Who is our lock down defender?

[Fred Roberts]

With the Grant Hill talk heating up, I think this question needs to be asked. Grant does not strike me as being capable of defending elite wing players.

Posey is long gone but was crucial in this role. Artest is a Laker. Bowen is over the hill. Tony Allen is short and did not pan out. I think this takes top priority now.

My gut tells me Bill Walker can be our guy, but perhaps he's too young and inexperienced to assume this role now. Needless to say, Paul cannot keep up with the Kobe's and LeBron's all the time.

Who are we projecting to be the lock down defender of the 2009-2010 squad?

[KCattheStripe]

Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins.

[wdleehi]

Having a lock down defender is over rated.


Pierce was a better defender during the title run then Posey.




Celtics is about team defense.  They added a great team defender in Wallace.  

Hill should be able to be a good team defender, much like Ray Allen was able to be.

[indeedproceed]

Ime Udoka. I hope we sign him and he's a better perimeter man on defender than anyone on our team.

Otherwise our best guy is Pierce.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Pierce and we have TA still there for better or worse. I'd like to see Giddens to earn the spot over Walker, but I think the team likes Walker more.

Giddens needs some discipline defensively and better footwork, but overall he has some good defensive skills. Still needs some polishing.

[the_Bird]

That's what I think the biggest hole in the roster is right now.  Who defends guys like Ben Gordon and Dwayne Wade?  We all remember how much trouble we've had in the past two postseasons with younger, athletic teams.  I think we're fine in the frontcourt, but Ray Allen just wasn't as effective last year as he was the year before, Pierce isn't getting any quicker, although I still think he's as good as anyone on guys that are more about strength (like 'Bron).  Hill doesn't help.

Hopefully, it's Billy Walker or JR, but otherwise we DO have a weakness.  I've heard Keyon Dooling mentioned as a trade target; maybe Ime Udoko (sp?)?  Bowen's available, but we need the Bowen from four or five years ago.  Ideally, someone with a little bit of size and a little bit of attitude.  

[wdleehi]

That's what I think the biggest hole in the roster is right now.  Who defends guys like Ben Gordon and Dwayne Wade?  We all remember how much trouble we've had in the past two postseasons with younger, athletic teams.  I think we're fine in the frontcourt, but Ray Allen just wasn't as effective last year as he was the year before, Pierce isn't getting any quicker, although I still think he's as good as anyone on guys that are more about strength (like 'Bron).  Hill doesn't help.

Hopefully, it's Billy Walker or JR, but otherwise we DO have a weakness.  I've heard Keyon Dooling mentioned as a trade target; maybe Ime Udoko (sp?)?  Bowen's available, but we need the Bowen from four or five years ago.  Ideally, someone with a little bit of size and a little bit of attitude.  

Add KG and Wallace to the lineup, Celtics win those close games.  As it is, they won that series. 

[screwedupmaniac]

I'm gonna pull a Tanguay and say my "gut" tells me that sometime this season, we will be attempting to move the expirings of Tony and Scal along with jr giddens for Andres Nocioni. that would solve a lot of defensive problems off the bench, as he is capable of defending anyone from PF's to SG's. I'd love to have his physicality on the defensive end coming off of our bench. Can you imagine a bench of:

Sheed
Baby (i will assume the best until the worst happens)
Nocioni
Hill
House

We would be by far the deepest team in the NBA, not to mention the best defensive team in the league.

[toinewalka]

First thing to consider, we are predicated on TEAM defense.  We were the entire season during our title run and that's what allowed PJ to move in so seemlessly.  

Second, Grant Hill is still an above average defender who uses the athletisism he has left and his IQ to stay in front of guys and challenge shots.

Third, Sheed is a HUGE upgrade in all around defense than PJ was, and that team was a force on D.

Finally, Pierce going 1 v 1 against Kobe and beating him at both ends is the reason we won the title.  I don't think you use him to cover Kobe or Lebron for all 48 minutes, be Doc started Ray on those guys last year, and then bought time with Posey (Hill this year), and then brought Paul on them late in the game and it worked really well.  

I see that same strategy working even better this year having Sheed patrol the back line with KG and Perk.

[the_Bird]

That's what I think the biggest hole in the roster is right now.  Who defends guys like Ben Gordon and Dwayne Wade?  We all remember how much trouble we've had in the past two postseasons with younger, athletic teams.  I think we're fine in the frontcourt, but Ray Allen just wasn't as effective last year as he was the year before, Pierce isn't getting any quicker, although I still think he's as good as anyone on guys that are more about strength (like 'Bron).  Hill doesn't help.

Hopefully, it's Billy Walker or JR, but otherwise we DO have a weakness.  I've heard Keyon Dooling mentioned as a trade target; maybe Ime Udoko (sp?)?  Bowen's available, but we need the Bowen from four or five years ago.  Ideally, someone with a little bit of size and a little bit of attitude.  

Add KG and Wallace to the lineup, Celtics win those close games.  As it is, they won that series. 

Of course.  But, those series were a lot closer than they "should" have been, given the overall talent level of the squads.  Over the past few years, the Celtics have had their struggles with more-athletic teams - and while I love the moves that have been made (and are likely to be made in the case of Hill), I still think we're short one defender.  I like the idea of Hill and House on the court together, but that's a pairing that should be really good on one half of the floor; I'd like to see someone in there to help on the defensive side.  Hell, I hope it's Billy Walker, but if he's not ready or able, that's a role we need SOMEONE to fill.

