What's up with RRondo excesive minutes?

[Bahku]

1) We dont have a back up point guard deserving playoff minutes

2) No one else on the team can run the offense like Rondo can

True, but it wouldn't hurt to give Nate a minute or two to see if he's on or off. On some nights his ball hog mood can help.

Instead of 45 minutes, Rondo can have fresher legs in the end with let's say 40.

I agree ... I think bringing Nate in to play physical on Jameer or J.J. would be great, and cut Rage's minutes down just a bit to give him fresher legs down the stretch. Gives Orlando's defense a bit of a shake-up, let the little guy waste a couple of good hard fouls, and add another three-point threat. (TP)

[jackson_34]

If it ain't broke...

[Drucci]

1) We dont have a back up point guard deserving playoff minutes

2) No one else on the team can run the offense like Rondo can

True, but it wouldn't hurt to give Nate a minute or two to see if he's on or off. On some nights his ball hog mood can help.

Instead of 45 minutes, Rondo can have fresher legs in the end with let's say 40.

I agree ... I think bringing Nate in to play physical on Jameer or J.J. would be great, and cut Rage's minutes down just a bit to give him fresher legs down the stretch. Gives Orlando's defense a bit of a shake-up, let the little guy waste a couple of good hard fouls, and add another three-point threat. (TP)

I agree with you. Rondo is the key to our team and we need him to play the most minutes possible but we need to give home some rest and keep him kind of fresh late in the game (in the 4th quarter). I think our older guys get tired too at the end of the game and tend to relax/run the clock when they have a big lead, but it starts with Rondo who doesn't have enough left in the tank to defend very well on Jameer and Williams, AND run the offense from start to finish.

If we can keep him fresher for the 4th quarter, his drives to the basket and kickouts will give easier shots to our older players and thus help them make them.

In order to rest Rondo more, I think Doc should play TA at the point and give some minutes to Marquis. He defends well on Redick and he can post him up, so it's all good for us, Marquis would contribute well in limited minutes, thus allowing some rest for Rajon.

[P2]

I would do it, but only if we needed a change. Right now, until we are in problems (if at all), I wouldn't do it.

[GreenFaith1819]

1) We dont have a back up point guard deserving playoff minutes

2) No one else on the team can run the offense like Rondo can

True, but it wouldn't hurt to give Nate a minute or two to see if he's on or off. On some nights his ball hog mood can help.

Instead of 45 minutes, Rondo can have fresher legs in the end with let's say 40.

I agree ... I think bringing Nate in to play physical on Jameer or J.J. would be great, and cut Rage's minutes down just a bit to give him fresher legs down the stretch. Gives Orlando's defense a bit of a shake-up, let the little guy waste a couple of good hard fouls, and add another three-point threat. (TP)

I like this frame of thought as well. Let Nate get a few minutes - I don't believe it would hurt us. Rondo is young, but he could tire out.

Nate has shown that he could heat up quick - he reminds me somewhat of a Vinnie Johnson?

I'd like to see him back next year - a full year in Doc's system. I still think Danny did the right thing in bringing mim here.

[wdleehi]

I wouldn't mind seeing Rondo get another minute or two of rest around the changing of the 1st/2nd quarter and 3rd/4th quarter.

Doesn't mean play Nate though.


I rather see Finley or Daniels out there. 

[BballTim]

Nah. Doc had faith in House. He'd play House.

And Eddie House is Scottie Pippen defensively compared to Robinson.

It isn't a deal that will make or break a title - as long as Doc keeps Nate buried where he belongs. But it was a totally unnecessary deal that didn't help a thing.

Nate will get a tasteful going-away gift once the playoffs are over, and he'll turn up somewhere on another loser like the Knicks.

  Rondo's only playing about a minute a game more than he did last year when we had Eddie. The Celts tried to upgrade the pg spot all three years Eddie was on the team. I don't think they had your faith in him.

[nickagneta]

Rondo is a 24 year old athletic freak. Play him 48 minutes for all I care. He needs to help this team win 7 more games this season and if that means he has to log 48 MPG, so be it. He can rest in the off season.

[nickagneta]

Let me also add that the drop off in total team efficiency might be more severe in substituting Rondo's sub for him than it is for any other regular substitute replacing any other starting player in the league. I'm not sure stats will or will not show this, but in watching the Celtics completely fall apart time and again whenever Rondo wasn't on the floor this regular season, my observation mind tells me it has to be pretty [dang] close statistically.

