Davis to start tonight

[moiso]

I'm not sure why people think Davis won't be an offensive challenge for Beasley.  Listed at 6'9'' and just 235 lbs, Beasley is probably one of the few power forwards in the league that Davis isn't at a big size disadvantage against.  BBD should be able to back him down completely under the rim.  Of course, Baby'll have to watch out for the guy coming behind to block his shot.

Mike

To me, Baby isn't starting because of offense.  He's not a very good offensive player and I consider any points he scores a bonus.  He gets his minutes for hustle and defense. 

[Evantime34]

I rather start Sheed for a couple of reasons. First, because he would give Beasely more problems offensively than Davis would. I don't think either matches up particularly well defensively with Beasely, so I prefer to get with the Sheed for an offensive edge. Also, I think that this would've provided some extra motivation for Sheed to step up an assert himself in KG's role. Should this even be a thought at this stage in the game? No, but we're talking about Sheed so you just don't know.

X's and O's here...

Why is that when Sheed is fronted we don't put a shooter (Pierce or Ray) on the strong side of the ball, in the corner, to have the better angle for the entry pass? This is hard to explain on a keyboard, but Rondo (for example) would have the ball on the wing in order to make the entry pass to Sheed. However, since Wallace is being fronted there is no angle to make the pass. In addition, what makes this even more difficult is that Wallace no longer has good hops so a lob to the basket is basically out of the question. This happened over and over in offensive sets in Game 1. Doc and Co. did a poor job in adjusting and failed to bring over a shooter to the corner (triangle offense of sorts) to counter the strategy. Instead, the ball was swung over to the weakside and Wallace would rotate to set a high screen, on that side, for the ballhander. Bottom line, mismatch inside was constantly abandoned.

Swinging the ball to the weakside is the correct play in that situation. If you are fronted in the post that means you have the player sealed. If Sheed was trying he could easily turn and keep the man sealed so he would have possession on the weakside.

So if the man with the ball is on the one side of the key, the defensive man would be between the ball and the man. When the ball is reversed weakside all the big man has to do is maintain his position or at worst slide his seal over. Sheed often allows his man to jump in front of him when the ball is reversed because he is LAZY.

The extra pass further down the wing or to the corner is most certainly a better angle to make an entry pass. However, once that extra pass is made to the corner the defense has more time to rotate thus negating the advantage of a lob pass over the fronting defender (via weakside help).

I agree with you that on the reversal of the ball a player should not be coming up to set a high screen. However since Sheed seems unwilling to fight for his seal when the ball is reversed it makes sense to have him screen because he would be still be fronted in the post on the reversal.

[Eddie20]

I rather start Sheed for a couple of reasons. First, because he would give Beasely more problems offensively than Davis would. I don't think either matches up particularly well defensively with Beasely, so I prefer to get with the Sheed for an offensive edge. Also, I think that this would've provided some extra motivation for Sheed to step up an assert himself in KG's role. Should this even be a thought at this stage in the game? No, but we're talking about Sheed so you just don't know.

X's and O's here...

Why is that when Sheed is fronted we don't put a shooter (Pierce or Ray) on the strong side of the ball, in the corner, to have the better angle for the entry pass? This is hard to explain on a keyboard, but Rondo (for example) would have the ball on the wing in order to make the entry pass to Sheed. However, since Wallace is being fronted there is no angle to make the pass. In addition, what makes this even more difficult is that Wallace no longer has good hops so a lob to the basket is basically out of the question. This happened over and over in offensive sets in Game 1. Doc and Co. did a poor job in adjusting and failed to bring over a shooter to the corner (triangle offense of sorts) to counter the strategy. Instead, the ball was swung over to the weakside and Wallace would rotate to set a high screen, on that side, for the ballhander. Bottom line, mismatch inside was constantly abandoned.

A post entry pass from the corner is an even more difficult angle for a post entry pass. You also leave the passer open to being trapped. Basically you want to avoid the corners unless you are spotting up for an open jumper.

