Dragic comes off the bench. How about doing the same with Walker?

[Tr1boy]

Starting lineup

Timelord
Tatum
Brown
Smart
Pritchard

2nd unit

TT
Theis
Grant/Semi
Green/Langford/Nemsith
Walker


So no need to keep one of Brown or Tatum on the court at all times.  Start them, let them go to work with the starting unit I propose. 

About 3-4 min mark in the 1st quarter,  do a complete "hockey" change.  And let Kemba Walker(his unit), jack as many shots he wants (responsibly).  Until he gets sick and tired and then starts to blend in Theis and pass it around for 3s

This way,  the two lineups would have functionality.  No need to guess who is going to take the shot next.   

In the 4th quarter (7-8 min mark), all Brad has to do is play the 3 best players from the game with Brown and Tatum.   

Egos have to be put to bed.  I think these lineups/familiarity  would be much better than Brad playing a guessing game, trying to mix and match 5 different combinations throughout the game. 

Nothing wrong with this type of system.  Nets did it before Harden (not sure what they do now).  Heat do a variation etc.

 

[footey]

Was thinking about this last night, but the politics would not work IMO.  Kemba would consider it a demotion, and could make a trade demand (hey, wait a sec, this could be a great idea!!).  I like Kemba a lot, but do worry that he won't jell with our Big Two.

[Tr1boy]

Was thinking about this last night, but the politics would not work IMO.  Kemba would consider it a demotion, and could make a trade demand (hey, wait a sec, this could be a great idea!!).  I like Kemba a lot, but do worry that he won't jell with our Big Two.

Which is really unfortunate.  Because the goal should be to win a championship + team 1st mentality

[Vox_Populi]

I feel like we've done this with Isaiah, Kyrie and now Walker. The answer is the same, those guys have almost always been one of the best three players on the team and by far the best ball-handler. They reached the ECF with Walker being behind Tatum and Brown in USG%, they know how to play together.

Dragic doesn't start because the Heat are scared of playing him, Herro and Robinson at once defensively and forcing Butler to guard 4s, and because they know Herro will be a starter for them long term. Celtics have no guy with that kind of upside at Kemba's spot and no defensive concerns with the other starters.

[PhoSita]

Nah.  The team is best with Kemba playing.  If he's healthy he should be starting. 

Dragic is a different caliber of player with a different standing on that Miami team. 

Also, Miami isn't doing so hot these days anyway.

[Vermont Green]

Vinnie "the Microwave" Johnson redo....

Walker was fine as a starter last season.  Hard to believe that he would have forgotten how to be the 3rd option.  I think he is forcing things lately trying to get his game back.  More than any other season, teams and individual players are using the regular season to just get ready for the playoffs.

[td450]

Stevens distributing Kemba's minutes so most of them come with only one of Jaylen and Jayson is just a smart allocation of resources, especially if he can't play 32 minutes.

But end of game is still there. He really has to see himself as needing to move the ball more and be more of a stretch option in the last 3 minutes, and he hasn't made that adjustment at all. He also just cannot have problems bring the ball up one on one like he did with 20 seconds left last night. The combination of him and Smart dominating the ball is a serious end of game issue.

The most reliable shot anyone on the team has is Jaylen inside 18 feet, and he can get that any time he wants. When are they going to figure that out?

He says all the right things, but hasn't shown any recognition of the change in pecking order whatsoever on the court yet.

[Tr1boy]

Stevens distributing Kemba's minutes so most of them come with only one of Jaylen and Jayson is just a smart allocation of resources, especially if he can't play 32 minutes.

But end of game is still there. He really has to see himself as needing to move the ball more and be more of a stretch option in the last 3 minutes, and he hasn't made that adjustment at all. He also just cannot have problems bring the ball up one on one like he did with 20 seconds left last night. The combination of him and Smart dominating the ball is a serious end of game issue.

The most reliable shot anyone on the team has is Jaylen inside 18 feet, and he can get that any time he wants. When are they going to figure that out?

He says all the right things, but hasn't shown any recognition of the change in pecking order whatsoever on the court yet.

Harsh but true

Kemba = you already forgot about me??? Show you

Smart=  great shooter ‘when I take great shots’

Right now should be the Brown and Tatum show. Like you said Brown seems like he never misses that 18 footer. Also yesterday that drive and stop/dish to Theis was money

Thats how you win games

[tazzmaniac]

We're not going to win a championship with Pritchard starting.  Counting on a rookie to be productive in the playoffs is a losing proposition.

[RodyTur10]

Stevens distributing Kemba's minutes so most of them come with only one of Jaylen and Jayson is just a smart allocation of resources, especially if he can't play 32 minutes.

But end of game is still there. He really has to see himself as needing to move the ball more and be more of a stretch option in the last 3 minutes, and he hasn't made that adjustment at all. He also just cannot have problems bring the ball up one on one like he did with 20 seconds left last night. The combination of him and Smart dominating the ball is a serious end of game issue.

The most reliable shot anyone on the team has is Jaylen inside 18 feet, and he can get that any time he wants. When are they going to figure that out?

He says all the right things, but hasn't shown any recognition of the change in pecking order whatsoever on the court yet.

