Pruitt, Walker & POB = Rest

[ScoobyDoo]

I think the #1 factor affecting out current slump of 2-7 was that teams are simply coming out and getting into a fistfight with us every night and we're tired. Our starters are playing too many hard minutes every game.

Our bench is also imcomplete this year:
1. No legitimate back up for Perkins
2. No legitimate back up for Pierce ( TA is an OG and Scal a PF)
3. No legitimate PG. House is an off guard in  point guard's body.

I think, to varying degrees we may have the answers on the bench if Doc is willing to use the young guys. If he is willing to "hide" their mistakes of youth by mixing them in with the starters.

1. Play POB, Walker and Pruitt( until we get a couple more vets) along with KG, Pierce, Allen & Rondo. KG actually gets his rest becasue he has POwe or Baby can give him 10 minutes. Let these starters put both pull these kids along and help hide their inexperience by being on the court with them.

Play Pruitt more behind Rondo right now and let Walker get 8-10 combined minutes behind Pierce and Allen.

I think Pruitt is the most ready but I think Walker could "handle" it right now too. He'll make a few more mistakes but he'll make up for it elsewhere too. POB is the most marginal right now but I'd try to put him in there and give him 3-4 minute stints every night. He's going good, let him run. He's not going well, yank him.

Key goal is to use these young kids to try and get our starter just enough rest to stay fresh right now. This is the main problem facing the team.

I also like the athletic pressure Pruitt and Walker bring.     

     

[xmuscularghandix]

i completely agree, now is the time to play the young guys to rest our starters, then who knows? maybe one of them can prove that they have what it takes to be a major player and then you have more confidence in them come playoff time.

Eddie Tony and BBD make enough mistakes here and there that how bad could Pruitt, Walker and POB really be?

[dmopower]

i completely agree, now is the time to play the young guys to rest our starters, then who knows? maybe one of them can prove that they have what it takes to be a major player and then you have more confidence in them come playoff time.

Eddie Tony and BBD make enough mistakes here and there that how bad could Pruitt, Walker and POB really be?


I couldent agree more.

[CelticsWhat35]

It's easy to say, and I would like to see the younger guys get some more minutes, but merely putting them in with the starters will not "hide" there mistakes.  It may work, to a degree on offense, but not defense.

The reason the Celtics defense has worked so well is because everyone is on the same page.  If you have one person lost, or missing an assignment, it can blow the whole coverage.

[guava_wrench]

I think the #1 factor affecting out current slump of 2-7 was that teams are simply coming out and getting into a fistfight with us every night and we're tired. Our starters are playing too many hard minutes every game.

Our bench is also imcomplete this year:
1. No legitimate back up for Perkins
2. No legitimate back up for Pierce ( TA is an OG and Scal a PF)
3. No legitimate PG. House is an off guard in  point guard's body.

I think, to varying degrees we may have the answers on the bench if Doc is willing to use the young guys. If he is willing to "hide" their mistakes of youth by mixing them in with the starters.

1. Play POB, Walker and Pruitt( until we get a couple more vets) along with KG, Pierce, Allen & Rondo. KG actually gets his rest becasue he has POwe or Baby can give him 10 minutes. Let these starters put both pull these kids along and help hide their inexperience by being on the court with them.

Play Pruitt more behind Rondo right now and let Walker get 8-10 combined minutes behind Pierce and Allen.

I think Pruitt is the most ready but I think Walker could "handle" it right now too. He'll make a few more mistakes but he'll make up for it elsewhere too. POB is the most marginal right now but I'd try to put him in there and give him 3-4 minute stints every night. He's going good, let him run. He's not going well, yank him.

Key goal is to use these young kids to try and get our starter just enough rest to stay fresh right now. This is the main problem facing the team.

I also like the athletic pressure Pruitt and Walker bring.     

     

I'd like to win games.

Also, what is the relevance of playing POB and more rest for a starter? He would be taking minutes from Powe or BBD, and the starters might have to play more minutes because we would be deeper in a hole.

[D Dub]

It's a great idea, I'd love for them get more mpg and rest the starters.

