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No Issue With Big 3 Minutes

Posted by GreenBanner18 on October 31, 2009 at 2:00 PM

 

How do you feel about the Big 3's minutes so far? Maybe a little much? Well, lets look at some stats.

 

Kevin Garnett- MPG (This season) - Little under 28 -  MPG (07-08) - Little under 33

Paul Pierce- MPG (This season) - Around 31.5 - MPG (07-08) - Little under 36

Ray Allen - MPG (This season) - Around 34.5 - MPG (07-08) - 36

 

Through 3 games we dont have the largest sample in the world, however it gives us something to look at if we are complaining. I think going into the 07-08 playoffs (the year we won the championship obviously) the Big 3 were very healthy and well rested; atleast as much as you can be for enduring an 82 game season. They are older, yet still need the appropriate time to grow their team. Lets face it, the game against Charlotte the starters didn't need to play for a second and we still would have won. However, every other team in the league is growing and getting better, we must do the same.

 

The averages the Big 3 are at right now, as far as I am concerned, are very reasonable. Considering the 2 blow out games we have played in, you would expect their minutes to be low. Some people want those minutes to be even lower. I agree... somewhat. I don't know about pounding Ray out for 38 one blowout game then 24 the next. Maybe distribute it a little more evenly?

 

For an average of the first 3 games, 2 blowouts and 1 hard fought win, I don't have an issue with where the minutes are. By the looks of it, their minutes will be less than the avg. of their mpg in the 07-08 season. That is a good sign for the marathon the Celtics are involved in.

 

Agree or Disagree?

 

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5 Comments

Reply B-PAUL
03:15 PM on October 31, 2009 
Well I think with 3 games played average minutes is really not the stat to go by. The player I'm concerned with is Ray, he played 42 and 38 the first two games before getting a break last night. This is above his average for the season you mentioned, the only reason his average is down is because of very low minutes last night. If the guys really average these averages you say I would agree they are fine. But if Doc continues to play the hell out of them and then just play them for 20 minutes for one game every so often there could be trouble. Like you said average really doesn't mean much only three games into the season, considering one of those games they all sat the 4th quarter.
Reply GreenBanner18
03:40 PM on October 31, 2009 
Right, but I dont think anyone has too much to complain about- they are all well below avg. Either way I think Ray is the one of the Big 3 who can take the extended minutes. He is a much smaller form thus his body takes much less wear and tear. Pierce and KG are the real ones to focus hard on and the way its going they aren't getting a crap load of minutes like people think. When it all comes down to it in the end avg. minutes is the stat to go by not individual games- Doc is doing pretty good with it with exception to that one game, which still didn't put Ray above his avg minutes of 07-08.
Reply B-PAUL
04:01 PM on October 31, 2009 
We also have to keep in mind that Ray is two years older than he was during the championship year. That's quite a bit in bball years. We will have to see how Doc continues to play him. If he goes 42,38, 24 every three games then we will notice a tired Ray by game #82.
Reply North Station Sports
06:07 AM on November 01, 2009 
I agree w the premise of this article. It's pretty cut and dry. by the numbers, doc is either overplaying the big 3 or playing them the appropriate amount of minutes.

We all know doc has the tendancy to over-play the big three, however, at this point in the season, it's not fair to judge. It's game #3, the coaching staff is still trying to figure out rotations and line-up chemistry. For instance, Doc really likes Ray with the second unit (I do too). He is playing Ray as the anchor of that line-up, which will naturally give him 3-5 more minutes per game. Let's face it, Ray is in the best shape of any member of the big 3 (possibly the entire team).

Granted, Ray has showed a tendancy to burn out by playoff time so we have to watch that as well but it's way too early to start scrutinizing rotations.

PS - In "basketball years", KG is the oldest of the 3.
Reply GreenBanner18
12:23 PM on November 01, 2009 
Yeah, I think Ray is in the best shape of the big 3, but Pierce is pretty damn close. The Truth came into this year in awesome shape. Outside of that I'm not so sure we can say Ray is burnt up come post season. Last year he supposidly had leg problems- yet still knocked down clutch 3 after clutch 3. He finished last years post season avging 18 ppg (right on his season avg).