ATL and CLE Harder to Beat than DET and LAL in 08 so we need a big, not Posey

[Vermont Green]

As I think back on the playoffs 08, we had a harder time beating ATL and CLE than we did DET and LAL (supposedly 2 superior teams).  Ray Allen was in a slump earlier in the playoffs but I think the real problem was that ATL and CLE have much more depth at the big positions and we could not match up.  We are fine when KG and Perk are on the floor but we are significantly undersized when we bring in Powe or BBD and PJ just couldn't defend anyone without fouling.

Next year, LAL will get Bynum back (probably) and suddenly they are much bigger.  I think that CLE is going to be the team to beat next year at least in the East.  They are still going to be big, they still have LeBron, and they will have a full camp and season together as a team.  They have some holes but they are easier holes to address than finding a big man.  I look for CLE to be improved.

Everyone has been saying that we have to sign Posey.  He is important, no doubt, but I think to repeat, we need another legitimate big PF or C and we need that more than we need Posey.  I suspect most will disagree with this but I think we need to spend some money to get a reliable back up big even if it means we don’t have enough $$ for Posey and we lose him.  I am not sure exactly who that big should be but we better find one and get him in here or I fear we will have a tough time in the playoffs against CLE next year as well as the Lakers if in fact Bynum is recovered.

[indeedproceed]

I think the Atlanta and Cleveland series had a lot more to do with our team rediscovering its self in the post-season than any mismatch. I agree we need bigs, I completely disagree that it should or could be at the expense of Posey.

[Bankshot]

We don't need Posey?

Wow.  I'm glad you're not the GM.

[Vermont Green]

I think the Atlanta and Cleveland series had a lot more to do with our team rediscovering its self in the post-season than any mismatch. I agree we need bigs, I completely disagree that it should or could be at the expense of Posey.

It would be nice to have everything.  I don't think Posey is more important than another big.  To put this another way, would you sign Posey "at the expense of" adding depth at the big slot?

[Vermont Green]

We don't need Posey?

Read more carefully, I am saying big man depth is a more important need than the value that Posey brings.  Are you saying we don't need bigs?  (You aren't any more than I am saying we don't need Posey but I am trying to make a point)

[indeedproceed]

I think the Atlanta and Cleveland series had a lot more to do with our team rediscovering its self in the post-season than any mismatch. I agree we need bigs, I completely disagree that it should or could be at the expense of Posey.

It would be nice to have everything.  I don't think Posey is more important than another big.  To put this another way, would you sign Posey "at the expense of" adding depth at the big slot?

I don't think re-signing Posey precludes adding depth in the post, I think it precludes adding quality depth that thinks they should be paid what they're worth.

A big part of our success this season was that PJ Brown and Posey both gave us sweetheart deals. We'll need another one of those in a big way to succeed again, and resigning Posey to fair-ish money doesn't preclude that. Its an advantage we have over teams like NJ, ATL, or Utah, we're a superstar team that just won a title, so we're a good destination for an older vet that figures they need one more shot at the big one before they fade into the sunset. Its not fair to the rest of the league maybe, but to the victor goes the spoils, right?

[Bankshot]

We don't need Posey?

Read more carefully, I am saying big man depth is a more important need than the value that Posey brings.  Are you saying we don't need bigs?  (You aren't any more than I am saying we don't need Posey but I am trying to make a point)

I think Posey is equally important, if not more.  We get another big and don't re-sign Posey, we might have a hard time winning.  That being said, I don't know who the new big will be, but Ainge WILL sign someone so that's why I'm not too worried about the big.  Even if he has to bring back Pollard, the Celtics will sign a big.  I'm more worried about Posey, because we are in danger of losing him.  We are not in danger of not signing a big.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I can see some validity in this.

For example, full MLE on Diop and then fill our other needs with the vet. min.?
Split the MLE on guys like Barnes and some capable center?

I think this are valid options to go, and it's kinda hard to really see which is best route to go. In my opinion it'll all come down to what type of players the team can get for cheap in the various positions that will dictate were the bulk of the MLE should go towards. Because if we can get quality SF for cheap, then we should spend on a center. If we can get a quality center for cheap, then we should spend on Posey.

I think these arguments have a lot of validity in them.

[Who]

I think that CLE is going to be the team to beat next year at least in the East.  They are still going to be big, they still have LeBron, and they will have a full camp and season together as a team.  They have some holes but they are easier holes to address than finding a big man.  I look for CLE to be improved.

