Is it time to sit KG, start someone else?

[ScoobyDoo]

I know this may sound completely crazy and a total impossiblity based on who KG is, who Doc is, what KG is to the league, he could never except not starting, etc...all the reasons  ti wouldn't be possible....but...

Given the fact that KG is apparently starting to break down and is having intermittent and relatively long stretches being on the sidelines...would it be a wise move to move to a diffeernt and permanent new starting lineup?

Heres' why I ask?

1. KG being in and out of the lineup as much as he he is, definately affects out ability to "gell" and become a cohesive unit via repetitive game minutes together.

2. It would take tremendous pressure off KG and his knee issue and trying to meet the enormous expectations night in and night out that he's created by the brilliance, apssion and fire of his career. There is a fiar chance KG pushes it more than he should if if healthy to try and continue to meet these self created and massive expectations he has of himself and the fanes also have.

3. You start someone else who is more likely to be healthy consistently, they grow because of it, KG gets healthier because of it, our second unit becomes very scary because of it and overall we might be even better.

I've actually thought of two scenarios which if I were coach, I would serously consider.

1. I start Rasheed and bring Baby ad KG off as part of my second unit.
A) Gets Rasheed in better shape. Maybe we get more bang out of him.
B) Baby and KG coming it together off the bench = nightmare for the other team.

2. Start Big Baby. He also gets in better shape, brings his production up, you bring Rasheed and KG off the bench.

I'd prefer Big Baby. Let him and Perk work together, see what they can produce as a starting unit and get a glimpse of the futre without KG.

This let's Big Baby do alot of the heavy lifting for KG. Let's him realx a little, work on health and terrorising second units. Though the fact is, KG would be in the mix with the starters just as much.

It's just maybe a clever way to take a load off KG during the regular season, extend his career a bit, accelerate Baby's growth and keep KG fresh for the playoffs, when we need him most. It might increase Baby's trade value if we're interested in that option as well.

On nights when Baby is really tearing it up, KG can play limited minutes.

I know it sounds crazy and it's a long shot, but it could be a good long term affect on the team for a number of reasons.   

[Tai]

Thing is, even before KG went down, KG played the fewest minutes of the Big 3, maybe the entire starting lineup behind Perkins when he was healthy.

I think there's reason to stand that there's no point in having him be off the bench just for the sake of less minutes.

[wdleehi]

Because the team is doing so well without him in the starting lineup right now. 

[Vermont Green]

Wow, I just can't follow this one.  We need KG healthy enough to start and play a full game (32 min or whatever).  If he isn't, we are in trouble.  Starting the athlete formally known as Baby or Sheed is certainly not going to be the answer.  You could start KG and just play him less, what's the difference?

[jdub1660]

I know this may sound completely crazy and a total impossiblity based on who KG is, who Doc is, what KG is to the league, he could never except not starting, etc...all the reasons  ti wouldn't be possible....but...

Given the fact that KG is apparently starting to break down and is having intermittent and relatively long stretches being on the sidelines...would it be a wise move to move to a diffeernt and permanent new starting lineup?

Heres' why I ask?

1. KG being in and out of the lineup as much as he he is, definately affects out ability to "gell" and become a cohesive unit via repetitive game minutes together.

2. It would take tremendous pressure off KG and his knee issue and trying to meet the enormous expectations night in and night out that he's created by the brilliance, apssion and fire of his career. There is a fiar chance KG pushes it more than he should if if healthy to try and continue to meet these self created and massive expectations he has of himself and the fanes also have.

3. You start someone else who is more likely to be healthy consistently, they grow because of it, KG gets healthier because of it, our second unit becomes very scary because of it and overall we might be even better.

I've actually thought of two scenarios which if I were coach, I would serously consider.

1. I start Rasheed and bring Baby ad KG off as part of my second unit.
A) Gets Rasheed in better shape. Maybe we get more bang out of him.
B) Baby and KG coming it together off the bench = nightmare for the other team.

2. Start Big Baby. He also gets in better shape, brings his production up, you bring Rasheed and KG off the bench.

I'd prefer Big Baby. Let him and Perk work together, see what they can produce as a starting unit and get a glimpse of the futre without KG.

This let's Big Baby do alot of the heavy lifting for KG. Let's him realx a little, work on health and terrorising second units. Though the fact is, KG would be in the mix with the starters just as much.

