Interesting rotation move: Sasha over youngsters at SG

[theswitch]

One thing I noticed last night was that Pierce not only routinely bumped Daniels to shooting guard, as expected, but he also bumped Sasha there. I would think this is an early indicator that when Pietrus comes back, Moore and Bradley are going to be hard-pressed to even be told there's a game.

I don't knock the decision, though. Sasha has played well in the last few games - last night he played solid defense, knocked down an open 3, ran in transition for an easy 2, pretty much what you hope he'll do. And, he adds significantly more size at the position than Moore and Bradley do.

It jumped out at me because it goes back to classic Doc Rivers, and means that the 3 guys in street clothes when everyone is healthy are going to be JJJ, Moore and Bradley - I'm seeing an unfortunate trend there for their development, but what can ya do. We're going for the gold here, after all.

[Eddie20]

One thing I noticed last night was that Pierce not only routinely bumped Daniels to shooting guard, as expected, but he also bumped Sasha there. I would think this is an early indicator that when Pietrus comes back, Moore and Bradley are going to be hard-pressed to even be told there's a game.

I don't knock the decision, though. Sasha has played well in the last few games - last night he played solid defense, knocked down an open 3, ran in transition for an easy 2, pretty much what you hope he'll do. And, he adds significantly more size at the position than Moore and Bradley do.

It jumped out at me because it goes back to classic Doc Rivers, and means that the 3 guys in street clothes when everyone is healthy are going to be JJJ, Moore and Bradley - I'm seeing an unfortunate trend there for their development, but what can ya do. We're going for the gold here, after all.

All 3 youngsters will be in the D-League soon enough. Sasha will be the 5th wing once Pietrus starts playing. Safe to say Bradley is probably done. He had a chance to seize the back up 2 spot and did not nothing to claim it. Moore is ahead of, according to Doc, and I will be shocked if he's still around past the trade deadline.

[footey]

Sasha is a very good defender at both the 2 and 3 position, and can hit the open 3.

[gar]

With the addition of Pietrus we have a very deep and a very flexible. That is cuts both ways. It gives the coach a lot of options; but makes it hard for younger players to get a shot.

Marquis, Pietrus and Sasha can all play at least two positions. I think Doc will play Moore over Marquis as a backup at PG. But not sure how much we will see Moore at SG.

I like the idea of Rondo and Moore as part of a smaller/faster unit with Pietrus/Sasha, JjJ and Wilcox/Bass.

[KGs Knee]

Yeah, I can definitely see Pietrus, Daniels, and Pavlovic being the 3 main wings off the bench.  This has been Doc's M.O. for quite some time now.  He just trusts vets more than youngsters.  I can't really blame him for that.

Personally, I just don't see Bradley having any place on the team, barring an injury to someone ahead of him on the depth chart.  I would like to see Moore get some minutes though.  Sure, he's a bit undersized for a SG and a rookie, but I think he could really be a contributer.

Sometimes I do wish Doc would follow a bit more in the footsteps of Popovich though, and give his youngsters more run early in the season.  This way, you find out early enough whether they have what it takes to cut it as a rotation player or not.  Simply basing your judgement on a player by practice alone isn't good enough to me.  Some guys are just gamers, and do best in a  sort of "trial by fire" situation.

[PosImpos]

don't worry; moore, bradley, and JJJ will get tons of playing time next year when we're rebuilding.

doc (hopefully) won't have a choice, then.


I agree with the sentiment that this team would be greatly benefited if Doc were more like Popovich, though.  The Spurs had a renaissance last year in large part because they had a bunch of young players contributing (none of them high draft picks).


Anybody else wonder if guys like Gary Neal, DeJuan Blair, George Hill, James Anderson, Tiago Splitter would even get playing time here unless there were major injuries in front of them?

[cman88]

Doc loves his vets...what can you say..I thought sasha played a pretty good game though.

once Peitrus is in the lineup sasha will be relegated to the bench as well(unless quisy gets injured)

[clover]

And with Wilcox coming back minutes will probably be tougher for Stiemer and 3J too.

