Murphy vs. Kristic

[winsomme]

If we in fact sign Murphy, who should play of the two?

My instinct is Murphy. better rebounder.

  How about his defense, or the fact that he gets outrebounded as badly as Krstic when he played center last year?

Kristic is not a good defender. If he was OKC would have had no reason to make the trade.

[droponov]

If we in fact sign Murphy, who should play of the two?

My instinct is Murphy. better rebounder.

Murphy is more a pf, while KRLE is a C

6-11 vs 7 ft....why is Kristic more of a center? They both are shooters on offense.

Murphy plays against PFs while Nenad is a little more physical to play centers. In a pinch Murphy can play center against slow footed centers, but Nenad may not be able to hols too many quicker PFs.

Nenad is not more physical than Murphy from what I've seen and they are the same size and both slow...

Krstic is a good post defender and a below average defender in other aspects.

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=44863.msg930374#msg930374

Looking at a full season of plays (last season), Krstic ranked 19th in the league amongst centers (including pfs who played the position) for post-up plays (minimum 150 plays). That's a more accurate measure of his talent than his rank this season. In this type of plays he allowed 0.87 points per play (with a 44.4FG% allowed, 9.5% shooting fouls committed and 8.6% turnovers forced). Exact same efficiency of guys like Noah, Gasol and Dalembert. For good measure, Perkins ranked 5th with 0.75 ppp allowed and Jermaine O'Neal 7th with 0.75 ppg. This season his numbers improved, but I don't think he did.

So yeah, watching him I think he's an above average but not excellent post defender. The type of defender that will contest shots by raising both his arms and staying on the ground, has enough footwork to not be thrown away of the spot in most situations and isn't easy to back down. He isn't very physical, doesn't bump people before the ball arrives, something that the Celtics do very well when defending Howard, for example. And doesn't really contest the shots, it's more like he bothers. That's generally enough to make one competent, even if excellent gets out of touch.

Anyway, it's the pick'n'roll defense and the help defense at the rim that are more shaky.

Murphy is one of the worst defenders in the entire league.

Even in stuff that Krstic is poor, say shot-blocking, Murphy manages to be even worse.

To defend center and help at the rim, Krstic is definitely the best option (defensively, overall Murphy may make more sense).

Murphy, to be a regular fixture in the rotation, should take over Big Baby's minutes (and the rotation arranged to insert him in strong defensive units). If Glen Davis keeps his spot and minutes, both Murphy and Krstic should be used situationally.

[Evantime34]

In the playoffs neither probably play much. I see Murphy and Krstic splitting the role Semih had. Spot starter but banished to the bench when everyone is healthy.

[thirstyboots18]

With the way fouls were called last year in the finals, you can't have too many bigs.

[MBz]

I think a lot of this stuff depends on health.  First off, Shaq and KG will be are starters obviously.  Then I am starting to see people think that these guys are going to pass Davis in the rotation, that isn't going to happen.  Davis is our first big off the bench it's going to stay that way, unless we play a small team where they may use Jeff Green. After Davis, if Jermaine O'Neal is healthy he's your 4th big.  That leaves us with Krstic and Murphy as 5/6.  If that's the case, they're only hitting the floor if guys are in foul trouble and if that's the case Doc may even decide to go small and use Jeff Green as the 4.  They will hardly see the floor come playoff time.

[wdleehi]

Hopefully come playoff time, neither.


I want to see the Oneals being the two headed C.


I want to see KG backed up by Davis (with touches of Green and JO)

[Greenbean]

Whoever defends better.

I know the reports are that both of these guys are terrible defenders. I want to see what they do in green. Defense is a mentality and this team preaches it.

How many more guys do we have to watch come into Boston with the reputation as a poor defender end with a reputation as a good defender or at least servicable?

Ray Allen, Nate Robinson, Paul Pierce, Von Wafer, Semih Erden (he was getting it as the year went on).

Defense is 80% effort and lack of defensive effort will get you a spot on the bench on this team. It is a culture. I expect both of these guys to buy into it. Whoever has more energy defensively should start and when Shaq comes back, should get the most minutes as the backup C.

I will reserve final judgement until I see them play at least 5 games.

[footey]

This is about match ups. Murphy gives Doc the luxury of bringing in another long guy for Garnett, or to play with Garnett, rather than Baby. Gives Doc an option to play "small" at the 5.  Just gives him a lot more options, which is what the NBA has become about.  We would be a nasty bench for sure.  But Murphy would not start at the 5 no matter what (unless Krystic got hurt).

[Cman]

It will depend on who picks things up quicker.  I'm actually betting Nenad gets the nod more often than Murphy.

[Spilling Green Dye]

I think Murphy wins this hands down.  The real question IMO is Murphy vs BBD.

[Chris]

I think Murphy wins this hands down.  The real question IMO is Murphy vs BBD.

They both have their strengths, and both would see significant time.  Davis is the better defender, and more of a threat down low, but Murphy is the better rebounder and can stretch the floor even more. 

[LooseCannon]

Well, break it down by team, then, if it depends on matchups.  Assuming Shaq is healthy and JO is not, who should get the most minutes between Krstic, Murphy, and BBD against the following teams:

Bulls
Heat
Magic
Spurs
Lakers
Thunder