Celtics looking for veteran forward

[Sweet17]

I think we need someone better then Scal to defend Lebron. There are two reasons why.

1) Lebron is too big for TA. I love TA. I think he is an excellent defender. But Lebron is simply not his size. People don't know that he has grown since he first got in the league. He is now said to be 6'9" and he looks visibly larger then Ben Wallace. He is at least 250 pounds - maybe up to 260. And it's all muscle. To expect TA to guard him even for just 10 or 15 minutes is just folly. TA is closer to 6'2" then 6'4" and isn't much bigger then 200 lbs. It's like thinking Ray Allen can guard Tim Duncan. It's that big a difference.


2) PP can't be expected to do it all the time. I think part of the C's success last year was that they could throw different looks at Lebron. They could "save" PP for key matchups and throw Lebron off a touch. If you put Paul exclusively on Lebron not only do you take him out of the game with likely foul trouble. You wear him out for clutch baskets on offense.

No. I would be much happier with a Balkman kind of guy to throw at him - a big 3 with length and quickness to give him a different kind of look. That and a good backup center would fix us up for the finals and ECF (which could be worse then the finals again.)

[ManUp]

I think we need someone better then Scal to defend Lebron. There are two reasons why.

1) Lebron is too big for TA. I love TA. I think he is an excellent defender. But Lebron is simply not his size. People don't know that he has grown since he first got in the league. He is now said to be 6'9" and he looks visibly larger then Ben Wallace. He is at least 250 pounds - maybe up to 260. And it's all muscle. To expect TA to guard him even for just 10 or 15 minutes is just folly. TA is closer to 6'2" then 6'4" and isn't much bigger then 200 lbs. It's like thinking Ray Allen can guard Tim Duncan. It's that big a difference.


2) PP can't be expected to do it all the time. I think part of the C's success last year was that they could throw different looks at Lebron. They could "save" PP for key matchups and throw Lebron off a touch. If you put Paul exclusively on Lebron not only do you take him out of the game with likely foul trouble. You wear him out for clutch baskets on offense.

No. I would be much happier with a Balkman kind of guy to throw at him - a big 3 with length and quickness to give him a different kind of look. That and a good backup center would fix us up for the finals and ECF (which could be worse then the finals again.)

I'm sorry did you say Scal for Balkman?

Well if you didn't it's out there now. 

[Chris]

I think we need someone better then Scal to defend Lebron. There are two reasons why.

1) Lebron is too big for TA. I love TA. I think he is an excellent defender. But Lebron is simply not his size. People don't know that he has grown since he first got in the league. He is now said to be 6'9" and he looks visibly larger then Ben Wallace. He is at least 250 pounds - maybe up to 260. And it's all muscle. To expect TA to guard him even for just 10 or 15 minutes is just folly. TA is closer to 6'2" then 6'4" and isn't much bigger then 200 lbs. It's like thinking Ray Allen can guard Tim Duncan. It's that big a difference.


2) PP can't be expected to do it all the time. I think part of the C's success last year was that they could throw different looks at Lebron. They could "save" PP for key matchups and throw Lebron off a touch. If you put Paul exclusively on Lebron not only do you take him out of the game with likely foul trouble. You wear him out for clutch baskets on offense.

No. I would be much happier with a Balkman kind of guy to throw at him - a big 3 with length and quickness to give him a different kind of look. That and a good backup center would fix us up for the finals and ECF (which could be worse then the finals again.)

I agree with this...although I think TA could give Lebron problems for about 5-10 minutes per game.  By being aggressive and getting in tight on Lebron, he can frustrate him and throw him off his rhythm.  And then with the C's defensive scheme, they will be prepared to help out if Lebron posts up, or anything like that. 

Of course I am still scared senseless of Tony Allen offensively in the playoffs, so I really hope we have another option, so we don't need to rely on him as the only legitimate wing off the bench, for when "Bad Tony" inevitably shows up.

[D Dub]

I can count 5 guys on our roster right now that can cover elite wings.  Paul, Ray, Kevin, TA and Scal.  
Paul will be in the game when it matters most, and I think the other 4 can give someone like Lebron a different look for 6-8 mpg and be mildly effective.  It's really more the job of our team defense than any one guy individually that will contain the likes of Lebron and Kobe.

Now consider that we really only have Perk and KG that can legitamatly match up against the likes of Big Z, D.Howard, Yao, and Duncan over a 7 game series.  Considering our roster will likely only allow for one pickup, I think the obvious area of need is a 6'10"+ backup center.  

I am still holding out hope for PJ, we do still owe him a ring ceremony...  What a way to kick off his second comeback, eh?

[cordobes]

I think we need someone better then Scal to defend Lebron. There are two reasons why.

1) Lebron is too big for TA. I love TA. I think he is an excellent defender. But Lebron is simply not his size. People don't know that he has grown since he first got in the league. He is now said to be 6'9" and he looks visibly larger then Ben Wallace. He is at least 250 pounds - maybe up to 260. And it's all muscle. To expect TA to guard him even for just 10 or 15 minutes is just folly. TA is closer to 6'2" then 6'4" and isn't much bigger then 200 lbs. It's like thinking Ray Allen can guard Tim Duncan. It's that big a difference.


2) PP can't be expected to do it all the time. I think part of the C's success last year was that they could throw different looks at Lebron. They could "save" PP for key matchups and throw Lebron off a touch. If you put Paul exclusively on Lebron not only do you take him out of the game with likely foul trouble. You wear him out for clutch baskets on offense.

