Is the Garnett 5-5-5 plan working? (Should Pierce be on a similar plan?)

[LooseCannon]

If you hadn't noticed, Doc Rivers has been playing Kevin Garnett in three five-minute stints per half.  He's been pretty strict about it.  Even with Brandon Bass out and Jermaine O'Neal in foul trouble in that loss at Chicago, Garnett still played only five minutes. 

Is Doc's new rotation plan working for Garnett?  I think it is.  The statistics seem to back up my impression, that Garnett is hitting his jumper more accurately at the end of games.  His 4th quarter shooting percentage is up, from 41.1% and 48.6% the past two seasons to 50.6% this season (according to my new favorite toy, the Play Index+ at basketball-reference.com).

And it makes me wonder if Paul Pierce would benefit from it as well.  Many on this board are clamoring for a change in the rotation.  They also want to see Rondo have more time with some of the Big Three sitting.  If Pierce went on a similar plan as Garnett, that would put Pierce on the floor the majority of the time that Rondo sits out, something people have been asking for.

[wiley]

If you hadn't noticed, Doc Rivers has been playing Kevin Garnett in three five-minute stints per half.  He's been pretty strict about it.  Even with Brandon Bass out and Jermaine O'Neal in foul trouble in that loss at Chicago, Garnett still played only five minutes.  

Is Doc's new rotation plan working for Garnett?  I think it is.  The statistics seem to back up my impression, that Garnett is hitting his jumper more accurately at the end of games.  His 4th quarter shooting percentage is up, from 41.1% and 48.6% the past two seasons to 50.6% this season (according to my new favorite toy, the Play Index+ at basketball-reference.com).

And it makes me wonder if Paul Pierce would benefit from it as well.  Many on this board are clamoring for a change in the rotation.  They also want to see Rondo have more time with some of the Big Three sitting.  If Pierce went on a similar plan as Garnett, that would put Pierce on the floor the majority of the time that Rondo sits out, something people have been asking for.

Yes.  TP.  Not sure if it has to be so strictly structured...since Pierce you don't want to take Pierce out when he's hot, but generally speaking, Paul and Ray should be playing less.
And when they're in for the majority of the 4th, which will start to happen more and more if we make and enter the playoffs, they should be given frequent short breathers to get their legs under them....