Doc stop playing Jermaine O'Neal

[vinnie]

Every time Stiemsma gets on the floor positive things happen.  I'm sick of Doc Rivers... Either play Stiemsma more, or I wish he'd go sit in Duke gymnasium and stare at his kid all day.  Doc Rivers is part of the PROBLEM of this team, not a solution.

I think fans tend to exaggerate the ability of players. While I would not mind Stiemsma getting more time, Gortat would have had 40 points last night if Steamer played more. While JO was terrible, the one time Stiemsma played Gortat one on one, Gortat made a spin move and drove to the basket for an easy slam. Stiemsma is a nice story in that he is in the league, but to me that is it.

[jpd985]

Every time Stiemsma gets on the floor positive things happen.  I'm sick of Doc Rivers... Either play Stiemsma more, or I wish he'd go sit in Duke gymnasium and stare at his kid all day.  Doc Rivers is part of the PROBLEM of this team, not a solution.

I think fans tend to exaggerate the ability of players. While I would not mind Stiemsma getting more time, Gortat would have had 40 points last night if Steamer played more. While JO was terrible, the one time Stiemsma played Gortat one on one, Gortat made a spin move and drove to the basket for an easy slam. Stiemsma is a nice story in that he is in the league, but to me that is it.

Steisma needs the offseason to bulk and get some coaching in one on one defense. I think for 10-20 minutes a game he is a solid choice.

[Celtics4ever]

Greg has uncanny timing to block shots and a solid if not spectacular jumper.  He is horrible at defending the low position and his positional defense in the post.   

At this point, we know what we have in JO.   I would like to see us explore Greg some more.   But I am afraid I summed it up adequately above.  Were he a real dominant prospect he would have already been the league but he may end up a servicable prospect.

[kozlodoev]

Greg has uncanny timing to block shots and a solid if not spectacular jumper.  He is horrible at defending the low position and his positional defense in the post.  

At this point, we know what we have in JO.   I would like to see us explore Greg some more.   But I am afraid I summed it up adequately above.  Were he a real dominant prospect he would have already been the league but he may end up a servicable prospect.

Yup, precisely my point -- I think we pretty much know what we have in Greg too. We can play him, and he's going to play ok help defense (when he doesn't miss rotations that is), and block some shots -- but the opposition will just be able to post their center all night with good results.

That one play in the first quarter yesterday when Gortat absolutely posterized Stiemsma is a good illustration of what I'm trying to say.

Stiemsma can be a good pace-changer, and can be utilized effectively under the right circumstances, but unless he miraculously adds significant amounts of lower-body strength, there's no use of getting giddy over him like schoolgirls.

[pearljammer10]

JO's biggest problem is the rest of the starting lineup is not playing as as well as they could (or at least what we expected) and his shortcomings are magnified.


The bigger problem is the Celtics do not have a starting C on this team.  It is arguable they might not even have a number 2 C on the team. 


They have a rookie C from the D-league and a 3rd PF to use in place of JO. 

Not a great place to be in. 

Yeah this is a really great point. JO is supposed to be in the starting line up to play about 27 minutes score 6 tp 8 points and get 4 to 5 rebounds. Since the big three are playing way way way below their averages number JO getting more of the blame. I still like JO as a player, he doesnt have what he used to but we cant expect too much from him, especially when he is the 5th option in our starting lineup.

I hope Wilcox can get healthier because I like the few spurts he has had off the bench this season. As far as Stiemsma goes, he had a couple decent games in the block category. Steamer is not going to solve any of this teams problems, he might actually make them worse by getting in there. He was getting abused on defense one on one and is a very poor rebounder and is greatly inexperienced. He can get blocks and hit a baseline jumper... thats about all he has to offer.

[letsgoblue86]

How about we just trade him 

[Clovertown]

In my opinion Greg has more to offer than just blocking shots.  For anyone who has played basketball it's hard to get in a rhythm playing 1 minute here and there.  Look what happened when they started him and he got decent playing time.  13 points, 7 rebs, 2 blocks, and 2 assists.  With the way the team is playing what do they have to lose by starting Greg or at least giving him enough time to get a good look at him?  He is a great shot blocker, can shoot well for a 7 footer, is more explosive than any other big we have on the roster, and brings energy to the floor.  He has range almost to the 3 point line with his jumper.  If the other teams bigs had to go out that far to guard our big that would open up the lane for the rest of the celts to get to the bucket.  I just think there is more to look at with him before we just say he isn't going to help us.  I personally feel for what JO brings the team (or doesn't)Greg is a better option at this point.   

