Start Cassell on the Road?

[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. 

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?!

I said that he hasn't done better. The major difference is that the Cavs actually put a defender on him.

With Sam on the floor, we were outscored by 5 points. With Rondo, by 11. And as you've said, they got almost even minutes. Enough?

p.s. - just for the record, my first option would be to tell Rondo to start taking that open shots. If he hits them, we're fine; if not, then take him out.

[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?!

I said that he hasn't done better. The major difference is that the Cavs actually put a defender on him.

With Sam on the floor, we were outscored by 5 points. With Rondo, by 11. And as you've said, they got almost even minutes. Enough?

Rondo has many more good games this post season than Sam has. Sam is also one dimensional. He can't guard anyone. He won't pass. He shoots that's it. To say that Sam should get more minutes than Rondo is ridiculous. How is it that we lost by 20+ and the two of them were only outscored by 16 pts combined?! Check your fuzzy math.

[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!

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.   

Oh. I see. As opposed to LAST YEARS playoffs starts... Come on. You made a jab at Doc that wasn't accurate and now you're trying to back track... Your explanation has nothing to do with your post. Stop attacking Doc at any possible moment.

[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. 

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?!

I said that he hasn't done better. The major difference is that the Cavs actually put a defender on him.

With Sam on the floor, we were outscored by 5 points. With Rondo, by 11. And as you've said, they got almost even minutes. Enough?

Rondo has many more good games this post season than Sam has. Sam is also one dimensional. He can't guard anyone. He won't pass. He shoots that's it. To say that Sam should get more minutes than Rondo is ridiculous. How is it that we lost by 20+ and the two of them were only outscored by 16 pts combined?! Check your fuzzy math.

Probably because they're sitting in the bench together for the last 5 minutes or so? And Rondo has been absolutely unidimensional in this series. It's not like he has been setting plays or something. I think your hate for Cassell is blinding you...

[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.   

Oh. I see. As opposed to LAST YEARS playoffs starts... Come on. You made a jab at Doc that wasn't accurate and now you're trying to back track... Your explanation has nothing to do with your post. Stop attacking Doc at any possible moment.

I didn't mean to attack Doc, but if I did so what?  I can attack him anytime I want and you can't stop me!

[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?!

I said that he hasn't done better. The major difference is that the Cavs actually put a defender on him.

With Sam on the floor, we were outscored by 5 points. With Rondo, by 11. And as you've said, they got almost even minutes. Enough?

Rondo has many more good games this post season than Sam has. Sam is also one dimensional. He can't guard anyone. He won't pass. He shoots that's it. To say that Sam should get more minutes than Rondo is ridiculous. How is it that we lost by 20+ and the two of them were only outscored by 16 pts combined?! Check your fuzzy math.

Probably because they're sitting in the bench together for the last 5 minutes or so? And Rondo has been absolutely unidimensional in this series. It's not like he has been setting plays or something. I think your hate for Cassell is blinding you...

Sorry my friend, but Rondo and Sam both contributed to that 26 point hole we fell into early. If you read some recent posts after game one and two I gave Sam credit for the game 1 play and the first half of game 2. I think your LOVE for Sam is blinding you if you can watch that game we just played and think that Sam outplayed Rondo. They both were awful but Rondo has very few of those games compared to the usual tough play he gives us. You can't demote a guy for a bad game or two when he brings 10x the play to the table that Sam does consistently.

[Team Green]

Cassell not coming on until late in the season has hurt this team. This guy doesn't know any of the sets, all he knows is the shoot button. And defensively he's SO slow.

I don't know how to fix the point guard problem, but something they should try is playing them together. Put Rondo at the point and Cassell at the SG and see if that can generate any offense. Clearly they are not getting the job done (at least tonight - let's not forget they each had strong games in Game One).

[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. 

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?!

I said that he hasn't done better. The major difference is that the Cavs actually put a defender on him.

With Sam on the floor, we were outscored by 5 points. With Rondo, by 11. And as you've said, they got almost even minutes. Enough?

Rondo has many more good games this post season than Sam has. Sam is also one dimensional. He can't guard anyone. He won't pass. He shoots that's it. To say that Sam should get more minutes than Rondo is ridiculous. How is it that we lost by 20+ and the two of them were only outscored by 16 pts combined?! Check your fuzzy math.

Probably because they're sitting in the bench together for the last 5 minutes or so? And Rondo has been absolutely unidimensional in this series. It's not like he has been setting plays or something. I think your hate for Cassell is blinding you...

Sorry my friend, but Rondo and Sam both contributed to that 26 point hole we fell into early. If you read some recent posts after game one and two I gave Sam credit for the game 1 play and the first half of game 2. I think your LOVE for Sam is blinding you if you can watch that game we just played and think that Sam outplayed Rondo. They both were awful but Rondo has very few of those games compared to the usual tough play he gives us. You can't demote a guy for a bad game or two when he brings 10x the play to the table that Sam does consistently.

1. I don't love Sam.
2. Please, just check a boxscore. Rondo's +/- was minus 11. Sam's minus 5
3. They both contributed to that hole; the point is that Rondo was the major contributor of both.
4. And that because all along these 3 games, Cleveland defense is based on leaving Rondo and using Delonte to allow doubling the big 3 in every single play.
5. And that why Rondo is having so many chances of taking open shots.
6. Problem is he's too afraid to shot.
7. Sam is a better shooter than Rondo.
8. I'd rather have Sam chucking some contested shots here and there than this terrible offense we're having anytime Rondo is running the point.

