How to fix Celtics in time for the playoffs

[seancally]

If the whole roster is healthy and covid-free going into and for the duration of the playoffs - and that includes shaking off any post-covid issues - we have a chance. But only a small chance, and I only say that because we’ve literally never seen that this season so we can’t assess it.

But it’s not nothing that this team has suffered more lost time to covid than any other. Hopefully that means we’re over it come playoff time. Fournier could have made a big difference last night, for example, when we needed to stop the bleeding before the half.

[Vermont Green]

You are getting matchup specific which is fair; Thompson defends somewhat better vs stronger guys, although no one has been able to stop Zion of late, and Thompson got eaten up badly second half of Pels game in NO IIRC. Guys like Embiid require double teaming schemes, neither of our centers is equipped to handle him one on one.

I 've not been impressed with Thompson against bigger or smaller players.   He can board but he gets pushed around a lot against these guys and lacks elite length or jumping like Rob.   He might add some depth and toughness but I don't it is as simple as Thompson is going to fix this once he returns but I would like to be wrong.

His best ball historically was against small ball Golden State lineups.   Not true NBA behemoths.

My point is getting lost in the ongoing discussion.  Whether we play 1 big or 3 bigs, our bigs are not that good.  My original comment was that we lack the personnel to put a legitimate starting PF on the floor.  That should not be a debatable point.  Our PFs are Ojeleye, GWilliams, and Wagner; all middle to end of bench guys at best.  We have a couple of half decent centers but overall our bigs (combined pool of PFs and Cs) is really limited and worse now that we have traded Theis.  This is the case for any match up we may face.

But even that is not my "main" point.  My main point is that we have played all season with two bigs as the core line up.  Now mid season, we are going to switch to playing with 1 big as the core line up while also trying to integrate a new player (Fournier).  Everyone is going to have to play a little differently even considering we played most of last season with 1 big but that was with Hayward and Theis.  Now we have to get used to playing it with Fournier and ? ? ? ? (Thompson or Williams).  We are essentially starting over mid season.

I see these both as a big challenges, adjusting to a new scheme and also overcoming our considerable lack of Big talent, regardless of match ups or any other aspect of the team that we are facing.

[Vermont Green]

Double Post (not sure how that happened)

[Celtics4ever]

My point is getting lost in the ongoing discussion.  Whether we play 1 big or 3 bigs, our bigs are not that good.  My original comment was that we lack the personnel to put a legitimate starting PF on the floor.  That should not be a debatable point.  Our PFs are Ojeleye, GWilliams, and Wagner, all middle to end of bench guys at best.  We have a couple of half decent centers but overall our bigs (combined pool of PFs and Cs) is really limited and worse now that we have traded Theis.  This is the case for any match up we may face.

But even that is not my "main" point.  My main point is that we have played all season with two bigs as the core line up.  Now mid season, we are going to switch to playing with 1 big as the core line up while also trying to integrate a new player (Fournier).  Everyone is going to have to play a little differently even considering we played most of last season with 1 big but that was with Hayward and Theis.  Now we have to get used to playing it with Fournier and ? ? ? ? (Thompson or Williams).  We are essentially starting over mid season.

I see these both as a big challenges, adjusting to a new scheme and also overcoming our considerable lack of Big talent, regardless of of match ups or whatever.

I agree with the big man sentiment.  We lack Talent, I too think we need a big four.   Look at how Philly's size across the board and LA, their big teams even MIL and NJ are big teams.   We are still fighting the last war in military terms.   Meaning, we are still made for a small roster when the rest of the league has moved on the size again.

Every year we have changes, people get hurt, this year has had a lot with Covid etc.    I know we don't always add a player midseason but I think the Fournier deal could help us.   But every other team in the league is dealing with Covid.   A lot of them add players, at the end of the day our talent has been eclipsed by other teams making moves while Ainge rolled the dice on our young guys and the shoddy bench.   I though the bench was a major reason we lost to MIA and only advanced so far.   Bigs were a factor in that as well.

I for one would have rather kept Theis than the salary dump.   I know it was about money and no one probably wanted to trade for one of our dud bench players.  A lot of our assets have declined in value.  I think Kormet is smart and knows where to be but plays weak.   I am not a Mo Wagner Fan either.   I don't get the hype on those two.   

I would be willing to take a flyer at Jabari Parker at the four, but he is oft injured and looks gassed that being said he might be better than the PF crop you named above.   But given what we did with Theis and the salary dump, I don't see that happening.   The league is full of vet min guys better than Grant and Semi.  Dwight makes $2,564,753   and outproduces the slightly cheaper Grant at $2,498,760  and has a NBA position.  the value they are getting for that extra 100k is pretty big.   

 5 RPG, 3 more points, better defense but realize Grant can shoot threes at a 39% clip ( sarcasm).  trouble is he knows he can't get it off unless wide open

I hope, I am wrong.   But I for one don't think we will find a fix in time for the playoffs but I would love to be wrong folks.  I hope Fournier scores 20 PPG off the bench and helps us a lot.

Good things have happened this year the developmental of Rob who is still RAW with room to grow.  We just need more quality bench depth and a PF