The 3 headed monster or Robinson, Queta and Garza sucks

[rondohondo]

Queta with his stupid and pointless fouls, Robinson with his inability to play down the stretch of any game and Garza being slow and less that average athletically were all highlighted last night.

Those 3 guys tried to give this game away last night. This has to addressed by Brad either before the trade deadline or next off season. Cause that trio of big men isn't taking you anywhere....

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Disagree.

[Csfan1984]

When you have just $21 million invested in the rotation you can't expect much.

[Jiri Welsch]

Last year I remember thinking Garza was absolutely awful for the first ~20 games of the season. Then something clicked, both offensively and defensively, and he became an adequate regular season rotation guy.

All that is to say, I think they'll get better over time. Queta needs to get himself under control on defense. The fouling stuff is a regression and almost feels mental at this point. Robinson needs to play in small spells. Probably smaller than what Joe is currently doing. And I really think Garza and Robinson should get a similar amount of minutes.

The biggest problem I see is that only Garza serves as a legitimate shooting threat. That helps keep defenses honest, and is why I think he should get around 15 minutes a game.

[Celtics4ever]

 I disagree as well.

                     PPG                   RPG              BPG
Queta              8                        4.5              1.8
Robinson        5.5                       4.8               .8                               
Garza             4.5                       2.5                0   

I think as a unit they produce fine.  We don't have star and we have to play  center by committee.  I think it will improve.    I wonder how long the start Robinson will go.

Robinson was never a starter until this year.  He looks like a fish out of water and the lob throws seem like we are throwing them too high or he can't go up and get them all.       

Garza plays hard, he is not athlete, and that hurts him on D but the effort is always there.

[timpiker]

I like all 3 and think their only issue is Robinson's FT's.

[CFAN38]

They represent a RB by committee type approach to the center position and they are fine.

This Center triumvirate is currently averaging 49mpg 18pts 11.8rb 2.8ast and 2.6blks per game. These are not great numbers but...

To compare

76ers (Embiid+Bona) 41MPG 19pts 12rb 4.4ast 2.0blks

Lakers (Kessler+Looney) 36mpg 16pt 10rb 1.2ast 2.4blks

OKC (Hartenstein+Mara) 40mpg 15pts 13.8rb 3.4ast 1.8blk

Two things that I expect to help this rotation. 1 Robinson will continue to develop in the system and I expect his stats to climb back up to his career averages. 2. I see Cenac either late this season or next season taking Garza's minutes and in doing so the team becomes much more dynamic. Garza is a solid 3rd big with some high level NBA skills but his short comings on D are glaring and replacing him with an athletic mobile stretch 4/5 will dramatically alter the Cs big rotation. He will also allow them to play more double big lineups. 

[Celtics4ever]

Great post CFAN

[Vermont Green]

This group has currently not been a strength of the team so far and not necessarily hurting the team either (Robinson missing those to FT vs Nets almost hurt the team).  Garza has only been on the court with Robinson for <1 minute and not at all with Queta.  So yes, this is center by committee.

I see Queta and Garza as being pretty much as expected.  Queta is +9 per game in about 20 minutes and Robinson is -5.8 per game in about 20 minutes.  Queta has been good, Robinson has not been that good, and Garza does not matter as much because he does not play as much, but has been fine.

To me, Robinson has been a disappointment so far.  Less than I was expecting.  It is only 4 games on a new team so he deserves a little more time before any final judgement, but so far, not so good.

[Celtics4ever]

I think Robinson should come off the bench.

[Who]

To me, Robinson has been a disappointment so far.  Less than I was expecting.  It is only 4 games on a new team so he deserves a little more time before any final judgement, but so far, not so good.

I don't understand why MR is starting over Queta.

[Vermont Green]

To me, Robinson has been a disappointment so far.  Less than I was expecting.  It is only 4 games on a new team so he deserves a little more time before any final judgement, but so far, not so good.

I don't understand why MR is starting over Queta.

This was said earlier but playing Robinson early in quarters means they are not in the free throw penalty.  It strategically makes sense and does not really matter as both are going to play 20 min per game. 

[byennie]

To me, Robinson has been a disappointment so far.  Less than I was expecting.  It is only 4 games on a new team so he deserves a little more time before any final judgement, but so far, not so good.

I don't understand why MR is starting over Queta.

This was said earlier but playing Robinson early in quarters means they are not in the free throw penalty.  It strategically makes sense and does not really matter as both are going to play 20 min per game.

Seems like a logical reason to start him, but I do think they underestimated making players uncomfortable. Queta was really coming into his own last year playing with the starters, and now he gets demoted (even if that's not what it is, he's undeniably lost his starting job). Meanwhile, I think Robinson would relish being the garbage man off the bench.

All in hindsight, and small sample size obviously, but I do prefer Queta starting. He's been turning into a solid starter, probably better all-around than Robinson, and we demoted him for hypothetical FT situations? Doesn't seem worth it.

[ozgod]

When you have just $21 million invested in the rotation you can't expect much.

Yes they're not Ferraris. And most of us are old and grew up on a diet of "must have dominant big man to win". But as you say we're on a budget. For our $21m we can have three adequate guys who are above average in one discipline and below average in another, so they bring different things to the team when they are on, or spend $21m on one player and have to have Williams or Cenac as the backup big when someone gets injured. It's really Robinson who (this year) has the tradeable contract at $15m. Who would people prefer over him?

I crossed off the players who are presumably off-limits (Wemby) or where I feel we would have to give up some assets for them.

[Csfan1984]

When you have just $21 million invested in the rotation you can't expect much.

Yes they're not Ferraris. And most of us are old and grew up on a diet of "must have dominant big man to win". But as you say we're on a budget. For our $21m we can have three adequate guys who are above average in one discipline and below average in another, so they bring different things to the team when they are on, or spend $21m on one player and have to have Williams or Cenac as the backup big when someone gets injured. It's really Robinson who (this year) has the tradeable contract at $15m. Who would people prefer over him?

I crossed off the players who are presumably off-limits (Wemby) or where I feel we would have to give up some assets for them.

I do like a lot of those players but don't think Cs would trade for them. Mitch only costed a salary those others guys would cost picks on top. Cs need to save the picks for a big move later on.

We also have the remind ourselves that Massachusetts making $15 million is less than a good amount of other states. So seeing a guy sign and play here at that number is different than if he signed for that in say Florida. So we can't say Mitch is overpaid. He is at market. Even Queta will be next year.