Is Our Bench Really That Bad?

[Rashi]

its not that our bench is bad, its just that our bench is short

losing Sheed is a big factor...Marquis didnt really help much and the departure of TA depleted our bench roster...

at the moment having a backup Small Forward is a big priority. Preferably someone who can play the guard and forward. ie Tracy McGrady or the Power Small ie Josh Howard...

2nd priority should be another big as we do not know Perkin's time table...

I would prefer this lineup

Rondo/Nate
Ray Allen/Bradey
Pierce/TMac/Josh Howard
KG/Josh Howard/BBD
Jermaine/BBD

if we can acquire Shaq then in my opinion we can defeat the so called "SUPER HEAT" and be back at the finals

to be honest im more anxious to see Shaq make another anti-Kobe rap =)

I agree w/ the bold part. Our big 3 are old and they need to play limited mins during the regular reason, and for that reason it is very important that we have solid backup for them.

So for that reason, we can't just sign players for the sake of signing.


and lol @ anti-kobe rap.....I am on the same page as u

I just want Shaq because:

1.) He has a beef against DH12, Bosh and Lakers (esp Kobe)....so Shaq could be our weapon against them.

2.) If we win against the Lakers....u can expect numerous quotes and raps from Shaq...which are always entertaining.

[Bahku]

It's incomplete, as is the off-season, so I think it's a bit early to be pulling the trigger on assessing our bench. I think we've actually got a pretty good start on it at this point, and Danny's not done, by any means. Ptaience and faith, at this point ... more good things to come.

[nickagneta]

You people who keep insisting on saying Avery Bradley is a SG are going to be very disappointed when you see that he is actually a PG. I watched about 5-6 of his games at Texas. He played SG there because his coach is a moron who recruited him after already having 2 or 3 PGs on the team and no SGs.

His position in the NBA will be at PG. As I have said elsewhere, his situation is very similar to that of Russell Westbrook who played SG at UCLA because the coach there had other people(Darren Collison or Jrue Holiday can't remember)playing PG. But when he went to OKC he played at PG and excelled. Expect something similar with Bradley.

[Bahku]

You people who keep insisting on saying Avery Bradley is a SG are going to be very disappointed when you see that he is actually a PG. I watched about 5-6 of his games at Texas. He played SG there because his coach is a moron who recruited him after already having 2 or 3 PGs on the team and no SGs.

His position in the NBA will be at PG. As I have said elsewhere, his situation is very similar to that of Russell Westbrook who played SG at UCLA because the coach there had other people(Darren Collison or Jrue Holiday can't remember)playing PG. But when he went to OKC he played at PG and excelled. Expect something similar with Bradley.

Yeah, I wholeheartedly agree ... he may move to the SG spot on occasion, but his strong position is point. I'm really excited to see how this kid develops with this team ... we could easily end up being one of the strongest teams at PG, with very little let-up between subs ... I would love that.

[Rashi]

nvm

[xmuscularghandix]

Bradley excels as a defender, right now we don’t have a backup SG I’m pretty sure we’re going to see him off the ball.

We’ve seen pairings of Marbury/House, Rondo/Nate, I’m sure we’ll see Bradley at the 2.

[Jevi]

You people who keep insisting on saying Avery Bradley is a SG are going to be very disappointed when you see that he is actually a PG. I watched about 5-6 of his games at Texas. He played SG there because his coach is a moron who recruited him after already having 2 or 3 PGs on the team and no SGs.

His position in the NBA will be at PG. As I have said elsewhere, his situation is very similar to that of Russell Westbrook who played SG at UCLA because the coach there had other people(Darren Collison or Jrue Holiday can't remember)playing PG. But when he went to OKC he played at PG and excelled. Expect something similar with Bradley.

Yeah, I wholeheartedly agree ... he may move to the SG spot on occasion, but his strong position is point. I'm really excited to see how this kid develops with this team ... we could easily end up being one of the strongest teams at PG, with very little let-up between subs ... I would love that.

No matter,we're told he plays good defense,which to me is important for Doc giving him any playing time. He plays good enough D,call him what you want.

