Celtics set to Run More

[Evantime34]

I know Doc always says that they have to run more, but after the trade deadline I expect the Celtics to finally do so.

There is word that Kevin Garnett is going to play the 5 for the rest of the year. Whether JO is traded or not I envision Wilcox, Bass and KG being our top big men. Besides KG that isn't a whole lot of length. The only way that these bigs can be successful is to consistently run. Trading JO for Beasley would bring in an athletic 3/4 that would get up and down.

Rondo is clearly better suited for an uptempo system, that's why in a show of commitment I expect the Celtics to move Paul Pierce and Jermaine O'Neal, the guys two best suited for a slow down half court game.

[cman88]

JO will be moved IMO...but I just don't see pierce being traded...actually, I would be pretty angry if he was.

After all the years he's spent in Boston..I would love to see him retire here rather than be shipped off for 50cents on the dollar. he is one player id love to see the celtics organization be loyal to

[Evantime34]

A good trade to move Pierce and facilitate more running would be this.

To Houston: Paul Pierce

To Portland: Hasheem Thabeet, Terrence Williams, Goran Dragic, Chase Buddinger, 1st.

To Boston: Gerald Wallace, Jordan Hill, Courtney Lee

Houston has inquired about Pierce, pretty much all their players besides Morris, Lowry, Scola and Martin have team options for next year, so you could move them around in whichever way is deemed the most fair. Houston along with their expirings gives up a first that goes to Portland.

[Evantime34]

JO will be moved IMO...but I just don't see pierce being traded...actually, I would be pretty angry if he was.

After all the years he's spent in Boston..I would love to see him retire here rather than be shipped off for 50cents on the dollar. he is one player id love to see the celtics organization be loyal to

I love what Pierce did here in Boston, but I don't think he fits with what we're doing and I wouldn't be shocked if he was amnestied after the year anyway.

TP for responding.

[cman88]

back on topic abit, we definitely need to run more...the celtics seem to be much better offensively when they are setting the pace, causing turnovers and running the floor.

Wilcox-Rondo connection looks really nice

[Inside-Out]

Run?  Most of the team can barely walk at a brisk pace.

Seriously, the lineup needs a tweak to make it happen.  Wilcox should play ahead of Bass, IMO, to help make it happen.  It'd help our size situation, too.

[Evantime34]

Run?  Most of the team can barely walk at a brisk pace.

Seriously, the lineup needs a tweak to make it happen.  Wilcox should play ahead of Bass, IMO, to help make it happen.  It'd help our size situation, too.

Bass is hardly slow, Avery can fly, Pietrus is pretty fast, KG is fast for his position if he's playing the 5. Ray isn't that fast but he's useful on the break because of his ability to hit the trailing 3.

[pearljammer10]

I would love to see us run but we'd need three days off after ever game. I like KG at the 5 bass starting at the four. I also like a lineup of Rondo - Allen - Pietrus - Bass- Wilcox as a second unit type... Thats a lineup that can run, get some turnovers and tranisiton points, and get some easy transition buckets as well.

[Evantime34]

I would love to see us run but we'd need three days off after ever game. I like KG at the 5 bass starting at the four. I also like a lineup of Rondo - Allen - Pietrus - Bass- Wilcox as a second unit type... Thats a lineup that can run, get some turnovers and tranisiton points, and get some easy transition buckets as well.

Yeah this isn't exactly the best season to have a veteran laden running team. I think if we can get Beasley he will help.

[j804]

I don't see Pierce being traded either, I think the organization owes it to him to at least play the year out. Ainge knows what happened with the perk trade if Pierce goes this team will be ripped apart. Nobody is untouchable as in if you get something super good in return you can't turn it down but that's not happening. I think well most likely stand pat aside from adding Beasley or somebody for some scoring off the bench.

[bfrombleacher]

We don't have to lose Pierce. His trailing threes are just as good as Ray's and the offense looks different with him handling the ball (and he really seems to work well with Bradley hawking the baseline).

We'd be deadly offensively because of our versatility. Literally an immediate change of pace by using different combinations. I don't hate what JO brings but Doc really plays him too much for the good of the team and the good of JO.

[LooseCannon]

Does this mean more smallball lineups?

I'd kind of like to see a Rondo, Bradley, Pierce, Pietrus, Garnett lineup for a couple of five-minute stretches to see what it is like.

[Evantime34]

Sorry I deterred the thread by taking about trading Pierce. The main idea is that we are going to try to do deals before the deadline (and to a much greater extent this offseason) that will make this team into am athletic uptempo team built around Rondo.

[xmuscularghandix]

People talk about how old the Celtics are but if you look at it they can really take advantage of their speed at various positions.

Rondo= One of the leagues fastest PGs

Bradley= Not exactly the best ball handler but is definitely fast and can dominate the opposing PG to force TO's

Bass- Athletic and can get up and down pretty nice

Garnett- If he is playing center he can beat just about anybody up the floor minus Noah and younger guys like that.

Wilcox- His hands, speed, and hustle were built for uptempo basketball

Ray Allen- Not exactly fast or great at finishing on the break... but if the team is running up and down he'll get some nice looks in transition

JaJuan Johnson- Could be a borderline All-Star if he could start in a fast break system.

Mickael Pietrus= Came into the league with Golden State under Don Nelson... need i say more?

Pierce is really the only guy that will consistently be slower than his matchup... but he can shoot transition three's pretty nice as well.