Our issues this year

[EJPLAYA]

There is one thing glaringly obvious that hurts our team that needs to be addressed in the offseason. We are absolutely getting KILLED by younger, faster, and taller teams. This was an issue last season as well as we saw in the Hawks series, but our health and defense allowed us to get away with it. This season we have gone from a championship contender to an also ran due to losing players, lacking the defensive intensity we had last year, and being even smaller than we were last year.

This offseason we need to look very hard at the idea of getting taller and quicker. Guys with true NBA bodies that can get up and down the floor with these teams like ATL, the Bulls, Cavs, etc. If we don't we are going to be in even worse shape than this year. Fortunately the stars aligned last year and we were able to get the banner, but if we don't get some length out there we can kiss any additional chances goodbye.

[BballTim]

There is one thing glaringly obvious that hurts our team that needs to be addressed in the offseason. We are absolutely getting KILLED by younger, faster, and taller teams. This was an issue last season as well as we saw in the Hawks series, but our health and defense allowed us to get away with it. This season we have gone from a championship contender to an also ran due to losing players, lacking the defensive intensity we had last year, and being even smaller than we were last year.

This offseason we need to look very hard at the idea of getting taller and quicker. Guys with true NBA bodies that can get up and down the floor with these teams like ATL, the Bulls, Cavs, etc. If we don't we are going to be in even worse shape than this year. Fortunately the stars aligned last year and we were able to get the banner, but if we don't get some length out there we can kiss any additional chances goodbye.

  Would we be hearing this if Powe or KG was healthy and we'd swept the Bulls? 62-20 with our best player missing 30% of the season. Best starting 5 in the league. We just need a little more depth and a healthy KG.

[EJPLAYA]

There is one thing glaringly obvious that hurts our team that needs to be addressed in the offseason. We are absolutely getting KILLED by younger, faster, and taller teams. This was an issue last season as well as we saw in the Hawks series, but our health and defense allowed us to get away with it. This season we have gone from a championship contender to an also ran due to losing players, lacking the defensive intensity we had last year, and being even smaller than we were last year.

This offseason we need to look very hard at the idea of getting taller and quicker. Guys with true NBA bodies that can get up and down the floor with these teams like ATL, the Bulls, Cavs, etc. If we don't we are going to be in even worse shape than this year. Fortunately the stars aligned last year and we were able to get the banner, but if we don't get some length out there we can kiss any additional chances goodbye.

  Would we be hearing this if Powe or KG was healthy and we'd swept the Bulls? 62-20 with our best player missing 30% of the season. Best starting 5 in the league. We just need a little more depth and a healthy KG.

Yes. We did that last year and still struggled against teams like the Hawks. Here's the sample:

TA - Undersized at SG, let alone trying to backup the 3
BBD - Undersized at Center AND PF, especially due to short arms and no hops
Powe- Undersized at PF, however does have long arms. Definitely undersized to play C
House- Undersized for ANY position on the floor
Marbury- Undersized at PG
Rondo - Undersized at PG but plays bigger
Mikki - Tall enough, but so thin that he is undersized
Perk - Undersized for a center, but plays bigger due to longer arms

That's 8 guys on our squad that are on the very low end of their positions height ranges. Teams with guys like Thomas and Noah, Varaejo and big Z, etc. give us fits. Posey and his 6'9" size helped last year, but we were still small. We need some length, because as these young guys on other teams get better, we are going to struggle even more.

[Mr October]

I agree this team needs size off the bench on a big way. It would be fantastic to pickup a legit 3 and 5 in the offseason.

[liam]

There is one thing glaringly obvious that hurts our team that needs to be addressed in the offseason. We are absolutely getting KILLED by younger, faster, and taller teams. This was an issue last season as well as we saw in the Hawks series, but our health and defense allowed us to get away with it. This season we have gone from a championship contender to an also ran due to losing players, lacking the defensive intensity we had last year, and being even smaller than we were last year.

This offseason we need to look very hard at the idea of getting taller and quicker. Guys with true NBA bodies that can get up and down the floor with these teams like ATL, the Bulls, Cavs, etc. If we don't we are going to be in even worse shape than this year. Fortunately the stars aligned last year and we were able to get the banner, but if we don't get some length out there we can kiss any additional chances goodbye.

Ever year younger teams give everyone trouble and every year older slower teams win it all.

[CoachBo]

By priority:

1. Get Garnett healthy.
2. Get a competent 3 to backup the Captain, preferably a perimeter shooter who can defend.
2a. Resign Davis.
3. Find a competent center to back up Perkins. Robert Swift need not apply.
4. A veteran PG to back up, tutor and push Rondo to play aggressively and smart EVERY night.

Beyond the starters, buy out, waive or trade anyone not named Bill Walker.

[BASS_THUMPER]

im sure one of the reason why minny gave up kevvy is because he was gettin older.same wit ray...paul aint a spring chicken no more.

we wanted a banner and we got one.. hawks last playoffs showed where we were weak jus like chi town..

danny made the fans happy knowin that it wouldnt last long...but we still in it so lets stop talkin like it's over...ray and paul got skills to get another banner...it's gonna be against the odds like "saving private ryan"....but it's possible.

our issues this year is trustin each other on the floor on offense..doc is right

[guava_wrench]

By priority:

1. Get Garnett healthy.
2. Get a competent 3 to backup the Captain, preferably a perimeter shooter who can defend.
2a. Resign Davis.
3. Find a competent center to back up Perkins. Robert Swift need not apply.
4. A veteran PG to back up, tutor and push Rondo to play aggressively and smart EVERY night.

