Team Chemistry and the Minutes Jam

[rutzan]

Let's assume a starting line-up of KG, PP, RR, AB and JS.

35 minutes for RR
30 minutes for PP.
61 minutes for AB, JT, CL and LB.
66 minutes for JG,JS,and BB

If and when does the minutes jam lead to team chemistry issues?

Everyone is talking nice now but stranger things have happened.

How much of this is on Doc's shoulders to keep everyone happy?

We all love the needed depth and say it is a great problem to have especially considering our woeful lack of depth since 2008.

However, the NBA is a star-driven league where the teams that have players that can dominate a game usually win.

Is is better to have a well-paid and maybe over-paid bench of good but not great players?

Or, is Danny waiting to pull off a blockbuster trade?

Obviously, everyone will say Josh Smith but what about after the season?

[pearljammer10]

How many minutes does Garnett get? Plus you left out Darko. I think Darko will get at least 15 minutes a game for us this season. My biggest concern is the log jam at the guard spot; rondo, AB, Lee, Terry, and Barbosa especially because Doc has said he likes a lineup of Green and Pierce together, Making Pierce the 2 and taking away minutes from the guards.

[rutzan]

i don't see the center position as a potential issue...everyone knows KG will start and darko, wilcox and collins will come off the bench...however...there is going to battle over minutes at almost everywhere else...that is where an issue might arise...most of these players are young and in or near their prime...will ego's get the best of them?

[billysan]

I really believe that these guys understand the need to earn minutes. Doc has carefully selected guys who have good character and understanding of the right way to play the game. Anyone who becomes a problem child will be set straight quickiy IMHO.

[Roy H.]

I think Doc is up to the task.  I think most of the guys we have now are very professional and realistic about minutes.  Sure, things will crop up, but I think the veteran locker room will help keep everyone on task.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Good thing, mostly all the players that would be getting the fewest minutes are the ones making the least amount of money and can be simply let go or the players who could easily be traded. Everyone else making 5mil+ should get enough minutes to quiet them b/c they want to win. We can drop Barbosa, Darko, Cox, and Collins if they cry about minutes(all are Vet. Mins). Jet is going to get his minutes b/c he is so good. Lee and AB may be a dogfight on who gets the most of what's left (I think this will be the hardest), but that's assuming AB is where he was last season... I truly believe AB won't be the issue no matter how many minutes he gets, because I remember him putting clamps on people when he was hardly getting any minutes, that kid will do w/e Doc tells him!

Last thing, I think you guys forget the fact that before these guys signed on, that they were told ahead of time that they may get very few minutes and maybe none at all sometimes(they said themselves)... but they still CHOSE to come here. We picked up a lot of guys who aren't big names who just come in and quietly do their jobs, the only talker we picked up was JET and he is going to get his minutes no matter what. There would be an issue if the guys we got were actually stars, none of them are well known (again, except JET), while all of them have big egos, they are use to being "the lunch-pail guys"... Doc and Danny picked up the guys who they knew would accept their roles and if they didn't, they didn't care b.c none of them are the main cogs and can be moved (no trade clauses holding them hostage like someone who left wanted). Doc said it to them during a practice, something like, he is going to do what he thinks is best for the team and he is no longer going to worry about hurting someone's feelings (like in the past, *cough* Ray *cough*) and that they can just accept that right now!


I love this group of players!

[mmmmm]

ImShakHeIsShaq wrote:

Last thing, I think you guys forget the fact that before these guys signed on, that they were told ahead of time that they may get very few minutes and maybe none at all sometimes(they said themselves)... but they still CHOSE to come here.

Exactly.  Doc specifically said that he talked at length with Barbosa about this and Barbosa still wanted to come here to play with a winner.

I'm not too worried about this.  We are back to an 82 game season and no coach knows better than Doc how a long season can take its toll.  He's probably going to end up using every one of these capable bodies before the season is over.

KG and Pierce are almost certainly going to be on minute schedules.  It worked so well for KG last year and Doc has indicated he will likely do the same with Pierce this year.  And from Paul's comments he's totally on board with that - he's talked about how excited he is for how well Green is playing because it will give Doc confidence to rest Pierce for the long run.

