The plan in case Rondo gets injured during the regular season?

[liam]

Marquis Daniels is a wing player with some point guard skills.  He was acquired as a solid backup for Pierce and Ray Allen.  It's complete BS to call him a long term solution at point guard.  That's just Rivers-speak.  I'll say it for the 17th time.  They need a decent backup point guard, and neither Marquis Daniels, Eddie House or Lester Hudson is the answer.

Why is backup point guard so crucial?

Look at the last ten NBA champions:

- Lakers
- Celtics 
- Spurs 
- Heat
- Spurs
- Pistons
- Spurs
- Lakers
- Lakers
- Lakers

Not a single one of those teams had an impact "true" point guard off the bench.  Indeed, in terms of playoff statistics, only Brian Shaw for the Lakers averaged as many as 2.5 assists per game among bench guards.  Eight of the ten teams had backup guards averaging 2.4 assists or less.

It's just not that huge of a need, especially with a good passer and ball-handler like Daniels.

True. And the Lakers had a "Not true Point" starting for them last year.

[Brickowski]

1. The teams that won did not suffer significant injury to their pgs.  That's why then won.

2. Most of the teams that won had adequate backups pgs, which is one reason why their starting pg stayed healthy. You mention Shaw, but Jordan Farmar is an excellent backup and would be starting on most teams in the league.  Jacque Vaughn (Spurs) and Lindsay Hunter (Pistons) were also solid backups.

[GKC]

1. The teams that won did not suffer significant injury to their pgs.  That's why then won.

2. Most of the teams that won had adequate backups pgs, which is one reason why their starting pg stayed healthy. You mention Shaw, but Jordan Farmar is an excellent backup and would be starting on most teams in the league.  Jacque Vaughn (Spurs) and Lindsay Hunter (Pistons) were also solid backups.

And if you do get injured, you need a very good PG. Jason Williams didn't play well and was somewhat hurt for the Heat in 06, and Payton stepped in fairly well.

It's not neccessary, but it's good as a contingency plan.

Still, we have an entire season to sort that out. And hey, maybe Lester Hudson will pan out

[nickagneta]

For what this team needs out of it's PG position we are really all set and there was very little out there that would have been worth pursuing at the cost of not having Daniels and Wallace on this team.

That said, if Rondo were to go down for a KG like season ending injury before the trade deadline, I still think this team could win it all by bringing in  some of these players that might be attainable:

Chris Duhon
Rafer Alston
Leandro Barbosa
Jose Juan Barea
Mike Conley
Mike James

Granted, all these guys have their parts of their games that are really not so great, but given the talent they would be surrounded with, I think any of them could still play starting PG for this team and this team could still win it all, as long as they are here before the deadline.

That's not a knock on Rondo who I believe is much better than most of these guys. Winning the championship with any of them at the helm would be extremely difficult, but because the rest of the Celtics are so good it is not a far fetched thing to think they could win with them. Of course, Rondo being their PG makes winning a championship that much more likely.

[PosImpos]

For what this team needs out of it's PG position we are really all set and there was very little out there that would have been worth pursuing at the cost of not having Daniels and Wallace on this team.

That said, if Rondo were to go down for a KG like season ending injury before the trade deadline, I still think this team could win it all by bringing in  some of these players that might be attainable:

Chris Duhon
Rafer Alston
Leandro Barbosa
Jose Juan Barea
Mike Conley
Mike James

Granted, all these guys have their parts of their games that are really not so great, but given the talent they would be surrounded with, I think any of them could still play starting PG for this team and this team could still win it all, as long as they are here before the deadline.

That's not a knock on Rondo who I believe is much better than most of these guys. Winning the championship with any of them at the helm would be extremely difficult, but because the rest of the Celtics are so good it is not a far fetched thing to think they could win with them. Of course, Rondo being their PG makes winning a championship that much more likely.

That's a good point.  Duhon and Alston are the most realistic on that list, and I think we could get by with either of them.  Heck, Alston was pretty solid in the playoffs last season; I actually feel like he kinda got screwed with that trade to the Nets and now having to play behind Devin Harris, who will probably play heavy minutes.  He is more deserving of a starting job than some of the other point guards out there (I'm looking at you, Beno Udrih).

Whereas it seems like most players get inflated returns after a strong performance in the playoffs, Alston got pretty much the opposite.  That's how it goes, though, I guess. 

[BballTim]

1. The teams that won did not suffer significant injury to their pgs.  That's why then won.

2. Most of the teams that won had adequate backups pgs, which is one reason why their starting pg stayed healthy. You mention Shaw, but Jordan Farmar is an excellent backup and would be starting on most teams in the league.  Jacque Vaughn (Spurs) and Lindsay Hunter (Pistons) were also solid backups.

  If Farmar would be starting on most teams he'd be starting on the Lakers. Fisher's a below average starter.

