FanPost

Could Giving Kyrie More Time Be A Solution for Both PGs?




Despite being the Celtics leader in points, assists and steals per game, as well as PER, Kyrie Irving plays only a smidge over 32 minutes per game. This is largely due to Terry Rozier, the other young point guard on the roster, as well a Boston's overall depth. But shouldn't a top 15 (maybe top 10) player be getting more time, especially when the Celtics have been underperforming? Irving is the team's 1) best player, 2) most consistent player, and 3) biggest offseason concern. Giving him more time should bring more success.

At first glance, there are a few reasons giving Kyrie extra minutes seems bad.

1. Irving has a troublesome injury history.

2. Playing Irving more would decrease Rozier's trade value and possibly upset him.

3. Rozier already struggles coming off the bench. Playing him even less could compound those struggles.

But in a strange way, these problems could all actually benefit the Celtics.

If Irving gets more playing time, he undoubtedly opens himself up to higher likelihood of injury. But until then, he gives the Celtics a better chance of winning and Rozier gets less unproductive court time. Playing through your star is how you win NBA games today. Fourteen of the sixteen playoff teams have a starter with a usage rate of at least 27%, and 10 of those sixteen teams have at least one player with a usage rate over 30%. This doesn't even count LeBron and the Clippers' sixth man Lou Williams, who both also have usage rates above 30%. The Celtics have a sure superstar in Kyrie, and he's being underutilized. Bumping his minutes total to 35 instead of 32 would have immediate short-term benefits. Kyrie would be happy, the team should be happy, and Celtics fans will be happy when more games are won.

And if Irving runs himself into the ground, Rozier becomes the starting point guard, when he somehow is a much better player and Celtics team basketball gets to shine. Irving playing a lot is good for the Celtics, and him being out is also good for the Celtics. If Irving is out, but the rest of the Celtics are healthy, could they still make an NBA Finals run? I think so. If that is true, then risking his injury doesn't appear to be a huge risk at all.

Rozier's trade value will take a big hit if his minutes are cut and Kyrie stays healthy, but is that even bad? His stock already seems to be falling. Could the Celtics then re-sign Rozier in the offseason for $8 million instead of the $20 million he's after? And if some other team still wants to pay him the big bucks, wouldn't we feel better about letting him walk? In his limited time, Brad Wanamaker so far looks like a sufficient replacement at backup point guard. Losing Rozier without return is starting to look less and less horrifying.

Kyrie still has a ways to go as the vocal leader of the Celtics. He has to learn to pick and choose the right times to call his team out. The team meeting worked perfectly. But admonishing the young guns after (gasp) a two-game road losing streak was unnecessary, and it negatively impacted the team. But as he learns, Kyrie is still undoubtedly the rudder for this Celtics team. He just needs to put the young players on the right course.

This logic would definitely be disrespectful to Rozier, and that's tough for him. But the NBA is a business. Trading Rozier at this point won't bring a return that helps the Celtics win a championship, so unless we can get under the tax, I don't see any good reason. At this point, I think Rozier or nothing is the best package.

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