Rotations & Minutes

by Jeff Clark on Mar 21, 2008 5:30 AM EDT in Boston Celtics News & Links

Two main reservations about Doc Rivers in the offseason were how he'd manage the veterans' minutes and how he'd juggle the rotation. So far so good with the minutes. Garnett is down to an amazing 33 min. per game and Piecre and Allen are both at or below their career averages. As for the rotation, it looks like Doc has that set up for the playoffs as well. (via the Globe)

Coach Doc Rivers has a defined playing rotation that will be intact throughout the playoffs and includes a center by committee. Outside of Boston's starters, guards Sam Cassell, Eddie House, and Tony Allen, and forward James Posey are solid parts of the rotation. But once starting center Kendrick Perkins goes out, Rivers will go with P.J. Brown, Leon Powe, or Glen "Big Baby" Davis based on the matchup.
"That again will be by committee all year, all through the playoffs," said Rivers. "There are certain matchups [that work better than others]. For example, in the Houston game I put P.J. in and right when he went in, I knew it was the wrong game, quick game, energy game. When I took him out the rest of the game, I went with 'Baby' and Leon instead of P.J. and Leon or P.J. and 'Baby.'
"So that's what's going to happen. One series might fit [Brown] and one series might fit 'Baby.' Leon is almost game to game with what they're going to give you."

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I’m not sure how 12 players is a “defined playing rotation”.

So long as the players seem cool with it — and so far, so good — I’ve got no issue with the backup center by committee approach. However, I do wish Powe would get more minutes. He seems to produce more consistently than any of our other backup big men, and of the three, he’s the one who should have a more defined role.

by Roy_Hobbs on Mar 21, 2008 8:37 AM EDT reply actions

doc has the pieces- thanks danny and the owners. judicious is the word- let’s be judicious with the big 3 for the rest of the season. we don’t need 40 minute games for any of them. rondo stunk last night- he is entitled to a few games like that. i donot have a problem with him keeping sam in that long— as an exception, not as a rule.

by nazzbo on Mar 21, 2008 8:59 AM EDT reply actions

nazzbo, I read that Rondo had a bad back last nite. That was probably why he didn’t play well.

by TrueGreen on Mar 21, 2008 9:44 AM EDT reply actions

i hated the PJ signing for this very reason. Yes, he broke up a fastbreak nicely, but that’s just one play. He’s nowhere near as good as Leon or Baby, and he’s going to take their minutes just because GPA, the coaches, etc are hung up on experience.

by cmoney on Mar 21, 2008 2:26 PM EDT reply actions