Ray Allen 6th Man!

[Yoki_IsTheName]

I agree.

Team looks more capable running during the first minutes of the game with Pietrus in the starting lineup.

Ray should still get starting quality minutes though.

[SHAQATTACK]

I agree , I just post this on another thread , I thought especially against teams with tall/ powerful guards , and the Knicks have two of these now, we need Pietrus to match up with them.

Pietrus , helps set the tone or pace for the game and the rest of the team seems to feed off of it .  Whats more the pace and energy Pietrus  as a starter seems to interest Rondo (keep his head in the game), and wake up the whole team , and bring them up to speed quicker. This is something we have been lacking ....a fast start ...Bass and Pietrus get the flow of the game moving nicely.  OLD JO can kill this active flow to a game really easy .  

[snively]

Ray Allen, 6th Man, probably will result in Ray Allen, primary ball-handler, on the floor with Avery Bradley.  Don't you just love it when Ray Allen plays like he thinks he can play like a point guard?

This is a valid concern, but right now Dooling is filling that role (and Dooling/Sasha when Ray's out).

I would much prefer Avery/Ray to Avery/Keyon.

And as to the OP, I would also prefer Pietrus to Ray in the starting line-up.  As Doc said, we were athletic again last night.  He was explicitly referencing moving KG to the 5, but the move from Ray to Pietrus was about as big a difference.

Pietrus will not be able to match Ray's scoring volume, but he spaces the floor very well and he's a dramatic upgrade on the boards and defense.

You worry about Ray being able to thrive without playmaking in the 2nd unit, but you could also worry about the first unit being able to compete on the boards/defensively with Ray eating up so many minutes.

[Neurotic Guy]

Is it me or haven't we seen Ray with the second team at the start of the 2nd quarter most games this year.  It has consistently been bad offensively.  If Ray is the offensive focus on a team without RR or PP (in other words, no one who can create offense for themselves), teams then focus on stopping Ray and the C's offense grinds to a quick halt. 

I like Pietrus in the starting role and bringing Ray in with Wilcox at the 6 minute mark (KG and Pietrus to the bench) could give them a run with PP and RR still in the game.

[xmuscularghandix]

Is it me or haven't we seen Ray with the second team at the start of the 2nd quarter most games this year.  It has consistently been bad offensively.  If Ray is the offensive focus on a team without RR or PP (in other words, no one who can create offense for themselves), teams then focus on stopping Ray and the C's offense grinds to a quick halt. 

I like Pietrus in the starting role and bringing Ray in with Wilcox at the 6 minute mark (KG and Pietrus to the bench) could give them a run with PP and RR still in the game.

I don't want Ray out there by himself with all the backups, I really would like him to come in at the 6-7 minute mark in the first quarter.

The only problem, like you said, is that when Ray Allen is put out there without good ballhandlers it quickly goes to hell.

Maybe Ray Allen comes in for Pierce about 7 minutes in, then after the break Pierce comes in to run the show alongside Ray and Bradley in the 2nd.

Start: Rondo, Pietrus, Pierce

Approx 6 Min: Rondo, Ray, Pietrus

2nd: Bradley, Ray, Pierce

Approx 6 Min: Rondo, Pietrus, Sasha

Approx 10 Min: Rondo, Allen, Pierce

3rd: Rondo, Pietrus, Pierce

etc...


Then close the game with whatever you think the team needs.