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NEW YORK – A number of playoff-bound teams around the NBA have begun to rest their top players for full games in preparation for the postseason grind. While this tactic may be beneficial in the long run, it’s also risky because the short-handed approach often leads to defeat, which can negatively impact a team’s playoff seeding.
The Boston Celtics found a way to keep their legs fresh Sunday afternoon in New York without risking their hold on the top seed in the Eastern Conference standings.
With four of its typical starters in play (Avery Bradley was out with an illness), Boston quickly jumped out to a commanding lead over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. It took just seven minutes for the C’s to build a double-digit advantage, and by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, they found themselves up by 17 points.
There was no sense in keeping the starters in the game at that point, so Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Al Horford and Amir Johnson all sat out during the final frame as the C’s, who led by as many as 27 points, locked up an easy, 110-94 win at Madison Square Garden.
“Whenever we can get rest it’s a plus,” said Isaiah Thomas, who notched 19 points and six assists while playing just 24 minutes. “And today was a good example of that.”
The Celtics have had a low number of blowout wins this season, so there haven’t been many instances where they have been able to rest their starters for long stretches during games.
In fact, Sunday’s contest marked just the second occasion this season that all five of Boston’s starters played less than 30 minutes. The other occurrence also came against the Knicks – a 115-87 win all the way back on Nov. 11.
You may have noticed that Celtics games this season have generally come down to the wire. Thirty-five of their 77 contests have been decided by two possessions or fewer, so the starters almost always play 30-plus minutes per game.
Last week was no exception, as all three of Boston’s games were decided by four or fewer points.
“The past few games have been tough for us,” said Al Horford, who logged 14 points and seven rebounds during 26 minutes of play. “So [today] we played a hard game and we were able to stay out for the fourth. At least for me, I was very happy about it. And not only that, but to get a chance for our bench to play and get them some meaningful minutes and get them going too.”
All seven of Boston’s reserves earned playing time, including four who saw at least 19 minutes of action. Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart and Kelly Olynyk each scored in double-figures off the bench, while Jonas Jerebko came in and contributed with a team-high nine rebounds.
As important as it is for Boston’s starters to rest up with the Playoffs rapidly approaching, it’s equally vital for the reserves to get in as many reps as possible, because depth is a major factor when it comes to postseason success.
Not only did the Celtics manage to rest their top players and test their depth Sunday afternoon; they were also able to maintain their first-place ranking in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Celtics are now a full game ahead of Cleveland, which just so happens to be their next opponent Wednesday night in Boston.
Boston has an off day tomorrow and will practice Tuesday afternoon at their training facility in Waltham, Massachusetts. So the players will be well-rested and chomping at the bit by the time their marquee matchup against the Cavs rolls around.