Anyone see what happened with House at the end of Game 4?

[jay_jay54]

As much as I love Eddie and as much as I've grown to dislike El Huevos, I have a hard time imaging Eddie having any success against the Piston's D last night.  They were playing as tough as they've played all season; Hunter would have picked his pocket.

wait like he did to Cassell?

what House lacks in so-called "true PG skills" he makes up for in energy, spreading the offense, and hustle. Last night, when it seemed they were playing in cement, it was a great time to insert him in the 2nd half and see what he could make happen.

same with Powe. I'll give Doc credit for leaving Cassell in in Game 3 when he helped turn the game around... but he's got to realize when its *not* working too

let's hope you're right Redz!

i think you hit it on the nail here... one of the bench players duties, is to bring some energy to the floor,something Sam didn't have last night.Eddie usually brings that fire in when he enters the game.As you said,Doc should have at least given it a shot.I noticed Cassell was all up in Doc's face,(eating cheese)during the break.I know Sam has helped the team,here/there,but has it been enough,to say all this was worth it,bringing him here?I go back to what the team motto sort of was,its all about the team first,not individual wants and needs.

[vwoodruff]

Eddie House v. Pistons is exactly why Ainge brought in Cassell. The Pistons press House, and the Cs end up with a 14 second shot clock or a turnover. I like House and wish he had played earlier against the Cavs, but unless he is playing off the ball against the Pistons, there are issues, not to mention that it puts more pressure on Pierce as primary ball handler and/or doesn't give Rondo rest.

The way the perimeter has been managed by the refs thus far also doesn't give House much of a chance to get off the pine. While the Cs finally got some calls last night (because they went to the rack), it p---es me off to see the Pistons get away with slaps and reaches. It changes the entire flow of the offense...

As an aside, I'd love to see Powe break Rip's mask and nose in the next game. After his classless crap in the first 4 games, he's by far my least favorite player in the league. I knew he was going after Ray last night after he didn't get the call he flopped for. He argues that it isn't an offensive foul, when in reality it probably should have been an intentional foul.

[vinnie]

Eddie House is a bad match-up vs the Piston.  We put him in the game the the Piston will press the heck out of us.  What needs to happen is Rondo has to step up and play the way he did in game 1.  I really don't like Eddie House in this match-up. 

I agree one thousand percent.  House could barely get the ball over half court in the first two games.  While Sam was not much better in setting up the offense, he seemed, for the most part, to at least be able to get the ball up court.  The problem last night was that both Rondo and Cassell were awful.  If that happens again, this team is in huge trouble.

[Mon]

This is what happened according to Max on WEEI.

Eddie asked Doc whether he wanted them to shoot or hold.

Doc said to hold it.

Big Baby started screaming for the ball.

So in disgust he throws the ball to Big Baby and walks over to Doc.

Doc tells Eddie that if he (Doc) tells him to hold it then he better motherflipping hold it!

So Eddie was upset with BBD and Doc was upset with Eddie.

Nothing more…nothing less.

[Andy Jick]

let's all be honest...our backup point guard situation sucks right now.  house isn't a ballhandler, and if sam isn't knocking down shots he's a liability (and he keeps hoisting them up there like there's no tomorrow).

funny, but where is tony "we'll turn him into a point guard" allen at?  didn't danny and doc refer to him as a backup point guard some time ago?

now we know for a fact that they were both full of crap...

[bucknersrevenge]

all i know is since the playoffs began our offense has looked like total crap by in large. after being one of the more productive bench players all year for this team i find it highly laughable that somehow eddie house hasnt earned at least 15 min of burn anymore. but unlike sam who hasnt been hitting shots eddie has pretty much kept his mouth closed and rooted his team on no problem. when sam didnt play for like 2 games he had to whine to the press. ill be honest despite eddies lack of true ballhandling skill, i like the bench offense better with house in at point and the sets being run thru paul or kg in the half. when sam brings the ball up we just look stagnant in the halfcourt. paul doesnt touch the ball enough. kg doesnt spend as much time in the post. i say bring eddie off the bench and let him run with ray and either kg or paul run the offense thru them while theyre in.. i thought doc had figured this out in game 7 against the cavs but of course he didnt.

