moore and marbury better pickups than i expected

[JHTruth]

I can't say for sure, but it sure seems the bench has been so much more effective with Moore and Marbs on board. Eddie as a PG is a walk-it-up and pass to the 3-pt shooter affair, while Stephon can actually push-the-ball, break down his man, initiate the offense, and get into the lane. I'm confident the shot will come but I think this is just a huge pick-up. Night and day with the offense for the bench. I remember PJ took a month or so to get acclimated last year as well..

And having a big that can finish with length? I just really like how they fit. I think our bench got 2 to 3X better.

[spazmonkey]

Given our injury situation, think about the rough shape we'd be in if Ainge hadn't added these two.  Yikes.

I'm curious to see who gets playing time once the team is healthy again...though unfortunately, it's going to be awhile yet before that's the case...

[2short]

so does all this mean ainge has done a good job (again)

[Fafnir]

so does all this mean ainge has done a good job (again)

I think we'll have to withhold judgment until the playoffs. When you are the champions you're judged by your success in the playoffs after all.

I'm still very worried about defending bigger 2s/3s. We'll be playing Pierce 45+ in any close playoff game, which isn't good. He should be getting 40 minutes or so to keep him fresh to finish. When he's tired he turns the ball over too much.

[bucknersrevenge]

He hadn't played in a month, and yet ended up with 7 and 5.  Are you capable of making a post where you actually set forth an argument, rather than sarcastically attacking the views of others?

What is with you and Joe Smith? yes Moore isnt a great rebounder, but I like what he brings to this team, and I like it more then what Joe smith brings.....hes just as poor a post defender as moore, doesnt finish  as well as moore, is a mouse with no enthusiasm...I just like the way Moore fits in chemistry-wise from what I see, and I also like his passion, jumpshot , ability to run the floor and finish, and his effeciency...

Joe smith hasnt played in a month..are you sure? he had almost 10 minutes more than Moore, went 3-8 and scored 7 and grabbed 5, and also couldnt defend a chair in the post (similar post defender as moore)

Moore played  an effecient 12 minutes, but provided energy for 48 minutes, great fit for this team on the floor and personality wise

I don't disagree regarding Moore's strengths.  However, defense and rebounding is a big part of basketball, too.  I wouldn't want Moore on the floor down the stretch in a close game, because he's likely to either: 1) let his man get by him, 2) foul, or 3) fail to secure a rebound.  Passion and hustle only gets a guy so far.

As for Smith, he last played on February 10, so I'm not sure why you're doubtful of the "hasn't played in a month" statement.  Smith is a better player than Moore -- he's a better defender, rebounder, and jump shooter, although Moore has looked great on his jump shot so far.  Moore is on the roster, so I'll be rooting for him and against Smith, but that doesn't mean that I'm going to pretend that I think Moore is a better player.  He isn't.

Agreed about Moore. He's been about what I thought too but that's been good enough for me. I like Moore's length, energy and passion and I can't wait to see him on the floor with KG actually.

As for Marbury, he's been just ok so far but nothing special. I keep seeing people assume for whatever reason that he's just gonna be unstoppable in a month or so when he shakes this rust. Remember this guy hasn't played ball in a year and by his own admission has NEVER played the kind of defense we play here. There are absolutely no assurances that Marbury ever plays at that all-star level again. NONE. But we better hope somehow he finds it. Or this will be a waste of a pickup.

[Tr1boy]

The thing with marbury is this. When he has played like an all star people called him selfish. So when he doesn't play like an all star which is less selfish as we are witnessing these past games i personally believe he is alot effective team player

Marbury has shown me ever since he has dawn in a celts uniform that his basketball iq is quite high and does other important things that dont show up in the stats sheet.

Having marbury on the court and his potential to score at will already makes opponents nervous where other team members get to benefit from this and he doesn't even have to score a basket.

If marbury consistantly can be a plus in the plus minus column danny did get an excellent job replacing pruitt and house as the backup pg(both usually hovering below to the minus level).

Moore also has been playing plus basketball. If your starters and bench mostly have pluses stats = wins everytime

[Roy Hobbs]

If marbury consistantly can be a plus in the plus minus column danny did get an excellent job replacing pruitt and house as the backup pg(both usually hovering below to the minus level).

