anyone still feel this team is a piece away?

[goCeltics]

unless bill russell or larry legend is walking thru that door, they need to rebuild for 2013-2014, yes not even next year. FA next year sucks, wouldn't mind if they picked up bad contracts that expired in 2013 in exchange of draft picks or young playes and cos i think even next year is a lost cause also.

[stylo617617]

nope

just 2 pieces away ,another scorer & another rebounder but we have no assets aside from expiring contracts to get those pleyers ,therefore this team is done

[33_Larry Legend_33]

No... No I don't.  O'Neal stinks... Pietrus is nothing but a 3 point chucker.  Rondo is pouty.  The bench, which appeared to be a strong suit, suddenly looks like they have no cohesion. 

Would we be better with Dwight Howard?  Not for what we'd have to give up to get him, so no, we're more than just one piece away.

[CelticSooner]

If Doc Brown is that piece then yes.

[Tgro]

Its starting to feel more like this....

[PosImpos]

Yep, they're just one franchise superstar away from being a contender.

You could say the same of about 10-15 teams in the league, though.

[Marcus13]

yeah...but it's a big piece

[bfrombleacher]

I still think a solid rebounding big would help.

[raynman]

I feel this team is a piece of **** !   (pardon)

[PosImpos]

I still think a solid rebounding big would help.

like Dwight Howard, or Blake Griffin, or Kevin Love.

(e.g. a superstar)

[chambers]

If we want a decent shooting guard free agent then it's probably going to have to be next year. Much better crop than 2014- 2014 is the big mans year of free agents.

[Inside-Out]

I really do think we are, but also some lineup changes would have to come with that.  Both are unlikely.

Bigs ranking in salary, reputation, & playing time:

KG
JO
Bass
Wilcox

My opinion of bigs rankings by talent, which should drive minutes right now:

KG
Wilcox
JO
Bass

Without bringing in anyone:

Moving JO to his natural role of backup C would probably help JO.

Moving Wilcox to start with Rondo will help the running game and set the tone on the glass/inside.

Bass, the smallest and weakest around the glass, should be the 4th big and get 4th big minutes.

The problem that remains is that if Wilcox is your starting center, you're not a contender.  If he's the 3rd big in the rotation, It think we have a chance.

So we're 1 piece away in the big rotation.

On the wing, I think we're set on personnel.  I love a Ray/Paul/Pietrus rotation, but with Pietrus starting and Ray off the bench in a 3-player main rotation.  Quisy and Pavolovic are excellent, excellent deep bench players that can step in to big games and play, IMO.  So I think Doc needs to make a lineup adjustment, but we don't need anybody on the wing.

At PG, Rondo takes the minutes, and that's fine.  Bradley, Dooling, and Moore make an adequate backup platoon.  No new players needed; need to pick a guy and go with him.  Currently, it seems that's between Dooling and Bradley, and Bradley might be winning out.  If he appears consistent enough for playoff minutes, Dooling will be 3rd string, and probably on the outs.

So yeah, I really, truly believe we're only one piece away: a starting center that can move everyone else to the appropriate role for their present ability.

These little lineup suggestions would bump a few players out of the rotation that could get minutes elsewhere, namely Dooling and Bass (possibly JO).  These become the players to shop.  Seriously, some team might benefit from having this lineup on their bench:

Dooling
Quisy
Sasha
Bass
JO

I'm still looking for a Dooling/Bass/Clipper's pick trade to happen at the deadline to try to straighten out the ship.

[bfrombleacher]

I still think a solid rebounding big would help.

like Dwight Howard, or Blake Griffin, or Kevin Love.

(e.g. a superstar)

Well I think this team is the definition of a donut team right now. Not even a superstar, just someone like Varejao or Biedrins would help immensely. We're being hammered on the boards, not scoring on the inside and its even worse without our 2 best bigs.  Neither of them are prolific rebounders or interior scorers and we still look significantly worse without them.

JO had 15 minutes of glory followed by downtime the rest of the way. Seriously...Stiemsma anyone?

[PosImpos]

I still think a solid rebounding big would help.

like Dwight Howard, or Blake Griffin, or Kevin Love.

(e.g. a superstar)

Well I think this team is the definition of a donut team right now. Not even a superstar, just someone like Varejao or Biedrins would help immensely. We're being hammered on the boards, not scoring on the inside and its even worse without our 2 best bigs.  Neither of them are prolific rebounders or interior scorers and we still look significantly worse without them.

JO had 15 minutes of glory followed by downtime the rest of the way. Seriously...Stiemsma anyone?

I agree, this team desperately lacks an inside presence on both ends of the floor.  While somebody like Andy V or Biedrins would help a lot, I don't think it would make us a contender by any stretch.

[green7]

the team was a piece away from winning the title in 2010,against the lakers in the finals (should of drafted deandre jordan would of been a big help for the teams rebounding troubles). but now no this team is just getting old on defense and offense & to lazy to grab rebounds and box out.