Start the Bench?

[jchamorro]

The C's are a puzzle on the road. So far they've been intimidated and cracked under pressure,  reverting to one on one basketball and just plain poor defense.

Why not just start the Bench,  Powe, House,  TAllen,  Posey and
Baby.  Shake it up. If that doesn't get PGA fired up, nothing will.
I'm tired of seeing Ray Allen missing shots.  I'm tired of seeing the angry Paul Pierce Face.  (It's a sign that Pierce is going to either start heaving up garbage or taking it into traffic, get stripped and fall to the ground).
Garnett's playing well,  but it can't hurt to fire him up like game 4 is game 7.

Put the subs in for the first quarter and if they can handle Cleveland's first team what does cleveland do in the second frame when you bring in PGA?

Even if the subs fall apart for the first 5,  PGA will be coming in when the crowd has already expended their energy.

It's been the same story on the road throughout the playoffs so far. Make some adjustments.

[kenmaine]

TP just for having the guts to post this.
You know you're going to get blasted and called an idiot for putting it out there.
Of course, we know it's not going to happen, and that's probably a good thing, but you do bring up some good points.
Right now it feels like something is missing, but other than the Pistons yesterday, it's been the same for all road teams so far.
 And another poster brought up a good point- that the C's regular season record was so great largely because they played every game like a playoff game, but now every opponent is doing the same thing, so it's much tougher.
And Cleveland is a good team- at least LeBron and Z are. Delonte and Wally were out of their minds last night, don't think we'll see that again.

[celticmaestro]

adjustments? yes. start the bench? ****!

[wdleehi]

What does that do?


The bench by itself has not played well.  The bench has done a good job at home contributing to the stars. 



The Celtics do not need to change their road rotation. 


They do need to change how they are preparing for the road games.  They do need to change the energy they are not putting into the road games. 

[PRIDE]

Pierce, Allen and Rondo need to step up. I think KG has played well. Pierce is taking too many jumpers and he isnt trying to take it at Lebron. Its almost like hes afraid or something. Ray Allen shouldnt be on the floor if he isnt hitting shots. He gives up a lot of baskets on the defensive end and hes been ice cold. I'd rather see a little more House or TA when he is struggling. They will bring more energy.

Sam Cassel should never start. He takes too many shots without looking to pass first. He disrupts the flow of the offense. Our ball rotation was very poor last night and that needs to improve.

[Celtic]

Instead of starting game 4 with the bench, and heading back to Boston with a series tied 2-2, I would rather start the regular five play effectively with energy and win on the road.

[Beantown Troy]

I don't know about starting the bench but it seems like the games so far on the road, Sam I Am has been atrocious. Maybe we should give E-House some run at least on the road....can't be any worse than what Sam is giving us.

And I don't know why Ray isn't getting more touches! He's got World guarding him!

[sns0274]

While starting all 5 bench players  is probably a bit of a stretch, I can't say that I am completely against the strategy behind it. I honestly would have no problem at all starting Posey over Ray or even Pierce. He has definitely earned at least a shot and this could be used as a wake up call for all starters. Posey has been one of the more consistent players all year long. You know he is going to D up, clog the passing lanes and attack the glass.

This also gives one our stars fresh legs against the opponents 2nd unit. While also giving a more consistent scorer with the second unit. It also leaves us enough scoring options on the floor, while making the D a bit stronger against the oppositions starters.

I do realize that this is probably going to fly over like a lead balloon, but at the same time, I can't find a reason other than hurting someones feelings to not give it a shot. Something has to be done to shake things up a little bit. We do look like a completely different team while we are on the road and complacent and lethargic are only a couple of the adjectives that fit rather well.

I also can't find a good reason to not give House a little burn, except for maybe rust. While I am not a huge House fan, some energy needs to be injected into both units on the floor and Eddie is a good candidate to play with reckless abandon.

Something has to be done to change the mindset of this team on the road and to me this is probably the least intrusive and would have the least effect on the teams mentality as a whole.

