Nice Look at a shortened bench

[BballTim]

It is interesting in that this was probably a good idea of what the playoff rotation will look like, though hopefully Shaq will start and either JO or Nenad will be getting spot minutes backing him up (with the rest of C minutes going to KG and BBD).

  JO coming back would be nice but not really expected.

  Green playing well would be big in the playoffs because PP could slide over to the two for some of Ray's breaks.

  We're still one big short but with one healthy O'Neal our bench should be a big advantage over most if not all of the league.

[billysan]

It is interesting in that this was probably a good idea of what the playoff rotation will look like, though hopefully Shaq will start and either JO or Nenad will be getting spot minutes backing him up (with the rest of C minutes going to KG and BBD).

  JO coming back would be nice but not really expected.

  Green playing well would be big in the playoffs because PP could slide over to the two for some of Ray's breaks.

  We're still one big short but with one healthy O'Neal our bench should be a big advantage over most if not all of the league.

I dont put a lot of hope or faith is having a healthy JO for the playoffs. I wouldnt be surprised to see him try and play hurt just because he wants to be a part of getting a ring. dont blame him for that but also dont expect him to be much help. Being wrong would be nice but so far I am batting pretty high against JO.


A healthy Shaq for 20+ mpg is another matter. This completely changes our team dynamic and puts much needed length, size, toughness and most importantly a real low post threat that must be defended at our disposal. Just the fouls Saqe draws are invaluable, maybe as valuable as the points he scores. It puts Krstic on the second unit and allows him to play the other 20+ mpg at the five unless we need beef (Howard) and then we use Baby.

Baby-Krstic is a nice second unit set of bigs that will be very productive. They are nearly equal to many teams starting bigs and superior to most everyones second unit bigs. If Troy Murphy's shot starts falling regularly and he rebounds, I look for him to get a few second unit minutes as well.

If we have offense on the second unit then that takes a lot of pressure off of Pierce, Ray and KG. That is always a good thing.

[Bankshot]

I'm loving what Baby, Green and West are bringing.  Once that starters get back on track the Celtics will be rolling!

[winsomme]

It is interesting in that this was probably a good idea of what the playoff rotation will look like, though hopefully Shaq will start and either JO or Nenad will be getting spot minutes backing him up (with the rest of C minutes going to KG and BBD).

  JO coming back would be nice but not really expected.

  Green playing well would be big in the playoffs because PP could slide over to the two for some of Ray's breaks.

  We're still one big short but with one healthy O'Neal our bench should be a big advantage over most if not all of the league.

the whole trade has hinged on Shaq (also to a lesser extent JO) coming back ever since it was made. Even Danny has said we could be in trouble if these guys don't come back for the playoffs. So he clearly was rolling the dice in that respect.

as far as the getting rest for the starters, this is why it is imperative that Shaq comes back this week. He needs about 10 games with the starters to get up and running IMO and that would still leave time for the Big 4 to get some rest before playoffs start.

[BballTim]

It is interesting in that this was probably a good idea of what the playoff rotation will look like, though hopefully Shaq will start and either JO or Nenad will be getting spot minutes backing him up (with the rest of C minutes going to KG and BBD).

  JO coming back would be nice but not really expected.

  Green playing well would be big in the playoffs because PP could slide over to the two for some of Ray's breaks.

  We're still one big short but with one healthy O'Neal our bench should be a big advantage over most if not all of the league.

the whole trade has hinged on Shaq (also to a lesser extent JO) coming back ever since it was made. Even Danny has said we could be in trouble if these guys don't come back for the playoffs. So he clearly was rolling the dice in that respect.

as far as the getting rest for the starters, this is why it is imperative that Shaq comes back this week. He needs about 10 games with the starters to get up and running IMO and that would still leave time for the Big 4 to get some rest before playoffs start.

  Even if we had Perk we'd be in trouble with only one center.

[BudweiserCeltic]

It is interesting in that this was probably a good idea of what the playoff rotation will look like, though hopefully Shaq will start and either JO or Nenad will be getting spot minutes backing him up (with the rest of C minutes going to KG and BBD).

  JO coming back would be nice but not really expected.

  Green playing well would be big in the playoffs because PP could slide over to the two for some of Ray's breaks.

  We're still one big short but with one healthy O'Neal our bench should be a big advantage over most if not all of the league.

the whole trade has hinged on Shaq (also to a lesser extent JO) coming back ever since it was made. Even Danny has said we could be in trouble if these guys don't come back for the playoffs. So he clearly was rolling the dice in that respect.

as far as the getting rest for the starters, this is why it is imperative that Shaq comes back this week. He needs about 10 games with the starters to get up and running IMO and that would still leave time for the Big 4 to get some rest before playoffs start.

