Backcourt option: IT/Smart

[tarheelsxxiii]

Shak's media day thread (TP) was a nice welcoming to a new season and got me to thinking about different scenarios playing out this year.

Smart is just coming into his 2nd year and obviously will take some time to help develop offensively. So if he shows some of the same offensive capabilities as last season (with hopefully some improvement at getting to the rim and scoring more efficiently), would an IT/Smart starting backcourt make more sense than Smart/AB?

Imo, AB is the consummate professional. I believe he's the longest tenured Celtic on the team, he has improved every season, and sets a great example for others on the court. This isn't about finding a replacement for him, but rather, finding the best backcourt we can put out on a nightly basis.

IT's scoring fulfills a major area of need. With Smart at the 2 and Crowder at the 3, he now has very good help defense at the wings, and there's also rim protection now coming from Amir (expected to start at the 5). With Lee at 4 (or even KO/Sully, but expecting Lee), we add more offensive firepower to complement IT, especially with Lee+IT in P&Rs.

So the question is whether this could actually be our best option. Turner can be the 2nd unit spark this season (if he is to stay), with additional offensive contributions from Bradley at guard and Jerebko/KO/Sully/Zeller at the 4/5 that wouldn't be giving up much on defense. Given a realistic expectation of Smart's growth, I'm warming up to the idea of this starting 5.

[Hemingway]

I think keeping it Smart, AB, Turner is the way to go to start. Smart probably still needs turner to help set up the O. Hopefully he gets it by midseason, and Crowder earns a starting spot by then too.

Smart has the highest upside of anyone we have. and he has the most upside at the 1 because of his height and that there are fewer 1s than 2s. Add to this that ITs weakness, D, can be hidden more against bench players. So I don't see the need to change things. We can still play a line up with TI, Smart, Crowder a lot. ABs best asset is his D, might as well use that to start the game. If we start IT, if the other team has scorers at the 1 and 2 we are in trouble.

[jambr380]

I would probably go IT4, Smart, Crowder, Lee or KO (I am so disappointed with Sully's lack of conditioning), and Amir.

Thomas does 'deserve' to start and AB (like Smart) can come in for him or Smart. We also made a commitment to Crowder this summer and I would rather know now if he really is the answer at SF or if he will just be a good, gritty bench player. I also like the idea of Turner running the 2nd unit where he can have more control and people won't be upset about it.

The bigs rotation still needs to be worked out and guys like Zeller or Jerebko may not be psyched with their minutes, but we have a very deep team and Steven should be able to continue to manage it well.

[Celtics4ever]

I think keeping it Smart, AB, Turner is the way to go to start

There is a lot to be said by setting a defensive tone early.  But with our team firepower needs to be balanced somewhat as we lack true stars.  The main reason to play Turner is to help with the ballhandling so you may be right that Smart and AB and Turner belong together.

[Vermont Green]

The Celtics are a team of parity.  The difference in talent or ability between our best player and our #10 player is very small; probably smaller than any other team in the league.  That means there will not be a huge difference who starts and who comes off the bench.  You want to start IT instead of Bradley, OK.  Turner instead of Crowder?, no big difference.

We will see how things play out but based on what I saw last year, I think we should start:

Smart
Bradley
Crowder
Sullinger
Amir Johnson

I like that starting combination but I like the bench combination even better:

IT
Turner
Jerebko
Lee
Olynyk

That second unit should be great.  They can score points against another second unit.  Their +/- may end up better than the starters +/-.  I know the other teams are not going to play 2 lines and match up 5 bench players against our bench but this would be a very exciting bench.  Now if Young or Perry Jones can surprise and crack the 2nd team, great.  The odds are that one of these two will probably do that, at least for a stretch.  There will be injuries and foul trouble too so guys like Zeller, Young, and Jones will see minutes (the rookies will also see some time but probably not a whole lot).

It is going to be an interesting season.

