Celtics (5-1) at Knicks (3-2) 10/20

[RAcker]

That was a very lackluster performance by the C's.  I would say hats off to the Knicks, but with most of their starters in at the end, they still looked horrible.

We were sleepwalking tonight for some reason.  I hate that our main guns end the pre-season on such a bad performance.  I wasn't expecting play like this until tomorrow night when Doc was playing mad scientist again with the lineups.

Oh, well.  Another game to prove to me why the pre-season sucks.

[Atzar]

Any idea why Baby had limited minutes and wallace Major minutes?

Doc practicing with different players.  Getting new guys to get on board (Daniels also got lots of minutes).  That would be my guess.

I missed the game -- did Giddens show anything on defense?  (yes, I can see his stat line, but I am curious about stuff that doesn't show up in stats).

Giddens looks alright.  He played good D and crashed the boards, I love his effort.  He HAS to make the bunnies though.  He had two layups that he missed, and that can't happen.

[ben]

Any idea why Baby had limited minutes and wallace Major minutes?

Baby actually got nine minutes, which is quite a lot for him.  Wallace is the backup big(when he doesn't start that is) for both Kevin and Perk so thats why he got 30.

[ben]

The deficiencies of the Knicks are beside the point.

Even a scrimmage against an inferior team made it glaringly obvious that THEY NEED A BACK POINT GUARD.

well...  THEY WON A CHAMPIONSHIP with out a backup point

[Cman]

well...  THEY WON A CHAMPIONSHIP with out a backup point

Wait, weren't Tony Allen and Ray Allen playing backup PG?
 

Personally, I think backup SF is a bigger concern.  Walker is out, Giddens isn't up to snuff, and nor is Scal.  I think it is okay for Quisy and House to split guard duties so long as we have a full time backup SF.

[Surferdad]

Aww.. Aint that cute. Look how happy Harrington is.

I wasn't aware this was a preseason playoff game. Are they going to drop confetti from the ceiling if they win too???

May as well drop confetti and celebrate tonight.  How'd you like to be looking forward to their season?   Yikes!

LOL.  Yeah, Harrington and Lee talking it up about how to play the last minute...full of playoff intensity to barely pull out a win AT HOME against the C's scrubs in a pre-season game.

[SalmonAndMashedPotatoes]

Any idea why Baby had limited minutes and wallace Major minutes?

To my eyes, Baby was possibly concussed in the 1st half.  For those of you who watched the game, on the play where Baby took a charge, he fell backwards and got hit in the back of the head by another Knicks player.  Looked like a classic concussive hit.  Later, when Baby went back to the bench, he put his head between his legs and looked very sick.  There was no mention of it on the broadcast, and Baby was on the bench in the 2nd half.  Either he was concussed, and they are taking precautions, or he wasn't feeling well.

As for the backup point guard discussion, I thought Doc missed a golden opportunity to play Hudson down the stretch after the Knicks went to a small ball lineup with both Nate and Duhon in the backcourt.  We all know Hudson needs to work on his PG skills, why not use crunch time minutes for that purpose? 

I don't think we need to add another point guard, as Daniels and House will cover most situations (as will Rondo, who will average 35 minutes a night this season), but I'd like to develop Hudson in the meantime.  Or, if I had to choose between using minutes to develop Giddens or Hudson, I'd definitely choose Hudson every time--he plays a bigger position of need than Giddens does, and he's more NBA ready.

[Atzar]

As for the backup point guard discussion, I thought Doc missed a golden opportunity to play Hudson down the stretch after the Knicks went to a small ball lineup with both Nate and Duhon in the backcourt.  We all know Hudson needs to work on his PG skills, why not use crunch time minutes for that purpose? 

I couldn't agree more with this.  I really wanted to see what Lester did with Nate Robinson... he ate Eddie like a steak.

[Greenbean]

Any idea why Baby had limited minutes and wallace Major minutes?

Baby actually got nine minutes, which is quite a lot for him.  Wallace is the backup big(when he doesn't start that is) for both Kevin and Perk so thats why he got 30.

If Baby only plays 9 minutes a game, then we overpaid for him. He will be playing a much bigger role than you seem to think.

[Roy Hobbs]

Any idea why Baby had limited minutes and wallace Major minutes?

Baby actually got nine minutes, which is quite a lot for him.  Wallace is the backup big(when he doesn't start that is) for both Kevin and Perk so thats why he got 30.

If Baby only plays 9 minutes a game, then we overpaid for him. He will be playing a much bigger role than you seem to think.

That was my reaction, as well, until you actually break down the minutes.

There are 96 minutes to be divided between the 4/5 positions.  Let's say Perk and KG each play 30.  If Rasheed plays a very modest 24 minutes, that leaves BBD with 12.  The fourth big man in any rotation just isn't going to see the court a ton, I think.  (If Rasheed averages an even more modest 20 mpg, that brings BBD up to 16, but I don't think that's the plan.)

[Greenbean]

Any idea why Baby had limited minutes and wallace Major minutes?

Baby actually got nine minutes, which is quite a lot for him.  Wallace is the backup big(when he doesn't start that is) for both Kevin and Perk so thats why he got 30.

