WALTHAMRajon Rondo isn't quite ready for the Kevin Garnett '5-5-5' minutes plan. But Doc Rivers admits he is worried that Rondo's playing time has been a bit too plentiful these days.
"I'm concerned, not as far as him getting tired," Rivers said. "But him to save himself on the floor."
After three games, Rondo is averaging a team-high 41.5 minutes per game. Only Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (41.8) has a higher minutes per game average than Rondo.
"There's a minutes number for him," Rivers said. "We don't know what it is yet."
Although the C's are off to a disappointing 1-2 start, Rondo has established himself in the early going as Boston's best player.
He's averaging 15.3 points per game along with a team-high 12 assists. Rondo has also shown early signs of improvement in his perimeter shooting which has been -- and remains -- the biggest flaw to his game.
Individual statistics aside, Rivers is more concerned about Rondo failing to do the intangibles that collectively have contributed to his success.
In addition to his scoring and assists, Rondo is routinely among the NBA's leaders in steals. The last three full NBA seasons -- only 66 games were played during the lockout-shortened season of 2011-2012 -- Rondo has ranked among the league's top five in steals. In 2009, he was ranked fifth. In 2010, he was the league's leader with 2.33 per game and in 2011 he dropped back a spot to No. 2 with a 2.25 steals per game average.
His ability to get his hands on so many balls is aided by his wingspan and great instincts, of course. But he also benefits from his conditioning, which gets challenged when he's asked to play 40-plus minutes a game.
Knowing he is going to log so much court time, Rivers is searching for that balance between keeping his best player on the floor without running him into the ground.
"We'll figure it out, where he can play his minutes at full pace instead of knowing he's going to be on the floor too long and start pacing himself," Rivers said. "We need him to be a fast, quick, aggressive player."