I don't think the Cavs can play any better than they did last season. Not without roster changes. Until something like that happens they're not the team to beat. They have some expiring contracts to dangle so they might make that all important move.

In contrast, the Celtics can and should play a lot better against the Cavs next year.

[Vermont Green]

I don't think re-signing Posey precludes adding depth in the post, I think it precludes adding quality depth that thinks they should be paid what they're worth.

A big part of our success this season was that PJ Brown and Posey both gave us sweetheart deals. We'll need another one of those in a big way to succeed again, and resigning Posey to fair-ish money doesn't preclude that. Its an advantage we have over teams like NJ, ATL, or Utah, we're a superstar team that just won a title, so we're a good destination for an older vet that figures they need one more shot at the big one before they fade into the sunset. Its not fair to the rest of the league maybe, but to the victor goes the spoils, right?

It would be nice to get a "sweet heart" deal for both Posey and a serviceable big but that probably isn't realistic.  If it comes down to spending the MLE on Posey or a reasonably serviceable big, I say the big would fill a greater need.  Posey was fantastic as a player and a teammate but I think the greatest need is to shore up our bigs.

[dooyork]

We don't need Posey?

Wow.  I'm glad you're not the GM.

No kidding, that's ridiculous.  Without Posey we would not have won the championship.  The team had a tough time with ATL and CLE because they were in a minor "slump" where they only won 8 out of 14 games, against two solid teams.  It happens.  As the playoffs went on the Cs got their intensity up and came out of the slump.  Whenever Posey was on the floor, I felt like things could not be too bad.  I was stoked last off season when they signed Posey instead of Reggie Miller, Reuben Patterson, or whoever else they were considering, because of his intangibles.  I knew he was good, but watching him all year, he's way better than I realized.  He does everything, hustles, hits big 3s, shuts down the opponent's best scorer, and gets inside the other team's head ala Dennis Rodman.  Posey is absolutely indispensible to this team, we have to bring him back. 

[Bozo]

I don't think it's easy to find big time contributors.  We have one in Posey.  And Posey also established himself as a major piece of this team.  I would take my chances on finding a serviceable big man, rather than let Posey walk out the door.  You know what you have.  And the team won #17 based on team defense.  I think there is always some risk that the "new guy" big, does not fit quite like the guy who was a major, major cog to your team. Sign Posey, then go shopping.   

[Roy Hobbs]

I don't think you can judge "Posey" vs. "big man" in a vacuum.  Sure, having a quality big man off the bench would be tremendous, and potentially, a bench big guy could be worth more than Posey. 

Who is that guy, though?  Diop?  I'm not sold.  Patrick O'Bryant?  Kwame Brown?  There's just not a lot out there.  Now, if Jeff Foster opted out, maybe you consider the MLE for him.  Otherwise, I just don't see a lot of quality guys available.

I'm hoping that Mourning comes here.  He'd be pretty much the idea fit, and if he signs, I can see it being for the LLE or less.

[dooyork]

The C's roster in order of importance:

Big 3
Perk and Rondo
Posey
House
Powe
Everybody else

Bring back the top 8 guys, and they can fill in the rest of the roster with D league guys and rookies for all I care.  It would be insane to mess with the core of this team just to get a quality backup center.  None of the free agents (except for Mourning and Mutombo who are committed to their current home cities) are that much of an upgrade over a healthy Pollard, who has been learning the system for the last year.  Brown could also come back for the stretch run.  This is a great team, tinkering with it is insane.  A move like replacing Tony Allen with Giddens, or replacing Cassell with Pruitt, fine, that's not the core of the team.  But Posey should be considered an essential part of the core of the team.

[winsomme]

I don't think you can judge "Posey" vs. "big man" in a vacuum.  Sure, having a quality big man off the bench would be tremendous, and potentially, a bench big guy could be worth more than Posey. 

i agree about not being able to look at this in a vacuum. i think that this team was good enough and dynamic enough that the first option should be to bring everybody back.

and i wouldn't have a problem bringing back a guy like Pollard and then make another late-season run at PJ Brown to bring him out of retirement for the final month of the season and in to the playoffs...

if that is not an option and you need to target guys as the money allows, for me Posey is at the top of the list.

then again, we might not even be in the same ballpark on offers to him.....

it's going to be a tricky couple of months for Danny for sure...