until buyouts happen...

[Chris]

Well, don't forget about Scal.  I believe he is back, so he will be back in the mix.  My guess is Scal and Pruitt will be used in a bit of a platoon, with Walker tossed out every once in a while.

[greg683x]

The more I think about it, the more I think Tony Allen's health is going to be the biggest factor out of all the current "unknowns" come playoff time. We absolutely need him to be healthy.

I think it makes homecourt all the more important too. As of right now, Allen's timetable is basically right around the start of the playoffs. It would sure be nice to have the #1 seed and have a relative patsy in the first round (unlike last year) to give Allen another week or so to get back at it. Of course, I keep forgetting that Allen's injury is a finger on his non-shooting hand. He can still run and stay relatively sharp while he's recuperating. He ought to be fine come playoff time.

If we are unable to bring in any significant talent to fill the two open roster spots, then I completely agree with you.  However, say we are able to bring in Marbury or  Joe Smith, and god willing, possibly both, I really could care less if Tony Allen doesnt come back at all.  Think about it.  If we sign Marbury, House would move to the 2 spot off the bench.  It really takes Tony out of the equation, unless we would need someone to pester Kobe Bryant while PP rests.

[Hoops]

The more I think about it, the more I think Tony Allen's health is going to be the biggest factor out of all the current "unknowns" come playoff time. We absolutely need him to be healthy.

I think it makes homecourt all the more important too. As of right now, Allen's timetable is basically right around the start of the playoffs. It would sure be nice to have the #1 seed and have a relative patsy in the first round (unlike last year) to give Allen another week or so to get back at it. Of course, I keep forgetting that Allen's injury is a finger on his non-shooting hand. He can still run and stay relatively sharp while he's recuperating. He ought to be fine come playoff time.

If we are unable to bring in any significant talent to fill the two open roster spots, then I completely agree with you.  However, say we are able to bring in Marbury or  Joe Smith, and god willing, possibly both, I really could care less if Tony Allen doesnt come back at all.  Think about it.  If we sign Marbury, House would move to the 2 spot off the bench.  It really takes Tony out of the equation, unless we would need someone to pester Kobe Bryant while PP rests.

Well, we kind of need a backup 3 no matter what. Pierce can't play 48. Ray has proven quite effective on Kobe, so I guess that's ok, assuming we make the finals. But without Tony, who guards LeBron when Pierce is out? 

[SShorefan 4.0]

until all this settles and we use these two roster spots we have open, who is the 4th man off the bench?

Eddie, BBD, Powe and then...

Does Doc use a short bench or does Gabe or Walker get some good minutes?

Will Solomon of course.

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

TA's been hurt, POB and Sam never even played...the rotation will be the same

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

The more I think about it, the more I think Tony Allen's health is going to be the biggest factor out of all the current "unknowns" come playoff time. We absolutely need him to be healthy.

I'd rather see Tony never play minutes for the celtics again, nevermind this years playoffs..his only use is to rest Pierce and Ray in the regular season, and hes out for the rest of the regular season...last thing i want to see is a recuperating Tony Turnover trying to help us in the playoffs

[Snakehead]

The more I think about it, the more I think Tony Allen's health is going to be the biggest factor out of all the current "unknowns" come playoff time. We absolutely need him to be healthy.

I'd rather see Tony never play minutes for the celtics again, nevermind this years playoffs..his only use is to rest Pierce and Ray in the regular season, and hes out for the rest of the regular season...last thing i want to see is a recuperating Tony Turnover trying to help us in the playoffs

Agreed. With the lack of improvement and the continuing injuries I've completely given up on TA.  I haven't been positive on him for a long while but this is that last straw.

[Jon]

Again, I understand the frustration in Tony Allen--after this season, I wouldn't mind never seeing him again--but he is a good defender and is probably our best option at the backup 2/3 this year. 

And I still don't get what some people are talking about with House playing the backup 2. 

Picture this, game 7 ECF, Celtics vs. Cavs.  Fourth quarter, 10 minutes left, Pierce gets his fifth foul after guarding LeBron all game and off the bench comes...Eddie House?  Sure, House doesn't guard James, Ray Allen does, who doesn't  have the muscle or height to keep up with LeBron either.  And to make matters worse, House guards Kinsey or Sczerbiack, who both stand 6 inches taller than him. 

We really need either Allen to come back or for Walker or Giddens to step up. 

[BballTim]

TA's been hurt, POB and Sam never even played...the rotation will be the same

  You better hope not. Pierce is averaging about 42 minutes a game this month.

[JumpingJudkins]

Is there any reason we shouldn't throw Bill Walker out there for 12-15 minutes a game for the next month and see if he can duplicate what TA does? Without dribbling the ball off his foot quite as often?

[Hoops]

Again, I understand the frustration in Tony Allen--after this season, I wouldn't mind never seeing him again--but he is a good defender and is probably our best option at the backup 2/3 this year. 

And I still don't get what some people are talking about with House playing the backup 2. 

