Danny Ainge threatens moves if Boston Celtics don't improve

[j804]

Asked if he would consider major changes to the roster if the Celtics don’t show significant improvement between now and the trading deadline, Ainge acknowledged that he would have to consider the possibility.

“I’m committed to the guys as long as they’re going to perform, but they’ve got to perform,” he said. “They’ve got to show they have an opportunity to win. Otherwise, I’ve got to at least make an effort to go another direction.”

“I think there’s two things that sort of stand out. I’m not taking a nine-game sample. I’m looking at what has been our pattern, and what has been our weakness, over the last three years with this group of guys,” said Ainge. “For three years now, we have been the worst offensive rebounding team in basketball. The second thing is, the execution of our offense, our offensive efficiency in the last five minutes of the game, I think those two things have got to be improved. I don’t necessarily know why that hasn’t happened. It’s not just personnel, because we’ve had a lot of good offensive rebounders on this team.

“I just don’t understand why we’re last. We don’t have to be first,” he added. “It’s not based on shooting percentage. When we talk about offensive rebounding, we’re talking about offensive rebound percentage. If we shoot 40-for-80, there’s 40 rebounding opportunities when we miss and we get eight of those, that’s 20 percent. That’s what we’re playing at. It’s not enough. We’ve got to get up to 25 percent, to the middle of the pack.”

http://www.celticstown.com/2012/01/12/danny-ainge-threatens-moves-if-boston-celtics-dont-improve/


Interesting to say the least 

[kozlodoev]

I don't think he needs to "threaten" anything -- he's got both the knife and the bread in his hands, figuratively speaking. Plus, I don't think he'll make a move for the sake of making a move.

[Chris]

Eh, this is par for the course.  Danny states the obvious.  If they are not winning, he will try to make changes...in other words, he will do his job.

The problem is, it takes more than him to make a deal.  There needs to be another willing team, and the right deal that doesn't mortgage the future.

[vinnie]

To me it sounds like he is laying some of this blame on doc, which  is surprising.

[Change]

To me it sounds like he is laying some of this blame on doc, which  is surprising.

i hope you are right. 3 years the same problems persist for the C's. Somethings gotta give. where are the adjustments?

[Eja117]

I know! If we're doing bad on offensive rebounds we can increase Perk's minute's and then...oh...oh wait.  Geeze.

I wonder if the owners will come out and say "Well if we keep doing terrible than we have to look at our general manager that gives us the players and at least consider going in a different direction"

[snively]

To me it sounds like he is laying some of this blame on doc, which  is surprising.

That was surprising. Offensive rebounding and late-game offensive execution over 3 years, explicitly stated it wasn't just the personnel. 

That said, we haven't had the greatest rebounders in town the last couple years.  Sheed, Baby, JO...

[Kiorrik]

To me it sounds like he is laying some of this blame on doc, which  is surprising.

I think he's trying not to point any fingers at all, actually.

We've got to work on rebounds in general though, not just offensively. I think some of our guards could rebound a bit more.

But what is Danny going to say anyway, if not the above? He's the one in control of personnel, and if we run out of excuses for not getting it done on the offensive end, he'll have to think along and look for solutions. That *is* his job.

[hwangjini_1]

I don't think he needs to "threaten" anything -- he's got both the knife and the bread in his hands, figuratively speaking. Plus, I don't think he'll make a move for the sake of making a move.

But does have the peanut butter and jelly as well?

[j804]

To me it sounds like he is laying some of this blame on doc, which  is surprising.

i hope you are right. 3 years the same problems persist for the C's. Somethings gotta give. where are the adjustments?

Yup if anything maybe this will wake their butts up (Doc included )

[ManUp]

It does sound like he was talking about a problem with the team's system. Imo, the lack of offensive rebound has to do with always having our bigs so far from the basket on offense. Whether it be spotting up for an 18 footer or setting a pick to free up shooters. Our bigs are constantly away from the basket and are encouraged to get back on defense that pretty much explains it to me.

[j804]

It does sound like he was talking about a problem with the team's system. Imo, the lack of offensive rebound has to do with always having our bigs so far from the basket on offense. Whether it be spotting up for an 18 footer or setting a pick to free up shooters. Our bigs are constantly away from the basket and are encouraged to get back on defense that pretty much explains it to me.

they are NEVER on the box

[Kiorrik]

It does sound like he was talking about a problem with the team's system. Imo, the lack of offensive rebound has to do with always having our bigs so far from the basket on offense. Whether it be spotting up for an 18 footer or setting a pick to free up shooters. Our bigs are constantly away from the basket and are encouraged to get back on defense that pretty much explains it to me.

they are NEVER on the box

Part of it might also be our willingness to give up offensive rebounding in favor of getting back on D straight away.

[Who]

That said, we haven't had the greatest rebounders in town the last couple years.  Sheed, Baby, JO...

Glen Davis was a very productive offensive rebounder when asked to do so.

BBD did a very good job on the offensive boards his rookie season and the year with Sheed when he played closer to the basket. It was just the rest of the time when he was asked to play further away from the rim that offensive rebounding was lackluster.

[ManUp]

That fourth quarter offensive effeciency quote explains why he wanted Paul so badly.

Last year the hornets were the best 4th quarter offense in the league and I'd guess the Clippers are probably up around there too.