Who is the Backup 3? does anyone else NOT see a glaring weakness??

[TerreHaute]

I see this as a bigger problem than the back-up PG. Without a capable SF, it looks like Pierce may have to play big minutes all year. That would be a problem.

[kozlodoev]

I see this as a bigger problem than the back-up PG. Without a capable SF, it looks like Pierce may have to play big minutes all year. That would be a problem.

In this position, Allen is just as capable as Pierce. I don't see any of them logging more minutes than they did last year.

[bucknersrevenge]

Unrestricted free agents with size at small forward - Devean George, Ira Newble and Walter Herrmann.

I'd love to take a shot at Herrmann. He plays hard, he can hit the three, he hits the boards hard and he can play the 3 or the 4. I don't know if he can play a lick of defense, but I'd like to give him the chance.

i think were past the point of trying to find another posey. people keep looking for players with poseys exact attributes. hes not out there. were going to try to fit some player into the offense we had last year. whats far more likely is were gonna build an offense that fits the personnel we have.

[Mr October]

But we do need someone with size and speed who can defend Lebron James, Caron Butler, Andre Iguadala, Marvin Williams, Josh Childress, Rashard Lewis, Hedu Turkoglu, etc.

George, Newble, Dontahy Jones come to mind.

We might just have to take our chances with Scal against the bigger guys, and platoon TA, Giddens, Walker and hope for the best.

[bucknersrevenge]

But we do need someone with size and speed who can defend Lebron James, Caron Butler, Andre Iguadala, Marvin Williams, Josh Childress, Rashard Lewis, Hedu Turkoglu, etc.

George, Newble, Dontahy Jones come to mind.

We might just have to take our chances with Scal against the bigger guys, and platoon TA, Giddens, Walker and hope for the best.

well there is that paul pierce guy. i mean he is gonna play most of the time. i mean help me out here. do people really believe that paul isnt gonna guard the other teams best 3? or do people think that the other teams best 3 is always gonna be on the floor for every one of the 6 min a half when pauls on the bench? this is a team game and you handle these problems with team defense. tony and jr off the bench i think well do just fine. have a little faith.

[gar]

Does anyone have any data on Scals minutes at SF. He played there a bit; and had some success defensively; but not sure if there is anything to prove his effectiveness as a backup at SF.

Walker can do it if healthy; but will take time to him to get the hang of things and get back to whatever % of his former self we can hope for.

[Soy Reek]

Wow, a lot of worrying about a back up SF...I think the point is dead, considering the word BACK UP...by the time the back up gets in the game, the game might be over, win or loss.  If you're worried about a back up,that means you have no faith in the starter.  Also, you don't need a back up PG in the NBA.  Any NBA player with a clue can dribble the ball up, past half court.  Back ups only see time, if you have a weak starter at the position they play.  Stop it, just stop it.

[Sweet17]

Doc is going to try to match our back up SF against their backup SF.. Rather then pit Lebron on our backup. TA and Giddens should do fine against that lot. In fact TA can give most backup SF's a heap of trouble.. That being said if Darius Miles is healthy we should ABSOLUTELY sign him. He is a really a very talented basketball player..

[cmburrill]

   I would quote everyone who disagrees with the issue at hand. There is not a credible sight out there that does not believe the C's still need help at pg and help at the F position. The opinions are not based on age or experience rather then a F that can play both spots. If PP should go down with an injury or foul out ect...The need to find a replacement is not something a team wants to enter the season with. TA  is a scorer. Should Allen and PP both be on the bench, it would be helpful to have a guy in that can create(proven) his own shots. He can play the smaller sf's but he cant hold down the ones that can just shoot over him or worse, out think him. The original poster is pointing out one of the C's weaknesses. Im not too sure how anyone can possibly disagree with a fact. TA replaced TA. The Celtics still need to replace a guy that was an essential part of the Celtics title run.

      We can hope for maturity from rookies and our 2nd and 3rd year players. We can hope sf and pf  play unlikely to come from what we have. Its possible. One athlete over 6'7" is hole that will be filled either by a mid-season trade or by a fa list that is getting smaller.Im not saying we are doomed. Im glad Danny was not forced into signing anything to hastily, but from the sounds of his own words. He really thought Posey was coming back.

[Roy Hobbs]

Does anyone have any data on Scals minutes at SF. He played there a bit; and had some success defensively; but not sure if there is anything to prove his effectiveness as a backup at SF.

Walker can do it if healthy; but will take time to him to get the hang of things and get back to whatever % of his former self we can hope for.

In a *very* small sample size (2% of the team's total minutes), Scal played well at SF.  He held opposing small forwards to an eFG% of .405 and to a PER of 9.7.  Both numbers are incredible.  Scal also outrebounded opposing small forwards.  http://www.82games.com/0708/07BOS9D.HTM

That being said, it was a small sample.  If Scal could play like that consistently, he would have seen more minutes.  Scal is a decent defender, but I don't expect him to outproduce opposing small forwards on a consistent basis.  (For instance, see his '06-'07 numbers: http://www.82games.com/0607/06BOS11C.HTM

[BudweiserCeltic]

Unless we don't sign Walker, I think the best thing at the moment is just to go into the season as is, and then evaluate the situation... leaving one roster spot open. The exception then comes if Danny gets a bargain on someone that he thinks will be good through the year and playoffs, or he finds someone that puts them over the top, or signs someone to a non-guarantee contract.