Picture this, game 7 ECF, Celtics vs. Cavs.  Fourth quarter, 10 minutes left, Pierce gets his fifth foul after guarding LeBron all game and off the bench comes...Eddie House?  Sure, House doesn't guard James, Ray Allen does, who doesn't  have the muscle or height to keep up with LeBron either.  And to make matters worse, House guards Kinsey or Sczerbiack, who both stand 6 inches taller than him. 

We really need either Allen to come back or for Walker or Giddens to step up. 

Bingo.

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

Again, I understand the frustration in Tony Allen--after this season, I wouldn't mind never seeing him again--but he is a good defender and is probably our best option at the backup 2/3 this year. 

And I still don't get what some people are talking about with House playing the backup 2. 

Picture this, game 7 ECF, Celtics vs. Cavs.  Fourth quarter, 10 minutes left, Pierce gets his fifth foul after guarding LeBron all game and off the bench comes...Eddie House?  Sure, House doesn't guard James, Ray Allen does, who doesn't  have the muscle or height to keep up with LeBron either.  And to make matters worse, House guards Kinsey or Sczerbiack, who both stand 6 inches taller than him. 

We really need either Allen to come back or for Walker or Giddens to step up. 

Bingo.

So you want tony allen guarding LeBron at the end of a game 7?  Sorry, but no thanks..if pierce hypothetically fouls out at the end of a game 7 we're screwed whether TA is completly healthy or not

[Hoops]

Is there any reason we shouldn't throw Bill Walker out there for 12-15 minutes a game for the next month and see if he can duplicate what TA does? Without dribbling the ball off his foot quite as often?

It's a fine line. We need to win games and gain homecourt advantage. Plus, like I said in an earlier post, I don't think you can start giving a guy minutes unless you're really confident that he'll develop into a capable contributor within 2 months. Because if it's more likely that he just won't be ready - even after getting PT for the next 2 months - then you've essentially wasted your time. And when you're the defending champs, clawing at a repeat, you really don't have the luxury of wasting time and hoping for the best.

My suspicion is that Doc knows that Walker has too far to go before playoff time and thus he's going to use the next two months to figure out how to best use the existing lineup for the playoffs.

[Hoops]

Again, I understand the frustration in Tony Allen--after this season, I wouldn't mind never seeing him again--but he is a good defender and is probably our best option at the backup 2/3 this year. 

And I still don't get what some people are talking about with House playing the backup 2. 

Picture this, game 7 ECF, Celtics vs. Cavs.  Fourth quarter, 10 minutes left, Pierce gets his fifth foul after guarding LeBron all game and off the bench comes...Eddie House?  Sure, House doesn't guard James, Ray Allen does, who doesn't  have the muscle or height to keep up with LeBron either.  And to make matters worse, House guards Kinsey or Sczerbiack, who both stand 6 inches taller than him. 

We really need either Allen to come back or for Walker or Giddens to step up. 

Bingo.

So you want tony allen guarding LeBron at the end of a game 7?  Sorry, but no thanks..if pierce hypothetically fouls out at the end of a game 7 we're screwed whether TA is completly healthy or not

No - it's exactly the opposite of what you said. The whole point of having TA is to spell Pierce for a few minutes here and there during the game so that Paul isn't put in a position where he's dog tired with 5 fouls at the end of a game 7.

[greg683x]

Again, I understand the frustration in Tony Allen--after this season, I wouldn't mind never seeing him again--but he is a good defender and is probably our best option at the backup 2/3 this year. 

And I still don't get what some people are talking about with House playing the backup 2. 

Picture this, game 7 ECF, Celtics vs. Cavs.  Fourth quarter, 10 minutes left, Pierce gets his fifth foul after guarding LeBron all game and off the bench comes...Eddie House?  Sure, House doesn't guard James, Ray Allen does, who doesn't  have the muscle or height to keep up with LeBron either.  And to make matters worse, House guards Kinsey or Sczerbiack, who both stand 6 inches taller than him. 

We really need either Allen to come back or for Walker or Giddens to step up. 

We're gonna get torched no matter who you bring in the game in that situation, but yes I agree with you that TA would be the guy I'd bring in.  However, the Cavs are a special case.  They can throw so many different lineups at you.  Wally might not even be in the game at that point.  When they go small in the back court, like they often do, Marbury and House as the backup backcourt works GREAT.  The situation you mentioned is a sticky one, but the Cavs are the only team that could put us in this position, so yes in that situation I'd bring in TA, and he would be guarding Lebron (with lots of help) because I wouldnt want Ray to get in foul trouble as well.

However, do you really value TA that high to bury House on the bench to keep his minutes??  If we sign Marbury, someone is losing their minutes, unless you would want to platoon House and Marbury at the backup PG which wouldnt be smart.  House has been a more consistent contributer this season.  I think Tonys defense is good, but it is somewhat overrated, and I value more of what House brings on the offensive end, especially with Marbury being able to penetrate and kick to him.

However I would keep TA on the bench to come in for situations like you mentioned (like he was last year)