  Even if we had Perk we'd be in trouble with only one center.

Exactly, we'd be in a similar if not the same kind of "trouble".

[Brendan]

JO is insurance for Shaq at this point. Hopefully JO is in good enough shape and ready to go if Shaq misses a game.

[winsomme]

It is interesting in that this was probably a good idea of what the playoff rotation will look like, though hopefully Shaq will start and either JO or Nenad will be getting spot minutes backing him up (with the rest of C minutes going to KG and BBD).

  JO coming back would be nice but not really expected.

  Green playing well would be big in the playoffs because PP could slide over to the two for some of Ray's breaks.

  We're still one big short but with one healthy O'Neal our bench should be a big advantage over most if not all of the league.

the whole trade has hinged on Shaq (also to a lesser extent JO) coming back ever since it was made. Even Danny has said we could be in trouble if these guys don't come back for the playoffs. So he clearly was rolling the dice in that respect.

as far as the getting rest for the starters, this is why it is imperative that Shaq comes back this week. He needs about 10 games with the starters to get up and running IMO and that would still leave time for the Big 4 to get some rest before playoffs start.

  Even if we had Perk we'd be in trouble with only one center.

Exactly, we'd be in a similar if not the same kind of "trouble".

The trouble is definitely worse with no Perk. We'd have our starting five and a bench of:

Arroyo
DWest
Pavlovic
BBD
Murphy

and still the possibility of one of the ONeals

[Assassin70]

It is interesting in that this was probably a good idea of what the playoff rotation will look like, though hopefully Shaq will start and either JO or Nenad will be getting spot minutes backing him up (with the rest of C minutes going to KG and BBD).

  JO coming back would be nice but not really expected.

  Green playing well would be big in the playoffs because PP could slide over to the two for some of Ray's breaks.

  We're still one big short but with one healthy O'Neal our bench should be a big advantage over most if not all of the league.

the whole trade has hinged on Shaq (also to a lesser extent JO) coming back ever since it was made. Even Danny has said we could be in trouble if these guys don't come back for the playoffs. So he clearly was rolling the dice in that respect.

as far as the getting rest for the starters, this is why it is imperative that Shaq comes back this week. He needs about 10 games with the starters to get up and running IMO and that would still leave time for the Big 4 to get some rest before playoffs start.

  Even if we had Perk we'd be in trouble with only one center.

Exactly, we'd be in a similar if not the same kind of "trouble".

The trouble is definitely worse with no Perk. We'd have our starting five and a bench of:

Arroyo
DWest
Pavlovic
BBD
Murphy

and still the possibility of one of the ONeals

^ Jeff Green would like to have a word with you.

[winsomme]

It is interesting in that this was probably a good idea of what the playoff rotation will look like, though hopefully Shaq will start and either JO or Nenad will be getting spot minutes backing him up (with the rest of C minutes going to KG and BBD).

  JO coming back would be nice but not really expected.

  Green playing well would be big in the playoffs because PP could slide over to the two for some of Ray's breaks.

  We're still one big short but with one healthy O'Neal our bench should be a big advantage over most if not all of the league.

the whole trade has hinged on Shaq (also to a lesser extent JO) coming back ever since it was made. Even Danny has said we could be in trouble if these guys don't come back for the playoffs. So he clearly was rolling the dice in that respect.

as far as the getting rest for the starters, this is why it is imperative that Shaq comes back this week. He needs about 10 games with the starters to get up and running IMO and that would still leave time for the Big 4 to get some rest before playoffs start.

  Even if we had Perk we'd be in trouble with only one center.

Exactly, we'd be in a similar if not the same kind of "trouble".

The trouble is definitely worse with no Perk. We'd have our starting five and a bench of:

Arroyo
DWest
Pavlovic
BBD
Murphy

and still the possibility of one of the ONeals

^ Jeff Green would like to have a word with you.

I mean if we hadn't made the Perk trade...

[BballTim]

It is interesting in that this was probably a good idea of what the playoff rotation will look like, though hopefully Shaq will start and either JO or Nenad will be getting spot minutes backing him up (with the rest of C minutes going to KG and BBD).

  JO coming back would be nice but not really expected.

  Green playing well would be big in the playoffs because PP could slide over to the two for some of Ray's breaks.

