small ball

[winsomme]

i know this is a hot button issue. at least it has been in the past...but i thought Van Gundy made a great point during the game.

he pointed out that without Pose to move over to the 4, we really don't have a good small ball lineup to use.

I know that many believe that it was a crutch for Doc and that he went to it way too much, but i really think that it is a tool that we need to have at our disposal come playoff time.

last night was a great game, and i have no real feelings of panic because of it. i don't think that somehow LA has it all over us and are unbeatable.

i just miss that option. it gives teams a different look and makes us more dangerous....especially for the playoffs.

filling that spot is another matter...you need a long three that can move over to the 4 and knock down shots to stretch the D...

[guava_wrench]

The small ball lineup was particularly effective in the comeback game against the lakers.

That lineup would be even more effective this year with Rondo's improvement. Rondo penetrating with 4 excellent outside shooters would be lethal.

[winsomme]

The small ball lineup was particularly effective in the comeback game against the lakers.

That lineup would be even more effective this year with Rondo's improvement. Rondo penetrating with 4 excellent outside shooters would be lethal.

i agree, but how do we fill that spot.....

a friend mentioned Joe Smith to me. he doesn't really fit the bill, but could definitely give a different look....especially if PJ doesn't come back...

a guy like Kleiza could fit the bill, but i don't know exactly how we could get him...Hakim Warrick (no threes but has a nice mid range game)...

i don't know...it's a surprisingly hard spot to fill...guys that can shoot and play 3 and 4 and don't mind coming off the bench.

[guava_wrench]

I think we stop trying to replay last year and appreciate the fact that we are looking better this year.

[winsomme]

I think we stop trying to replay last year and appreciate the fact that we are looking better this year.

i don't think that's trying to replay last year. i think like JVG noted, it's adding another tool come playoff time...

[ManUp]

What we need is shooters, not more small ball. After Ray, Pierce is a streak shooter, House can't make anything unless he's wide open, and Pruitt is solid, but gets no playing time. The Lakers packed it in when Rondo, and Tony were out there. They had House covered pretty well most of the night and the few open looks he got were missed. Posey was another guy that had to be defended all the way out to the three point line that's what his true value was against the Lakers. The Lakers were playing defense like they had an extra man out there when Rondo was controling the ball and Tony was out there.

[winsomme]

What we need is shooters, not more small ball. After Ray, Pierce is a streak shooter, House can't make anything unless he's wide open, and Pruitt is solid, but gets no playing time. The Lakers packed it in when Rondo, and Tony were out there. They had House covered pretty well most of the night and the few open looks he got were missed. Posey was another guy that had to be defended all the way out to the three point line that's what his true value was against the Lakers. The Lakers were playing defense like they had an extra man out there when Rondo was controling the ball and Tony was out there.

i agree about shooters, but small ball is a shooters lineup...Eddie, Ray, Paul, Pose, KG....that was a shooters lineup....

so was Rondo, Ray, Paul, Pose, KG...for that matter.

[winsomme]

another perfect game for a small lineup....

i think Doc is really missing have an effective small ball lineup sans Posey.

[billysan]

another perfect game for a small lineup....

i think Doc is really missing have an effective small ball lineup sans Posey.

I also think versatility is important. Posey could play several positions 2/3/4 and he could guard several 1/2/3/4 as well. Joe Smith obviously doesnt offer that option beyond the 4/5. A guy like Tayshawn Prince or Hedo Turkoglu for example would be ideal but of course unrealistic.

The closest thing we have now is Bill Walker and Brian Scalabrine. Walker has the physical tools but is still in the learning curve and Scalabrine has the mental ability but not the athletic skills. If we want to sign a guy with those skills it probably boils down to Linton Johnson or a trade for Matt Barnes IMO.

If I had a choice and still needed to stay with smaller money then I would opt to trade for Grant Hill or possibly Donyell Marshall if he has anything left. At least we could get 12-15 mpg of that type production. Thaddeus Young, Jeff Green and Nicolas Batum are other guys I think have the same potential. None of them is getting bought out or made available to my knowledge.

None of which comes close to Posey.

[Scribbles]

We could still play small ball but Doc doesn't play Pruitt.  I'd think a small ball line up of House, Pruitt, Allen, Pierce, and KG would work well, however until Doc starts giving Gabe some minutes we aren't going to know.  In the stints the kid has played he's played well and with House struggling lately and Ray off tonight it was a perfect chance to put him in.  I don't get it. 

[Who]

It would be nice to have but it's not a large problem. Kevin Garnett is an excellent choice to matchup with opponents small ball routines.

[Michael Anthony]

We could still play small ball but Doc doesn't play Pruitt.  I'd think a small ball line up of House, Pruitt, Allen, Pierce, and KG would work well, however until Doc starts giving Gabe some minutes we aren't going to know.  In the stints the kid has played he's played well and with House struggling lately and Ray off tonight it was a perfect chance to put him in.  I don't get it. 

Agreed, there is no reason Pierce cannot put in some time at the four against power forwards like Harrington, Odom, Turkoglu and even Bosh.

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

I think our bench is certainly worse than last year..that being said Van Gundy needs to shut his mouth when doing our games, all he ever does is criticize us and all of our players, why? I dont understand Jeff, theres 2 teams out there, and all you do, is sit there and talk about  our weaknesses all game long... he did it last year too, he constantly questioned lineups, bench players, KG, and rondo throughtout the entire playoffs/finals....just obnoxious..
Oh and during the Christmas day game, Mike Breen(who is a terrible color guy, cant stand him) made a joke about our bench being "scrubs" that I didnt exactly find funny.