Garnett's game 3 minutes

[Fafnir]

I think Garnett can handle playing more minutes. I see no problems with his stamina.

Thats what I'm seeing too. Let KG play about 36 minutes per night at this point.

From what I read he couldn't play more. He was taken out when he was winded.

Doc also called at least one time out to give him a blow and then kept him in.

I think Doc played Garnett as much as he could effectively, KG was expending a ton of energy. Sadly our poor overall shooting cost us a game KG should have won for us.

[Greenbean]

I just don't think KG is capable of playing much more than that at a high level.  KG expends a ton of energy, and he has old legs.  He needs his rest.

Wow. If he cannot play more than 32 minutes in the NBA finals, what does it say about next year and the year after that? I get that he needs a rest, but he should be playing 38-40 minutes. This is for the championship. Look at the minutes Ray and Paul are playing. Look at the minutes Kobe is playing. The key guys have to step it up and suck it up.

I think you're both right. I think he's pretty limited in what he can do this year in extended minutes AND it bodes badly for the future. Although... perhaps his knee will be stronger six months down the road.

Either way - I suspect this is the end of our title window. Unfortunately.

Didn't we know that all along, though?  Even the most optimistic thought back in '07 that our window was roughly 3 years long.  The fact that we've managed to be in the Finals twice during that span even though KG suffered a serious injury halfway through is nothing short of remarkable.

Well, I think if we come back and win this series, you bring Ray back and defend the title. And the window remains open.

But if we lose, I think that's it. You rebuild it (which doesn't mean burn it to the ground, mind you).

So if we get to a game 7 and we are down one with 10 seconds left, if we make it we sign Ray and contend next year. If we miss we rebuild? I dont like this logic at all.

This run alone shows we can compete another year. Rondo has a whole summer to get even better. Bring the old guys back and spend the MLE on another piece.

[Chris]

I just don't think KG is capable of playing much more than that at a high level.  KG expends a ton of energy, and he has old legs.  He needs his rest.

Wow. If he cannot play more than 32 minutes in the NBA finals, what does it say about next year and the year after that? I get that he needs a rest, but he should be playing 38-40 minutes. This is for the championship. Look at the minutes Ray and Paul are playing. Look at the minutes Kobe is playing. The key guys have to step it up and suck it up.

I think you're both right. I think he's pretty limited in what he can do this year in extended minutes AND it bodes badly for the future. Although... perhaps his knee will be stronger six months down the road.

Either way - I suspect this is the end of our title window. Unfortunately.

Didn't we know that all along, though?  Even the most optimistic thought back in '07 that our window was roughly 3 years long.  The fact that we've managed to be in the Finals twice during that span even though KG suffered a serious injury halfway through is nothing short of remarkable.

Well, I think if we come back and win this series, you bring Ray back and defend the title. And the window remains open.

But if we lose, I think that's it. You rebuild it (which doesn't mean burn it to the ground, mind you).

So if we get to a game 7 and we are down one with 10 seconds left, if we make it we sign Ray and contend next year. If we miss we rebuild? I dont like this logic at all.

This run alone shows we can compete another year. Rondo has a whole summer to get even better. Bring the old guys back and spend the MLE on another piece.

I agree that it doesn't make any sense, and Danny will not react in such an emotional way.  Danny's decisions this summer will be made purely on value of players, and how they can help this team next year and the future.  He is not going to change his mind of what he has on this team based on the next few games.

[FallGuy]

I just don't think KG is capable of playing much more than that at a high level.  KG expends a ton of energy, and he has old legs.  He needs his rest.

Wow. If he cannot play more than 32 minutes in the NBA finals, what does it say about next year and the year after that? I get that he needs a rest, but he should be playing 38-40 minutes. This is for the championship. Look at the minutes Ray and Paul are playing. Look at the minutes Kobe is playing. The key guys have to step it up and suck it up.

I think you're both right. I think he's pretty limited in what he can do this year in extended minutes AND it bodes badly for the future. Although... perhaps his knee will be stronger six months down the road.

Either way - I suspect this is the end of our title window. Unfortunately.

Didn't we know that all along, though?  Even the most optimistic thought back in '07 that our window was roughly 3 years long.  The fact that we've managed to be in the Finals twice during that span even though KG suffered a serious injury halfway through is nothing short of remarkable.

Well, I think if we come back and win this series, you bring Ray back and defend the title. And the window remains open.

But if we lose, I think that's it. You rebuild it (which doesn't mean burn it to the ground, mind you).

So if we get to a game 7 and we are down one with 10 seconds left, if we make it we sign Ray and contend next year. If we miss we rebuild? I dont like this logic at all.

This run alone shows we can compete another year. Rondo has a whole summer to get even better. Bring the old guys back and spend the MLE on another piece.

I agree that it doesn't make any sense, and Danny will not react in such an emotional way.  Danny's decisions this summer will be made purely on value of players, and how they can help this team next year and the future.  He is not going to change his mind of what he has on this team based on the next few games.

Well, he said his plan for the future was dependent on what he saw in the finals. That could mean just the extent to which he tweaks the roster or whether he blows it up entirely. Either interpretation is valid. But that's what he said.

Keep in mind, he's already shopped Ray TWICE in the last ten months. I wouldn't be so sure this core will be kept together shy of a second title.