Small ball?

[Celtics18]

What does everybody think about it?  I kind of liked that lineup to end the game with Paul at the (sort of) 4, and Pietrus in at small forward and KG playing center. 

[theswitch]

I liked it too, but I'm not sure if it wasn't just a matchup thing - the Thunder were going small-ball with Durant at the 4 and we couldn't trot out our normal lineup and expect KG, Bass or JO to keep up with KD.

[Who]

I greatly dislike Paul Pierce at PF and disliked that lineup as a whole as a result of it.

However, this roster does not have a good answer to opposing team's small ball lineups. So even though I don't like tonight's lineup, it was probably Doc's best option.

Opposing teams with strong small-ball lineups are going to cause the Celtics problems all season long.

[jc3celticsphan]

I greatly dislike Paul Pierce at PF and disliked that lineup as a whole as a result of it.

However, this roster does not have a good answer to opposing team's small ball lineups. So even though I don't like tonight's lineup, it was probably Doc's best option.

Opposing teams with strong small-ball lineups are going to cause the Celtics problems all season long.

no jeff green  
but we should have tried JJJ why not with the way things are going this season

[Celtics18]

I greatly dislike Paul Pierce at PF and disliked that lineup as a whole as a result of it.

However, this roster does not have a good answer to opposing team's small ball lineups. So even though I don't like tonight's lineup, it was probably Doc's best option.

Opposing teams with strong small-ball lineups are going to cause the Celtics problems all season long.

Why?  Paul's got the physicality to match up.  Durant may be too quick for him but that's the case whether he's playing at the 3 or the 4.  I think our captain is a good help defender.  So on nights where he's not matched up against someone like Kevin Durant, which is a large majority of the time, I think he can be even more effective playing some power forward.  

[Who]

I greatly dislike Paul Pierce at PF and disliked that lineup as a whole as a result of it.

However, this roster does not have a good answer to opposing team's small ball lineups. So even though I don't like tonight's lineup, it was probably Doc's best option.

Opposing teams with strong small-ball lineups are going to cause the Celtics problems all season long.

Why?  Paul's got the physicality to match up.  Durant may be too quick for him but that's the case whether he's playing at the 3 or the 4.  I think our captain is a good help defender.  So on nights where he's not matched up against someone like Kevin Durant, which is a large majority of the time, I think he can be even more effective playing some power forward.  

Defense and rebounding

I think Paul Pierce is a liability in these areas as a power forward in small ball lineups but it's not solely about him either. It's the rest of the lineup too. Especially two through four with Ray Allen and Mickael Pietrus on the wing. Pietrus is a bit small for a SF and is a below average rebounder for that position. Ray Allen has solid size but nowadays has so-so athleticism and is a below average rebounder.

In terms possession creation and defensively, it's a vulnerable group.

Not a high level lineup for the Celtics. Something they should only go to if forced (or if desperate). Not a lineup that should be viewed as a strength.

[Celtics18]

I greatly dislike Paul Pierce at PF and disliked that lineup as a whole as a result of it.

However, this roster does not have a good answer to opposing team's small ball lineups. So even though I don't like tonight's lineup, it was probably Doc's best option.

Opposing teams with strong small-ball lineups are going to cause the Celtics problems all season long.

Why?  Paul's got the physicality to match up.  Durant may be too quick for him but that's the case whether he's playing at the 3 or the 4.  I think our captain is a good help defender.  So on nights where he's not matched up against someone like Kevin Durant, which is a large majority of the time, I think he can be even more effective playing some power forward.  

Defense and rebounding

I think Paul Pierce is a liability in these areas as a power forward in small ball lineups but it's not solely about him either. It's the rest of the lineup too. Especially two through four with Ray Allen and Mickael Pietrus on the wing. Pietrus is a bit small for a SF and is a below average rebounder for that position. Ray Allen has solid size but nowadays has so-so athleticism and is a below average rebounder.

In terms possession creation and defensively, it's a vulnerable group.

Not a high level lineup for the Celtics. Something they should only go to if forced (or if desperate). Not a lineup that should be viewed as a strength.

I agree that it's a risk, particularly on the glass.  I think that's mitigated somewhat by Paul Pierce being an under-rated defensive rebounder.  His number on the glass aren't great, but I also feel like he picks and chooses when to be a rebounder somewhat.  Of course, Rondo really has to come back and help out on the glass. 

