240 minutes

[Piasecki8]

First post, so take it easy on me. I was just thinking like a coach for a minute and couldn't help but feel for Brad Stevens a little bit heading into this year. It's not going to be an easy job this season taking a blend of high-priced vets and young talent that needs to play to improve and fit them all into the 240 minutes each game that he has to work with. I just did a little rough draft of what I would like to see at the start of the season in minutes per player on average per game. Let's break the core players into general positions and keep the numbers rounded so that we aren't getting too picky about a minute here or a minute there.

Guards - 96 minutes:

Rondo-36(3 quarters), Bradley-30, Smart-15, Thornton-15

Forwards/Centers - 144 minutes:

Green-30, Sullinger-24, Olynyk-24, Bass-24, Zeller-24, Wallace-18.

That is a 10 man rotation as our team sits right now. Rondo, Bradley and Green should get the most minutes on a night in night out basis Thornton and Wallace are getting paid, so before anyone gets upset with those numbers you must realize that they will play, like it or not.
There will obviously be circumstances surrounding each individual game such as foul trouble or injury, but for the most part I think that this is what each of these guys deserves at the start. This leaves zero to very little time for the likes of Young, Faverani and anyone else at the bottom of the roster. Those guys can step in if something drastic happens, but I DO NOT want them taking away minutes from the core ten that I have named. If wallace plays 10 one game and Sullinger plays 32 that will depend on that game. These are simply averages for the first month or two that I could understand coach using. Hopefully one of the younger guys like Smart, Sully or Olynyk and maybe even Zeller can outplay those minutes and force Stevens to play them bigger minutes at the expense of the vets. Just remember that those vets have earned their minutes that they play and the younger guys now have to do the same. The hot hand will get more minutes each game and those whom are having a tough go of it will sit longer than usual.

Let me know what everyone thinks should happen with the minutes at the start of the season. What would you do if you were Coach Stevens?

[D.o.s.]

That is a nice first post.

I think I agree with most of the minutes, too. Probably give Sully 28 to Bass's 20 if I had to change something.

[Fred Roberts]

Given the roster as it stands today, I think that's a pretty good rotation. Danny is clearly looking to move Bass which might open things up a bit more.

[BitterJim]

What about Fav?
He played pretty well to start the season, we should at least take some of Bass' minutes

[Jailan34]

First of all TP for your first post, especially because its not a trade idea.

However, I don't see why we would only play Smart 15 minutes per game, he was the number 6 pick so I would hope he gets much more time in a player development year. Also I don't think Thorton cracks 10mpg with us.

[Eddie20]

I would like to give Smart a lot more than 15 minutes. I mean Bayless averaged 25 mpg for us last year.

[Asher77]

I would like to assume Bass is gone, and suspect Young may go to D League and those 12 Min would add to Thornton, Smart, and Green. Thornton may also end up gone before this is done, Wallace too if lucky.

Guards - 96 minutes:

Rondo-34, Bradley-29, Smart-21 (25), Thornton-12 (18)

Forwards/Centers - 144 minutes:

Green-28 (30), Sullinger-26, Olynyk-26, Zeller-25, Wallace-19, Young-12 (0), Fav-8,

[Chris22]

Smart, Young, Green, Sullinger, and Zeller - 30 minutes a game.
Backups 18 minutes.
Trade Rondo, don't sign Bradley.

[CFAN38]

Good first post,


I agree but also expect Bass to be moved and possibly Green (but only for some value with the way SF are being paid he has brown as an asset). I also think that he will see a healthy dose of three guard sets this year with Smart and Thorton trying to guard backup SFs. Against 3 and D wings it wont be a huge liability. 

[dreamgreen]

Good first post, I think about this stuff a lot.

1. Bradley can't play 30 mpg, he will break down, 25-28 or he misses 20+ games with injury
2. Hopeful KO and Sully (if he can get in shape) will improve and deserve 28 mpg or more
3. Need to see Zeller play, but if he can play any defense at all he will be over 20 mpg

[Beat LA]

I would like to give Smart a lot more than 15 minutes. I mean Bayless averaged 25 mpg for us last year.

Yeah, I think that that's the right amount of minutes for Smart, depending of course on how well he plays, injuries, foul problems, and matchups with bigger guys who can overpower Bradley inside. 

Also, don't overlook the possibility of Thornton being moved (at the deadline, this summer, etc.).  He's an expiring contract who he really belongs on a contender, as does Bass, imo.  Personally, I want James Young to get a ton of minutes, irrespective of whether or not Wallace, Green, and Turner (ugh) are on our roster.  You can't develop guys if they're not given consistent playing time.

[Celtics4ever]

What would you do if you were Coach Stevens?

I"d play whomever was hot.  Welcome to the boards.   I would play the guy with the hot hand something your lengthy post does not account for really.  Stevens has a history of this as well. 
A lot depends too on match ups.   We have no idea what will happen in closed practices or who deserves the minutes as a result.

If Sully does not loose some pounds I hope his minutes are cut for the more dedicated.

[JBcat]

I'd like to see Rondo in the low 30's to take a page out of the Spurs book, and hopefully we'll see a more aggressive Rondo that way.   I think Bradley will be high 20's to 30.  At least to start the year I see Smart getting 20 to 25 minutes.  The rest of the roughly 15 minutes could be split between Thorton and Pressey depending on matchups/needs.

I hope we push Sully and KO to 30 minutes if they don't get into too much foul trouble.  The rest of the 40 to 45 minutes split between Zeller and Bass, with spot minutes to Fav.

With SF I see Green in the low 30's and Wallace around 15.  Young seeing spot minutes here and there.

[Piasecki8]

Thanks everyone for your kindness. Yeah, yeah, I know it was a long post and I will do my best to make my next ones shorter and sweeter. Also, in my world there are no minutes for the 11th -15th roster spots during games unless something has gon wrong. They can show what they got in practice and if they win a rotation spot then someone else loses their minutes. I agree that Smart should and will play more than I stated, but that may not come early on in the season. I hope i'm wrong because I can't help but root for this kid and the skill set that he brings to this team. Go C's!!

[Future Celtics Owner]

Smart, Young, Green, Sullinger, and Zeller - 30 minutes a game.
Backups 18 minutes.
Trade Rondo, don't sign Bradley.

Id trade Rondo for terrence Jones and 3-4 picks, making a tpe as well.

Then do a small trade for Rudy Gobert.

Smart
Avery/ Young
Green
Terrence Jones
Rudy Gobert

Id like to say that team makes strides in player development and gets a top 5 pick in the draft