So, if you're the coach and you are looking at a team that:
1. Shows almost zero effort a good portion of every night
2. That is unwilling to box anyone out
3. starts off the 1st and 3rd periods horribly.
4. Has it's main "go to guy" on offense (Pierce) looking like he is struggling massively.
5. That lacks energy and fire in general.
Let's play coach/GM, I'd be interested to see the choices people would make. Here's my short list.
1. I think KG and Ray are actually ok. Ray looks great actually and KG seems to coming along, works hard every night. Pierce, on the other hand, looks awful, something is not right.
So, #1, I sit Pierce again for a minimum of 2 wks to get right. I need him healthy for the playoffs.
Meantime, while Pierce is out...
2. I start Perkins / KG / Finley / Ray and Rondo. Let Finley come up to speed.
3. I play Perkins 35+ minutes a night but tell him I'm only giving him those minutes if he focuses 100% on D and rebounding and let's the offense come garbage style, like he should. We need more D and rebounding from perkins, not less.
4. Here are the "big combos" I work with, my rotations.
I NEVER, EVER, EVER put Sheed and Baby on the floor together at the same time. EVER. That combo is not good on the boards or defensively, at all. My big man combos are:
Perkins with KG, Shelden or Baby
KG with Perkins, Shelden or Baby
Rasheed with Shelden only. He and Perk are too slow, he and KG too old and he and Baby to lazy and bad on the boards. Rasheed's compliment is Shelden.
The Lion's share of minutes for the bigs are going to Perkins, KG and Sheldon. I want some real attitude, length and muscle on the boards.
For both Sheed and Baby, their minutes will depend on how physical they are willing to get under the boards. That will be the only criteria.
I want Rasheed at about 12-15 a night behind Perk only if he's willing to brawl under the boards. I want either Baby or Shelden behind KG
5. I'd basically go muscle up front and scoring on the wings.
While Pierce is out:
Perkins / KG / Finley / Ray / Rondo
Rasheed / Shelden / Quisy / Tony / Nate
Tough, fast compliment for Rasheed at Center
When Pierce gets back:
Perkins / KG / Pierce / Ray / Rondo
Rasheed / Shelden / Finley / Quisy or TA / Nate
I'd also, try rotations of:
Perkins / Shelden or Baby / Pierce / Finley / Nate
Perkins / KG / Pierce / Ray / Nate
Perkins / Baby / Pierce / Tallen / Rondo
I'd just try to put combos out there that are much longer, tougher and meaner on the boards and use my firepower with Pierce(when healthy), Finely, Ray and Nate for offense in the backcourt.
Rebounding is the number one concern to me though. I'd dole out minutes to all my bigs based solely on their efforts on the glass. I'd tell them straight up thats' the deal and there's the door if they don't like it.
I Want some real angry, physical guys on the glass at both ends of the court, that will solve many of our problems by itself.
Thoughts?