Offense Seems Soooooo Much Better With Shaq

[thirstyboots18]

From the looks of it, Doc himself prefers Perk over Shaq with the starting unit via the Herald on Shaq:

“He’s been absolutely terrific with the first unit,” Rivers said. “He’s handled the minutes well. I look at all of them as second-unit guys because when (Kendrick Perkins [stats]) comes back, I think he fits our starting lineup better. But they’re all going to play and they’re all going to help us.”

Yep, we'll have to wait until the time..
but i still think if Shaq continues to perform like
this or even improves on it, there will be some
lobbying for the Big Consultant to start.. time will tell..

I believe, when the time comes, that lobbying will have no effect on Doc.  He will decide based on the health of his players and his own perception of what they can/will do.  And that is how it should be.

[FatjohnReturns]

The amazing thing about this team is the unselfishness of it's All Star (potential HOF) players.  Doc is a terrific coach and I think he can figure out "who" to start "when"...and everyone seems to be on the same page that it is "all about winning..." over who starts or who gets the most points.

Disagree. The one thing Doc has struggeled with over the years is the ability to adjust rotations. I love Perk but the truth is the starters play better with Shaq.

When Perk starts his inability to score easily under the basket stagnates the offense. Shaq is such a force in the paint it opens up all kinds of EASY driving lanes for Rondo,Ray and Pierce.

[Fafnir]

The amazing thing about this team is the unselfishness of it's All Star (potential HOF) players.  Doc is a terrific coach and I think he can figure out "who" to start "when"...and everyone seems to be on the same page that it is "all about winning..." over who starts or who gets the most points.

Disagree. The one thing Doc has struggeled with over the years is the ability to adjust rotations. I love Perk but the truth is the starters play better with Shaq.
Pierce.

Why do you say that based on less than ten games?

Our starting five has been one of the top units in the entire NBA for three years running.

[FatjohnReturns]

The amazing thing about this team is the unselfishness of it's All Star (potential HOF) players.  Doc is a terrific coach and I think he can figure out "who" to start "when"...and everyone seems to be on the same page that it is "all about winning..." over who starts or who gets the most points.

Disagree. The one thing Doc has struggeled with over the years is the ability to adjust rotations. I love Perk but the truth is the starters play better with Shaq.
Pierce.

Why do you say that based on less than ten games?

Our starting five has been one of the top units in the entire NBA for three years running.

Docs struggles are well documented on this blog
http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=36142.0
http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=33860.0

[Fafnir]

The amazing thing about this team is the unselfishness of it's All Star (potential HOF) players.  Doc is a terrific coach and I think he can figure out "who" to start "when"...and everyone seems to be on the same page that it is "all about winning..." over who starts or who gets the most points.

Disagree. The one thing Doc has struggeled with over the years is the ability to adjust rotations. I love Perk but the truth is the starters play better with Shaq.
Pierce.

Why do you say that based on less than ten games?

Our starting five has been one of the top units in the entire NBA for three years running.

Docs struggles are well documented on this blog
http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=36142.0
http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=33860.0

I can also link to threads that call for BBD to play SF. Doc got us to the Finals last year by managing a tough situation rotation wise with a team that was often checked out.

He also has been vocal saying that they can't be so on/off this year. Make your own arguments about Doc if you want, linking to old threads from people who just scream "Doc's awful!" doesn't convince me of anything.

[kozlodoev]

Perk's defense is wasted against scrub bigs.

No, it's not. Perk can actually provide help defense. Shaq can, well, move in the general direction of the ball.

[ballin]

Doc's not awful by any means (I'd say he's one of the better coaches in the league) but he can be stubborn with rotations.

I'm all for waiting until seeing what Perk can give us before saying "Oh, Shaq should be in the starting lineup" or "oh, Perk should be in the starting lineup". The problem is, I'm not too confidant Doc will be that flexible.

Based on his past, it seems very likely that Perk is going back into the starting lineup regardless of what happens. I don't like that sort of predetermination.

[FatjohnReturns]

The playoff run last year was because the players started playing better mostly Rasheed. Doc bummeled the rotations so badly last year that Pierce played when he was hurting while Bill Walker rode the bench.

Danny has taken alot of pressure of Doc by getting this team 10 players deep. There is  a capable backup at every posistion and once Perk comes back your 10 deep plus JO and Erden. So yes i agree Doc has done a great job so far this year. Once Perk is back though it would be unwise to disrupt the rhythm of the starters simply to sooth Perkins ego.

[Spilling Green Dye]

I think Shaq should be in at the end of games instead of Davis.. unless there is a big risk of "hack a shaq".  That's the only time shaq should be sitting.

[Bankshot]

I think Shaq should be in at the end of games instead of Davis.. unless there is a big risk of "hack a shaq".  That's the only time shaq should be sitting.

Overreaction.  Glen just had a bad game, it happens.  But in this case I agree with you.  Baby was having a bad game and Shaq was having a good game and should have been in there instead of Davis for this game.

[vinnie]

Shaq was 5-5 in the first quarter and dominating in the paint. So what to the Celts do? They decide to ignore him the rest of the game. One of the main reasons they lost tonight.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Shaq was 5-5 in the first quarter and dominating in the paint. So what to the Celts do? They decide to ignore him the rest of the game. One of the main reasons they lost tonight.

If you look back through previous games you will see the same situation... I'm starting to believe they forget it's Shaq out there after the first half... like they forget they have a scoring C out there when it matters. I call it "The Perk Effect"... they need to remember that Shaq can get w/e he wants against pretty much any team IF they give him the ball! Ppl dont' think shaq can avg a good amount of points like 18-20 but I find that the last teams he has been on gives him few too little shots... funny that a guy always has a high fg % (even at this age) and get's a few shots a game (5-5 in the first Q to only get 1 shot from the second on? reminds me of his time in Clev and Phx)!

[BballTim]

Perk's defense is wasted against scrub bigs.

No, it's not. Perk can actually provide help defense. Shaq can, well, move in the general direction of the ball.

  On the bright side, his getting there a step late makes for some *great* fouls.

[LooseCannon]

The playoff run last year was because the players started playing better mostly Rasheed. Doc bummeled the rotations so badly last year that Pierce played when he was hurting while Bill Walker rode the bench.

I think that had more to do with Bill Walker not being able to play defense to Doc's standards.

[guava_wrench]

Perk's defense is wasted against scrub bigs.

No, it's not. Perk can actually provide help defense. Shaq can, well, move in the general direction of the ball.

Yes, extra defense alway helps. But the impact is much less. Perk's impact is best when he matches up with players that our other bigs have a hard time defending one on one.

Shaq's offense will still have the same benefit off the bench.