It's just maybe a clever way to take a load off KG during the regular season, extend his career a bit, accelerate Baby's growth and keep KG fresh for the playoffs, when we need him most. It might increase Baby's trade value if we're interested in that option as well.

On nights when Baby is really tearing it up, KG can play limited minutes.

I know it sounds crazy and it's a long shot, but it could be a good long term affect on the team for a number of reasons.   

When the ball goes to BBD or Perk with the shot clock less then 10 seconds, it results in either a contested fadeaway(turnover) very slow post move spin(turnover) or a dunk attempt and get stuffed from the weakside(turnover)      KG either finds an open Ray or Rondo cutting or turns it into a sweet effective post move or jumper buzzer beater winning shot.

[moiso]

KG should start.  His game fits in better with the starters.  Maybe limit his minutes even more if necessary.  Ray is the one I could see coming off the bench and firing.

[More Banners]

Wow...didn't see this one coming.

Doesn't make sense.  KG needs to start to set the tone at the beginning of games.  As already posted, his minutes were reasonable, anyway.

I like the idea of Ray Allen off the bench a lot more.

[wdleehi]

Unless this team adds another all-star (and even that is a long shot), the 5 starters are the 5 starters when healthy. 

It is the best starting 5 in the NBA when all are healthy.

[Fafnir]

By every measure KG is still a top player in the game when he plays.

http://basketballvalue.com/topplayers.php?year=2009-2010

No reason to sit him, especially when his game meshes so well with the other starters.

[Fafnir]

I like the idea of Ray Allen off the bench a lot more.

Over the past 2+ years Ray Allen plus bench players has been the most effective of the Big 3 in that role.

He still should be starting.

[Who]

I'd like to see Kevin Garnett's minutes increase after he returns.

I thought the lower minutes made it more difficult for Garnett early on in the season. He was constantly coming into the game cold and not in the rhythm of the contest. Made him look worse than he actually was. I think Garnett will do better with more minutes. Allow him to dictate the rhythm of the game instead of catching up to it.

1. KG being in and out of the lineup as much as he he is, definately affects out ability to "gell" and become a cohesive unit via repetitive game minutes together.

The starting five has been together for two and a half years and won a Championship together. They know how to play alongside one another.

The only concern is building the bench's fluidity which is why it's important that Rasheed Wallace, Marquis Daniels and to a lesser degree Glen Davis and Eddie House stick to their respective roles. That's why Doc should start Scalabrine at PF while Garnett is out and Tony Allen along any of the perimeter positions (PG/SG/SF).

2. Start Big Baby. He also gets in better shape, brings his production up, you bring Rasheed and KG off the bench.

I'd prefer Big Baby. Let him and Perk work together, see what they can produce as a starting unit and get a glimpse of the futre without KG.

I saw enough of Glen Davis starting last year. Particularly alongside Perkins. I thought BBD's defense + rebounding dropped significantly and consequently so did the team's overall defense + rebounding.

I think Glen Davis lacks the mobility + quickness required to reproduce his good defense off the bench (mainly at center) while starting at power forward and going up against more talented players. The main difference is the increased use of pick and rolls where his man is the screener + the increased level of athleticism at starting PF versus backup big men slots. His weaknesses defensively are exposed as a starting PF.

I much prefer Scalabrine as the starting power forward because of his superior mobility. His ability to cover forwards like Josh Smith, to make superior defensive rotations, and to defend the screen and roll better. That superior defense allows the Celtics to be far more effective defensively as a unit than with Davis.

[Jon]

That doesn't make any sense at all.  As others have already pointed out, why not start him when you can just start him and play him less?  25 mpg as a starter or bench player is the same thing. 

[moiso]

Kinda disagree with you, Who.  I agree he plays better with more minutes but I'd rather play it safe for the time being, then increase his minutes and get him in a groove when the playoffs are approaching.

[More Banners]

I like the idea of Ray Allen off the bench a lot more.

Over the past 2+ years Ray Allen plus bench players has been the most effective of the Big 3 in that role.

He still should be starting.

Yes, Ray should start, but a much stronger case can be made to bring him off the bench than KG, i.e. someone else can be starting wing defender, and Ray can run the 2nd unit and be scorer off the bench.  At least it makes sense, as opposed to KG off the bench, which I just don't get.

[fairweatherfan]

It is time to sit KG and start someone else.  Until he's recovered from the injury.  Then, well, you'd have to be crazy to bench him.