[Brickowski]

1. The teams that won did not suffer significant injury to their pgs.  That's why then won.

2. Most of the teams that won had adequate backups pgs, which is one reason why their starting pg stayed healthy. You mention Shaw, but Jordan Farmar is an excellent backup and would be starting on most teams in the league.  Jacque Vaughn (Spurs) and Lindsay Hunter (Pistons) were also solid backups.

  If Farmar would be starting on most teams he'd be starting on the Lakers. Fisher's a below average starter.

Well, Fisher's talent may be below average, but his brain is way above average, as is his ability to make clutch shots.  Once again, talent is overrated.  What matters is production: the ability to make plays when you need them.

Even so, it is qwuite possible that Farmar will be starting for the Lakers within two years, assuming that he stays healthy and continues to progress.  IMHO he is better than alot of guys with bigger names, starting with Felton in Charlotte, who isn't worth close to the money he's been demanding.

So insteads of scrambling around at midseason trying to fill the void if Rondo goes down, the Celtics should be looking to fill that vacancy now. In addition to the guys on Nickagenta's list, I would be asking about Sergio Rodriguez, Roko Leni Ukic and Rudy Fermandez (where are his minutes not that the Blazers have Miller, Blake and Bayless?).

Sure, all of those players have flaws, but they have strengths as well.   

[Fafnir]

1. The teams that won did not suffer significant injury to their pgs.  That's why then won.

2. Most of the teams that won had adequate backups pgs, which is one reason why their starting pg stayed healthy. You mention Shaw, but Jordan Farmar is an excellent backup and would be starting on most teams in the league.  Jacque Vaughn (Spurs) and Lindsay Hunter (Pistons) were also solid backups.

  If Farmar would be starting on most teams he'd be starting on the Lakers. Fisher's a below average starter.

Well, Fisher's talent may be below average, but his brain is way above average, as is his ability to make clutch shots.  Once again, talent is overrated.  What matters is production: the ability to make plays when you need them.

Fisher's production both offensively and defensively is well below average. He made a big shot in the playoffs, bully for him. If he hadn't played like garbage for much of the playoffs the Lakers wouldn't have had such a tough time with Houston, or have needed such a "clutch" shot.

Fisher's a valuable guy to have on your team, but he's no longer someone who should be seeing heavy minutes. The fact that Farmar can't take the job from him is a sign that Farmar isn't very good.

[Fafnir]

1. The teams that won did not suffer significant injury to their pgs.  That's why then won.

2. Most of the teams that won had adequate backups pgs, which is one reason why their starting pg stayed healthy. You mention Shaw, but Jordan Farmar is an excellent backup and would be starting on most teams in the league.  Jacque Vaughn (Spurs) and Lindsay Hunter (Pistons) were also solid backups.

Vaughn/Hunter/Farmar are all around the value of Eddie House.

I don't see backup PG as a huge issue, you can't plan to have a quality replacement for every position for a season ending injury.

We don't have anyone close to our starters at any position except possibly C. Sheed could probably fill in reasonably for Perkins. Other than that if any of the starting 4 go down we're unlikely to win a title. That's just life in the NBA.

[Roy Hobbs]

1. The teams that won did not suffer significant injury to their pgs.  That's why then won.

2. Most of the teams that won had adequate backups pgs, which is one reason why their starting pg stayed healthy. You mention Shaw, but Jordan Farmar is an excellent backup and would be starting on most teams in the league.  Jacque Vaughn (Spurs) and Lindsay Hunter (Pistons) were also solid backups.

  If Farmar would be starting on most teams he'd be starting on the Lakers. Fisher's a below average starter.

Well, Fisher's talent may be below average, but his brain is way above average, as is his ability to make clutch shots.  Once again, talent is overrated.  What matters is production: the ability to make plays when you need them.

Fisher's production both offensively and defensively is well below average. He made a big shot in the playoffs, bully for him. If he hadn't played like garbage for much of the playoffs the Lakers wouldn't have had such a tough time with Houston, or have needed such a "clutch" shot.

Fisher's a valuable guy to have on your team, but he's no longer someone who should be seeing heavy minutes. The fact that Farmar can't take the job from him is a sign that Farmar isn't very good.

That's my take, too.  Farmar was 57th *among point guards* in assists per minute.  He was 67th (out of 77 point guards) in terms of assists per turnover.  He shot 39% from the field.  When Farmar was on the court, the Lakers were 9.8 points per 100 possessions worse than when he was off it.

In other words, Farmar stinks.  I don't care what his reputation used to be.

[Roy Hobbs]

Vaughn/Hunter/Farmar are all around the value of Eddie House.

I'd rather have House than any of those guys, especially with a ball-handling wing playing beside him.  If you're talking about their current state -- rather than their prime -- Vaughn and Hunter are third stringers, at best.

[Fafnir]

Vaughn/Hunter/Farmar are all around the value of Eddie House.

