How about playing Mickey instead of Jerebko?

[BudweiserCeltic]

If I am not mistaken we were up when Sullinger was subbed in. To me he looks always late getting over, but I respect your opinion. T.P.

We were up 2 when he was subbed in the 4th, he was removed when we down 6. What Sullinger was guilty of was respecting Horford's 3 too much. I wager that was more of a problem with Stevens' strategy of protecting the 3-point (which was our focus the whole game) than something Sullinger himself did wrong. Horford is not a good corner shooter, though some respect has to be given to his 3s... but not that much.

But the biggest problem we had was that we went small. With Horford removing our big from the equation, we were left with small players protecting the paint, and the pick-and-roll destroyed us. You can't leave Jerebko/Crowder to handle Millsap like that in those circumstances, with Turner rotating over. That's a recipe for disaster. And after it didn't worked early in the 4th, Stevens should've gone with  a 2-big unit like he had done through much of the game to some degree of success. Even the Lee/Sullinger pair was effective.

What I took issue with was your characterizatoin of Sullinger being yanked. He was replaced with Oly on the offensive end when it was almost over and Stevens does his usual perimeter offense. Then he played the defensive replacement with Amir who hadn't played anything really in the 2nd half... some fresh legs, and regardless the unit Sullinger was part of wasn't working anyways, so no reason to bring him back in under those circumstances. He did his 5 minute stint which is normal for him.

The defensive problems were first and foremost because of Stevens sub strategy of going small and then I'm assuming his defensive scheme was exposed with Thomas defending the point and Millsap involved in the pick-and-roll with Crowder/Jerebko defending. A tall task, and Stevens never adjusted in the whole 4th.

[nopassbass]

I give you a lot of credit. That was very well thought out and researched, but they lost and he was late getting over. I just can not say Sullinger is our best big. They all have been hot and cold.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I give you a lot of credit. That was very well thought out and researched, but they lost and he was late getting over. I just can not say Sullinger is our best big. They all have been hot and cold.

That's because you're assuming that Sullinger was responsible for rotating over instead of staying at home with the Hawks best player in Horford. Stevens had the full 4th quarter to adjust to that strategy, but our defensive scheme remained the same.

I didn't see Sullinger rotating late, I saw Sullinger stuck between helping out or sticking with his man on the strong side. Usually the player that rotates over comes from the weakside, which is why you often saw Turner ineffectively trying to help in the middle on those pick-and-rolls. But Millsap, with momentum, is a very tough guy to guard.

[max215]

Maybe someone who knows more about basketball than me can explain what's wrong with Jerebko, because I cannot remember another player who has declined this much in just 6 months.

[Snakehead]

I have been surprised by it with the media and I am surprised in here that Lee hardly even gets brought up.  The guy can't finish around the rim (to a comical degree because he insists and flying to the rim like he is going to dunk on everyone), doesn't defend, is not much of a rebounder anymore (not that he's bad, but he's no stud in that area).... so what is he bringing to the table again?  Weak ineffective point forward sets? The guy plays way too much.  He doesn't deserve to play at all compared to our other options and in favor of keeping a proper rotation.

That Kevin O'Connor piece on here (props to him for bringing up Lee) really showed it from a statistical perspective too.  The guy is just a negative to the team.  I'm tired of seeing him get special treatment because he has a big contract and was once an All Star.

I just saw Stevens say he is going to shake up the rotations and if the main part isn't benching Lee I am really questioning what he is doing as a coach right now.

[nopassbass]

I give you a lot of credit. That was very well thought out and researched, but they lost and he was late getting over. I just can not say Sullinger is our best big. They all have been hot and cold.

That's because you're assuming that Sullinger was responsible for rotating over instead of staying at home with the Hawks best player in Horford. Stevens had the full 4th quarter to adjust to that strategy, but our defensive scheme remained the same.

I didn't see Sullinger rotating late, I saw Sullinger stuck between helping out or sticking with his man on the strong side. Usually the player that rotates over comes from the weakside, which is why you often saw Turner ineffectively trying to help in the middle on those pick-and-rolls. But Millsap, with momentum, is a very tough guy to guard.

I will have to watch it again and try to see your point.  I am a bit skeptical.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I give you a lot of credit. That was very well thought out and researched, but they lost and he was late getting over. I just can not say Sullinger is our best big. They all have been hot and cold.

That's because you're assuming that Sullinger was responsible for rotating over instead of staying at home with the Hawks best player in Horford. Stevens had the full 4th quarter to adjust to that strategy, but our defensive scheme remained the same.

I didn't see Sullinger rotating late, I saw Sullinger stuck between helping out or sticking with his man on the strong side. Usually the player that rotates over comes from the weakside, which is why you often saw Turner ineffectively trying to help in the middle on those pick-and-rolls. But Millsap, with momentum, is a very tough guy to guard.

I will have to watch it again and try to see your point.  I am a bit skeptical.

I'm going by memory here, so I may be wrong. Still the biggest flaw in all of this was going small and sticking with that after we got exposed in the pick-and-roll. We're small as it is, and Horford and Millsap are two of the most dynamic and strong PF/C combinations out there with plenty of quickness between them to think that going small would be a good idea against them.

If I'm wrong, then let me know. But even if I'm wrong, I still put the blame on what occurred on Stevens strategy.

[BDeCosta26]

Maybe someone who knows more about basketball than me can explain what's wrong with Jerebko, because I cannot remember another player who has declined this much in just 6 months.

