Game 7 - Where Starters Play Minutes...

[Andy Jick]

I have to laugh at the threads I read here...  Some crazy stuff...

Let's be real here: Game 7 is where you leave it ALL on the floor.  Let's not worry about whether Shelden will play or whether Scal should dress...

This will game a game of attrition, where you can expect a 40+ minute night from our starters.  I do NOT want to see KG on the bench for a large stretch of this game. 

I must be honest, I told my son last night I sensed early that Doc was already playing for game 7.  Ray Allen played the most minutes of any player, 36.  They will be well rested and ready to go.  Run these guys until the wheels fall off - there is no other game left.  There is no need to sit these guys, and if they can't play 40+ minutes then we deserve to lose this game...

[Who]

Agreed -- Ideally, I want to see Pierce, Ray, Rondo and Garnett out there for around 40 minutes.

Give Sheed and Baby about 26-31 minutes apiece too. Avoid playing Williams or Scalabrine.

[Mr October]

TP. You are absolutely right. 38+ for each starter. 30+ for Sheed. ...Baring foul trouble of course.

[papa shuttlesworth]

I agree with everyone above, but just would like to point out the minutes from Game 6 in 2008:

Pierce 39
KG 36
Perk 13
Ray 32
Rondo 32

So it is possible to close out the Finals in spectacular fashion against the Lakers and have NO starters play 40 minutes.

[adam8]

I agree with everyone above, but just would like to point out the minutes from Game 6 in 2008:

Pierce 39
KG 36
Perk 13
Ray 32
Rondo 32

So it is possible to close out the Finals in spectacular fashion against the Lakers and have NO starters play 40 minutes.

That always shows its possible to close out these Lakers without Perkins as he played only 13 minutes. Still believe because all these players know banner 18 and their goal is only 48 minutes of basketball away.

[drunk_guy_at_an_80s_party]

I agree with everyone above, but just would like to point out the minutes from Game 6 in 2008:

Pierce 39
KG 36
Perk 13
Ray 32
Rondo 32

So it is possible to close out the Finals in spectacular fashion against the Lakers and have NO starters play 40 minutes.

That always shows its possible to close out these Lakers without Perkins as he played only 13 minutes. Still believe because all these players know banner 18 and their goal is only 48 minutes of basketball away.

Puh, hard to admit it, but the Lakers of 2010 are not the Lakers of 2008. 2008 they shouldn't even have come out of the West. The were pretty worthless and already gave up in Game 6. With all the hatred and disgard as the next guy here feels for them, that won't happen again. Be sure of that. This is it. Time to nut up or shut up.

[FallGuy]

I think you guys are understating it.

I think Rondo will play almost the entire game. 44+ minutes, Ray and Paul are coming in at 42+ and KG at a solid 40.

Doubt they'll give Doc much choice in the matter.

[looseball]

We'll win tomorrow with 9 guys contributing, not with starters playing the whole game.  Haven't you guys been watching the games we've won in this series?

[Kuberski33]

Very tight rotation with BBD (assuming Sheed starts) the only bench guy getting serious minutes.  TA gets a few minutes on Kobe and other than that anyone else only plays if there's foul trouble.

In a game like this you win or lose with your horses because frankly the odds of them playing well are better than with the bench guys.

All that said I think BBD is a huge key to the game.  He needs to come up big again - especially without Perk in there.

[action781]

I agree Kuberski, but I'd say TA gets at least 12 minutes (if ray and PP both play 42).  Thats somewhat serious minutes. 2-4 minutes in the first, 2-6 minutes in the second, 2-3 minutes in the third, and 2-4 minutes in the 4th.  You gotta consider the more minutes they play, the more risk they are to foul trouble also.

I think Nate needs to get in for a 1.5 to 5 minute stretch in the 2nd quarter.  The amount of time depends on how well he plays - have a short leash but ride him if he's doing well.  He also needs to play for the first 2 minutes of the 4th quarter so we have a FRESH rondo finishing up the game strong.  We've seen Rondo worn tired in games and he can just become ineffective when he's not active on defense and attacking the rim with full force.

I'd say foul trouble is a very realistic possibility considering the increase of all our starters' minutes.  I think for that reason, it's very important to consider who will be our 9th man after BBD, TA, Nate.  I hope its scal.

BBD needs to be tenacious tomorrow!

[Q_FBE]

I see basically a Seven Man Rotation tomorrow.

Rondo, Ray, Paul, KG, Sheed, BBD, and TA.... We might get a brief stint from Nate.

Of course, these Playoffs have had so many crazy turns that it would not be out of the realm of possibility that Scalabrine comes in after KG, BBD, and Sheed foul out and knock in 4 three pointers in the clutch (A Glen McDonald inspirational idear I had).

[PosImpos]

Guys, it's all good and well to say "leave it all on the floor," but if our guys are totally exhausted by the end of the game, to the point where they can't play aggressively or make shots, that's a decidedly bad thing, right?

Utilizing the bench to the right extent has worked well for us so far, most of the time.  I doubt that will change all that much, although I'm sure BBD will play 25+ and KG will play a lot closer to 40 minutes.

[slamtheking]

While I agree that you ride your best horses in the final game of the big show, there needs to be a reasonable approach thrown into the mix.  this is NOT going to be a C's blowout.  the starters are going to need to have some gas left in the tank to close out the game effectively.  BBD will see serious minutes regardless of foul trouble.  TA probably about 20 to rest PP and Ray alternately in each half and Nate probably about 10 to keep Rondo fresh in each half.

Of course I'm just hoping the C's even have that option to consider and that the refs haven't called the game so tightly (or biased) that starters spend a lot of the game forced to watch from the bench or become ineffective on defense because of foul trouble.  That's my biggest concern with Sheed. 

[guava_wrench]

Finally, a game where it isn't stupid to say "this is the most important game of the season".

I'm so sick of sports cliche talk.

[Andy Jick]

Finally, a game where it isn't stupid to say "this is the most important game of the season".

I'm so sick of sports cliche talk.

Yeah...  Or when they ask the 10th man on the bench who hit a game-tying shot in early December if this was "the biggest shot in your career?"...