D West addition

[Birdbrain]

The addition of Delonte will make it much easier to replace Ray if/when he goes into a shooting slump.  Doc's hands were tied with only Nate Robinson and his lack of size as alternative for Ray.  I look forward to seeing a lot of the Rondo/West back court as the season progresses. This isn't meant to be shot at Ray because I think he still has some gas left in his tank but, it's nice to have alternatives just in case.

Of course Delonte has been known to stray off the range from time to time but, let's hope that part of his life in the past.

[wdleehi]

I think it gives the bench a complete backcourt offensively.  Just because Rondo is out, doesn't mean you can just press the full court anymore.  Both guards being able to get the ball up and into the offense will help the overall 2nd offense. 


I think both are strong enough of perimeter defenders along with have a good defender at C (J O'Neal)

[clover]

I think it gives the bench a complete backcourt offensively.  Just because Rondo is out, doesn't mean you can just press the full court anymore.  Both guards being able to get the ball up and into the offense will help the overall 2nd offense. 


I think both are strong enough of perimeter defenders along with have a good defender at C (J O'Neal)

The Nate/DWest combo should help mitigate Daniels' offensive weaknesses as well.  JO and BBD both have pretty good range up front, too.

[moiso]

I love the DWest addition.  Apparently Doc does too judging by his postgame remarks.  He mentioned the calming influence Delonte has on the offense(kind of ironic considering his off court issues).

It helps offensively and defensively.  On offense it takes the pressure off of Nate to do all the desision making.  As someone said in a thread yesterday, having two quasi point guards more than makes up for the fact that neither is a pure point.  Having two creators takes so much pressure off of each guard and leaves the defense guessing with no one place to focus on.

On defense it's going to be so much fun.  We now have three guards who are among the best in the league at pressuring the ball fullcourt and otherwise.  Maybe it will be four if Bradley earns some minutes.  That's just awesome.  Rick Pitino would be salivating if he had this squad.  I expect the guard defense to wreak havoc and create a lot of momentum and easy offense.  We are always going to have fresh bodies to pressure the ball.  The swarming defense of the guards will confuse opposing teams a little bit and take some pressure off of our bigs who are slowing down a little bit.  I also expect this to enable Baby to draw tons of charges against inexperienced teams.

Delonte helps in just about every category.  Along with our Big Three he is probably one of our most complete and well rounded players.  He is an exciting addition, and he plays like a true Celtic.  Let's just hope he spends more time on the court than not, because he is going to be a very important piece for the team.

[footey]

Delonte may turn out to be the most important new acquisition this off season. He can create his own shot when the offense breaks down in the second unit, something that is prone to occur from time to time.  More than makes up for the loss of TA.

I think that D West and Glen are the two most important guys off the bench. 

[pearljammer10]

I just dont understand why Doc says Delonte is his back up point guard. Why wouldn't he be the back up 2 guard. Delonte has never been a great ball handler and he doesn't know how to run the offense. Its all dribbling when he has the ball in his hands at the top of the key to start the offense. Let Nate run the offense and use Delonte to come off screens and shoot. That's his best attribute.

[Chris]

I just dont understand why Doc says Delonte is his back up point guard. Why wouldn't he be the back up 2 guard. Delonte has never been a great ball handler and he doesn't know how to run the offense. Its all dribbling when he has the ball in his hands at the top of the key to start the offense. Let Nate run the offense and use Delonte to come off screens and shoot. That's his best attribute.

I haven't heard the quotes, but it might be a thing where Delonte is the backup PG and Nate is the backup SG, much like Tony/Daniels were the backup PG while House was the backup SG.

Frankly, it doesn't mean much of anything.

[TBreezy]

It helps offensively and defensively.  On offense it takes the pressure off of Nate to do all the desision making.  As someone said in a thread yesterday, having two quasi point guards more than makes up for the fact that neither is a pure point. 

ACtually to me theya re the perfect compliment.  You can question Nates 1/2 court decision making, but he is a solid ball handler, and difficult to pressure while bringing the ball up.  Delmonte is the exact opposite a combo gaurd who excels at decision making in the 1/2 court, but with a handle that leaves alot to be desired.  If his handle((s) right is nice too) was better he would easily be a starting point in this league.

I think this is a smart move.  Either can take sets at the off gaurd and one of them is bound to have a penetration advantage nearly everytime down.  The question is defense - can and will nate maintain the on the ball pressure, as that will be the catalyst to the defense of the second u.