[Fafnir]

Paul Pierce is. Our bench wing is TBD, hopefully Grant Hill.

You don't need a "lock down" defender, Posey wasn't a lock down defender my any means. You just need quality play and effort from the bench. We didn't have that last year.

[wdleehi]

That's what I think the biggest hole in the roster is right now.  Who defends guys like Ben Gordon and Dwayne Wade?  We all remember how much trouble we've had in the past two postseasons with younger, athletic teams.  I think we're fine in the frontcourt, but Ray Allen just wasn't as effective last year as he was the year before, Pierce isn't getting any quicker, although I still think he's as good as anyone on guys that are more about strength (like 'Bron).  Hill doesn't help.

Hopefully, it's Billy Walker or JR, but otherwise we DO have a weakness.  I've heard Keyon Dooling mentioned as a trade target; maybe Ime Udoko (sp?)?  Bowen's available, but we need the Bowen from four or five years ago.  Ideally, someone with a little bit of size and a little bit of attitude.  

Add KG and Wallace to the lineup, Celtics win those close games.  As it is, they won that series. 

Of course.  But, those series were a lot closer than they "should" have been, given the overall talent level of the squads.  Over the past few years, the Celtics have had their struggles with more-athletic teams - and while I love the moves that have been made (and are likely to be made in the case of Hill), I still think we're short one defender.  I like the idea of Hill and House on the court together, but that's a pairing that should be really good on one half of the floor; I'd like to see someone in there to help on the defensive side.  Hell, I hope it's Billy Walker, but if he's not ready or able, that's a role we need SOMEONE to fill.

Celtics struggled because they didn't play the same way on the road as the did at home early in the playoffs.  Look at the point differential against Atlanta during the playoffs.


Hill and House will not be on the floor by themselves.  Pierce, Ray or even TA (until he is upgraded through trades) will be out there.


I would love them to add a defensive 1st SG/SF.  He just doesn't need to be a lock down defender.  Good defender who can hit an open shot.

[toinewalka]

I agree, a strictly lock down defender is overrated.  Posey wasn't a LOCK DOWN guy the way Raja Bell and Bowen both USED to be, but he played a good team D and hit open shots, making him valuable.  The other thing that made him so good was that we played really smart, and did the little things.  That sounds a lot like the scouting report of Grant Hill for the last couple of seasons.  He's not going to cover Kobe and hold him to 2 of 11 shooting all my himself, but he brings a lot of things to the table.

Another thing; making Kobe and Lebron and those guys work on D is almost as important as covering them well on the other end.  Guys get tired, and when they do, they take worse shots and have to catch their breath.  I can see Grant making really solid and smart contributions and both end and that is mort important than getting a guy labled as a "lock down" defender and leaving him on an island 1 on 1 with those guys.  You can't win that way.

[Greg]

Well hopefully we'll know in a little more than six hours...

I really do believe that Bill Walker could be that guy.  He has the size and wingspan to guard 3's, and enough athleticism to guard 2's.  Look at his physique, he's strong.  I think he's strong enough to handle a Lebron.  And he's ridiculously athletic and has a fiery attitude.

Not to mention he's learning defense (and more importantly team defense) under Thibs.

As much as people are excited by his natural athleticism and offensive potential (as am I), his defensive potential is what is really intriguing to me.

On a side note, hopefully he's the focal point of the offense tonight so we can see how much his game has matured.

[ssspence]

That's what I think the biggest hole in the roster is right now.  Who defends guys like Ben Gordon and Dwayne Wade?  We all remember how much trouble we've had in the past two postseasons with younger, athletic teams.  I think we're fine in the frontcourt, but Ray Allen just wasn't as effective last year as he was the year before, Pierce isn't getting any quicker, although I still think he's as good as anyone on guys that are more about strength (like 'Bron).  Hill doesn't help.

Hopefully, it's Billy Walker or JR, but otherwise we DO have a weakness.  I've heard Keyon Dooling mentioned as a trade target; maybe Ime Udoko (sp?)?  Bowen's available, but we need the Bowen from four or five years ago.  Ideally, someone with a little bit of size and a little bit of attitude.  

Add KG and Wallace to the lineup, Celtics win those close games.  As it is, they won that series. 

Of course.  But, those series were a lot closer than they "should" have been, given the overall talent level of the squads.  Over the past few years, the Celtics have had their struggles with more-athletic teams - and while I love the moves that have been made (and are likely to be made in the case of Hill), I still think we're short one defender.  I like the idea of Hill and House on the court together, but that's a pairing that should be really good on one half of the floor; I'd like to see someone in there to help on the defensive side.  Hell, I hope it's Billy Walker, but if he's not ready or able, that's a role we need SOMEONE to fill.

Celtics struggled because they didn't play the same way on the road as the did at home early in the playoffs.  Look at the point differential against Atlanta during the playoffs.


Hill and House will not be on the floor by themselves.  Pierce, Ray or even TA (until he is upgraded through trades) will be out there.


I would love them to add a defensive 1st SG/SF.  He just doesn't need to be a lock down defender.  Good defender who can hit an open shot.

quinton ross