No Worries From Ainge (Herald Article)

[cordobes]

  im just saying our team had an unhealthy over-reliance on 3pt shooting to get by and it could be problematic in the future.

You do realize that the Celtics won the championship, right?

I guess all the champagne and cigars may have been unhealthy.

The Celtics ranked 12th in the NBA in 3pt attempts and 5th in 3-point percentage. The other finalist ranked 6th in 3pt attempts. The Spurs, who would have been the finalist if Manu wasn't injured, ranked 10th in 3pt attempts and 11th in 3pts percentage. If anything, we should have attempted more 3pt shots. But some myths endure, in spite of the facts.

[BballTim]

That's not the point. You seem to think that the level of play we get at center, pf and pg are unimportant, and the play we get at backup sf and sg is life or death. Leaving Posey out of the discussion for a moment, if we can win with good backup play at sf and sg and bad backup play at pg and c, why can't we win with good backup play at pg and c and bad backup play at sf and sg?

You seem to think that the level of play we get from our 6th man is less important than the play that we'd get from guys lower in the rotation.

Who is this good backup SF we are going to sign if we don't pursue Posey?

  Why does the backup big have to have a lower place in the rotation than the backup sf? You seem to think that only the wing player can be the 6th man. Kevin McHale and Bill Walton might disagree. Try it like this, though. If you gave an nba gm a choice between a team with a great sf and a great sg or a team with a great pg and a great pf/c, which would he prefer?

A backup big doesn't have to have a lower place in the rotation than the backup SF, however the current bigs on the FA market should have a lower place in the rotation than James Posey because none are all that good.

  So how does that work? Are we just going to make sure that Perk plays more minutes than Pierce so Posey will get  more minutes than the backup center?

[cordobes]

That's not the point. You seem to think that the level of play we get at center, pf and pg are unimportant, and the play we get at backup sf and sg is life or death. Leaving Posey out of the discussion for a moment, if we can win with good backup play at sf and sg and bad backup play at pg and c, why can't we win with good backup play at pg and c and bad backup play at sf and sg?

You seem to think that the level of play we get from our 6th man is less important than the play that we'd get from guys lower in the rotation.

Who is this good backup SF we are going to sign if we don't pursue Posey?

  Why does the backup big have to have a lower place in the rotation than the backup sf? You seem to think that only the wing player can be the 6th man. Kevin McHale and Bill Walton might disagree. Try it like this, though. If you gave an nba gm a choice between a team with a great sf and a great sg or a team with a great pg and a great pf/c, which would he prefer?

A backup big doesn't have to have a lower place in the rotation than the backup SF, however the current bigs on the FA market should have a lower place in the rotation than James Posey because none are all that good.

  So how does that work? Are we just going to make sure that Perk plays more minutes than Pierce so Posey will get  more minutes than the backup center?

It works like this - who would you rather have as your 6th man: Posey or the best FA center available?

[FanInTheSouth]

That's not the point. You seem to think that the level of play we get at center, pf and pg are unimportant, and the play we get at backup sf and sg is life or death. Leaving Posey out of the discussion for a moment, if we can win with good backup play at sf and sg and bad backup play at pg and c, why can't we win with good backup play at pg and c and bad backup play at sf and sg?

You seem to think that the level of play we get from our 6th man is less important than the play that we'd get from guys lower in the rotation.

Who is this good backup SF we are going to sign if we don't pursue Posey?

  Why does the backup big have to have a lower place in the rotation than the backup sf? You seem to think that only the wing player can be the 6th man. Kevin McHale and Bill Walton might disagree. Try it like this, though. If you gave an nba gm a choice between a team with a great sf and a great sg or a team with a great pg and a great pf/c, which would he prefer?

A backup big doesn't have to have a lower place in the rotation than the backup SF, however the current bigs on the FA market should have a lower place in the rotation than James Posey because none are all that good.

  So how does that work? Are we just going to make sure that Perk plays more minutes than Pierce so Posey will get  more minutes than the backup center?

No, it works that Posey can play a couple of different positions, as can Pierce.  We can have Pierce and Posey on the floor at the same time and it will be alright, that's how Posey would get more minutes than the backup center.

[bucknersrevenge]

  im just saying our team had an unhealthy over-reliance on 3pt shooting to get by and it could be problematic in the future.

You do realize that the Celtics won the championship, right?

