Off-Day Open Thread: Should the Magic Continue to Play Their Starters Down the Stretch?

by Ben Q Rock on Apr 8, 2008 12:12 PM EDT in Off-Day Open Thread

The Orlando Magic have nothing left to play for. Really. The third seed in the Eastern Conference is theirs. They can't move up. They can't move down. So with 5 essentially meaningless games left in the season, should coach Stan Van Gundy consider resting his key players so they'll be ready for the playoffs?

Brian Schmitz has an article on that subject in this morning's Orlando Sentinel. Stan doesn't want to give the stars a break, and for a variety of reasons:

"Yeah, they need a little bit of rest here and we've been giving them days off. But at the same time, I don't think they can play 24 minutes [per game] the rest of the way and then be in shape to play 40-42 minutes when the playoffs start."

[....]

"Games keep them sharp more than anything," he said. "I also think you also have to be cognizant of your fans. Those people who bought the tickets for that night are paying the same price as somebody bought in February, and I'm not sure they want to hear, 'Well, this is why we're resting guys.'"

I tend to agree with Stan... to a point, anyway. The Magic indeed owe it to themselves to play hard every night as they tune-up for the playoffs, especially next Wednesday night, when they face the Washington Wizards in what may be a first-round playoff preview. Additionally, they owe it to the fans both at home and away to play their best players. The Detroit Pistons do not share this philosophy, as they deactivated their trio of All-Stars in a game against the Timberwolves last week... and won.

However, last Sunday, when it became apparent the Magic's starters were mailing it in against the dreadful New York Knicks, Stan should have taken them out and let the reserves get some garbage minutes. There's no reason to leave Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu, and the other regular rotation players on the floor late in a blowout game. To his credit, Stan recognized his error after the game, telling Schmitz he was regretted not taking them out earlier.

So, where do you stand? Should Stan give the starters more rest down the stretch? Or should he play his normal rotation?

0 recs | Comment 9 comments

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Play Em

The LAST person Stan should be listening to is Brian Schmitz. Play em, push em, this team has work to do and it will not be done by JJ and the rest of the bench fodder.

Unlike the veteran Pistons this team is still a work in process. Use the next 5 games to get better and sharper.

Besides....Schmidt has been a long time know nothing, Orlando's answer to Peter Vecsey, only dumpier, dumber, and even more annoying.

by Brutalfacts on Apr 8, 2008 2:11 PM EDT 0 recs

Re: Play Em

Yes, the Pistons are indeed older. They've also played together longer. Those two reasons justify Saunders' benching his starters, at least from a coaching standpoint.

But if the deficit is too large to realistically overcome -- say, 20 points with 4 minutes remaining -- Stan should empty the bench. Then again, virtually no deficit is insurmountable for us, thanks to our great three-point shooting.

by Ben Q Rock on Apr 8, 2008 3:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

no way

I see your point, but they've had a whole training camp and a season of games/practices. I agree they're a work in progress but the starters and guys who get time have had PLENTY of time to play and mesh at this point. Maybe play the starters for a quarter and sit them.

Either way I think guys like Garrity, Redick, Augustine and Gortat, even Keyon Dooling need some good minutes right now and good competition other than what they see at practice. I'd say sit Hedo, Lewis, and Howard. Arroyo could be huge for this team in the playoffs if he can play well. Even a guy like Garrity with 10-12 off the bench is a big deal.

by nothinbutnick56 on Apr 9, 2008 12:09 AM EDT up 0 recs

Not so much

As I've said elsewhere it is imperative to give Gortat and Augie some more burn because I cringe to think of Garrity in our rotation come playoff time. I would also like to see JJ get some serious time, but that won't happen as the spot is on lock down by Mogans. Garrity however is a fill in and a poor one at that, so lets get some more auditions already! When can we expect Cook back exactly?

by Eyriq the Red on Apr 8, 2008 7:07 PM EDT 0 recs

Re: Not so much

As I've said elsewhere it is imperative to give Gortat and Augie some more burn because I cringe to think of Garrity in our rotation come playoff time.

I see your point, but I cringe thinking of Marcin and Auggie in our playoff rotation. Garrity isn't good anymore, to put it charitably, but he's been around long enough to know defensive assignments, etc. I'm not so sure about the younger guys, though. Maybe if Stan played them more earlier this season (HINT HINT!) I'd feel better about it. But right now, Garrity is -- gulp -- our best bet at the backup four.

brb, I need to brush my teeth. Bile out of my mouth and all that.

by Ben Q Rock on Apr 9, 2008 5:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

20 minutes a game

It isn't an eitther/or proposition. Play them 20 minutes a game to give them a workout and keep them sharp but don't overwork them. Let the starters come off the bench as reserves.

Baseball has it right. Sometimes a guy needs a day off or just to pinch hit. I wish basketball would get in that mindset more.

I appreciate Stan's concern for the fans but come on. Do we care about the last 5 games or do we care about winning in the playoffs?

by redandblue on Apr 9, 2008 9:40 AM EDT 0 recs

Re: 20 minutes a game

Is there a direct correlation between star players getting rest and winning in the playoffs? I don't know, and neither does anyone else, I suspect. But from a "What harm could it do?" standpoint, you're right. I don't see why it'd kill us to rest Dwight, Hedo, et. al down the stretch as long as they're still working hard in practice and eating right and all that.

by Ben Q Rock on Apr 9, 2008 5:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

About 30-32 minutes a game...

I think that should be an effective compromise, so that way the starters can stay sharp and be more ready to play 40+ minutes a game in the playoffs than if they play just 20 or so minutes a game the final 5 games.

by Mike from Illinois on Apr 9, 2008 3:17 PM EDT 0 recs

Re: About 30-32 minutes a game...

Probably the best idea so far. The [insert euphemism for "big three"] play about 40 minutes a night, so cutting back by 10 or so minutes a game would probably benefit them. Right?

by Ben Q Rock on Apr 9, 2008 6:00 PM EDT up 0 recs