No rest for PP….again?

[coco]

Don’t know why I have this feeling that PP will have no rest from March and beyond.  I was under the impression that Marquis Daniels was going to be our backup wing(2 and 3) but from everything that I am reading(and I am not totally familiar with MDaniels game) the guy is a backup 1 and 2. 

I like BWaker’s game and I think he could do a terrific job backing PP - but I am not naïve - so I also realize that Doc isn’t playing BWalker past February so I am starting to get a bit uneasy on the situation.

PP is still our best offensive player and closer, if he is wasted come playoff time, then what’s the point…..

…or perhaps I am overreacting. 

[Cman]

Don’t know why I have this feeling that PP will have no rest from March and beyond.  I was under the impression that Marquis Daniels was going to be our backup wing(2 and 3) but from everything that I am reading(and I am not totally familiar with MDaniels game) the guy is a backup 1 and 2. 

I like BWaker’s game and I think he could do a terrific job backing PP - but I am not naïve - so I also realize that Doc isn’t playing BWalker past February so I am starting to get a bit uneasy on the situation.

PP is still our best offensive player and closer, if he is wasted come playoff time, then what’s the point…..

…or perhaps I am overreacting. 

I say, wait until the end of training camp before worrying.
(1) Daniels has yet to sign with the Cs.  So he may or may not be the solution.

(2) Even assuming Daniels signs, there could still be other moves made before the start of the season to bring in help at the 3.  A "power 3" is still high on my (and everyone else's) wish list. 

[Roy Hobbs]

Marquis Daniels is a 2/3, who can handle the ball.  Thus, when he's on the court with another guy who has a poorer handle (Eddie House or Tony Allen) he'll bring the ball up and most likely initiate the team into its offensive set.  He's be doing that as a wing, though, not as a classic point guard.

He's still the primary backup for Paul Pierce.  People who say "Marquis Daniels isn't a small forward" are mistaken.  Last season in Indiana, he played 25% of Indiana's total team minutes at small forward, 14% at shooting guard, and 0% at point guard.

Now, we may very well sign a third string point guard at some point, but right now I'd consider Eddie House the backup, with Daniels or whoever else Eddie's backcourt mate is handling the ball.

[Mike-Dub]

Everyone should just think of Marquis as a point-forward... Goes in for the 2/3 but can also go in for the point and when in for the 2/3 can bring the ball up.

[BudweiserCeltic]

…or perhaps I am overreacting. 

Pretty much, and not analyzing the situation appropiately.

[Roy Hobbs]

Everyone should just think of Marquis as a point-forward... Goes in for the 2/3 but can also go in for the point and when in for the 2/3 can bring the ball up.

That's probably the most succinct way of looking at it.

[Mike-Dub]

Everyone should just think of Marquis as a point-forward... Goes in for the 2/3 but can also go in for the point and when in for the 2/3 can bring the ball up.

That's probably the most succinct way of looking at it.

Thanks Roy TP for you.

[Roy Hobbs]

Everyone should just think of Marquis as a point-forward... Goes in for the 2/3 but can also go in for the point and when in for the 2/3 can bring the ball up.

That's probably the most succinct way of looking at it.

Thanks Roy TP for you.

Haha.  Shouldn't I be the one giving you a TP?    (+1)

[Mike-Dub]

Everyone should just think of Marquis as a point-forward... Goes in for the 2/3 but can also go in for the point and when in for the 2/3 can bring the ball up.

That's probably the most succinct way of looking at it.

Thanks Roy TP for you.

Haha.  Shouldn't I be the one giving you a TP?    (+1)

Lol... Thanks.

[Chris]

Don’t know why I have this feeling that PP will have no rest from March and beyond.  I was under the impression that Marquis Daniels was going to be our backup wing(2 and 3) but from everything that I am reading(and I am not totally familiar with MDaniels game) the guy is a backup 1 and 2. 

I like BWaker’s game and I think he could do a terrific job backing PP - but I am not naïve - so I also realize that Doc isn’t playing BWalker past February so I am starting to get a bit uneasy on the situation.

PP is still our best offensive player and closer, if he is wasted come playoff time, then what’s the point…..

…or perhaps I am overreacting. 

Marquis is a backup PG, in the sense that he can handle the ball so House can play off the ball.  I prefer to define positions by who they are guarding.

So by that definition, I believe Marquis will see the vast majority of his minutes at the 2 and 3 (even if he is playing PG on offense).  He will give both Pierce and Allen a good deal of rest. 

I also think that early in the season, Walker and/or Giddens will also be given a decent amount of run at SF, allowing them to use a full 10 man rotation, to keep the starters fresh.  You are right that in the playoffs (or down the stretch if there is a race), the rotation will likely be shortened to 8-9 men (starters plus House, Daniels, Sheed, and maybe Davis), but even then I expect both Daniels and House to be playing a combined 40-45 minutes per game or so, and most of those minutes will be spent backing up Pierce and Allen, with Rondo playing increased minutes.

I also wouldn't be surprised if they pickup another wing like Bowen later in the season, to help provide some extra insurance, and another option if Daniels is a bad matchup...particularly if Walker and Gidden's don't step up their game.

[Jon]

Everyone should just think of Marquis as a point-forward... Goes in for the 2/3 but can also go in for the point and when in for the 2/3 can bring the ball up.

TP as well.

