TA starting at point?

[wahz]

http://popcornmachine.net/cgi-bin/gameflow.cgi?date=20071230&game=BOSLAL

He was GREAT. Its not an accident, he causes all kinds of issues for LA with matchups, if its him and Ray Ray in the backcourt. We'll be ok, but I also think its a smoke screen. Tony is pretty cold by now;>)

[acieEarl]

If anyone has watched the Celtics last year they would know that T Allen at point is not a good idea. Tony is can't dribble. Defensively Tony would help on Kobe or Vujacic but he can't run the point. Better off just having Pierce and Allen bring it up.

O'RLY?

http://www.nba.com/games/20071230/BOSLAL/boxscore.html

Do me a favour - look at that box score. Who was the starting PG? How did he do? What was his +/- rating?

Well maybe you won't do it just going by the "memories" of a few unfortunate upfakes for your impression of TA. Long story short - 16 points , 5-10 shooting, Celtics victory. A team high +21 on the game.

Pete

Maybe your right? I still think he's a horrible PG, but Lakers don't have a great trapping back court like Detroit does, so he might get by against the Lakers.   

House played big minutes in that game as well. That being said if Rondo doesn't play tonight T Allen is going to get some run. Anyone but Cassell out there.

[the TRUTH]

i'm probably 50/50 on this if doc decides to do it. doc knows what tony's capable of right now more than any of us do. if it works, great move. if not, could be a disaster.

that being said, even if rondo is limited or cannot play, there's NO WAY doc would have brought this up to the press and thereby alerted the lakers if this was legit. i'm pretty sure he's just making the lakers coaching staff spend time today watching film on tony rather than actually preparing for the game. if that's the case, good move by doc.

[the TRUTH]

a lot of you have stated the possible positives of tony starting, and i definitely agree. one thing to consider though - tony is a good defender in spurts, but kobe may have him jumping in the air for fakes just about every time he gets the ball. the last thing we want is tony to get 3 fouls in 5 minutes, put kobe on the line early, and let kobe get on a roll. one great thing about ray's defense is he doesnt go for nearly as many fakes. IF tony can stay composed and stay out of foul trouble, then this makes sense.

[Norcalceltic]

This will either be a Home Run or a Strike Out. Watching Tony dribble or pass makes me cringe every time. But every once in a while Tony plays great. Hopefully Tony can play awesome.

[Jon]

Let me preface this by saying that I think Rondo plays and plays big minutes. 

However, in the event that he doesn't I think this is actually a pretty good scenario for Cassell.  I feel like in the very limited minutes he gets now he feels like he needs to establish himself right away on offense.  If you told him he'd get 30 minutes, I think he'd slow things down and look to create more. 

[LarBrd33]

Looks like Doc's getting cute with the lineups.  Maybe he wants everyone on the roster to feel like they participated in a title.  Hopefully we don't blow the series in the process.

[Brickowski]

Who knows what Rivers will do?  But if playing TA means playing PJ Brown less, I'm all for it.  Brown has not been effective in the last two games.  Also, Ray Allen is tired and Pierce has a bad knee.  They need someone else to help stop Kobe's penetration.

[bbc3341]

Ray Allen needs to be given a break midway through the 3rd, just two minutes, then one minute to start the 4th and then played for the rest of the game...

[Hoops]

All this talk about who will play PG if Rondo can't go gets me thinking. (BTW, I think Rondo will play.) If guys like TA, Cassell, House, and RA have problems with ball pressure, why not have a bigger player bring it up the court. No, not Paul Pierce. Why not use Garnett? He's an athletic capable ball handler for his size. Is Pau Gasol going to put pressure on him at half court? I don't think so. If a smaller guy tries to pressure KG, he's smart enough to pass it off to the smaller teammate who will have a major speed mismatch with KG's man.

The only downside I see is that KG doesn't start the possession on the block. But if he "starts" the offense by passing to the wing, he can cut straight to the block, potentially for a give-and-go.

