Rest coming for C's
The Celtics starters played deep into the fourth quarter tonight despite the team having essentially secured the league's best record, but Kevin Garnett doesn't think that's a bad thing.
"We’re preparing for something way bigger than the present," Garnett said after the game. "I just don’t believe that you get to the playoffs and you wake up in the morning and blink and all of a sudden you turn it on."
Before the game, Doc Rivers said he would start resting his starters in the coming weeks, potentially keeping them out of some games just to keep them fresh. Paul Pierce was asked if he would appreciate the time off.
"It is all up to the coaches, and how they feel," said Pierce. "I think I am at the point in my career where any rest I can get is good. If I was a younger player I probably would say no. But it is all up to the coach’s strategy, to give us the rest. It's been a long season. I think by this point in the season, we have probably earned it, but at the same time we have to stay sharp.”
After the game, Rivers outlined his plan in more detail. In the coming weeks, the Celtics essentially will have two days off before and after a game. If Rivers sits one of his players out for a game, the player could potentially get five days off.
"One of the things I looked at, especially with the Big Three, is they didn’t have an All-Star break," said Rivers. "They really didn’t. So this might be it.”
celtics wicked
i hope it's not gonna be a situation like dallas when they were unprepared when the playoffs began because of this long rest of the starters...
the playoffs are all about depth of your bench boston does not have that even with the signing of sam cassel
celtics rock its a good idea to rest them .if you didnt its possible that they could get injured and boston wont win the title whick wont happen.
It is amazing how good the team have gone this season. I was actually betting on that Charlotte would have a chance to force Celtics when they rested some players and also had much less to play for than the op.
But the crush were a fact for me.
Just one thing gets to my head, and thats when Dallas in the same way distanced everyone and endeed with about 129 points in season 2006-2007. Golden State were waiting. And Dallas had rested players which had become cold. And also I was surprised as a "swede" I am, that some teams stop playing (e.g Det @ Mil) competitive and taking the game seriously. Of course the season is long but somehow the coach much be carefull about HOW much rest and were BEFORE the playoff the should start to "fuel" the team. Greetings/ Josef in Uppsala, Sweden
Well..... We have all been waiting for the playoffs and Coach Doc Rivers hasnt let us down yet.....Give the Big 3 there rest and get focused for the first round of the playoffs.
BTW - Congrats to Paul Pierce for his fiancee giving birth to there daughter, if that isn't inspiration for ring then i don't know what is!
the thing is they are going to playoff. they should rest, good for them at the same time lower the risk of injuries. guys this time is our times. goodluck
THE CELTICS BEEN MY FAVORITE TEAM SINCE PAUL CAME OUT OF KANSAS I AM GLAD I FINALLY GETTING WHAT HE DESERVE
I'm so glad the Celts are doing this. I remember 1987, when KC Jones played Bird, McHale, and Parrish into the ground -- while future all-star Reggie Lewis sat on the bench. Here's hoping they keep a 10-man rotation right into the playoffs.
I just hope *The Big Three* doesn't break into tiny pieces, that fall into the spoils of other NBA orgs, in case Boston doesn't win the '08 NBA Finals. Impatience, is now the virtue.
But, lets not forget The Detroit Pistons ---last championship--- in which they beat some dream-team out of LA, feat. Kobe/Shaq/Gary Payton/Karl Malone to surprise, all of basketball.
Plus, Shaq had this *weird, firey, twinkle in his eyes* after the Suns blew a huge 2nd-half lead, to lose to the Mavs, on Sunday.
Although...I will say that, if Doc Rivers uses Sam Cassell correctly ---in the playoffs--- it will be what got Boston over the hump should they get seriously contested, in winning the '08 NBA Finals.
i think we should rest the big 3's for the rest of the season untill playoffs times to save some energy
no doubt doc, good call.......KG is the best player in the NBA....give him his title.............rest them, they win by 20 without them. just play them enough to keep them fresh......
I love the Celtics
they will go all the way this year not only do they have the big 3 the have great bench players they step up big in a lot of games who ever says they dont have depth you need to look again because they have a pretty good players coming of the bench
they suck
Celtics are just dominating this year. I Just pray that it doesn't just to a screaming hault before they pick up their 17th title. GO CELTICS
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