I agree.  People (particularly the media) are being way too literal in their interpretation of positions and rotations.  Will the C's go 10 and 11 deep some nights?  Sure, because they're going to blow out a lot of bad teams out.  However, in games that matter, particularly the playoffs, they're only going to go 8-9 deep.  Thus, there's no reason why House and Daniels (no matter what position you want to call them) can't handle pretty much all the backup minutes at the 1-3 in games that matter.  After all, in games that matter, Rondo, Allen, and Pierce should all be playing 35+ mpg, leaving a whopping 39 mpg for House and Daniels to split. 

And I also think this whole backup PG business is being made too much of by the media as well.  I expect Rondo's season average for minutes to be in the 34-36 mpg range, and that's going to include a ton of blow outs, which means that he's likely to play even more in games that matter.  So we're really only looking at 10 or so mpg of backup PG needed.  Plus, putting House and Daniels out there together presents a problem to the opposition.  If Daniels brings the ball up the court, who do you put on him if you want to pressure the ball?  Most wings aren't used to guarding "point guards" as they bring the ball up the court.  So then do you put a point guard on him and try to strip the ball?  But if you do that, can't he just pass the ball to House who should have no problem bringing the ball up against someone 6 inches taller than him? 

Overall, I think the media is making a hill (not quite a mountain) out of a mole hill.  The C's will be just fine with a 1-3 rotation of Rondo, Allen, Pierce, Daniels, and House with maybe the odd few minutes from Walker, Giddens, or even KG. 

[LooseCannon]

I think that Tony Allen, if he is still with the team, will start off the season getting minutes that we'd like to see go to Walker or Giddens.  Keep in mind that Paul Pierce played 35-36 mpg until February when Allen went down, then he was up to 40 mpg, so TA's injury probably created more fatigue for PP than KG's.  Tony Allen taking some backup minutes against non-playoff teams during the regular season and getting squeezed out of the rotation during the playoffs as the starters play more minutes wouldn't be a horrible utilization of his non-zero worth.

[Fafnir]

I think everyone has pretty much covered my thoughts on this.

Ever sense he's been announced I figured Daniels would play with House and play the 1 on offense and defend the 2/3 depending on who else is on the floor at the wing.

My only worry is that Daniel's lack of outside shooting will hurt us at times. Especially since teams already pack the paint and play off Rondo.

[Mike-Dub]

Everyone should just think of Marquis as a point-forward... Goes in for the 2/3 but can also go in for the point and when in for the 2/3 can bring the ball up.

TP as well.

I agree.  People (particularly the media) are being way too literal in their interpretation of positions and rotations.  Will the C's go 10 and 11 deep some nights?  Sure, because they're going to blow out a lot of bad teams out.  However, in games that matter, particularly the playoffs, they're only going to go 8-9 deep.  Thus, there's no reason why House and Daniels (no matter what position you want to call them) can't handle pretty much all the backup minutes at the 1-3 in games that matter.  After all, in games that matter, Rondo, Allen, and Pierce should all be playing 35+ mpg, leaving a whopping 39 mpg for House and Daniels to split. 

And I also think this whole backup PG business is being made too much of by the media as well.  I expect Rondo's season average for minutes to be in the 34-36 mpg range, and that's going to include a ton of blow outs, which means that he's likely to play even more in games that matter.  So we're really only looking at 10 or so mpg of backup PG needed.  Plus, putting House and Daniels out there together presents a problem to the opposition.  If Daniels brings the ball up the court, who do you put on him if you want to pressure the ball?  Most wings aren't used to guarding "point guards" as they bring the ball up the court.  So then do you put a point guard on him and try to strip the ball?  But if you do that, can't he just pass the ball to House who should have no problem bringing the ball up against someone 6 inches taller than him? 

Overall, I think the media is making a hill (not quite a mountain) out of a mole hill.  The C's will be just fine with a 1-3 rotation of Rondo, Allen, Pierce, Daniels, and House with maybe the odd few minutes from Walker, Giddens, or even KG. 

Thx Jon.

[Jon]

To Loose Cannon, you may be right about TA; however, keep in mind that even if Rondo, Allen, and Pierce only averaged 32 mpg each, that'd only leave 48 mpg to backup the 1, 2, and 3 spots.  I think Eddie and Daniels could each play 24 mpg and cover all of our bases without overburdening anyone.  Foul trouble could force Doc to use someone else at times, but I see no reason why House and Daniels can't cover us at the 1-3, even during the regular season. 

To Fafnir, I agree that Daniel's lack of shooting is a concern; however, the C's didn't do horribly last year with Rondo and TA on the court from a spacing perspective.  There were certainly problems with that lineup (namely TA dribbling the ball of his feet or throwing it away), but Daniels should hopefully mitigate those problems.  Plus, he'll likely get the bulk of his minutes with House and/or Wallace, vastly diminishing the spacing issue. 

And another issue in general to consider: a lot has been made about the offense going "stagnant" when House was running the point in the past.  While I am fully aware and totally agree that Eddie is a deeply flawed playmaker, let's also keep in mind the circumstances he often played in.  In my opinion, in general, Doc has done a poor job rotating subs in, often leaving House with just one starter on the floor who Doc runs isos through.  To contrast with that, think of 2008 when House would play with the lineup of Allen, Pierce, KG, and Posey.  That lineup certainly wasn't stagnant offensively.  Furthermore, the problem of getting Eddie some firepower to play with was further exacerbated last season as the absence of KG led to him playing even more with limited offensive firepower around him.

What's my point?  Simply that this season with improved depth, even if House (or Daniels for that matter) is asked to bring the ball up the court, the offense shouldn't be nearly as stagnant as we should almost always have 2, if not 3, offensively potent options on the court with him, whereas in the past, we often only had 1.