C’s Need To Prioritize Resting Tatum Now

[Kernewek]

There is no reason for a healthy player to not play in games.  Now sure, if the bench was better and he could play 35 minutes instead of 40 minutes, that would be better long term, but if the guy is healthy he should play.

Agreed. I don't often feel like an angry old person complaining about the game, but I do think the top players in the league playing fewer minutes than they were 10-15 years ago is a bummer. Durability is an ability, and one of the things that separates players at this level.

Udoka played Tatum (and maybe Brown) into the ground last season.
Just because a player is young and entering their prime years doesn't mean you play them 36+ minutes every game.
As we have seen with several players, all those minutes eventually catch up with them. Kemba Walker comes to mind.

I'd prefer to see Tatum and Brown at 28-32 minutes per down the stretch of the regular season.
I have no faith in Mazulla implementing those limits.

Worth noting that:
Kemba Walker never averaged a season at 36+ minutes per game in his career. He was also an absolute iron man before he joined the Celtics at age 29  - meaning he was five years older than Tatum is right now. This is before we get to the fact that Tatum or Brown are never going to be 6 foot defensive liabilities who's NBA-readiness will inevitably age like milk.

[Yuckabuck33]

I think it's wrong to just point to Tatum's minutes under Udoka to explain his Finale performance. I thought it was clearly due to first having 2 intense and physical 7 game series beforehand that downed the whole team. The Bucks and the Heat beat the crap out of the C's and we beat the crap out of them.
I think what the Celtics need for Tatum isn't so much load management. It's making sure he doesn't have to play 14 games of football on his way to the Finals.

[liam]

I think it's wrong to just point to Tatum's minutes under Udoka to explain his Finale performance. I thought it was clearly due to first having 2 intense and physical 7 game series beforehand that downed the whole team. The Bucks and the Heat beat the crap out of the C's and we beat the crap out of them.
I think what the Celtics need for Tatum isn't so much load management. It's making sure he doesn't have to play 14 games of football on his way to the Finals.

Well said.

[angryguy77]

I think it's wrong to just point to Tatum's minutes under Udoka to explain his Finale performance. I thought it was clearly due to first having 2 intense and physical 7 game series beforehand that downed the whole team. The Bucks and the Heat beat the crap out of the C's and we beat the crap out of them.
I think what the Celtics need for Tatum isn't so much load management. It's making sure he doesn't have to play 14 games of football on his way to the Finals.

100% this. Getting that 1st seed and not having to run a gauntlet is going to be way more beneficial than playing 5 less minutes a night.

Also, the amount of rest he and others get is totally up to them. Don't lost to suckers like the Thunder ect and build a cushion of games that will allow some recovery time in March and April.

[Phantom255x]

I think it's wrong to just point to Tatum's minutes under Udoka to explain his Finale performance. I thought it was clearly due to first having 2 intense and physical 7 game series beforehand that downed the whole team. The Bucks and the Heat beat the crap out of the C's and we beat the crap out of them.
I think what the Celtics need for Tatum isn't so much load management. It's making sure he doesn't have to play 14 games of football on his way to the Finals.

TP. Completely agree. Obviously nitpicking, but the C's shouldn't have even gone 7 games against MIL and MIA. They were up late on MIL in Game 5 but choked, but if they had won that maybe they finish it in 6 games? And sorry, but I still think MIA wasn't that good, but we didn't show up at all Games 3 and 6 and that allowed MIA to hang around and force a Game 7. We really should have put them away in just 5 or 6 games.

Contrast that to Golden State who mostly cruised to the Finals out West and that seemed to allow their key guys like Wiggins, Curry, etc. to rest and look fresher most of the Finals.

[td450]

I think it's wrong to just point to Tatum's minutes under Udoka to explain his Finale performance. I thought it was clearly due to first having 2 intense and physical 7 game series beforehand that downed the whole team. The Bucks and the Heat beat the crap out of the C's and we beat the crap out of them.
I think what the Celtics need for Tatum isn't so much load management. It's making sure he doesn't have to play 14 games of football on his way to the Finals.

TP. Completely agree. Obviously nitpicking, but the C's shouldn't have even gone 7 games against MIL and MIA. They were up late on MIL in Game 5 but choked, but if they had won that maybe they finish it in 6 games? And sorry, but I still think MIA wasn't that good, but we didn't show up at all Games 3 and 6 and that allowed MIA to hang around and force a Game 7. We really should have put them away in just 5 or 6 games.

Contrast that to Golden State who mostly cruised to the Finals out West and that seemed to allow their key guys like Wiggins, Curry, etc. to rest and look fresher most of the Finals.

I'm not sure I'd even put it that way.

Tatum is 24. I don't think his fatigue is about playing 4 extra minutes per game. It is the overall mental effect of his role and the grind of the season.

Winning a title usually goes to players that are both great and win the mental stamina game. The season and the playoffs are exhausting mentally, and most players crack under the pressure somewhat.

Tatum may or may not be ready for this this year. He does occasionally look a bit deflated. I think if we are healthy, it will all boil down to whether he can maintain full competitive mode to the end, or if he will crack like last year. I don't think it's about rest. It's about whether he can handle the pressure over the entire playoffs.

I don't think you can protect him from this. He just has to get a bit tougher.

[Moranis]

The C's have a 1 game lead on Milwaukee and a 3 game lead on Philadelphia.  They cannot rest healthy players. 

[Donoghus]

The C's have a 1 game lead on Milwaukee and a 3 game lead on Philadelphia.  They cannot rest healthy players.

They can if their concerns about seeding/home court aren't as alarming as it is to some fans.

Ideally, we all want the 1 seed and the easiest road but team health and freshness come April should be paramount here.

[Phantom255x]

Rest Tatum on Friday against a bad Charlotte team

He’s had to carry the load lately due to others being hurt and other circumstances and I think it’s also affecting his play. Not that I blame him

[gouki88]

Rest Tatum on Friday against a bad Charlotte team

He’s had to carry the load lately due to others being hurt and other circumstances and I think it’s also affecting his play. Not that I blame him

He had 34/11/6 against Detroit. He can rest if we can afford it through other starters being available, but if they aren't we can't really afford to with Milwaukee closing in.

[PAOBoston]

Going to be a lot harder to do that now with JB out indefinitely

[Phantom255x]

Sounds like JT won't play tonight

[Neurotic Guy]

True, but I wouldn't overuse Horford, Rob, or Brogdon either. 

They'll play a lot of bench (obviously) till Brown and Smart are back and then begin to map out their plan to maximize the chances for good health come playoffs. The last 20 games or so should have regular minutes for PP, Sam, Luke, Muscala.   Another thing that will help (IMO) is Derrick White, Smart, and Brogdon taking the ball up rather than the Jays who invariably get pressure and then expend 10-20 seconds of excess energy in ISOs.   Jays need to let others create and the ball needs to move for best opportunities.  MB, DW, MS drives are productive for the C's -- puts teams on their heels, creates opportunities for themselves and others -- creates less predictable offense.    So many benefits to incorporating those 3 early in possessions -- including some energy savings for JT. 

[SHAQATTACK]

Told my wife I’m also prioritizing rest …..took today off …..I know how to push her button

She rolled her eyes ….mumbled something  ….

[Phantom255x]

Sucks that Tatum still had to play 37 minutes tonight, in a game where at one point we held a 28 point lead 

https://mobile.twitter.com/GwashburnGlobe/status/1624240419776172034?cxt=HHwWhMC4qcyDu4otAAAA

Jayson Tatum shouldn't have to play 37 minutes in a game like this. The #Celtics have to hope he doesn't burn out in April and May