[Woodstock Libertarian]

TP

What harm can it do?

Maybe the bench would fall behind by 30 instead of 25.

Oh darn.

This team is pathetic, 1987-88 pathetic.

Bring back Fred Roberts and Darren Daye.

[SShoreFan]

No way.  This team has been in equally tough situations this year -- they just need focus and less emotion.


3/17/08
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Coach Doc Rivers had some strong advice for the Boston Celtics before their first stop on a tough three-game swing through Texas: Play hard, or else.

"The Spurs, they're a well-oiled machine. We knew they were going to come in fired up. They lost some games as of late and any champion is going to come out with its haymakers," said Kevin Garnett, who had 21 points in Boston's 93-91 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. "Doc told us if we don't pick up the energy, then we're going to get embarrassed in here."

And for the first two quarters, anyway, it looked like that might happen.

The Spurs led by as many as 22 points in a lopsided first half before Boston rallied for a narrow victory.

"A lot of teams may have buckled," said Rajon Rondo, who scored 20 points for the Celtics. "But we knew we had to execute. Continue to get stops on defense and we knew the game would change for us, and it did."

[jay_jay54]

Instead of starting game 4 with the bench, and heading back to Boston with a series tied 2-2, I would rather start the regular five play effectively with energy and win on the road.

Totally agreed here,lets get this next one fellas..tp for you

[Oldschoolkid]

I agree in principle anyway. "Starters" is a BS term, it is for spoiled kids. The starters and players should be the guys who's heart is in to it. You put someone in and if they cannot find their game that night you keep using your people at that position until you find the one who wants it most! Ray Allen is a prime example. If your shot isn't falling, take it to the hole, get some steals, block shots. Shooting comes and goes, but defense and rebounding is permanent! That is why in past postings I have advocated Tony Allen, Eddie House, ect....because maybe when they are on the floor they will show they want it more. nothing inspires an all-star more than someone taking his spot, and at the very least, you can see what is happening to him while you are "resting". Also, the Cavs plan and prepare for the Celts starting 6, all the reporters said so (Tommy H, Mike G et all) so you really cannot lose. Especialy when we have seen WAY TOO MUCH of this road ...this is 4 road failures in a row...it also reflects poorly on THE COACH, why, well we are still the same team....! Why Did Avery Johnson get canned, good team no results.....it is easy to look competent while you are winning, but if you can't make neccesary adjustments when things aren't working........A great team does not ALWAYS lose on the road...! Same game guys!


edit - do not purposely go around the language filter.  No offensive language allowed. - wdleehi

[dark_lord]

The C's are a puzzle on the road. So far they've been intimidated and cracked under pressure,  reverting to one on one basketball and just plain poor defense.

Why not just start the Bench,  Powe, House,  TAllen,  Posey and
Baby.  Shake it up. If that doesn't get PGA fired up, nothing will.
I'm tired of seeing Ray Allen missing shots.  I'm tired of seeing the angry Paul Pierce Face.  (It's a sign that Pierce is going to either start heaving up garbage or taking it into traffic, get stripped and fall to the ground).
Garnett's playing well,  but it can't hurt to fire him up like game 4 is game 7.

Put the subs in for the first quarter and if they can handle Cleveland's first team what does cleveland do in the second frame when you bring in PGA?

Even if the subs fall apart for the first 5,  PGA will be coming in when the crowd has already expended their energy.

It's been the same story on the road throughout the playoffs so far. Make some adjustments.

[BASSTHUMPER]

start sammmy and posey..paul would be better off the bench..a total waste of money but we tryin to win a ring....powe is perfect off the bench to rest perk...eddie house goes in when sam needs a rest and gatorade...big baby for kev..our big 3 starts 2nd half rested...kev rondo powe paul and ray in the 4th....

[T1ME]

All this would do is destroy team chemistry, not fire anybody up.

Benching Ray Allen is not going to make him shoot better.

Benching Paul Pierce is not going to make him "happier"

Benching Kevin Garnett is not going to increase his intensity.

Terrible topic.