The Celts won't win the title if Doc rides Rondo right into the ground

[MBunge]

Last night, Rondo played 45 minutes.  I didn't see the game living here in Iowa, so maybe Nate was so gosh awful in his 4 minutes on the court that Doc had no choice.  But against Cleveland, in a game that was a blowout from the 2nd quarter on, Rondo still played 38 minutes.  Only 4 players in the league are averaging more minutes a game than Rondo.

I know Delonte is hurt, Avery is a rookie and Nate is Nate, but Doc can't indulge his habit of riding a guy he feels comfortable with until he drops if he wants Rondo to drive this team to a championship.  I think the main reason we've seen such struggles from Ray in the playoffs the last couple of seasons is that he's Doc security blanket and is always on the floor.

Mike

[KCattheStripe]

Last night, Rondo played 45 minutes.  I didn't see the game living here in Iowa, so maybe Nate was so gosh awful in his 4 minutes on the court that Doc had no choice.  But against Cleveland, in a game that was a blowout from the 2nd quarter on, Rondo still played 38 minutes.  Only 4 players in the league are averaging more minutes a game than Rondo.

I know Delonte is hurt, Avery is a rookie and Nate is Nate, but Doc can't indulge his habit of riding a guy he feels comfortable with until he drops if he wants Rondo to drive this team to a championship.  I think the main reason we've seen such struggles from Ray in the playoffs the last couple of seasons is that he's Doc security blanket and is always on the floor.

Mike

Nate twisted his ankle.

[wdleehi]

Last night, Rondo played 45 minutes.  I didn't see the game living here in Iowa, so maybe Nate was so gosh awful in his 4 minutes on the court that Doc had no choice.  But against Cleveland, in a game that was a blowout from the 2nd quarter on, Rondo still played 38 minutes.  Only 4 players in the league are averaging more minutes a game than Rondo.

I know Delonte is hurt, Avery is a rookie and Nate is Nate, but Doc can't indulge his habit of riding a guy he feels comfortable with until he drops if he wants Rondo to drive this team to a championship.  I think the main reason we've seen such struggles from Ray in the playoffs the last couple of seasons is that he's Doc security blanket and is always on the floor.

Mike

Nate twisted his ankle.

I figured there had to be an injury.

[StartOrien]

Last night, Rondo played 45 minutes.  I didn't see the game living here in Iowa, so maybe Nate was so gosh awful in his 4 minutes on the court that Doc had no choice.  But against Cleveland, in a game that was a blowout from the 2nd quarter on, Rondo still played 38 minutes.  Only 4 players in the league are averaging more minutes a game than Rondo.

I know Delonte is hurt, Avery is a rookie and Nate is Nate, but Doc can't indulge his habit of riding a guy he feels comfortable with until he drops if he wants Rondo to drive this team to a championship.  I think the main reason we've seen such struggles from Ray in the playoffs the last couple of seasons is that he's Doc security blanket and is always on the floor.

Mike

I agree with you, it feels like the argument two years ago to get Bill Walker some minutes. Not because he was a great player, but because Pierce desperately needed a reduction in minutes and it ended up really showing in the playoffs.

Last nights an extreme example b/c of the ankle, but I would've liked to see him ease into his return with a couple 30 minute games. I know Bradley looks terribly uncomfortable, but I'd like to see Doc find him 5 mintues a game. Again, just because I think Rondo's minutes need to come down (at least for a little)

[Fafnir]

I heard that Rondo requested to stay in the game at that point so his hammy didn't tighten up on him since without Nate he wasn't going to get a blow for very long.

[looseball]

I've always thought Doc's biggest problem has been his lack of trust in his bench.  Regardless of who's there on any given night, you have to give them minutes and get them into the flow of the game.  (Belichick never shrinks from this challenge; he simply says you play those who are dressed.)

I can see playing Rondo a lot of minutes on occasion because he's young, but not so soon after returning from injury (like S.O. said).  The older guys can handle big minutes for a while, but will eventually hit a wall when the winter grind begins, and we'll see nagging injuries and erratic shooting.  Remember last year we had the best record in the league for two months and then played .500 for two months.

