Steps to Salvage the Season

[quidinqui33]

Ok, the pacers game is not quite over, but barring a miraculous comeback, we will likely be losing our 4th game in a row and most likely headed for a 5th on Monday.  It is time to accept that our problems are bigger than a sore Pierce heel and Jeff Green's heart issue.

Jeff Clark said we can't blow it up, and I agree, we are set up nicely with cap space next year.  So we need to take some steps to make this season worth while.

First, Doc needs to make his mind up.  One minute, Avery Bradley is not a PG, the next minute he is.  One minute Etwan has skipped Bradley in the rotation, the next game Bradley is back in.  One game Keyon is a PG, now he is not.  Figure out who your personnel are Doc, and play them accordingly.

Second, the Bradley experiment is over.  He is a good defender, but he has absolutely the worst shot I think I have ever seen in the league.  I'm a Longorn and I think it is time to move on.  When he comes in with the second unit, we face all the same issues that we have because of Rondo's bad jumper minus all of the other positive's Rondo brings.  Trade him for a pick or something and give his minutes to Moore.

Third, play Moore, Johnson, and Stiemsa more minutes.  We need to take advantage of this last year with the big three and let the young guys get some game action with them so they have the experience going into next year.  In addition, this will give our team some youth and hunger which should help us get to some 50/50 balls.  As I said before.  Moore should take Bradleys minutes.  Stiemsma should start and JO would do better agaist 2nd unit guys.  And JJ should spell garnet and bass.  In addition, it would allow us to showcase these guys for any potential trades.

Fourth, we need to rest the old guys now.  Driving them into the ground right now is a horrible move by doc and it won't matter if we make the playoffs if they can barely stand by that time.  (see play the rookies above).

Fifth, Danny needs to make a couple of pick ups.  He himself admitted we have had trouble rebounding and scoring for three seasons. It's time to adress it.  We need some help boarding and clogging the lane.  Go to Pryzbilla's house and give him a reason to come back.  Heck, go to Shaq's house and see if he wants to come back. I heard Ostertag wanted to make a come back. At the very least, these moves would be exciting. Get one semi-legit big guy who likes to crash the board.  The second pick up should be a guard that can dribble and create his own shot or get fouled.  Sure these guy are risks, but bring in AI or Arenas.  Either one of those guys can get a shot or get fouled and again, at the very least, it would be fun to watch.

These are things that our team can realistically do that will make this season somewhat more fun to watch, grow our youngsters for the future or for a trade, rest our elder stars, and still enable us to get a 4-8 playoff seed (hopefully). Then, if we get in the playoffs....Anything is Possible!!!

What do you guys think?  Any other realistic tweak type fixes that could help this team with the personel we have, our financial restrictions, and not blowing the team up?

[Celtics4ever]

Playoffs?

I think some of the steps are decent ideas but right now the way we board are we a playoff team?

[guava_wrench]

Those moves might make no difference whatsoever. Moore will eventually get his minutes even without a course correction.

[guava_wrench]

Those moves might make no difference whatsoever. Moore will eventually get his minutes even without a course correction.

There are still a lot of bad teams that we can beat. Half the teams make it into the playoffs. There is a team every in the playoffs with a losing record every year.

[gpap]

I am personally sick and tired of hearing about next summer's "cap space." If nobody wants come here, than the cap space is useless

We need players to win now. Tomorrow doesn't matter til tomorrow gets here.

What about all the season ticket holders and people who paid money to see the Celtics play this year? Are we suppose to just say "eh, wait til next year when with our cap space, we'll be able to sign....uh....uh....goodbye."

[PosImpos]

I am personally sick and tired of hearing about next summer's "cap space." If nobody wants come here, than the cap space is useless

We need players to win now. Tomorrow doesn't matter til tomorrow gets here.

What about all the season ticket holders and people who paid money to see the Celtics play this year? Are we suppose to just say "eh, wait til next year when with our cap space, we'll be able to sign....uh....uh....goodbye."

it's a bridge year.  enjoy the last run with the old guys and wait until next season is exactly what you tell season ticketholders.  nobody thought the window would still be open now when the big 3 first came together.  its already time to move on, but we have to wait.  in the mean time, all we can do is hope that this team can get it together enough to win half their games and not totaly embarrass themselves and their fans.

[quidinqui33]

I am personally sick and tired of hearing about next summer's "cap space." If nobody wants come here, than the cap space is useless

We need players to win now. Tomorrow doesn't matter til tomorrow gets here.

What about all the season ticket holders and people who paid money to see the Celtics play this year? Are we suppose to just say "eh, wait til next year when with our cap space, we'll be able to sign....uh....uh....goodbye."

