Buy outs or not, it's an 8 man playoff rotation

[birdwatcher]

I've been thinking about who we would bring in after the buy outs since the trades and I've tried to figure out who would help us the most. I too, thought about how important chemistry is and if it was possible to bring 4-5 new guys along quick enough to have any cohesion with the rest of the team. Then Doc said in the last few days that it was important to get Shaq back to work on player rotations and it dawned on me--Doc prefers an 8-man rotation in the playoffs. That said, the rotation would most likely be:

Rondo/West
Allen/West
Pierce/Green
Garnett/Green/BBD
Shaq/BBD

Obviously, Kristic would be available and most likely see minutes at C.

That leaves insurance spots (and 6 fouls each) for JO & Wafer. Bradley will probably not sniff the floor.

So if my assumptions are correct--what room would there be for a guy like Murphy? Would he be like Finley and just eat minutes up for the remainder of the season and just be added insurance for the playoffs? I know that a few of these guys who are coming available could certainly help us, but how much will they actually play? I would feel better with a 4/5 guy, and a PG. Other than that, I'm not sure if it matters.

[jsingh1699]

i agree with that rotation. altho, looking at dwest, we may need a 3rd string pg. if arroyo gets waived for bibby, we should take arroyo. or if not, take bibby. some sorta insurance at the pg spot is key.

[2short]

I don't know, our team is so deep I can see us expanding it a bit.  If jermaine is healthy he adds a lot to the center posistion.  Krstic to me has minutes until he proves that he is a liability. 

[More Banners]

Murphy would be a pretty big upgrade over BBD in both shooting and rebounding.  That counts...though BBD would have the advantage of knowing the system.

[GranTur]

My thread on playoff rotations:
http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=45078

[bruinsandceltics]

Disagree. Both JO (if remotely healthy) and Nenad will both see minutes.

[birdwatcher]

Disagree. Both JO (if remotely healthy) and Nenad will both see minutes.

Kristic will for sure. JO makes the 8 man rotation a 10 man rotation, and I know we expect to use him but I won't believe it till I actually see him play, which is about as remote as seeing Bigfoot.

[jdpapa3]

I agree with you that playoff rotations are typically chiseled down, but is part of that reason that we just haven't had enough talent on the roster to choose from? TA basically had to play backup point for most of the playoffs last year because Doc didn't trust Nate for the majority.

I think we are looking at a 9 man rotation for this postseason, with 2 bench bigs getting minutes, Delonte, and Green.

[GreenBlood23]

Have to disagree about 8 being the preferred number for rotation. If you can look back at the past rosters, Doc didn't really have the luxury or talent pool the way we can possibly have for this season specially at the 5 and 2. We could possibly have talent from roster 1-12 or to 15! Right now, even without the buy out prospects, we have a good solid 9-10 man rotation with a cover back up on all spots without giving up much step.

IF JO does get healthy like he or the management are banking on and with the 3 other roster spots, lets say the rumored Murphy and Brewer comes in and another player, I can see more issue to who goes to the inactive list. Sure no Buyouts would like to come here just to be on the inactive list 

[greenpride32]

Disagree. Both JO (if remotely healthy) and Nenad will both see minutes.

Agree with this.  I wanted Murphy, but looking at this list, it seems there's not enough PT to go around.

[BballTim]

  It's generally a 9 man playoff rotation for Doc. Backup pg, backup wing, 2 backup bigs.

[snively]

I've been thinking about who we would bring in after the buy outs since the trades and I've tried to figure out who would help us the most. I too, thought about how important chemistry is and if it was possible to bring 4-5 new guys along quick enough to have any cohesion with the rest of the team. Then Doc said in the last few days that it was important to get Shaq back to work on player rotations and it dawned on me--Doc prefers an 8-man rotation in the playoffs. That said, the rotation would most likely be:

Rondo/West
Allen/West
Pierce/Green
Garnett/Green/BBD
Shaq/BBD

Obviously, Kristic would be available and most likely see minutes at C.

That leaves insurance spots (and 6 fouls each) for JO & Wafer. Bradley will probably not sniff the floor.

So if my assumptions are correct--what room would there be for a guy like Murphy? Would he be like Finley and just eat minutes up for the remainder of the season and just be added insurance for the playoffs? I know that a few of these guys who are coming available could certainly help us, but how much will they actually play? I would feel better with a 4/5 guy, and a PG. Other than that, I'm not sure if it matters.

Green/BBD?  Could there be a worse rebounding frontcourt?  That's even worse than BBD/Sheed!

Personally I hope Jeff Green and Jermaine O'Neal drive Baby from the regular rotation.  It's no coincidence that he was a bit player in our championship run and not a mainstay.

[Jon]

Well, I don't entirely agree.  But the OP's point is true: any buyout player we get will likely be more important for depth than as an actual rotation player. 

I think we'll see more use of all the big men, especially so we can go nuts with fouling the likes of Dwight Howard.  I mean in an Orlando series, I could see Doc playing Nenad, Shaq, JO, and BBD at the 5 to use all 24 fouls. 

But I do see Green and West eating up all the 1-3 minutes, with Green sometimes "subbing" in for Ray, thus having Paul slide down to the 2.  I also see Green potentially eating into some of Baby's minutes. 

As others said, Baby could be in some trouble, as I don't see Doc playing him at the 5 if Green is at the 4.  Thus, it may be hard for BBD to play backup 5 if Green is the backup 4.  However, there are ways around this with creative substitutions. 

But I certainly don't expect to see a ton of Von Wafer or any other 2. 

[BballTim]

Green/BBD?  Could there be a worse rebounding frontcourt?  That's even worse than BBD/Sheed!

  Yeah, better make sure Rondo's in there to rebound if you go with that frontcourt.

[Who]

I think the C's will go with four big men due to the low number of minutes Shaq will play + since BBD is more solid than exceptional.

So it'll either be Jermaine O'Neal or Nenad Krstic with Jermaine being the first choice option ... resulting in a nine man rotation.

With Von Wafer and a big man (Krstic if fully healthy or a FA signing if injuries persist) being used situationally ... giving the C's 11 dependable options that Doc can call off the bench in a playoff series.