IF Toronto losses today should we rest our Big 3?

[Pass_The_Sticks]

We would be a lock for the 5th seed and would play the Cavs in the 1st round.

[miller31time]

That's actually a very interesting question. I still believe that we have a chance to get homecourt in round one of the playoffs, but it's an outside chance.

Cleveland needs to go 1-2 in their remaining 3 games, and we need to go 2-0.

Cleveland is bound to lose at least one of the three (since they still have to face Detroit and Philadelphia), and since they've been struggling recently, I wouldn't put it past them to lose both, and get their only win tonight against Miami.

We, on the other hand, have Indiana at home and Orlando on the road. If we can win against the Pacers, I would all but guarantee Orlando would rest their starters a bit more than usual when we face them.

As much as I'd like for us to get some rest, I want homecourt and see it as a possibility.

[nate33]

Cleveland owns Detroit. If they need home court advantage, they'll win the Detroit game (since Detroit will be resting their starters). I don't think we can catch them.

I say rest everybody who needs it. AD and Deshawn should definitely rest. (Deshawn should start to keep his streak alive but only play 10-15 minutes.) Jamison probably should rest too. Butler should definitely rest. Haywood should get limited minutes. Gil might be better served to play 25 or so minutes so he can continue to get his rhythm back.

[WaltCulver]

Just HOW important is home-court advantage here? The Wizards have a chip on their shoulder from last year's wipe-out, and LeBron is not at the top of his game. Neither is Wallace. On the other hand, we are, assuming a little rest will get Butler back to 100%.
I'm concluding that you play the starters (and Arenas) about 20 minutes the next two games to keep the continuity, and let the seeding fall where it may -- 4 or 5.
Very, very unlikely Toronto sweeps its remaining games and we lose both, which is what would have to happen for us to slip to 6th.

[Wizards2Lottery]

Cut down on the minutes for DeShawn, AD and Jamison. Those 3 deserve it.

[hands11]

This is what I posted about several days ago.

How do you do all the things we are trying to do.

1) shorten the rotation to 8-9
2) rest AD, DS, CB
3) get home court
4) ramp up GA minutes so he is in condition without over playing him for fear of pushing to hard.

The first thing I think that needs to go out the window is worrying about the number of players we play. We don't have that luxury. If home court is the goal, we have to play this thing out. I think CB is the main player who needs as much rest as possible. That means playing more AB, DMAC and maybe some NY. Add more RM since I want to get AD and DS some rest.

We need to us every player, including OP if we get to garbage time.

We need to win and we need to rest and we don't have much time left.

If GA can handle it, I would even give him a few more if it helps AD and DS rest. But even add 10 minutes to GA isnt going to get it done without some minutes from NY.

[miller31time]

I'm just glad we can't possibly play the Pistons in round 1.

That makes me feel a little better.

[queridiculo]

Cleveland owns Detroit. If they need home court advantage, they'll win the Detroit game (since Detroit will be resting their starters). I don't think we can catch them.

The Pistons lead the season series 2-1 and the team that Detroit had matchup problems with has largely been dismantled. I could see the Pistons come out with something to prove and just put an absolute hurting on them very much like they did against us.

The Cavs have been struggling lately, and I wouldn't be shocked to see them drop 2 out of their last 3.

[MJG]

Given the choice between health and home court, I'll take the former, doubly so since the latter isn't super-likely to begin with. I'm not for actually sitting anyone down, but I'm all for drastically reducing minutes. Play Daniels and Stevenson for 20 MPG, Butler and Jamison 30 MPG. Haywood, Arenas, and Songaila can continue doing what they've been doing. You can up Mason's and Blatche's court time and give necessary time to Young and McGuire to make up the minutes lost elsewhere. Maybe something like:

G: Arenas (24), Stevenson (20), Daniels (20), Mason (16), Young (16)
F: Jamison (30), Butler (30), Songaila (20), Blatche (8), McGuire (8)
C: Haywood (28), Blatche (20)

[Rafael122]

Cut down on the minutes but still play them, they need to gel before the playoffs start. It's almost like tanking but not really. Dallas did it and look how that turned out.

[hands11]

Given the choice between health and home court, I'll take the former, doubly so since the latter isn't super-likely to begin with. I'm not for actually sitting anyone down, but I'm all for drastically reducing minutes. Play Daniels and Stevenson for 20 MPG, Butler and Jamison 30 MPG. Haywood, Arenas, and Songaila can continue doing what they've been doing. You can up Mason's and Blatche's court time and give necessary time to Young and McGuire to make up the minutes lost elsewhere. Maybe something like:

G: Arenas (24), Stevenson (20), Daniels (20), Mason (16), Young (16)
F: Jamison (30), Butler (30), Songaila (20), Blatche (8.), McGuire (8.)
C: Haywood (28.), Blatche (20)

I want CB under 30. Zero would be real nice but I hope he can get about 15 in Indy and Orl since to many games off isn't good for chemistry. He needs the rest but he needs to play some also. GA, Mason, NY can take more to rest AD(15). Specially if Indy is a fast team.

I'd take what you have with a little more GA (27), RM(20-25) and/or NY

But either way, that's 11

Email it to EJ.

[hands11]

Though DET is up

5:47, 3rd Qtr
Raptors 55, Pistons 58

The look in their eyes says they are mildly interested in this game.

Hopefully the crowd gets them energized.

They look like that are coasting.

I really want DET to win so we have a little margin to rest more players.

[LyricalRico]

I don't think EJ is going to rest anybody regardless of the outcome of the Raptors game. He's intent on building chemistry at all costs, even if it means our guys limping into the postseason.

Nobody will be rested. Period.

[hands11]

Nooo Hayes.

Raptors 75, Pistons 83 2:56, 4th Qtr

[hands11]

Raptors 80, Pistons 89 1:00

[hands11]

Raptors 84, Pistons 91

We are locked and loaded for at least 5th.

Off to thank the DET fans.

[Soup's Uncle]

I say play them limited minutes and let the youngsters get some burn.

Start the starters, but only play them 10-12 minutes per half.

Let Gil still get his 20-25. Let the Young Guns play the rest of the game.

I too, would rather have health over homecourt. I think homecourt is a longshot anyways.

[dobrojim]

I don't think EJ is going to rest anybody regardless of the outcome of the Raptors game. He's intent on building chemistry at all costs, even if it means our guys limping into the postseason.

Nobody will be rested. Period.

I think he is smart to keep trying to pass CLE until it's
not possible. Why concede homecourt?

They'll have some days off after Wed or maybe even after
Monday if the Cavs win vs MIA which seems a relatively certainty.

Then I expect they'll rest everyone.

[gil2good]

bring on the cavs

[mhd]

Go Heat. They can win this thing. Its 7-7 in the 1st quarter.