Obsession and the Bench

[amenhotep04]

I realize that a lot of fans like to play GM for 12 months out of the year, and especially during the summer.  But I think this has gotten way out of hand.  As I look at all these other teams, I don't see a bench that addresses every contingency.  What happens if Kobe goes down?  Is he going to play too many minutes? Cleveland's a James injury away from being a lottery team or pretty close to it. Is Gortat really an adequate back-up for Howard? What does San Antonio do for Duncan?

My point to all this is that there is this obsession of fans where they want to have every player backed up by seemingly another all-star.  If there isn't, then the summer is a failure; the Cs are doomed; and there begins a chorus of REMs "It's the End of the World as we Know It." 

Players can play multiple positions. Coaches can rotate players more effectively. Youth can develop. The team can be successful without being 15 All-Star caliber players deep.

[BudweiserCeltic]

And if I might just add...

Well, I don't, you've pretty much said what needed to be said. TP.

[nickagneta]

I realize that a lot of fans like to play GM for 12 months out of the year, and especially during the summer.  But I think this has gotten way out of hand.  As I look at all these other teams, I don't see a bench that addresses every contingency.  What happens if Kobe goes down?  Is he going to play too many minutes? Cleveland's a James injury away from being a lottery team or pretty close to it. Is Gortat really an adequate back-up for Howard? What does San Antonio do for Duncan?

My point to all this is that there is this obsession of fans where they want to have every player backed up by seemingly another all-star.  If there isn't, then the summer is a failure; the Cs are doomed; and there begins a chorus of REMs "It's the End of the World as we Know It." 

Players can play multiple positions. Coaches can rotate players more effectively. Youth can develop. The team can be successful without being 15 All-Star caliber players deep.

Yeah, how did that work out for us last year?

All that developing youth and versatility got us all the way to the 2nd round of the playoffs. The more good talent a team can add the better. It really is that simple. The Celtics shouldn't be attempting to halt bringing in more good player because we already have enough. The concept is ridiculous.

If you can upgrade your talent and bench you should and it is a GM's job to do that 24/7/365.

But maybe your right. Maybe we should just go into the season with the team we have and if Rondo or Pierce go down and Lester and Walker and Giddens don't develop we can always say that, sorry these things happen. Danny had some good guys but he can't be expected to get really good guys for every spot on the team.

[amenhotep04]

I realize that a lot of fans like to play GM for 12 months out of the year, and especially during the summer.  But I think this has gotten way out of hand.  As I look at all these other teams, I don't see a bench that addresses every contingency.  What happens if Kobe goes down?  Is he going to play too many minutes? Cleveland's a James injury away from being a lottery team or pretty close to it. Is Gortat really an adequate back-up for Howard? What does San Antonio do for Duncan?

My point to all this is that there is this obsession of fans where they want to have every player backed up by seemingly another all-star.  If there isn't, then the summer is a failure; the Cs are doomed; and there begins a chorus of REMs "It's the End of the World as we Know It." 

Players can play multiple positions. Coaches can rotate players more effectively. Youth can develop. The team can be successful without being 15 All-Star caliber players deep.

Yeah, how did that work out for us last year?

All that developing youth and versatility got us all the way to the 2nd round of the playoffs. The more good talent a team can add the better. It really is that simple. The Celtics shouldn't be attempting to halt bringing in more good player because we already have enough. The concept is ridiculous.

If you can upgrade your talent and bench you should and it is a GM's job to do that 24/7/365.

But maybe your right. Maybe we should just go into the season with the team we have and if Rondo or Pierce go down and Lester and Walker and Giddens don't develop we can always say that, sorry these things happen. Danny had some good guys but he can't be expected to get really good guys for every spot on the team.

Oh c'mon Nick, you make it sound as though Danny isn't trying to upgrade the team.  There's NO team in the league that can withstand injuries to key players.

While you're at it, if Kobe or LeBron goes down, just blame their GMs for not having a superstar behind them.

[angryguy77]

I realize that a lot of fans like to play GM for 12 months out of the year, and especially during the summer.  But I think this has gotten way out of hand.  As I look at all these other teams, I don't see a bench that addresses every contingency.  What happens if Kobe goes down?  Is he going to play too many minutes? Cleveland's a James injury away from being a lottery team or pretty close to it. Is Gortat really an adequate back-up for Howard? What does San Antonio do for Duncan?

My point to all this is that there is this obsession of fans where they want to have every player backed up by seemingly another all-star.  If there isn't, then the summer is a failure; the Cs are doomed; and there begins a chorus of REMs "It's the End of the World as we Know It." 

Players can play multiple positions. Coaches can rotate players more effectively. Youth can develop. The team can be successful without being 15 All-Star caliber players deep.

Thank you. I too am tired of all this whining here. For whatever reason people expect us to get every top FA on the market. We cant get everyone and we cant back up everyone. I dont know of any team that can do this. We have the best starting five with an all-star and daniels comming off the bench. We are sitting pretty good right know and I think DA has done a good job this off season with the money we have had to spend.