As far as defense.....Last time I checked pretty much everyone gets scored on in the NBA.  Some more than others.  It's full of offensive superstars.  Everyone acts like if he can't shut down Dwight Howard he is no good at post defense.  Show me someone that can shut down the best centers in the league and I will show you someone making 10 + million per year.  He got scored on by an NBA move by Gorat.  I'm pretty sure he scored another 22 points on someone else last night including another 12 on someone else in the first quarter.  I know Gorat is no Dwight Howard but he is leading the Suns in Scoring and rebounds.  Greg's young as far as NBA experience goes but I believe he is the type of player that does better the more he plays.  If he gets more playing time he will be able to better learn how to guard against the better scoring bigs in the NBA.  Again, what do they have to lose at this point besides another game which they are doing already?  Before they blow it up at least give some others a chance to see what they have.

[The DarkPassenger]

Every time Stiemsma gets on the floor positive things happen.  I'm sick of Doc Rivers... Either play Stiemsma more, or I wish he'd go sit in Duke gymnasium and stare at his kid all day.  Doc Rivers is part of the PROBLEM of this team, not a solution.

I think fans tend to exaggerate the ability of players. While I would not mind Stiemsma getting more time, Gortat would have had 40 points last night if Steamer played more. While JO was terrible, the one time Stiemsma played Gortat one on one, Gortat made a spin move and drove to the basket for an easy slam. Stiemsma is a nice story in that he is in the league, but to me that is it.

While I agree with you I tend to think that some fans also exaggerate the negative things that happen and place it on someone else. Greg is a decent bench guy and has a real knack for blocking shots. Let's not forget that most of Gortat points came when Greg was on the bench, I mean he was only in the game for 2 minutes. Gortat really got Greg on that spin move but JO didn't look good defending him either.

He is a great story and I think if he can up his defensive game, can find some room as a role player on a team, hopefully Bostons.

[33_Larry Legend_33]

Stiemsma will need minutes to get better.  Why NOT let him compete against Gortat for more than a couple minutes?  

This giving him a 2-3 minute burst and then leaving him out does him no good.  If JO was playing great, then fine...  But the fact is we have NO ONE on this roster who clogs up the middle.  Is Steamer the answer?  I don't know...

But what happens if he finds a new team, and THEN we learn the kid really could play, and provide 20-25 minutes worth of solid basketball?  It sickens me to think this....

[TheReaLPuba]

I think JO is at the point in this career where he is suppose to be a backup and only playing 15-22 mpg.

The problem is this team doesn't have a starting 5 anymore.

Even with 50 yr old Shaq we had a legit starting 5.

Not this year.

[snively]

Wilcox was supposed to be the guy to limit our use of Jermaine, bring some athleticism and finishing ability to our team.  Unfortunately, he's off to the worst year of his career thus far with the injuries and coming in looking out of shape.

I would like to see some more Stiemsma, but the book is out on him: attack him in the post.  I think opponents are shooting 100% against Greg in the post.

He should be safe from exploitation by Trevor Booker tomorrow.  I'd expect a good 10-15 minutes from Greg tomorrow.

[33_Larry Legend_33]

I think opponents are shooting 100% against Greg in the post.

Nice hyperbole...

[MBunge]

Greg has uncanny timing to block shots and a solid if not spectacular jumper.  He is horrible at defending the low position and his positional defense in the post.  

At this point, we know what we have in JO.   I would like to see us explore Greg some more.   But I am afraid I summed it up adequately above.  Were he a real dominant prospect he would have already been the league but he may end up a servicable prospect.

Yup, precisely my point -- I think we pretty much know what we have in Greg too. We can play him, and he's going to play ok help defense (when he doesn't miss rotations that is), and block some shots -- but the opposition will just be able to post their center all night with good results.

That one play in the first quarter yesterday when Gortat absolutely posterized Stiemsma is a good illustration of what I'm trying to say.

Stiemsma played 3 whole minutes against the Suns.  3.  Whole.  Minutes.  Gortat scored 24 and pulled down 12 boards in 38 minutes.  How much of that did he accomplish in those 3 whole minutes Stiemsma was on the court and how much did he get against JO?

Doc is just not going to play Stiemsma and it's not because he tried to play him and the kid just sucked.  Avery Bradley has played 1000% worse at times than anything Stiemsma has done on the court.

Would playing Stiemsma more really make much of a difference?  Probably not, but there's no reason at all not to give it a try.

Mike