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Uh, all of his "big three" are on the wrong side of 30. I don't advocate sitting them, but you can cut their minutes by 5 or 10 per game...
Rivers: No extra rest for first-teamers
By Marc J. Spears
Globe Staff / March 23, 2008
NEW ORLEANS - Celtics coach Doc Rivers plans on having the same frame of mind the Patriots had over the final stretch of the regular season.
The reigning AFC champions didn't rest their starters as they raced to a 16-0 regular-season record. The Atlantic Division champion Celtics are 55-14 after last night's 113-106 loss to the Hornets and hold a 5 1/2-game lead over the Pistons in the Eastern Conference.
"We are just going to play our guys," Rivers said. "Clearly, you want to cut down minutes. But I'm not a big believer, the same like the Patriots. You don't change what you're doing.
"You may rest them in games as far as how many minutes they play. But no, you just keep playing because of rhythm. You need rhythm. It's a rhythm game."
Ray Allen agreed. "I don't want to get to the point where you lose rhythm," he said. "We have to keep forcing our hand like there is no tomorrow so we don't get too big for our own britches.
"You have to continue to build and always get better and for everybody to keep doing the same thing over and over again. We have a good enough rotation."
A major concern entering the season was how much Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce would have to play. But with the team displaying depth and winning by large margins, their minutes have not been a problem.
Garnett entered last night's game averaging 33.7 minutes per game; he averaged 39.4 last season for Minnesota. Pierce was at 37 minutes per game, same as last season. And Allen was averaging 36.9, down from 40.3 with Seattle last season.
"We're trying to become a part of history," Allen said. "It's bigger than all of us. We have to sacrifice everything we do."
Rivers also has given the team rest by rarely having practices of late, instead getting work done during longer shootarounds. He did say he will continue trying to get newcomers Sam Cassell and P.J. Brown more comfortable with solid minutes.
"Doc has been very strategic in the way we've handled business this season," said Allen. "When we get in the gym, we know we're going to be in the gym and we know what our job is."
Executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge strongly backed Rivers's plan.
"Doc is very much aware of the health and state of mind of every player on this team," Ainge said. "He will make decisions based on individuals and go accordingly to get ready for the playoffs."
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketb...first_teamers/
Uh, all of his "big three" are on the wrong side of 30. I don't advocate sitting them, but you can cut their minutes by 5 or 10 per game...
That's just stupid. You risk a lot of injuries (ala Dirk today) by playing your big name players when you don't need to.
I agree with his approach. You keep playing them, but just cut down the minutes. Injuries are part of the game. If they happen, they happen. Keep the rhythm and flow without burning them 40+ minutes a game.
tonight vs sixers:
garnett - 32 mins
pierce - 32 mins
allen - 33 mins
rivers definitely did not overplay them in this game.
if the celtics dont win it all, then doc can use the same lame excuse that avery used last season saying that the mavs tried to hard in the regular season and were gassed for the playoffs
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