How the Celts could turn the Laker series around

[wdleehi]

Celtics were at their best last night when Perk was on the floor.  His size and defense effects the Lakers big men.  His rebounding was a key part when he played.

I disagree. Perk's defense has had little or no impact on either Bynum or Gasol. He did rebound well last night. However, he did not play at all in the fourth quarter and the Celts were extremely effective except for the last 3 minutes. If the Celtics need to score points to catch up, they really can't have Perk on the floor for too long. For the most part he gives the Celts less than zero on offense.

When he was on the court, the Laker big men shot 2-12.  Off the court, they shot 9-13

Just curious. Do you have the Lakers' big man stats for the other two games when Perk was on or off the court? I guess the problem I see is that he is such a liability on offense the Celts are playing 4 on 5 when he is out there.

No one was stopping them because the officials allowed the Laker big men to camp in the lane and called fouls on the smallest touch.


Last night, they finally let them play a little, and Perk's value, post defense, became available.  


The fact that when he is not on the court and their big men shoot so high a % says that they are taking advantage of one of them.  


All the Celtic big men have roles they need to play.  What is the point of changing it now?  


P.S. do you think if Perk was on the floor for the last few minutes, he might have created some stops?  The Laker big men went right at Baby (Odom and Gasol) and he could stopped neither of them.   Davis did a great job in the 2nd half, but the last couple of minutes, they were not going to him offensively and was a liability on defense.  

[wdleehi]

Perk has no blocks.  Wallace has 2.  

The Celts have won Q4 by 15.  They have lost the first 3 Qs by 26.  The team that has won Q1 has won each game.  They need to get off to a good start and n Q1.  Yes, I agree we should finish w/ Wallace, but we need to start w/ him too.  

In the first 2 games Perk was -14 and +3.  Wallace was +3 and +15.

So he has had one negative game, the game all the Celtics staters had big negative numbers.

KG -14
Pierce -13
Ray -5
Rondo -17

Let's bench them all. 

Nate was a + 10.  He should start at PG.  His shooting could jumps start the offense.


Finally, last night, the Lakers big offensive number came when Perk was on the bench. 

[wdleehi]

Last nights system would have won the game if Ray Allen and Paul Pierce hit at least some of their shots. 

5 - 25

where they normally would have hit closer to 12-25.  that's at least a 14 point swing. 


So, the system doesn't need to change.  The shooters need to show up.

[LB3533]

Can't bench Perk.

And I don't think you can start Sheed cause he is hurt.

If you start Sheed you can lose him very quick if his back tightens up during his first resting period.

You keep the way things are right now and just do things better.

[tenn_smoothie]

I'm not sure how much "turning around" is necessary.  All they need to do is close out a couple games.  These teams are evenly matched, and they are both playing well.  If the C's hit a couple extra shots, or the Lakers missed a couple extra shots, it would already be turned around. 

i don't want to have to rely on "a couple of extra shots" one way or the other Chris - not with them having Bryant, Gasol and Fischer and us relying on the ridiculous iso set at the end of quarters.

we need a solid 10 - 12 point win in game 4 and go all in on game 5 so we can put all the pressure back on the Lakers for games 6 & 7.

the Celts have not played a quality game yet this series - i thnk we're a little beat up and drained from the effort it took to beat cleveland and orlando whereas LA has just gotten stronger and healthier as the playoffs have gone along - - then the officiating negates our physicality advantage coming out of the rough & tumble East .......... and there you have it.

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

The Celts primary disadvantage against LA is LAs length and  matchup problems.  The Celts are holding LA to 95.7 ppg which is good enough to win.  Celts need to up their offense, neutralize LAs length and create a matchup advantage of their own.  To do that they need to start Wallace in place of Perkins which does all 3.  Here's why:
 
1) Perkins provides no offensive threat.  Wallace is a good scorer.
2) Perkins and Bynum clog the middle not allowing Rondo or Pierce to get in the lane where they are both extremely effective.  Wallace stays at the 3 pt line and draws LAs length far from the hoop where it is ineffective.  And it creates a matchup problem as Bynum and his gimpy knee will have a tough time staying with Wallace or Garnett.  Bynum was last seen on the bench nursing a tweaked knee.  Imagine Wallace at the 3 line and Garnett 18' out.  That leaves the lane wide open for Rondo to drive and create and Pierce to finally be effective on offense by driving and getting fouled.  The offense improves dramatically as all 5 Celts would be offensive threats whereas now it is only Allen and Garnett, and that is only when their shot is on, which has only been one game for each so far.  This gets Pierce in rhythm (essential), and the Celts are at their best when Rondo can drive and create.  And it would be easier to create with an open lane and 4 offensive options to pass to.  Pierce and Rondo are more dangerous on offense with Wallace in, and Wallace is always more of an offensive threat than Perkins.
3) On defense, Wallace is at least as good as Perkins.  He has demonstrated that in guarding Howard and Gasol.  For example, Perkins has no blocked shots and Wallace has 2 blocked shots in about half the minutes.  Wallace would guard Bynum rather than Gasol if needed which would help stay out of foul trouble.
4) Rebounding - Wallace is leading the team in rebounds/min against LA
5) Wallace's best value in this series is when both Gasol and Bynum are in because Wallace can best neutralize LAs length.  Hence, play Wallace at the start when both of LAs big guys are in.
6) Pierce needs to get going from the start, and its not likely to happen unless he can drive, which he can't with a clogged lane.  Wallace needs to play when Pierce and Rondo are playing which is the start of the game.  Pierce is only shooting .361 in the current system which, predictedly, isn't working.
7) This new dynamic offense would help get the crowd into the game.
Provides an element of surprise for the essential game 4.  LA would be forced to adjust.
9) LAs length and matchup advantages are clear.  Boston needs to do something significant to change that dynamic.
10) Boston is getting killed in the first 3 quarters by a total of 26 points and winning big in the 4th quarter by 15.  Even in the 2008 series LA generally got ahead early.  Boston needs to get off to a better start and set the tone.  The team that has been ahead after one qtr has won each game.
11) Guarding Wallace or Garnett would help wear out Bynum's gimpy knee.  Currently all Perkins does on offense is set screens.  Bynum simply hangs out in the paint.
12) What do they have to lose?  The current system isn't working even while Kobe is off, which won't last forever.  The Celtics will need more offense.
 
In case you haven't noticed, Wallace leads all Celts at .27 bounds per minute and .600 bounds plus points per minute, shooting a solid 5-6 from 2 pt range and 2-8 from 3. 

It's not too late to make this bold move, but it may be after Thursday.

I approve this message

[Reyquila]

If we start playing better, we can turn this thing around. I don't see any other way.

[Mr October]

Last nights system would have won the game if Ray Allen and Paul Pierce hit at least some of their shots. 

5 - 25

where they normally would have hit closer to 12-25.  that's at least a 14 point swing. 


So, the system doesn't need to change.  The shooters need to show up.

Yup. Play roughly the same game. Only this time hit those shots.

[PosImpos]

NO.

The Celtics are consistently a much worse team when Wallace is in the lineup instead of Perkins.

The Celtics starting 5 is statistically one of the best lineups in the entire NBA.  When you take out Perkins and add Rasheed the lineup becomes one of the worst lineups the Celtics have.

Perkins must start.