[Rondo2287]

Not that I expect to get every free agent, but havent we seen that picking up a PG that nobody wants halfway through the season doesnt really work?  Cassel didnt really help us two years ago and Marbury didnt help us last year.  You would think that after the failure that was Mikii Moore and Marbury a bench would be appreciated.  guess not

[wdleehi]

Celtics are an older team.  They need less minutes in the regular season.  The bench that is being put together will allow that.   (think Spurs)

[angryguy77]

Just be thankfull that we dont have a gm that wants to build exclusivly from the draft like the twit ted Thompson. I know its a defferent sport but I'm very happy that at least one of the teams I root for has a proactive Gm.

[Eja117]

My point to all this is that there is this obsession of fans where they want to have every player backed up by seemingly another all-star. 

proudly guilty as charged

[BballTim]

I realize that a lot of fans like to play GM for 12 months out of the year, and especially during the summer.  But I think this has gotten way out of hand.  As I look at all these other teams, I don't see a bench that addresses every contingency.  What happens if Kobe goes down?  Is he going to play too many minutes? Cleveland's a James injury away from being a lottery team or pretty close to it. Is Gortat really an adequate back-up for Howard? What does San Antonio do for Duncan?

My point to all this is that there is this obsession of fans where they want to have every player backed up by seemingly another all-star.  If there isn't, then the summer is a failure; the Cs are doomed; and there begins a chorus of REMs "It's the End of the World as we Know It." 

Players can play multiple positions. Coaches can rotate players more effectively. Youth can develop. The team can be successful without being 15 All-Star caliber players deep.

Yeah, how did that work out for us last year?

All that developing youth and versatility got us all the way to the 2nd round of the playoffs. The more good talent a team can add the better. It really is that simple. The Celtics shouldn't be attempting to halt bringing in more good player because we already have enough. The concept is ridiculous.

  We didn't have too many projects on the team last year. We had too many injuries to the same position. With a 15 man roster it's ok to have 3-4 players that are developing and won't contribute much that season. And if you think that it was some huge mistake of Danny's that kept us from advancing beyond the 2nd round last year you should take a look at the other contenders. Which of those teams from the playoffs last year would have made the conference finals if they'd had to go (pretty much) the entire playoffs without their best big man and another of their top 4 bigs? Which team would have been good enough to take the Magic to 7 games?

[BballTim]

My point to all this is that there is this obsession of fans where they want to have every player backed up by seemingly another all-star. 

proudly guilty as charged

  I can see wanting to add more and more players, but I don't know that it's the best situation to have 7-8 players on the bench that expect to be a regular part of the rotation.

[Thruthelookingglass]

I realize that a lot of fans like to play GM for 12 months out of the year, and especially during the summer.  But I think this has gotten way out of hand. 

My point to all this is that there is this obsession of fans where they want to have every player backed up by seemingly another all-star.  If there isn't, then the summer is a failure; the Cs are doomed; and there begins a chorus of REMs "It's the End of the World as we Know It." 

Players can play multiple positions. Coaches can rotate players more effectively. Youth can develop. The team can be successful without being 15 All-Star caliber players deep.

Perhaps the obsession comes from all our years in the wilderness, while our team shuttled in players like the X-Man, 'Nique, Alaa, Vitaly, Montross, etc. and we were lucky to tread water.  The Paul/'toine playoffs aside, winning was a pretty abrupt change for us when we added Garnett and Allen. 

While some people seem to still be sweating each detail (I guess that's fine, it just isn't me), I find that my team doesn't have to be invulnerable for me to be happy.  I love cheering on the C's, especially the 2009-2010 team that is already quite formidable. 

Danny can sweat the details for me, that's what he's paid to do.  And I understand that there are lots of armchair GMs, but there are also plenty of us who are not chasing down each rumor or researching every PG with any shred of talent.  And we all coexist here on Celticsblog!

[PRIDE]

As far as I'm concerned, we were a KG bone spur away from winning it all last year.

We've already upgraded our team enough this offseason. DA has done his job. Now its up to Doc to manage the minutes of his veterans and develop his young talent. He needs to be able to trust them should they be forced to play extended minutes in the playoffs. I'm fine with sacrificing a few wins so Walker can get some real NBA minutes and Giddens can show us he belongs here or not. Shelden Williams is already better than POB at this point so props to DA for landing him as our 5ht big man.

[Jay G]

Next summer I'm gunna have a freaking BLAST just playing GM!
I can't wait.

[billysan]

It is fun playing armchair GM, but it is nothing more than fantasyland.........if we are honest. I am also guilty as charged but I think most fans dream of Celtic powerhouse teams and harbor some frustration when our GM doesnt add the piece we want. Totally natural and not the end of the world, nor should it be. Still fun to argue and discuss what if??? IMO.


As to this year, I dont think any reasonable fan can say we are not immensely better with the addition of Sheed and Daniels to our bench. Do I want more? Of course I do. We replaced Leon/Mikki with Sheed and Starbury with Daniels, how cool is that? Maybe we need one more guy at the wing or point. Maybe Danny/Doc is ready to give Walker/Giddens an expanded role. Maybe Hudson is the 'Ryan Gomes like' steal of the draft.

I like the moves we have made so far and think Danny has done a much better job this off season than the last. That's all I can reasonably ask of him isnt it?