[wdleehi]

I just dont understand why Doc says Delonte is his back up point guard. Why wouldn't he be the back up 2 guard. Delonte has never been a great ball handler and he doesn't know how to run the offense. Its all dribbling when he has the ball in his hands at the top of the key to start the offense. Let Nate run the offense and use Delonte to come off screens and shoot. That's his best attribute.

Probably because Nate is more effective being set up then trying to set up others.  (I am sure West is to, but Nate is the guy that can explode offensively) 


If either of these guys do not get the team into it's offense fast enough, I have no doubt Doc will just put the ball into the other guys hands to do that job. 

[clover]

I don't think Ray gets replaced in a slump, but this assures much more rest for him and that there's no pressure to play him with the starters AND the bench too.

[wdleehi]

I don't think Ray gets replaced in a slump, but this assures much more rest for him and that there's no pressure to play him with the starters AND the bench too.

I agree unless of course the slump is being caused by a nagging injury. 

[Chris]

I don't think Ray gets replaced in a slump, but this assures much more rest for him and that there's no pressure to play him with the starters AND the bench too.

I agree unless of course the slump is being caused by a nagging injury. 

Or just tired legs.  I think there were a lot of times last season when Ray looked like he had dead legs, which killed his shot, but because they didn't really have any wings who could hit an open shot off the bench, they had little choice but to keep him out there, hoping he would "shoot his way out of it", but it only seemed to get worse.

Now, you can put West in, and not really change the offense at all.  That is a nice luxury.

[wdleehi]

I don't think Ray gets replaced in a slump, but this assures much more rest for him and that there's no pressure to play him with the starters AND the bench too.

I agree unless of course the slump is being caused by a nagging injury. 

Or just tired legs.  I think there were a lot of times last season when Ray looked like he had dead legs, which killed his shot, but because they didn't really have any wings who could hit an open shot off the bench, they had little choice but to keep him out there, hoping he would "shoot his way out of it", but it only seemed to get worse.

Now, you can put West in, and not really change the offense at all.  That is a nice luxury.

I agree with the "save him for the 4th" strategy of reducing his minutes for the 1st 40 minutes of the game.  The last 8 minutes of a game that is close enough, that's where the Celtics need Ray's legs. 

[Bankshot]

I just dont understand why Doc says Delonte is his back up point guard. Why wouldn't he be the back up 2 guard. Delonte has never been a great ball handler and he doesn't know how to run the offense. Its all dribbling when he has the ball in his hands at the top of the key to start the offense. Let Nate run the offense and use Delonte to come off screens and shoot. That's his best attribute.

If that's what Doc said, I don't understand it either.  I don't like Delonte's decisionmaking as a point guard.  He seems to dribble a lot, not knowing what to do or how to set things up.  But I do think his passing out of the 2 guard spot is decent.  Why mess with what works for him?  Nate has his problems too though.  He looked good setting things up, but he has to learn when to provide his own offense.  There was one play where Nate was wide open for a 3, but passed it to Daniels for a 3, which is not Daniels' strong suit.  He should have taken the shot himself.

[j804]

I love the DWest addition.  Apparently Doc does too judging by his postgame remarks.  He mentioned the calming influence Delonte has on the offense(kind of ironic considering his off court issues).

It helps offensively and defensively.  On offense it takes the pressure off of Nate to do all the desision making.  As someone said in a thread yesterday, having two quasi point guards more than makes up for the fact that neither is a pure point.  Having two creators takes so much pressure off of each guard and leaves the defense guessing with no one place to focus on.

On defense it's going to be so much fun.  We now have three guards who are among the best in the league at pressuring the ball fullcourt and otherwise.  Maybe it will be four if Bradley earns some minutes.  That's just awesome.  Rick Pitino would be salivating if he had this squad.  I expect the guard defense to wreak havoc and create a lot of momentum and easy offense.  We are always going to have fresh bodies to pressure the ball.  The swarming defense of the guards will confuse opposing teams a little bit and take some pressure off of our bigs who are slowing down a little bit.  I also expect this to enable Baby to draw tons of charges against inexperienced teams.

Delonte helps in just about every category.  Along with our Big Three he is probably one of our most complete and well rounded players.  He is an exciting addition, and he plays like a true Celtic.  Let's just hope he spends more time on the court than not, because he is going to be a very important piece for the team.

I agree with everything you said the key is lets HOPE his backs not a concern and he remains healthy.