What is your starting lineup for next year?

[ScoobyDoo]

Here is mine:

C: ? at this point / Krstic & Jermaine as back ups

PF: KG / someone other than Big Baby who has length

SF: Jeff Green / find someone

SG: Paul Pierce / Ray Allen / DWest

PG: Rondo / Bradley / DWest

My reasons why:

1. We need to move past Ray at SG, he need to transition to our assassin off the bench

2. If we go with Green, we have to play him heavy minutes at SF and get him integrated

3. Pierce can drop some weight and play SG - eliminates our need to go "get" a replacement for Ray, who will be 36...

4. I want a heavy dose of Bradley infused. The combo of Rondo, Bradley and Green is a lot of speed and athleticism, which we need.

Moves:

1. I'd look to keep Krstic as a back up, as well as Jermaine, but would not want either starting.

2. Can we wrangle a Pryzbilla, Camby or a Dalembert? I'd prefer Pryz or Dalembert if possible.

3. Trade Big baby for a PF with Length and speed - possibly a Jason Thompson type - maybe we add something else in to make it happen. Maybe we can draft this kid, some four year player who can step in right away? I know that's a long shot...

My major move would be to get a PF behind KG with length and speed who can really keep KG rested.

What would your starting lineup be?

What are the 1-2 key "moves" you'd make?

     

[barefacedmonk]

Pierce at SG could work for short stretches but the whole season....thats pushing it. He'll be a year older and slower...won't be able to chase the young, athletic SGs around the whole season...will most probably tire him out and it might affect his offense.

[ScoobyDoo]

That's valid BFM. What do we do then ? And two questions:

1. I just can't see running Ray out there at OG again, at 36 years old...how do we resolve this issue?

2. If we keep Jeff Green, I think we need to load up on him and get on with it at SF running with Rondo...most likely starting at SF.

Do we keep starting Ray and then bring in a real legit back up SG for him so we can keep him at 20-30 minutes a night, max? Because I don't think we should keep playing him 37 minutes a night and expect great production out him come playoff time...

Or, do we start Ray, then slide Pierce in for him with Green at SF?

I agree it might be too much for Pierce to chase the younger off guards all season, but...

How to you manage riding Green more while easing Ray down on minutes?     

[Who]

I don't like the idea of using Ray as a sixth man.

At this point in his career, Ray doesn't have enough explosive athleticism to beat his man with regularity. He is most effective, offensively, when used alongside players who can create high percentage shot attempts for him. Most importantly Rondo ... but also KG, Pierce and screen setting C.

His value as an offensive player will only decrease if used off the bench. Best kept in the starting lineup.

Paul Pierce, on the other hand, is still a good enough shot-creator to flourish in this role ... but he is also far too talented and too important to the starting lineup to bring off the bench.

Best to keep the starters 1 through 4 the same. They are a hugely successful combination and complement one another wonderfully. It's the best way to use them.

[eugen]

Rondo---Billups
Pierce---Igudala
Allen---Delonte
Garnet---ONeal.J
Scola----Davis

Rest of the bench---Hamilton, Krstic, Murphy, Shaq

[ScoobyDoo]

That's valid re Ray. Do we start him and give him early looks to max his contributions?

What kind of minutes do you project for Green. I think he's got a lot more to offer than we've seen thus far, especially with a full training camp under his belt.

I'd like to see Green at 30-35 minutes a night next year. Do we position him as our potential "sixth man"?

[Who]

I don't understand why it's so important for Jeff Green to start or to play 30+ minutes a game.

What is wrong with him playing 25-28 minutes a night off the bench?

[Lucky17]

I don't understand why it's so important for Jeff Green to start or to play 30+ minutes a game.

What is wrong with him playing 25-28 minutes a night off the bench?

Agreed. 15 minutes a night as Pierce's primary backup, and another 10 minutes backing up KG at the 4 when matchups allow.

[17wasEZ]

Not a bad thought Scooby, but I think you can keep the starting 5 intact if you have a comparable back-up at center.  I would hope Shaq would come back and only play sparingly during the season so that he can "hopefully" be healthy for a final playoff run.

As for Green, he could spell Pierce and Allen for big minutes at a time.  No problem with him playing 30-35 minutes off of the bench.

[ScoobyDoo]

For me it's mainly because of a few things:

1. I think it's time to move on from Ray at SG. This will also soon be the case with both KG (1-2 years) at PF and Pierce (2-3) at SF.

