AInge needs to Act

[goCeltics]

The bench ain't there, him and wyc need to do something, they're only ones that can fix it.

This is why i'm not totally disappointed with the L in feb, a one point win would have give the team a false sense of security.

[indeedproceed]

I agree something needs to be done but I don't think anyone has the foggiest clue what.

We need, in no particular order:
1)A strong 3, preferably long that can play good defense and hit a 3 pt shot for the second unit
Thoughts: Well, James Posey did this pretty well. I think Danny should look at Ime Udoka. He's buried on the Spurs bench and has everything we need. In fact, he's so good I think the Spurs would rather keep him buried than let another team have him, despite his age (31). Do it Bear Bryant style.
2) A wing player that can creat his own shot for the second unit.
Thoughts: Tony Allen is as consistent as a cable repairman. We need someone that can competently create their own offense with the second unit, and it needs to be a wing player. Leon Powe throwing himself at the basket and Glen Davis shooting that god awful looking jumper is just not gonna cut it come playoff time. I still hope Tony boy can fill this role, or Sam I am.
3) A 7ft-ish smart defensive player, one that can guard either 4's or 5's, and can hit a 10 ft jumper.
Thoughts: PJ Brown is the only guy I know that can do this, but apparently he's no longer an option.

Those are our three gaping holes as far as I can tell. In a year or three maybe Bill Walker can fill roles number 1 and 2, but no chance this season. POB will never fill the third.

Go get Ime Udoka, Danny.

[makaveli]

I don't think we NEED NEED to get someone, if you compare the last years team with this one, you make a list like this one and we basicly stayed the same or even got better:

PLUS LIST:
Rondo got a lot better
Ray if much much comfortable
Eddie is always there to help out
Baby has improved
Scal has a role

STAYED THE SAME LIST:
Leon
Tony
Healthy GPA
41-10 record

MINUS LIST:
Posey
Turnovers
2-7

And with a new free agent will be just fine...

[Mr October]

the bench needs improvement. This bench can barely hold onto leads against good teams.

Last year the bench could push the lead against good teams from time to time. Posey and House used to pile on the 3's, while PJ kept things respectable in the paint on defense.

The C's of the regular season are about the same as the C's from last year's regular season. But last year's playoff team was definitely better.

The Celtics just need 1 or 2 big players (a 6-10+ FC and perhaps a 6-8 wing) and they'll be rolling again. I guess in 3 weeks we'll see what Danny has left in his bag of tricks.

[Jon]

Right now, I'd integrate Cassell.  He can run a team and create his own offense.  Best of all, he's already on the team.  We should at least start giving that a try. 

It'd be great if they could somehow get P.J. out of retirement.  If I was him, I wouldn't come; however, it'd be great if they could get him.  Our (realistically) 6-6 Baby and Powe aren't going to cut it against big front lines like Cleveland and Atlanta in the playoffs. 

[cornbreadsmart]

not to be a pessimist but how do we feel about our chnaces with a healthy bynum back(if possible). are we a longshot as is , in that scenario? i'm curious what people think after last night.

[Mr October]

I think that Bynum isn't too much of a concern.... if the C's pick up 1 more quality big.

If the C's make their bench more complete, then they'll be ready to throw down against any opponent.

[tenn_smoothie]

I don't think we NEED NEED to get someone, if you compare the last years team with this one, you make a list like this one and we basicly stayed the same or even got better:

stayed the same or got better   what are you smoking ??

this game was one more example - but a glaring one this time - of how much danny has screwed this team by letting james posey get away. the celts needed posey's offense and savvy badly last night.

surely ainge does not think this group with tony allen, glen davis or brian scalabrine having to provide premium minutes off the bench can win another title. think for a minute....... these same three guys were not a factor in the playoffs last year because the celtics didn't need them to be. we had better players in front of them ....... so now the celtics are relying on what are truly 10th, 11th & 12th men on a championship contender to provide contributions of which they are incapable.

i've considered that this may not be our year ......... make a couple of moves over the summer to repair the damage of letting posey get away and give this bunch at least two more shots at a banner.