[joebianca]

The problem with bringing House in is that Detroit can just bring in Lindsay Hunter to wreak havoc on House, who is NOT a good ballhandler. House should see minutes at the two when Ray is struggling (just about always recently), he shouldn't back up Rondo. Rondo and House should play together so Rondo can guard Hamilton and so House doesn't have to bring the ball up.

[Scintan]

Given that Rip Hamilton weighs almost as much as my fingernail, why is it against the rules to put House in at the shooting guard spot for some minutes there?

[joebianca]

Given that Rip Hamilton weighs almost as much as my fingernail, why is it against the rules to put House in at the shooting guard spot for some minutes there?

I don't know, I just don't see House being able to dodge the 14 screens they run for Rip every time down the court.

[Frontierboy]

House should be in there with Rondo or Cassell....... doesn't everyone remember the energy that House brought us in the Cavs series?

last night we sure could have used that energy

[Pull Up Jumper]

As much as I love Eddie and as much as I've grown to dislike El Huevos, I have a hard time imaging Eddie having any success against the Piston's D last night.  They were playing as tough as they've played all season; Hunter would have picked his pocket.

Speaking of which...  I think I need a bigger TV, 'cause it sure looks to me sitting on the couch that Hunter's committing about eight or nine fouls per possession.  I'm also getting sick (and I can't say the C's never do this, either) of seeing offensive players pushing off the defender and not having an offensive foul called.  You want to eliminate flopping in the league?  Call an offensive foul even when the defender doesn't fall down.

I have to agree on all accounts.  Eddie hasn't instilled confidence in his handle in the first few games.  I'll still take him over Sam all day long.

The contact that the refs are letting go is crazy, the Pistons were just hacking the crap out of the Cs last night and griping because they called on 25% of them.  Every time Garnett tried to post up, somebody give him the hip pin with their hand and starting whacking at him with the other arm.

And Rip Hamilton all but shanked Ray Allen last night.  ESPN actually did a decent job capturing him pushing, yanking, and generally mauling his defender.  He got called once and started whining.  Zip it, Rip, you got away with about 20 possible offensive fouls, it does not behoove you to complain about the one they called on you.

[Weird Facts]

Eddie House is a bad match-up vs the Piston.  We put him in the game the the Piston will press the heck out of us.  What needs to happen is Rondo has to step up and play the way he did in game 1.  I really don't like Eddie House in this match-up. 

Yeah, but if you want to use that logic, "Eddie house is a bad match-up against the Pistons"

Then Sam cassell is a bad match-up against anyone.  So we can throw that argument out the window.

[Finkelskyhook]

From PullUpJumper's post:
The contact that the refs are letting go is crazy, the Pistons were just hacking the crap out of the Cs last night and griping because they called on 25% of them.  Every time Garnett tried to post up, somebody give him the hip pin with their hand and starting whacking at him with the other arm.

The Celtics' could have had 3 Tim Donaghys officiating while betting on them to win last night and they still would have lost.  Every time Garnett tried to post up?  What was that?  Like 3 times?  Unless you're talking about a high high post because he spent most of his time offensively around the top of the free throw line.  They played the game, especially Garnett, like they were happy with the split in Detroit.  The tanking team of last season showed more effort. 

There is no Lebron James in this series.  The officials have no iron in this fire.  They will not decide the outcome of this series.  The hacking was going on on both ends of the court.  The difference was the Pistons played like they wanted this game on both ends of the court.  The Celtics merely showed up.  Sort of.

Concerning House:  The fact that he can play as well as he does when he gets the call speaks to his character as a player.  He's earned his spot in the rotation.  But Doc loves to jerk players around.  His blindfolded dartboard approach to rotations must be extremely frustrating to role players.  House, with the exception of a few games, has been efficient as a backup PG.  Cassell, with the exception of a few games, hasn't.

