Celtics still haven't addressed glaring weakness

[BballTim]

The more I read about Daniels and the more I read about Danny not being concerned about the back up PG spot the more I am convinced that Daniels will be playing almost exclusively at the 1 and 2 positions. That is not going to help Pierce as it will basically make Ray Allen Paul's back up again.

This might not worry some of you but I don't want the likes of TA, RA, Walker and Giddens be being relied upon as Pierce's primary back up options.

  There's only going to be about 20-24 backup 1 and 2 minutes combined. Do you really think that the plan is to have Daniels and House to play 10-12 minutes a game each? Are you also assuming that Sheed will only back up Perk or KG and not both so he'll only get about 15 minutes a game?

[Change]

Marquis will definitely get majority of those minutes. And whatever is left Scal will eat up (no pun intended). Garbage minutes will be Bill & JR duty.

Problem Solved!

[Who]

Marquis Daniels is the backup wing -- Danny addressed that need.

[FanInTheSouth]

The thing is that you're imagining a 5-man bench unit. One of Rondo, Pierce, and Ray per norm should be on the floor all the time. So all you need is House and Daniels to backup the 1-3 positions. You don't have to sit them all at the same time to reduce minutes.

As for the final roster spot not necessarily being a PG? Well that's fine, he can certainly look for another wing to strengthen the position. Nothing wrong with that, but it doesn't mean that "the glaring weakness" hasn't been addressed. It simply means that Ainge might see an oppotunity to strengthen our wings even more, and what allows this is that Daniels can play multiple positions.

So who is the coach of the Celtics again? Budweiser Celtic?

No! It's Doc Rivers.

And Doc's philosophy, which no one is going to change so you people need to start thinking like Doc when discussing the bench, is to play the starters for the first 10-11 minutes of the game, pull them out almost to a man and have 4 to 5 subs in the game for 7-8 minutes, and then bring back the starters.

He's been doing this for 5 years!! When are you people who think he is suddenly going to start changing his rotational philosophies get that the coach doesn't change.

So he's going to be running out Sheed/Baby/Tony or Walker/Eddie and Daniels as a second unit and when the SF's across the league start biting into leads created by the starters it will be Pierce and Allen that will once again be thrown in to keep continuity and their minutes will spiral upward.

A real SF answer is necessary not a guy that can't shoot, slashes and might be most effective bringing the ball up because we have no one else playing guard on the bench that is able to dribble the basketball for longer than 50 feet without the possibility of turning it over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAlVKgl_zCQ

[Drucci]

At first, when we heard that Daniels was coming to Boston (and he isn't there yet...) I was glad because I thought he would be Pierce's backup but I must admit that I share nickagneta's concerns, because Danny's recent statements show that he doesn't see Daniels as the primary backup for Pierce but for Rondo.

And it's clear that Doc will stay with the same rotations he has used for years, Nick is dead right on this one, unless the fatigue of Pierce and Allen last year and their limitations in the playoffs made him change his mind but that's not likely.

While I would prefer the last roster spot to be used on a backup PG, while playing Daniels at the 3 (and House at the 2), I would be OK if Danny uses it to bring Udoka or Bowen, to rest Pierce and Ray during the season.

[BballTim]

The thing is that you're imagining a 5-man bench unit. One of Rondo, Pierce, and Ray per norm should be on the floor all the time. So all you need is House and Daniels to backup the 1-3 positions. You don't have to sit them all at the same time to reduce minutes.

As for the final roster spot not necessarily being a PG? Well that's fine, he can certainly look for another wing to strengthen the position. Nothing wrong with that, but it doesn't mean that "the glaring weakness" hasn't been addressed. It simply means that Ainge might see an oppotunity to strengthen our wings even more, and what allows this is that Daniels can play multiple positions.

So who is the coach of the Celtics again? Budweiser Celtic?

No! It's Doc Rivers.

And Doc's philosophy, which no one is going to change so you people need to start thinking like Doc when discussing the bench, is to play the starters for the first 10-11 minutes of the game, pull them out almost to a man and have 4 to 5 subs in the game for 7-8 minutes, and then bring back the starters.

He's been doing this for 5 years!! When are you people who think he is suddenly going to start changing his rotational philosophies get that the coach doesn't change.

  This happens a lot less than it seems (less than I thought,  too). If you check the 5 man units or do the math on the player pairs for Pierce and Allen you'll see that one or the other of them are on the court most of the time in both 07-08 and in 08-09. You'll only get 3-4 minutes a half with both of them on the bench.

[Jon]

Daniels played SG and SF exclusively last season.  Danny may envision him as a ball-handling "point forward", but he's going to be the primary backup for both Paul and Ray.

Now, I guess there's the issue of what happens when they're both off the court.  My answer to that is, I don't want Ray and Paul off the court at the same time unless it's garbage time.  Doc should do a slightly better job of integrating his bench in with the starters this year; there's no real reason why he can't keep two starters on the floor at all times.

However, in those rare situations where Doc wants to rest both Paul and Ray, he's got options.  He can go with the Rondo - House - Daniels lineup, which is probably the one I'd prefer in that situation.  He can go with Eddie - Tony - Daniels, or Eddie - Giddens - Daniels.  Those two are less ideal, but they'll do in a pinch.

Of course, I'd like to see the team get rid of Tony, and bring in both a guy like Bowen and a backup / 3rd string point guard.  However, barring that, I think we'll be fine without another small forward on the roster.

That's pretty much exactly it.  There's no reason why Daniels can't be the backup for the 2 and 3 spots. 

