Start Cassell on the Road?

[Bankshot]

What about starting Cassell on the road, or at least giving Rondo the quick hook of we start off slow and he continues to pound the ball and get nothing done?  He really hasn't brought it on the road in the playoffs.  I know he's not the only one, but he's the point guard that is supposed the set the tone.  Doesn't help that he can't make a layup and can't make shots when they sag off of him.

I still like the kid and I'm not bailing on him, but this is the playoffs.

What do you guys think should be done about the slow starts?  Funny how the C's seem to always start slow under Doc, not just this year, but years past was the same thing.  The Celtics were always playing from behind.

[Hrvoje]

Why not?

It is obvious we need some adjustments!

[wdleehi]

Doesn't fix the Celtics problem on the road. 


It doesn't get the Celtics defense going. 



At home, the Celtics could overcome early offensive problems because the defense kept it close.


on the road, the defense doesn't play hard.




This isn't about playing with the rotation.  It is about lighting that fire.

[EJPLAYA]

Based on what?! Tonight's fill in minutes for Rondo?! Sam was absolutely awful tonight. 0-6 from the floor. Delonte scored a bunch of those points with Sam on him. Rondo was bad, but Sam was probably worse. Horrible shot selection.

As far as slow starts under Doc this year, that is absolute nonsense. They have played very well in the first and third quarters against teams all year long. That is a more ridiculous comment than starting Sam...

[Hrvoje]

Doesn't fix the Celtics problem on the road. 


It doesn't get the Celtics defense going. 



At home, the Celtics could overcome early offensive problems because the defense kept it close.


on the road, the defense doesn't play hard.






This isn't about playing with the rotation.  It is about lighting that fire.

I don't understand what you want Doc to do to fire up the players?

To pi$$ into their snickers at the halftime?    Maybe that will to the trick

THis are playoffs! All players ARE fired, everyone knows what the stakes are!

[Bankshot]

Based on what?! Tonight's fill in minutes for Rondo?! Sam was absolutely awful tonight. 0-6 from the floor. Delonte scored a bunch of those points with Sam on him. Rondo was bad, but Sam was probably worse. Horrible shot selection.

As far as slow starts under Doc this year, that is absolute nonsense. They have played very well in the first and third quarters against teams all year long. That is a more ridiculous comment than starting Sam...

I meant slow starts in the playoffs on the road (which is why I suggested starting Cassell on the road).  And yes, not this year, but before this year, the Celtics would start off slow a lot and have to play from behind.

[wdleehi]

Doesn't fix the Celtics problem on the road. 


It doesn't get the Celtics defense going. 



At home, the Celtics could overcome early offensive problems because the defense kept it close.


on the road, the defense doesn't play hard.






This isn't about playing with the rotation.  It is about lighting that fire.

I don't understand what you want Doc to do to fire up the players?

To **** into their snickers at the halftime?    Maybe that will to the trick

THis are playoffs! All players ARE fired, everyone knows what the stakes are!

I don't care who does it.  Someone needs to step up and lead this team. 


And the Celtics players are not fired up on the road. 

[jay_jay54]

 Doc needs to light a fire under Rondo's feet.Perk could use a talking to also

[dark_lord]

the last thing u want to do is mess with the starting lineup during the playoffs.  basketball is highly mental. removing a second year player from the starting lineup like that would damage his confidence, which is the last thing we need at this point in the season.

[cordobes]

Doesn't matter if he start, but he should be getting more minutes than Rondo.

0 assists, 3-10 from the field, passing open shots - therefore allowing the Cavs to double anyone else - and then going to the lane to get blocked. Sam didn't do better, but at least he keeps their defense honest.

But we surely need to step up our pg defense... Delonte West got 21 pts, 7-11 fg, 4-6 3s, 7 assists.

A positive note: I can't believe that LeBron's supporting cast will have another game as good as this one. Not even close, even if we don't improve much on defense. 

[EJPLAYA]

Based on what?! Tonight's fill in minutes for Rondo?! Sam was absolutely awful tonight. 0-6 from the floor. Delonte scored a bunch of those points with Sam on him. Rondo was bad, but Sam was probably worse. Horrible shot selection.

As far as slow starts under Doc this year, that is absolute nonsense. They have played very well in the first and third quarters against teams all year long. That is a more ridiculous comment than starting Sam...

I meant slow starts in the playoffs on the road (which is why I suggested starting Cassell on the road).  And yes, not this year, but before this year, the Celtics would start off slow a lot and have to play from behind.

That's not what you said. You said " Not just this year, but years past as well." Also you said they "always start slow under Doc". You can't make a huge ordeal about something and then back off it. Look at your post!

[KeepDWest]

sam cassel is the 2nd worst player on this team only ahead of pj brown . . .does anyone watch this man play defense? seriously . . . he is atrocious, at best he shoots 80% from the floor and breaks even, doc needs to let rondo play . . its kind of tough to get in any rhythm when doc yanks you with 5 minutes left in the 1st and puts you in with 4 left in the second . . he is our point guard- play him 36 minutes a night no questions . . .what place does sam have on this team next year - none . . rondo is our point guard for the next 10 years . . . hes going to have bad nights, but watching sam play makes me want to throw up . . sorry just my opinion

[Redz]

Rondo was pretty awful tonight, but man Sam was airballin' 8 footers too. 

[EJPLAYA]

Doesn't matter if he start, but he should be getting more minutes than Rondo.

0 assists, 3-10 from the field, passing open shots - therefore allowing the Cavs to double anyone else - and then going to the lane to get blocked. Sam didn't do better, but at least he keeps their defense honest.

But we surely need to step up our pg defense... Delonte West got 21 pts, 7-11 fg, 4-6 3s, 7 assists.

A positive note: I can't believe that LeBron's supporting cast will have another game as good as this one. Not even close, even if we don't improve much on defense. 

Yeah, Sam's 0-6 performance was much better! Sam got almost as many minutes as Rondo did and Delonte put most of those points up with Sam on him. You are stating that defense is what we will need to win on the road and you want to put Sam out there for more minutes?! Have you lost your mind?!

[Bankshot]

Based on what?! Tonight's fill in minutes for Rondo?! Sam was absolutely awful tonight. 0-6 from the floor. Delonte scored a bunch of those points with Sam on him. Rondo was bad, but Sam was probably worse. Horrible shot selection.

As far as slow starts under Doc this year, that is absolute nonsense. They have played very well in the first and third quarters against teams all year long. That is a more ridiculous comment than starting Sam...

I meant slow starts in the playoffs on the road (which is why I suggested starting Cassell on the road).  And yes, not this year, but before this year, the Celtics would start off slow a lot and have to play from behind.

That's not what you said. You said " Not just this year, but years past as well." Also you said they "always start slow under Doc". You can't make a huge ordeal about something and then back off it. Look at your post!

I told you I mean this year "in the playoffs on the road" which is why I suggested playing Sam "on the road".  I did admit that I wasn't clear about that and didn't articulate that point well in my original post.