Daniels - how does he fit?

[Casperian]

I´ve heard a lot of conflicting opinions about Daniels from Celtic fans.

Some want him at SF, some at SG, some even at PG.
He´s a relatively good defender at all 3 positions, he´s effective around the basket, but he has no outside-shot, and even inside the arc his shot looks shaky.

I´m interested in the effect Daniels will have on how we´ll use the rest of the bench. What do you think is Daniels` role, and more importantly, which holes are left on the bench? I think to know how we´ll use Daniels is important to understand what our team needs.

For example, I can´t see how he fits alongside Rondo at SG.
Two guards who can`t shoot is a recipe for disaster, imo. So, either Eddie will play PG, or we have to rely on Sheed to spread the floor. Daniels at SF means we`d still have a hole in the backcourt.

So, how does he fit in here?

[celticinorlando]

i think he can and will play all three spots...he has some versitility to move eddie to point, him to SG and walker to SF if needed

[crownsy]

I´ve heard a lot of conflicting opinions about Daniels from Celtic fans.

Some want him at SF, some at SG, some even at PG.
He´s a relatively good defender at all 3 positions, he´s effective around the basket, but he has no outside-shot, and even inside the arc his shot looks shaky.

I´m interested in the effect Daniels will have on how we´ll use the rest of the bench. What do you think is Daniels` role, and more importantly, which holes are left on the bench? I think to know how we´ll use Daniels is important to understand what our team needs.

For example, I can´t see how he fits alongside Rondo at SG.
Two guards who can`t shoot is a recipe for disaster, imo. So, either Eddie will play PG, or we have to rely on Sheed to spread the floor. Daniels at SF means we`d still have a hole in the backcourt.

So, how does he fit in here?

as a posey who can play the 1 instead of the 4, I.E a jack of all trades.

He'll be the primary backup for SG/SF and probably get sporadic PG minutes when we run into foul trouble or need a different look.

[Who]

I think he'll play almost all of his time on the wing, only playing the point in emergency situations.

I agree that it'll be difficult to play Daniels alongside Rondo, especially in the playoffs when games are closer/tougher. He's going to need to play most of his minutes alongside Eddie House. He'll also need to play alongside a shooter on the wing, which makes things more difficult for Giddens or Walker to get minutes. On the more positive end, Rasheed Wallace really helps here, and a lineup with Sheed + KG in it, gives a lot more options for non-shooters on the perimeter.

[Casperian]

i think he can and will play all three spots...he has some versitility to move eddie to point, him to SG and walker to SF if needed

Yeah, but there`s a difference in how our team plays (and thus what we need) between Daniels at the 1 or at the 3. As I said, I can only see limited minutes for him at SG, for example, since a Rondo/Daniels backcourt would give us two guards who can`t shoot. This would demand either Eddie or Rasheed together with Daniels on the floor.

[Birdbrain]

Jack of all trades, IMO.  Similar to a utility player he can help out in multiple positions.

[cdif911]

I definitely like the idea of him sporadically at point when Eddie is next to him, then you have two guys who can sorta handle the ball, one who can penetrate and kick, the other who is lights out from 3 land...

[Fafnir]

He'll be the first wing off the bench. When Eddie is in at the point he'll probably end up handling the ball in certain situations. Unless we sign a veteran PG Eddie is going to have to play most of his minutes at the 1.

Tony/Giddens/Pierce/Walker/Ray will have to play the other wing position with this line up.

In the playoffs he'll play SF when he comes in for Pierce and SG when Ray gets his rest. I doubt Doc will pull both Ray and Pierce off the floor during an important/close game.

[Casperian]

He'll be the first wing off the bench. When Eddie is in at the point he'll probably end up handling the ball in certain situations. Unless we sign a veteran PG Eddie is going to have to play most of his minutes at the 1.

Tony/Giddens/Pierce/Walker/Ray will have to play the other wing position with this line up.

In the playoffs he'll play SF when he comes in for Pierce and SG when Ray gets his rest. I doubt Doc will pull both Ray and Pierce off the floor during an important/close game.

That´s exactly my problem. Daniels at SG demands Eddie at the point.
The thing is, Daniels has the same big flaw in his game that Rondo has...they can´t shoot, and that´s a pretty important skill for a NBA guard, imo.
So, on our team, his versatility is somewhat limited. He could play the point, but this still demands Eddie or Ray at the 2, and his minutes there would be limited, anyway, since Rondo will probably play the bulk of the PG minutes...

I think he'll play almost all of his time on the wing, only playing the point in emergency situations...