Offensively, I like surrounding Rondo with shot makers down the stretch.  I, guess, you can say that's true when Bass is in their as well, but he doesn't stretch the floor quite in the same way that you do with Allen, Pierce, and Pietrus out there. 

I know it's blasphemy to say this around here, but it's quietly starting to look like JO is making himself much more useful out there.  I actually thought that if Doc was going to pull the small lineup that JO would have gotten the down the stretch minutes as opposed to Bass tonight. 

I'm not saying to use it extensively.  I just like that it's starting to look like Doc has some more legitimate options. 

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I greatly dislike Paul Pierce at PF and disliked that lineup as a whole as a result of it.

However, this roster does not have a good answer to opposing team's small ball lineups. So even though I don't like tonight's lineup, it was probably Doc's best option.

Opposing teams with strong small-ball lineups are going to cause the Celtics problems all season long.

Why?  Paul's got the physicality to match up.  Durant may be too quick for him but that's the case whether he's playing at the 3 or the 4.  I think our captain is a good help defender.  So on nights where he's not matched up against someone like Kevin Durant, which is a large majority of the time, I think he can be even more effective playing some power forward.  

Defense and rebounding

I think Paul Pierce is a liability in these areas as a power forward in small ball lineups but it's not solely about him either. It's the rest of the lineup too. Especially two through four with Ray Allen and Mickael Pietrus on the wing. Pietrus is a bit small for a SF and is a below average rebounder for that position. Ray Allen has solid size but nowadays has so-so athleticism and is a below average rebounder.

In terms possession creation and defensively, it's a vulnerable group.

Not a high level lineup for the Celtics. Something they should only go to if forced (or if desperate). Not a lineup that should be viewed as a strength.

I agree that it's a risk, particularly on the glass.  I think that's mitigated somewhat by Paul Pierce being an under-rated defensive rebounder.  His number on the glass aren't great, but I also feel like he picks and chooses when to be a rebounder somewhat.  Of course, Rondo really has to come back and help out on the glass. 

Offensively, I like surrounding Rondo with shot makers down the stretch.  I, guess, you can say that's true when Bass is in their as well, but he doesn't stretch the floor quite in the same way that you do with Allen, Pierce, and Pietrus out there. 

I know it's blasphemy to say this around here, but it's quietly starting to look like JO is making himself much more useful out there.  I actually thought that if Doc was going to pull the small lineup that JO would have gotten the down the stretch minutes as opposed to Bass tonight. 

I'm not saying to use it extensively.  I just like that it's starting to look like Doc has some more legitimate options. 

Jo got rebounds again but the paint was still as open as ever!

[Celtics4ever]

JO arguebly outplayed Perk last night.

[kozlodoev]

I greatly dislike Paul Pierce at PF and disliked that lineup as a whole as a result of it.

However, this roster does not have a good answer to opposing team's small ball lineups. So even though I don't like tonight's lineup, it was probably Doc's best option.

Opposing teams with strong small-ball lineups are going to cause the Celtics problems all season long.

no jeff green  
but we should have tried JJJ why not with the way things are going this season

Because he's not ready?

[dark_lord]

small ball only works in small doses under certain circumstances.

[wdleehi]

KG is not playing strong enough to spend much time at C. 

[2short]

With few dominating big men in today's nba I think we'll see kg at center at points in every game.  I think the important thing is to put out a team that can run and use rondo's game to our advantage.  This can mean playing steismsa at center as well.  Bass has had a few bad games but he does a nice job at pf.  As long as the TEAM concentrates on boxing out  and rebounding then a smaller unit can do it.  Paul Silas & Dave Cowens, 6'9" but what a great rebounding team which led to THE fast break.

[wdleehi]

With few dominating big men in today's nba I think we'll see kg at center at points in every game.  I think the important thing is to put out a team that can run and use rondo's game to our advantage.  This can mean playing steismsa at center as well.  Bass has had a few bad games but he does a nice job at pf.  As long as the TEAM concentrates on boxing out  and rebounding then a smaller unit can do it.  Paul Silas & Dave Cowens, 6'9" but what a great rebounding team which led to THE fast break.

You have to have talented rebounders that are short to have a good rebounding small team.  (Rodman, Ben Wallace, Fortson, Barkley...)

The Celtics just don't have guys that are very good at rebounding anymore. 

[greenpride32]

Well they tried this against IND and got mauled.  Pierce was being manhandled by Hannsborough.  It didn't look so bad in the OKC game since Durant plays more of a perimeter game.