It sounds as though the Boston Celtics are getting a little restless about their minutes on the court.
The Celtics started their five-game road trip Sunday with a clunker against the Orlando Magic, taking a 110-91 loss. One possible explanation is Marcus Smart’s knee injury preventing coach Brad Stevens from trotting out a consistent rotation game to game, which forward Jae Crowder said is taking its toll.
“A lot of guys don’t know where we’re going to play or what time we’re going to play,” Crowder said, per The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach. “It’s affecting us a little bit. We’ve got to figure it out as a unit, figure it out as a coaching staff. We’ve got to build our identity in who we want to be. We’re a month into the season, and we haven’t figured it out.”
Isaiah Thomas is the only Celtics player averaging more than 30 minutes per game, at 30.7. But Himmselsbach noted Crowder made sure to mention that’s more on the players than Stevens. Thomas agreed, saying the players need to earn their playing time.
“Until then, the minutes are probably going to be like they are because (Stevens) is trying to find the best players to play at that particular time,” Thomas said.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
