Who should start at shooting guard now?

[Celtics18]

The "out with the old, in with the new" argument seems to be consistent with people's constant complaining that Doc doesn't play rookies and so forth. (Calling Ray 37 when he's 36, etc.)

Bradley's done great in place of Ray, but that doesn't mean that Ray's suddenly not better. Doc will probably give Ray fewer minutes to get him back in the flow, but that doesn't mean he'll come off the bench, or should.

Teams are willing to double Ray because of his shooting ability. Are they gonna do that to Bradley? Like I said in the previous topic, people get caught up in saying that they're tired of seeing Rondo wait for Ray to get open, when the thing is, defenses practically go outta their way to make sure he isn't, and everything else opens up based off that. A lotta people wanna pretend it's not a big deal to hype up the new kid on the block. That's not due diligence for Ray.

I'm not trying to diss Ray, I'm really not, and I agree to an extent with everything you're saying.  

I'm not 100% sold on Ray coming off the bench either, but it's hard to argue against the fact that our best lineup this season has been the one we've seen recently with KG at center and Bradley at the two.  Why mess with that?  Ray's enough of a pro to embrace coming in as a sixth man on a bench that desperately needs a guy who can legitimately fill it up.

Yeah, I'm leaning towards wanting to see Bradley continue as the starter with Ray coming off the bench.  

Doc will make the right choice.

[colincb]

Allen has a better Per, offensive rating, and defensive rating. Now I think Ray off the bench is a something worth thinking about, because Bradley isn't going to score much on the second unit. As for crunch time, what guy would any NBA coach play?  Allen and it would be 30-0.

[bopna]

There are several factors that come into play when discussing this issue. But I for one really think AB should start. The wins alone should tell you we are better with AB at the 2.

10-1 overall record wth AB starting including 5 wins in arow.

The added dimension of youth and defense in the starting unit has allowed us to jump over opponents. IF im not mistaken we have outscored our opponents in the 1st qtr of all our 5 wins with AB starting.

The entire offensive playbook is different with AB starting than with RA. Rondo does not have the peek abooo, hide and seek offense that we employ with ray that takes about 15 seconds to elapse by which time it either result in a TO or a missed shot. With AB the offense is simple. The offense just runs thru either PP or Kg at the post or pnr with kg at the top with rondo creating and shreading opponents defense resulting to brilliant cuts by AB  in the paint. Hence not by coincidence, Rondo's assist numbers have gone up.

RAY is still a very good player at age 36 but it is now up to doc to realize that we are really on to something here and the numbers and results really speak for themselves...AB SHOULD CONTINUE TO START.

[jdz101]

Allen has a better Per, offensive rating, and defensive rating. Now I think Ray off the bench is a something worth thinking about, because Bradley isn't going to score much on the second unit. As for crunch time, what guy would any NBA coach play?  Allen and it would be 30-0.

Ray is the finisher there is no one disagreeing with you there. Avery should start though.

[bfrombleacher]

Like OKC starting Sefalosha (sp) but benching Harden, sixth-manning Rayray might have the same "spark off the bench" effect for us.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Allen has a better Per, offensive rating, and defensive rating. Now I think Ray off the bench is a something worth thinking about, because Bradley isn't going to score much on the second unit. As for crunch time, what guy would any NBA coach play?  Allen and it would be 30-0.

I don't know if this is true but I remember seeing Ray has the worse defensive +/- of most of our players (I think there were only 2-3 worse, guys that don't play) that play for us... and that's with the other starters (our best defensive unit b/c of KG, RR, and PP).

[Kane3387]

To me this is like do you sit the backup qb who has played the last five games, while the starter is out, is undefeated, and has great stats?

Answer for me is unless your qb is a perennial pro bowler then you go with the hot hand. Ray is no longer the all star he once was. I gotta go with AB.

[j804]

Did anyone listen to rondos postgame he credited the fast starts and strong defense in the beginning of games that has them rolling, and that him and Avery are getting chemistry and get on the break

He might be hinting to something says as long as we keep doing that well be good. He's probably a fan of Avery starting as well. It is true though with Ray and JO back then we'd get off to almost always awful slow starts.

[Kane3387]

Allen has a better Per, offensive rating, and defensive rating. Now I think Ray off the bench is a something worth thinking about, because Bradley isn't going to score much on the second unit. As for crunch time, what guy would any NBA coach play?  Allen and it would be 30-0.

Ray is the finisher there is no one disagreeing with you there. Avery should start though.

Ray should finish when we need a shot. Bradley should finish when we need a stop. His D on wade was great. That block?! Wow...

[get_banners]

Ray is obviously the better player...but given what we need (more defense at the start of games, more offense with our 2nd unit), it might make sense to keep Bradley as the starter. Ray will almost certainly get more minutes than Bradley and be out there at the end of games, but for roles and strategy, Bradley starting and Ray as 6th man actually might be better for the team. Bradley has been one of the best developments this year for this team. I was worried about his size at the 2, but because he's got such quick lateral movement and quick hands, he can still D up 2s who are bigger than him. Look at Wade today - he had to work really hard against Avery to score, and had a pretty bad shooting game.

[lightspeed5]

at one point avery was guarding lebron and he did pretty good too.

[LooseCannon]

Ray should finish when we need a shot. Bradley should finish when we need a stop.

Who should play when the team needs both shots and stops?

[lightspeed5]

Ray should finish when we need a shot. Bradley should finish when we need a stop.

Who should play when the team needs both shots and stops?

scalabine

jk. pietrus

[apc]

you don't change a winning team.
and we have been playing our best basketball with Bradley starting.

[Celtics18]

Ray should finish when we need a shot. Bradley should finish when we need a stop.

Who should play when the team needs both shots and stops?

Mickael Pietrus?