So what about Nenad Krstic?

[LooseCannon]

I see threads about Jeff Green and Chris Johnson, but not about Nenad Krstic.  The guy wasn't some throw-in to make salaries match but a required piece to give Boston a healthy big in return who is at least an adequate back-up.  Despite my suggestions that Semih Erden's could settle into a Krstic level of production with worse offense and better defense, I don't know that much about the guy.

At least, he's a 7-footer who has an offensive game and can hit free throws, so he gives Doc an option when the Celtics could use both offense and length from the center position in the fourth quarter.

Can Krstic play a serviceable 15-20 minutes to combine with at least one healthy O'Neal, BBD, and an occasional KG in a small lineup to provide a committee of centers that should have the team capable of playing as well as it did in the first half of the season?

I think part of that depends on how big is the gap on defense between Krstic and what Shaq has been capable of this season.  And that's where I rely on the fine folks of this forum to give some analysis.  Of course, Krstic is a big downgrade from Perk's defense, but can someone give me an idea of how he compares to Shaquille O'Neal's defense?  One would think that he can't stand his ground against big bodies in the post as well but has the mobility to be a better pick and roll defender.  What say you?

[Roy H.]

Krstic is a decent offensive player with a good jumpshot. He will open things up for Rondo to penetrate when he is in there.

Unfortunately, he's a very stiff, slow defender who doesn't block shots. He's also one of the poorest rebounding centers in the NBA. (51st out of 60 centers in rebounding percentage). In a lot of ways, he's similar to the Mikki Moore we were supposed to be getting, minus the energy.

He should be a competent backup or very good third stringer.

[Celtics4ever]

At this point, Krstic is better than Erden, no?  I think he is so its a minor upgrade over Semih.  Big Drop down from Perk in defense and a drop in boards. 

For his career Perk was a 6.1 RPG guy.  He has been hovering around 7-8 RPG the last few years though.  Krstic is a 5.4 RPG for his career and 4-5 the last few years though not far off his average.

He is a big drop in defense from Perk though.  But not a drop from Erden.

[diehard celtic]

He throws char at people, so that should help against the Lakers 

[Who]

Excellent third string center. Weak rotation player.

Hopefully, Jermaine and Shaq will be healthy enough to keep Krstic pinned to the bench for most of the playoffs.

[celticinorlando]

good shooter and will provide great depth behind shaq and hopefully murphy

[Rondo2287]

Excellent third string center. Weak rotation player.

Hopefully, Jermaine and Shaq will be healthy enough to keep Krstic pinned to the bench for most of the playoffs.

Yup, don't know if anybody heard Danny on the Planet Mikey show last night, but he said that he anticipates Shaq and JO being effective for us for the rest of the season, gave me some hope.

[ssspence]

Krstic is a decent offensive player with a good jumpshot. He will open things up for Rondo to penetrate when he is in there.

Unfortunately, he's a very stiff, slow defender who doesn't block shots. He's also one of the poorest rebounding centers in the NBA. (51st out of 60 centers in rebounding percentage). In a lot of ways, he's similar to the Mikki Moore we were supposed to be getting, minus the energy.

He should be a competent backup or very good third stringer.

Don't see the Mikki Moore similarities, beyond subpar rebounding.

Krstic is bigger, slower -- more of a traditional 5. Krstic can shoot. Krstic can shoot FTs. So his position in the rotation is different, and his ability to provide a little scoring on the 2nd unit is as well.

He could also finish a game in a pinch -- something Doc has been hesitant to allow Perk to do, and will be hesitant to allow Shaq to do -- because they can't shoot FTs.

[LooseCannon]

He is a big drop in defense from Perk though.  But not a drop from Erden.

Well, yeah, but my question is how big of a difference is there between him and Shaq on defense.

[Chris]

He is a big drop in defense from Perk though.  But not a drop from Erden.

Well, yeah, but my question is how big of a difference is there between him and Shaq on defense.

Shaq is a better post defender, but Krstic is a better overall defender.

I actually think Krstic is about an average defender, and will be a lot better than people expect once he gets into the C's system.  He may not bring what Perk brings, but he won't be a liability.

[Roy H.]

Krstic is a decent offensive player with a good jumpshot. He will open things up for Rondo to penetrate when he is in there.

Unfortunately, he's a very stiff, slow defender who doesn't block shots. He's also one of the poorest rebounding centers in the NBA. (51st out of 60 centers in rebounding percentage). In a lot of ways, he's similar to the Mikki Moore we were supposed to be getting, minus the energy.

He should be a competent backup or very good third stringer.

Don't see the Mikki Moore similarities, beyond subpar rebounding.

