vet minutes

[CFAN38]

I know with all of our injuries we have been stuck playing our vets alot of minutes. I noticed that last night against Indy Ray placed 39 minutes, this has to end. I would rather us lose 5 more games over the course of the season then play ray and paul so many minutes. I hope delonte comes back in January and helps this issue, if not Marquis needs to get more time and avery needs to get thrown to the wolves a little more against the lesser teams (wolves and kings are coming up play him 20+ min against these teams). The team also needs to take a look at Gody and Wafer, I think Tiny deserves and nba contract and i dont want to see the Cs lose him so if gody and wafer are not part of the big picture (especially wafer) then there roster spot needs to be given up to protect Tiny

[Fafnir]

Paragraphs are your friend.

I'm not hugely worried about Ray's/Paul's minutes overall, they are averaging 36.7/35.4 right around his average in Boston. That total should come down once Delonte is back, or if Wafer continues to improve his play.

Ray played nearly 40 last night because Doc went to Marquis at the PG position, instead of SG/SF, to try and shake things up a bit.

[moiso]

I'd like to see the Big 3's minutes go a bit lower.  I think Ray's minutes have been too high since we have aquired him.  And Paul always seems to have more spring in the beginning of the year than the end.

I'm sure Doc doesn't trust guys like Wafer, but every year it's the same pattern.

[Jon]

Things should be better once everyone is healthy.  Even having Jermaine O'Neal should help the minutes of guys like Pierce and Allen, because hopefully when the second unit is at full strength, it can maintain leads and therefore result in more blowouts when the starters can sit. 

I still don't like the somewhat hypocritical mentality, though, that we can play the "healthy" players as much as we want, but if you break as much as a fingernail you sit out of a game.  It's putting too much stress on the so-called "healthy" players.  In some ways, I'd rather Doc just adopt the Popovich plan and keep a consistent rotation with the starters regardless of who is on the bench. 

[wdleehi]

It is not about one game.


It is about he average.


I am happy with the average so far this year with the injuries.

[CFAN38]

just check the numbers

Reggie Miller (who i think the Cs should use as a model for ray and paul) played 36 mpg in his 15th season at age 36 (i beleive ray is 35 in his 15th paul 33 in his 12th) then played 3 more years around 30 mpg till he retired at 39.

I would hope this is the plan for Ray and Paul, I would like to see this start now rather then next year. I in the middle part of the season the Big 3 dip down near 30mpg,they will be well rested for a late season push. there is no need for 40 min against a team like indiana for any of them.

[LarryForThree]

True the minutes are up. Ray's in great shape so its not that huge of a deal but in the long run, you're right the minutes should go down esp against lesser talented teams/blowouts.

What I disagree with is this give time to check out Bradley and Harangody. Daniels should be the one getting the minutes in the backcourt/SF. Why does Doc have to put these guys on the court to see what they can do? This is a championship team not a team that needs to evaluate talent because the team doesn't think they have good playoff chances.

I thinks its more important to get Daniels meaningful minutes as a backup than see what Harangody/Bradley can do.

[Snakehead]

True the minutes are up. Ray's in great shape so its not that huge of a deal but in the long run, you're right the minutes should go down esp against lesser talented teams/blowouts.

The thing that makes me question that though is how Ray has struggled in the Playoffs for us at times.  Perhaps that is due to tired legs?  Not that he has looked really tired in the Playoffs but I don't know how else to explain some of his shooting slumps considering he is such a consistent player.

[CFAN38]

I think giving Avery minutes is important for his growth. The celtics are a good enough team to still win while he goes through growing pains. If we give him minutes now in the middle of then season when we can afford to he will be better prepared to play next season when we may need him.

With Harangody I didnt nessacarily mean he needs alot of minutes, I meant that managment needs to look at weither he is a better prospect then Tiny Gallon. Based on college,predraft, and NBDL I think Gallon could develop into an NBA starting PF, I dont know if thats the case for Gody

[Jon]

I think giving Avery minutes is important for his growth. The celtics are a good enough team to still win while he goes through growing pains. If we give him minutes now in the middle of then season when we can afford to he will be better prepared to play next season when we may need him.

With Harangody I didnt nessacarily mean he needs alot of minutes, I meant that managment needs to look at weither he is a better prospect then Tiny Gallon. Based on college,predraft, and NBDL I think Gallon could develop into an NBA starting PF, I dont know if thats the case for Gody

Eh.  The only reason I'd give Bradley minutes is if we need him to.  I think right now we need him to with Rondo out.  But once Rondo and Nate are both healthy, there's really no reason to give him minutes.  Rondo is going to play at least 35 mpg and the C's didn't pay Nate 4.5 million a year to split the remaining backup minutes with someone. 

Same thing at the 2-guard when West gets back. 

And I wouldn't worry about stunting his growth.  Jermaine O'Neal sat in Portland for years and eventually matured into an All Star.  If Avery has what it takes, he'll eventually find a way.