No Pre-Playoff Rest for the Celtics
The Boston Celtics have far and away the best record in the Association, and it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that they will have the luxury of homecourt advantage throughout the Playoffs.
They basically have nothing to play for at this point; the guys are accustomed to playing with one another, they’ve played well in big games, and the rotation is set. So, it’s probably time for a little R&R, right? Wrong.
“I don’t believe in that a whole bunch,” Rivers said of keeping players out. “As a player, I always laughed when they said, ‘Hey, you guys are in (the playoffs). How about sitting out two games?’
“We’ve played 78 games, and I sit two and I’m going to be rested? The notion of that to me is ridiculous. Now, if you have an injury or something like that, then absolutely you sit out…But other than that, I think rhythm is far more important.”
While I get where Rivers is coming from on this - it’s critically important that his team enter the Playoffs as sharp and focused as possible - I hope he’ll have the good sense to play his starters (and particularly, the Big Three) reduced minutes in the season’s final games. Because should a key player get hurt during these final, meaningless games, it might not be too well-received in Beantown.
36 Responses to “No Pre-Playoff Rest for the Celtics”
Apr.1 at 12:02 pm
Eboy says:
Co-sign Marcel’s last paragraph.
Apr.1 at 12:14 pm
Benoit Benjamin says:
The again, those three are so hungry for a title, they might be able to play 48 minutes each game throughout the whole playoffs. Still resting them a little sounds good.
Apr.1 at 12:15 pm
BETCATS says:
i also agree
Apr.1 at 12:23 pm
Rasheedionics says:
This is new for Doc Rivers, since every year about this time he’s in tanking mode.
Apr.1 at 12:30 pm
TADOne says:
Burn em out, Doc!
Apr.1 at 12:57 pm
albie1kenobi says:
i don’t understand why KG are always still in the game when the C’s are up 20 with 2 minutes to go. what exactly can that accomplish? to not lose the rhythm for next game?
Apr.1 at 1:00 pm
maio says:
Isn’t it true that players are more likely to get injured when focusing on not getting injured?
Apr.1 at 1:02 pm
maio says:
Well if they’re up 20 with 2 to go I say it’s Big Baby time. But if you’re down 20 at the half - try to make a run. You can’t rest when you’re pissed about losing.
Apr.1 at 1:33 pm
G Diesel says:
Doc is scared of being the new Dallas Mavericks.
That would be awesome if they were to lose to the Hawks in the first round.
Apr.1 at 1:46 pm
RV says:
albie, does that always happen? i know KG was in there against the rockets when we already have our bench finishing out the game….i dont agree with that either
Apr.1 at 1:49 pm
RV says:
and boston hasn’t wrapped up homecourt throughout the east completely, although its not likely the pistons will catch up 6 games with 9 games left, its still not a sure thing, the hornets could also catch up with a good run, so i think its 2-3 games too early to rest
Apr.1 at 1:50 pm
jdubbs says:
All the C’s have to do is look at the Giants -instead of “resting” their starters in the last (meaningless) game of the season, they played -and almost beat, the Pats, giving them confidence and momentum to win all of their remaining playoff games and beat those same pats in the Super Bowl.
Apr.1 at 2:05 pm
GiGi says:
No, I get this. It meakes sense to play them. They always played back in the day - no time for rest. That’s weak. Then again, the NBA in general is WEAK! Celtic pride!
Apr.1 at 2:27 pm
sarah says:
the starters are averaging about 32-34 each game. a lot of games are blowouts, so they do sit down most of the time. btw, that houston game, where kg was playing, well he was in foul trouble. so he really only played about 34 minutes. he also was trying to get used to sam cassell in that game.
Apr.1 at 2:29 pm
sasa says:
they are averaging a lot less minutes in march.
especially kg, who is averaging almost a career low in minutes this year. i think they hate the lakers, so i remember that game in los angeles, where lamar odom hit ray allen. i think they wanted to embarrass the lakers, and they did. but for the most part, they are getting a lot less minutes.
