JuJuan Johnson

[OmarSekou]

Doc's shortened the rotation to get prepared for the playoffs. I doubt he'll open in back up unless there's a reason to (injuries, rotation guys sitting out).

I like JJJ but Doc should stay consistent. I could pick any player in the league and say I think they'd be good if they got more burn. Doc doesn't think so, and he has more experience evaluating talent and seen more of JJJ than any of us.

Even if we end up losing, I'm not going to second guess Doc's decision. I feel like he's earned that much. He's gotten a group of high profile players to work as a single-minded team and battle.

[ScoobyDoo]

Thanks for the data on KG Jon.

I understand what people are saying about Doc setting his rotation for the playoffs, tightening it up.

But I think a great quality is also being flexible when circumstances change - and to me, particularly with the loss of Wilcox, in addition to Jermaine, they most certainly have.

If we still had KG, Bass, Wilcox & Stiemsma, I'd say fine, rotate those four players and only play JJJ if you have to.

However, at this point, if one of KG, Stiemsma or Bass gets nicked up and misses even a couple game, you will have no choice but to bring JJJ off the bench - unless we've signed another decent big man somehow.

Therefore, I think whether you want to play JJJ or not you can potentially do more damage at this point by not playing him, because:

1. You're going to end up grinding KG down so he's not as fresh as the season rolls on.
   
2. JJJ won't end up looking like a deer in the headlights when his number is called.

3. You might get pleasantly suprised by what the kid can offer on nights when it's working well for him.

4. In the end, your team becomes stronger.

For me, without any reservation, I begin inserting JJJ into the lineup now. And if he's in there and we're doing Ok, keeping or building the lead, I leave him in for as long as possible, every game, every night, for the rest of the season.

You never know - you might be able to hide some JJJ's weaknesses by putting him in with a lineup of Rondo, Pietrus, Pierce and KG.

The you could come with Stiemmsa, Bass, Pierce or Pietrus, Ray and Bradley.

The short term upshot is the kid contributes and we increase our bigs rotation to four and keep KG's minutes down in the process.

The long term upshot is the kid is that much farther along for next season. 
 

[snively]

I'd much rather see JJ get some minutes than see anymore extended stretches with those ridiculous Pietrus at the 4 line-ups.

[ScoobyDoo]

Yes, and I actually think he can do some positive things. I don't look at JJJ as a complete disaster on the floor. Will he make some mistakes? Yes. Do Pierce, Ray, KG and Rondo also make mistakes? Yes.

I think we can get some mileage out of him - and we should try to get every bit of it we can.

I'd be thrilled if he even got 10-15 a night in 5 minute spurts.

Play KG steady minutes, load up on Stiemsma, Bass and JJJ all you can get away with.

   

[Capricious]

The problem is he has to play when KG (maybe steamer) is on the floor.  I don't think its wise to play a bass/triple J frontcourt.

[ScoobyDoo]

Very True - I'd try to work such that he gets on the floor when KG is on the floor and I'd also give him a shot with Stimemsa. I know that's asking a lot from two young guys - but I would try it when the other team's second unit is on the floor. There youth and energy might be enough to work on some nights against certain match ups. WE need to get these guys some burn at some point and now is as good as ever for JJJ due to the circumstances.

I'd go:

1. KG / Bass to start - Bring in Stiemsma with Bass

2. Bring KG back in with Stiemsma for a couple minutes

3. Rotate JJJ in with KG. KG at the 5 obviously, let JJJ tear up the floor on the break. And I'd have Rondo in when JJJ is in, to help manage him.

4. Then bring Bass back in with Stiemsma...

When Stimemsa, Bass and Bradley are on the floor - I'd probably look to go with Pierce and Pietrus

[StartOrien]

Doc won't play rookie even if the team have only a 5-man roster.

Man, that is so true. But it's a shame, cuz we ain't winning nothing  this year anyway.

This is a picture of rookies Leon Powe and Glen Davis accepting the ESPY for best team after they helped the 2008 Boston Celtics win an NBA Championship

[snively]

The problem is he has to play when KG (maybe steamer) is on the floor.  I don't think its wise to play a bass/triple J frontcourt.

Against Golden State Doc went with a Bass/Pietrus frontcourt.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Doc's shortened the rotation to get prepared for the playoffs. I doubt he'll open in back up unless there's a reason to (injuries, rotation guys sitting out).

I like JJJ but Doc should stay consistent. I could pick any player in the league and say I think they'd be good if they got more burn. Doc doesn't think so, and he has more experience evaluating talent and seen more of JJJ than any of us.

Even if we end up losing, I'm not going to second guess Doc's decision. I feel like he's earned that much. He's gotten a group of high profile players to work as a single-minded team and battle.

So Spoelstra is allowed the same freedoms as Doc because he has done the same?? Get outta here! We can question his decision making because he is no god. I'm sorry that you feel that what Doc did is so great that he is immune to criticism but nah, he is no god, everything he does/doesn't do isn't excused b/c he got KG, PP, and Ray to work together. I'm not second guessing every move but some of his moves are questionable! There is no way you should be (in this condensed season) tightening rotation this much when you only have 4 "bigs" on the entire team! You should be giving JJJ some time until you pick up another reliable player... if Cox and Jo were healthy they BOTH would be playing, Doc has replaced two players with ONE player, Stiems... that's not to do with shortening rotation for playoffs because, again, two more bigs (JO and Cox) would be playing if not for injuries!