So you would agree that his main role will be backup SF?
Because that means we would have a definitive hole in the backcourt. Now the question is, where will Eddie play, and what kind of backcourt player do we need to round out our rotation? Do we need another PG, or another SG, with Eddie at the 1?

[Who]

I think he'll play almost all of his time on the wing, only playing the point in emergency situations...

So you would agree that his main role will be backup SF?
Because that means we would have a definitive hole in the backcourt.

Now the question is, where will Eddie play, and what kind of backcourt player do we need to round out our rotation? Do we need another PG, or rather another SG, with Eddie at the 1?

Marquis Daniels will play both backup wing positions. In the playoffs it'll be a three man rotation with himself, Ray and Paul. In the regular season, it'll likely be the same. I think they'll go with a 9 man rotation of two bigs, one wing, and one guard. They may go 10 deep with another perimeter player, but that guy will only be playing 5-10 minutes.

It doesn't matter what position is added to play alongside House, either/or will do just fine. So long as it's a shooter. My preference is for House to remain at the point, I think he's a much better player there than as a two guard (large liability as defender + rebounder as a SG).

[Fafnir]

He'll be the first wing off the bench. When Eddie is in at the point he'll probably end up handling the ball in certain situations. Unless we sign a veteran PG Eddie is going to have to play most of his minutes at the 1.

Tony/Giddens/Pierce/Walker/Ray will have to play the other wing position with this line up.

In the playoffs he'll play SF when he comes in for Pierce and SG when Ray gets his rest. I doubt Doc will pull both Ray and Pierce off the floor during an important/close game.

That´s exactly my problem. Daniels at SG demands Eddie at the point.
The thing is, Daniels has the same big flaw in his game that Rondo has...they can´t shoot, and that´s a pretty important skill for a NBA guard, imo.
So, on our team, his versatility is somewhat limited. He could play the point, but this still demands Eddie or Ray at the 2, and his minutes there would be limited, anyway, since Rondo will probably play the bulk of the PG minutes...

But Eddie is going to be getting all the backup PG minutes anyways at this juncture. So I don't think Daniels lack of shooting will hamstring the rotation.

[Casperian]

Marquis Daniels will play both backup wing positions. In the playoffs it'll be a three man rotation with himself, Ray and Paul. In the regular season, it'll likely be the same. I think they'll go with a 9 man rotation of two bigs, one wing, and one guard. They may go 10 deep with another perimeter player, but that guy will only be playing 5-10 minutes.

It doesn't matter what position is added to play alongside House, either/or will do just fine. So long as it's a shooter. My preference is for House to remain at the point, I think he's a much better player there than as a two guard (large liability as defender + rebounder as a SG).

I´d agree. It´s probably irrelevant what kind of guard we add, as long as it´s a shooter. Shooting from the bench is our biggest need, imo.

EDIT: Although, I would prefer a SG, too, since this would balance Eddie`s defensive limitations at the 2 somewhat.

[Casperian]

But Eddie is going to be getting all the backup PG minutes anyways at this juncture. So I don't think Daniels lack of shooting will hamstring the rotation.

But then we´re not one step further than we were last year, imo. The limitations of our bench players would tie Doc´s hands. Foul Trouble, injuries, we would risk to get exposed in a seven-game series. Sure, Daniels is the superior player to Tony Allen, but we would have to play him with other bench players to maximize his strengths, and the versatility we think we added with Daniels will turn into static team rotations (with probably a lot of bench players on the court at the same time).

[crownsy]

But Eddie is going to be getting all the backup PG minutes anyways at this juncture. So I don't think Daniels lack of shooting will hamstring the rotation.

But then we´re not one step further than we were last year, imo. The limitations of our bench players would tie Doc´s hands. Foul Trouble, injuries, we would risk to get exposed in a seven-game series. Sure, Daniels is the superior player to Tony Allen, but we would have to play him with other bench players to maximize his strengths, and the versatility we think we added with Daniels will turn into static team rotations (with probably a lot of bench players on the court at the same time).

all teams are subject to that, we have a very good 8-9 man rotation, make it 10 if glen comes back.

what happens to the spurs if jefferson/TD/parker gets hurt?

lakers if kobe goes down?

magic if vinny sprains an ankle?

your bench isn't supposed to be a second string all star unit (though we have one now in sheed  )

[wdleehi]

Of course Daniels can play with Rondo.  TA was at his best next to Rondo.


And remember, there will be other shooters on the floor.  Ray or Pierce.  KG and/or Wallace.