Is it time to sit KG, start someone else?

[moiso]

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.

yep.  KG is the glue guy of our starting unit.  Ray could score the same amount of points in fewer minutes off the bench.

[ScoobyDoo]

So I think it's safe to say that this isn't a very popular idea...  

I mean look, I completely agree that there is nothing better than a Healthy KG and I also agree that when he is, we're money and we get a ring. I thought the same last year, a ring if we had KG.

But he doesn't appear to be healthy. I wouldn't even bring up the possiblity if he weren't, again, taking an extended leave because of the knee issue...it's not the best sign to have a hauntingly familiar scenario as last year going on with his knee, this year.

Maybe this is the new reality based on KG's health?...  

and if it is...

Was just wondering if it might help other players who are more healthy at this point in their careers, contribute more, play a bigger role more consistently and take a load off KG...

Just a diffeetn way to maximize what you have.

Maybe KG pushes it more than he should at this point to meet the expectations he's created and the fans expect.

Down the stratch of games you'd still be with that starting five unit.

Or what is you started:

Perkins
Rasheed
Pierce
TA
Rondo

Brought Ray with KG, Baby, Marquis and House. That's a sick bench.

Let Rasheed and TA try to produce more. Rasheed's a good passer out of the post and he appears healthier than KG at this point.  

[Redz]

I really liked the way the Celts were starting to play last year when KG came back for that brief stretch where he was playing 15 minutes or so a night.  He was getting those minutes at the start of each half though.  It would be tough to stay disciplined keeping KG's minutes down to 20 or under, and I don't know how he would do once his minutes were ramped up for the playoffs (assuming that's the plan, since we're going nowhere without a full time KG in the post season).

[ScoobyDoo]

Yeah Redz, I guess that's kind of where I was going. Some other guys doing the heavy lifting. They feel more pressure, more responsbility and the team becomes better "as a whole" because of it...KG is still the inspirational heart of the team ( that's something you can't change) just in a different role.

If in fact this is the new health standard with KG, I guess my condensed question was "is there a way we can be proactive and createive in finding a way to make lemonade with that lemon reality and in the process, become a stronger overall unit because of it and squeak out another ring or two because of it..."

If we pursue the same course with the same results it might not be the best option for us.

I want Kg for 48 every night but that, or even 30-35 a night may not be an available reality for us any longer.

if that's truly the case, we are better served in "getting on with it" rather than waiting for something that's not going to come.

All this being said, I'm an optimist and I think KG will come back strong and we'll make our run, int act, with everyone healthy when it matters most.

This is more of a "what if, then..." hypothetical post.

 

[mmbaby]

I'm afraid I have to agree with OP, Scoobydoo. Maybe we should start facing reality. I think if BBD is given the starter position and minutes, he will excel. Like tonight's game. Baby can be and has been consistent if given the time. I don't see consistency in this team tonight. It looked really sloppy tonight.

[mmbaby]

All these guys trying to prove themselves..Sheed, Tony Allen..it takes away from the team mentality we had before. BBD is a team player and plays really well with our regular starter team. He isn't wasting his momentum trying to prove himself. I say if he can't play big mintues here, he needs to go to a team who will play him and let him grow, without someone like Doc trying to seemingly play one player off another and causing this lack of team mentality. KG was our team mentality, but he is hurt, very hurt. I hope he'll come back in full form, but who knows now? Perkins didn't get to be really good till this year, his 7th. I mean 'really' good. Let's play our youngers when the elders are not playing well. Let's play our younger, GOOD players when there is obviously exhaustion with the starters now. Oh, I don't know. It was so depressing tonight. Sloppy and my player, BBD, was not being sent the ball. It was all these other players trying to prove themselves, even the starters, unlike before, and they kept missing the throws. I am so bummed.

[ScoobyDoo]

Well, last year when KG went down, Big Baby started and we at least played some pretty good ball a a unit, made it to the playoffs and one game form the ECF with him, so if I'm coach I probably just do the same thing. Why start Scal or Rasheed when what you did last eyar seemed to at least work better than what's going on now.

I think baby and Perk would need a few games to get their rythym together but they certainly would put forth more physical effort than Sheed.