No, not if the offensive player is being fronted against an entry pass from the top. The ball would be swung to the corner, a good shooter to prevent sagging off, and then swung to the post. Obviously, the big man also has to to his part in sealing off the defender, creating a passing lane, which prevents the defender from adjusting to the corner and then fronting off that angle.

[Drucci]

I prefer Baby to start in place of Sheed because his quickness (or kind of) will allow him to defend more easily on Beasley. And he could make him work on the other end too, while Sheed would be too slow to defend on Beasley.

Baby and Sheed should both get extended minutes anyway so I hope Doc sticks with the matchup that's working the most.

[Spilling Green Dye]

I wrote this in the frontpage comments, but I think it's worth mentioning.  I'd like to add that I'll be routing for Davis, but the move is rather troubling to me, and I explain below:



I hope this decision was made to either help Rasheed realize he isn’t an automatic, or because Rasheed shouldn’t be playing PF. Other than that, to say that Rasheed has been a corpse and that BBD is of high value is distoring the truth. This link will show that Davis is one of the least, if not THE LEAST, productive players on the team:

http://www.82games.com/0910/0910BOS1.HTM

Now check out the 5-man rotations and see how they perform with Davis in place of KG:

http://www.82games.com/0910/0910BOS2.HTM

Replacing KG with Rasheed is not a good move. But replacing him with Davis is statistically a TERRIBLE move. The Celtics go from having one of the best 5-man rotations in the league, to a team that is -33 in just 46 minutes, with a win% of 18%…. and that is just from inserting Glen Davis into the starting lineup. I like his energy, but the numbers should not be ignored.

[cornbreadsmart]

we don't WANT to rely on rasheed. we don't know for sure if he is gonna give a good effort. this was a no brainer. i'd be fine with leaving rasheed on the pine the rest of the playoffs as unrealistic as that is.

[Actionjakson]

I wrote this in the frontpage comments, but I think it's worth mentioning.  I'd like to add that I'll be routing for Davis, but the move is rather troubling to me, and I explain below:



I hope this decision was made to either help Rasheed realize he isn’t an automatic, or because Rasheed shouldn’t be playing PF. Other than that, to say that Rasheed has been a corpse and that BBD is of high value is distoring the truth. This link will show that Davis is one of the least, if not THE LEAST, productive players on the team:

http://www.82games.com/0910/0910BOS1.HTM

Now check out the 5-man rotations and see how they perform with Davis in place of KG:

http://www.82games.com/0910/0910BOS2.HTM

Replacing KG with Rasheed is not a good move. But replacing him with Davis is statistically a TERRIBLE move. The Celtics go from having one of the best 5-man rotations in the league, to a team that is -33 in just 46 minutes, with a win% of 18%…. and that is just from inserting Glen Davis into the starting lineup. I like his energy, but the numbers should not be ignored.

I believe that  statistics like this are overrated in basketball. Basketball is a team sport that is reliant on matchups. The team is going to play different on any given night depending on who they are matched up against. I think that Baby matches up well against the heat, and has proven that he can perform in the playoffs. Sheed has been so inconsistent all year and i think it is the best decision to start Baby, especcially how he played on saturday.

[GreenFaith1819]

Well, Glen Davis will do just fine. His contributions will help us tonight.

Plus, we'll still have Sheed and Shelden to back us up as well.

When KG was out last year, both Perk and Glen stepped up big time, so no worries from this end.

It is just a good feeling knowing that KG is well, waiting to come back on Friday. He'll serve his suspension, but in the meantime Ticket Stub and the Gang will step up big time.

Oh - and Rondo won't have the Flu this time.

And Ray Ray and Pierce will shoot better as well.

But Glen won't disappoint.

[Spilling Green Dye]

I wrote this in the frontpage comments, but I think it's worth mentioning.  I'd like to add that I'll be routing for Davis, but the move is rather troubling to me, and I explain below:



I hope this decision was made to either help Rasheed realize he isn’t an automatic, or because Rasheed shouldn’t be playing PF. Other than that, to say that Rasheed has been a corpse and that BBD is of high value is distoring the truth. This link will show that Davis is one of the least, if not THE LEAST, productive players on the team:

http://www.82games.com/0910/0910BOS1.HTM

Now check out the 5-man rotations and see how they perform with Davis in place of KG:

http://www.82games.com/0910/0910BOS2.HTM

Replacing KG with Rasheed is not a good move. But replacing him with Davis is statistically a TERRIBLE move. The Celtics go from having one of the best 5-man rotations in the league, to a team that is -33 in just 46 minutes, with a win% of 18%…. and that is just from inserting Glen Davis into the starting lineup. I like his energy, but the numbers should not be ignored.

