Line-up Change!

[Rtpas11]

I made a thread on Pierce coming off the bench, but I realize he's not a quick shooter like Ray to compliment Nate's penetration and dish, so heres another idea.

Start:
Rondo
Marquis
Pierce
Garnett
Perkins

2nd Unit:
Nate
Ray
Tony
Davis
Sheed

This by far the best line-up the C's could use, to maximize their potential.

[nesnfsn]

I have never understood why we have to have a "second unit"! Can't an accomplished, professional level head coach establish a substitution pattern?

By that, I mean, at various moments throughout the game, you bring in 1 or 2 players to give your starters a rest, staggering which starters get rest at various intervals. So, basically, at all times, you have 2-3 starters (minimum) on the floor. And throughout the game, starters are getting rest, other than at the beginning and ending of halves.

Glenn Davis thrived last year as a starter, and if he were paired with Perk, Rondo and Ray (or Paul), I suspect he would be much more effective. Same with Rasheed if he were on the floor with KG, Rondo, Ray (or Paul). Imagine Nate subbing for Rondo with the starters. He would/could not be a ballhog with KG in his face. Or Marquis out there with KG, Ray, Perk and Rondo (or Nate).

Danny has got to lay down the law with Doc and make him substitute players in for the starters at various points throughout the game, without killing the starters' flow of the game. IMHO, only when Doc learns how and when to substitute (and not wholly destroy the flow by removing all or nearly all starters), will this team prevent the monumental collapses they have been suffering through this season.

The starters are getting older (prof. sports wise) and need rest during the game, and should get it. They just don't all need to be sent to the retirement home en banc for a quarter at a time. Their rest should be staggered.

Finally, consider this, imagine KG or Pierce sharing their insight into plays while on the bench with Glen Davis (KG) or Nate (Pierce). They could truly impart gametime mindset and realtime analysis of how to attack the opposing team or defend better.

Just my thoughts on the collosal failure that has been Doc's "second unit" substitution practices.

[looseball]

The starting five was set in stone before the first game was played.  They are the best players, so they should play the most minutes.  The role of the bench is to give the starters a rest.
If the starters didn't tire, they wouldn't need a rest, and you wouldn't have to play the bench at all, just play your best players all the time.

[wdleehi]

I want the starting five to stay the way it is.


I just want to see Pierce back soon and for them to play together for the rest of the season to get the chemistry back to where it should. 

[Jon]

There's no way that Doc is going to bench any of our future Hall of Famers.  So it's not even worth really getting into the debate of it.  Furthermore, I'd argue, it really doesn't matter who starts, it matters how the rotations go afterward.

I'd also agree with nesnfsn, that this notion of "a second unit" really needs to stop.  Sure, we might see it today, against a horrid Nets team.  However, in the playoffs, we're only going to go 8-9 deep. 

What Doc really needs to do is get his substitution patterns down better.  He needs to have Daniels and Wallace in the game by just past the halfway point of the first quarter every game.  That way, whoever they come in for, can come back into the game towards the end of the first quarter.  Too often Doc waits until the end of the first to even stat subs.  By that time two bad things have already happened:

1) It means that 9th and 10th guys like TA and BBD get in when they really don't have to.

2) It means that one of the starters (already exhausted) has to stay in into the second quarter to help keep the second unit afloat. 

If he just started the sub patter earlier, he could keep better quality players on the floor for longer and keep everyone more rested. 

Hopefully this happens soon. 

[footey]

Changing the starting lineup is like re-arranging the chairs on the deck of the Titanic.

[Rtpas11]

You guys both make valid points! I just don't see it happening that way though, based on how Doc coahes. I don't see it my way either, not atleast until next season. Danny recently said the starters are the reason for the team losing leads. I'm not sure how that's going change "like Doc Rivers" if the starters remain the same. Maybe start the starters, but @fter the break mix it up.

Example...
Starters:
RR
RA
PP
KG
KP

@ the Break Starters:
NR
RA
PP
KG
RW

[Bankshot]

I want the starting five to stay the way it is.


I just want to see Pierce back soon and for them to play together for the rest of the season to get the chemistry back to where it should.