Help me stop worrying about Aron Baynes' importance

[kmart12]

Baynes is an elite rim stopper.   I like we have the option of going big instead of just playing small ball.   This gives us a layer of tactical flexibility on the court that we lacked last year.

I feel similarly in regards to the flexibility he provides our lineups. He fills the same role that everyone else in this thread has mentioned (e.g., Perkins or Amir), but his physicality and offensive competency is what sets him apart. He can bang in the paint, take massive contact at the rim, but at the same time he can hit 15 foot jumpers and make the occasional swift pass out of the high post. Baynes has been great this season.

Admittedly, I never took into consideration that he'd be gone after this year. If he is, I hope that the front office at least learns from his efforts that winning teams need enforcers and we've been in need of one since the departure of Perkins. Good pickup and I'm hoping he either stays or we find someone else suitable for the role.

[PhoSita]

Baynes is a nice player but he's not amazing.

First of all, defensive stats are notoriously fickle with small samples.

Second of all, Baynes has a replaceable skillset.

[More Banners]

Baynes is a nice player but he's not amazing.

First of all, defensive stats are notoriously fickle with small samples.

Second of all, Baynes has a replaceable skillset.

Then why did it take Danny 15 years to sign someone with said skill set?

Oh okay thats right. Danny only likes combo guards.

[PhoSita]

Baynes is a nice player but he's not amazing.

First of all, defensive stats are notoriously fickle with small samples.

Second of all, Baynes has a replaceable skillset.

Then why did it take Danny 15 years to sign someone with said skill set?

Oh okay thats right. Danny only likes combo guards.

Danny doesn't seem to particularly value players who do what Baynes does, I think that's fair to say.

But just as an example, I can't imagine it would take many assets to acquire Kyle O'Quinn, who is very similar to Baynes.

[CFAN38]

Baynes' importance should be cause for concern.

His role is the only one on the team that the Cs would have no real legit answer too in the case of a injury. Obviously after Hayward went down the Cs can not afford a long injury to AL or Irving. However if lost for a few games Rozier and Morris would effectively fill their roles with the team staying competitive. Behind Baynes Theis is proving to be a solid rotation level big man however we doesn't have the size to match-up against big post threats and doesn't provide the same level of rim protection.

In the short term I would like to see the Celts bring in a vet backup to Baynes. A player who will not requre an every game role but who will be serviceable in case of a injury. After Haywards injury I thought the team should rush out and get a wing but with the play of Brown and Tatum and Morris's ability to play the wing I think this is a waste.

Long term priority needs to be placed on resigning Smart and then Baynes. It is tough to look ahead a full season but next year I think its safe to figure that Brown, Tatum and Hayward will all start. This small starting lineup will allow for a high minutes first big off the bench (Baynes) and Rozier and Smart will have their same roles. Morris will be the odd man out and going into this contract season seems like a candidate to be traded in the off-season. I also think we will see Semi and Theis established as solid lower usage every game rotation players.





 

[More Banners]

Baynes is a nice player but he's not amazing.

First of all, defensive stats are notoriously fickle with small samples.

Second of all, Baynes has a replaceable skillset.

Then why did it take Danny 15 years to sign someone with said skill set?

Oh okay thats right. Danny only likes combo guards.

Danny doesn't seem to particularly value players who do what Baynes does, I think that's fair to say.

But just as an example, I can't imagine it would take many assets to acquire Kyle O'Quinn, who is very similar to Baynes.

Yeah. It only took the room exception to get Baynes. Non-tax MLE would double his salary. We'll have that next year if he wants more money to stay and we want him. I do like that he has skills and isn't just a stiff. Didn't like the "stiff" era.

[smokeablount]

Baynes' importance should be cause for concern.

His role is the only one on the team that the Cs would have no real legit answer too in the case of a injury. Obviously after Hayward went down the Cs can not afford a long injury to AL or Irving. However if lost for a few games Rozier and Morris would effectively fill their roles with the team staying competitive. Behind Baynes Theis is proving to be a solid rotation level big man however we doesn't have the size to match-up against big post threats and doesn't provide the same level of rim protection.

In the short term I would like to see the Celts bring in a vet backup to Baynes. A player who will not requre an every game role but who will be serviceable in case of a injury. After Haywards injury I thought the team should rush out and get a wing but with the play of Brown and Tatum and Morris's ability to play the wing I think this is a waste.

Long term priority needs to be placed on resigning Smart and then Baynes. It is tough to look ahead a full season but next year I think its safe to figure that Brown, Tatum and Hayward will all start. This small starting lineup will allow for a high minutes first big off the bench (Baynes) and Rozier and Smart will have their same roles. Morris will be the odd man out and going into this contract season seems like a candidate to be traded in the off-season. I also think we will see Semi and Theis established as solid lower usage every game rotation players.

Smart needs to get his shot selection (and shot in general) together because right now, I think I'd rather have Baynes going forward, given the rest of the roster.  And I don't consider myself anti-Smart.

[mmmmm]

Don’t forget about Marcus Morris

He was slated to be our number 2 big all along

Was he?  I know some fans here slated him to be a starter.   I'm not so sure he really was or is.

Based on Morris' history, he probably isn't remotely close to being our "number 2 big".   He's an undersized 4 / big 3 and probably at best our third string PF behind Horford or Tatum.   He's not a 5 at all so all of Baynes, Horford, Theis & even Yabusele would have be considered ahead of him at the 5.

I personally am not waiting around expecting Marcus Morris to have a huge impact on our season.   I'm sure he'll be fine.  I'm not saying he's a bad player.   I'm just saying he's not really a great one.  Overall, he's a pretty thoroughly mediocre player.

[mmmmm]

Don’t forget about Marcus Morris

He was slated to be our number 2 big all along

Fair point about MM. I'm a little less expectant than some, but even if he meets expectation he is a 4. Not going to replace what Baynes brings as a Center, and forcing Al to bang with the real bigs does not maximise Horford's value defensively.

Sure they list him at four, but I expect him to play up a position like the rest of league. 

Kinda like how folks still don’t want to call Tatum a PF despite him being our starting four.

But Tatum is NOT our starting four.   In all but two of our games (those being the first two, which we lost), Tatum has been starting at the three.  Here are our starting lineups so far:

Game 1:  Irving, Brown, Hayward, Tatum, Horford
Game 2:  Irving, Smart, Brown, Tatum, Horford
Game 3:  Irving, Brown, Tatum, Horford, Baynes
Game 4:  Irving, Brown, Tatum, Horford, Baynes
Game 5:  Irving, Brown, Tatum, Horford, Theis
Game 6:  Irving, Brown, Tatum, Horford, Baynes

Whether one should call him a PF or a SF is a bit moot.  In Brad's vernacular, he's really a 'big wing'.