Marbury To Start Tonight vs. Miami

[celts4life]

Via the Globe:
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2009/03/marbury_to_star.html

No word on a replacement for Glen Davis.

What does everyone think?

[EJPLAYA]

For the same reason that it made sense the other night, I think this is the right move. Throw the guy into the fire. If he doesn't perform then be quicker to insert Eddie. We need Eddie's offense with that second unit. I might even give Gabe some of his minutes if Starbury struggles.

I'd put Mikki in for BBD. That leaves Powe with that second unit.

[crownsy]

For the same reason that it made sense the other night, I think this is the right move. Throw the guy into the fire. If he doesn't perform then be quicker to insert Eddie. We need Eddie's offense with that second unit. I might even give Gabe some of his minutes if Starbury struggles.

I'd put Mikki in for BBD. That leaves Powe with that second unit.

id do that two, i think leon is too important to the bench unit to start. not a knock against him, i just think he's that important.

as for starbury, fine with me, just like to see a quicker leash if he's struggling this time. and not the typical "your out for the half, moron" pull, just yank him for 3 minutes and work with him on the sideline, then re-insert.

Treat him like first year rondo for the next few games.

[Bankshot]

For the same reason that it made sense the other night, I think this is the right move. Throw the guy into the fire. If he doesn't perform then be quicker to insert Eddie. We need Eddie's offense with that second unit. I might even give Gabe some of his minutes if Starbury struggles.

I'd put Mikki in for BBD. That leaves Powe with that second unit.

id do that two, i think leon is too important to the bench unit to start. not a knock against him, i just think he's that important.

as for starbury, fine with me, just like to see a quicker leash if he's struggling this time. and not the typical "your out for the half, moron" pull, just yank him for 3 minutes and work with him on the sideline, then re-insert.

Treat him like first year rondo for the next few games.

I would do this too.  Not because Leon is so important to the bench, but because Doc likes to start a PF that can spread the floor.  But I'm not sure he would want 2 new players in the starting lineup.

[Chris]

I'm kinda torn on this, because I think there is a good argument for either way.  If you start House, you might have a little more cohesion with the starting lineup, and you also have another playmaker on the second unit, where you really need it (especially if they are really going to be resting Pierce and Allen a little).  If you start Marbury, then you are able to give him valuable minutes to work himself into playing shape, and get used to playing with guys like Pierce and Allen, who he will be playing with in the playoffs.

Ultimately, I like starting Marbury, because this is going to really help him get ready quicker...but I would have been happy with either decision.

[2short]

Is marbury going to help us?  I guess this is one way to answer the question.  I'm not for him starting PERIOD.  I really need to see a lot more on the defensive end from him, if he doesn't show that I think we are better with pruitt & eddie backing rondo up.

[crownsy]

Is marbury going to help us?  I guess this is one way to answer the question.  I'm not for him starting PERIOD.  I really need to see a lot more on the defensive end from him, if he doesn't show that I think we are better with pruitt & eddie backing rondo up.

well yea, i dont think anyone expects him to be marbury circa 2000 tonight. But he's 13 months behind everyone on the team, and the only way to replicate NBA game conditions is to get him minutes.

I'm all for it, as long as the leash is short, and were ready to put eddie in if it starts to be a problem.

He's got to play to get up to speed and learn the sets and his new teamates games. I'd rather have him do that now so he's ready in 5-6 games when we are healthy.

[LarBrd33]

I'm with most everyone else...  I'm trying not to judge Marbury until he's had time to get familiar with the system and get into basketball shape.   He's not good enough to provide much of a spark off the bench yet and he obviously needs as much practice with this team as possible... so... start him with Pierce, Ray and Perk and hope that they can make up for his mistakes.

[RAcker]

Two issues:

1) Physical Conditioning

2) Chemistry with his teammates

Give it time.  By month's end, we'll know if we are going to get anything from him or not.

[2short]

Is marbury going to help us?  I guess this is one way to answer the question.  I'm not for him starting PERIOD.  I really need to see a lot more on the defensive end from him, if he doesn't show that I think we are better with pruitt & eddie backing rondo up.

well yea, i dont think anyone expects him to be marbury circa 2000 tonight. But he's 13 months behind everyone on the team, and the only way to replicate NBA game conditions is to get him minutes.

