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

[GreenFaith1819]

I'd go with TA in Pierces' spot. I like the matchup with him and Pietrus. I really don't think that Pietrus will hurt us, IMO.

If anything, VC will..that's why I think we really need to limit his touches since he is a great Volume Shooter. He is only shooting like 40% from the field this year, and he won't torch us on Friday either.

In lieu of everything, I really like our opportunity here.

[QuinielaBox]

I picked Rasheed Wallace. He needs to start earning his money here. He needs to forsake his 3 point game and post up some folks and carry the load defensively and rebounding. He can open up looks for Ray Allen and KG's midrangers.

I would bring in Scalabrine and Tony Allen as my 6th and 7th men. Perhaps Walker and Lester Hudson need to pickup stints, too.

If KG is out also, then we are definitely hurting. I don't like this knee infection business.

[Who]

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?

The Celtics were 7 and 2 with Scal starting during the Championship season. The losses came against Orlando and Cleveland. And, last year, the C's were 8-0 with Scalabrine.

A record of 15 wins and 2 losses over the past two seasons.

[Jon]

I say go with Scal, he really does fit in well with the starters.  He'll space the floor, not make any foolish mistakes, and play tough defense.  Let Tony continue what's been working for him and what we'll likely want him to continue to do when Pierce gets back. 

That said, I wouldn't mind playing with some big lineups for 5-10 mpg.  While KG at the 3 may not be ideal in some people's books, he's certainly no worse than Scal at guarding the 3 and likely better than Walker and Giddens.  Plus anything we can do to maximize the talent on the floor should be a plus. 

[Ian]

I have this weird feeling Tony Allen is going to get the job and make a resurgence similar to what he did pre-knee injury if he's given a starters role. I'm bumping this post if it happens.

[KJ33]

Is the poll who will get the call(as I interpret it) or who would you pick?  My sense is, based on how most treat all subjects Celtic, that most are saying what they would do, not what they really think Doc will do.  I for one am torn.  In many ways, I can see Doc picking Scal, just like when KG went down, as a way to keep the rotations otherwise intact, rather than moving around all the pieces into different slots.  However, not sure about the Orlando game in terms of Scal having any chance of covering Carter.

One thing people should keep in mind though, as the TA #s continue to climb in the poll, is that very recently TA has mentioned that he has been limited to going no more than 20 minutes as he continues to recover from ankle surgery.  No way is he stepping in and going 35+ minutes right out of the gate, or they risk him having a setback, something the C's can ill afford right now with Daniels and Pierce being out.  So if TA does start, it won't be Pierce minutes.

Which brings me back to my original point, that if TA is only capable of going 20 right now, why not continue to use him the way he has been and has been very effective?  I could see Doc starting Scal against Orlando, see how it goes, if he gets torched early, then TA coming in, and then maybe splicing Walker in there a bit too.

[snively]

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?

The Celtics were 7 and 2 with Scal starting during the Championship season. The losses came against Orlando and Cleveland. And, last year, the C's were 8-0 with Scalabrine.

A record of 15 wins and 2 losses over the past two seasons.

IIRC, that was Scal at the 4 covering for KG's injuries.  I'm OK with Scal at the 4.  With ballhandlers/scorers at the 1-3 spot, he can just blend into the background, space the floor and play capable defense.   At the 3, he can't blend into the background as well because he's sharing the floor with two non-ballhandlers at the 4/5, he's less likely to spring free from a quicker defender for open 3s and his defense goes from capable to weak (which further hurts the D by forcing Ray Allen to guard the best wing). Meanwhile he offers no match-up advantages at the 3: he can't post up 3s or outrebound them.

The only time Scal should be playing the 3 is when he's matched up against 3/4 tweeners like Jamison, Lewis, Ryan Gomes, Al Harrington and Josh Smith and that's not because he's a good 3, it's just the C's don't have anyone else to guard those guys.  

Rondo, TA and Ray will be fine against most teams, IMHO.  They won't be potent in half-court offensive sets, but I think they'll be capable.  In close games, if offensive execution comes to be a major problem, swap Sheed for Perk.   Tough defense and transition offense is this team's M.O. and the TA/Ray wing combo is much better suited to that style than the Ray/Scal one.  

[Rtpas11]

I Rather this line up instead.

Starters:
pg R Rondo
sg R Allen
sf B Walker
pf K Garnett
c  K Perkins

Bench:
pg E House
sg L Hudson 
sf T Allen
pf S Williams
c  R Wallace

[slamtheking]

Doc likes vets so it'll be either TA or Scal in PP's place in the starting line-up.  Although the team has done well with Scal starting in the past, he was playing as a 4, not a 3.  I'm leaning towards TA starting since he's done well as a starter in the past and can provide solid defense to start the game. 

Considered that Hudson might get some time with House in the backcourt with either TA or Ray at SF but I don't see Doc giving Lester minutes, especially in Orlando.

I still don't see Doc giving any burn to Walker or Giddens in this game or while PP is out.  While this would be a prime opportunity to get either of them some limited minutes at SF to keep TA and Ray fresh for the next 2-3 weeks, he'll run Ray into the ground before he plays them. 

[celticinorlando]

has to be tony...Scal cannot stay with Vince Carter and boston gets ZERO from him offensively....if he starts it is a wasted position. Carter will have a field day on Scal and Scal will have 3 fouls by the half....but the idea of rondo tony or scal trying to make jumpshots is a bad bad idea....brick city...basically we have ray allen and eddie that are going to have to make outside shots....everyone else has to get to the basket

[scoop]

Why would Scal be guarding Vince Carter? He'd be assigned to Pietrus, a job he's perfectly capable of doing.

I think you can start either Tony Allen or Scalabrine, it doesn't matter much.

What I'd try to do if I were Doc would be to maximize the time that Rasheed/Tony Allen and Perkins/Scalabrine are playing together - it's difficult to beat the Magic's defence without stretching the floor. Rondo/Tony Allen/Perkins is a bad combination for extended periods.

[Cman]

Tony Allen.
He'll surprise a few of us, I'm sure.

[celticinorlando]

Why would Scal be guarding Vince Carter? He'd be assigned to Pietrus, a job he's perfectly capable of doing.

I think you can start either Tony Allen or Scalabrine, it doesn't matter much.

What I'd try to do if I were Doc would be to maximize the time that Rasheed/Tony Allen and Perkins/Scalabrine are playing together - it's difficult to beat the Magic's defence without stretching the floor. Rondo/Tony Allen/Perkins is a bad combination for extended periods.

because Ray can't handle carter...tony can play pretty good D when he wants to..i would put tony on carter and leave ray on pietrus. scal would struggle on either one of them

[wdleehi]

The best thing that can happen is start TA.  He shows his ability to be a useful starter when given constant minutes. 


Celtics then can trade him for more then just his contract value. 

[CbrewEra]

As TA is the most talented of the bunch, i think we should try to not confuse him, especially since he has just shown a *brief* flash of getting it and being able to be trusted with bench minutes.  Starting is a hwole different atmosphere and feel than coming off the bench, two totally different roles, he should work on learning one well.

I propose to start Billy even if for 5 minutes.  See what this kids made of!