A Few Minutes with Bruce Bowen

Rotation with Minutes

Kevin Garnett     28  Rasheed Wallace 12  Other Big   8
Kendrick Perkins  28  Rasheed Wallace 12  Other Big   8
Paul Pierce       32  Bruce Bowen     12  Sheed       4
Ray Allen         30  Marquis Daniels 18
Rajon Rondo       36  Eddie House     12

Average Minutes Per Game for Top Five Reserves

Sheed    28
Eddie    12
Marquis  18
Bowen    12
Other    16

Last week we all seemed to agree that our fourth big isn't likely to get more than 18 minutes per game (MPG), though we disagreed whether we needed a fourth big as insurance or simply because it would be nice to have a quality fourth big on the roster. We also seemed to disagree whether the fourth big would play consistent minutes.

Today, I'd like us to consider what kind of role Bruce Bowen would play on the Celtics were he to sign on for the 2009-10 campaign. Up front, I'm not going to make an assumption about whether the Celtics ultimately come to terms with Big Baby. I'm simply going to leave a place for "Other Big," which may be occupied by Glen Davis, Brian Scalabrine, or a Yi-like player. However, I am going to assume that if Bowen joins the C's, he doesn't arrive at the expense of Marquis Daniels, as a report posted by THE ARMY suggests.

Option A

First, Bowen could simply be inserted as the back-up three and play all of the minutes not consumed by Paul Pierce. This wouldn't be very difficult to do. Doc would merely have to take Marquis Daniels' minutes at the three and give them to Bowen. Daniels would then be relegated to a primary role as back-up two.

Option B

Second, Bowen might play a role more like Tony Allen did during our championship season, when Allen played spotty minutes here and there as injuries and fouls dictated. In such a role, Bowen would play about 40-50 games, and play about 10-18 MPG in those games.

I like option B. Here's why. Bowen is 38 years old. It might be nice to keep him fresh for big games against the other contenders. It also would allow Daniels to play more than 16-18 minutes a game, and thereby let Doc and the rest of us see how good he is. If he proves himself, great. If he doesn't, that gives us another reason to let Bowen play a little more (or, God forbid, Bill Walker or JR Giddens).

In either case, Doc needs to figure out a way to get the New Big 3 (Perkins, Sheed, and KG) on the floor at the same time for at least four minutes per game, because they certainly will be on the floor together against the contenders and we need them to be comfortable playing with each other, not to mention their teammates being comfortable playing with them.