Aside from losing Shaq (and all our other centers), the thing that probably killed us more than anything in the regular season of 2011 was just how run down and beat up Rondo became.  And that happened because Rondo's main backup, Delonte', was lost for most of the middle of the season.   The result was Rondo logged a ton of hard minutes and by the time the spring came, he was just beat up and worn down and our offense was a gasping wreck.

So Doc isn't going to try to rest just KG & PP.  He's got to manage Rondo's minutes as well.  And that is where all that guard depth is going to make sense.   

[vinnie]

The only problem they might have at the center position is having enough healthy centers to fill the minutes 

[rmitchell222003]

If sully and darko start struggling, its comforting to know we still have wilcox...

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

ImShakHeIsShaq wrote:

Last thing, I think you guys forget the fact that before these guys signed on, that they were told ahead of time that they may get very few minutes and maybe none at all sometimes(they said themselves)... but they still CHOSE to come here.

Exactly.  Doc specifically said that he talked at length with Barbosa about this and Barbosa still wanted to come here to play with a winner.

I'm not too worried about this.  We are back to an 82 game season and no coach knows better than Doc how a long season can take its toll.  He's probably going to end up using every one of these capable bodies before the season is over.

KG and Pierce are almost certainly going to be on minute schedules.  It worked so well for KG last year and Doc has indicated he will likely do the same with Pierce this year.  And from Paul's comments he's totally on board with that - he's talked about how excited he is for how well Green is playing because it will give Doc confidence to rest Pierce for the long run.

Aside from losing Shaq (and all our other centers), the thing that probably killed us more than anything in the regular season of 2011 was just how run down and beat up Rondo became.  And that happened because Rondo's main backup, Delonte', was lost for most of the middle of the season.   The result was Rondo logged a ton of hard minutes and by the time the spring came, he was just beat up and worn down and our offense was a gasping wreck.

So Doc isn't going to try to rest just KG & PP.  He's got to manage Rondo's minutes as well.  And that is where all that guard depth is going to make sense.

Doc isn't worrying about the crying this season, let them cry and I hope they have packed bags b/c they will be outta here!

[celtics2]

Doc has been over playing starters especially the Big 3 since they got here. Not surprisingly so because we haven't had much talent besides them. After the 1st Championship the three were running on fumes late in the seasons. Doc will have to earn his money this season because we have a deep team. Identifying game situations is something Doc is slow to move on. We never recovered from the loss of Thibodeau who was real reason we jelled and played so well. Our defense made our offense look awesome.

[bfrombleacher]

Kind of justifies picking Fab Melo for those who hate the pick (I like it though). Highest potential of all remaining picks and 3 years to develop it.

[RJ87]

I think there's a real "team first" attitude with this group of guys. Dare I say, we may get to see Unbuntu in action this season.

I think Doc is being very open with guys about minutes - one of the things that stood out in Leandro Barbosa's media interview is him saying something along the lines of "Doc was honest with me. I may not play, but when I do I just want to help." I don't think there's any delusuon of minutes distribution. I feel like Courtney is well aware that this season, his minutes may fall when AB comes back. Maybe he was sold on having a more prominent, Jason Terry-like role once the JET hangs 'em up. Idk. I just get a strong feeling like Doc is trying to be as open with communication as possible and that will help limit any future flare-ups.

[Fearless421]

Unfortunately, there will be some injuries in a 82 games season, hopefully minor ones. Also, I see Doc giving KG and PP nights off on some of those back to back games. I think that if Doc is planning to play PP on the 555 like KG it'll be a good idea to start JGreen and PP together.
Then, he can bring in Terry to play the 2 and Lee to play the 3, depending on the matchups. Also bring in Sully for Bass or Bass for Sully depending who is starting. Now, I don't know how this will work when Bradley comes back. At the end, I don't care who's playing when, starting or coming off the bench, or how much playing time at longest Doc finds the right rotation and we are clicking I'm happy.
GO CELTICS!!!!! 

[guava_wrench]

i don't see the center position as a potential issue...everyone knows KG will start and darko, wilcox and collins will come off the bench...however...there is going to battle over minutes at almost everywhere else...that is where an issue might arise...most of these players are young and in or near their prime...will ego's get the best of them?

Sometimes KG will play alongside one of those 3.