I believe that  statistics like this are overrated in basketball. Basketball is a team sport that is reliant on matchups. The team is going to play different on any given night depending on who they are matched up against. I think that Baby matches up well against the heat, and has proven that he can perform in the playoffs. Sheed has been so inconsistent all year and i think it is the best decision to start Baby, especcially how he played on saturday.

While I agree that matchups matter, which is why I'm a proponent of Tony Allen getting more minutes in this series, the 5-man roster statistics do show the "Team" aspect you're referring to.  Quite simply, as a team, when you take out KG and put in Davis you get a terrible result as a team.  In fact, the starters become negative, which is amazingly bad considering how good Rondo, Pierce, Allen, and Perk are.  It just hasn't proven to be a good team.  I'm not very upset about Davis starting b/c the other options aren't great, but it can be pretty easy to argue that Davis shouldn't start.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

Sarting...I know, it is THE BIG THING.....I would start MD, and have him cover Wade, hound him until he is tired of it, wait until the 2nd and put in TA on him...Don't put TA in too early, so the other coach cannot adjust to him or get him in foul trouble too early....but they better put TA in on Wade....!!! Some Sheldon would be good....BBD can play...he did good last time......in the last 2 quarters......I do love hustle..but I would like him more if he lost the weight and could dunk instantly like Sheldon can.......and make more of his free throws......!

[BudweiserCeltic]

I don't like how Davis has played tonight (offensively) even though with the amount of points he has scored. Ray Allen has been open the whole game in the perimeter and he doesn't freaking pass the ball. Has he passed the ball once in this game? If this continues it could really hurt Pierce and Ray Allen if/when we need them the most. Let's find our main guys and keep up the rhythm. With that said, Rondo has to do a better job finding Ray himself, Rondo is constantly overlooking him when Ray is in great position.

Come on people, let's play smart basketball. But I guess I can't complain much since we're kicking ass right now, but we should be up by a lot more in my opinion.

[rav123]

Glen Davis and Rasheed Wallace are both below average defensive power forwards and neither player can adequately defend the pick and roll against a Wade + a jump shooting big man (Beasley/Haslem).

Rasheed is more than an average defensively. Are you saying that he's above average as a Center? and not as good at the 4?

He's well below average at either position at this stage of his career.  Feet don't move!

I'm sorry, but that is not true. He is probably only an average defender at the PF spot nowadays (due to lack of quickness), and also a mediocre help-defender, screen-roll defender, perimeter-defender and maybe even team-defender in general.

But he is still one of the top 5 post defenders in the league! Did you see him in the games against Orlando? Dwight couldn't do anything against him. Sheed was defending D12 better than Perkins did in those games. He has the perfect mix of strength, raw bulk and height to deny position. He has got the guile to throw off an opponent who is backing him down, and his hands are so quick he deflects and steals so many dribbles and entry passes.

He may not be an amazing defender overall (as he once was), but he is still one of the best defenders at the center position, and one of the few who can handle Dwight Howard (Yao, Bogut, Perkins, Duncan, KG, Rasho, Sheed, Shaq, Kurt Thomas, Pau Gasol - not in order). Don't sell him short.

[mmbaby]

Wow, how you feelin' now, people?

Baby played INCREDIBLE, FANTASTIC, AWESOME!!!
His play speaks for itself. No need for your numbers and ratios. Doc knew what was best and he did it. Sheed-6 pts/Sheldon-2 pts. Yeah, he got some shots blocked, but came up with fouls and made almost all his free throws. He also used his jumper and his drive and turnaround right to the paint.
Just awesome play.
Give Baby the confidence and the looks and he'll steal the show.
GO BIG BABY DAVIS!