Also if you are claiming that Doc got outcoached aren't you exaggerating a bit much? I mean, if you think Stiems should have payed an extra 2 possesions late in the game is that really being outcoached or was it one mistake (in your opinion) during the game?
Throwing a guy out there while he is cold, who has just come into the d-league, and who is not that great defensively anyway is an EXTREMELY risky move IMO
Celtics did lose a winnable game. Up 5 with 2:33 left in the game. I think Doc should do more situational substituting. Pietrus is the best wing defender on the team. And right now Steamer is the only true center.
As far as Steamer goes, I like the kid. Seems to have a good basketball big man IQ. I don't know why some people think he is not good at defense. He was defensive MVP in the D-League. That has to make you an ok defender in the NBA. And you are right, on the play he might have gotten called for the foul. But I doubt Bynum makes that hook shot while getting fouled and he might not make the free throws. He is only 64% from the line this year.
So it all goes back to coaching. Doc plays it safe with the undersized lineup and loses. Honestly, I've seen too much of that this season. Why not take the gamble?
Here are the Defensive MVPs of the D-League:
2001–02 Jeff Myers, Greenville Groove
2002–03 Mikki Moore, Roanoke Dazzle
2003–04 Karim Shabazz, Charleston Lowgators
2004–05 Derrick Zimmerman, Columbus Riverdragons
2005–06 Derrick Zimmerman, Austin Toros
2006–07 Renaldo Major, Dakota Wizards
2007–08 Mouhamed Sene, Idaho Stampede, and Stephane Lasme, Los Angeles D-Fenders
2008–09 Brent Petway, Idaho Stampede
2009–10 Greg Stiemsma, Sioux Falls Skyforce
2010–11 Chris Johnson, Dakota Wizards
I'm going to go ahead and doubt your statement that the award means anything.
Let's look at MVP, just to make a point. This is the best player in the D-League:
2001–02 Ansu Sesay, Greenville Groove
2002–03 Devin Brown, Fayetteville Patriots
2003–04 Tierre Brown, Charleston Lowgators
2004–05 Matt Carroll, Roanoke Dazzle
2005–06 Marcus Fizer, Austin Toros
2006–07 Randy Livingston, Idaho Stampede
2007–08 Kasib Powell, Sioux Falls Skyforce
2008–09 Courtney Sims, Iowa Energy
2009–10 Mike Harris, Rio Grande Valley Vipers
2010–11 Curtis Stinson, Iowa Energy
Outside of
maybe Matt Carroll, there's just no reason to believe that being anywhere near decent in the D-League means anything, especially against one of the best centers in the NBA.
I like Steamer and think he has a lot to offer between his shot-blocking and jump-shooting. He could certainly get better on defense over the course of the next year or two. I just don't want him to close out games and am not comfortable with him as the 3rd big on the team.