Jeff Green to Start Next Year?

[WBrownTrophy]

Very interesting thoughts from Danny Ainge (on WEEI yesterday)shown in this article:http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2011/05/weei_ainge_refl.html

In it, he talks about the Perk trade, how he doesn't think the big three can necessarily carry a team on their own anymore, and he also throws out the possibility of Jeff Green starting next year and Paul coming off the bench:

On the starting lineup changing:
"Maybe there’s a change of roles. Maybe Paul comes off the bench, cuts down on his minutes. Maybe we find a way to get Jeff more minutes. His role will expand if he’s back here next year. There’s no question about that ... "

That that is an interesting idea....start Green, get him some confidence and playing time, then let Paul close. It could work if Green stays and Paul is willing.

[wdleehi]

GM talk.


"I have a guy that I think can start ahead of Pierce.  That must mean he has a big trade value"

[GreenEnvy]

I don't buy it. Not yet.

Pierce is too good and Jeff should be good enough to carry the second unit himself. If he needs to play with the starting unit to be effective, he's not worth a large contract.

If any starter is moved to the bench, it would be Ray. Even that is a stretch IMO. We may get a new center and move JO to the bench, but we will see.

[Moranis]

Green is a much better player when he gets a lot of minutes.  He just gets into sync and a roll.  Some guys are just better in that situation and he is one of them.  I don't necessarily think he has to start (though it may help to get him going early), but he needs to play starters minutes.

[the_Bird]

Green is a much better player when he gets a lot of minutes.  He just gets into sync and a roll.  Some guys are just better in that situation and he is one of them.  I don't necessarily think he has to start (though it may help to get him going early), but he needs to play starters minutes.

He may be a better player when he starts but he's still not better than Pierce.  Not even close.

If Jeff Green has so much trouble coming off the bench, why does it seem everyone assumes that Pierce or Ray would be able to make that transition any easier? 

[Chris]

Green won't be starting next year.  Danny loves to throw things like that out there, either because he just has no filter and was thinking aloud, or he likes to mess with the media...but I find it incredibly hard to believe that they have any interest in starting Green next year or bringing Pierce/Ray off the bench.

Now, I do think (if he is back) Green will have a much bigger role, and will likely be playing 25+ minutes per game.  However, I expect it to be coming off the bench, where he can take advantage of the second team defenders.

[wdleehi]

Green won't be starting next year.  Danny loves to throw things like that out there, either because he just has no filter and was thinking aloud, or he likes to mess with the media...but I find it incredibly hard to believe that they have any interest in starting Green next year or bringing Pierce/Ray off the bench.

Now, I do think (if he is back) Green will have a much bigger role, and will likely be playing 25+ minutes per game.  However, I expect it to be coming off the bench, where he can take advantage of the second team defenders.

I think he might be traded sooner then later.


When Do talks about guys that fit the stars, Green has not shown to be that guy. 

[TheRev72]

Green starting for Pierce could work: a nice 3-man wing rotation (Allen/Green/Pierce):

First 8 minutes of each half: Allen (2) and Green (3)
    * Pierce subs in for Allen at 8 minute mark
Middle 8 minutes of each half: Pierce (2) and Green (3)
    * Allen subs in for Green with 8 minutes left in the half
Last 8 minutes of each half: Allen (2) and Pierce (3)

Allen and Pierce play 32 minutes max.
Pierce and Allen finish games.
Green can play the 4 alongside KG for one of Doc’s “small lineups” to finish games.

I think Pierce is the most likely to accept a role off the bench of the Big 3 because he’s the most invested in his career as a Celtic. I’m sure he understands the 6th man tradition. And if he’s the one finishing games, who cares who starts?

And Green’s athleticism matched with Rondo on the court should lead to more transition baskets.

[wdleehi]

They are not going to bench Pierce for Green.


Pierce is the much better player. 

[guava_wrench]

If Ginobili could come off the bench in his prime, Pierce can do it towards the tail end of his career. The idea is to keep Pierce as the closer by giving him fresher legs at the end of games. Pierce can also shoot all he wants when he comes in with the 2nd team.

[the_Bird]

If Ginobili could come off the bench in his prime, Pierce can do it towards the tail end of his career. The idea is to keep Pierce as the closer by giving him fresher legs at the end of games. Pierce can also shoot all he wants when he comes in with the 2nd team.

Doc would never ask Pierce to do it.  For all of his flaws (real or perceived), Doc's players love him because he respects them and he's loyal to them.  He's not going to the captain and asking him to be the 6th man.

Could Jeff Green start, though?  Sure - if they trade Ray Allen

Besides, I come back to all of the players - like Jeff Green - we have seen struggle when they have to adjust to coming off the bench.  Why do we assume that Pierce would be able to make this transition seamlessly?  

[kozlodoev]

If Ginobili could come off the bench in his prime, Pierce can do it towards the tail end of his career. The idea is to keep Pierce as the closer by giving him fresher legs at the end of games. Pierce can also shoot all he wants when he comes in with the 2nd team.

Pierce is probably the only starter you can move to the bench without making him worse.

[kozlodoev]

Besides, I come back to all of the players - like Jeff Green - we have seen struggle when they have to adjust to coming off the bench.  Why do we assume that Pierce would be able to make this transition seamlessly?  

Because he's better than any of those players? Because he spent half of his career playing with 4 chumps? Because you can give him the ball and he'll typically make something out of nothing?

[Roy H.]

They are not going to bench Pierce for Green.


Pierce is the much better player.  

Yes, and equally as important, Pierce has great chemistry with the starters.

Our team's biggest strength was its starting unit.  I remember reading that our starters, as a unit, had the best +/- of any unit in the NBA this season.  That being the case, I'd be hesitant to break them up.

Rather, I'd like to see us improve our bench.  Ideally, we'd find some post scoring, rebounding, and some increased athleticism.

Incidentally, moving Pierce to the bench doesn't instantly help the unit.  The vast majority of the time, Doc had Pierce or Ray playing with our bench.  It didn't help matters much.  We don't need to change the lineup, we need better players.

Additionally, moving Green to the starting lineup in part takes away one of his bigger strengths:  his versatility.  Right now, he can fill both the small forward and power forward roles off the bench, depending upon matchups.  That is potentially valuable, if Green plays to his potential.

I think part of the solution -- beyond just finding better players -- is for Doc to mix his bench in a little better with his starters.  There's no reason to substitute the entire bench in at once; I think the team would play more effectively if Doc tried to keep 2 or 3 starters out there as much as possible.

[the_Bird]

Besides, I come back to all of the players - like Jeff Green - we have seen struggle when they have to adjust to coming off the bench.  Why do we assume that Pierce would be able to make this transition seamlessly?  

Because he's better than any of those players? Because he spent half of his career playing with 4 chumps? Because you can give him the ball and he'll typically make something out of nothing?

Not that he wouldn't be good at it, but as good as when he's starting, when he's getting into the game early?

Frankly, of the big three, I want to see Pierce out there the most.  Ray Allen, let him get his rest because he needs fresh legs in the fourth quarter.  KG shows the most mileage.

Pierce...  if we're to have any success, he's got to be out there a lot.  We're not winning with Pierce playing 25 minutes a night, he's too critical on both ends of the floor.