[Brendan]

Let me also add that the drop off in total team efficiency might be more severe in substituting Rondo's sub for him than it is for any other regular substitute replacing any other starting player in the league. I'm not sure stats will or will not show this, but in watching the Celtics completely fall apart time and again whenever Rondo wasn't on the floor this regular season, my observation mind tells me it has to be pretty [dang] close statistically.

Nice point... although I think people are arguing play Rondo less in 1-3 quarters so he's fresh in the 4th, not rest rondo in the 4th when the team struggles.

[ToppersBsktball10]

Why isn't Nate playing anyways? I have no problem with Rondo getting a lot of time, but what did Nate do wrong?

[nickagneta]

Why isn't Nate playing anyways? I have no problem with Rondo getting a lot of time, but what did Nate do wrong?

Apparently word out of the locker room is he is tremendously immature and a bit........how to say this nicely......stupid.

[Roy Hobbs]

Rondo is the key to our team and we need him to play the most minutes possible but we need to give home some rest and keep him kind of fresh late in the game (in the 4th quarter). I think our older guys get tired too at the end of the game and tend to relax/run the clock when they have a big lead, but it starts with Rondo who doesn't have enough left in the tank to defend very well on Jameer and Williams, AND run the offense from start to finish.

If we can keep him fresher for the 4th quarter, his drives to the basket and kickouts will give easier shots to our older players and thus help them make them.

In order to rest Rondo more, I think Doc should play TA at the point and give some minutes to Marquis. He defends well on Redick and he can post him up, so it's all good for us, Marquis would contribute well in limited minutes, thus allowing some rest for Rajon.

I agree with pretty much all of that.  We need Rondo to play a ton of minutes, but there's a difference between a ton meaning 40, and a ton meaning 46.  Rondo needs at least a few breathers to keep him fresh.  Tony can give him that break, and if Tony is needed at the wing, then Marquis should fill in.

[Brendan]

Why isn't Nate playing anyways? I have no problem with Rondo getting a lot of time, but what did Nate do wrong?

Apparently word out of the locker room is he is tremendously immature and a bit........how to say this nicely......stupid.

Ehh... that's the word on Tony Allen at various points. I think its more likely that:

1. The cletics play a complicated D and it takes a while for someone to pick it up: explains Daniels and Finley not getting much burn. Also struggles of other midseason pickups at PG (Marbury, Cassel.)

2. Rondo is a much better player let's say you can play Rondo at 48 minutes and get 90% or 38 minutes and get 95%. If Nate is only 50% of Rondo - you are still better using Rondo, even if he's not at his best.

3. The main value of Robinson was to add scoring to the second unit, you may have noticed there is no longer a second unit. The C's are using their bigs interchangeably up front with minutes going to whoever is effective and a good match up. At the wings the C's are extending Pierce and Allen minutes (when possible) and running a lot of Tony Allen.

Generally I think people are too quick to judge a guy that gets squeezed out of the rotation. It's very likely that Nate's main role and value, just don't apply in the post season. I'm glad we have him - he provides what Eddie did (scoring off the bench) and what we didn't like in Eddie, the ability to dribble up against pressure. He's an insurance policy against a Rondo injury or suspension.

[Brendan]

I agree with pretty much all of that.  We need Rondo to play a ton of minutes, but there's a difference between a ton meaning 40, and a ton meaning 46.  Rondo needs at least a few breathers to keep him fresh.  Tony can give him that break, and if Tony is needed at the wing, then Marquis should fill in.

I basically agree with this, but - in Game 1 - Doc didn't rest Pierce, Ray, or Rondo. Tony Allen saw only 17 minutes (maybe Doc knows when bad Tony is there and cuts his minutes instinctively?) So Tony could have played more and Rondo rested more.

I will explain what Doc was doing (IMO) - not saying I agree:

He felt the team had a win in hand, and that because his guys were rested (two days off since game 6) he could play them a lot. So he did. Worst case scenario would be they are a bit fatigued in game 2 and he plays the bench more. Basically a bird in the hand approach.

The risk taker might have said "big lead", I can rest my starters now, win game 1, and be in a position to run them out for long minutes in game 2. (Alternate theory - its not a minutes thing, its a games and days off thing: either way the old guys will be a bit tired for game 2 with only one day off, might as well extend them when you can.)

FWIW - I do expect we'll see more Tony and some Finley or Daniels in game 2. Partly for a rest and partly to change up the look a bit.