Apr.1 at 2:43 pm
RV says:
i dont think the issue is how many minutes they play, but what minutes, with guys like KG, they can’t hold back, they’ll play all out every minute they play, so its risky to let him play when the game is over just to get some practice in, hopefully it doesn’t come back to bit them
Apr.1 at 2:57 pm
Joel O's says:
Taking the last few games easy pretty much cost the Mavs their playoff run last year - letting in the Warriors and coming into the playoffs out of touch both proved to be their downfall. Doc Rivers probably won’t push his guys too hard, but he’s not gonna let them coast.
Apr.1 at 3:04 pm
Bryant Reeves says:
If any of the big three get hurt Doc is going to get annihilated by the Boston media and fans.
Apr.1 at 4:28 pm
Vortex Knight says:
Co-sign Joel. The C’s are defined by their intensity, and I think that letting that slip would be a mistake. They’re already the most rested team in the league as it is. They’re better off maintaining what they’ve been doing all season: whooping everyone up in the first half and letting the big three chill out in the 4th quarter.
Apr.1 at 5:06 pm
Phila says:
those cats (Ray, Pierce, KG) are basically playing limited minutes. They only log bout 30 minutes a night anyway. They rip there comp by so much every night they hardly playing minutes in the 40’s.
Apr.1 at 5:06 pm
Gerard Himself says:
KG played just 21 minutes against the Heat. Which is equal to how many minutes the Heat actually competed for anything this season.
Apr.1 at 5:21 pm
Dutch Rich says:
The big three have been suffering from injuries all season and they were still winning games.
Apr.1 at 5:33 pm
Young Chris #3 says:
I still think the 2008 championship is going to Boston or Phoenix…
Apr.1 at 5:56 pm
Melvin says:
I think Boston would definitely claim it…
Apr.1 at 6:20 pm
Guy says:
BOSTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Apr.1 at 6:38 pm
ciolkstar says:
I’m a lifelong Spurs fan but I’m def starting to sweat the Cs. They’re gonna be a tough out for anybody.
Apr.1 at 10:02 pm
Dacre says:
I don’t think court time is an issue. I am worried when Doc Rivers talks about this team needing focus still though. Don’t forget this team has only been together for 70 games. Thats brand new baby! Are they going to be a playoff team? We know how much success the Suns have had in regular season play over the past 4 years or so and it really hasn’t given them much in the playoffs… All I’m saying is that the playoffs is when players start playing (ie Horry and Duncan).
Apr.1 at 10:43 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Pistons inactive list tonight vs. the Wolves: Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace. THEY’RE TANKING!!!!
Apr.1 at 10:45 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Dacre: Pierce, Allen and Garnett (not to mention Cassell, Brown and Posey) have all experienced success in the playoffs, just not with each other. They’ll be fine.
Apr.2 at 12:41 am
midwesthoops says:
is this writer for real
Apr.2 at 2:27 am
hursty says:
they still beat the wolves. by 4 Russ. there ya go.
Apr.2 at 10:32 am
Mark Z says:
The Three are playing career low minutes. Doc is doing the right thing. Don’t forget, this is still a very new team. They can use all the experience they can get.
Apr.2 at 5:27 pm
Gerard Himself says:
After seeing the Celtics play the Bulls, I noticed Glen Davis has a mohawk. From now on he will be named B.A.-by
Apr.2 at 5:28 pm
Gerard Himself says:
Glen “Big B.A.-by” Davis. I like it.
Apr.2 at 8:20 pm
Dacre says:
Of course you do GERARD…you came up with it.
^_^ RUSS: I hope for the sake of a great NBA playoff atmosphere your right… When the Dal-Mav (that phrase sounds alot like Wal-Mart in it’s cut price antic-way) bombed out last year in the first round it took alot of the colour out of the fireworks that are the NBA playoffs.
Apr.3 at 7:06 am
iain. says:
Dacre. IMO Horry is done.. Nice career all the rings and great memories but its over.