Younger legs needed in starting lineup (Bass and Pietrus)

[TheRev72]

At the end of the first Big 3 era, it became apparent that they could not all play together because they were simply too old. I think the new Big 3 era is clearly there now too. Our starting lineup with the Big 3 and JO is simply to old, slow, and creaky. Just not enough athleticism to match up with other teams or to play at Rondo's speed.

KG and JO should never play together. Only one should be on the court at a time, with JO backing up KG. The other big spot should be filled with younger, more athletic players: start Bass backed up by Wilcox/Steimsma. Ray is playing great but Pierce's injury and conditioning are slowing him down right now. Move him to the bench in a Ginobli role and start Pietrus instead. Find situational playing time for Moore (for offense) and Bradley (for defense), as both can run with Rondo.

Replacing JO and Pierce with Bass and Pietrus injects some energy and athleticism into the starting lineup alongside Rondo. Pierce can provide the scoring for the second unit with the younger players, and close out games with the starters. (Hopefully, Pierce will play himself into shape over the course of the season).

[Marcus13]

Good God.

Let's put a guy on a bum knee and a post player who refuses to go into the paint into our starting lineup.

Have you looked at these guys production before you posted this?  Pietrus looked awful against the Mavs and you want to put him in the starting lineup?  He has no athleticism left.  And what do you think Brandon Bass is really going to do against this league's elite PF's at his size?

[TheRev72]

Actually, Pietrus provided some much-needed energy, as noted by Doc. I think he'll only get better as he gets familiar with the team and in better game shape. And Bass is simply a better player than JO. That's why Doc puts him in to close out games with the starters. JO is just too slow.

[pearljammer10]

Put these guys in our starting line up and then our bench completely lacks energy... Start your best players and get your energy guys off the bench to pick them up when they come in... I love Bass and Pietrus as our 6th and 7th man.

[TheRev72]

Under this scenario, the bench unit would include JO alongside Wilcox (or Steimsma) up front, with Pierce and some combination of Dooling, Daniels, Bradley and Moore in the backcourt. I think that's a good balance of youth and experience off the bench.

Look, there's no ideal scenario here. The team is aging. But I just think playing all the old guys together as starters is just a huge disadvantage - especially considering we have speedy point guard who needs others to get out and run with him.

[Corey]

Pietrus plays one game and people are calling to bench Pierce?

I hate this fanbase sometimes.

[kozlodoev]

Younger legs are needed, indeed. This, however, cannot justify fielding interior players.

[TheRev72]

Pietrus plays one game and people are calling to bench Pierce?

I hate this fanbase sometimes.

As noted, this is Rondo's team right now. We need guys that can run with him.

Pierce is not playing well. He's noticeably slow. I wonder if he should even be playing. But putting a younger/more athletic player into the starting lineup who can run with Rondo while Pierce heals or gets back into shape is not unreasonable. Could be Pietrus. Could be someone else. But fresher legs on the wing are needed right now.

[TheRev72]

Younger legs are needed, indeed. This, however, cannot justify fielding interior players.

Sorry, but Bass is not inferior to JO.

And while Pierce is better than any other wing we have on the bench, he's not playing like it right now. Give him more rest until his health and conditioning are back.

[Chris]

What this starting lineup needs is the hall of famers to play better.  They don't even need to play like hall of famers, just like quality NBA players.

Putting mediocre role players in to replace them is not going to do anything but assure we are fighting for the 8th seed at best.

And if, in a month or so, the starters are getting outplayed by the mediocre bench players, then its time to fold on the season.

[Chief]

I would like to see Pierce and JO off the bench.  Pierce could continue his great career as a super sixth man and I think JO would look much better against the opposing bench.

Let Ray, Pietrus, KG, and Steamer run with Rondo!!!

[clover]

I would like to see Pierce and JO off the bench.  Pierce could continue his great career as a super sixth man and I think JO would look much better against the opposing bench.

Let Ray, Pietrus, KG, and Steamer run with Rondo!!!

That'd be my fix for now.  I'll never understand why, if a regular starter is out of shape or otherwise playing less than at his usual that he's not subbed for in the starting lineup.  If the team's really about winning and not about egos, that would seem like the regular thing to do.

I actually think the equivalent is done more often in baseball, when a player in a slump might be dropped to lower in the batting order until he comes out of it.

[PosImpos]

What this starting lineup needs is the hall of famers to play better.  They don't even need to play like hall of famers, just like quality NBA players.

Putting mediocre role players in to replace them is not going to do anything but assure we are fighting for the 8th seed at best.

And if, in a month or so, the starters are getting outplayed by the mediocre bench players, then its time to fold on the season.

All of this.

[Celtics18]

Pietrus plays one game and people are calling to bench Pierce?

I hate this fanbase sometimes.

As noted, this is Rondo's team right now. We need guys that can run with him.

Pierce is not playing well. He's noticeably slow. I wonder if he should even be playing. But putting a younger/more athletic player into the starting lineup who can run with Rondo while Pierce heals or gets back into shape is not unreasonable. Could be Pietrus. Could be someone else. But fresher legs on the wing are needed right now.

Pierce is going to need to play himself back into shape.  He won't get in game shape by resting. 

[Meadowlark_Scal]

~and play ANYONE other than Marquis Danials......any of the youth that come close to his position..or the SPACE he theoreticall occupies....sometimes....!