If Baby only plays 9 minutes a game, then we overpaid for him. He will be playing a much bigger role than you seem to think.

That was my reaction, as well, until you actually break down the minutes.

There are 96 minutes to be divided between the 4/5 positions.  Let's say Perk and KG each play 30.  If Rasheed plays a very modest 24 minutes, that leaves BBD with 12.  The fourth big man in any rotation just isn't going to see the court a ton, I think.  (If Rasheed averages an even more modest 20 mpg, that brings BBD up to 16, but I don't think that's the plan.)

I may be thinking of this wrong but if Rasheed's minutes are while Baby is on the floor, then Baby can get more than 12 right? This seems right up Doc's alley to somehow get Baby minutes in a crowded frontcourt.

It would depend on the matchups but I have a feeling there will be a lot of different combinations of personell this year.

[Roy Hobbs]

Any idea why Baby had limited minutes and wallace Major minutes?

Baby actually got nine minutes, which is quite a lot for him.  Wallace is the backup big(when he doesn't start that is) for both Kevin and Perk so thats why he got 30.

If Baby only plays 9 minutes a game, then we overpaid for him. He will be playing a much bigger role than you seem to think.

That was my reaction, as well, until you actually break down the minutes.

There are 96 minutes to be divided between the 4/5 positions.  Let's say Perk and KG each play 30.  If Rasheed plays a very modest 24 minutes, that leaves BBD with 12.  The fourth big man in any rotation just isn't going to see the court a ton, I think.  (If Rasheed averages an even more modest 20 mpg, that brings BBD up to 16, but I don't think that's the plan.)

I may be thinking of this wrong but if Rasheed's minutes are while Baby is on the floor, then Baby can get more than 12 right? This seems right up Doc's alley to somehow get Baby minutes in a crowded frontcourt.

It would depend on the matchups but I have a feeling there will be a lot of different combinations of personell this year.

Well, assuming that Doc doesn't play Rasheed or KG at small forward, there are only 96 minutes total to be split between Perk / KG / Rasheed / BBD.  How those minutes are allocated will obviously change, but you can't go above 96 unless 1) you're playing somebody out of position, or 2) a game goes into OT.

[Greenbean]

Any idea why Baby had limited minutes and wallace Major minutes?

Baby actually got nine minutes, which is quite a lot for him.  Wallace is the backup big(when he doesn't start that is) for both Kevin and Perk so thats why he got 30.

If Baby only plays 9 minutes a game, then we overpaid for him. He will be playing a much bigger role than you seem to think.

That was my reaction, as well, until you actually break down the minutes.

There are 96 minutes to be divided between the 4/5 positions.  Let's say Perk and KG each play 30.  If Rasheed plays a very modest 24 minutes, that leaves BBD with 12.  The fourth big man in any rotation just isn't going to see the court a ton, I think.  (If Rasheed averages an even more modest 20 mpg, that brings BBD up to 16, but I don't think that's the plan.)

I may be thinking of this wrong but if Rasheed's minutes are while Baby is on the floor, then Baby can get more than 12 right? This seems right up Doc's alley to somehow get Baby minutes in a crowded frontcourt.

It would depend on the matchups but I have a feeling there will be a lot of different combinations of personell this year.

Well, assuming that Doc doesn't play Rasheed or KG at small forward, there are only 96 minutes total to be split between Perk / KG / Rasheed / BBD.  How those minutes are allocated will obviously change, but you can't go above 96 unless 1) you're playing somebody out of position, or 2) a game goes into OT.

Yeah I see now. I had a long day.

I still see him averaging 13-15 minutes. Some nights taking away from Perk, some nights from Sheed, and some nights from KG. Dont forget...we will be blowing teams out!

I dont know...9 minutes just seems like an abberation. Especially since the poster said 9 minutes is "quite a lot".

[guava_wrench]

Any idea why Baby had limited minutes and wallace Major minutes?

To my eyes, Baby was possibly concussed in the 1st half.  For those of you who watched the game, on the play where Baby took a charge, he fell backwards and got hit in the back of the head by another Knicks player.  Looked like a classic concussive hit.  Later, when Baby went back to the bench, he put his head between his legs and looked very sick.  There was no mention of it on the broadcast, and Baby was on the bench in the 2nd half.  Either he was concussed, and they are taking precautions, or he wasn't feeling well.

As for the backup point guard discussion, I thought Doc missed a golden opportunity to play Hudson down the stretch after the Knicks went to a small ball lineup with both Nate and Duhon in the backcourt.  We all know Hudson needs to work on his PG skills, why not use crunch time minutes for that purpose? 

I don't think we need to add another point guard, as Daniels and House will cover most situations (as will Rondo, who will average 35 minutes a night this season), but I'd like to develop Hudson in the meantime.  Or, if I had to choose between using minutes to develop Giddens or Hudson, I'd definitely choose Hudson every time--he plays a bigger position of need than Giddens does, and he's more NBA ready.

Please no reasoned explanations. Do not disrupt opportunities to complain about rotations and signings (during a preseason game).

[steved24]

So is doc sitting starting unit tomorrow against cavs?