2. I think our next team will be built for speed around Rondo. Green fits that on the wing and he'll flourish in that system. Ainge is rebuilding now, I want to get on with it.

3. Even if he plays 25 to 28 minutes a night I see him as a SF and want him playing at that position. If he's only playing as a back up to Pierce, how does he get 25-28 minutes a night?  

Do you see him as a great fit at SG or PF? I'd rather have prototypical players playing in the right positions - I think that's always the best rout.

Another thought - Delonte and Ray might be able to some real damage together in the back court off the bench.

[Who]

3. Even if he plays 25 to 28 minutes a night I see him as a SF and want him playing at that position. If he's only playing as a back up to Pierce, how does he get 25-28 minutes a night? 

Do you see him as a great fit at SG or PF? I'd rather have prototypical players playing in the right positions - I think that's always the best rout.

I think it would be a mistake to pigeon hole Jeff Green to one position if used as a reserve.

Jeff Green is a very dangerous weapon + matchup problem as a backup PF.

There is a huge difference between starting at the four and backing it up. Jeff can avoid the hazardous matchups that took advantage of his weak D + rebounding ... and ... he can take advantage of backup PFs who are ill-equipped athletically and defensively to cover a quick four like Jeff Green.

The team would be shooting themselves in the foot if they only used Green as a SF if he were a reserve.

------------------------------------------

An example of guys who are used well in this combo forward role off the bench -- a big three or a quick four -- are Thaddeus Young in Phily and Travis Outlaw while with the Blazers in recent years.

Jeff Green is a valuable weapon in this role.

[barefacedmonk]

I would actually keep the same starting five (unless one of the big 3 retire) but reduce their minutes...play them 15-18 minutes a night. Let Rondo, Green, Delonte and (a good defensive center that we'll have to sign) eat up the majority of the minutes. JO can split his playing time between back up PF and C.

As the playoffs approach (say a month before), increase the big 3's minutes to 25 per game...not more.

[ScoobyDoo]

I also do think that we can win again with our core four of Ray, Paul, Rondo and KG but I think it will require a much bigger role to be played by the youth on the team.

That's why I'd like to see:

1. Big baby traded for a young small forward with better length and speed to back up KG.

2. Jeff Green's minutes increased dramatically behind Ray and Paul - which was my thinking for starting Green with Pierce at OG and Ray off the bench.

I agree we could do Green at SF and some back up for KG but I just feel that's putting Green out of his natural position and in mismatches. But maybe he'd be a mismatch as well?

I don't know, I'd really like to see a true power forward backing up KG. Not Baby with no length and not Green with no beef. Whether this is possible? I don't know...

[17wasEZ]

I also do think that we can win again with our core four of Ray, Paul, Rondo and KG but I think it will require a much bigger role to be played by the youth on the team.

That's why I'd like to see:

1. Big baby traded for a young small forward with better length and speed to back up KG.

2. Jeff Green's minutes increased dramatically behind Ray and Paul - which was my thinking for starting Green with Pierce at OG and Ray off the bench.

I agree we could do Green at SF and some back up for KG but I just feel that's putting Green out of his natural position and in mismatches. But maybe he'd be a mismatch as well?

I don't know, I'd really like to see a true power forward backing up KG. Not Baby with no length and not Green with no beef. Whether this is possible? I don't know...

1. Big baby traded for a young small forward with better length and speed to back up KG.

Who would trade a young SF with better length and speed to the Celtics for BBD? Besides, he is no longer under contract so who would offer BBD even $ where the Celtics would have to do a sign and trade?

[MBz]

You have to keep Ray Allen as a starter.  You need his outside shooting to make up for Rondo's lack of outside shooting.  Pierce is a 3.  He doesn't have the defensive ability to keep up with the 2's of the league anymore.  Jeff Green playing 25-28 minutes is perfect, there won't be 30+ minutes for him to be had.  He's a 3/4, I actually really like him at the 4 depending on the match up.  He matches up with a lot of 4's quite well.  He isn't going to cover a guy like Boozer or Milsap, but on the offensive end are either of those guys going to be able to cover him?  The Celts need to find a younger center who can rebound and score a little in the paint.  With the big 3 declining more and more each year and Rondo's outside shooting not improving, the C's need to find other scoring options to help.