Need 3rd string PG bad: Banish Bradley

[aporel#18]

Ugh, I can't blame Avery for the disaster of the second half. He certainly blew a pair of possessions, and he's a long way ahead to be a rotation player for the Celtics.

But the whole unit was unable to get the ball to Ray, and Murphy and Green are too new to the team, they'll also need time and practice to get it. When the starters went back in the game, their heads weren't in the game, so the defense and offense was awful.

It's still too soon to judge the new players, in a pair of weeks they'll figure out how to play better. But it's unfair to blame Avery instead.

[PaulPierce34G]

With the final roster spots being filled by Murphy, Chris Johnson and the pending signing of Pavlovic to address the back-up to the back-up 3 spot, it's either sign a back-up PG for Rondo by cutting Avery Bradley or simply keeping him.

I think with the current Davis injury and the always constant uncertainty of health, especially with the big men, this Chris Johnson fellow will probably be on board for the rest of the year as front-court insurance. I'm not at all in support of picking up Leon Powe.  He is too much of a risk in terms of injury.  You can say, "Well, at least he is playoff tested, whereas Johnson is not."  You've got to get playoff tested sometime, though.

I'm unsure what other options might be available outside of Johnson. So, please tell me of any other possibilities, if available.  However, hopefully, Shaq can stay healthy for these last few months of basketball, JO can give at least something, even a few minutes/game if he truly does come back, & Baby returns just fine. If this happens to be the case, then we won't have to worry about using Chris Johnson in the playoff environment.

The team needs roster padding more-so in the front court than the back.  So, as I said prior, I think either Chris Johnson is here to stay for the rest of the season or there's someone available whom I just am not aware of.  I just think Powe is in the same boat at JO when it comes to the injuries...a body taking up a spot and contributing nothing.

In regards to this whole idea of picking up a back-up PG, Rondo is still very young and is fully capable of giving a good 40-42 mpg come playoff time...Obviously, not ideal. However, it isn't crazy.

I think Boston doesn't sign a back-up PG, even with Arroyo being available...They'll go with what they have...West, when he returns presumably on Friday, will back-up Rondo and spell Ray sometimes. We just have to hope he can avoid injury for the rest of the year.  It's a risk, yes, but I just think the bigger concern is keeping the more-so injury prone front court stocked than the PG position. Maybe everything will click at the right time.

This team is well stocked at the 2 and 3 slots...Green will back up Pierce and sometimes play the 4 in smaller lineups, hence Pavlovic picking up some minutes at the 3 spot when needed.


PG: Rondo/Bradley (West getting time here, too)
SG: Ray Allen/West/Wafer (Pierce can play the 2, as well in some lineups, if on the floor with Green at the same time in the 3 slot)
SF: Pierce/Green/Pavlovic
PF: Garnett/Davis/Murphy (Green can get time here, too, if they decide to go small)
C: Kristic, Shaq, JO, Chris Johnson (Davis getting time here, as well where Doc sees fit...and Sometimes KG can play the 5, too, though not typical)

I honestly like the Perk trade, and the new buy-out signings. I think it really made the team a lot more versatile in being able to create and adapt to other line-ups that other teams put out on the floor.  There's a lot of possibilities with this roster...it has a good amount of interchangeable parts.

There's probably possibilities I haven't even listed, so feel free to add, if you want.

[Rondo_is_better]

Our team is absurdly deep. At what point will we not be mad about some "depth issue?"

[Lucky17]

Would love to think that Delonte will be healthy throughout the playoffs.

But I think you have to assume he won't be. And without an experienced backup PG, this team could have problems.

I would prefer Arroyo over Chris Johnson for the last roster spot.

[BballTim]

With the final roster spots being filled by Murphy, Chris Johnson and the pending signing of Pavlovic to address the back-up to the back-up 3 spot, it's either sign a back-up PG (Cut Bradley) for Rondo or keep Bradley.

  Isn't Johnson on a 10 day contract? They're *not* going to cut Bradley and keep him.