Cap space his huge for our team next year. No team is going to give us anything of value for our expiring contracts of kg and ray. Only a contender is going to want those guys and they are not going to give up anything of value in return. And no mid tier or cellar dweller is going to trade a young stud for cap space in hopes of finding another young stud.  I'm not saying we are going to get a marquee free agent this summer, but the cap space gives us options.

[quidinqui33]

Playoffs?

I think some of the steps are decent ideas but right now the way we board are we a playoff team?

I still think we are a playoff team. We just needs some tweaks to squeeze the most out of this season because what we are doing right now just is not working. Doc can't keep beating the same dead horse and Danny needs to help him with some minor personel moves. Not saying it'll have any drastic effects, but I am just hoping for something exciting to watch on the court and increase our athleticism a little.

[greenpride32]

Fourth, we need to rest the old guys now.  Driving them into the ground right now is a horrible move by doc and it won't matter if we make the playoffs if they can barely stand by that time.  (see play the rookies above).

This team is only going to go as far as the big 3 and Rondo take them.  We aren't winning games with them right now, but I'd guaranteed we'd be losing more games by letting the other guys play more minutes.  So what good is all the rest if we don't even make the playoffs?  Exactly what would they be resting for?

[CoachBo]

The notion that playing Stiemsma, Moore and Johnson more is some kind of solution pains me.

They're not a solution to anything. They're at best end of the bench guys who wouldn't make several of the teams that are beating us. Playing them more turns us into an expansion team.

[quidinqui33]

The notion that playing Stiemsma, Moore and Johnson more is some kind of solution pains me.

They're not a solution to anything. They're at best end of the bench guys who wouldn't make several of the teams that are beating us. Playing them more turns us into an expansion team.

It pains me too. But our hof'ers are clearly still not in game shape and are just plain slow to the ball. I think mixing in the young guys has a several benefits.  Brings athleticism. Brings hunger. Bring guys that can run with rondo. And helps them grow. I'm talking 10 minutes here and there to rest our vets. If it works great. If it doesn't at least we tried to do something other than what is not working now.

[Change]

The notion that playing Stiemsma, Moore and Johnson more is some kind of solution pains me.

They're not a solution to anything. They're at best end of the bench guys who wouldn't make several of the teams that are beating us. Playing them more turns us into an expansion team.

Are you implying there are 447 players in the NBA better than Moore, Johnson, and Stiemsma? whatever you're smoking I want some.

Doc Rivers himself has admitted E'Twaun Moore outplayed Avery Bradley in limited minutes. That is fact. Stiemsma is a mobile big man. Lord knows Celtics could use couple of those. JaJuan coming out of college was known as scorer, and he hasn't disappointed so far.

[Celtics18]

The notion that playing Stiemsma, Moore and Johnson more is some kind of solution pains me.

They're not a solution to anything. They're at best end of the bench guys who wouldn't make several of the teams that are beating us. Playing them more turns us into an expansion team.

It pains me too. But our hof'ers are clearly still not in game shape and are just plain slow to the ball. I think mixing in the young guys has a several benefits.  Brings athleticism. Brings hunger. Bring guys that can run with rondo. And helps them grow. I'm talking 10 minutes here and there to rest our vets. If it works great. If it doesn't at least we tried to do something other than what is not working now.

Well, Stiemsa's been getting minutes, Moore got minutes tonight, and Johnson may not be far behind.

[CoachBo]

The notion that playing Stiemsma, Moore and Johnson more is some kind of solution pains me.

They're not a solution to anything. They're at best end of the bench guys who wouldn't make several of the teams that are beating us. Playing them more turns us into an expansion team.

Are you implying there are 447 players in the NBA better than Moore, Johnson, and Stiemsma? whatever you're smoking I want some.

Doc Rivers himself has admitted E'Twaun Moore outplayed Avery Bradley in limited minutes. That is fact. Stiemsma is a mobile big man. Lord knows Celtics could use couple of those. JaJuan coming out of college was known as scorer, and he hasn't disappointed so far.

Fairly creative view of the three of them, considering that Stiemsma's been cut multiple times already and Moore and Johnson come from a mediocre Big 10 program and have shown me little or nothing in pre-season and other action.

Frankly, anyone who even entertains the notion that Danny can rebuild through the draft need only look at Marshon Brooks versus these two relatively useless picks for some chilling evidence to lie awake at night.

What value Stiemsma has is on the defensive end; the jury is most assuredly out on the value of the other two. Meanwhile, playing them more is an exercise in futility - more minutes will not help this team's issues.

[PosImpos]

the celtics will be a playoff team, but only because they are in the eastern conference.  i have a feeling theyll be battling with cleveland all the way for the 8th seed.