Play Eddie House Doc!!!

[acl rupture]

Eddie House played great for us all year. Yet after Sam was signed Houses minutes disappeared. It has had a adverse effect on the team especially the bench on the road. Doc needs to wake up.

Secondly I think the way both Scalabrine and House situations were handeled badly and has hurt us in the long run. The 2 signings at the end of the year were mercenary and we should have gone with the group that got us there. Ubuntu right?

The poster formally known as fatjohn who cant remember his password.

[PlayRyanGomes]

I'm completely disgusted by Cassell's play as well.  He hasn't made effort to learn the offense.  He thinks he's better than he is.  Enough's enough.  I want to see what House can do with the back up minutes.  Look at this garbage in today's paper:

Sam Cassell has provided the Celtics with scoring off the bench in the playoffs, but not a lot of playmaking. Entering last night, he was averaging 7 points, but only 1 assist. In the two games against Cleveland, he was averaging 11 points and just 1 assist. Last night he had one point and two assists.

Cassell didn’t like it when he was asked if he felt the need to get his teammates more involved, saying no one told Tom Brady when to pass to his tight end.

“Whatever it takes,” Cassell said. “If I’m down, I look to score. If I’m up, I look to pass the ball. So be it.”

Rivers attributes Cassell’s lack of playmaking to still not learning many of the team’s plays since he joined the team as a free agent on March 4.

http://www.telegram.com/article/20080511/NEWS/805110775/1009/SPORTS

[mahonedog88]

I was a big supporter of giving Eddie House some playing time...

But I think I'm changing my tune.  Sam Cassell, yes has been atrocious on the road.  But so hasn't Rondo and so hasn't House when he gets the playing time.  All of our point guard play on the road has been terrible thus far in the playoffs.

With that being said, I would rather have Cassell on the floor than House.  He's a VET who knows the playoffs well and can create his own shots unlike Eddie.  Plus, do you know why House's minutes have dropped drastically?  Yes Cassell coming obviously played a big role in it, but look at his shooting percentage when he's had a good amount of playing time.  His shooting has gone down almost game by game near the end of the season.  For whatever reason, he just can't shoot.  Even with the garbage time in the playoffs, I'm pretty sure he hasn't made a shot.

[winsomme]

i agree with the basic sentiment here. although i don't think that you need to beat up on Sam in order to want House to play.

Sam has already been well worth the pick up of him as a back up. but right now in this series i agree that House should get some time early in the game.

My reasons are:

1) he keeps the game playing at a faster pace like Rondo (as opposed to Sam who plays more half court style),

2) he plays decent defense and would have no major matchup problem against DWest or Gibson (actually they are all very similar players)

3) he is the best pure shooter of he, Rondo and Sam and could hopefully make a dent in CLEs three point shooting advantage (along with Posey).

it's a pretty simple adjustment and i think ripe for being made in this series.

Sam is still a huge asset to this team, but right now, i think the matchups call for Eddie.

[Scribbles]

I agree with everyone I'd like to see some more Eddie House.  I have agree though with the poster above me that said all of our PG's have played awful on the road.  Rondo and Same have been good at home but just not on the road.  I can see the reasoning for Rondo's struggles as its his first playoff experience and younger players play better at home than on the road but Sam's play on the road really fustrates me.  I'd really like to see House or even Tony Allen get some playing time at the PG spot if both Rondo and Sam are struggling again in game 4.  With Doc though, its highly unlikely.  

[winsomme]

I was a big supporter of giving Eddie House some playing time...

But I think I'm changing my tune.  Sam Cassell, yes has been atrocious on the road.  But so hasn't Rondo and so hasn't House when he gets the playing time.  All of our point guard play on the road has been terrible thus far in the playoffs.

With that being said, I would rather have Cassell on the floor than House.  He's a VET who knows the playoffs well and can create his own shots unlike Eddie.  Plus, do you know why House's minutes have dropped drastically?  Yes Cassell coming obviously played a big role in it, but look at his shooting percentage when he's had a good amount of playing time.  His shooting has gone down almost game by game near the end of the season.  For whatever reason, he just can't shoot.  Even with the garbage time in the playoffs, I'm pretty sure he hasn't made a shot.

i agree that nobody played well in game 3, but here's the thing.

CLE is doing a ton of trapping right now, and it is killing the penetration of a guy like Pierce. but what that also means is that somebody is open.

i think what Eddie was able to do so effectively during the season was the keep the ball moving and spread the floor with his spot up shooting. and  i think that is what is called for now.

the reason we brought in Sam was for ball control. but with Gibson as their backup PG, i don't think that is as much of a concern in this series.

i think we need to keep the pace up and spread the floor with our second unit. see if we can get some of our shooters hot to open things up for Pierce and the best option at PG to do that IMO is House.

[unitedceltic]

Eddie House could be the difference between winning this series and not. With him in there the Cavs can't leave him open.

[rondohondo]

Wow what an overreaction . Sam just helped us win the 1st 2 games in boston by hitting big 3's in the 4th quarter in game 1 and by leading the comeback when the starters were struggling in game 2. Yes he had a poor game last night ,but what celtic didn't? Do you really think if Eddie House played Sam's minutes last night they would have made a 20 point come back? Calm down guys Sam is a clutch playoff performer and that's why he is here . Everyone says all Sam does is shoot , but all Eddie house can do is shoot 3's( and he is even streaky doing that) Sam hasn't been getting burned at the defensive end of the floor this series and he can do many more things at the offensive end of the floor then Eddie can like hit clutch shots in pressure situations, Post up other PG's and keep the defense honest. If anything I want to see more of TA.

