Daniels - how does he fit?

[kg is king]

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.

Good points, but with House in the game as the "SG", he will most likely defend the opponent's PG and play off the ball on offense.

[Fafnir]

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).

It'd be great to have a backup wing that can shoot. I don't think his limitations force Doc's hand too much. We have a PG/SG who can shoot, 2 Wings in Ray/Paul, 2 Bigs in KG/Sheed. BBD if he returns is another big who can hit a jumper.

I don't think our team will lack from shooting at the 2/3, especially when Daniels will only be playing 20 minutes or so at the most. Rondo's lack of shooting will remain the biggest issue with line up flexibility.

[Casperian]

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  )

Yeah, star players. We would be screwed when Eddie House goes down.

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

Maybe TA was at his best, but the team certainly wasn`t.

[Fafnir]

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  )

Yeah, star players. We`re already screwed when Eddie House goes down.

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

Maybe TA was at his best, but the team certainly wasn`t.

How would the team be screwed if Eddie gets hurt?

[Casperian]

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  )

Yeah, star players. We`re already screwed when Eddie House goes down.

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

Maybe TA was at his best, but the team certainly wasn`t.

How would the team be screwed if Eddie gets hurt?

I edited the quoted post. We would be screwed, since our primary backcourt backup has the same fundamental flaw in his game as our starting PG. Do you think we can win a series against the Spurs or Lakers with a backcourt of Rondo/Daniels for 15 minutes per game? We already have a problem when teams sag off Rondo. How will our offense look when teams don`t have to care about the shot of both of our guards?

[Jon]

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. 

I think this is generally accurate. 

Plus, let's keep in mind that the regular season doesn't matter all that much in terms of this question: this team could win 65-70 games with J.R. Giddens as the primary backup at the 2/3.  So what really matters is the playoffs, which means an 8-9 man rotation. 

In that scenario, it means Daniels is essentially the only backup at the 2/3, so whether we call him a 2 or 3 when he's in the game is really inconsequential.  What does matter is that regardless who is at the PG spot, he'll be next to great shooters with Ray or Paul.  Similarly, at least part of the time, he'll be in House and/or Wallace will be in for Rondo or Perkins. 

Finally, I think people are forgetting the simple matter of talent.  Even if he's in with a poor shooting lineup of Rondo, Pierce, KG, and Perkins (with 3 non-shooters), let's not discount what that unit could do defensively.  Furthermore, let's also not forget that while he doesn't shoot as well as some, Daniels is quite a talented player.  He's proven he's a rotation guy on championship-caliber teams.  I think the simple fact that teams have to worry about him while he's on the court will make up for a lot of the problems with his shooting range. 

[billysan]

I think he will be on the floor with a combination of Wallace and House off the bench along with two of the starters. (Possibly Big Baby as well and one starter) This makes us pretty strong 7-8 deep and that is a big improvement from last season.

As long as we have at least 2 solid shooters on the floor with him we can still play half court offense. I think he will like pushing the ball with Eddie and hitting the trailing Sheed for 3pters on the break. Add Paul Pierce or Ray Allen as the thrid shooter and the possibilities are endless.

He will be the facilitator if Rondo is not on the floor and not an offensive option above 4th or 5th. The biggest plus will be that he is a huge upgrade over Tony Allen as a ball handling guard and that he is longer therefore more effective defensively.

[Jon]

He will be the facilitator if Rondo is not on the floor and not an offensive option above 4th or 5th. The biggest plus will be that he is a huge upgrade over Tony Allen as a ball handling guard and that he is longer therefore more effective defensively.

And that's what it really comes down to.  While I'm a believer in players complimenting each other, the fact that Daniels is flat out a lot better than anyone we had at the 2/3 last year is in itself an enormous improvement. 

[Reyquila]

Why hasnt Daniel been signed yet. Things tend to get out of control the more you leave them pending. There most be a good reason for the waiting, but good intentions go array with the mere passing of time and unexpected events creeping up on yu suddenly. I hope this deal does not go wrong for any number of reasons thar suddenly came out of left field. It wouldnt be the first time. Never bring "chance" to an equation if you can avoid it. Word to the wise. But then, Im not running the show.

[Reyquila]

PMaster Po would have said the same thing I just wrote but with much simpler and shorter words: Is it soup yet? lol

[crownsy]

Why hasnt Daniel been signed yet. Things tend to get out of control the more you leave them pending. There most be a good reason for the waiting, but good intentions go array with the mere passing of time and unexpected events creeping up on yu suddenly. I hope this deal does not go wrong for any number of reasons thar suddenly came out of left field. It wouldnt be the first time. Never bring "chance" to an equation if you can avoid it. Word to the wise. But then, Im not running the show.

there's no chance. Daniels, his agent, danny, scal, and others are already on record saying he's a celtic.

There's no rush to sign him because the teams are trying to get a sign and trade done so that Daniels, who is only 28, can get a longer contract than the BAE (rumor is we want 3 years) and we also want to keep the BAE open so that when we go looking to shore up the roster come playoff time, as all teams do, we can outbid all the other contenders who will only have the vet min left.

If it wasn't for the fact that tony allen is such an atrocious basketball player that not only do the pacers not want anything to do with him as part of a trade, but no third team can be found either, the deal would already be done.

[billysan]

If it wasn't for the fact that tony allen is such an atrocious basketball player that not only do the pacers not want anything to do with him as part of a trade, but no third team can be found either, the deal would already be done.

And so....we need to sweeten the pot to get this done. The amount or type of sweetner is the bone of contention now. Who else do the Pacers want? Will we part with them? Will cash or a draft pick get it done? Will a bigger trade with more bodies and parts make the Pacers and/or a third team make it easier?

[crownsy]

If it wasn't for the fact that tony allen is such an atrocious basketball player that not only do the pacers not want anything to do with him as part of a trade, but no third team can be found either, the deal would already be done.

And so....we need to sweeten the pot to get this done. The amount or type of sweetner is the bone of contention now. Who else do the Pacers want? Will we part with them? Will cash or a draft pick get it done? Will a bigger trade with more bodies and parts make the Pacers and/or a third team make it easier?

The thing is i don't think the celtics care if its a S & T that badly, they'd just like it to be. either way they get thier man.

It's like ice cream. If you offer me ice cream plain, im taking it and im still happy. give it to me with hot fudge on top and in a waffle cone, and im ecstatic...but either way im happy.

I think there content to try to get the S & T done, but won't be heartbroken if they have to use the BLE at the end of the month.

[xmuscularghandix]

Marquis Daniels is to the Celtics, what Victor Martinez is to the Red Sox... except the C's have enough space to use him without angering other members of the team.

[johncul]

I like a House-Daniels bench backcourt but that'd still leave either Pierce or Allen to man the three because TA (should he stay with us), Giddens, and Walker don't strike me as jumpshooting threats.  Plus side is Daniels can handle the ball and guard twos while house can lurk on offense in three-land and guard ones on defense, not leaving our backcourt as vulnerable as last year due to height deficit.  Additionally, if Pierce were to play alongside Daniels, it could allow Pierce to hang out on the perimeter/elbows, removing the physicality of his game and hopefully boosting his durability.  Daniels should be fine IMO and was a great find.