  We're still one big short but with one healthy O'Neal our bench should be a big advantage over most if not all of the league.

the whole trade has hinged on Shaq (also to a lesser extent JO) coming back ever since it was made. Even Danny has said we could be in trouble if these guys don't come back for the playoffs. So he clearly was rolling the dice in that respect.

as far as the getting rest for the starters, this is why it is imperative that Shaq comes back this week. He needs about 10 games with the starters to get up and running IMO and that would still leave time for the Big 4 to get some rest before playoffs start.

  Even if we had Perk we'd be in trouble with only one center.

Exactly, we'd be in a similar if not the same kind of "trouble".

The trouble is definitely worse with no Perk. We'd have our starting five and a bench of:

Arroyo
DWest
Pavlovic
BBD
Murphy

and still the possibility of one of the ONeals

^ Jeff Green would like to have a word with you.

I mean if we hadn't made the Perk trade...

  So you don't see Sasha as Paul's backup as a problem? Seriously?

[birdwatcher]

I posted about an 8 man playoff rotation right before we picked up Murphy and Arroyo, and everyone told me I was wrong and that we go 10-12 deep in the playoffs. Where were all you guys then? 

[winsomme]

It is interesting in that this was probably a good idea of what the playoff rotation will look like, though hopefully Shaq will start and either JO or Nenad will be getting spot minutes backing him up (with the rest of C minutes going to KG and BBD).

  JO coming back would be nice but not really expected.

  Green playing well would be big in the playoffs because PP could slide over to the two for some of Ray's breaks.

  We're still one big short but with one healthy O'Neal our bench should be a big advantage over most if not all of the league.

the whole trade has hinged on Shaq (also to a lesser extent JO) coming back ever since it was made. Even Danny has said we could be in trouble if these guys don't come back for the playoffs. So he clearly was rolling the dice in that respect.

as far as the getting rest for the starters, this is why it is imperative that Shaq comes back this week. He needs about 10 games with the starters to get up and running IMO and that would still leave time for the Big 4 to get some rest before playoffs start.

  Even if we had Perk we'd be in trouble with only one center.

Exactly, we'd be in a similar if not the same kind of "trouble".

The trouble is definitely worse with no Perk. We'd have our starting five and a bench of:

Arroyo
DWest
Pavlovic
BBD
Murphy

and still the possibility of one of the ONeals

^ Jeff Green would like to have a word with you.

I mean if we hadn't made the Perk trade...

  So you don't see Sasha as Paul's backup as a problem? Seriously?

not even in the same zip code of a problem as the interior defense for a playoff run...

I mean between Paul, Ray, and Delonte you could have what 8 MPG needed from Pavlovic?

[Jon]

With Jeff Green in the equation, you need zero minutes from Sasha.

I also think that if we can get 25 mpg from Shaq in the playoffs (a stretch), we also might not need anyone but BBD, Green, and Delonte on most nights. 

Still, knowing we have guys like Krstic, JO, and Murphy would be a comfort given the foul trouble that will inevitably occur. 

[BballTim]

It is interesting in that this was probably a good idea of what the playoff rotation will look like, though hopefully Shaq will start and either JO or Nenad will be getting spot minutes backing him up (with the rest of C minutes going to KG and BBD).

  JO coming back would be nice but not really expected.

  Green playing well would be big in the playoffs because PP could slide over to the two for some of Ray's breaks.

  We're still one big short but with one healthy O'Neal our bench should be a big advantage over most if not all of the league.

the whole trade has hinged on Shaq (also to a lesser extent JO) coming back ever since it was made. Even Danny has said we could be in trouble if these guys don't come back for the playoffs. So he clearly was rolling the dice in that respect.

as far as the getting rest for the starters, this is why it is imperative that Shaq comes back this week. He needs about 10 games with the starters to get up and running IMO and that would still leave time for the Big 4 to get some rest before playoffs start.

  Even if we had Perk we'd be in trouble with only one center.

Exactly, we'd be in a similar if not the same kind of "trouble".

The trouble is definitely worse with no Perk. We'd have our starting five and a bench of:

Arroyo
DWest
Pavlovic
BBD
Murphy

and still the possibility of one of the ONeals

^ Jeff Green would like to have a word with you.

I mean if we hadn't made the Perk trade...

  So you don't see Sasha as Paul's backup as a problem? Seriously?

not even in the same zip code of a problem as the interior defense for a playoff run...

I mean between Paul, Ray, and Delonte you could have what 8 MPG needed from Pavlovic?

  Yes, Delonte will make a great backup 3. Somewhere LeBron is trembling in fear.

  By the way, do we get the Delonte from the Hornets game or the Delonte from the Knicks game?