All this team need to do is consistently get the ball to KG in the post and everything will be fine

[Jon]

Personally, I'd be questioning the play of Rondo more than the play of Cassell at this point.  He was horrible last night.  I know there are a lot of Delonte West fans on this board, but the truth of the matter is that he's not that good.  Rondo should be torching him on both ends of the court. 

[EJPLAYA]

Wow what an overreaction . Sam just helped us win the 1st 2 games in boston by hitting big 3's in the 4th quarter in game 1 and by leading the comeback when the starters were struggling in game 2. Yes he had a poor game last night ,but what celtic didn't? Do you really think if Eddie House played Sam's minutes last night they would have made a 20 point come back? Calm down guys Sam is a clutch playoff performer and that's why he is here . Everyone says all Sam does is shoot , but all Eddie house can do is shoot 3's( and he is even streaky doing that) Sam hasn't been getting burned at the defensive end of the floor this series and he can do many more things at the offensive end of the floor then Eddie can like hit clutch shots in pressure situations, Post up other PG's and keep the defense honest. If anything I want to see more of TA.

All this team need to do is consistently get the ball to KG in the post and everything will be fine

No, they wouldn't have overcome a 26 point deficit, but when House would come in earlier in the year they wouldn't slip into 20+ point deficits in the first place. House does more things. You can't take House's 2-3 minutes in garbage time as indication of how he would play. He needs more time to be effective shooting the ball. When he is/was he made a huge difference when the second unit came in. He also does a better job of looking to pass first. Did you see that pass immediately when he came in last night to Powe that resulted in a dunk. He always got 1-2 no look passes into the big guys for easy baskets. If we get him back to hitting baskets with more P/T then he will give us that quick paced spark we are in desperate need of!

[jay_jay54]

Personally, I'd be questioning the play of Rondo more than the play of Cassell at this point.  He was horrible last night.  I know there are a lot of Delonte West fans on this board, but the truth of the matter is that he's not that good.  Rondo should be torching him on both ends of the court. 

tp for you,feel the same way...Rondo is the better pg,and should be proving it,both at home,and on the road.Seems like Rondo plays tentative on the road,and i  understand he is still young,in his first playoffs.At some point,the newness got to  wear off,and realize,its the way its going to be each series,and it not going to get any easier,or the crowds are not going to be any quieter, as we advance.If anything, if we have to face a Detroit team,it will be really rocking in the "Motor City".

[cdif911]

 I'd really like to see House or even Tony Allen get some playing time at the PG spot if both Rondo and Sam are struggling again in game 4.  With Doc though, its highly unlikely.  

Have you seen Tony Allen play the point?  Dude's lost as it is on offense, don't make him try to run it. We tried that experiment last year when the games didnt' matter and it wasn't generally pretty basketball - Lets throw Powe at PG too, he plays with heart and intensity, I'm sure that'll translate into a Magic Johnson type player... Stick with Rondo, stick with Sam, House is really a tweener 1.5 guard, I do think he should get an opportunity if/when the other 2 aren't doing their thing, but he's the 3rd option on this pecking order

[PRIDE]

Cassell should still be first PG off the bench but if he isnt distributing and hes just jacking shots that arent falling then House needs to get in there. I think House could be used during certain situations as well. I think the C's need to play more 2 man game with KG and PP. This will get Paul penetrating and KG in the post. House and Posey would help spread the floor. Paul should help Eddie House bring the ball up the floor when hes in. It will bring some pressure off EH and it will put the ball in Pierces hands more. Hopefully that will keep him involved in the offense. When Pierce has the ball good things happen unless hes chucking jumpers all game.

[Scribbles]

 I'd really like to see House or even Tony Allen get some playing time at the PG spot if both Rondo and Sam are struggling again in game 4.  With Doc though, its highly unlikely.  

Have you seen Tony Allen play the point?  Dude's lost as it is on offense, don't make him try to run it. We tried that experiment last year when the games didnt' matter and it wasn't generally pretty basketball - Lets throw Powe at PG too, he plays with heart and intensity, I'm sure that'll translate into a Magic Johnson type player... Stick with Rondo, stick with Sam, House is really a tweener 1.5 guard, I do think he should get an opportunity if/when the other 2 aren't doing their thing, but he's the 3rd option on this pecking order

Well with Pierce or Ray on the floor they can all equally share the ball handling duties.  I know Tony can't play point but if RR and Sam are struggling you need to try something different. I just want to see a change if those two are not producing. 

Also I've been a Celtics fan my whole life so, I'm not some bandwagon fan.  I'm not really sure if you were trying to say that to me but I got a feeling you were based on how I interpreted your post.  Also no need to make smart alec/sarcastic comments.  Powe is a 6'7 Foward, while Magic was a 6'9, top 5 PG in NBA history, no matter how much it pains for me to admitt that. 

[Oldschoolkid]

The current theme seems to be,rotate guys in and see who is "on", who's game is working that night. Also, defense should be working every night. Play your man first, always know where he is, talk on the floor, tell you team what you are doing. On offense, the Celts are going it alone on the road. No one rotates to the hoop when someone is going in for a layup, as if they think "Well, that is his play...." No one ever waits until someone is underneath for a rebound before they shoot, and not many people have been looking for rebounds. Rondo has more offensive rebounds than Perk sometimes! They do not pick and roll, they set no screens for Ray Allen. The best thing Doc did was to put PJ on "Z", size wise and strength, that was a good move! I don't know what to do on the road to fix this, but you cannot expect different results when you apply the same formula, that already did not work.