Harsh but true

Kemba = you already forgot about me??? Show you

Smart=  great shooter ‘when I take great shots’

Right now should be the Brown and Tatum show. Like you said Brown seems like he never misses that 18 footer. Also yesterday that drive and stop/dish to Theis was money

Thats how you win games

I agree, this team should all be about Brown and Tatum. To me it was a bit of a mistake to sign Walker. I understand the motivation to keep the Celtics comfortably as a playoff team, but now that Brown and Tatum have blossomed there's not really a need for Walker anymore unless he's able to change his game. Even Irving was better offball than Walker.

[Atzar]

Stevens distributing Kemba's minutes so most of them come with only one of Jaylen and Jayson is just a smart allocation of resources, especially if he can't play 32 minutes.

But end of game is still there. He really has to see himself as needing to move the ball more and be more of a stretch option in the last 3 minutes, and he hasn't made that adjustment at all. He also just cannot have problems bring the ball up one on one like he did with 20 seconds left last night. The combination of him and Smart dominating the ball is a serious end of game issue.

The most reliable shot anyone on the team has is Jaylen inside 18 feet, and he can get that any time he wants. When are they going to figure that out?

He says all the right things, but hasn't shown any recognition of the change in pecking order whatsoever on the court yet.

Harsh but true

Kemba = you already forgot about me??? Show you

Smart=  great shooter ‘when I take great shots’

Right now should be the Brown and Tatum show. Like you said Brown seems like he never misses that 18 footer. Also yesterday that drive and stop/dish to Theis was money

Thats how you win games

I agree, this team should all be about Brown and Tatum. To me it was a bit of a mistake to sign Walker. I understand the motivation to keep the Celtics comfortably as a playoff team, but now that Brown and Tatum have blossomed there's not really a need for Walker anymore unless he's able to change his game. Even Irving was better offball than Walker.

When we signed Walker, it was very much up in the air whether Tatum and Brown would turn into franchise cornerstones.  We were coming off of a bad year where Tatum's growth stagnated and Brown struggled in a backup role.  We signed Brown to an extension that offseason that many people questioned because they didn't believe in him.  Sure, they look like arguably the best young duo in the NBA now, but that wasn't the case when we signed Kemba.  Given what we knew then, I don't see how you can consider that signing a mistake.

Time is on our side.  Walker has every opportunity to learn how to play effectively with Tatum and Brown, and vice versa.  Based on his skillset and attitude, I see no reason that he and the Jays can't greatly improve at getting the most out of each other over the next couple of years.

[tenn_smoothie]

We're not going to win a championship with Pritchard starting.  Counting on a rookie to be productive in the playoffs is a losing proposition.

Not this year, but a couple of years from now when the J's hit their prime, Pritchard might be the perfect fit.  Well, that is if Danny and Stevens wake up and acquire a quality center and a couple of knock-down shooters (maybe Nesmith by then ?). Make some smart moves the next couple of years and get over the small ball obsession and we might add some banners to our rafters instead of the Lakers to their wall.
( I am not happy about those mercenaries catching our title record)

An aging Kemba coming off the bench as instant offense in the 6th man role would be perfect.

[SparzWizard]

Paying max money to come off the bench? Just like Hayward for a short period of time?

[Vermont Green]

Paying max money to come off the bench? Just like Hayward for a short period of time?

That would certainly not be the end goal but it might not be a bad thing for a period of time if it is what Walker needs to get back in the groove.  I doubt we see that honestly and I can understand that they want Kemba to get used to his ultimate role on the team.  That role I believe is being Option 1C (behind Tatum and Brown).  That means you focus more on pushing the ball up the court, get the team into the right situations offensively, look for your offense when it is there, but don't force it.

Be the veteran, be the stabilizer, be the guy that sees that the team is getting a little off and bring the team back by what you are doing on the court (vs. making the coach call a time out).  And when necessary, Walker is still a guy that can hit a big shot.

If Walker can get himself back right, I think he can do all of these things.  He has been "the guy" since college so I respect that it is not an easy adjustment but he pretty much did all of this last season as a starter.

[celts55]

Starting lineup

Timelord
Tatum
Brown
Smart
Pritchard

2nd unit

TT
Theis
Grant/Semi
Green/Langford/Nemsith
Walker


So no need to keep one of Brown or Tatum on the court at all times.  Start them, let them go to work with the starting unit I propose. 

About 3-4 min mark in the 1st quarter,  do a complete "hockey" change.  And let Kemba Walker(his unit), jack as many shots he wants (responsibly).  Until he gets sick and tired and then starts to blend in Theis and pass it around for 3s

This way,  the two lineups would have functionality.  No need to guess who is going to take the shot next.   

In the 4th quarter (7-8 min mark), all Brad has to do is play the 3 best players from the game with Brown and Tatum.   

Egos have to be put to bed.  I think these lineups/familiarity  would be much better than Brad playing a guessing game, trying to mix and match 5 different combinations throughout the game. 

Nothing wrong with this type of system.  Nets did it before Harden (not sure what they do now).  Heat do a variation etc.

I don't hate the idea of Walker off the bench, but the "hockey" change is a terrible idea, IMO.

That second line up has no one who can score the ball ( maybe Nesmith one day ) besides Kemba. Using the last game as an example, in the last quarter they had Walker, Grant, TL, Green and Smart and it was awful. Kemba iso, Smart iso, lead lost.

In my humble opinion, either Brown or Tatum should be on the court at all times. Tighten up the rotation, and find one more guy who can score, and they should be okay.