[guava_wrench]

As much as I love Eddie and as much as I've grown to dislike El Huevos, I have a hard time imaging Eddie having any success against the Piston's D last night.  They were playing as tough as they've played all season; Hunter would have picked his pocket.

wait like he did to Cassell?

What are you basing that on? Cassell didn't get ripped by Hunter, nor did Cassell get stuck in corners and forced to throw away the ball. I prefer House over Cassell, except against Detroit. Cassell is able to get the ball up against the pressure, albeit slowly.

People seem to be losing sight of the fact that this series could be worse. We could be down 1-3 or swept. There are changes that can make us worse. For those who like to type but don't actually pay attention to games, House can not handle the defense of either Rip nor Hunter. House was horrific when given minutes in this series. House had his chance. Hunter did not play in the 2nd and 3rd regular season games, allowing House to face Stuckey. When Hunter is available, Flip puts him in any time that House is on the floor, and Hunter locks him down.

[Gainesville Celtic]

As much as I love Eddie and as much as I've grown to dislike El Huevos, I have a hard time imaging Eddie having any success against the Piston's D last night.  They were playing as tough as they've played all season; Hunter would have picked his pocket.

wait like he did to Cassell?

What are you basing that on? Cassell didn't get ripped by Hunter, nor did Cassell get stuck in corners and forced to throw away the ball. I prefer House over Cassell, except against Detroit. Cassell is able to get the ball up against the pressure, albeit slowly.

unquestionably it's a trade off ---- House *does* have trouble advancing the ball, but Cassell slows the offense down and breaks the team's rhythm. IMO House is the better defender --- though i'll admit that's sort of like saying Perkins is a better FT shooter than Rondo.

I agree with Bucknersrevenge... The Celtics with Eddie House as backup PG went 51-13... we shouldn't be the one's changing to matchup to the Pistons, it should be the other way around... that kind of thinking cost Dallas last year.

People seem to be losing sight of the fact that this series could be worse. We could be down 1-3 or swept. There are changes that can make us worse. For those who like to type but don't actually pay attention to games, House can not handle the defense of either Rip nor Hunter. House was horrific when given minutes in this series. House had his chance. Hunter did not play in the 2nd and 3rd regular season games, allowing House to face Stuckey. When Hunter is available, Flip puts him in any time that House is on the floor, and Hunter locks him down.

There are changes that can make us worse ---- but c'mon there are also changes *not* being made that stand in the way of us playing better. For example, just having House on the court stretches the defense more, gives Pierce more room to operate, frees up the post for rebounders, etc. 

Game 1, 2Q: House enters with the C's up by 5, leaves 6 mins later up by 4
Game 1, 3Q: House enters with C's up by 8, leaves 3 mins later (in 4Q) up by 12-

Game 2 1Q: House enters, C's up 2, leaves 5 mins later, game tied
Game 2, 3Q, House enters C's down 4, leaves 2 min later, C's down 9

Pretty even --- hadly the cataclysm folks are making it out to be and pretty hard to pin Gm 2 loss on House.


So if House has trouble vs. Lindsey Hunter let him run at the SG and let Ray Allen or Pierce act as the PG ---- we're talking 10-15 mpg here. Make the 37-year-old Hunter chase House off screens for 10 min.  that's what great coaches do, if Flip brings in Hunter, make the change that turns that into a disadvantage...

I'm actually rewatching Gm1 right now and Jeff Van Gundy is making the point that waht you really want to do is have a 9-man rotation set in stone and win/lose with it. (He says Doc hasn't been afforded that b/c of inconsistency... how a 66-win team is now inconsistent, i don't know).  I agree with his set-in-stone concept though.

I'm saying Cassell should be insurance... House should always be the first option - as he's been all season - and if Hunter is eating him up, you either come back with Rondo or move to Cassell. But it seems foolish to let DET dictate the matchups before they've had a chance to fall apart.