Who to Start in Pierce's Place? (poll)

[Celtics18]

I would guess that Doc will go with TA.  If we assume that Orlando plays Pietrus and Carter at the 2 and 3, then you put Tony on Vince and Ray can guard Pietrus.  

Scal may make sense as a starter against some other lineups, but not the Magic.  He will surely be used quite a bit as a backup PF to guard Lewis, against whom he did a nice job in last year's playoffs.

I would love to see young Billy get some legitimate minutes over this stretch.

[Change]

Just whatever it is don't increase House or Scal's minutes. House is still in a major slump & he can't guard anyone. Scal is still Scal. Play Tony 48 minutes if we have to, just limit Scal+House's minutes.

[James Haley]

All though Sky Walker is what everyones wants..... for whatever reason The Celts are stuck on T.A he will get the start although i am not sure why we still have this kid on our roster.

[Bahku]

I would go big and start Sheed, just for the sake of experience ... to start TA is too big a roll of the dice for me, and the chemistry just does not exist yet between Tony and the rest of the team. The other or second consideration for me would be Eddie ... Eddie is NOT a point guard, he's a two guard, and he thrives at that position ... I would consider doing that and moving Ray to SF before I would starting Tony Turnover.

[Redz]

sheed.  put your 5 best players out there, then incorporate the reserves accordingly.

The Sheed Triple Towers idea is growing on me as the hours sonce the news came through pass by.

[snively]

Just whatever it is don't increase House or Scal's minutes. House is still in a major slump & he can't guard anyone. Scal is still Scal. Play Tony 48 minutes if we have to, just limit Scal+House's minutes.

Sorry Change, but I think it's inevitable.  Without a proven back-up wing, Doc is going to squeeze his predictable vet tweeners for as much as he can getaway with, which means a little House at the 2 and a little Scal at the 3. It's just a question of how much.  I certainly don't want to see Scal on the floor for more than 20 minutes, much less 30.  

[celticinorlando]

Rondo-----nelson
ray--------carter?
KG--------pietrus?
sheed------lewis?
perk-------howard

any thoughts?

[MVP]

Rondo-----nelson
ray--------carter?
KG--------pietrus?
sheed------lewis?
perk-------howard

any thoughts?

Terrible idea. Putting KG on Pietrus takes him out of pick and roll situations which is where he is great defensively and reduce his overall effectiveness on defense. Putting Sheed on Lewis is asking for a loss since Sheed wont go out to contest his 3s (Troy Murphy put up 24).

TA will/should start. Starting KG at sf or House at the 2 are both horrible ideas.

[celticinorlando]

i agree TA should start...just running with this idea of going really big

[misha]

Rondo-----nelson
ray--------carter?
KG--------pietrus?
sheed------lewis?
perk-------howard

any thoughts?

KG can't guard players like pietrus at this stage of his career. Just don't have the speed. Maybe you can pull it off few years ago, but not now.

[Who]

I don't like breaking Tony's rhythm off the bench. It would be better if they could keep that bench unit together and create some continuity for the bench itself + TA in particular.

Better to start Scalabrine and ask him to play 6-8 minutes at the start of each half. Then give Tony Allen some extra minutes off the bench alongside the starters late in each half.

I don't think Scal is an option vs. the Pietrus/Carter wingmates.  Besides, Doc will be using him as the 1st 4 of the bench to keep Shelden from having to guard Rashard or Ryan Anderson.

TA's really the only option.  The real question is who comes off the bench at the wings, at least against Orlando.  I imagine they'll dramatically increase Rondo/Ray's minutes, and squeeze House for some minutes at the 2, but either Walker or Giddens will probably have to see 10 or minutes of real gametime.  

If KG is out too, we're on our way to a sour holiday.  

I'm not particularly worried about Pietrus. I'm happy enough putting Scalabrine on him. Scal is a decent defender (below average but serviceable) against small forwards.

I hadn't thought of Ryan Anderson though. Jeez, don't want to see Scal have to play 26-32 minutes against Orlando. Don't want to see Shelden Williams play against Anderson either.

I'd still go with Scalabrine in the starting lineup. I think he's the lesser of the many (TA), many (Shelden vs Ryan), many (Giddens), many (Walker) evils facing the Celtics rotation right now.

[Who]

Rajon Rondo + Tony Allen on the perimeter along with Perkins against Orlando's superb defense. That's not a pretty image.

If Boston start TA -- or even if TA comes off the bench and just gets extended minutes alongside the starters at the end of game/halves -- then I think Doc has to play Rasheed Wallace instead of Perkins. Too difficult to beat that excellent Orlando defense with three players on the court at the same time who can't hit a jump shot + no Paul Pierce.

Rasheed will create better spacing plus he's done an excellent job on Dwight Howard in the past. Not as good as Perk, but still excellent.

[Redz]

BTW, my grammar alarm is on high alert.  Since I started this thread, I absolutely need to know.

Should I have used "Whom" instead of "Who" in the title?

[vinnie]

Yeah -- start Scal wo we can fall behind by 10-15 points in the first quarter -- 

[Redz]

Yeah -- start Scal wo we can fall behind by 10-15 points in the first quarter -- 

Granted it was a different season, but weren't the Celts like 9-1 with the Scal in the starting lineup a couple of seasons ago?