[PaulPierce34G]

The roster is currently structured like this

Current Starters:
Rondo
Allen
Pierce
Garnett
Kristic

Bench
(including injuries, marked with * & the pending signing of Pavlovic)
*West
*Shaq
*J. O'Neal
*Davis
Wafer
Green
Murphy
Pavlovic
Bradley
Chris Johnson

15 players, no current open roster spots.

The thread starter believes the Celts need a back-up point guard for Rondo...So the choice is to either cut a big man, clearly Johnson, which IMO, isn't the wisest choice because the bulk of our injuries have been in the front-court...Or option #2, cut Avery Bradley, which I believe the Celtics do not want to do to open a slot for Arroyo. I can't see any of the 2's or 3's getting cut, the team has shown good health all year long at these positions, as well as made the trade last week and the signing of Pavlovic this evening.

So, it's a double edged sword...You can weaken your front-court, which has been known to be injury prone, or keep your roster as is, and pray to God that D. West stays injury free, to avoid placing the primary back-up responsibility on Bradley.

I personally favor keeping the roster as is.  The bigs have not shown real consistency in staying healthy. We got Murphy to replace Perkins.  I'm just all for keeping the more injury prone position well stocked, just to play it safe.

I'm unsure if Johnson is on 10 day deal, but if so, I think they can only offer him one more 10 day and then after that it's either cut him loose or keep him for the rest of the year.

Keeping him keeps the front court stocked, or as I said, there might be someone available I am totally unaware of.

My overall point is, I am willing to risk the PG slot's overall depth, pray that West stays healthy for these last few months rather than weaken the front court which doesn't seem to stay healthy for more than a week or two.

Pros and cons to everything, fellow CB brethren.  

[csfansince60s]

Mario should have been on the big screen tonight.

  Gino called. He's taking away your tommy points.

 

I lost them all last June. Hope to double up this June!

[Greenbean]

With the final roster spots being filled by Murphy, Chris Johnson and the pending signing of Pavlovic to address the back-up to the back-up 3 spot, it's either sign a back-up PG for Rondo by cutting Avery Bradley or simply keeping him.

I think with the current Davis injury and the always constant uncertainty of health, especially with the big men, this Chris Johnson fellow will probably be on board for the rest of the year as front-court insurance. I'm not at all in support of picking up Leon Powe.  He is too much of a risk in terms of injury.  You can say, "Well, at least he is playoff tested, whereas Johnson is not."  You've got to get playoff tested sometime, though.

I'm unsure what other options might be available outside of Johnson. So, please tell me of any other possibilities, if available.  However, hopefully, Shaq can stay healthy for these last few months of basketball, JO can give at least something, even a few minutes/game if he truly does come back, & Baby returns just fine. If this happens to be the case, then we won't have to worry about using Chris Johnson in the playoff environment.

The team needs roster padding more-so in the front court than the back.  So, as I said prior, I think either Chris Johnson is here to stay for the rest of the season or there's someone available whom I just am not aware of.  I just think Powe is in the same boat at JO when it comes to the injuries...a body taking up a spot and contributing nothing.

In regards to this whole idea of picking up a back-up PG, Rondo is still very young and is fully capable of giving a good 40-42 mpg come playoff time...Obviously, not ideal. However, it isn't crazy.

I think Boston doesn't sign a back-up PG, even with Arroyo being available...They'll go with what they have...West, when he returns presumably on Friday, will back-up Rondo and spell Ray sometimes. We just have to hope he can avoid injury for the rest of the year.  It's a risk, yes, but I just think the bigger concern is keeping the more-so injury prone front court stocked than the PG position. Maybe everything will click at the right time.

This team is well stocked at the 2 and 3 slots...Green will back up Pierce and sometimes play the 4 in smaller lineups, hence Pavlovic picking up some minutes at the 3 spot when needed.


PG: Rondo/Bradley (West getting time here, too)
SG: Ray Allen/West/Wafer (Pierce can play the 2, as well in some lineups, if on the floor with Green at the same time in the 3 slot)
SF: Pierce/Green/Pavlovic
PF: Garnett/Davis/Murphy (Green can get time here, too, if they decide to go small)
C: Kristic, Shaq, JO, Chris Johnson (Davis getting time here, as well where Doc sees fit...and Sometimes KG can play the 5, too, though not typical)

I honestly like the Perk trade, and the new buy-out signings. I think it really made the team a lot more versatile in being able to create and adapt to other line-ups that other teams put out on the floor.  There's a lot of possibilities with this roster...it has a good amount of interchangeable parts.