I'm all for it, as long as the leash is short, and were ready to put eddie in if it starts to be a problem.

He's got to play to get up to speed and learn the sets and his new teamates games. I'd rather have him do that now so he's ready in 5-6 games when we are healthy.

short leash agreed!
of course what does this to for eddie, last year he was pulled with his minutes going to sam who didn't help but he was a good vet and kept quiet
just to play devils advocate of course

[crownsy]

Is marbury going to help us?  I guess this is one way to answer the question.  I'm not for him starting PERIOD.  I really need to see a lot more on the defensive end from him, if he doesn't show that I think we are better with pruitt & eddie backing rondo up.

well yea, i dont think anyone expects him to be marbury circa 2000 tonight. But he's 13 months behind everyone on the team, and the only way to replicate NBA game conditions is to get him minutes.

I'm all for it, as long as the leash is short, and were ready to put eddie in if it starts to be a problem.

He's got to play to get up to speed and learn the sets and his new teamates games. I'd rather have him do that now so he's ready in 5-6 games when we are healthy.

short leash agreed!
of course what does this to for eddie, last year he was pulled with his minutes going to sam who didn't help but he was a good vet and kept quiet
just to play devils advocate of course

ideally, in my view, marbury (once rondo comes back) shouldnt effect eddie's minutes all that much, assuming doc will trust eddie to play SG and not play ray 36-42 minutes a game, as is his current custom.

I really like eddie in a

1.marbury
2.eddie
3.ray/pierce

lineup. eddie is so much more effective when someone drives and kicks it to him, as opposed to handling the ball. It makes us better.

[Drucci]

Once again, I think it's a great opportunity for Marbury to take the rust off and to show what he can do. I do agree with the fans who think that Powe and House must stay benchers because without them it would be hard to get a spark from the second unit.

[SalmonAndMashedPotatoes]

Doc made the right call starting Marbury.  Even though he's super-rusty, out of basketball shape, doesn't have his legs back, and doesn't know the plays, Marbury's still the 2nd best point guard on the team.  And even though Eddie's been with the team 2 years, presumably knows all the plays and their various permutations, and is in perfect basketball shape, he's still the worst point guard on the roster (behind Rondo, Marbury, Pruitt, and even Tony Allen).  If Doc's smart, he bumps Pruitt up to 2nd string point, and keeps Eddie as backup 2 guard, only using him at point down the stretch if necessary (because Paul/Ray are bringing the ball up and doing most of the ball handling).

In every crisis there's an opportunity--in this current injury crisis we get to jump start Marbury's development with the Cs and see what the kids can do.  Here's hoping Doc keeps that in mind.

[nickagneta]

Marbury absolutely needs to start if for no other reason than to keep his psyche and ego in check. If he thinks he's been brought in to be Rondo's backup and Rondo goes down and he's not starting, I would fear a backlash in the attitude department from Marbury if Eddie got the call instead of him.

Also, eventually, he will be the backup and the players who will be playing with him in the playoffs need to get accustomed to his game. With Rondo's injury, no better time than the present to get him acquainted with the playbook and his team mates than practice and the thrown into the fire approach in games. Normaly, I'm not a big advocate of just throwing people in to learn(see Giddens and Walker), but Marbury is a former All-Star and you know he can do it with time.

I think Powe is going to have to play big minutes tonight. Powe on Haslem or Beasley is a good match. I'd rather have Perk and Moore being able to have 12 fouls to give on O'Neal. Problem is going to be that at some time the Celtics are going to have to go to a small lineup with Pierce at the 4 if Powe is to get any rest. That's when the C's will have trouble because either Ray or a rookie is going to have to guard Moon and Diawara or there's going to be another bad height matchup nightmare for the Celtics.

[guava_wrench]

I would start powe for the following reasons:

- We don't need Mikki's jumper as much with Marbury starting as we would with Rondo starting
- Better to have someone who knows the system (Powe) starting if Marbury while Marbury is still learning the system
- Mikki fouls too quickly to start. Getting 3 quick fouls starting means Perk and Powe play way too long without sitting. If he gets his quick fouls off the bench, at least someone should get a break while he is in.