Try it. Long term, if KG isn't going to be 100%, either take the load off him by using Baby, or just start rebuilding now.

So I agree with MMbaby.

Also, I still think if we do get healthy, we win the title this year, hands down. No one can touch this team, 100% healthy and with KG leading the charge. We have to have KG though.

It wouldn't hurt for Ainge to also make a trade using TA, Scal and one of Giddens or Walker to bring in a another "good" back up wing for us. 

[pearljammer10]

Yeah lets bench the guy who controls this teams main focus...Defense... Lets bench the guy who leads this team emotionally with PP and takes charge of us on the defensive end. Lets bench the guy that has gotten us a 22 - 7 record while playing and a 5 - 5 record when not... This idea is brilliant.

[ScoobyDoo]

Yes, it may in fact be a brilliant idea pearljammer if in fact KG may never be the same again. That was the preface, the "pre-condition" of suggesting a lineup change that I stated in my post.

If KG is 100% healthy, obviously you don't bench him. I think the average IQ's of most posters on this board enable them to comprehend that without having to spell it out.

My point was, if the new reality IS "that KG will never be 100% healthy again and since we most likely wont be able to trade him beacuse of the recurring injury problem, should we adjust his workload? Let Big Baby do the heavy lifting. Let KG take care of his body, still be the emotional spirit of the team and an impact player for us but with a set schedule of less work to try and preserve him for the playoffs...

Sounds pretty smart to me actually.

Maybe Big baby grows and we develop another young palyer who's contributing more.

Maybe KG doesn't play as much and therefore stays healthier overall.

Maybe by being able to put the same starting unit on the florr more consistently they find a better rhythym together.

If KG is in fact 100% healhty, all this goes out the window.

Again, my post was a "what if, then..." hypothetical.

You know, KG goes down last year, that's one thing. He goes down again with the same knee...

What's the saying? Definition of insanity is to keep doing the same things over and over again and expcting the same results.   

[Tai]

The thing is, it's already been said that KG would be playing if this were the playoffs. Infact, it was said KG was being sat now to prevent what happened last year. As far as I see, that should be more than enough to say that KG will be fine.

[ScoobyDoo]

True Tai and i hope to see exactly that. As with most things, time will tell. I hope you are right. Nothing I would like better obviously. And if so, yes, every word I said is moot, 100% irrelevant.

But...if the new reality is a waxing and waning Knee for KG..and we cant' trade him because of it, should we adjust? That's all I'm asking

[Roy Hobbs]

At the beginning of the season, Doc talked about how it's possible to play a starter too few minutes.  He seemed to believe that somewhere around 30 - 35 minutes was optimum, to keep a player both healthy and sharp.

I don't think that bringing KG off the bench would minimize his injury risk all that much.  Let's say he's playing 20 minutes per game.  In all likelihood, he'd be pushing himself to the absolute max -- and maybe over-exerting himself -- to prove a point in those 20 minutes.  If you extend that out to 30 minutes, maybe he plays more in control.

I don't know.  I'm not a fan of the plan (and especially am not a fan of sitting both KG and Ray).  Still, I commend you for creative thinking.

[ssspence]

i think you're head is in the right place. he's not going to come off the bench, but the Cs should absolutely cap his minutes at between 25-30 a game and create a routine. this will benefit him, and it will benefit baby and sheed.

[housecall]

I kinda get where you coming from,its almost like the Lakers bringing Lamar Odom off the bench.KG would give them a major boost off the bench.In order to make this work they need to find someone who would fit well with the starters.They probably could make this work if they got a player like A.Jamison from the Wiz.    

[mmbaby]

Thank you, Scooby, I do agree with you too. You are right that we have to do SOMETHING! The team dynamics are not right, always shifting, unsteady, lacking confidence, motivation, either tired or not playing enough to get their legs on, lacking team feeling of confidence, lacking solid plays and plans, bobbing about in the wind, trying to catch a moonbeam, cruising the edge of the abyss, hoping for a magic elf to change the numbers on the scoreboard. If KG were back, it would all be good. But you were examining a different and possible scenario. That is also what a wise coach would do and I hope that Doc is as wise as I've always thought.