Krstic is bigger, slower -- more of a traditional 5. Krstic can shoot. Krstic can shoot FTs. So his position in the rotation is different, and his ability to provide a little scoring on the 2nd unit is as well.

He could also finish a game in a pinch -- something Doc has been hesitant to allow Perk to do, and will be hesitant to allow Shaq to do -- because they can't shoot FTs.

Mikki was supposed to be a guy who could spread the floor by hitting mid-range jumpshots.  He was brought in for offense, but his defense and rebounding were largely considered poor to very poor.

Take out the name "Mikki" and replace it with "Krstic", and it's equally apt.  They have the same strengths and weaknesses.  Mikki is poor on defense because he gets pushed around, fouls too much, and doesn't seem very cerebral, while Krstic is poor because he's too slow, isn't physical enough, and doesn't seem very cerebral.  At the end of the day, though, they're both offensively-oriented centers who aren't all that good at offense.

[Redz]

Krstic is a decent offensive player with a good jumpshot. He will open things up for Rondo to penetrate when he is in there.

Unfortunately, he's a very stiff, slow defender who doesn't block shots. He's also one of the poorest rebounding centers in the NBA. (51st out of 60 centers in rebounding percentage). In a lot of ways, he's similar to the Mikki Moore we were supposed to be getting, minus the energy.

He should be a competent backup or very good third stringer.

Don't see the Mikki Moore similarities, beyond subpar rebounding.

Krstic is bigger, slower -- more of a traditional 5. Krstic can shoot. Krstic can shoot FTs. So his position in the rotation is different, and his ability to provide a little scoring on the 2nd unit is as well.

He could also finish a game in a pinch -- something Doc has been hesitant to allow Perk to do, and will be hesitant to allow Shaq to do -- because they can't shoot FTs.

Mikki was supposed to be a guy who could spread the floor by hitting mid-range jumpshots.  He was brought in for offense, but his defense and rebounding were largely considered poor to very poor.

Take out the name "Mikki" and replace it with "Krstic", and it's equally apt.  They have the same strengths and weaknesses.  Mikki is poor on defense because he gets pushed around, fouls too much, and doesn't seem very cerebral, while Krstic is poor because he's too slow, isn't physical enough, and doesn't seem very cerebral.  At the end of the day, though, they're both offensively-oriented centers who aren't all that good at offense.

So, if Krstic doesn't show a propensity for dumb fouls he is Moore's superior?

[Fred Roberts]

The biggest issue with Kristic is the horrific hair cut. I'm willing to bet that he's forced to buzz that terrible du within a few days so he at least looks somewhat like an athlete.

[droponov]

Shaq is a better post defender, but Krstic is a better overall defender.

Actually I'm surprised with Krstic's defensive numbers, especially on post-ups. Truly stellar. He has less than 100 plays in the database but he ranks top-10 league wide. I haven't seen the film yet, but now I'm curious. Probably a mix of randomness, over-help, favourable matchups and maybe more defensive talent to defend the post than I thought.

[Roy H.]

Krstic is a decent offensive player with a good jumpshot. He will open things up for Rondo to penetrate when he is in there.

Unfortunately, he's a very stiff, slow defender who doesn't block shots. He's also one of the poorest rebounding centers in the NBA. (51st out of 60 centers in rebounding percentage). In a lot of ways, he's similar to the Mikki Moore we were supposed to be getting, minus the energy.

He should be a competent backup or very good third stringer.

Don't see the Mikki Moore similarities, beyond subpar rebounding.

Krstic is bigger, slower -- more of a traditional 5. Krstic can shoot. Krstic can shoot FTs. So his position in the rotation is different, and his ability to provide a little scoring on the 2nd unit is as well.

He could also finish a game in a pinch -- something Doc has been hesitant to allow Perk to do, and will be hesitant to allow Shaq to do -- because they can't shoot FTs.

Mikki was supposed to be a guy who could spread the floor by hitting mid-range jumpshots.  He was brought in for offense, but his defense and rebounding were largely considered poor to very poor.

Take out the name "Mikki" and replace it with "Krstic", and it's equally apt.  They have the same strengths and weaknesses.  Mikki is poor on defense because he gets pushed around, fouls too much, and doesn't seem very cerebral, while Krstic is poor because he's too slow, isn't physical enough, and doesn't seem very cerebral.  At the end of the day, though, they're both offensively-oriented centers who aren't all that good at offense.

So, if Krstic doesn't show a propensity for dumb fouls he is Moore's superior?

Haha.  Yep.  (Also, he's better offensively.  Mikki could shoot, but he passed up a lot of open looks that Krstic will drain.)