Beyond the starters, buy out, waive or trade anyone not named Bill Walker.

I don't think Rondo needs a tutor or someone to push him anymore. We just need a PG who can play backup PG.

[CoachBo]

I didn't either, until last night's game - which was shockingly poor for him in both the mental aspect and his total lack of aggressiveness. He's got to be mentally tougher and smarter than he was last night.

He is not there yet. He has growing to do.

[PosImpos]

I didn't either, until last night's game - which was shockingly poor for him in both the mental aspect and his total lack of aggressiveness. He's got to be mentally tougher and smarter than he was last night.

He is not there yet. He has growing to do.

Yeah, he's still young.

Like you said, besides everyone being healthy again, we need:
 
a) backup big with length and good post defense / offense
b) swingman off the bench with good perimeter d and decent shooting ability (someone like Tayshaun or Battier only obviously we couldn't get someone that good).
c) backup PG with experience, good defense, and decent offense (neither passing up open shots nor hogging the ball).

If we can resign Powe that'd be great (he's gonna be rehabing most of the year though), but we need BBD first and foremost.  Scal, TA, Eddie, Pruitt and Giddens are all gravy...we can take 'em, leave 'em, or trade 'em. 

If Billy can step up his development next year as a decent SG / SF backup that'd be awesome.

[Eigild]

we need fresh legs for next year. I'm not on the Rasheed or even more veteran players bandwagon like so many others. Otherwise I fear we are injury prone and gassed out in next years postseason again.

my check list for this years offseason:

- backup for Paul, who can play the 2 or 4 two, at least 6'7' tall. priority on good defense rather then scoring ability
- backup center, lenghty, someone like Zaza Pachulia. rather a real center then Sheed
- resign BBD
- get rid of Tony Allen

[BballTim]

I didn't either, until last night's game - which was shockingly poor for him in both the mental aspect and his total lack of aggressiveness. He's got to be mentally tougher and smarter than he was last night.

He is not there yet. He has growing to do.

  The guy who's played at a high level more consistently than anyone else in the series has an off game (still with 9 boards, 19 assists and 0 turnovers) and you alter your offseason plans because he's not there yet? If KG, Ray and Paul can play at the level Rondo has 5 games out of every 6 next year we could win 75 games with no improvements at all to the bench.

[Casperian]

 Would we be hearing this if Powe or KG was healthy and we'd swept the Bulls? 62-20 with our best player missing 30% of the season. Best starting 5 in the league. We just need a little more depth and a healthy KG.

I thought the same a few weeks ago, but I´ve changed my mind.

KG is injured. Who knows how long Powe will be injured, and how fast he can come back? We only have 3 legit big men, and two are power forwards. BBD is undersized, even Perk is not 7 feet tall.
I really think an at least average backup C is our top priority, even more than a backup 3.
At SF, all we really need is an experienced role-player, preferably with D and range. As long as one of Pierce or Ray is on the court, we have enough ammo at the wings, and I also want to see what Giddens and Walker have to offer in year two. It´s just problematic if you have zero backups, like this year, imo.
Backup PG is the least of our problems. Rondo is young, and should be able to handle heavy minutes. We cruised through the first half of the last two seasons (and you could even argue the whole last two years, considering the production we got from Cassell and Marbury) without a backup. I want Ainge to play the trade deadline-buyout game again at that position.

[BballTim]

 Would we be hearing this if Powe or KG was healthy and we'd swept the Bulls? 62-20 with our best player missing 30% of the season. Best starting 5 in the league. We just need a little more depth and a healthy KG.

I thought the same a few weeks ago, but I´ve changed my mind.

KG is injured. Who knows how long Powe will be injured, and how fast he can come back? We only have 3 legit big men, and two are power forwards. BBD is undersized, even Perk is not 7 feet tall.
I really think an at least average backup C is our top priority, even more than a backup 3.
At SF, all we really need is an experienced role-player, preferably with D and range. As long as one of Pierce or Ray is on the court, we have enough ammo at the wings, and I also want to see what Giddens and Walker have to offer in year two. It´s just problematic if you have zero backups, like this year, imo.
Backup PG is the least of our problems. Rondo is young, and should be able to handle heavy minutes. We cruised through the first half of the last two seasons (and you could even argue the whole last two years, considering the production we got from Cassell and Marbury) without a backup. I want Ainge to play the trade deadline-buyout game again at that position.

  I wasn't saying that we don't need a thing. I'm saying that we don't need to base our offseason on matching up with a team that we'd have swept if KG was playing. We could use another big, we could use a bigger backup wing (I think we could use a bench player that can create his own shot more than we need yet another perimeter shooter) and we could use a better combo guard. We should worry about building a team that can beat the Cavs and the Lakers, not the Bulls and the Hawks.

[Eeyore III]

By priority:

1. Get Garnett healthy.
2. Get a competent 3 to backup the Captain, preferably a perimeter shooter who can defend.
2a. Resign Davis.
3. Find a competent center to back up Perkins. Robert Swift need not apply.
4. A veteran PG to back up, tutor and push Rondo to play aggressively and smart EVERY night.

Beyond the starters, buy out, waive or trade anyone not named Bill Walker.

You KNOW Danny's gonna take a look at Swift.   LOL