Can Doc and Cliff get Sheed to sit on the block?

[Greenbean]

I really hope they wll have some success at getting Rasheed to do what every coach he has had since high school has failed at. That is getting Rasheed to go to his post game more often. I think this will be pivotal in the 3 man big rotation when Sheed and KG are in there together. I really want to see the two of them on the floor together for stretches in crunch time because I think they will be sublime working together on defense. However, I also think that an inside outside game with the two of them could be deadly. They both are gifted passers and they both command double teams when they decide to go to the post. How scary could that be for opposing defenses? They would never know what to expect. Will it be Sheed or KG on the block. Will we have to worry about Sheed in the corner for 3 or KG at the elbow? I think they could dominate for stretches but only if Sheed doesn't camp at the 3 point line.

[BudweiserCeltic]

It depends... I think you'd rather keep him a bit away from the basket and just dump the ball down to KG, that way KG will get single coverage, and Pierce and Rondo will have an easier time attacking the basket. Of course, you can change it up with KG, but being that Sheed is a threat from 3-point land, he can extend the floor more than KG.

[GKC]

This really depends on who else we have as the backup 4 who Sheed would be spending a lot of time paired with. If it was Scal, then yes, Sheed not spending time on the block would be horrible. If it was a banger, say Leon Powe, then it would not be too much of a problem.

The one reason I'd really love to see Sheed on the post however is the fact that if he's paired against the opposing team backup-big, he would totally dominate them on the block.

[kozlodoev]

Why would we want him to play away from his strengths?

[GKC]

Why would we want him to play away from his strengths?

It's a strength when he mixes it up, but not when he just camps at the block. Dirk and Okur are much better 3pt shooters and you don't see them park on the line right? Especially if he's being guarded by the opposing bench big, I think he would definitely need to be on the block.

[indeedproceed]

Teaching old dogs new tricks is the exception to the rule.

[Greenbean]

Teaching old dogs new tricks is the exception to the rule.

I would agree with you if this old dog did not have a bunch of tricks in his bag that he seems reluctant to use. Sheed is very effective down there when he wants to be. Ever since he decided to experiment with his shot in Portland, he has gone away from the banging. Maybe he can go back to it if we convince him. Cautiosly optimistic...

[GKC]

Teaching old dogs new tricks is the exception to the rule.

I would agree with you if this old dog did not have a bunch of tricks in his bag that he seems reluctant to use. Sheed is very effective down there when he wants to be. Ever since he decided to experiment with his shot in Portland, he has gone away from the banging. Maybe he can go back to it if we convince him. Cautiosly optimistic...

He was actually on the Block a lot his first 2 years in Detroit when he was with Ben, and started moving away from it again when Antonio took over. Seems like if there's absolutely no block option, he'll take it.

[GaBerkowitz]

I think mixing and matching when KG and Sheed are on the floor together are the key.  As we've seen with KG he can really stretch the floor from the elbow extended area of the floor.  Few teams have the ability to match up defensively with the Celts when they go Sheed and KG out there together. 

Because both can play inside/outside I would imagine that Doc will have the ability to get quite creative in designing offensive matchups.  The only scary thing for me with Sheed is that he tends to fall in love with his outside shot.  I remember specifically in Game 6 of the ECF where he basically shot them out of that game hucking up 3 after 3 as the Pistons lost it.

Overall having: KG, Sheed, Pierce, Ray, Rondo on the floor is going to be devastating offensively.

[wdleehi]

Larry Brown had him play inside more often.


Flip Saunders let him go where ever he wants.



I see him playing closer to the basket when in for KG, outside more when playing with KG.

[Chris]

While I think he will be on the block at times, I think his biggest value will be playing a similar role to Garnett in the offense.  This means playing a lot on the high post, running pick and rolls, and also helping to initiate the offense. 

What I think could be very interesting for the second unit could be if they sign a guy like Hill, and resign Davis, you could see a lot of a unit of House, Hill, Walker, Davis, Sheed.  And in that group, I think you would have Hill running the point, with Wallace playing in the high post, Davis sitting on the weakside paint, and Walker as your main low-post option.  I think you would see the same thing with Pierce. 

This was tough to do when KG was hurt, because defenders just were not sticking to the C's big men enough on the perimeter, but with both Wallace and KG, it makes them much more dangerous, and open things up for the C's SF's to hit the post.

[GKC]

I think a lot of people are missing out on Rasheed's true value. ON defense he'd be great, and he'd be a great offensive combo with Garnett.

However, recognize that Doc plays most of the bench minutes to mirror the opposing teams bench. That is when Rasheed comes in. Like Terry and Manu, the reason their scoring output has increased when being put on the bench is that they can torch opposing bench players who don't have the defensive abilities. Rasheed may spread the floor with spacing, but when against an opposing bench big, his post skills would be much better as its an easier way to over power someone.

[wdleehi]

I think a lot of people are missing out on Rasheed's true value. ON defense he'd be great, and he'd be a great offensive combo with Garnett.

However, recognize that Doc plays most of the bench minutes to mirror the opposing teams bench. That is when Rasheed comes in. Like Terry and Manu, the reason their scoring output has increased when being put on the bench is that they can torch opposing bench players who don't have the defensive abilities. Rasheed may spread the floor with spacing, but when against an opposing bench big, his post skills would be much better as its an easier way to over power someone.

True. 

But I guess I am think where his importance will make the bigger difference, playoffs.  Then, he will spend more time playing with KG or Perk.

[Roy Hobbs]

I don't think so.  Only something like 11% of his shots last year were inside; you're not going to turn Rasheed into a post player.

[Who]

I don't think so.  Only something like 11% of his shots last year were inside; you're not going to turn Rasheed into a post player.

Agreed