It's just also good to recognize at the same time; when it counts, Pruitt is the only one of them that can remotely be counted on.

[xmuscularghandix]

It's a great idea, I'd love for them get more mpg and rest the starters.

It's just also good to recognize at the same time; when it counts, Pruitt is the only one of them that can remotely be counted on.

for now.

[pearljammer10]

I hope the fresh legs start to get some more run especially in games leading up to and after the allstar break.

[gar]

I hope the fresh legs start to get some more run especially in games leading up to and after the allstar break.

If you watch Rondo videos from UK there are some great highlights of him on the break with Kelena Azbuke finishing. Walker would be a perfect counterpart for Rondo on the break. Only a matter of time before teams shut down the Rondo KG express.

[footey]

I agree with OP. I think Doc's biggest weakness as a coach is his fear of change, or of experimentation. It is one of Phil Jackson's greatest strengths as a coach. He always seems open to try different things.  He does not worry about hurting players' feelings, he assumes they are grown ups. I give Doc all the credit for brilliant coaching last season, but this season the challenges are much different, and he does not seem open enough to try things. Coming off the Jersey blowout, the mood is probably shifting on this board back to leaving well enough alone. But I don't think we are going to have a chance against the Cavs or the Lakers unless we shake things up. I don't think that means we have to make a big trade either.

[orrzor]

I want Pruitt to get more playing time, but I do not trust Walker or POB and I would leave it up to Doc to evaluate how they are doing in practice, specifically in picking up defensive schemes. As was said, nearly every game is a tough fight and we are still in the mix for home court advantage, which would be awesome for this team. I'd rather Powe, BBD, House, Allen, Pruitt, Scal start to gel as a 2nd unit than throwing Walker or POB out there.

[xmuscularghandix]

I hope the fresh legs start to get some more run especially in games leading up to and after the allstar break.

If you watch Rondo videos from UK there are some great highlights of him on the break with Kelena Azbuke finishing. Walker would be a perfect counterpart for Rondo on the break. Only a matter of time before teams shut down the Rondo KG express.

good point, i said something similar in another thread. other than KG we really don't have that fast hard finisher at the wing,  he can be that guy

[nickagneta]

If we want to rest the starters more doesn't it make more sense just to concentrate on getting the starters to play better so that they can give large leads to the bench and perhaps not have to play a lot of minutes, if any, in the fourth quarter? Isn't it a more realistic goal and reachable to get the starters to play so well that they don't have to play in the 4th than it is to get three players who are not yet ready to play big time, meaningful, and important NBA minutes and produce?

When people talk about wanting to rest the starters as an objective and then instantly bring up playing the very far end of the bench, it makes me question what their original objectivereallt is, resting the starters or getting to see what unproven, unseen players really have to bring to the table.

You want to rest the starters, get them playing better quality basketball, get them handing over large leads to the bench and play the proven, NBA quality backups that are currently on the team more minutes. Just giving starters minutes to scrubs is, in the end after any blown leads, only going to result in the starters playing more minutes long term.

[billysan]

I want Pruitt to get more playing time, but I do not trust Walker or POB and I would leave it up to Doc to evaluate how they are doing in practice, specifically in picking up defensive schemes. As was said, nearly every game is a tough fight and we are still in the mix for home court advantage, which would be awesome for this team. I'd rather Powe, BBD, House, Allen, Pruitt, Scal start to gel as a 2nd unit than throwing Walker or POB out there.

Agreed, earn your PT in practice and garbage time. This is not rocket science and no amount of tinkering or confidence building will make it work with players who are not ready to contribute. I am starting to see some promise from young Mr Walker to be fair, but I will let the coaching staff decide when he is ready for a bigger role.

I would like to see a few more consistent minutes for Pruitt. He is really the only reserve guard we have for perimeter defense and shooting combined. Eddie House and TA are still just, either/or, but ya cant have both.

[Michael Anthony]

When you look at what playing with KG did for Perkins, you have to wonder what kind of effect it will have on O'Bryant. Garnett's intensity and communication on defense could do a lot for O'Bryant's hustle and rotations.