[Mr October]

I don't think we NEED NEED to get someone, if you compare the last years team with this one, you make a list like this one and we basicly stayed the same or even got better:

stayed the same or got better   what are you smoking ??

this game was one more example - but a glaring one this time - of how much danny has screwed this team by letting james posey get away. the celts needed posey's offense and savvy badly last night.

surely ainge does not think this group with tony allen, glen davis or brian scalabrine having to provide premium minutes off the bench can win another title. think for a minute....... these same three guys were not a factor in the playoffs last year because the celtics didn't need them to be. we had better players in front of them ....... so now the celtics are relying on what are truly 10th, 11th & 12th men on a championship contender to provide contributions of which they are incapable.

i've considered that this may not be our year ......... make a couple of moves over the summer to repair the damage of letting posey get away and give this bunch at least two more shots at a banner.

This team has no 6th man... Doesn't really have a 7th man either.

Its February. Time to see what can be shaken out of the trade/FA bag.

[SShorefan 4.0]

I don't think we NEED NEED to get someone, if you compare the last years team with this one, you make a list like this one and we basicly stayed the same or even got better:

stayed the same or got better   what are you smoking ??

this game was one more example - but a glaring one this time - of how much danny has screwed this team by letting james posey get away. the celts needed posey's offense and savvy badly last night.

surely ainge does not think this group with tony allen, glen davis or brian scalabrine having to provide premium minutes off the bench can win another title. think for a minute....... these same three guys were not a factor in the playoffs last year because the celtics didn't need them to be. we had better players in front of them ....... so now the celtics are relying on what are truly 10th, 11th & 12th men on a championship contender to provide contributions of which they are incapable.

i've considered that this may not be our year ......... make a couple of moves over the summer to repair the damage of letting posey get away and give this bunch at least two more shots at a banner.

This team has no 6th man... Doesn't really have a 7th man either.

Its February. Time to see what can be shaken out of the trade/FA bag.

I concur.  I equate our bench to a Kansas City Royals pitching rotation.  No stoppers at 1 & 2, but a bunch of decent #3s.  Our bench has no real 6th man or 7th, but a bunch of 8s.

[zerophase]

After the laker game, I can firmly say that

this celtics team, they way its built right now

cannot, and will not win a championship.

[TrueGreen]

the bench needs improvement. This bench can barely hold onto leads against good teams.

Last year the bench could push the lead against good teams from time to time. Posey and House used to pile on the 3's, while PJ kept things respectable in the paint on defense.

The C's of the regular season are about the same as the C's from last year's regular season. But last year's playoff team was definitely better.

The Celtics just need 1 or 2 big players (a 6-10+ FC and perhaps a 6-8 wing) and they'll be rolling again. I guess in 3 weeks we'll see what Danny has left in his bag of tricks.

The Celtic bench, in the last game, outscored and outplayed the Laker bench. I think Scals can solve the length and defensive problems against LA, but I would love a PJ Brown-type of Big. Turnovers, unforced turnovers, cost us the game. We could even have overcome this if the officiating was any good. Also, KG and Pierce (found out later were sick) and we don't know who else was sick. Can't make roster decisions based on one game against a potential playoff team, but we need something. The question is, is something out there and if so, can we get it. There don't seem to be alot of options out there that would definitely make our team better

[CoachBo]

Another loss today - Sunday - directly attributable to our lack of a bench.

This debate boils down to whether the individual poster:

1. Wants to win 18.

2. Wants to be proven right.

3. Wants to be proven right that Ainge is a genius who never makes mistakes.

[goCeltics]

think we might need a sticky "fix the bench/ainge gotta make trades" thread.

not that i like telling mods what to do


looking at the boxscore it takes 0.01 milliseconds to see where the deficiencies are

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore;_ylt=AjI7585FeaWftCSNlYIgJGI5nYcB?gid=2009020802

[mahonedog88]

Honestly...can we stop talking about Ainge needing to act?

We know.

It's brought up all the time.

Let's start talking about it when something is actually done.

Stephon Marbury is what we need...but it really doesn't look like he's being bought out anytime soon and what sucks is that if....if he gets bought out, it'll probably after that certain deadline which means we couldn't use him in the playoffs anyway.