Pierce, Green and Ray

[ScoobyDoo]

If it was my call I'd start Green at SF and bring Ray off the bench. This being said, I know you kind of "can't" do that with Ray. And also that at this point of the season it would mess with continuity, etc.

But here are my arguments for it:

1. Green needs as much burn as possible if we want to get the most out of him that we can during this playoff run.
* The more burn he gets, the better he gels with our core guys and the more confidence he gets.
* He makes us a big bigger at SF and OG with Pierce playing there and we could use that size on the glass.
* He did a nice job on Carmelo, taking a load off Pierce

Meanwhile...back at the farm..

2. Pierce goes to shooting guard, beats up on people form that position, post him low.
* Pierce and Green give us more beef on the boards...

I know you probably can't "get away" with it right now ( Ray's head, team continuity, etc." but I'd really like to start Green.

As you probably can't do it, I'd like to see:

1. Ray starting - insert Green for Ray, move Pierce to OG, bring Ray's minutes down, keep his legs good and fresh for the stretch run of all games.

Let the younger legs of Pierce and Green carry more of the load early. Increase Green's minutes so he's bringing down Pierce's minutes as well - so both Ray and pierce are fresh down the stretch.

Load up on Green early in this series, play him hard, long minutes, put the pressure on him and kick his butt -

* Get him acclimated and confident
* it will pay for him against Miami and beyond...
* more importantly, it will pay off even more for Ray and Pierce.

Thoughts? 

[Fafnir]

I think taking away time Ray Allen has with Rondo will only hurt Ray's production. Overall I'm more comfortable with Green's offense against backups as well, he's not the same sort of floor spacer that Allen is.

I'm definitely in favor of playing Green/Pierce at the wing for stretches of the game. It'll give one of them a mismatch most of the time. Either way I don't think increasing Green's minutes is going to happen. He should be getting 8-10 minutes subbing for Pierce/Ray at both the 2/3 respectively and that's about it. Though if the Knicks keep going small he should play the more at PF.

[More Banners]

As they used to say in those Guiness commercials, BRILLIANT!

Though I'd add that with the Knicks matchup, I'd play Green at the 4 against Jeffries, too.

[ScoobyDoo]

Yep, there are pros and cons, agreed. But I think if we load up on Green as much as possible early in these playoffs, we'll reap rewards when we need it most.

Keep Paul and Ray fresh, build Green's comfort level and confidence.

[More Banners]

One other positive:  production from Green means other teams have yet another factor to game plan for.  I don't think they're worried much about the rest of the bench...

[Roy H.]

I don't like the idea of starting Green.  Simply put, Ray is a better player, and he should be playing more minutes than Green.  Further, the starters are more familiar with getting Ray looks than the bench guys are.  BBD, in particular, has not been effective in setting picks for Ray.

Also, while I understand the mismatch that Pierce at SG causes for some other teams, it also weakens both our team defense and our rebounding.  PP has really picked up his rebounding since the Perk trade, and I don't think it makes sense to play him further from the basket while replacing him with a weak rebounder in Green.  Regarding our defense, I think that asking Green to pick up Lebron while having Pierce guard Wade would be a disaster.  Pierce doesn't have the foot speed to hang with elite SGs consistently; he's a much better matchup against SFs, where he can muscle them a bit more.

I guess I understand the desire to get Green going more, because he's looked largely passive, but I don't think you can do that to the detriment of two of your HOF starters.

[Lucky17]

I think that if the goal is to boost Green's confidence/assertiveness, he has to come off the bench to do so.

If he plays with starters, he'll simply defer to them.

You also want to have him play against opposing bench players to really jump start him.

Only if he's the focal point/option 1A of the offense (and recognizes this himself) will he make the most out of his touches.

[sdceltsfan]

Knicks aren't a big team to begin with......I'm even comfortable with KG/Green frontcourt against Amare/Turiaf.......Green has more length then Big Baby, not an ideal matchup, but my point is more that Amare/Turiaf isn't on the floor all game, so why not at the least slide Green in at the 4 for a stretch of the game.......or even JO/KG/Green/Pierce/West.......every player on the floor can knock down a spot up jumper (obviously JO's range being the most limited).

[GreenEnvy]

I wouldn't start him, but I'd like to see him get more minutes, at whatever position is needed. I thought he was great guarding 'Melo. He can guard Fields, Jeffries, and has the lateral quickness to not let Amar'e go off. He has such an offensive arsenal that he can adapt to whatever defender they throw at him. He can shoot from anywhere on the floor, drive, post, etc. depending on the size/strength/quickness of his defender.

What I would like to see right now without Shaq is the starting unit - Rondo/Ray/Pierce/KG/JO. Then sub in Green first for JO (KG moves to C, Green PF), then BBD for Ray (Pierce at SG, Green SF), then Delonte for KG (BBD at C, Green PF). Of course this all depends on who the Knicks are playing, but we can do so many things with our depth, yet we can't get into an offensive rhythm for an extended period.

[Brendan]

BBD at C, Green PF

Oh I hope not... that's a rebounding catastrophe waiting to happen. Green at PF next to KG or Shaq, not JO or BBD.