Don't think TA and Daniels can play together

[SalmonAndMashedPotatoes]

I think they can and will play together.  I don't buy the spacing argument AT ALL.  This is predominantly a jump shooting team and we could use more penetrating, inside-bucket-producing guys who can handle the ball, create shots, and defend their position. 

Basically, with Daniels' return, we can roll out a legitimate 5-man bench lineup of House/TA/Daniels/Baby/Sheed.  Additionally, I think you could easily exchange Ray/Paul for House in that lineup and present some nice size mismatches for TA or Daniels, as well as some great perimeter defense.  Rondo, too, could play with those four (TA/Daniels/Baby/Sheed), with some offensive adjustments.

In the end, it comes down to defense and I don't see any real reason why you can't find situations to play your best 2 perimeter defenders together at the same time.  This is a defensive team first and foremost. 

[Evantime34]

I think they can and will play together.  I don't buy the spacing argument AT ALL.  This is predominantly a jump shooting team and we could use more penetrating, inside-bucket-producing guys who can handle the ball, create shots, and defend their position. 

Basically, with Daniels' return, we can roll out a legitimate 5-man bench lineup of House/TA/Daniels/Baby/Sheed.  Additionally, I think you could easily exchange Ray/Paul for House in that lineup and present some nice size mismatches for TA or Daniels, as well as some great perimeter defense.  Rondo, too, could play with those four (TA/Daniels/Baby/Sheed), with some offensive adjustments.

In the end, it comes down to defense and I don't see any real reason why you can't find situations to play your best 2 perimeter defenders together at the same time.  This is a defensive team first and foremost. 

Could not agree more. TP. I feel that everyone really buys into the spacing the floor with shooters idea. I like you think that we take too many jumpshots as it is.

[Chris]

I think they can play together in the regular season, and against most teams in the NBA.  There are a few teams (which also will be the teams they face in the playoffs), that will make it very tough on a lineup with both guys out there at the same time, just like they make it difficult on Rondo.  But that really won't me much of an issue until the playoffs...and in the playoffs, those guys won't be playing together much anyways, since the starters will be stretched out, and bench guys will be mixed in less liberally. 

[droopdog7]

I understand what you guys are saying but we already have this issue with Rondo.  That is, there are times when we have to have him off of the floor because his presence actually hurts us.  In the Championship year (when Rondo was admittedly not as good), we actually were more effective at times with House on the floor.

Now if you multiply that times two (or three?) and I think we have a potential problem.  Like I said, teams will definitely game plan against this unit and will literally force those two to beat them from the outside.  Slashing doesn't work as well when teams are actively trying to take it away.  Spacing will also be a problem.  Teams can actually double guys that can shoot and force these two to beat them.

  They take Rondo out for the occasional possession when the other team is looking to foul us but they don't take Rondo out because his presence hurts us. This isn't 2008.

Was Rondo in on the last play against the lakers?  Or orlando?  And yes, at times against the magic is last year's playoffs, rondo's presence on the floor hurt us dearly.  As I recall, his man would immediately double PP whenever we tried to go isolation.  So yes, you are kidding yourself if you think that Rondo's presence doesn't occassionally hurt this team. 

[BballTim]

I understand what you guys are saying but we already have this issue with Rondo.  That is, there are times when we have to have him off of the floor because his presence actually hurts us.  In the Championship year (when Rondo was admittedly not as good), we actually were more effective at times with House on the floor.

Now if you multiply that times two (or three?) and I think we have a potential problem.  Like I said, teams will definitely game plan against this unit and will literally force those two to beat them from the outside.  Slashing doesn't work as well when teams are actively trying to take it away.  Spacing will also be a problem.  Teams can actually double guys that can shoot and force these two to beat them.

  They take Rondo out for the occasional possession when the other team is looking to foul us but they don't take Rondo out because his presence hurts us. This isn't 2008.

Was Rondo in on the last play against the lakers?  Or orlando?  And yes, at times against the magic is last year's playoffs, rondo's presence on the floor hurt us dearly.  As I recall, his man would immediately double PP whenever we tried to go isolation.  So yes, you are kidding yourself if you think that Rondo's presence doesn't occassionally hurt this team. 

  From what I can tell The last play in a close game would fit into the category of possessions where the other team would be looking to foul him. And the playoffs were last year. It turns out Rondo's offense is much improved since then. And even then, the team did worse in the playoffs with Rondo out of the game than with Paul or Ray out of the game. He must have been doing some good things that you didn't seem to notice.

[droopdog7]

I understand what you guys are saying but we already have this issue with Rondo.  That is, there are times when we have to have him off of the floor because his presence actually hurts us.  In the Championship year (when Rondo was admittedly not as good), we actually were more effective at times with House on the floor.

Now if you multiply that times two (or three?) and I think we have a potential problem.  Like I said, teams will definitely game plan against this unit and will literally force those two to beat them from the outside.  Slashing doesn't work as well when teams are actively trying to take it away.  Spacing will also be a problem.  Teams can actually double guys that can shoot and force these two to beat them.

  They take Rondo out for the occasional possession when the other team is looking to foul us but they don't take Rondo out because his presence hurts us. This isn't 2008.