[slamtheking]

Doc won't play rookie even if the team have only a 5-man roster.

Man, that is so true. But it's a shame, cuz we ain't winning nothing  this year anyway.

I guess the young guy who's been out there as our back up center over the course of the last dozen games or so must be a figment of my imagination.

if you think he's out there because Doc prefers him over veterans at his disposal, please elaborate which vet he's moved ahead of on the depth chart.  the only alternatives for Doc is to either play KG and Bass 48 minutes each or play JJJ who has less experience (Steimsma at least has a year of D league under his belt AND is an actual center-->the only healthy one one on the team.

[OmarSekou]

Doc's shortened the rotation to get prepared for the playoffs. I doubt he'll open in back up unless there's a reason to (injuries, rotation guys sitting out).

I like JJJ but Doc should stay consistent. I could pick any player in the league and say I think they'd be good if they got more burn. Doc doesn't think so, and he has more experience evaluating talent and seen more of JJJ than any of us.

Even if we end up losing, I'm not going to second guess Doc's decision. I feel like he's earned that much. He's gotten a group of high profile players to work as a single-minded team and battle.

So Spoelstra is allowed the same freedoms as Doc because he has done the same?? Get outta here! We can question his decision making because he is no god. I'm sorry that you feel that what Doc did is so great that he is immune to criticism but nah, he is no god, everything he does/doesn't do isn't excused b/c he got KG, PP, and Ray to work together. I'm not second guessing every move but some of his moves are questionable! There is no way you should be (in this condensed season) tightening rotation this much when you only have 4 "bigs" on the entire team! You should be giving JJJ some time until you pick up another reliable player... if Cox and Jo were healthy they BOTH would be playing, Doc has replaced two players with ONE player, Stiems... that's not to do with shortening rotation for playoffs because, again, two more bigs (JO and Cox) would be playing if not for injuries!

I'm saying I'm not going to second guess him because he's been right before and I understand his logic. I don't think he's a god. I question a lot of things he does, but he's good at setting playoff rotations. He's always played our starters more minutes than conventionally would be advised because he's said how much they want to stay in the game and how important its become for our teams to get the right habits and routines.

My guess is he's planning on going into the playoffs with a 3 man big rotation and playing small more or picking up another big. I don't think JJJ is an option in his mind. While it's easy for us to say "JJJ should play because he has potential and we need help. If we lose with him it's fine because we're going to lose anyways." Doc is probably thinking "I don't want to mess up our rhythm and momentum to bring along a guy who might not help us. We can win with the guys we have now."

Since he's coached the Celts he's tended to trust what he knows and build unity within that group instead of taking chances with untested guys. I personally don't think JJJ is the difference between winning a title. So I think we should give more time to the guys that matter more this year and hope the extra time helps them mesh.

[Boris Badenov]

To date, Doc has focused on finding a stable 8/9 man rotation. It's been very difficult to do that because of all the injuries, but that was, and should have been, priority number one.

Now, what I expect is that once the playoff picture solidifies, Doc will rest the starters more down the stretch - KG in particular - while giving JJJ enough minutes to be ready for spot duty in the playoffs.

The good news is that we're not fighting for much in terms of position. We're pretty much guaranteed a playoff spot. It's be nice to end up with a 6 seed or better, I guess.

[Celtics18]

Doc won't play rookie even if the team have only a 5-man roster.

Man, that is so true. But it's a shame, cuz we ain't winning nothing  this year anyway.

I guess the young guy who's been out there as our back up center over the course of the last dozen games or so must be a figment of my imagination.

if you think he's out there because Doc prefers him over veterans at his disposal, please elaborate which vet he's moved ahead of on the depth chart.  the only alternatives for Doc is to either play KG and Bass 48 minutes each or play JJJ who has less experience (Steimsma at least has a year of D league under his belt AND is an actual center-->the only healthy one one on the team.

The original quote that I was responding to read; "Doc won't play rookie even if the team have only a 5-man roster."  The next poster agreed.  My response was clear: Doc is currently playing a rookie with a roster that is deeper than five men.

 Unless you are talking about bona fide superstar lottery picks, the way rookies get minutes is generally because guys ahead of them on the depth chart are injured.  People seem to think that this is unique to Doc Rivers. It isn't, particularly not on team's that are actually looking to win games and make the playoffs.

[KGHurtYourFeelings]

without reading the other 2 pages of this thread, JJ has yet to prove that he deserves more minutes with his performance on the court.

And Doc sees a lot more than we do off the court. 

You don't just give out minutes to a rookie who has done nothing to earn them on a team fighting for playoff seeding.

Everyone loves an unknown quantity.

And I think JJ might have potential.  But who's minutes is he taking?  Why can't he seem to learn a set?

[letsgoblue86]

Doc won't play rookie even if the team have only a 5-man roster.

Man, that is so true. But it's a shame, cuz we ain't winning nothing  this year anyway.

This is a picture of rookies Leon Powe and Glen Davis accepting the ESPY for best team after they helped the 2008 Boston Celtics win an NBA Championship

And Scal in the background...don't forget his contributions.