Moore also has been playing plus basketball. If your starters and bench mostly have pluses stats = wins everytime

+/- stats are flawed, but the above isn't quite accurate.  First, House hasn't been a net negative this season.  He's a +122 on the season.  Moore hasn't been a "+" overall in his time with the Celtics, either.  He's been in the negative in three of the five games, and has an overall -21, according to NBA.com.  Starbury is at +1.  (I don't think those stats include last night.  Against the Cavs, House was +5, Moore was +3, and Starbury was even.)

http://www.nba.com/statistics/plusminus/plusminus_sort.jsp?pcomb=1&season=22008&split=9&team=Celtics

I'm not saying that you should make a big deal out of those stats, mostly because +/- depends a lot upon game situation and contribution of teammates.  However, if you *are* going to rely upon the numbers, you need accurate data.

[Birdbrain]

Neither Moore nor Smith would be getting very minutes when KG comes back anyway.  The C's made the smart and best move at the time with the injury situation.  Moore more than sufficient for the role he's being asked to perform.

[Birdbrain]

so does all this mean ainge has done a good job (again)

What do you think?  The guy is one of the smartest minds in the league.  He built what will go down as a dynasty.

[Champzilla]

I've never been a stat guy, I base my views on players by watching them in games.  KG being out has helped BBD so much, our bench right now is going to be pretty solid when KG returns.  I just wish TA was healthy again, we need a backup 3.

[guava_wrench]

I can't say for sure, but it sure seems the bench has been so much more effective with Moore and Marbs on board. Eddie as a PG is a walk-it-up and pass to the 3-pt shooter affair, while Stephon can actually push-the-ball, break down his man, initiate the offense, and get into the lane. I'm confident the shot will come but I think this is just a huge pick-up. Night and day with the offense for the bench. I remember PJ took a month or so to get acclimated last year as well..

And having a big that can finish with length? I just really like how they fit. I think our bench got 2 to 3X better.

I think, at this point, the most we can say is the bench looked pretty good last night. On the down side, Pierce played way too many minutes, even while James was on the bench.

I think we need to wait to say much more about the 2 pickups other than Moore can at least contribute when needed, unlike POB, and Marbury can pass better than anyone else we had on the bench. Whether Marbury can add some scoring or whether our bench will be a cohesive defensive unit every game like last year has yet to be determined.

Clearly Moore has the bod control of a 16 year old in a growth spurt, but we have also lived through BBD fouling like crazy in the past.

Ultimately, only 2 things matter with the bench:
1 - They have a good +/-
2 - They are able to eat up minutes at positions where the starters need rest

[Sweet17]

I don't disagree regarding Moore's strengths.  However, defense and rebounding is a big part of basketball, too.  I wouldn't want Moore on the floor down the stretch in a close game, because he's likely to either: 1) let his man get by him, 2) foul, or 3) fail to secure a rebound.  Passion and hustle only gets a guy so far.

It's not like Scalabrine and BBD are good defenders or rebounders either. <g> Moore has recongizable NBA strengths. He runs well. He finishes well. He shoots well.

With those guys its just ...well BBD he is BIG. And Scalabrine has "intagibles." I don't get your Moore bashing. If he ran well, rebounded well, finished well and shot well he would be KG not Mikki Moore.

[Evantime34]

Moore will be a good fit and a fan favorite with his hustle and ability to finish loudly.
Marbury is in a different category entirely. Marbury once up to speed should start shooting better, going to the hole more and dishing the ball off more. IMO he will be our 6th man by the end of the season. Before all is said and done he will have taken over a game and put the Celtics on his shoulders.

[zerophase]

I think that smith got bought out late on purpose. I like the two pickups. People forget how bad PJ looked the first couple games he started playing for us.

[PSquared]

Antoine Walker's last stint with the C's started well and then slowly but surely he began to revert back to his shot-chucking ball-movement killing ways.

Yeah 'cause he was the sole reason the C's got knocked out by Indy in the first round.  It had zero to do with the other C's(Aside from Pierce and, at times, Big AL) not being able to hit a shot...oh no.  That can't be it.