Was Rondo in on the last play against the lakers?  Or orlando?  And yes, at times against the magic is last year's playoffs, rondo's presence on the floor hurt us dearly.  As I recall, his man would immediately double PP whenever we tried to go isolation.  So yes, you are kidding yourself if you think that Rondo's presence doesn't occassionally hurt this team. 

  From what I can tell The last play in a close game would fit into the category of possessions where the other team would be looking to foul him. And the playoffs were last year. It turns out Rondo's offense is much improved since then. And even then, the team did worse in the playoffs with Rondo out of the game than with Paul or Ray out of the game. He must have been doing some good things that you didn't seem to notice.

Not even the lakers would be dumb enough to foul Rondo ahead 1 point with 7 seconds left.  Rondo was out of the game because Doc did not want the lakers to double off of Rondo (and essentially force him to take the last shot).  And please, I am not trying to dog Rondo like he can't play.  I know how valuable he is to this team.  But the fact is, when we tried to go to our isolations with PP (and to a lesser extent, Ray) against the magic last year, the double team always came off of rondo.  In fact, they payed no regard for him whatsoever.  At times, Rondo's presence on the floor crippled what PP wanted to do.   

[Brickowski]

I'd love to see them in there together: two good defenders who score the old fashioned way.

[BballTim]

I understand what you guys are saying but we already have this issue with Rondo.  That is, there are times when we have to have him off of the floor because his presence actually hurts us.  In the Championship year (when Rondo was admittedly not as good), we actually were more effective at times with House on the floor.

Now if you multiply that times two (or three?) and I think we have a potential problem.  Like I said, teams will definitely game plan against this unit and will literally force those two to beat them from the outside.  Slashing doesn't work as well when teams are actively trying to take it away.  Spacing will also be a problem.  Teams can actually double guys that can shoot and force these two to beat them.

  They take Rondo out for the occasional possession when the other team is looking to foul us but they don't take Rondo out because his presence hurts us. This isn't 2008.

Was Rondo in on the last play against the lakers?  Or orlando?  And yes, at times against the magic is last year's playoffs, rondo's presence on the floor hurt us dearly.  As I recall, his man would immediately double PP whenever we tried to go isolation.  So yes, you are kidding yourself if you think that Rondo's presence doesn't occassionally hurt this team. 

  From what I can tell The last play in a close game would fit into the category of possessions where the other team would be looking to foul him. And the playoffs were last year. It turns out Rondo's offense is much improved since then. And even then, the team did worse in the playoffs with Rondo out of the game than with Paul or Ray out of the game. He must have been doing some good things that you didn't seem to notice.

Not even the lakers would be dumb enough to foul Rondo ahead 1 point with 7 seconds left.  Rondo was out of the game because Doc did not want the lakers to double off of Rondo (and essentially force him to take the last shot).  And please, I am not trying to dog Rondo like he can't play.  I know how valuable he is to this team.  But the fact is, when we tried to go to our isolations with PP (and to a lesser extent, Ray) against the magic last year, the double team always came off of rondo.  In fact, they payed no regard for him whatsoever.  At times, Rondo's presence on the floor crippled what PP wanted to do.   

  It wasn't just Rondo people were cheating off of. They were also cheating off of Davis into the lane to keep Rondo from being able to drive. But again, that was last year. Rondo's significantly better this year. I don't remember Rondo being out of the Magic game at the end although he could have been. And I don't think that Doc made the best choice when he took Rondo out of the Lakers game.

[Jon]

I do buy the spacing argument, but I think it will be interesting to see what they can do together.  While we'll lack shooting, an Allen/Daniels defensive combo is dramatically better than one of them and House. 

Still, the amount of time any of them will see will be small come playoff time, when Paul, Ray, and Rondo will all play close to or more than 40 mpg. 

All in all, I'm just happy TA has proven he has a pulse.  Even if he's relegated to the bench when Daniels returns, at least we can rest assured that if Paul, Ray, or Marquis gets in foul trouble in a playoff game, we have someone who can at least hold his own available to play a few minutes. 

[GranTur]

Rondo is incredibly important, but it's easy to cheat off him if the paint is clogged.

If you cheat off Rondo and he's open, the only way he scores is in the paint. If the paint is clogged with Gasol, Dwight Howard, or whoever, then Rondo is no threat to score.

Until Rondo can nail 15 footers, it will suck when people cheat off him. Period. It hurt last year in the playoffs it'll hurt now.

The only reason why the Celtics did okay when Kobe cheat off him against the Lakers is because Rondo played some of the best ball I had seen him play.

Rondo will get better. He's an all-star for a reason. He needs a jump shot though.

[2short]

I think the rondo thing has been beaten to death.  To me he has shown he can hit the top corner key jumpers consistantly, he just needs to makes this part of his everyday game and hit the occassional deep 2 or 3.  Now when marquis was here he did a GREAT job of handling the offense for 2nd unit and getting eddie good looks.  Eddie will be the key as he can spread the floor with an OCCASSIONAL 3 pt shot by 'sheed.
Marquis & Tony are ying & yang.  A steady level headed vet who can help in many ways and not show up in stat sheet.  A supernova of energy and turnovers who can play great d.  I think they can play together nicely.  Daniels doesn't even need to score but has shown nice mid range to short range jumpers, always in complete control and posting up smaller guards.  Tony is a driver who has honestly gone far beyond my expectations so far this year.
I think the main thing is get ray & paul the rest til playoffs!