I guess all the champagne and cigars may have been unhealthy.

The Celtics ranked 12th in the NBA in 3pt attempts and 5th in 3-point percentage. The other finalist ranked 6th in 3pt attempts. The Spurs, who would have been the finalist if Manu wasn't injured, ranked 10th in 3pt attempts and 11th in 3pts percentage. If anything, we should have attempted more 3pt shots. But some myths endure, in spite of the facts.

you call it a myth if it makes you feel better. you didnt hear about it much because we played terrific defense all year(which posey was absolutely invaluable in) but our regular practice on the break was pulling up for 3s instead of getting sure layups. and when we did struggle on offense we settled. 5 of our 1st 7 guys last year were jumpshooters. thats not myth. thats fact.

[BballTim]

That's not the point. You seem to think that the level of play we get at center, pf and pg are unimportant, and the play we get at backup sf and sg is life or death. Leaving Posey out of the discussion for a moment, if we can win with good backup play at sf and sg and bad backup play at pg and c, why can't we win with good backup play at pg and c and bad backup play at sf and sg?

You seem to think that the level of play we get from our 6th man is less important than the play that we'd get from guys lower in the rotation.

Who is this good backup SF we are going to sign if we don't pursue Posey?

  Why does the backup big have to have a lower place in the rotation than the backup sf? You seem to think that only the wing player can be the 6th man. Kevin McHale and Bill Walton might disagree. Try it like this, though. If you gave an nba gm a choice between a team with a great sf and a great sg or a team with a great pg and a great pf/c, which would he prefer?

A backup big doesn't have to have a lower place in the rotation than the backup SF, however the current bigs on the FA market should have a lower place in the rotation than James Posey because none are all that good.

  So how does that work? Are we just going to make sure that Perk plays more minutes than Pierce so Posey will get  more minutes than the backup center?

No, it works that Posey can play a couple of different positions, as can Pierce.  We can have Pierce and Posey on the floor at the same time and it will be alright, that's how Posey would get more minutes than the backup center.

  But there are as many backup center minutes available as backup sg and sf minutes combined.

[bucknersrevenge]

That's not the point. You seem to think that the level of play we get at center, pf and pg are unimportant, and the play we get at backup sf and sg is life or death. Leaving Posey out of the discussion for a moment, if we can win with good backup play at sf and sg and bad backup play at pg and c, why can't we win with good backup play at pg and c and bad backup play at sf and sg?

You seem to think that the level of play we get from our 6th man is less important than the play that we'd get from guys lower in the rotation.

Who is this good backup SF we are going to sign if we don't pursue Posey?

  Why does the backup big have to have a lower place in the rotation than the backup sf? You seem to think that only the wing player can be the 6th man. Kevin McHale and Bill Walton might disagree. Try it like this, though. If you gave an nba gm a choice between a team with a great sf and a great sg or a team with a great pg and a great pf/c, which would he prefer?

A backup big doesn't have to have a lower place in the rotation than the backup SF, however the current bigs on the FA market should have a lower place in the rotation than James Posey because none are all that good.

  So how does that work? Are we just going to make sure that Perk plays more minutes than Pierce so Posey will get  more minutes than the backup center?

No, it works that Posey can play a couple of different positions, as can Pierce.  We can have Pierce and Posey on the floor at the same time and it will be alright, that's how Posey would get more minutes than the backup center.

  But there are as many backup center minutes available as backup sg and sf minutes combined.

exactly. i just dont get this. does everyone LIKE playing posey out of position at the 4? forcing kg to play center for long periods while we lack the requisite length to matchup against the bigger teams(of which there are are more with toronto and philly). we got lucky last year that we werent exposed more often playing posey at the 4. i mean in the comeback game in the finalsposey comes back in the game with 5 minutes left and 5 fouls and they only go to odom once in the post. i mean we dodged a bulet there. danny made it a point to say we need more length and im betting if we get it youre gonna see posey(or whomever we get) a lot less at the 4 spot.

[Bankshot]

That's not the point. You seem to think that the level of play we get at center, pf and pg are unimportant, and the play we get at backup sf and sg is life or death. Leaving Posey out of the discussion for a moment, if we can win with good backup play at sf and sg and bad backup play at pg and c, why can't we win with good backup play at pg and c and bad backup play at sf and sg?

You seem to think that the level of play we get from our 6th man is less important than the play that we'd get from guys lower in the rotation.