[Big333223]

Assuming Smart has improved his ballhandling and other PG skills, his great strength is going to be his ability to play/guard both guard positions (and some SF's) so you can play him alongisde Thomas or Bradley and not lose anything.

[Csfan1984]

I would go IT and AB as Smart can be first guard off the bench and play either spot. But mainly I think who ever starts has to earn it. If Smart is better let him start regardless. Same goes with Turner vs Crowder. Or even each of the back up spots. Let everyone compete for roles.
 

[Diggles]

Shak's media day thread (TP) was a nice welcoming to a new season and got me to thinking about different scenarios playing out this year.

Smart is just coming into his 2nd year and obviously will take some time to help develop offensively. So if he shows some of the same offensive capabilities as last season (with hopefully some improvement at getting to the rim and scoring more efficiently), would an IT/Smart starting backcourt make more sense than Smart/AB?

Imo, AB is the consummate professional. I believe he's the longest tenured Celtic on the team, he has improved every season, and sets a great example for others on the court. This isn't about finding a replacement for him, but rather, finding the best backcourt we can put out on a nightly basis.

IT's scoring fulfills a major area of need. With Smart at the 2 and Crowder at the 3, he now has very good help defense at the wings, and there's also rim protection now coming from Amir (expected to start at the 5). With Lee at 4 (or even KO/Sully, but expecting Lee), we add more offensive firepower to complement IT, especially with Lee+IT in P&Rs.

So the question is whether this could actually be our best option. Turner can be the 2nd unit spark this season (if he is to stay), with additional offensive contributions from Bradley at guard and Jerebko/KO/Sully/Zeller at the 4/5 that wouldn't be giving up much on defense. Given a realistic expectation of Smart's growth, I'm warming up to the idea of this starting 5.

I like that but with a twist.....unless Smarts 3pt shooting is better than AB~ 

IT
AB or Smart who ever is the better 3pt shooter.   Because on the P&R IT needs one of them to catch and shoot as an option. 

Crowder
Lee
Johnson

Bench

Turner as the point forward
AB or Smart
Jerebko
Sulley
KO and or Zeller

[Hemingway]

the question that needs to be answered first, and none of us know, is: Has Smart improves enough with running the offense to truly own the 1 spot?

If yes, we could run Smart, AB, Crowder, Lee, Amir (or any 4 and 5 thats not the point here.) If no, we need Turner or IT in the starting lineup.

[tarheelsxxiii]

the question that needs to be answered first, and none of us know, is: Has Smart improves enough with running the offense to truly own the 1 spot?

If yes, we could run Smart, AB, Crowder, Lee, Amir (or any 4 and 5 thats not the point here.) If no, we need Turner or IT in the starting lineup.

Right, I agree. The proposed move is based entirely on speculation that he won't (simply because he's just coming into his 2nd year). If he does, super... we're good. If he doesn't, I wouldn't necessarily be concerned... but I do think it's worth considering a change of plans for this season. We're not going to tank, and even if we wanted to, we'd fail -- too good relative to the bottom dwellers of the East.

I doubt Turner is seen by DA as a long-term piece, yet if he is with us all year, I do think we can capitalize on his ability to create by shifting him to the 2nd unit ... in turn, we get an offensive upgrade to the starting 5 in IT.

Only real concern here is what happens in the future if Smart does develop into a starting caliber facilitator at PG. Given IT has been so open about wanting to start, and the issues it has caused in the past for him ... I'd be worried about his reaction to getting that start and possibly losing it if Smart comes to form at a true PG.

[tarheelsxxiii]

I think keeping it Smart, AB, Turner is the way to go to start

There is a lot to be said by setting a defensive tone early.  But with our team firepower needs to be balanced somewhat as we lack true stars.  The main reason to play Turner is to help with the ballhandling so you may be right that Smart and AB and Turner belong together.

This is addressed with AB and Turner coming off the bench, though.