TP for you M.B. for Ray as "Doc's security blanket" reference!

[pearljammer10]

Regardless of how many minutes Rondo played, he didnt look into the game last night. He was just kind of casual and not into the system.

[indeedproceed]

Regardless of how many minutes Rondo played, he didnt look into the game last night. He was just kind of casual and not into the system.

I don't know if I'd call him "casual", but he definitely didn't look like he was 100% there in the moment.

[CNYCeltsfan]

With Nate out and Cs trailing I dont think Doc wanted to go long stretches with Daniel at the PG and then not have daniels to spell pierce.  West being out is going to kill us and avery better be able to get some run to minimize the wear and tear on Rajon.

[MBunge]

With Nate out and Cs trailing I dont think Doc wanted to go long stretches with Daniel at the PG and then not have daniels to spell pierce.  West being out is going to kill us and avery better be able to get some run to minimize the wear and tear on Rajon.

There's always going to be game to game stuff like Nate's ankle or Rondo worrying about his hamstring tightening up.  But what was the reason for Rondo playing 38 minutes against Cleveland when KG played only 30 and Ray, Shaq and Pierce got only 23 minutes a piece?  If Avery is so hopeless he can't even get on the court for more than a minute in that kind of blowout, Ainge has got make some sort of deal for another PG.

Mike

[Birdbrain]

He's not 100% more like 75% but, as mentioned with hamstrings they tighten up when you rest during the game and with no other backup besides Avery it was the prudent thing to do.

Doc's not going to ' run Rondo in to ground ' unless he has too. 

Friday's night game should be interesting with Rondo's hamstring and Rose propensity too shoot all the time.

[crownsy]

With Nate out and Cs trailing I dont think Doc wanted to go long stretches with Daniel at the PG and then not have daniels to spell pierce.  West being out is going to kill us and avery better be able to get some run to minimize the wear and tear on Rajon.

There's always going to be game to game stuff like Nate's ankle or Rondo worrying about his hamstring tightening up.  But what was the reason for Rondo playing 38 minutes against Cleveland when KG played only 30 and Ray, Shaq and Pierce got only 23 minutes a piece?  If Avery is so hopeless he can't even get on the court for more than a minute in that kind of blowout, Ainge has got make some sort of deal for another PG.

Mike

Because rondo is 24 and those guys are all 33 or older?

I don't really worry about rondo's minutes that much, he's much younger and able to recover alot faster

[CNYCeltsfan]

With Nate out and Cs trailing I dont think Doc wanted to go long stretches with Daniel at the PG and then not have daniels to spell pierce.  West being out is going to kill us and avery better be able to get some run to minimize the wear and tear on Rajon.

There's always going to be game to game stuff like Nate's ankle or Rondo worrying about his hamstring tightening up.  But what was the reason for Rondo playing 38 minutes against Cleveland when KG played only 30 and Ray, Shaq and Pierce got only 23 minutes a piece?  If Avery is so hopeless he can't even get on the court for more than a minute in that kind of blowout, Ainge has got make some sort of deal for another PG.

Mike

It will take time for Avery to work his way into the rotation.  alot of time in practice was spent on getting delonte ready for his return and the linrotation at guard has not been settled all season because of West suspension and then injury, rondos injury, and the emergence of Robinson as a bonafide scorign threat.  I am really not worried about Rondo, and he is still young.  He NEEDS the minutes.  As good as he is he is still working on his perimeter game and ft shooting.  A few 40+ minute games sprinkled over the regular season wont kill him.  Not every game is going to see us down 9 in the first quarterwith injuries to our two main PG backups.  Bradley will get some run, espescially when we are ahead once he gets some practices under his belt.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I think Doc can run Rondo this much at this point in the season... if we rack up wins now it will be easier to rest Rondo when it will be important... before the playoffs!

[Megatron]

How old is Rondo? 24?

When Kevin Garnett was 24, he averaged exactly 40 minutes a game for the entire season. And he had to do MUCH, MUCH more than Rondo on those teams.

Rondo is young. Stop worrying. There is a price to pay for being great, and thats keeping your butt on the court.