TA starting at point?

[Big Ticket]

I know, I know... pretty unlikely.  But Doc hinted at it:

In a shocker, Rivers said he will consider starting Tony Allen if Rondo can't play in Game 4 because of his sprained ankle. Allen, who has played in only 12 of Boston's 23 playoff games, averaging a mere four minutes per, was as stunned as anyone.

"I hear it, I hear it, I hear it a lot," Allen said, wearing a fairly disgusted smirk. "I'll have to see it to believe it. I ain't played the whole playoffs so I'll have to see."

Allen, who hasn't played since straining his Achilles during a practice pickup game before Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against Detroit, said he'll be ready if called upon. His Achilles is fine, and he's looking forward to seeing some action.

"It's an opportunity that I can take advantage of and hopefully help my team get back to the mode we were in in Boston," Allen said. "I've been working out and doing a lot of shooting with the coaches. Not playing and not having a feel for the atmosphere will probably be challenging, but I'm looking forward to taking that challenge."

Allen is not a point guard. He's a 6-foot-4 two-guard with great athleticism, and it's that athleticism that has Rivers thinking of starting him. In December, when Rondo missed a game against the Lakers because of a tight hamstring, Allen started and recorded 16 points and four assists.

"Tony is a competitor," Kevin Garnett said. "So if he plays, I don't see us missing a beat. He's one of the guys on our team, along with Pose [James Posey] and some other guys, that play defense, that is competitive, and you can put him on Kobe. You can switch on certain situations and stuff, so it wouldn't be a bad thing."

[Yakmanev]

It worked once before out in Los Angeles but this is the Finals.

I like Tony Allen and all but this worries me with the lack of time he's been getting in the playoffs and his dribbling skills.

I think Rondo will be fine. Probably getting the Lakers to waste time on false preperation. If Rajon isn't ok House would be better.

[Bahku]

This would be a really poor decision if Doc did it ... Tony has been extremely inconsistent at his best this year, and is amazingly prone to turnovers. Why the heck would he start a guy who hasn't played before using Eddie, who has proven his effectiveness already?!?

Much as I don't care for him, I'd rather have Sammy, even, than to start Tony Allen. This would be a really, really bad move, and just want the Lakers need to turn things in their favor. Here's hoping this is an erroneous report, or that Rage will be OK by tonight.

[Evantime34]

After Doc mentioned that TA might start if Rondo can't go I wanted to know people's opinions on how good of an idea this is. I for one think it's a great idea (even though I think Rondo will still start but play limited minutes). I have visions of TA suddenly playing like he did last year for one game in the playoffs. Any thoughts?

[Redz]

All's I can say to the potential of TA starting is:

OY VAY!

[crownsy]

ugh i wrote up a detalied response, but since the topic got merged while i was writting it, i lost everything. can we get it so the back button saves your post?

anyway, in a nut shell, what i said was i'd rather see eddie start, and when they bring in farmer, who is not very good defensivly at the full court press, but good enough to disrupte eddie, just have pierce or ray bring it up while eddie plays a suedo 2.

[Jeff]

I can see the method in the madness - if the Lakers pull the same Kobe/Fisher switch, we've got a better defender on Kobe when they head the other way

that said, as much as I hate Sam, starting him to play with the big three might be his best fit with Eddie coming off the bench to provide the spark he usually does

[zerophase]

i like this idea but... is tony allen even healthy after his  injury during practice of the detroit series?

[Roy Hobbs]

My comments from the front page:

Tony is so rusty... this has the potential for disaster. If Rondo can't go, I get the reasoning, and I like this idea better than playing Sam heavy minutes. Doc in the past has kept Eddie in a bench role, and there's some sense to that; Eddie plays better as an energy player for the bench, and Tony would be better with the starters, where he doesn't take on a starring role.  If Tony could play within himself and keep the turnovers down, he can be an effective player.

However, hopefully Rondo can go, because this move makes me nervous.

[Sweet17]

I like this. I think Eddie will see most of the minutes and I like TA's game better then Sam's right now. TA can slash and get to the line. He will put pressure on Kobe. He is fearless - and won't be scared to shoot. Yes his handle is not GREAT but LA doesn't really have a pressure D.

Pete

[blueygreen]

I actually like this idea. If Tony starts Derek Fisher won't be doing much to stop him bringing the ball up. If he looks a bit shaky then Ray or Pierce can bring it up. Tony knows the plays, can shoot the ball if he's on (big if there), and he's excellent at bringing it in. And I've seen a number of drive and dish plays, so I wouldn't say he makes horrible decisions once he gets into the paint. The horrible decisions normally come if he takes more than two bounces to find his way into the paint.

His defensive presence has already been covered. But Tony with the 1st unit > Tony with the second unit. He's no longer a focal point (which he really is with the second unit) and gets covered as an afterthought and can do some damage. I'd like to see Doc try it.

[Chief]

If this happens, Doc will have found someone who shoots worse than Rondo for Kobe to leave and play help defense.

[connerhenry43]

you can think about using TA in this game if rondo cannot go, but starting him? I am not sure how sincere doc was in that comment.

TA is a wild card. we have all seen him look like an all star, and we have seen him look like he does not belong in the NBDL.

if it works, doc is a genius. if it does not, well, it is not that big a deal. it is only the nba finals against the lakers.  

[Brickowski]

TA should have been getting regular minutes all along, but at sg, not the point.  I'd go with House instead.

Anything but Cassell.

[CT34]

[Deleted.]  No insider reports.

If Tony Allen does play my guess he would start or Rondo may start but he will be looked at very carefully and if he can't go Tony Allen will be the first off the bench to replace Rondo.  That's what it looks like to me.