Biggest Concern From First Game

[Bryan]

My biggest worry after game 1 is that the Celtic's just don't have enough jump shooters. In particular, of the players likely to get significant minutes as reserves, only House is a pure shooter.

While Tony Allen and Bill Walker both had impressive scoring plays those plays were driving or dunking. With O'Bryant, Powe, and Davis being the other likely second teamers there is nowhere near the balance between outside shooting/driving they had last year with Posey.

I thought the biggest plus was the ball-handing displayed by TA. While last year some teams, mainly Detroit with Lindsay Hunter, were able to take House out of the game because he couldn't get the ball up the court effectively, TA looks like he'll be able to swing over and help out with the ball-handling, which will make it easier to take advantage of House's great shooting even when the other team has a very fast defensive player on him.

Bryan

[LB3533]

Seems like the first unit is the "shooting" team and the 2nd unit is the "running" team.

[Emperor Young]

My biggest worry after game 1 is that the Celtic's just don't have enough jump shooters. In particular, of the players likely to get significant minutes as reserves, only House is a pure shooter.

While Tony Allen and Bill Walker both had impressive scoring plays those plays were driving or dunking. With O'Bryant, Powe, and Davis being the other likely second teamers there is nowhere near the balance between outside shooting/driving they had last year with Posey.

I thought the biggest plus was the ball-handing displayed by TA. While last year some teams, mainly Detroit with Lindsay Hunter, were able to take House out of the game because he couldn't get the ball up the court effectively, TA looks like he'll be able to swing over and help out with the ball-handling, which will make it easier to take advantage of House's great shooting even when the other team has a very fast defensive player on him.

Bryan

it's pretty hard to address any concerns from 1st preseason game, the only concern i have of this team is that Scal is still here and that someone else might end up getting cut

[shookones99]

They might not be as good a shooting team as last year's bench but they bring a lot more energy and athleticism.  They have a lot more players who are capable of getting to the line.

[Reggie's Ghost]

It's true that we have lost one bench player who was a 3 pt threat, but we have added a second athletic slasher which I think will balance this out in many ways.  We've just got to realize that, no matter what, this is a different team than last years.  If we win, it will be differently than we did in 08.

Also, Cassell has been a great shooter historically as well, and could provide shooting alongside House if needed.

[wdleehi]

Lack of shooting off the bench outside of the PG position is an issue.  That was a key in giving the three stars more room to work and to make other teams pay for double teams. 


That includes Posey from three and PJ mid range jumper. 



But this is something the Celtics can find.

[2short]

Lack of shooting from 2nd team means keep Pruitt.
My biggest concerns were relatively small, not that impressed with Davis' improvement and tony allens turnovers.  Both guys need to step it up.

[moskqq]

Pruitt played well enough (in spots) to gain time. His passing was crisp and on target.  As a PG with the shot clock running down, he passed up the opportunity to shoot and instead passed with time about to expire.  That lesson comes with experience.

As has been mentioned, the second unit lacked shooters (House excepted) and if Pruitt has a strength it's supposed to be his silky smooth shot.  If he sticks he'll have to show  more offensive potential both to keep defenses honest and to fill the void when House's shot isn't falling (re; Williams playing for Philly).

[Redz]

Seems like the first unit is the "shooting" team and the 2nd unit is the "running" team.

The zips and the zaps revisited?

[Section301]

My biggest worry after game 1 is that the Celtic's just don't have enough jump shooters. In particular, of the players likely to get significant minutes as reserves, only House is a pure shooter.

While Tony Allen and Bill Walker both had impressive scoring plays those plays were driving or dunking. With O'Bryant, Powe, and Davis being the other likely second teamers there is nowhere near the balance between outside shooting/driving they had last year with Posey.

If that is their biggest worry going into this season, I am happy.  Because that would  mean the question of backup C and backup SF have been answered, which seemed more worrisome to me.  I don't think the lack of an additional 3 point shooter will have much of an impact during the regular season, if the rest of the bench is playing to its capabilities (not pleasantly surprising, not mind-blowing, just playing to its reasonable capabilities).  In the playoffs, especially during crunch time, you're going to have Pierce and Allen on the floor.  Add House, and that's 60% of the team on the floor as an outside shooting threat. While Garnett does not shoot the three, he is a viable shooter from deep 2.  So there is a credible team that can be put on the floor where 80%  of the shooters must be guarded.  Even if you add one slasher (or Perk on the baseline) to that group, there's still enough firepower there to require defenders to stay home (which would open up lanes for the slasher).   That should be enough to get the job done 4 out of every 7 games.  

They don't have to be perfect, they just have to be good enough to make the playoffs and win 4 out of every 7 games.  

[ManUp]

It doesn't worry me much since it's just the bench. In my opinion, we have shooting at all the positions we really need it from Point guard, shooting guard, and small forward. The only shooting lineup that we can't match from last year is the House, Allen, Pierce, Posey, and Garnett lineup. Other than the finals that lineup was mostly ineffective.

As for Brown his shooting range wasn't deep enough for me to consider it a major loss. O'Bryant can probably hit that shot on occasion probably not as consistent, but well enough I'll guess. I think our bench as a unit will probably be a much more affective scoring team than last years. The defense might be just as good if O'Bryant brings the same type of effort he did yesterday.

[jay_jay54]

Its really hard to say much from 1 game,but i did notice we could use a perimeter shooter on the second unit,besides House.Scal and TA attempted a few outside shots,but none went in.I hope this will be addressed as we go.If Scal and TA hit a few of those shots,the game might have gone the other way.I know its not the score what counts in preseason,but it was obvious that we will need some one who is more consistent on the second unit,especially if House is on the bench or not hitting much.

[Who]

Yes, the lack of jump shooting from the bench is a concern.

Maybe one of the young wings can supply more than expected in this regard ... we'll see.

[noro]

I think that the loss of Posey is the biggest issue of the offseason but I hope that one of the new guys can step up and be that guy off the bench that does the little things, and can hit the big shots. Here's hoping Giddens can regain his pre-New Mexico shooting touch.

[nickagneta]

Isn't it kinda early to have concerns about this team after just one preseason game where only four starters played and none played more than 19 minutes and where players 9-14 on the team played an average of 14 minutes each?

You want to be concerned about something though after the first preseason game, be concerned that Perkins wasn't on the floor. This team could ill afford the loss of Kendrick Perkins for long periods of time. A healthy KP is something that concerns me.