Who is this good backup SF we are going to sign if we don't pursue Posey?

  Why does the backup big have to have a lower place in the rotation than the backup sf? You seem to think that only the wing player can be the 6th man. Kevin McHale and Bill Walton might disagree. Try it like this, though. If you gave an nba gm a choice between a team with a great sf and a great sg or a team with a great pg and a great pf/c, which would he prefer?

A backup big doesn't have to have a lower place in the rotation than the backup SF, however the current bigs on the FA market should have a lower place in the rotation than James Posey because none are all that good.

  So how does that work? Are we just going to make sure that Perk plays more minutes than Pierce so Posey will get  more minutes than the backup center?

It works like this - who would you rather have as your 6th man: Posey or the best FA center available?

I'd rather have Posey.  Why?  Because the best available free agent big out there is not that good and certainly not better than Posey!

[BCelts]

you call it a myth if it makes you feel better. you didnt hear about it much because we played terrific defense all year(which posey was absolutely invaluable in) but our regular practice on the break was pulling up for 3s instead of getting sure layups. and when we did struggle on offense we settled. 5 of our 1st 7 guys last year were jumpshooters. thats not myth. thats fact.

I question this math.  5 of our first 7 were jumpshooters?  Really?  We either disagree on the first seven or on the definition of a jumpshooter.  While Pierce is a shooter, he is not a jumpshooter for the purposes of the "we shoot too many threes" argument (the context here) because he is a slasher.  Same with KG.  Here is who I have in my top 7: Perk, KG, PP, RA, RR, JP, EH.

I count four non three point shooters: Perk, KG, PP, RA.  I count three 3pt jump shooters: JP, EH, RA.

Seems like a good mix to me.  I bet that team would go far.

[BCelts]

exactly. i just dont get this. does everyone LIKE playing posey out of position at the 4? forcing kg to play center for long periods while we lack the requisite length to matchup against the bigger teams(of which there are are more with toronto and philly). we got lucky last year that we werent exposed more often playing posey at the 4. i mean in the comeback game in the finalsposey comes back in the game with 5 minutes left and 5 fouls and they only go to odom once in the post. i mean we dodged a bulet there. danny made it a point to say we need more length and im betting if we get it youre gonna see posey(or whomever we get) a lot less at the 4 spot.

Depends on who we are playing.  Against Toronto last year, when Bargnani was playing PF and Bosh C, Posey was fine at the 4.  Same is true against other teams when the go to their smaller lineups.  I like the versitility to do that against smaller lineups that Posey allows.

[Truth Hurts]

exactly. i just dont get this. does everyone LIKE playing posey out of position at the 4? forcing kg to play center for long periods while we lack the requisite length to matchup against the bigger teams(of which there are are more with toronto and philly). we got lucky last year that we werent exposed more often playing posey at the 4. i mean in the comeback game in the finalsposey comes back in the game with 5 minutes left and 5 fouls and they only go to odom once in the post. i mean we dodged a bulet there. danny made it a point to say we need more length and im betting if we get it youre gonna see posey(or whomever we get) a lot less at the 4 spot.

I really think you are exaggerating the amount of minutes Posey gets at the 4. Doc only plays him there when going small benefits the team, due to matchups, or because he wants to space the floor. That is not his primary position. It is just an option when Doc wants to go small.

There was a really good interview with Pierce during the playoffs (I wish I could remember where) where he was saying that he thinks that this is the future of the NBA. He said that bigger players are more athletic these days, and that Posey is really not that small for a power forward (6' 8"). He said that the athleticism and versatility of today's taller players is taking the league to a whole new level. He said that KG at center (7'), Posey at the 4 (6' 8") and Pierce at the 3 (6' 7") is really not that small historically. But the multi-faceted skills of KG and Posey allow the offense to give defenses nightmares.

[bucknersrevenge]

you call it a myth if it makes you feel better. you didnt hear about it much because we played terrific defense all year(which posey was absolutely invaluable in) but our regular practice on the break was pulling up for 3s instead of getting sure layups. and when we did struggle on offense we settled. 5 of our 1st 7 guys last year were jumpshooters. thats not myth. thats fact.

