What the heck happened to Brandon Bass and our Bench?

[thestackshow]

Our Bench and Bass have dissapeared in this series, is the Hawks team just a bad matchup for us? Bass has been probably the most consistent Celtic all year, and hes completely dissapeared in the playoffs so far.

Im praying the Hawks are just a bad matchup, Bass never seems to get open for a jump shot anymore when during the season he was nearly always open and scored effortlessley.

I think this is one of the main reasons were not blowing out the Hawks and are struggling in this series, were basically getting no production from our Bench, and no production from Bass.

Steamer was so good for us all season, now hes barely getting minutes.

Bass, Steamer, and Pietrus have all been negatives so far, hope this changes because this is why our starter are having to play so many more minutes.

Its Rondo, KG, and Paul vs the Hawks.

[hpantazo]

I've been wondering the same thing. I keep hearing that Bass needs Rondo to create for him, but Rondo only missed 1 game, what happened in the rest of the games?

[rondohondo]

Josh Smith is a really bad matchup for him, Smith has more length,quickness,hops and athletic ability , really tough matchup for Bass .

I think he would match up much better with boozer and gibson or Elton Brand in the 2nd rd and even Bosh(much more of a jump shooter ) in the ECF.

On a side note whoever says we should just sign Bass to a long term deal because he would be cheaper(and I've read this more than once on CB) than a Josh Smith is out of their minds. Smith is a much more superior player and would be even better with his old buddy Rondo dictating where he gets his shots and not just jacking up J's.

[mc34]

Bass will come around. I think a lot of the Hawks small-ball lineups are giving him problems getting him open shots. Josh Smith in particular is a matchup nightmare for him.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

Why i steamer a negative...? He isn't getting any time on the floor. Doc, for some reason, fell in love with hollis..whom he did not fall in love with during the season when he maybe should have tried him more to support this instant love. Steamer still makes guys change their inside game, and we could have used him while mcgrady was getting inside till he hurt his ankle. There was a lot of uncontested shots that steamer would have changed...also, if steam would get an inside the paint pass on the other end..he could get his inside game going, or get some fouls on their team...collins isn't really good for...anything....

 Bass is his own problem, he needs to rediscover rebounding. Can't get open, so move when kg is posting, we know where the ball is going, in, or long. Bass can dunk at will. Sasha, he gets no time, although he has shown he can cover joe j the best, and gives a lot of energy on both ends. I think our bench is missing because they have been forced to sit. Yes, pp, kg and ray have done it...but there have been sooo long lapses in between, a rotation is called for there....

[thestackshow]

Why i steamer a negative...? He isn't getting any time on the floor. Doc, for some reason, fell in love with hollis..whom he did not fall in love with during the season when he maybe should have tried him more to support this instant love. Steamer still makes guys change their inside game, and we could have used him while mcgrady was getting inside till he hurt his ankle. There was a lot of uncontested shots that steamer would have changed...also, if steam would get an inside the paint pass on the other end..he could get his inside game going, or get some fouls on their team...collins isn't really good for...anything....

 Bass is his own problem, he needs to rediscover rebounding. Can't get open, so move when kg is posting, we know where the ball is going, in, or long. Bass can dunk at will. Sasha, he gets no time, although he has shown he can cover joe j the best, and gives a lot of energy on both ends. I think our bench is missing because they have been forced to sit. Yes, pp, kg and ray have done it...but there have been sooo long lapses in between, a rotation is called for there....

I think Steamer is just a bad matchup vs the Hawks. They dont really have any big men. Josh Smith is basically their Center and Collins only plays when KG is in the game. It would be Smith vs Steamer and that would just be an easy match up for Josh Smith.

[BballTim]

I've been wondering the same thing. I keep hearing that Bass needs Rondo to create for him, but Rondo only missed 1 game, what happened in the rest of the games?

  Bass needs to settle down and get his head into the game. If you watch him, he'll be open and get a pass, but he generally doesn't seem like he was ready for the pass. He struggles to catch the ball and loses his daylight to get his shot off in the process.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

As for Bass, like a lot of people said already, Smith is just a bad match up for him.

Steamer seems like having playoff jitters.

Put Pavlovic in. PLayoff tested.

[Atzar]

My guess is that Stiemsma is having trouble with those feet.  He's playing too well for Doc to be limiting his minutes for any other reason.

[xmuscularghandix]

Bass just has a horrible matchup against Smith, the speed really hurts him.

I wish so such that Jeff Green could be coming off the bench in this series... It'd be so huge.

[hpantazo]

My guess is that Stiemsma is having trouble with those feet.  He's playing too well for Doc to be limiting his minutes for any other reason.

This time of the year, I'm fine with the celtics being secretive about the health of their players. The more you keep the opponent guessing the better.

[Yogi]

   I don't know why people are surprised.  Bass needs open shots because he is a very slow shooter.  This only happens when Paul and KG play well, Rondo plays, and Avery/Ray/Pietrus make 3's to space the floor.  He will be good when that happens.  He's Mr. Consistent.  
   Baby on the other hand creates shots by using his quickness off the dribble or with his turn around fade-aways.  Baby also steps up in the play offs with the exception of last year.

[LooseCannon]

I think this is one of the main reasons were not blowing out the Hawks and are struggling in this series, were basically getting no production from our Bench, and no production from Bass.

I think a bigger reason has been an inability to make perimeter shots, especially threes.  Some of that is just missing open shots and I expect that to change as the Celtics get deeper in the playoffs.

Bass isn't playing bad in the sense of shooting the Celtics out of games, he's just not taking as many shots in the regular season.  Part of that is being defended by either Josh Smith or someone in a smallball lineup who is more comfortable defending Bass out beyond 15 feet.  I'd rather he be quiet than try to force his offense and be notably bad.

[SHAQATTACK]

Hope this group shows up big or we maybe in trouble, as Atlanta is going to fire the biggest shot they have to regain the momentum.

We have been dodging bullets with this poor shooting .

[mctyson]

Bass has been terrible all series.  I think it is a matchup problem. Josh Smith is a defensive nightmare for him, he can challenge the open J's and is by far more athletic.  Put Bass in the paint against Atlanta's bigs, and his physical strength is negated because Atlanta's 5's are all huge.