Just a poor shooting slump man. It can happen. Jerebko was originally a SF with size and a questionable jump shot. With us last year he finished his development into a "stretch four" kind of guy but that was predicated on him hitting open 3 pointers, which he showed he could do last year. It's just this year, early on, they didn't start falling and now it just seems like his confidence is shot. He hit a few in the L the other day and he looked so relieved. That's what he needs, just a few open ones to go through, and I think he can turn it around.

Someone might say "Oh, he got paid, it's not a contract year anymore" but it is this year too. He's got a team option for next year, and by all accounts he's still putting forth his usual effort. He's made some good hustle plays, pretty solid on D, etc. but when the shots aren't falling it's just not enough to justify real PT.

At some point if they don't break out of it soon, I'd like to see him and Lee moved to the bench and maybe give Zeller, Young and Hunter a little run.

[Snakehead]

Maybe someone who knows more about basketball than me can explain what's wrong with Jerebko, because I cannot remember another player who has declined this much in just 6 months.

Just a poor shooting slump man. It can happen. Jerebko was originally a SF with size and a questionable jump shot. With us last year he finished his development into a "stretch four" kind of guy but that was predicated on him hitting open 3 pointers, which he showed he could do last year. It's just this year, early on, they didn't start falling and now it just seems like his confidence is shot. He hit a few in the L the other day and he looked so relieved. That's what he needs, just a few open ones to go through, and I think he can turn it around.

Someone might say "Oh, he got paid, it's not a contract year anymore" but it is this year too. He's got a team option for next year, and by all accounts he's still putting forth his usual effort. He's made some good hustle plays, pretty solid on D, etc. but when the shots aren't falling it's just not enough to justify real PT.

At some point if they don't break out of it soon, I'd like to see him and Lee moved to the bench and maybe give Zeller, Young and Hunter a little run.

That's how I feel about Jerebko as well.  He has been frustrating to me but I think he's playing hard and I'm hoping his shot starts falling.

I mean I question how good he is when he has to play at SF (which he has been doing some).  He did well playing PF.  The rotations just don't allow for that right now.  As I said though, losing Lee would go a big way.

20 + mpg Olynyk, Jerebko at PF more (and small ball), Hunter at SF getting consistent bench minutes would all help the team I think in the immediate.  When Smart comes back things shift more and if Jerebko doesn't break out of his slump things will have to be rethought.  But that's how I feel right now.

[mctyson]

Maybe someone who knows more about basketball than me can explain what's wrong with Jerebko, because I cannot remember another player who has declined this much in just 6 months.

He hasn't declined at all really, he is just not making open shots like much of the Celtics roster.  He might be pressing because he is on a short contract but I think he is just rushing stuff.

[nopassbass]

I give you a lot of credit. That was very well thought out and researched, but they lost and he was late getting over. I just can not say Sullinger is our best big. They all have been hot and cold.

That's because you're assuming that Sullinger was responsible for rotating over instead of staying at home with the Hawks best player in Horford. Stevens had the full 4th quarter to adjust to that strategy, but our defensive scheme remained the same.

I didn't see Sullinger rotating late, I saw Sullinger stuck between helping out or sticking with his man on the strong side. Usually the player that rotates over comes from the weakside, which is why you often saw Turner ineffectively trying to help in the middle on those pick-and-rolls. But Millsap, with momentum, is a very tough guy to guard.

I will have to watch it again and try to see your point.  I am a bit skeptical.

I'm going by memory here, so I may be wrong. Still the biggest flaw in all of this was going small and sticking with that after we got exposed in the pick-and-roll. We're small as it is, and Horford and Millsap are two of the most dynamic and strong PF/C combinations out there with plenty of quickness between them to think that going small would be a good idea against them.

If I'm wrong, then let me know. But even if I'm wrong, I still put the blame on what occurred on Stevens strategy.

I agree with you. I wish we had a Draymond Green. We don't have the personnel to play small ball

[Snakehead]

I give you a lot of credit. That was very well thought out and researched, but they lost and he was late getting over. I just can not say Sullinger is our best big. They all have been hot and cold.

That's because you're assuming that Sullinger was responsible for rotating over instead of staying at home with the Hawks best player in Horford. Stevens had the full 4th quarter to adjust to that strategy, but our defensive scheme remained the same.

I didn't see Sullinger rotating late, I saw Sullinger stuck between helping out or sticking with his man on the strong side. Usually the player that rotates over comes from the weakside, which is why you often saw Turner ineffectively trying to help in the middle on those pick-and-rolls. But Millsap, with momentum, is a very tough guy to guard.

I will have to watch it again and try to see your point.  I am a bit skeptical.

I'm going by memory here, so I may be wrong. Still the biggest flaw in all of this was going small and sticking with that after we got exposed in the pick-and-roll. We're small as it is, and Horford and Millsap are two of the most dynamic and strong PF/C combinations out there with plenty of quickness between them to think that going small would be a good idea against them.

If I'm wrong, then let me know. But even if I'm wrong, I still put the blame on what occurred on Stevens strategy.

I agree with you. I wish we had a Draymond Green. We don't have the personnel to play small ball

We have the same players we had last year that allowed us to play small ball and be successful.  You don't need to have a Draymond Green level player to do that.

We just aren't playing small.  We are playing more bigs than last year.  We even play Jerebko at SF this year when last year he was the small ball PF and sometimes C.  Again, Jerebko hasn't been playing well but I think playing SF has made that worse.

[nopassbass]

Stevens plans on shaking up the rotation so we will see what happens. Jonas brings some energy into the team but he has not been hitting his open looks