is far from a natural point guard.

This is a small lineup that takes advantage of the versatility of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Jared Dudley can also play the stretch-4, which allows head coach Jason Kidd to mix and match up front. John Henson can protect the rim but this unit is small, which is why Kidd doesn’t use it a ton. Nonetheless, this unit needs to see more court time because it can defend adequately against smaller lineups and has five guys who can all score.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

Westbrook-Morrow-Roberson-Ibaka-Adams (+21 in 29 minutes)

This five-man combo has two one-way wings who complement each other well. Anthony Morrow is a poor defender and if Andre Roberson threw a bag of garbage off a pier, he couldn’t hit the water. Nonetheless, against most teams, Morrow is easy to hide next to Roberson defensively because Roberson is a plus defender.

Yes, coach Scott Brooks will have to wait a while to dust this lineup off because Steven Adams is out with a broken hand — but this unit can have an important function for the Thunder. One of Brooks’ consistent errors is his propensity to sit Durant and Westbrook at the same time. This is a Durant-less unit that Westbrook can carry, yet it also has support on both ends of the floor and plenty of size to boot.

PHOENIX SUNS

Bledsoe-Tucker-Green-Markieff Morris-Len (+16 in 23 minutes)

The good news is that all the trades that the Suns made at the deadline will help Jeff Hornacek use this lineup more often, now that he’s down a point guard after moving both Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas while bringing in only Brandon Knight. Although Hornacek likes the multiple point guard look, a big part of why he plays multiple point guards is that the team is very thin at the wing spots.

Both P.J. Tucker and Gerald Green are limited, but their talents are somewhat complementary. Green can score but seems to be allergic to passing and defense; Tucker is a decent defender and can actually shoot it pretty well. Markieff Morris and Alex Len comprise the Suns’ big-man duo of the future, and frankly, it’s a good one as both have made great strides this season. It is also smart for Eric Bledsoe to play some stretches where he doesn’t have to share time with another point guard.

TORONTO RAPTORS

Lowry-Ross-DeRozan-Patterson-Hansbrough (+20 in 32 minutes)

This is a small unit up front, but still has four of Toronto’s five best defensive players on the floor, while keeping their two best offensive players on the floor in Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. Terrance Ross has been mostly a disappointment this season, but in a small sample size with this lineup he’s actually been effective.

The mystery player in this lineup is Tyler Hansbrough. Hansbrough has the best net plus-minus rating per 100 possessions on the Raptors — they’ve been a better team at both ends of the court with him on the floor — yet he’s only played 23 percent of the Raptors overall minutes. Yes, they’re very small with Hansbrough at center, but the Hansbrough/Patterson combination has been excellent defensively. Ultimately, the Raptors will need starting center Jonas Valanciunas to steepen the learning curve if they’re going to advance in the playoffs, but Hansbrough has been a largely untapped resource as a bench player.

(All lineup statistics through February 24)