[footey]

Doc loves his vets...what can you say..I thought sasha played a pretty good game though.

once Peitrus is in the lineup sasha will be relegated to the bench as well(unless quisy gets injured)

Sasha has a more success guarding the stronger 3's than MQ, plus he is more of an outside threat from the 3, so I think his time will be split pretty evenly with MQD, even when Pietrus starts playing.

[Q_FBE]

You get paid to win in the NBA. The Celtics in my mind are still going for it and that means developing a ten man veteran rotation. So good observations in this thread.

It is truly a shame for the Perdue Rookies and AB but I think their time will be October 2012. It will be the Maine Red Claws for the kids.

[snively]

don't worry; moore, bradley, and JJJ will get tons of playing time next year when we're rebuilding.

doc (hopefully) won't have a choice, then.


I agree with the sentiment that this team would be greatly benefited if Doc were more like Popovich, though.  The Spurs had a renaissance last year in large part because they had a bunch of young players contributing (none of them high draft picks).


Anybody else wonder if guys like Gary Neal, DeJuan Blair, George Hill, James Anderson, Tiago Splitter would even get playing time here unless there were major injuries in front of them?

Have you seen Pop's roster last year?  He had no choice: the 8th-15th spots on the roster were all rooks, young guys or D-league types. 

And Bradley's not your prototypical rook.  He's a project, a la Perkins.  There's a reason the C's picked up his 3rd year option after an abysmal rookie year: they're willing to wait.

[LooseCannon]

seen Pop's roster last year?  He had no choice: the 8th-15th spots on the roster were all rooks, young guys or D-league types. 

That's why I was in favor of giving Doc no choice by filling up the roster with those sorts of players, although I don't hate what Ainge has done to create a bench this off-season.

[action781]

Rondo/Dooling
Ray/Daniels
Pierce/Pietrus/Sasha
KG/Bass
JO/Wilcox/Steimsma

That's probably our healthy 12 man roster right?  I think it should be which would mean Bradley, Moore, and JJJ should be in the d-league.

I really like this roster and it's positional flexibility by the way.   

[clover]

Rondo/Dooling
Ray/Daniels
Pierce/Pietrus/Sasha
KG/Bass
JO/Wilcox/Steimsma

That's probably our healthy 12 man roster right?  I think it should be, which would mean Bradley, Moore, and JJJ should be in the d-league.

Also, Danny wants to pump as much value into his assets as possible, and a few NBA minutes here or there may help to maintain that.

I really like this roster and it's positional flexibility by the way.  

I think EM and 3J could still learn more with the team, though AB is more likely to straighten himself out at D-league, like he did somewhat last year.  And what are the chances that the whole team stays healthy?

But Danny's going to want to preserve the value of his assets:  getting Doc to cycle them in and out of a few minutes here and there may be part of that.

[Fafnir]

don't worry; moore, bradley, and JJJ will get tons of playing time next year when we're rebuilding.

doc (hopefully) won't have a choice, then.


I agree with the sentiment that this team would be greatly benefited if Doc were more like Popovich, though.  The Spurs had a renaissance last year in large part because they had a bunch of young players contributing (none of them high draft picks).


Anybody else wonder if guys like Gary Neal, DeJuan Blair, George Hill, James Anderson, Tiago Splitter would even get playing time here unless there were major injuries in front of them?

Splitter isn't all that young, and he'd have played for the C's faster than for Pop. He's more of a C than a PF and Pop kept refusing to play him with Duncan, Doc would have had fewer qualms pairing him with KG.

I think Blair would have gotten minutes too, though not at the same time as Glen (that'd have been awful).

George Hill would have taken our backup PG minutes easily enough too, filling House/West's role. Neal could have as well but that is more questionable.

Considering that Doc has played rookies frequently in the past when they've had any sort of positive impact I think those guys would have played.