The need to play big

[MBunge]

I saw on the front page the suggestion that if New York basically plays Amare at center the Cs should counter with a small line up and put KG at the 5 or just rely on Big Baby and the starters.  I think that would be a disaster.

As great as KG still is, he's simply not physically suited to play center and the effects of age are magnifiying that.  As good as Baby can be at times, he simply has severe limitations both offensively and defensively.  Baby is one of those guys whose game swings from "pretty good" to "stunningly bad" with very little in between.

Doc has to play Shaq and JO as much as possible, both against the Knicks and throughout the playoffs and not give into the small ball impulse.  KG, Ray and Paul are not the same physically as they were 4 years ago and Baby doesn't play the same role that Posey did on either offense or defense.  Heck, I'd even say Doc should exclusively play a combination of Shaq, JO and Krstic at the 5, except that Krstic can't play exactly like Perk and that's apparently the only thing Boston ever wants their centers to do.

Mike

[manbehindtheman]

it would be silly not to play JO if he is healthy enough to play...the KG BBD frontcourt puts us at a disadvantage against teams and it is unnecessary to start with that lineup.

[wdleehi]

Big is good for the Celtics.



The idea should be force the Knicks to have to find a way to play big instead of letting them off the hook for the lack of a C.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I like KG at the 5, got no problems with his usage on the 5. Of course, it depends on who else is on the floor on both sides.

If anything I don't want to go small just to have Baby at the 5, that's the only thing that makes me cringe.

[Fafnir]

I agree with keeping two big men on the court as much as possible.

But KG should check Amar'e for the vast majority of the time both are on the court even if Amar'e is their C.

[wdleehi]

I agree with keeping two big men on the court as much as possible.

But KG should check Amar'e for the vast majority of the time both are on the court even if Amar'e is their C.

Yep.



Just abuse the small PF on the other end of the court.  I have no issue with KG or JO posting up a SF.  Heck, even Davis can post up a SF and be more effective then a SF playing completely on the outside.