I question this math.  5 of our first 7 were jumpshooters?  Really?  We either disagree on the first seven or on the definition of a jumpshooter.  While Pierce is a shooter, he is not a jumpshooter for the purposes of the "we shoot too many threes" argument (the context here) because he is a slasher.  Same with KG.  Here is who I have in my top 7: Perk, KG, PP, RA, RR, JP, EH.

I count four non three point shooters: Perk, KG, PP, RA.  I count three 3pt jump shooters: JP, EH, RA.

Seems like a good mix to me.  I bet that team would go far.

i think you counted ray allen twice but i know who you meant. that said i did say "jumpshooters" i didnt say 3pt shooters. yes kg doesnt shoot 3s but he is without a doubt a jumpshooters. paul is a slasher and he is somewhat excused simply for the fact that nobody else on this team knows how to draw fouls and go to the line. so its more like 2 1/2 non jumpshooters and 4 1/2 jumpshooters that team lives by the jumpshot and dies by the jumpshot not to mention the more they have to play kg and posey out of position the bigger the opportunity to get exposed at the defensive end.

maybe some feel completely comfortable with posey at the 4. me i dont. and i dont think danny and doc do either they theyre looking at fa big men with length. its guaranteed posey doesnt get that many minutes at the 4 again. although now that means were paying 6mil for 15 min of posey at the 3.

[Truth Hurts]

Great teams have balance. Pierce, Rondo, Ray, KG, Perk, Powe, Baby all can score inside. Granted, Ray and KG are primarily jump shooters. But both players have enough ability driving to the hoop that defenses have to respect it.

How many teams have more slashers/drivers? Rondo and Pierce are two of the best players in the league at taking it to the cup. When the defenses collapse on them, what happens? They kick it out to open shooters like House and Posey and Ray. That's called good basketball. The Lakers and Spurs championship teams were always stocked with shooters who could make defenses pay when Shaq/Duncan drew double-teams in the paint.

[BballTim]

exactly. i just dont get this. does everyone LIKE playing posey out of position at the 4? forcing kg to play center for long periods while we lack the requisite length to matchup against the bigger teams(of which there are are more with toronto and philly). we got lucky last year that we werent exposed more often playing posey at the 4. i mean in the comeback game in the finalsposey comes back in the game with 5 minutes left and 5 fouls and they only go to odom once in the post. i mean we dodged a bulet there. danny made it a point to say we need more length and im betting if we get it youre gonna see posey(or whomever we get) a lot less at the 4 spot.

I really think you are exaggerating the amount of minutes Posey gets at the 4. Doc only plays him there when going small benefits the team, due to matchups, or because he wants to space the floor. That is not his primary position. It is just an option when Doc wants to go small.

There was a really good interview with Pierce during the playoffs (I wish I could remember where) where he was saying that he thinks that this is the future of the NBA. He said that bigger players are more athletic these days, and that Posey is really not that small for a power forward (6' 8"). He said that the athleticism and versatility of today's taller players is taking the league to a whole new level. He said that KG at center (7'), Posey at the 4 (6' 8") and Pierce at the 3 (6' 7") is really not that small historically. But the multi-faceted skills of KG and Posey allow the offense to give defenses nightmares.

http://www.82games.com/0708/07BOS8C.HTM

  During the regular season last year Posey (according to 82games) played more than half his minutes at the 4. His opponent's PER was a 13 when he was a sf, and 18.6 when he was a pf.

[cordobes]

  im just saying our team had an unhealthy over-reliance on 3pt shooting to get by and it could be problematic in the future.

You do realize that the Celtics won the championship, right?

I guess all the champagne and cigars may have been unhealthy.

The Celtics ranked 12th in the NBA in 3pt attempts and 5th in 3-point percentage. The other finalist ranked 6th in 3pt attempts. The Spurs, who would have been the finalist if Manu wasn't injured, ranked 10th in 3pt attempts and 11th in 3pts percentage. If anything, we should have attempted more 3pt shots. But some myths endure, in spite of the facts.

you call it a myth if it makes you feel better. you didnt hear about it much because we played terrific defense all year(which posey was absolutely invaluable in) but our regular practice on the break was pulling up for 3s instead of getting sure layups. and when we did struggle on offense we settled. 5 of our 1st 7 guys last year were jumpshooters. thats not myth. thats fact.

I used stats to backup my statement. What exactly are you using, can you say? I'm assuming your point is that the Celtics weren't the 12th in the NBA in 3pt attempts and 5th in 3-point percentage, am I correct?