Danny Green is currently out due to a hamstring injury with no definite timetable to return. This isn’t the first time the elder statesman of the Philadelphia 76ers has missed time due to injury early on in this season.
I’ve recently written that the 34-year-old 3-and-D wing is on the decline and with older players, the most important thing is to make sure that they are ready for the playoffs. There’s one way Sixers head coach Doc Rivers can make sure Green’s ready for the postseason.
The Philadelphia 76ers should decrease Green’s minutes.
Once Green returns to health, the 76ers need to reduce his minutes moving forward. So far this season, Green is averaging 23.9 minutes per game this season, which is the fourth-lowest of his career.
It’s clear he needs to be playing fewer minutes than that. He should be averaging between 18-20 minutes per game. The Sixers have more than enough depth to fill in those extra minutes with Matisse Thybulle, Furkan Korkmaz, and Isaiah Joe.
Reducing his game action to about 20 minutes per game would mean he would only be averaging about five minutes a quarter and for the 34-year-old that would help save his legs for the playoffs in which is when Philly will need him more.
Does this mean that Green shouldn’t be starting anymore? Not necessarily, Rivers could still decide to keep him as a starter and give those extra minutes to the trio mentioned above. However, if Rivers does decide to bench Green to help save his legs for the postseason, then Thybulle should start in his place as he’s would improve the starting five’s perimeter defense the most.
Regardless of what role Green is in moving forward for the Philadelphia 76ers, once healthy, it’s clear he should have his minutes reduced.