I know I'm lobbing a softball when I say this, but is it just me or is this brilliant?

[kenmaine]

Wow, every opinion here from great idea to stupid idea. It would be easier if we knew which TA would show up. I actually like his game more than most out here- he can be very good, but if he played well after all this time on the bench, it would be almost a miracle.
 And if Rondo can't play and Doc starts Tony over Eddie House, then I'll watch and root for Tony to do well, but still think Doc is crazy. And if it works out well, I'll be very happy to be wrong.
But I also agree that Cassell shouldn't play no matter what, or at most, play five or six minutes.

[crownsy]

If anyone has watched the Celtics last year they would know that T Allen at point is not a good idea. Tony is can't dribble. Defensively Tony would help on Kobe or Vujacic but he can't run the point. Better off just having Pierce and Allen bring it up.

O'RLY?

http://www.nba.com/games/20071230/BOSLAL/boxscore.html

Do me a favour - look at that box score. Who was the starting PG? How did he do? What was his +/- rating?

Well maybe you won't do it just going by the "memories" of a few unfortunate upfakes for your impression of TA. Long story short - 16 points , 5-10 shooting, Celtics victory. A team high +21 on the game.

Pete

yea, he was great that one game, no doubt.

what about his T/A ratio, which was BY FAR the worst of any guard in the NBA? or the fact that he turns the ball over nearly 2 times for every 15 minutes on the floor? and now you want him to start and command 15-30 minutes? i'm sure those 4 TO's at minimum wont hurt us.

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/tony_allen/index.html?nav=page

listen, if i knew good tony would show up i'd say go for it. but for every good tony game, we get 3-4 terrible tony games. at least with house i know im not going to get a massive brain fart right in the middle of a game.

[Who]

If anyone has watched the Celtics last year they would know that T Allen at point is not a good idea. Tony is can't dribble. Defensively Tony would help on Kobe or Vujacic but he can't run the point. Better off just having Pierce and Allen bring it up.

O'RLY?

http://www.nba.com/games/20071230/BOSLAL/boxscore.html

Do me a favour - look at that box score. Who was the starting PG? How did he do? What was his +/- rating?

Well maybe you won't do it just going by the "memories" of a few unfortunate upfakes for your impression of TA. Long story short - 16 points , 5-10 shooting, Celtics victory. A team high +21 on the game.

Pete

yea, he was great that one game, no doubt.

what about his T/A ratio, which was BY FAR the worst of any guard in the NBA? or the fact that he turns the ball over nearly 2 times for every 15 minutes on the floor? and now you want him to start and command 15-30 minutes? i'm sure those 4 TO's at minimum wont hurt us.

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/tony_allen/index.html?nav=page

listen, if i knew good tony would show up i'd say go for it. but for every good tony game, we get 3-4 terrible tony games. at least with house i know im not going to get a massive brain fart right in the middle of a game.

Tony Allen played 29 minutes per game in games he started this season and averaged 1.9 turnovers.

[timpiker]

TA ain't seeing the floor except for shoot arounds or if Rondo's foot is cut off, Sam's leg falls off and Eddie's right arm falls off.  He's too rusty, too untrustworthy and there's too much at stake.

Even if those other 3 couldn't play, Doc would use PP or Ray before he'd let TA sniff anything important during a game.

Sorry Tony, too little, too late.  Thanks for trying to come back but your days as a C are over within a week.

[Sweet17]

Yes TA does turn the ball over more. However his game changing slashing - and his fearless defense can more then make up for it when he is on. TA CAN be a VERY GOOD NBA player at times. I honestly can't believe Doc is letting him rot on the bench for the decript Cassell. You know what Gary Payton two years ago was a MUCH better NBA player. Yes I am saying it.

Rarely have I seen a guy as universally HATED for his play as Cassell. On every board you read people don't want him to play. Even the commentators mock his play. Enough is enough. I don't care that he was good in the past he isn't good now. Even when he is ON he just p---es people off with his ball hogging.

Pete