Younger legs needed in starting lineup (Bass and Pietrus)

[Who]

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

I don't want to give up on Marquis Daniels just yet.

He has played badly so far but he is only just returning from a serious injury and a long time off. If he can get his legs back and his timing right, he could be a positive contributor for the Celtics this season.

As either backup PG/SG ahead of Dooling or a second wing off the bench behind Pietrus.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

Well, i know he is coming off of surgery..isn't that what the D league is for..? We don't play rookies...but, we will serve as a rehab unit.....? He isn't going to turn into Taony Allen anytime soon....although everytime i see md on the floor i think of the 3.5 mill wasted on md, when we had TA for the same money..!!!

[Who]

Well, i know he is coming off of surgery..isn't that what the D league is for..? We don't play rookies...but, we will serve as a rehab unit.....?

In the end of those CBA negotiations, I believe the league decided that only players in their first 3 years in the league could be sent to the D-League. So Marquis is not eligible to go down there.

I really liked their initial plans of allowing veterans to go down there too. Like you said with Marquis, it would have been a great place for him to get healthy ... and without harming the Celtics to do so.

[TheTruthFot18]

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).

Overall agree, but Pietrus should never start over Pierce. If anything put Pietrus at the 2 and have ray be the ginobli type. Pierce is our captain and lead scorer while ray is a limited but lethal scoring threat who would thrive off the bench and bring that unit much needed scoring. I like the idea of starting bass too so KG starts at 5 with Wilcox and JJJ backup for Bass and JO and Steamer backing up KG

[nickagneta]

When I was young I had a coach in high school that used to tell me that not everybody was gifted with the body and athletic skill of a professional athlete. So what many kids do is they play harder thinking they can overcome and win just by playing harder.

But he said the best way to overcome anything is to work smart. He said "I know there's an old saying that you can either work hard or work smart but in sports, everybody works hard. But not everybody is blessed with the same athletic skills. So always work smart. Learn your plays. Learn the other teams plays. Learn their weaknesses. And just play intelligent ball and you will always give yourself a chance to beat anyone, no matter how much better they are because they are bigger or stronger or more gifted athletically."

The reason I say this is because of all the calls for young legs in the starting lineup.

Here's the thing about young NBA players. They aren't smart. I don't mean IQ. I mean when it comes to playing the type of NBA ball that wins. That's why its always veteran teams winning the NBA Championship. You can throw a team out there of Rondo, Bradley, Johnson, Bass and Stiemsma and yeah, they will run, but they will suck. They will play stupid basketball and get beaten into the ground by most teams.

Ours starters are older. And I believe they haven't rounded into shape yet.(Personally I'm not holding out hope that O'Neal ever will, I think he's a lost case.) Throwing young players into the starting lineup isn't going to fix what ails this team. Getting the older guys into NBA playoff game shape is and that's only going to come from practice and playing.

If in another month this team still sucks and we are still seeing the older guys doing as badly as they have or being wildly inconsistent, then that means they are just old and have lost it. Then lets talk about trading people and sitting older guys. Until then, I say let the smart guys that know how to win keep playing and get them in shape and healthy.

[Eja117]

KG and JO should never play together. Only one should be on the court at a time, with JO backing up KG.

Amen. It's like watching an elephant and a rhino trying to race cheetahs. JO and Paul Pierce should consider doing some modeling for Lane Bryant these days

[Celtics4ever]

Their mobility is shot these days.

[lightspeed5]

 i think doc reads this forum

he started bass

[5.9.20.34.43]

Yes agreed. Bench PP. He looks tired and worn out. Sick of watching him.even KG has brought it.

[gar]

Am pretty concerned about PP. Not sure what it is but he is totally flat footed out there. If he is injured he needs to sit. He is clearly not helping the team. Need to play Pietrus and Daniels. Also not sure we can give up the offense by playing Bradley. Moore seems a better backup. Would also like to see if we can get a better running lineup out there - Wilcox, Bass and Pietrus, Dooling w/ Rondo.

[greenpride32]

Okay well Bass started tonight; it didn't make a difference... 15 points in the first qtr.