Unthinkable: Celtics starting PG

[wiley]

3) If Rondo goes down, is all this discussion moot anyway?  With the Big Three getting older, can we really win it all without an elite PG like Rondo?

I don't think we could win as currently constituted; House just isn't good enough to be a starter.  However, if we had a capable starting-caliber PG, this team could still compete.  Remember, Orlando made the playoffs last year with Alston.  Two years ago, we won with an arguably thinner bench, and a lesser Rondo and Perkins.  Losing Rondo would certainly make things an uphill climb, but I'd rather see the team try to fill the hole rather than throwing in the towel.

Well said, Roy.  That's exactly how I feel about and that's why I started this thread.

From original post:  They may or may not support this opinion by saying that without Rondo the Celtics aren't going anywhere anyway, so why bother screwing around with our roster. (I disagree on that point as well).

Truth is, it's not a fun topic.  But, rather than seeing it as doomsday talk, I prefer to see it as basic support for something that is quite normal, which is title contenders (in any sport) preparing for multiple scenarios. 

The argument that "we're not going anywhere without Rondo anyway" fails to imagine a number of scenarios, just a couple of which are injuries to stars on other teams, thereby shaking up the playing field, and short term injuries, where we need a Rondo replacement for the last game or two of the ECF or some prior series, etc...in order to get to that next series.  I would hate to see the Celtics lose to a lesser team in the ECF because of turnovers with Rondo scheduled to return for the finals, just as one example.

As Jon points out, we may not want an over-competent stop gap (Rafer Alston), but no stop-gap seems risky (ludicrous imo).

[scoop]

A few questions emerge from this discussion:

1) Of the "good options" how many would be happy playing the minuscule minutes that go to the "backup PG" on this team.  It's great to talk about Rafer Alston, but after the whole issue of "getting him" is resolved, how do we think he feels about less than 15 mpg?

It depends on the player. Guys who are already backups wouldn't have much of a problem, even if their minutes were scaled back a bit; players who are getting big minutes and are in a contract year would probably dislike it (say Luke Ridnour). Still, the later in the season the smaller of a problem that would be, especially for players from lottery teams.

2) Assuming Rondo doesn't get hurt, how do we feel about an Alston over House scenario?  I clearly feel that Rafer would beat Eddie in a 1 on 1; however, if Alston's here and Daniels is healthy, it likely means close to zero minutes for Eddie.  Is no Eddie House a good thing for this team?

No, it's a terrible thing except if the guy replacing him is close to House as a shooter (volume+efficiency+ability to get off the shot).

3) If Rondo goes down, is all this discussion moot anyway?  With the Big Three getting older, can we really win it all without an elite PG like Rondo?

I think it's precisely the opposite: only if Rondo goes down with a season ending injury this discussion makes sense. Yes, I think we can win without an elite PG but it needs to be an average one (Luke Ridnour,Felton, even TJ Ford, CJ Watson, Alston, Lowry, Tinsley).

[D Dub]

Is my man Eddie House still gettin' no respect?  C'mon now people!

Beating a full court press is a five person job, it requires a plan and good passing -- not a trade for a guy who'll be expected to dribble through it. 

No one is more talented or has better chemisty 1-10 than the Celts.  Now is the time to just sit back and enjoy the ride, no need for roster tinkering. 

[nickagneta]

We just lost our back up SG, Daniels, who is #7 on the depth chart and who happens to act simultaneously as our back up SF and back up PG, for two months. Eddie is a PG with SG skills in a PG body and with limited PG skills. JR Giddens and Bill Walker are pretty much useless second year SFs. Tony Allen is a SG that can't shoot.

Right now might be the best time in the world to tinker with the roster as it would give whoever you bring in plenty of time to assimilate themselves.

[More Banners]

I think Hinrich might be a good trade target, and I definitely think we need a very solid backup PG.  It just makes everything else work better when the PG can run the show. 

Chicago is going nowhere, though they might not be aware of that yet, and they are watching the money to stay out of luxury tax.  They also need some depth, and room for next year is always good for teams going nowhere. 

Scal, TA, and House works in a 3 for 1, and they have the roster spots.  They might cut TA, since he's a criminal in Chicago...but House and Scal could spread the floor.  Hinrich's contract, I think, is the same length as KG's, which is a bonus for stability on our rotation.


BONUS:  We'd have 2 roster spots after the deal, one for Antoine, and the other for Gerald Green! 

Justin Reed?  Darius Miles? (Don't know if the C's would sign poth smokers...).