[xmuscularghandix]

You people who keep insisting on saying Avery Bradley is a SG are going to be very disappointed when you see that he is actually a PG. I watched about 5-6 of his games at Texas. He played SG there because his coach is a moron who recruited him after already having 2 or 3 PGs on the team and no SGs.

His position in the NBA will be at PG. As I have said elsewhere, his situation is very similar to that of Russell Westbrook who played SG at UCLA because the coach there had other people(Darren Collison or Jrue Holiday can't remember)playing PG. But when he went to OKC he played at PG and excelled. Expect something similar with Bradley.

Yeah, I wholeheartedly agree ... he may move to the SG spot on occasion, but his strong position is point. I'm really excited to see how this kid develops with this team ... we could easily end up being one of the strongest teams at PG, with very little let-up between subs ... I would love that.

No matter,we're told he plays good defense,which to me is important for Doc giving him any playing time. He plays good enough D,call him what you want.

Exactly. I don’t think he’s going to be handling the ball... but i think he’ll play... so whatever he is he is.

[nickagneta]

You people who keep insisting on saying Avery Bradley is a SG are going to be very disappointed when you see that he is actually a PG. I watched about 5-6 of his games at Texas. He played SG there because his coach is a moron who recruited him after already having 2 or 3 PGs on the team and no SGs.

His position in the NBA will be at PG. As I have said elsewhere, his situation is very similar to that of Russell Westbrook who played SG at UCLA because the coach there had other people(Darren Collison or Jrue Holiday can't remember)playing PG. But when he went to OKC he played at PG and excelled. Expect something similar with Bradley.

Yeah, I wholeheartedly agree ... he may move to the SG spot on occasion, but his strong position is point. I'm really excited to see how this kid develops with this team ... we could easily end up being one of the strongest teams at PG, with very little let-up between subs ... I would love that.

No matter,we're told he plays good defense,which to me is important for Doc giving him any playing time. He plays good enough D,call him what you want.

Exactly. I don’t think he’s going to be handling the ball... but i think he’ll play... so whatever he is he is.

Here's my theory on that, I think we will see very little Rondo/Nate, Rondo/Bradley, Nate/Bradley matchups in the back court, especially Rondo/Nate.

I'm not say it won't happen, all I am saying is that it will not be something you see happening game in and game out. I recall people clamoring for Nate to get more time last year and into the playoffs, even if it was alongside Rondo and yet a scan at the game summaries will tell you that for 95% of the time Nate ONLY made it into the game when Rondo was off the floor. I don't see things being any different this year.

And as much as Bradley has the defensive prowess and length to play some at the SG, I see this team developing him into a big PG right from the start, pushing Nate for the back up position. If they feel he can do the job as a back up, Nate becomes a very valuable trade commodity after they are able to trade him in mid December.

Come mid December add Rasheed's contract to that of Nate's $4+ million and package that to a team looking for a backup PG and the C's might be able to secure something  a major asset.

[bballee]

And as much as Bradley has the defensive prowess and length to play some at the SG, I see this team developing him into a big PG right from the start, pushing Nate for the back up position. If they feel he can do the job as a back up, Nate becomes a very valuable trade commodity after they are able to trade him in mid December.

I too see this as a likelihood.  However it would not surprise me to see Bradley play significant time at off guard also.  His defense combined with Rondo could make it difficult for teams to get it up court, or to run their offense when they do.  Bradley's mid-game is quite dangerous so while he may not "stretch" the court, he can not be left unguarded.  He and Gaffney with Rondo could create a blitzkrieg defense and fast break.

[BballTim]

You people who keep insisting on saying Avery Bradley is a SG are going to be very disappointed when you see that he is actually a PG. I watched about 5-6 of his games at Texas. He played SG there because his coach is a moron who recruited him after already having 2 or 3 PGs on the team and no SGs.

His position in the NBA will be at PG. As I have said elsewhere, his situation is very similar to that of Russell Westbrook who played SG at UCLA because the coach there had other people(Darren Collison or Jrue Holiday can't remember)playing PG. But when he went to OKC he played at PG and excelled. Expect something similar with Bradley.