[Soy Reek]

   I would quote everyone who disagrees with the issue at hand. There is not a credible sight out there that does not believe the C's still need help at pg and help at the F position. The opinions are not based on age or experience rather then a F that can play both spots. If PP should go down with an injury or foul out ect...The need to find a replacement is not something a team wants to enter the season with. TA  is a scorer. Should Allen and PP both be on the bench, it would be helpful to have a guy in that can create(proven) his own shots. He can play the smaller sf's but he cant hold down the ones that can just shoot over him or worse, out think him. The original poster is pointing out one of the C's weaknesses. Im not too sure how anyone can possibly disagree with a fact. TA replaced TA. The Celtics still need to replace a guy that was an essential part of the Celtics title run.

      We can hope for maturity from rookies and our 2nd and 3rd year players. We can hope sf and pf  play unlikely to come from what we have. Its possible. One athlete over 6'7" is hole that will be filled either by a mid-season trade or by a fa list that is getting smaller.Im not saying we are doomed. Im glad Danny was not forced into signing anything to hastily, but from the sounds of his own words. He really thought Posey was coming back.

A lot of credible sites also predicted the Lakers would win the NBA CHampionship in 5 games, not the Celtics.

[guava_wrench]

   I would quote everyone who disagrees with the issue at hand. There is not a credible sight out there that does not believe the C's still need help at pg and help at the F position. The opinions are not based on age or experience rather then a F that can play both spots. If PP should go down with an injury or foul out ect...The need to find a replacement is not something a team wants to enter the season with. TA  is a scorer. Should Allen and PP both be on the bench, it would be helpful to have a guy in that can create(proven) his own shots. He can play the smaller sf's but he cant hold down the ones that can just shoot over him or worse, out think him. The original poster is pointing out one of the C's weaknesses. Im not too sure how anyone can possibly disagree with a fact. TA replaced TA. The Celtics still need to replace a guy that was an essential part of the Celtics title run.

You are missing the point that TA had a very limited role on the team last season and they plan on expending his role this season. TA is more than replacing TA. You don't have to add players to replace players. Players already on the team can be promoted.

What you are calling "facts" are interpretations of observations.

[Jon]

   I would quote everyone who disagrees with the issue at hand. There is not a credible sight out there that does not believe the C's still need help at pg and help at the F position. The opinions are not based on age or experience rather then a F that can play both spots. If PP should go down with an injury or foul out ect...The need to find a replacement is not something a team wants to enter the season with. TA  is a scorer. Should Allen and PP both be on the bench, it would be helpful to have a guy in that can create(proven) his own shots. He can play the smaller sf's but he cant hold down the ones that can just shoot over him or worse, out think him. The original poster is pointing out one of the C's weaknesses. Im not too sure how anyone can possibly disagree with a fact. TA replaced TA. The Celtics still need to replace a guy that was an essential part of the Celtics title run.

You are missing the point that TA had a very limited role on the team last season and they plan on expending his role this season. TA is more than replacing TA. You don't have to add players to replace players. Players already on the team can be promoted.

What you are calling "facts" are interpretations of observations.

The TA debate is interesting.  Guava's right in the fact that he's certainly expected to do more this year.  Furthermore, Giddens should easily be able to step into Tony's role last year, being that he didn't do very much, especially in the playoffs. 

As for Allen, he actually could be somewhat more useful than Posey when Doc goes to those "Green Team" lineups that he's fond of going to in the second quarter of games.  Allen definitely has more of a 1 on 1 game than Posey, and could put up more points in a lineup devoid of the Big Three. 

That's all well and good in the regular season, but the Celtics' starting lineup--regardless of the bench--is good enough to get them one of the top seeds in the East.  What I'm more worried about is how Allen meshes with the Big Three, because in the playoffs the times when none of the Big Three are on the court are few and far between.  If Tony's playing with Rondo, Ray, and Garnett there aren't going to be a lot of plays called for him.  Rather, he's going to be asked to stand on the weak side and "get out of the way" as others look to score.  The problem here, of course, is that Tony lacks an outside shot.  Thus, he's of little use standing over there, and worse yet, an actual detriment, as his lack of range will allow his defender to cheat off him. 

Hopefully Tony Allen is following Rondo's lead and is taking a ton of jump shots this offseason. 

[kozlodoev]

Does anyone have any data on Scals minutes at SF. He played there a bit; and had some success defensively; but not sure if there is anything to prove his effectiveness as a backup at SF.

Walker can do it if healthy; but will take time to him to get the hang of things and get back to whatever % of his former self we can hope for.

In a *very* small sample size (2% of the team's total minutes), Scal played well at SF.  He held opposing small forwards to an eFG% of .405 and to a PER of 9.7.  Both numbers are incredible.  Scal also outrebounded opposing small forwards.  http://www.82games.com/0708/07BOS9D.HTM

That being said, it was a small sample.  If Scal could play like that consistently, he would have seen more minutes.  Scal is a decent defender, but I don't expect him to outproduce opposing small forwards on a consistent basis.  (For instance, see his '06-'07 numbers: http://www.82games.com/0607/06BOS11C.HTM

I think Scal, much like Tony Allen, can let the situation get into his head. Both guys are capable of being serviceable at their positions, but they suffer with limited minutes. I am acually half-expecting both of them to step up their game now that they're not an afterthought in the rotation.