I'd rather have House than any of those guys, especially with a ball-handling wing playing beside him.  If you're talking about their current state -- rather than their prime -- Vaughn and Hunter are third stringers, at best.

I think Brick was referring to their production at the time they won titles. I think Eddie is comparable to them at that time, that's what I meant at least.

Now Eddie is much better. Eddie had an amazing offensive season last year for us, hopefully he can continue that production.

[Brickowski]

1. The teams that won did not suffer significant injury to their pgs.  That's why then won.

2. Most of the teams that won had adequate backups pgs, which is one reason why their starting pg stayed healthy. You mention Shaw, but Jordan Farmar is an excellent backup and would be starting on most teams in the league.  Jacque Vaughn (Spurs) and Lindsay Hunter (Pistons) were also solid backups.

  If Farmar would be starting on most teams he'd be starting on the Lakers. Fisher's a below average starter.

Well, Fisher's talent may be below average, but his brain is way above average, as is his ability to make clutch shots.  Once again, talent is overrated.  What matters is production: the ability to make plays when you need them.

Fisher's production both offensively and defensively is well below average. He made a big shot in the playoffs, bully for him. If he hadn't played like garbage for much of the playoffs the Lakers wouldn't have had such a tough time with Houston, or have needed such a "clutch" shot.

Fisher's a valuable guy to have on your team, but he's no longer someone who should be seeing heavy minutes. The fact that Farmar can't take the job from him is a sign that Farmar isn't very good.

That's my take, too.  Farmar was 57th *among point guards* in assists per minute.  He was 67th (out of 77 point guards) in terms of assists per turnover.  He shot 39% from the field.  When Farmar was on the court, the Lakers were 9.8 points per 100 possessions worse than when he was off it.

In other words, Farmar stinks.  I don't care what his reputation used to be.

C'mon, Roy, don't play games with numbers.  Farmar was on the court with the scrubs for the most part. Of course they weren't as good as the starters in points per possession.

I go by what I see.  Farmar is a very good defender and has improved offensively every year.

[Jon]

Vaughn/Hunter/Farmar are all around the value of Eddie House.

I'd rather have House than any of those guys, especially with a ball-handling wing playing beside him.  If you're talking about their current state -- rather than their prime -- Vaughn and Hunter are third stringers, at best.

I would prefer Vaughn/Hunter over Lester Hudson though...

[Fafnir]

1. The teams that won did not suffer significant injury to their pgs.  That's why then won.

2. Most of the teams that won had adequate backups pgs, which is one reason why their starting pg stayed healthy. You mention Shaw, but Jordan Farmar is an excellent backup and would be starting on most teams in the league.  Jacque Vaughn (Spurs) and Lindsay Hunter (Pistons) were also solid backups.

  If Farmar would be starting on most teams he'd be starting on the Lakers. Fisher's a below average starter.

Well, Fisher's talent may be below average, but his brain is way above average, as is his ability to make clutch shots.  Once again, talent is overrated.  What matters is production: the ability to make plays when you need them.

Fisher's production both offensively and defensively is well below average. He made a big shot in the playoffs, bully for him. If he hadn't played like garbage for much of the playoffs the Lakers wouldn't have had such a tough time with Houston, or have needed such a "clutch" shot.

Fisher's a valuable guy to have on your team, but he's no longer someone who should be seeing heavy minutes. The fact that Farmar can't take the job from him is a sign that Farmar isn't very good.

That's my take, too.  Farmar was 57th *among point guards* in assists per minute.  He was 67th (out of 77 point guards) in terms of assists per turnover.  He shot 39% from the field.  When Farmar was on the court, the Lakers were 9.8 points per 100 possessions worse than when he was off it.

In other words, Farmar stinks.  I don't care what his reputation used to be.

C'mon, Roy, don't play games with numbers.  Farmar was on the court with the scrubs for the most part. Of course they weren't as good as the starters in points per possession.

I go by what I see.  Farmar is a very good defender and has improved offensively every year.

Brick here's the data from 82games.com

Unit                                     Minutes
Farmar-Vujacic-Ariza-Odom-Bynum    159
Farmar-Bryant-Ariza-Odom-Gasol            143
Farmar-Vujacic-Ariza-Odom-Gasol    143
Farmar-Vujacic-Ariza-Powell-Gasol    96
Farmar-Vujacic-Walton-Powell-Gasol    87
Farmar-Bryant-Ariza-Odom-Bynum            46
Farmar-Bryant-Ariza-Powell-Gasol    40
Farmar-Bryant-Walton-Odom-Gasol    35
Farmar-Vujacic-Bryant-Odom-Gasol    35

That is a total of 784 minutes out of 1192, so the data isn't complete. He was out there with competitive team mates at least 65% of the time. I'd guess the number is higher than that in truth.

Farmar just isn't very good.