Boston Celtics fans got their first glimpse at Doc Rivers' "5-5-5 plan" for Kevin Garnett this season.
Rivers intends to play Garnett in three different 5-minute stretches, in each half.
It didn't work out exactly as Rivers planned, but he was nonetheless pleased with Garnett's play in the Celtics' 76-75 preseason win over Toronto on Sunday.
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"I did like the rotations with Kevin," Rivers said. "It wasn't exactly 5-5-5, it was 6 one time. I like it."
The purpose is to get Garnett to deliver the kind of all-out intensity he's used to bringing to the floor, without worrying about whether he has enough left in the tank.
"He knows now, 'go hard for five minutes and we're taking you out,'" Rivers said. "We'll figure it out."
While the plan is primarily for Garnett, Rivers hasn't ruled out using it for other players. It makes sense to use it with veteran players, as a way of getting the most out of them in limited bursts.
But Rivers said he wouldn't rule out using the 5-5-5 plan with younger players like Rajon Rondo, as well.
In fact, the C's did some of that with Rondo on Sunday.
While the 5-5-5 plan with Garnett is designed to get him to be more aggressive on offense, using it with Rondo would be to allow him to be a more aggressive, on-the-ball defender.
"We're asking Rondo to pick the ball up and put his pressure (on the ball-handler)," Rivers said. "That's one of the things I thought we got away from last year. We're asking him to get into it, turn the ball and whenever you need a blow, we'll give you a blow and we'll bring you back in."