Back up small forward...

[ScoobyDoo]

I like Bill Walker but...I'm still uncomfortable with a rookie with a history of knee problems as our primary back up at small forward. TAllen "can" play their but he smallish for the 3. Scal is too slow

I wouldn't mind seeing a trade for another vet small forward.   

[P2]

I guess TA will take over at backup SF, with Walker playing small minutes, and House and Pruitt will share the guard positions. But I would also be comfortable with Walker getting 10 minutes a game on a daily basis. I mean, what can you do wrong with Ray and KG on the floor?

[Chris]

I like Bill Walker but...I'm still uncomfortable with a rookie with a history of knee problems as our primary back up at small forward. TAllen "can" play their but he smallish for the 3. Scal is too slow

I wouldn't mind seeing a trade for another vet small forward.   

Well, in a pinch, Scal can cover just about anyone who Allen is too small to cover, other than Lebron, and maybe one or two other guys in the league.  We also have Giddens, who I think will ultimately be the guy, since he has a better outside shot, and more developed game than Walker at the moment...he just needs to learn the system.

Ultimately though, I still would expect them to make a trade for another wing.

[Eeyore III]

TA, Walker and Giddens are all about the same size, unfortunately.  It looks like TA will be backup 3.  I agree with Chris, though, that a trade seems like an eventuality.

[nickagneta]

I would prefer a rotation that always sees Paul Pierce or Ray Allen playing the 3 and keeping Tony Allen at his natural 2 position. As I stated elsewhere, Tony at the three with House/Rondo/Pruitt manning the 1 and 2 is a scary thought to me.

[ScoobyDoo]

I am not at all comfortable with Walker/TAllen / Ray / Scal at the three spot as back ups.

Call me a purist but...I think TAllen and Ray are off guards and should play at those positions and Scal is simply too slow at the three and should play at the four only when he's not in a mismatch strength wise....

Only Walker has the combination of size and strength to really play the three out of all these guys...Ray will get pushed around...

I really think we need another small forard and I would be shocked if Ainge didn't think the same and we didn't see either another signing or a trade to get one...

[Chris]

I would prefer a rotation that always sees Paul Pierce or Ray Allen playing the 3 and keeping Tony Allen at his natural 2 position. As I stated elsewhere, Tony at the three with House/Rondo/Pruitt manning the 1 and 2 is a scary thought to me.

I think the separation of the SG and SF thing is overdone.  The majority of the teams in the league field "wings" some are bigger, some are smaller.  Allen is able to match up with many of them, just like Pierce and Ray are.  I think every game Doc is going to be playing matchups, just like he did last year with Powe and Davis.  If we are playing a small team, he will likely use the small lineup.  If they are a big team, he will use the big lineup.  And sometimes, he will throw out a lineup that he thinks the other team will have trouble matching up with.

This is what people need to get used to without Posey.  There is no more simple answer.  It is going to mean a longer rotation, and it will drive some of you nuts.  But it also means more flexibility, more possibilities to create mismatches, and more times to get more explosive players on the floor.

[ScoobyDoo]

Good points Chris, didn't look at it that way. I like the flex but still would be more comfortable with another true and bigger small forward behind Pierce because I think when it gets down to the playoffs, you need clasic match ups, position players. My opinion.

[Chris]

Good points Chris, didn't look at it that way. I like the flex but still would be more comfortable with another true and bigger small forward behind Pierce because I think when it gets down to the playoffs, you need clasic match ups, position players. My opinion.

I agree, I think they need someone to step up before the playoffs (I also am scared to death of having Tony play a big role in the playoffs).  They have plenty of time to make a move though.  Whether it is waiting for a buyout, or making a trade, I feel pretty confident that someone will be brought in.

[ScoobyDoo]

Yeah, agreed. I think Tony will be fine at back up off and possibly at back up small forward. Who knows maybe they feel Tony needs to get 20-30 minutes every night and be a staple in the rotation in order for his confidence to be right and in order for him to produce reguallry and they are goign to go that way. I will say that when ever TAllen has gotten alot of minutes he has generally played alot better.

But like you say, I'll need to see either TA do it over the entire course of the season ( he's still somewat unproven as a regular rotation guy ) or Walker show that he can stay healthy AND produce...

Even if both those things happen I also agree that someone else will eventually be brought in.

For now they will go into assessment mode and then react once they reach a conclusion.

I just can't see ainge as comfortable at all with Pierce's current back up situaiton. Doesn't fit what I've seen from Ainge anyway...

 

[CT34]

Just a thought, but I think Sam Cassell will be added to the coach staff before the season starts. Sam will serve as a player/coach but at the start of the season if there is a need for a back-up small forward and if there is a play out there at could help this team.  I really think Sam Cassell would be wearing his coaching hat and the Cs could add that player. 

However they could play "small ball" with Gabe, Eddie and Tony. Looking at last night game it seem to me that is the way they will go if a player that they think would help this team doesn't become availible.

[Cman]

Not to hijack the thread, but I feel that back up Center is a more glaring weakness at this point.  My guess is that the team will make do with what it has for now -- using TA, Giddens and Walker as backup 3s for spaces of time -- and re-evaluate the team needs in late October.  At that point, if no trade is forthcoming, then Cassell starts coaching, and a vet backup C (PJ Brown) or vet backup SF (Bonzi Wells??) is brought aboard. 

[CT34]

It's clear to me that Sam Cassell will be on the coaching staff at somepoint this season.  I think the play of Gabe has really accelerated Sam Cassell to the coaches chair. 

[EJPLAYA]

Start Sam's coaching career now. Sign Bonzi Wells. That is a true SF that can flat out score. If you can't put a great true defending SF out there, then at least put one that can match points with the other side...

[mjohnson]

there will be no back up Small Forward right right now (except Scal if he is on the team lineup  ).

I guess it would be a combo of 3 guards when Paul Pierce needs a break. Miles is a PF and the Celtics wants him to be the SF yet he showed not much of capability for the team.