Judging From These Last Three Games.....

[nickagneta]

The last three games the long distance shot have been clanging off the front of the rim and the defense has been slow on rotations and chasing opponents off the three point line. To me, that's a function of tired legs, 8 games and six different travel trips in 12 days. If anything, maybe these guys could have used more sleep, not less.

They will be fine. They will lose their share of games and they will go through their share of tough stretches. I'm more worried about their lazy offensive mindset and the love for the outside shot and their abhorrence to drive the lane, shove the ball inside and draw fouls.

[twinbree]

It's too early to tell. Besides it's hard to blame the new routine for these type of games that we saw too often last season.
It takes too long for the starters to work their way into most games and that is a problem the coaching staff needs to work on.

[BudweiserCeltic]

The last three games the long distance shot have been clanging off the front of the rim and the defense has been slow on rotations and chasing opponents off the three point line. To me, that's a function of tired legs, 8 games and six different travel trips in 12 days. If anything, maybe these guys could have used more sleep, not less.

They will be fine. They will lose their share of games and they will go through their share of tough stretches. I'm more worried about their lazy offensive mindset and the love for the outside shot and their abhorrence to drive the lane, shove the ball inside and draw fouls.

Agree on many of those points. What we should do is stop posting up so often, particularly with Perk... it really slows our offense down. I like more penetration, but our post up game has really screwed our offense.

Rondo should take the game into his hands more often, instead of trying to set people up. What I mean by this is simply play by instincts, attack, and when something opens up then pass the ball, etc. This type of structured offense where he simply comes down and dump the ball to Perk or KG is really not helping anyone much. I like throwing the ball down to KG, but not when it takes like 10 seconds to give him the ball.

I have no problem with the 3 ball. The problem is that they aren't as good shots as the earlier game. Our inside outside game is not flowing as it should. So in all, it's a problem with shot selection and running the system as it should.

[the_Bird]

They do look tired, which could be good and it could be bad.  It's what you would expect to see with such a brutal early-season schedule, but it's also what you would expect to see with such an old roster.  Obviosuly, there are different long-term repurcussions if it's the latter rather than the former. 

[wdleehi]

I would say let the players get used to this new plan before scratching it.


It is about the end of the season more then the beginning of the season.  Change takes time to get used to.  

[wdleehi]

Better question, will this push Ainge to find one more player to add to this team that can be the 10th man in the rotation that can play minutes.  Someone to fit in the backcourt/sf rotations (as Davis's return will be all that is needed for the front court)


Someone that can make these back to back games less of a drag on the key players. 

[the_Bird]

... I hear Iverson might be available... 

One more wing might not be a bad idea.  Would have been nice if Billy Walker hadn't gotten hurt so he would have had a chance to earn some PT.  We know it's not going to be Giddens. 

Can't see them wanting to take on any kind of salary, though, not for a guy that you're projecting to be a 10th or 11th-man type, which makes we wonder whether there's anyone realistically available that's appreciably better than TA.  I can't see them moving for Nocioni if they're only thinking a 10-15 MPG role. 

[Chris]

Better question, will this push Ainge to find one more player to add to this team that can be the 10th man in the rotation that can play minutes.  Someone to fit in the backcourt/sf rotations (as Davis's return will be all that is needed for the front court)


Someone that can make these back to back games less of a drag on the key players. 

I am sure he is always looking, but I don't think he will make a decision on that to closer to the deadline.  That will give other teams a chance to realize they need to be sellers, and it will also give Danny a look at guys like Tony Allen and Bill Walker, to see if they can pick up some minutes in a smaller role.

[wdleehi]

... I hear Iverson might be available... 

One more wing might not be a bad idea.  Would have been nice if Billy Walker hadn't gotten hurt so he would have had a chance to earn some PT.  We know it's not going to be Giddens. 

Can't see them wanting to take on any kind of salary, though, not for a guy that you're projecting to be a 10th or 11th-man type, which makes we wonder whether there's anyone realistically available that's appreciably better than TA.  I can't see them moving for Nocioni if they're only thinking a 10-15 MPG role. 

I think AI's whinning will lead to longer nights as the other stars will be kept up at night listening to it.  (or he will just wake them up at 5 in the morning when he gets back for his flu like symptoms)

[vinnie]

I think the fact that the C's are the only team to play 8 games over 12 nights to open the NBA season is the answer to all of their issues right now.

