BBallbreakdown latest Celtics video

[MJohnnyboy]

Hey guys I know its late but I thought I'd post this video released by Coach Nick tonight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJdtTfbtzLI

The video is titled "The Boston Celtics Lineup Solution" that details why the Celtics are struggling so badly on defense this year and what they can do to fix it. If you don't want to watch the video, I can summarize the points made for you.

1. The reason why we're struggling defensively is because we're playing Al at the 4. He's not mobile enough to cover stretch 4's which teams have taken advantage of night after night. His best position is at the 5 even though he hates playing there.
2. We should replace Amir with Kelly in the starting lineup because Kelly's not only better offensively than Amir is but he's also a better defender at the 4 than Al is while Al should be manning the 5 spot. The stats back it up too. Isaiah, Avery, Jae, Kelly, and Al is the Celtics' best lineup. Hard to believe but Olynyk's IQ and skillset benefits this team a ton despite how frustrating he can be to watch.

i actually agree. I got to see the Celtics Jazz game at the garden and I got to see what Kelly is able to do on full display. The plays he makes on both sides of the ball fly way under the radar but they are effective. I think the team would take even more if Kelly got more minutes.

[chambers]

TP for posting. I subscribe to bballdbreakdown and have done so since it's 3rd month of becoming a channel.
I think we should make a topic about his thoughts regarding the starting line up because he's been high on this combo for a while now.
The guy is a brilliant basketball mind.

But yeah, I'm going to make a topic about the starting line up and use Coach Nick's video as the catalyst.

[jpotter33]

While I don't think that entirely explains it (our rebounding certainly hurts, too), I must admit that I have felt for awhile now that he's struggling to defend the stretch 4's we see. He's been especially bad, at least to the eye test, on PnR coverage. He constantly overhelps on the ball-handler, and he seems slow on coverages and rotations a lot of times, too.

KO or JJ would be an interesting starter at the 4.

This also makes you think about adding a Cousins/Noel type, and if they'd actually be a good pairing or not. Noel can at least for sure guard out on the perimeter, but I question a Horford/Cousins pairing defensively.

Would love a Blake Griffin at the 4 next to him, though that seems a pipe dream at the moment. Perhaps a Milsap possibility wouldn't be too bad after all.

[jpotter33]

Alright, just watched the video. And I got to say that this is spot-on. It definitely goes right along with what most of us have been seeing all season long. It's definitely worth the watch for anyone interested. And it's backed up by our recent play, too:

https://twitter.com/ByJayKing/status/818140367019249665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Celtics usual starting lineup has really regressed defensively lately. Still scoring like mad, but they need to tighten some things up.

https://twitter.com/ByJayKing/status/818141244576632832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Over their last eight games, the Celtics are 29th in defense. Still 6-2 because the offense has been whoa, but that's troubling.

Amir's lack of mobility has forced Al out to the perimeter, where he has really been burned lately, especially by the likes of Love, Gasol, Williams, etc. Al has been a center his entire pro career, so it's no wonder that he's struggling defending at the 4 right now. I think he's best manning the paint where he has to be out on the perimeter the least and can sort of "quarterback" the defense without being taken out of it by being out on the perimeter.

I'm okay with moving either KO or JJ into the starting lineup for now. I think either of them would greatly help our defense simply by being in the proper playing positions. The only issue would be the minor drop in rebounding, but I think the more efficient defense and extra spacing and shooting outweighs this concern.

[PhoSita]

If Al can't cover stretch 4s and really needs to be at the 5, that means the only way to solve the rebounding issue would be to somehow find a guy who can both defend on the perimeter and grab a lot of rebounds.

[Boris Badenov]

It makes sense, but what does the bench unit look like? Smart/Amir/JJ/Rozier doesn't seem like a very dynamic lineup offensively, to say the least.

[jpotter33]

If Al can't cover stretch 4s and really needs to be at the 5, that means the only way to solve the rebounding issue would be to somehow find a guy who can both defend on the perimeter and grab a lot of rebounds.

Griffin (sort of), Milsap, and Ibaka all pretty much meet those demands, and they're all free agents this offseason.

But, yeah, needing to have Al at the center spot certainly does limit the options. I'm coming around to a Milsap trade, because he is ideally the perfect mold of player to stick next to Horford.

If we can get him without losing Smart, Jaylen, or either of the Brooklyn picks, do you do it?

[jpotter33]

It makes sense, but what does the bench unit look like? Smart/Amir/JJ/Rozier doesn't seem like a very dynamic lineup offensively, to say the least.

That's why I prefer JJ to start over KO. KO's offense and play-making is better served with the bench unit, and JJ's greater athleticism and mobility and length is probably better suited for the first unit. JJ is also shooting the 3 significantly better than KO this year, so as simply a 3 and D stretch 4, he's an ideal stopgap replacement for now.

[chilidawg]

If Al can't cover stretch 4s and really needs to be at the 5, that means the only way to solve the rebounding issue would be to somehow find a guy who can both defend on the perimeter and grab a lot of rebounds.

To me this says Noel would be a good fit.  Saw him the other night against the Celtics and thought he looked pretty good.  Having a more mobile athlete next to Horford would be an upgrade over Amir.   Use Amir as the backup 5.  Unless you think Jerebko is a better solution in that 4 role.

Any acquistion of a guy like Bogut or Nurkic should be viewed as a backup to Al, not someone who is going to share the court with him.

[jpotter33]

https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/status/818204727141945348

Horford does not want to play center.

Well, even Horford should recognize that it's not really working defensively with him at the 4.

[PhoSita]

If Al can't cover stretch 4s and really needs to be at the 5, that means the only way to solve the rebounding issue would be to somehow find a guy who can both defend on the perimeter and grab a lot of rebounds.

Griffin (sort of), Milsap, and Ibaka all pretty much meet those demands, and they're all free agents this offseason.

But, yeah, needing to have Al at the center spot certainly does limit the options. I'm coming around to a Milsap trade, because he is ideally the perfect mold of player to stick next to Horford.

If we can get him without losing Smart, Jaylen, or either of the Brooklyn picks, do you do it?

Im not sure Griffin can defend the perimeter.

Ibaka isn't a very good rebounder.

Millsap and Horford, well, we already know how that works out on the boards. Very good defensive pairing otherwise, however.  Although Cleveland absolutely torched them with stretch bigs past year, so maybe not.

[Kuberski33]

Real interesting take.  I've been super down on Olynyk lately so this does make me look at him a little differently.  As far as Al goes, he came here to contend for a title.  if that's going to happen with him at the 5, so be it.  There's obviously a piece missing with this team, but finding the right fit is the challenge and one not so easily resolved. 

Watching this video probably gives some good insight into how Danny and Brad might be looking at the situation.