Bottom line: Rondo will not only not shoot his shots, but he'll also take shots he shouldn't take. And this is hurting our offense more than anything.

[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?!

I said that he hasn't done better. The major difference is that the Cavs actually put a defender on him.

With Sam on the floor, we were outscored by 5 points. With Rondo, by 11. And as you've said, they got almost even minutes. Enough?

Rondo has many more good games this post season than Sam has. Sam is also one dimensional. He can't guard anyone. He won't pass. He shoots that's it. To say that Sam should get more minutes than Rondo is ridiculous. How is it that we lost by 20+ and the two of them were only outscored by 16 pts combined?! Check your fuzzy math.

Probably because they're sitting in the bench together for the last 5 minutes or so? And Rondo has been absolutely unidimensional in this series. It's not like he has been setting plays or something. I think your hate for Cassell is blinding you...

Sorry my friend, but Rondo and Sam both contributed to that 26 point hole we fell into early. If you read some recent posts after game one and two I gave Sam credit for the game 1 play and the first half of game 2. I think your LOVE for Sam is blinding you if you can watch that game we just played and think that Sam outplayed Rondo. They both were awful but Rondo has very few of those games compared to the usual tough play he gives us. You can't demote a guy for a bad game or two when he brings 10x the play to the table that Sam does consistently.

1. I don't love Sam.
2. Please, just check a boxscore. Rondo's +/- was minus 11. Sam's minus 5
3. They both contributed to that hole; the point is that Rondo was the major contributor of both.
4. And that because all along these 3 games, Cleveland defense is based on leaving Rondo and using Delonte to allow doubling the big 3 in every single play.
5. And that why Rondo is having so many chances of taking open shots.
6. Problem is he's too afraid to shot.
7. Sam is a better shooter than Rondo.
8. I'd rather have Sam chucking some contested shots here and there than this terrible offense we're having anytime Rondo is running the point.

One game and you're benching the guy?! That terrible offense Rondo runs led to 2 blowouts by the C's.

Plus minus is often a garbage stat. Why aren't you calling for Sam to replace PP. His plus minus was -25 tonight...

[Bahku]

We need to run MORE, not less, and Sam's only effective when he's hitting his shot. There's no way he should have played as many minutes tonight as he did. Rondo can blow Delonte away on the fast-break, and we've got to run it down their throats from the git. They're only playing like 7 players with any length of time, and if we run there's no way they can keep up for 48. As soon as Sam comes in everything slows, and that's EXACTLY what the Cavs WANT. We need to run, be aggressive, and sustain it! When Sam's hitting shots, he's fine to have in for a while, but to think he can play the tempo consistently that this team NEEDS to play, is absurd ... he can't do it. Start him? No way, man ... if anything, he should be playing much less, Eddie should be getting more time, and Rondo should not be sitting for extended minutes. I'd rather lose while playing OUR game, than lose by playing theirs .... and if we play our game, we're going to win 9 times out of ten.

[BASSTHUMPER]

Sam's only effective when he's hitting his shot.

that goes for capt paul kev rondo perk....also Doc needs to step up and run this team..i been sayin this is pauls team but this is  Doc's team....he shhould not be afraid to bench ray and put in eddie..jus like posey over paul..scalabrine over kev.....*sips 40oz*...ughhhh...40 gettin warm...

[Shamrock]

Whenever we have a bad game, Rondo seems to be taking all the heat.  What about how crappy Perk & Ray Allen played in the first quarter tonight? This is a big part of Rondo's problem. 

I'm beginning to feel that Posey & Powe deserve to start over Ray Allen & Perk. I'd LOVE to see Rondo out there with Posey & Powe and then maybe we'd get off to a good start.

IMHO Cassell is not the solution - he is part of the problem.

If I were Doc - I'd stick with Rondo.  He's 22 years old - I'd play him 40 minutes a night.

Ryan Resuillo said it best - to paraphrase - "Doc is beginning to lose faith in his starting point guard and somehow I think that is going to come back to bite him."  I couldn't agree more. 

Let's not forget - Rondo's the man that was huge factor in bringing us 66 wins - Cassell wasn't in the picture.

[Hrvoje]

It's all about right timing with rotations in the game. It's about putting right player in the right time.

[celticmaestro]

why start cassell and completely destroy rondo's confidence? all rajon needs to do is be more aggressive. you can tell that his confidence has dropped in this series and as a result he's not playing well, at all. he needs to be playing 35+ mpg of aggressive basketball where he pushes the ball and does what he does best.

[kenmaine]

No way. Doc is already doing his best to screw up Rondo. He's already benched Eddie House for no reason. As the saying goes, "how's that working out?" 
Sam is still a very good player, but it's mostly one-on-one. When the shots go in, it's great. But he hasn't really played well, to put it kindly.
Would it be so hard for Doc to take some minutes from Ray(Lugo)Allen? He's been horrible, but gets a free pass for some reason.  Why not play House or Cassell with Rondo? I know some of the "geniuses" out here will tell me why that's impossible, but I don't see House or Cassell being that much worse a defender that Allen. And as far as it being too late to start trying new stuff, that's exactly what Doc did by benching House and inserting Cassell when the playoffs began. Very risky move and it's not working(yes, Sam did have a good 4th quarter the other night, thank goodness).
Anyway, I don't hate Sam, but I do love Rondo. And yes, he needs to take and make some shots. If Sam could maybe teach Rondo his step back jumper in the next day or two??