A method of determining an order of execution of a plurality of queued commands in a data storage system includes the step of determining a execution path metrics for each of a plurality of commands in a waiting queue. Each execution path metrics is determined both as a function of an access time between a last command in a ready queue and the associated command in the waiting queue, and as a function of an access time between the associated one of the commands in the waiting queue and another of the commands in the waiting queue. Based upon the determined execution path metrics, one of the commands in the waiting queue is selected and moved from the waiting queue to the ready queue. Also disclosed is a data storage system configured to implement the method.