Author Topic: Villanova Celtics  (Read 2156 times)

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Villanova Celtics
« on: June 13, 2008, 01:14:28 PM »

Offline Big Ticket

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Did the lineup late last night remind anyone else of some of those college teams like the Kyle Lowery-Randy Foye-Allan Ray 'Nova team from 3 years ago?  House, Ray, Pierce, and Posey have all been shooting guards at some point in their careers.  The 4 shooters and one big is pretty standard for a college type offense... but the Cs made it even more unconventional by NBA standards.  It's widely agreed that the two mose important positions on the floor are center (or dominant post forward) and point guard.  Well the C's lineup that brought it home last night featured neither!  It was just crazy enough to work!  Now, I'll admit that is probably not a lineup to rely on for an entire season... but it should worked like a charm for the 2nd half last night.  Major, major, major props to Doc, the coaches, the players, everyone...


"It ain't about me.  It's about us."  - KG, interview with John Thompson, 2005 All Star Game.

Re: Villanova Celtics
« Reply #1 on: June 13, 2008, 01:28:48 PM »

Offline Mr October

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That's also the lineup that used to routinely blow open games in the second half all season long.  ;D

The Lakers are a lot smaller and softer than the East Coast teams that Boston faced. They really couldn't use that lineup until now.

Who do you leave open if you are the Lakers? Go Celtics!!!

Re: Villanova Celtics
« Reply #2 on: June 13, 2008, 01:29:40 PM »

Offline MaineBleedsGreen

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Part of why it works is the Lakers don't have a strong 1 and 5 either. Gasol is really a PF. I suppose Fisher is a pg (but really in the Eddie House sort of way, and only in the triangle offense)

Re: Villanova Celtics
« Reply #3 on: June 13, 2008, 01:31:49 PM »

Offline Big Ticket

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Part of why it works is the Lakers don't have a strong 1 and 5 either. Gasol is really a PF. I suppose Fisher is a pg (but really in the Eddie House sort of way, and only in the triangle offense)

Definitely some truth to that, because KG has absolutely dominated Pau with his D in the 2nd half of every game.  But what I might add, in addition to them not having a real center out there, is that the Celtics have Big Game James, who was more than capable of guarding the bigger Lamar Odom.


"It ain't about me.  It's about us."  - KG, interview with John Thompson, 2005 All Star Game.

Re: Villanova Celtics
« Reply #4 on: June 13, 2008, 01:36:29 PM »

Offline huzy

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Big Ticket...

TP for you!!

Great comparison to the Villanova "small ball" offense.

What I find most compelling is that the C's small ball lineup still works primarily in a half court setting. One would think a team would be up and down with this lineup.

I guess a lot has to do with the disparity between Rondo and House...

Either way...great comparison!
"      “I can make a trade every day if I want to, but that's not going to help us. A trade that would get us better rarely comes along. They're very difficult to find. Good trades are very difficult in our league and don't happen very often.”
-Danny Ainge

Re: Villanova Celtics
« Reply #5 on: June 13, 2008, 01:48:23 PM »

Offline Big Ticket

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What I find most compelling is that the C's small ball lineup still works primarily in a half court setting. One would think a team would be up and down with this lineup.

I guess a lot has to do with the disparity between Rondo and House...

Yeah, I just don't think House/Ray/Pierce can see the floor, dribble, and push the tempo at the same time while bringing the ball up.  Rondo excels at it.


"It ain't about me.  It's about us."  - KG, interview with John Thompson, 2005 All Star Game.

Re: Villanova Celtics
« Reply #6 on: June 13, 2008, 01:56:20 PM »

Offline fairweatherfan

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Not to mention my favorite fact about that crunch-time lineup...

The 5 players on the court were on 5 different teams last year...none of them had EVER played together (that I'm aware of) in the NBA, and that unit had almost never played together in the playoffs - and yet they formed up like Voltron and became a dominant, championship caliber unit.