[mgent]

At first, when we heard that Daniels was coming to Boston (and he isn't there yet...) I was glad because I thought he would be Pierce's backup but I must admit that I share nickagneta's concerns, because Danny's recent statements show that he doesn't see Daniels as the primary backup for Pierce but for Rondo.

And it's clear that Doc will stay with the same rotations he has used for years, Nick is dead right on this one, unless the fatigue of Pierce and Allen last year and their limitations in the playoffs made him change his mind but that's not likely.

While I would prefer the last roster spot to be used on a backup PG, while playing Daniels at the 3 (and House at the 2), I would be OK if Danny uses it to bring Udoka or Bowen, to rest Pierce and Ray during the season.

We have 2 roster spots i think without Hudson.
I'd like to see another 3 and another 1.  I still think we would've been best off signing or trading for a true defensive 3, rather than bringing in Daniels.  A PG should be our backup PG, not House/Daniels.
I'm still not convinced all the trade options have been exhausted with TA, Giddens, and Walker.  They should not get a spot over a real SF.

[CoachBo]

Daniels played SG and SF exclusively last season.  Danny may envision him as a ball-handling "point forward", but he's going to be the primary backup for both Paul and Ray.

Now, I guess there's the issue of what happens when they're both off the court.  My answer to that is, I don't want Ray and Paul off the court at the same time unless it's garbage time.  Doc should do a slightly better job of integrating his bench in with the starters this year; there's no real reason why he can't keep two starters on the floor at all times.

However, in those rare situations where Doc wants to rest both Paul and Ray, he's got options.  He can go with the Rondo - House - Daniels lineup, which is probably the one I'd prefer in that situation.  He can go with Eddie - Tony - Daniels, or Eddie - Giddens - Daniels.  Those two are less ideal, but they'll do in a pinch.

Of course, I'd like to see the team get rid of Tony, and bring in both a guy like Bowen and a backup / 3rd string point guard.  However, barring that, I think we'll be fine without another small forward on the roster.

Agreed entirely. I have no conserns remaining about the SF backup - unless Rivers begins trying to use Tony the Turnover there.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Says the original poster: "Because if ... this team has to rely on Walker, Giddens, House and Daniels to keep Ray and Paul fresh, we could be in big trouble."

It seems to me that a lot of people on this site make one of two mistakes regarding Eddie House: 1.) that he's a suitable backup PG, and 2.) that he's NOT a suitable backup SG. As to the first, I suppose Eddie can bring the ball up the court in a pinch, but this isn't something we want to rely on. No offense to Eddie, but ... (as to the second) he's a shooting guard, and a darn good one at that! One of the mistakes Doc made in the Orlando series was chopping House's minutes ... after he torched the Magic for 30+ earlier in the series!

[BudweiserCeltic]

Says the original poster: "Because if ... this team has to rely on Walker, Giddens, House and Daniels to keep Ray and Paul fresh, we could be in big trouble."

It seems to me that a lot of people on this site make one of two mistakes regarding Eddie House: 1.) that he's a suitable backup PG, and 2.) that he's NOT a suitable backup SG. As to the first, I suppose Eddie can bring the ball up the court in a pinch, but this isn't something we want to rely on. No offense to Eddie, but ... (as to the second) he's a shooting guard, and a darn good one at that! One of the mistakes Doc made in the Orlando series was chopping House's minutes ... after he torched the Magic for 30+ earlier in the series!

Orlando figured it out. They simply put Lee on him and rendered House ineffective.

[Edgar]

backup pg?

[billysan]

To be fair, the minutes break down will be better divided with Daniels on the roster. He will allow Doc to rest each of Ray, Paul and Rondo more because he will have a 20 mpg backup who is more effective than Tony Allen. Combined with Eddie House 20 mpg availability, that breaks down to roughly 14 mpg for Pierce and Ray Allen and 12 mpg for Rondo.

As to the Daniels playing point forward or SG or PG, it doesnt matter as much to me. I believe we will see one or more of the starters with Daniels and House and we may change ballhandling tactics (for bringing the ball upcourt to set the offense) is the biggest difference. Less dribbling and more passing will be the key when Rondo is off the court. That is also where those 20 mpg game from Daniels will be a huge upgrade over Tony Allen.

Once the play starts, the primary ball handler will change and the shooters will run their cuts looking to get the open shot same as always. Again, basketball IQ will prevail because Tony Allen will not be on the court in a situation where he has to make a decision.

My bottom line is that if Daniels can play as advertised, we will see less turnovers from the second unit and more effective offense. Or he will be a bust and we go back to looking for players.............

[Fafnir]

Marquis Daniels is the backup wing -- Danny addressed that need.

Pretty much all that needs to be said. I think during the regular season we'll seen Daniels get 20+ minutes a game with Tony picking up another 5-8 minutes a game. House will get the remaining backup minutes from the 1-2 position.

Who knows Giddens or Walker could push Tony out of the rotation. But if healthy I think Tony will play some next year.

[bucknersrevenge]

Just to further illustrate what everyone here has already effectively answered. There are 48min for the 1-3 spots

PG Rondo(35min)House(13min)
SG Allen(35min)House(5min)Daniels(8min)
SF Pierce(34min)Daniels(14min)

Pretty straightforward to me here. Scal/Tony/JR/Walker are 3rd string but between Eddie's 18mpg and Daniels 22mpg we're golden. Usually one of Paul or Ray will also be on the floor to help Eddie and Marquis facilitate the offense and balance the perimeter scoring. Add to that Sheed off the bench is a solid passer and of course when KG plays with the bench at times we all know his passing is the stuff of legend.