The Bench

[Bankshot]

The bench has to produce in order for the Celtics to win. Otherwise Doc would be forced to play the starters to much and they may fizzle in the 4th quarter.  The bench needs to keep the Celtics in games. I want to say try Shelden instead of Sheed, but we desperately need to get some good play out of Sheed for us to take this series.  I said before this series that Davis wouldn't be that effective because of his size.  We need Sheed to do something good... STARTING WITH GAME 2!

Daniels looked good defending Lebron.  Maybe Doc should give him some more run.

What about Nate?  Could he help us?  I remember when he was knocking down 3's, the bench was looking good.  Right now only TA and Baby are producing off the bench, and they're not producing enough.

We need to try everyone and see who can help.

[Bahku]

The bench has to produce in order for the Celtics to win. Otherwise Doc would be forced to play the starters to much and they may fizzle in the 4th quarter.  The bench needs to keep the Celtics in games. I want to say try Shelden instead of Sheed, but we desperately need to get some good play out of Sheed for us to take this series.  I said before this series that Davis wouldn't be that effective because of his size.  We need Sheed to do something good... STARTING WITH GAME 2!

Daniels looked good defending Lebron.  Maybe Doc should give him some more run.

What about Nate?  Could he help us?  I remember when he was knocking down 3's, the bench was looking good.  Right now only TA and Baby are producing off the bench, and they're not producing enough.

We need to try everyone and see who can help.

Yup ... I agree ... good post! (TP) We need the bench to be at least respectable ... they weren't last night. I think Nate could be effective, mainly to be a three-point threat, but also to get physical with Williams and West ... we could waste a few fouls with Nate, and take it up a notch with the physical intensity. I never liked Sheed and I still don't, but I've got to hope that he delivers for us ... Doc's gonna play him no matter what, and if he doesn't produce more, it's going to be a lot more difficult to pull out the series win.

[Bankshot]

Well to be fair, Doc HAS to play Sheed.  He has the size we need, Shelden and Baby don't.

[Drucci]

The bench was invisible last night, except for a couple of buckets from Baby.

I think Marquis should get minutes instead of TA, I didn't like what I saw from TA on LeBron and he was invisible offensively. Marquis could do some damage with his knack for cutting, and Rondo's sense of passing the ball. Plus, Quisy's got a reliable midrange jumper than TA doesn't have so it will spread the defense a little bit more when Ray and Paul are resting.

[Andy Jick]

Two more years of 'Sheed...I shudder at the thought.  I've tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, but the only productive thing he does is yell "ball don't lie" and that's about it...

[thirstyboots18]

The Celts have to stay agressive until the end of the game.  The can be passive all summer if they want to....Stop being afraid of making a foul....what I mean by that is don't let fear of a call keep you from being defense minded.  When Rondo is being effective, don't change direction and give Paul control of the ball.  Paul Pierce is amazing, but Rondo is one of the top point guards in the league for a reason...he sees the floor very well, is fast, distributes and gets offense and defense going, and can drive and shoot!  Let him be the General.  When he is not in, use Marquis or Nate.  Paul Pierce has a position, and it is not point guard.

[housecall]

This has been my problem all season,the bench not being consistent enough and not having the right complimentary players to beat the top teams.I don't blame Doc or the team itself for not being as good as we would like at times.I blame the management for not finding a few better role players from the start.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

People say play sheed because of his size...why not just get a 7 foot post and put it out there..! A scare crow. ( I know he isn't 7')  What does it matter if he is that big but does nothing, no rebounding energy, no post up, no shot blocking.......I say put Sheldon in....Remember when BBD came in with that energy..well, try sheldon, see what he brings...he will RUN the floor, be in position for the rebound....he proved (to me) that he can score...if you watched the SA game......imagine if people passed to him on the post...! (other than rondo)....!

[amenhotep04]

Well to be fair, Doc HAS to play Sheed.  He has the size we need, Shelden and Baby don't.

I'm not sure I agree. The Celtics need Sheed's size against Shaq and Zeke, but they get run all over the building by Varejao and Hickson. I'd like to see Shelden and BBD's energy against those guys.

