Washburn says players angry about playing time, unrest in locker room

[GreenEnvy]

There are very few players that could get significantly more PT elsewhere. None of these guys are peeving over a couple minutes a game.

Regardless, I trust CBS has a good enough pulse on the team to see if that’s true, and even more pride to relay that to Ainge instead of trying to put a bandaid on it.

Other than Rozier, I really don’t think anyone has the ego to mess this up. Definitely not Kyrie, Hayward, or Horford, and I can’t see Baynes, Smart, or Theis being mad. That leaves Brown and Tatum. If either want to play hero ball on a lottery team, I’d move them tomorrow. They are not THAT good. Rozier can be moved. I’m over him. He was Kyrie insurance, and I think he’s a good player in this league. But he got a taste of success and he can’t handle riding backseat? Goodbye.

[ozgod]

There are very few players that could get significantly more PT elsewhere. None of these guys are peeving over a couple minutes a game.

Regardless, I trust CBS has a good enough pulse on the team to see if that’s true, and even more pride to relay that to Ainge instead of trying to put a bandaid on it.

Other than Rozier, I really don’t think anyone has the ego to mess this up. Definitely not Kyrie, Hayward, or Horford, and I can’t see Baynes, Smart, or Theis being mad. That leaves Brown and Tatum. If either want to play hero ball on a lottery team, I’d move them tomorrow. They are not THAT good. Rozier can be moved. I’m over him. He was Kyrie insurance, and I think he’s a good player in this league. But he got a taste of success and he can’t handle riding backseat? Goodbye.

Of Rozier, Brown and Tatum, Tatum has the least right to be mad about minutes or time. Tatum's playing 32 min this year vs 30 last year and his usage rate is up from last year as well and is currently 2nd on the team after Kyrie of players who have played at least 10 min a game. His average is up at 16 from 13.9 last year.

It's gotta be Brown and Rozier, and maybe Smart. Maybe after signing his new contract and how he sees himself as the heartbeat of the team (which he kind of is) he expected to be playing more than the 23 mins he is playing right now, given he was in the 30min range last year.

Personally I do think we should be playing Smart more. He has no offense to speak of but he, like Baynes, is an honest, hardworking draft horse to counterbalance the "don't want to get my hands dirty" thoroughbreds we have. We need some hard nosed players who are going to do the hard work that doesn't show up on the stat sheet.

[KGBirdBias]

This is the easy answer...minutes. These guys can't hit any shots. Steven's would play the hot hand but none of them have gotten hot. Morris is the one who should be wanting minutes, he's played the best.

Steven's needs to get some guys straight or ship them out. They have a chance to be a great team and egos have gotten on the way and they haven't proved anything. Maybe going to the ECF was a curse for the growth of the team.

[Who]

Sounds like the writer is guessing / assuming there is a problem.

If he had real information, he would've made a bigger deal about it. Not one throwaway line in the middle of an article.

[Green-18]

Danny and Brad need to figure this out ASAP if these rumors are true.  I'm all for being patient with a talented group that is bought in.  Unfortunately I don't see the problem resolving itself if the locker room becomes fractured. 

It's no secret that Rozier is the most likely to be unhappy with playing time.  Hayward's struggles are probably a catalyst for his frustration.  Jaylen might also fall in the same boat.  It's only natural for them to use Hayward as justification for the teams struggles.

Moving Rozier is the most likely way to get things back on track.  The return becomes less important at this point, especially if it allows a core of Irving, Jaylen, Hayward, and Tatum to find their mojo.  Jaylen probably sees a slight bump in playing time, with the remainder of Terry's minutes being filled in by a veteran PG, Theis, and Semi.

On a side note, is anyone else missing the early 4th quarter minutes from Shane Larkin?  His ball pressure and effort always seemed to steer the team in the right direction.  I certainly miss having a guy on the bench who is ready when called upon.  Many nights he would only play for 2-4 minute stretches but they always seemed to energize the team.

 

[10610786d]

Sounds like the writer is guessing / assuming there is a problem.

If he had real information, he would've made a bigger deal about it. Not one throwaway line in the middle of an article.

LOL the sad truth of today's skim culture. I skimmed the headline for this.

I recommend buying a Kindle to solve skim culture...haven't been hooked to my phone for so long

[cman88]

I say we need to trade Rozier. clearly the signs are there that he wants to be gone. We already know that he is going to leave in the off-season to start. and whatever benefit Ainge had of keeping him as depth is out the window as he is playing like trash as a backup to Kyrie.

While he is certainly more talented, we may be better having a 3 point shooter type who knows his role and has no problem playing that role.

not to mention it will open up minutes for Jaylen brown

[Green-18]

I say we need to trade Rozier. clearly the signs are there that he wants to be gone. We already know that he is going to leave in the off-season to start. and whatever benefit Ainge had of keeping him as depth is out the window as he is playing like trash as a backup to Kyrie.

While he is certainly more talented, we may be better having a 3 point shooter type who knows his role and has no problem playing that role.

not to mention it will open up minutes for Jaylen brown

Agreed.  I mentioned this is another thread but maybe a player like DJ Augustin would be a good fit.  He's been a consistent perimeter shooter throughout his career and would probably accept his role at 31 years old.  Brad also seems to excel when he has two or three options towards the end of the bench.  I like the idea of Semi, Theis, and a veteran PG splitting minutes on a nightly basis.

[mctyson]

Please take everything Washburn writes with a boulder of salt.

[Hoopvortex]

Please take everything Washburn writes with a boulder of salt.

Or indeed any writer who is slinging gossip like this. God save us from the moralists and the pop psychologists.

Players angry about playing time? That’s good! Get a loose ball, get in your man’s airspace, get an offensive rebound, run the floor.

Unrest in the locker room? That’s good! There’d better be, because they suck at basketball right now.

Fans, stop the hand-wringing, please, but above all stop the disgusting finger-pointing.

[footey]

Please take everything Washburn writes with a boulder of salt.

I find his articles well researched and on the mark. Including this one.

[rondofan1255]

Rozier’s Gotta be one of them

See the 14-15 pre-scandal Louisville season locker room mess
One of the guys reportedly just looking to get his

[wiley]

Please take everything Washburn writes with a boulder of salt.

Or indeed any writer who is slinging gossip like this. God save us from the moralists and the pop psychologists.

Players angry about playing time? That’s good! Get a loose ball, get in your man’s airspace, get an offensive rebound, run the floor.

Unrest in the locker room? That’s good! There’d better be, because they suck at basketball right now.

Fans, stop the hand-wringing, please, but above all stop the disgusting finger-pointing.

TP

[celtics4ever33]

Why can't the problem be Hayward?


I think that is the most logical answer.

You got 3 or 4 guys who are looking at Hayward and thinking, "we were fine without him"

The reason why that can be the problem is because right now they are correct. He came back and this team went to crap. At least with Irving they looked good as well.

[Chief Macho]

I like Morris,  but I don't think he's worth not letting Brown keep developing in crucial minutes.   Trade him and Rozier.   Less talent on this team will be a good thing actually.