Boston Celtics: Brad Stevens working magic with the rotation

Brad Stevens is working magic with a rotation that should be in utter chaos right now

The Boston Celtics went into this postseason with a chaotic rotation and all kinds of undefined roles. They knew they’d have to stabilize in the playoffs, but the injuries would never make it easy. Brad Stevens had to figure a lot of things out quickly, and his adaptability has been the most important part.

Somehow, even with the starting lineup changing, Marcus Smart being reinserted, and Jaylen Brown taken out of the rotation, Stevens still has kept everyone comfortable. The most impressive part might be how he is managing to shorten his rotation, but not asking players to carry too much of a load.

The Celtics keep using players, but he is never asking any individual to have to carry so much that it prevents them from being as effective as possible. He is making sure everyone is fresh on the court, while avoiding playing any liabilities that might be abused in a certain situation.

In game one against the Philadelphia 76ers, a completely fresh series with two new starters from the game before, he established the kind of balance that teams might spend an entire season trying to reach.

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Jayson Tatum was the only player that broke the 40 minute plateau, but he has been getting some of the most amount of minutes all season long. Stevens has opted to use him for entire fourth quarters in the past, and he has proven that he will not show any kind of fatigue with those extra minutes.

With Terry Rozier, he plays with so much energy and intensity, and Stevens wants to make sure he does not lose that edge because of too many minutes. He was able to have his most complete performance of the season, and he made sure every single minute counted.

Al Horford, who is absolutely crucial to everything they do on both neds, needs to be conserved more and only had to play 33 minutes in an eight man rotation. It is not a coincidence that Horford’s play elevates every year in the playoffs, and these kinds of minute restrictions and additonal rest allows him to be this effective.

Aron Baynes, Marcus Smart and Marcus Morris all then contributed between 28-32 minutes. None of these guys are playing real starter minutes, but they also have alot more than a bench role.

These three have all prove that they are able to keep up with starters, and will not be liabilities. Because of that, Stevens can give them these larger roles in order to give Rozier and Horford that extra rest. And, obviously, around 30 minutes is not too much for any of them to handle.

Even the bottom of the rotation had significant roles, bringing together one of the tightest rotations Stevens has ever put on the court. Semi Ojeleye contributed 22 minutes and Shane Larkin got out there for 18.

The Celtics are not playing anyone that are non factors, and none of these players feel like filler. Brad Stevens is able to use the bottom of his rotation more than most coaches will even attempt in the playoffs, and it is allowing the starters to get the rest they need to be as effective as possible every time they are on the court.

The Celtics have lost most of their top end talent, but they still have players that are ready to be a positive presence on the court. Stevens would not be able to keep his starters on the bench for so long if the bottom of the bench did not carry the kind of load that is expected of some sixth men.

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Stevens makes sure that everyone on the court is comfortable and in a position to contribute. Allowing the secondary players to get in rhythm and have an impact on the game might be equally as important as keeping the starters as fresh as possible.

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