In all honesty, I've been screaming this kind of thing for a couple years. I'd like to see the second unit be more of an energetic, pressing kind of team that creates havoc for the opposing team. It isn't going to happen. I could see however, a combination of Shelden and BBD bringing a lot more energy to the floor.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

Right, remember Leon powe vs the lakers, leon was 6'8", just like sheldon... actually i think he still is 6'8"....unless cleve made him taller...it changed that whole game...i didn't mean covering shaq...but then again BBD covers shaq sooooo..?  Sheldon should be given a REAL chance, like with all the trimmings of a real player, as in passes on the post ect...!

[Tenacious D]

Daniels looked good defending Lebron.  Maybe Doc should give him some more run.  What about Nate? 

Absolutely bring Quis to help out on LBJ. Rather than Nate, lets have Tony out there to mess with Mo Williams. When Jameson is in, the C's could go small: KG or Davis, PP, Quis, Ray, Rajon or Tony.  Ive ahd it with Rasheed. The only guy he can guard is Z.

[Tenacious D]

ps this idea of a 2nd unit that plays together regardless of situation seems like a no-winner. Use the roster to advantage. When Cleveland goes small/quick (Andy, AJ, JJ) the C's could answer with KG, Davis, maybe Sheldon or Paul or Quis on AJ. Save perk for Shaq patrol. 

[wdleehi]

Sad thing, of the guys that played the most off the bench (10 or more minutes), Wallace was the best. 




The bench was a non factor.  Because of the stitches, Davis had to come in to early.  He needed a worn down Shaq or a bench player.

[pearljammer10]

I would put Sheldon in first off the bench. Baby is doing nothing for me. Nothing but making stupid fouls, stupid mistakes, stupid turnovers, and stupid shot selections. Baby is not a team player, he gets into the game and looks to force the shot to try and prove his worth to this team, even though it just makes him look like a fool. He is at his best when he is hustling and being the energy guy, not when he is looking for his shot.

I'd like to see Nate get a chance but I would just be worried about his rhythm. I can even remember the last time he saw the floor in meaningful minutes. To put him in now, he might be ice cold and really ruin the rhythm of the game. Not his fault, I think its Doc's for not playing him. Finley has the ability to get hot and make some outside buckets but hes not getting any minutes, Quis finally saw the floor last night but was ineffective. T.A. really didnt play all that well last night. And Sheed we wont even go there. Give Sheldon a run. I think he would turn some heads. Just look at the way he played to start the season and how much of a help he was, he did nothing to deserve to ride the pine.

I mean the Celtics, with Sheldon playing big minutes taking Baby's place, were 23 and 5. Baby comes back, Sheldon looses his minutes, and they go 27 and 29, under .500 for the rest of the season. I dont think that stat lies, when Baby is on the floor, this is actually a much worse team.

[wdleehi]

I would put Sheldon in first off the bench. Baby is doing nothing for me. Nothing but making stupid fouls, stupid mistakes, stupid turnovers, and stupid shot selections. Baby is not a team player, he gets into the game and looks to force the shot to try and prove his worth to this team, even though it just makes him look like a fool. He is at his best when he is hustling and being the energy guy, not when he is looking for his shot.

I'd like to see Nate get a chance but I would just be worried about his rhythm. I can even remember the last time he saw the floor in meaningful minutes. To put him in now, he might be ice cold and really ruin the rhythm of the game. Not his fault, I think its Doc's for not playing him. Finley has the ability to get hot and make some outside buckets but hes not getting any minutes, Quis finally saw the floor last night but was ineffective. T.A. really didnt play all that well last night. And Sheed we wont even go there. Give Sheldon a run. I think he would turn some heads. Just look at the way he played to start the season and how much of a help he was, he did nothing to deserve to ride the pine.

I mean the Celtics, with Sheldon playing big minutes taking Baby's place, were 23 and 5. Baby comes back, Sheldon looses his minutes, and they go 27 and 29, under .500 for the rest of the season. I dont think that stat lies, when Baby is on the floor, this is actually a much worse team.

Davis had one bad game. 

So did Pierce.  Should the Celtics bench him in favor of Finley or Daniels?



Davis should still be the first big off the bench.