Many Clipper fans would respond to the critics by saying that many on the Clippers' bench will likely see their roles reduced and this no different to what Doc is saying.
"you don't worry about it"Doc said about his bench. "Show me a team where the starters aren't going to play 40 minutes "
Although in quite a few cases the starters don't always exactly play 40 minutes Rivers is right in the sense that come playoff time the starters play more, the bench less.
"I keep hearing about our bench, and I'm like we'll be fine"
Coaches taxing their starters in the playoffs is no strange concept, it happens often. Back to back games don't exist during the playoffs and each game is extremely important.
Phoenix Suns coach Jeff Hornacek also aired a similar attidude to Rivers'.
"TNT, ESPN games, all these games to me , it seems like you should be able to play 48 minutes" said The Suns' coach. "you play 4 minutes a time then there is a timeout. So unless there is foul trouble , you'll see Chris Paul and these guys play 44 minutes a game".
It's no secret The Clippers bench was barely utilized this season with the Clippers' starting 5 playing 302 more minutes more than any other lineup. Luckily, the players know what to expect this season.
"We know rotations shorter in The Playoffs. Some guys are not going to get the minutes there used" said Matt Barnes.
The starters playing big minutes seems all well and good except for one problem. There are likely to be a few long series' that go to game 6 or 7 waiting for the Clips. Teams, especially great ones like San Antonio and Golden State may quickly come familiar with the plays the starting unit use and may quickly adjust in an attempt to neutralize the starters. Therefore it may help to have a few guys off the bench that may change things up and cause problems for the opposition.
Whether this ends up being a problem for The Clippers remains to be seen but either way, I cannot wait.
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