Weekend exercise: Backcourt minutes

by Mike Prada on Sep 12, 2008 4:56 PM EDT in Coaching

A few weeks ago, we discussed how people would break down the minutes in our frontcourt this season, assuming everyone was healthy. With seven guys to play two positions, it definitely wasn't easy to find time for everyone, but people had some good suggestions.

Now, I'm asking people to do the same for the three wing positions. I broke it down this way because the Princeton is an offense that depends on three wings and two bigs rather than specialized positions. Ergo, I consider Caron Butler a wing even though he plays small forward.

Obviously, it's not as crowded in these spots as it is up front, but there are still several players who deserve minutes that may not get them. Here are some considerations.

You may include any of the "bigs" in your breakdown if you think they deserve minutes on the wing. For example, if you think Andray Blatche or Antawn Jamison deserve some minutes at small forward, say so.
I know everyone is going to want to limit Gilbert Arenas' minutes because of the knee, and I don't want to dissuade anyone from doing so. Just consider that Arenas played in over 40 minutes a game in 2004/05 and 2005/06 without developing any health problems.
Caron Butler's minutes per game in his Wizards tenure, sequentially: 36.1, 39.3, 39.9. His game played: 75, 63, 58.
In 31.3 minutes per game, DeShawn Stevenson had his lowest turnover percentage and the second-highest assist percentage of his career.
The departing Roger Mason averaged 21.4 minutes per game. Nick Young played 15.4 minutes last year, but only 4.25 minutes in the playoffs, with two DNP-CDs.
Antonio Daniels' 30.4 minutes per game last season was a career-high.

Discuss!

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Comments

This is why I'd never be a coach

PG:
Arenas – 37 mins.
Daniels – 9 mins.
Brown – 2 mins.

SG:
Stevenson – 26 mins.
Young – 18 mins.
Arenas/Daniels – 4 mins.

SF:
Caron – 37 mins.
Taser – 8 mins.
Antawn/Andray – 3 mins.

I’m bad at this.

Bullets Forever: Where fancy numbers and YouTube come together.

by Jake Whitacre on Sep 12, 2008 9:19 PM EDT reply actions

My Scenario

My scenario would be

Gilbert – 36 mins
Stevenson – 32 mins
Caron – 36 mins
Daniels – 20 mins

Last 20 minutes is up for grabs. Young is the early favourite but he has a long way to go from last season. Most likely players will veer in and out of that rotation spot until someone shows some consistency. The competition level isn’t great for the backup wing so it will be embarrassing and a worrying sign if Young doesn’t claim it from the first day of camp.

by NBR on Sep 14, 2008 5:14 PM EDT reply actions

I'd about agree with that

I think Stevenson gets a few minutes less and AD gets a few more. At least I hope AD gets a few more.

by MR on Sep 14, 2008 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

I definitely don’t like giving Stevenson 32 minutes. He should be a 25-minute player tops.

I’d put Stevenson at 25, AD at 23 and give the other four minutes to Dee Brown and McGuire.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Sep 15, 2008 3:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, wait

Actually, I’d rather see Jamison back up Butler more than anything.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Sep 15, 2008 3:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Stevenson 25, AD 23 was about what I had in mind. But I don’t like the thought of Jamison playing much SF except in special matchups. The visual that comes to mind is that of an opposition SF penetrating, causing the Wiz to have to rotate, and eventually winding up with an open 3 for somebody.

by MR on Sep 15, 2008 7:39 AM EDT up reply actions