There's probably possibilities I haven't even listed, so feel free to add, if you want.

The roster is currently structured like this

Current Starters:
Rondo
Allen
Pierce
Garnett
Kristic

Bench
(including injuries, marked with * & the pending signing of Pavlovic)
*West
*Shaq
*J. O'Neal
*Davis
Wafer
Green
Murphy
Pavlovic
Bradley
Chris Johnson

15 players, no current open roster spots.

The thread starter believes the Celts need a back-up point guard for Rondo...So the choice is to either cut a big man, clearly Johnson, which IMO, isn't the wisest choice because the bulk of our injuries have been in the front-court...Or option #2, cut Avery Bradley, which I believe the Celtics do not want to do to open a slot for Arroyo. I can't see any of the 2's or 3's getting cut, the team has shown good health all year long at these positions, as well as made the trade last week and the signing of Pavlovic this evening.

So, it's a double edged sword...You can weaken your front-court, which has been known to be injury prone, or keep your roster as is, and pray to God that D. West stays injury free, to avoid placing the primary back-up responsibility on Bradley.

I personally favor keeping the roster as is.  The bigs have not shown real consistency in staying healthy. We got Murphy to replace Perkins.  I'm just all for keeping the more injury prone position well stocked, just to play it safe.

I'm unsure if Johnson is on 10 day deal, but if so, I think they can only offer him one more 10 day and then after that it's either cut him loose or keep him for the rest of the year.

Keeping him keeps the front court stocked, or as I said, there might be someone available I am totally unaware of.

My overall point is, I am willing to risk the PG slot's overall depth, pray that West stays healthy for these last few months rather than weaken the front court which doesn't seem to stay healthy for more than a week or two.

Pros and cons to everything, fellow CB brethren. 

CelticsBlog...where posters dedicate 900 words to the 3rd string point guard situation.

I love this place!

TP

[clover]

Johnson's on his first and last 10-dayer with the C's.  If there's a PG out guard the C's could add, they'd simply put him in Johnson's slot.

Patience with Bradley--can he even legally buy a drink yet?

[ssspence]

With the final roster spots being filled by Murphy, Chris Johnson and the pending signing of Pavlovic to address the back-up to the back-up 3 spot, it's either sign a back-up PG (Cut Bradley) for Rondo or keep Bradley.

  Isn't Johnson on a 10 day contract? They're *not* going to cut Bradley and keep him.

Seriously. Johnson is not staying over Bradley. He's here for another couple of days. C'mon.

[Vermont Green]

This whole issue boils down to Delonte and his health.  If he can play, we are plenty deep at PG.  If he can't, we are extremely thin with Bradley as our 2nd PG.  I believe that Chris Johnson is completely expendable and unless Danny is very sure about DW's health, he should try to pick up another PG for insurance.

[pearljammer10]

I'll be the first to admit that Bradley hasnt been the most impressive this season, but Im not ready to give up on him yet. He has some signs of great potential and I actually took note of it during the Suns game last night. Kid moves his feet quicker than anyone I've seen in a while. Nash would blow by him with a quick move and then Avery was able to slide his feet to get right back in front of him. It was quite amazing and shows some great promise.

[xmuscularghandix]

Dwest will do that.

truth. but i agree bradley hasn't impressed me too much. this sounds ridiculous but... was gabe pruitt actually a more legit nba point guard than bradley?

Oh yea defenitely... (sarcasm)

[Bankshot]

I hope we sign Arroyo.  He's the best point guard available that probably wouldn't mind being 3rd string.

I don't trust Delonte to stay healthy and don't trust Bradley to step in if Delonte gets hurt.

Can the Celtics cut Johnson before his 10 day contract is up? 

[NervousPervis]

Rondo plays 40-42 minutes in the playoffs... West will do fine...