[GreenFaith1819]

Better question, will this push Ainge to find one more player to add to this team that can be the 10th man in the rotation that can play minutes.  Someone to fit in the backcourt/sf rotations (as Davis's return will be all that is needed for the front court)


Someone that can make these back to back games less of a drag on the key players. 

IMO I believe Tony Allen is the player we need..once we get him back healthy, he is a solid defender and a pretty good slasher. He doesn't have three-pt range, but that is what House and Sheed are for.

TA can be that extra wing we need (in addition to Marquis Daniels).

Plus he is good at the free throw line.

IMO we have all the players we need right here. Just get everyone back healthy.

And don't forget about Bill Walker...he's a tough slasher as well.

Plus we are getting every teams best shots..Minny played us to near overtime, then they go out and lose to MIL at home by 15 pts. And that Oleksiyy kid scored only 3 pts or something.

The Celtics brings out the best in everyone we play. Even LA don't get that intense opposition out of teams.

[wdleehi]

Better question, will this push Ainge to find one more player to add to this team that can be the 10th man in the rotation that can play minutes.  Someone to fit in the backcourt/sf rotations (as Davis's return will be all that is needed for the front court)


Someone that can make these back to back games less of a drag on the key players. 

IMO I believe Tony Allen is the player we need..once we get him back healthy, he is a solid defender and a pretty good slasher. He doesn't have three-pt range, but that is what House and Sheed are for.

TA can be that extra wing we need (in addition to Marquis Daniels).

Plus he is good at the free throw line.

IMO we have all the players we need right here. Just get everyone back healthy.

And don't forget about Bill Walker...he's a tough slasher as well.

Plus we are getting every teams best shots..Minny played us to near overtime, then they go out and lose to MIL at home by 15 pts. And that Oleksiyy kid scored only 3 pts or something.

The Celtics brings out the best in everyone we play. Even LA don't get that intense opposition out of teams.

TA has been a failure at such a role in the past.  Why should we expect any difference this year?

[Greenbean]

The OP has a great point. It's difficult for alot of guys who are so used to regiments, like Ray and KG, to change so far into their careers. I would assume that these guys are shooting in the morning regardless though, wouldn't you think?

KG said he doesn't like the idea. His outside shooting has been inconsistent to start the season. I was attributing that to rust, but maybe its this new schedule.

More speculation but maybe when they have had the time to rest (not a back to back), guys like KG, Ray, and Sheep have gone to their usual morning routine. On a b2b, maybe they take the rest Doc now affords the whole team and it affects their shot.

I think this is a good topic, not something to be brushed aside.

[Chris]

The OP has a great point. It's difficult for alot of guys who are so used to regiments, like Ray and KG, to change so far into their careers. I would assume that these guys are shooting in the morning regardless though, wouldn't you think?

KG said he doesn't like the idea. His outside shooting has been inconsistent to start the season. I was attributing that to rust, but maybe its this new schedule.

More speculation but maybe when they have had the time to rest (not a back to back), guys like KG, Ray, and Sheep have gone to their usual morning routine. On a b2b, maybe they take the rest Doc now affords the whole team and it affects their shot.

I think this is a good topic, not something to be brushed aside.

I agree that it takes some time for players to get used to a new routine, and that could concievably have an affect (although I doubt it, based on the evidence we have from last year, when they had similar slumps, and the difficulty of the schedule).

But the fact remains that there is a great deal of evidence that shows that if people who get enough sleep have significantly better reaction time, and cognitive functions.  And much of the NBA schedule, with morning shoot-arounds, red-eye flights, etc. combined with games running late, did not promote good sleeping habits.

Now, one problem of course could be making sure the players take advantage of these new schedules, and don't decide to simply stay out later, since they don't have to wake up early.  But that is another issue altogether.  If implemented correctly, I think there is plenty of evidence to show that the C's are doing the right thing with their schedule.

[BballTim]

Better question, will this push Ainge to find one more player to add to this team that can be the 10th man in the rotation that can play minutes.  Someone to fit in the backcourt/sf rotations (as Davis's return will be all that is needed for the front court)


Someone that can make these back to back games less of a drag on the key players. 

  I think the 2nd unit operates better with Pierce or Allen in the game than they would without one of them in. Neither of them are playing more than 35 minutes a game or so.