We need a better substitution pattern!
Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 1:22 pm
I am really concerned with the way Doc substituted last night. He did a wonderful job in the first game but yesterday, especially in the second quarter he looked lost.
First thing that needs to be done is Paul Pierce must get some rest! He played 47 minutes last night! He can`t be on the court for practically the whole game...
I know when Paul is out we are in trouble but with good substitutions we can make this work.
Paul needs to be first guy substituted. After 8 minutes I would bring Posey and maybe PJ for Perk and House for Rondo. That lineup could still score points with Pierce on the bench. We should go to KG in the post every time and if they double team him Ray, House, Posey could punish that.
We can bring Paul back in after 2 minutes in the 2nd alongside Cassell and Powe and give Ray and KG some rest. Paul with Sam give us 2 players that can create their own shot in the second quarter and Cassell can bring the ball up against the press (I know Sam has been terrible but the guy can still play and help this team and now we need him more than ever).
One thing we have to do is we need to have one of Pierce or KG on the floor at all times! That to me is the key!
We have huge trouble in the second quarter, we usually lose all the momentum when the bench is in that is why I think it is important that we have some kind of a set substitution pattern, especially in the second period.
So the substitution pattern would look something like this:
1st quarter 1- 8 minutes: Rondo, Ray, Pierce, KG, Perk
Plan: Go to Pierce early and try to get them in foul trouble
1st Q 9-12 2nd Q 1-2 min: House, Ray, Posey, KG, Brown
Plan: Go to KG in the low post and punish double teams
2nd Q 3-8 min: Cassell, Pierce, Posey, Powe, Brown
Plan: This is the critical time. Go to Pierce and let him attack. Try and post up Sam on Hunter....
2nd Q 9-12 min: Rondo, Ray, Pierce, KG, Perk (or whoever is having a good day)
I know you can not have a rotation set in stone due to fouls, bad/good days of certain players but there needs to be some sort of a structure to what we are doing. Every game is different and a coach needs to do numerous adjustments through the course of the game still I would really like to see us having a definite lineup and strategy in the second quarter, which IMO is the key. We must give our big three enough rest in that period but we also must keep our momentum. And it would really help the bench players if they would know their exact roles and lineups in the 2nd. Now, everything looks a little bit experimental.
Similar rotation is also needed at the end of the 3rd and start of the 4th quarter, IMO.
Like I said in such a dynamic game nothing can be set in stone but some structure to the substitution pattern should be applied to make the game easier especially for our role players. Hopefully, we will see some adjustments in the 3rd game in DET.
Go, C`s!
First thing that needs to be done is Paul Pierce must get some rest! He played 47 minutes last night! He can`t be on the court for practically the whole game...
I know when Paul is out we are in trouble but with good substitutions we can make this work.
Paul needs to be first guy substituted. After 8 minutes I would bring Posey and maybe PJ for Perk and House for Rondo. That lineup could still score points with Pierce on the bench. We should go to KG in the post every time and if they double team him Ray, House, Posey could punish that.
We can bring Paul back in after 2 minutes in the 2nd alongside Cassell and Powe and give Ray and KG some rest. Paul with Sam give us 2 players that can create their own shot in the second quarter and Cassell can bring the ball up against the press (I know Sam has been terrible but the guy can still play and help this team and now we need him more than ever).
One thing we have to do is we need to have one of Pierce or KG on the floor at all times! That to me is the key!
We have huge trouble in the second quarter, we usually lose all the momentum when the bench is in that is why I think it is important that we have some kind of a set substitution pattern, especially in the second period.
So the substitution pattern would look something like this:
1st quarter 1- 8 minutes: Rondo, Ray, Pierce, KG, Perk
Plan: Go to Pierce early and try to get them in foul trouble
1st Q 9-12 2nd Q 1-2 min: House, Ray, Posey, KG, Brown
Plan: Go to KG in the low post and punish double teams
2nd Q 3-8 min: Cassell, Pierce, Posey, Powe, Brown
Plan: This is the critical time. Go to Pierce and let him attack. Try and post up Sam on Hunter....
2nd Q 9-12 min: Rondo, Ray, Pierce, KG, Perk (or whoever is having a good day)
I know you can not have a rotation set in stone due to fouls, bad/good days of certain players but there needs to be some sort of a structure to what we are doing. Every game is different and a coach needs to do numerous adjustments through the course of the game still I would really like to see us having a definite lineup and strategy in the second quarter, which IMO is the key. We must give our big three enough rest in that period but we also must keep our momentum. And it would really help the bench players if they would know their exact roles and lineups in the 2nd. Now, everything looks a little bit experimental.
Similar rotation is also needed at the end of the 3rd and start of the 4th quarter, IMO.
Like I said in such a dynamic game nothing can be set in stone but some structure to the substitution pattern should be applied to make the game easier especially for our role players. Hopefully, we will see some adjustments in the 3rd game in DET.
Go, C`s!