No. I would be much happier with a Balkman kind of guy to throw at him - a big 3 with length and quickness to give him a different kind of look. That and a good backup center would fix us up for the finals and ECF (which could be worse then the finals again.)

I agree. Well thought post.

[celtichooligan]

Lebron is 6'9 and close to 280, there is really nobody in the league except maybe Artest that could guard him on a nightly basis.

[Cman]

I think we need someone better then Scal to defend Lebron. There are two reasons why.

1) Lebron is too big for TA. I love TA. I think he is an excellent defender. But Lebron is simply not his size. People don't know that he has grown since he first got in the league. He is now said to be 6'9" and he looks visibly larger then Ben Wallace. He is at least 250 pounds - maybe up to 260. And it's all muscle. To expect TA to guard him even for just 10 or 15 minutes is just folly. TA is closer to 6'2" then 6'4" and isn't much bigger then 200 lbs. It's like thinking Ray Allen can guard Tim Duncan. It's that big a difference.


2) PP can't be expected to do it all the time. I think part of the C's success last year was that they could throw different looks at Lebron. They could "save" PP for key matchups and throw Lebron off a touch. If you put Paul exclusively on Lebron not only do you take him out of the game with likely foul trouble. You wear him out for clutch baskets on offense.

No. I would be much happier with a Balkman kind of guy to throw at him - a big 3 with length and quickness to give him a different kind of look. That and a good backup center would fix us up for the finals and ECF (which could be worse then the finals again.)

Nice post.  I like Balkman as well.

The hunt for a "big 3" or a "power 3" is something that has dogged Ainge since day 1.  The Cs have had a couple players that sorta fit the bill like Ryan Gomes and Justin Reed.  We can bemoan the loss of Posey as much as we want, but that ship has sailed.  I guess the real question we should be asking ourselves is, who are the quality "big 3" off-the-bench players that are available in a trade or as a FA/ buyout candidate?

In terms of free agents, the selection is limited (Ruben Patterson? Ira Newble?).

Someone suggested Bill Walker may eventually fit the bill, and I am inclined to agree, but probably not this year. 

I think the Cs stick with what they have at the 3 for now, and focus more on adding length at the PF/C.

[LB3533]

The only way TA can guard Lebron is if TA plays the passing lanes and deny Lebron the ball.

Once Lebron has the ball in his hands, it's basically over.

[D Dub]

The only way TA can guard Lebron is if TA plays the passing lanes and deny Lebron the ball.

Once Lebron has the ball in his hands, it's basically over.

I don't know about that.  Looking at what Paul did against LBJ that was successful was his playing a step off him and preventing him from driving the lanes.  Paul pretty much dared Lebron to shoot the long jumper every time, and this proved effective.

I don't see any reason why TA can't do the same, he has the quickness to keep him out of lane, and LBJ will be even more inticed to shoot that shot with his height advantage.  I think forcing him to shoot long jumpers is the best you can hope for really.

 

[Brickowski]

Once LeBron has the ball in his hands its all up to the officials.  If they let him bowl people over there is no player in the NBA who can guard him.  TA (who weighs 220) and Pierce (now at about 230) do about as well as anyone, with the possible exception of Artest, who weighs almost 260.

Posey couldn't guard LeBron. And there is no readily obtainable forward, veteran or otherwise, who can guard him either.

[Edgar]

Miki moore
Balkman
Posey
Pierce
Scal
Jamison
Butler
Odom ( if he ever play defense)
Jamario Moon
Francisco Garcia
Bowen ( or at least use to)
Gerald Wallace

[Andy Jick]

Once LeBron has the ball in his hands its all up to the officials.  If they let him bowl people over there is no player in the NBA who can guard him.  TA (who weighs 220) and Pierce (now at about 230) do about as well as anyone, with the possible exception of Artest, who weighs almost 260.

Posey couldn't guard LeBron. And there is no readily obtainable forward, veteran or otherwise, who can guard him either.

after reading a number of your threads, you seem bitter about something...as if the success this team has had still isn't good enough.

still a bit bummed out about al jefferson and gerald being traded away, brick?  i just don't get the negativity...

[twistedrico]

I wouldn't be upset at all if they at least gave Toine a tryout.

[I Am A Boston Celtic]

Sign me.....

I'm 6'9", 250 lbs, was born in French Lick, Indiana.

Can do it all!!!

 

[Brickowski]

Once LeBron has the ball in his hands its all up to the officials.  If they let him bowl people over there is no player in the NBA who can guard him.  TA (who weighs 220) and Pierce (now at about 230) do about as well as anyone, with the possible exception of Artest, who weighs almost 260.

Posey couldn't guard LeBron. And there is no readily obtainable forward, veteran or otherwise, who can guard him either.

after reading a number of your threads, you seem bitter about something...as if the success this team has had still isn't good enough.

still a bit bummed out about al jefferson and gerald being traded away, brick?  i just don't get the negativity...

I haven't been negative about this year's team at all.  In fact, I'm the one who is strongly advocating NOT making any changes to the current roster.

I like the bench because they all defend, and if they give Pruitt more minutes, that adds another excellent defender to the mix.

I have zero interest in players like Marbury, Joe Smith, Mutumbo or even PJ Brown.