It takes time to build chemistry

[ScoobyDoo]

We've had only 25-30 games since the trade to build chemistry with this new bunch of guys, this new team. Think about it...

* We trade major glue guy and starter in Perkins
* We add five new guys in Krstic, Green, Arroyo, Murphy and Pavlovic
* Jermaine only plyaed a handful of games before going down and has only been back for 10-15 games...

WOur core four is even trying to build chemistry and familiarity with Jermaine, let alone all the other new guys.

You may see this team slowly get stronger and stronger as the playoffs go along. Because the talent is there but it just takes time to build that trust and chemistry.

I say even if Shaq comes back at full strength, I would:

* Continue to start Jermaine - winning a playoff series together, where you are in a dog fight, goes a long way towards building trust and chemistry. I would leave Jermaine as the starter from here on out, let this unit keep building together.

* Meanwhile, forget about the "Shrek and Donkey" show, I'll take the "T-rex and Shrek show" with Shaq and Baby on the second unit kicking the crap out of people.

Shaq, Krstic, Green, Baby and West is a very talented bench and they are all smart players.

If we can figure this out on the fly - we could become very dominant as the playoffs go along.

I'd start Jermaine, and then bring Shaq in to also get some time with the core four.

Thoughts?

   

[GreenEnvy]

I say even if Shaq comes back at full strength, I would:

* Continue to start Jermaine - winning a playoff series together, where you are in a dog fight, goes a long way towards building trust and chemistry. I would leave Jermaine as the starter from here on out, let this unit keep building together.

* Meanwhile, forget about the "Shrek and Donkey" show, I'll take the "T-rex and Shrek show" with Shaq and Baby on the second unit kicking the crap out of people.

   

I don't know about this. I think Shaq should start because of his defense. KG and our wing defense hide his weaknesses. Pair him with BBD and our interior is a slow mess IMO. Additionally, JO can make up for BBD's defensive slack while not getting in his way offensively (but is that really a good thing?).

I'd let Shaq start if he is healthy, and have JO close games out.


But I agree this team is still clicking. The more they play, the more they will gel. Same goes for the Heat and Bulls too though.

[SHAQATTACK]

I think we'll see Jeff Green progress as a Celtic though the playoffs......tuff to become one of the gang during the worse of the battles (finals).   He's a bit timid , maybe shy , playing with the wise old men and doesn't want to screw up /mess up too much.  And I think he has done great., while keeping this thought in mind and respecting their (THE THREE's) game.

Once Green bonds and know his peers as teammates and guys who have his back he'll open up more. Jeff has way too much talent to keep it penned up for long.

He needs self trust and just let his instincts take over and make the play himself.  BIG BABY shouldn;t have the ball with less than 6 secs left. (unless its an total accident)

I think Doc needs to  make him "THE GO TO MAN" when the second team come on the floor. He'll eventually answer the call.

Just gonna take time .  He has a more difficult role to learn play than Perk does at OKC....Perk said as much in one interview.

[Jon]

It's really tough to make the JO/Shaq call.  On one hand, I like what JO's done for the first unit.  On the other, I like him paired with Baby better than Shaq.  Shaq and Baby are an awfully slow front court combination. 

An interesting compromise may be to start Shaq and bring JO off the bench.  However, in the second half, work it so that JO rests the first half of the 4th quarter and then comes in the starters at the end to close it out.  That probably gives us our best defensive unit and JO hits free throws dramatically better than Shaq in close games. 

[2008 + 2011 Champions]

It's really tough to make the JO/Shaq call.  On one hand, I like what JO's done for the first unit.  On the other, I like him paired with Baby better than Shaq.  Shaq and Baby are an awfully slow front court combination. 

An interesting compromise may be to start Shaq and bring JO off the bench.  However, in the second half, work it so that JO rests the first half of the 4th quarter and then comes in the starters at the end to close it out.  That probably gives us our best defensive unit and JO hits free throws dramatically better than Shaq in close games. 

Baby is kinda garbage right now i think he's still injured. Whoever's paired with him has to do more rebounding and good defense

[Tommy Point God]

Chemistry will be fine. It looked great when Pierce was destroying Melo for 38 points to 15. Absolutely ate him up and he's supposed to be as tough to guard as James.

[JBcat]

Would anyone want to try and work Murphy into the mix at the expense of some or Davis's minutes? 

[Tommy Point God]

Would anyone want to try and work Murphy into the mix at the expense of some or Davis's minutes? 

I would much rather just give those minutes to JO. He's much more effective right now and shows he can take the minutes.

[JBcat]

Would anyone want to try and work Murphy into the mix at the expense of some or Davis's minutes? 

I would much rather just give those minutes to JO. He's much more effective right now and shows he can take the minutes.

I meant mostly at the back up PF spot which JO doesn't play.   Davis has done next to nothing so far in this playoffs and he needs a wake up call.

[Cool Username]

Would anyone want to try and work Murphy into the mix at the expense of some or Davis's minutes? 

I would much rather just give those minutes to JO. He's much more effective right now and shows he can take the minutes.

I meant mostly at the back up PF spot which JO doesn't play.   Davis has done next to nothing so far in this playoffs and he needs a wake up call.

 Well i definitely agree he needs a wakeup call. But i think part of it might be he's still injured. Difference is, he's not gonna moan about it a bunch cus this team isnt bout excuses, whereas Amare...

[KGDunks]

The whole bench needs to wakeup 

[filmexec]

JBCat I completly agree with you! Murphy has been a quality PF
in this league and I wish he would get more playing time. He was an All-Star a few years ago and put up some serious numbers. But it's tough to work-in new players this late in the season and especially in the playoffs. If Shaq can come back and "Stay Healthy" I see #18 on the horizon. Without him
we will get slammed my the younger teams like the Bulls and eventually the Fakers/Thunder. But you gotta love the hearts of our Champions! After this game the starters seem to be clicking on all cylinders. Now if we can just get the 2nd team up to speed!

[aporel#18]

Troy Murphy got his first playoff minutes in game 3. Out of blowouts, he won't play having JO, Nenad, KG and BBD ahead of him. I expect a different minutes distribution against the Heat, with more Nenad and less Baby, who can't defend big men with shooting abilities.

Without Shaq, we still have the best frontcourt in the East, and can match up well with the Lakers. With Shaq, nobody is able to match up with our bigs. We'll see what happens, but the championship depends more on Rondo and KG than in our Center. The bench matters, though, and they better start performing.

[Yellow is a Girly Color]

My main concern is Shaq. IT's impossible to build chemistry when your never there. That said, it shouldn't be that hard to work him back in it's more about how healthy he can be

[Garnett Crushes Gasoft]

The question is can we build this chemistry in time for the Lakers? They're gonna bring it full throttle so we need to get about 3x as much outta our bench.