  Even if he'll eventually be a pg, according to some of the draft sites he's a very good catch and shoot guy. Why couldn't he back up Ray for small stretches?

[nickagneta]

You people who keep insisting on saying Avery Bradley is a SG are going to be very disappointed when you see that he is actually a PG. I watched about 5-6 of his games at Texas. He played SG there because his coach is a moron who recruited him after already having 2 or 3 PGs on the team and no SGs.

His position in the NBA will be at PG. As I have said elsewhere, his situation is very similar to that of Russell Westbrook who played SG at UCLA because the coach there had other people(Darren Collison or Jrue Holiday can't remember)playing PG. But when he went to OKC he played at PG and excelled. Expect something similar with Bradley.

  Even if he'll eventually be a pg, according to some of the draft sites he's a very good catch and shoot guy. Why couldn't he back up Ray for small stretches?

Tony Allen backed up Rondo for short stretches of time. It never once made him a PG. Pierce over the last 3 years has played the 4 spot infrequently(1%-2% of the team's total minutes at the position), that doesn't make him a PF.

Will Bradley back up Ray at times? Sure, infrequently but yes. That still does not make him a shooting guard.

[Boris Badenov]

You people who keep insisting on saying Avery Bradley is a SG are going to be very disappointed when you see that he is actually a PG. I watched about 5-6 of his games at Texas. He played SG there because his coach is a moron who recruited him after already having 2 or 3 PGs on the team and no SGs.

His position in the NBA will be at PG. As I have said elsewhere, his situation is very similar to that of Russell Westbrook who played SG at UCLA because the coach there had other people(Darren Collison or Jrue Holiday can't remember)playing PG. But when he went to OKC he played at PG and excelled. Expect something similar with Bradley.

  Even if he'll eventually be a pg, according to some of the draft sites he's a very good catch and shoot guy. Why couldn't he back up Ray for small stretches?

Tony Allen backed up Rondo for short stretches of time. It never once made him a PG. Pierce over the last 3 years has played the 4 spot infrequently(1%-2% of the team's total minutes at the position), that doesn't make him a PF.

Will Bradley back up Ray at times? Sure, infrequently but yes. That still does not make him a shooting guard.

I think the short run issue is whether Bradley can check smaller SGs on defense. If so, he and Nate might be able to play together, with Nate playing SG on offense and the two of them cross-matching on D.

[Jon]

Right now our bench COULD conceivably be as good as last year's, but that's reliant on two big IFs: Perk being 100% or close by the playoffs and Avery Bradley being as good as Tony Allen. 

But even then, we still don't have anyone to guard 3s when Pierce is on the bench. 

I think the bigger concern is that we likely need a better bench than last year to contend.  I really think that even with Perk out, we would've won game 7 if we had a better wing off the bench.  Allen and Pierce were absolutely exhausted by the end of the year from being overplayed.  Get someone to reliably give them time off, and I think we win it all this year. 

[nickagneta]

Right now our bench COULD conceivably be as good as last year's, but that's reliant on two big IFs: Perk being 100% or close by the playoffs and Avery Bradley being as good as Tony Allen. 

But even then, we still don't have anyone to guard 3s when Pierce is on the bench. 

I think the bigger concern is that we likely need a better bench than last year to contend.  I really think that even with Perk out, we would've won game 7 if we had a better wing off the bench.  Allen and Pierce were absolutely exhausted by the end of the year from being overplayed.  Get someone to reliably give them time off, and I think we win it all this year. 

Jon, just wondering, if Pierce and Ray Allen played the least amount of minutes on a per game basis than they ever have in their entire careers last year, at 34 and 35 minutes per game each respectively, were overplayed, then how many minutes per game do they have to be played this year to NOT be considered being overplayed?

33 minutes? 31 minutes? 30 minutes? I really think that if you want a bench good enough to be able to play those guys minutes in that range for a whole year then you are going to need some very high quality backups at the SG and SF positions in order to both be successful enough to win enough games and get the starters rest that you believe they require.And, I'm just not sure we have the resources to find guys of that quality.