What the heck happened to Brandon Bass and our Bench?

[CoachBo]

Don't agree at all about the bench.

Hasn't been very good all season, so I expected nothing coming into the playoffs.

Instead, Daniels and Pietrus were huge off the bench defensively in game two, without Ray and with Rondo in detention for his temper tantrum.

Not buying "disappeared" at all. So far, the bench has yielded more than I expected in this series.

[Bankshot]

  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.

I agree with this.  I think Baby is the better player, but Bass is the more consistent shooter.  Now Bass fits better with this team IF he gets back to knocking down open shots and not trying to do too much.  When he tries to make a move, it usually ends in disaster because he really has no other move other than the wide open shot.  And he seems to all of sudden have bad hands.  Can't catch a darn pass.  Maybe he's nervous playing in the playoffs?

I don't think Bass' problems are with Josh Smith because the last few games of the regular season when the starters didn't play, I expected Bass to carry the team somewhat, but he was awful without the starters on the floor.  I want Baby back just for the playoffs.

[BballTim]

Don't agree at all about the bench.

Hasn't been very good all season, so I expected nothing coming into the playoffs.

Instead, Daniels and Pietrus were huge off the bench defensively in game two, without Ray and with Rondo in detention for his temper tantrum.

Not buying "disappeared" at all. So far, the bench has yielded more than I expected in this series.

  The bench looks quite a bit better with Ray on it. Other than that, it's mainly defensive players. Pietrus is a decent scorer but I think that his shooting's been off since his injury.

[scaryjerry]

Is this your first or second year watching this celtics team? or the NBA for that matter...Brandon Basss is a role player and played great all season for us...the playoffs start and teams will do more to take away his comfort zone and he will be inconsistent at best, have a few big games along the way(hopefully) one shouldve seen this one coming..
The bench has been fine

[Chris]

Brandon Bass is what he is...and that is what we are seeing.  He is a quality big man off the bench, and he can get things done against weaker defenders when he is playing with a supporting cast that demands the defenses attention.  But, when he facing a great defensive player like Smith, and a disciplined defense in general, who won't always leave him wide open, then he regresses to the bench player that he ultimately is. 

[Fafnir]

  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.

I agree with this.  I think Baby is the better player, but Bass is the more consistent shooter.  Now Bass fits better with this team IF he gets back to knocking down open shots and not trying to do too much.  When he tries to make a move, it usually ends in disaster because he really has no other move other than the wide open shot.  And he seems to all of sudden have bad hands.  Can't catch a darn pass.  Maybe he's nervous playing in the playoffs?

I don't think Bass' problems are with Josh Smith because the last few games of the regular season when the starters didn't play, I expected Bass to carry the team somewhat, but he was awful without the starters on the floor.  I want Baby back just for the playoffs.

Go look at Davis's game logs, when he's no the main offensive option in the big man rotation he's had mostly games like Bass has had for us this year.

When he's the number 1 big man option, he'll score more. But he'll take a ton of shots and his team isn't going to get all that far. Not his fault and he definitely tries to up his game, but it just isn't there, and the same can be said about Anderson next to him this year.

[missyP]

  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.

I agree with this.  I think Baby is the better player, but Bass is the more consistent shooter.  Now Bass fits better with this team IF he gets back to knocking down open shots and not trying to do too much.  When he tries to make a move, it usually ends in disaster because he really has no other move other than the wide open shot.  And he seems to all of sudden have bad hands.  Can't catch a darn pass.  Maybe he's nervous playing in the playoffs?

I don't think Bass' problems are with Josh Smith because the last few games of the regular season when the starters didn't play, I expected Bass to carry the team somewhat, but he was awful without the starters on the floor.  I want Baby back just for the playoffs.

Go look at Davis's game logs, when he's no the main offensive option in the big man rotation he's had mostly games like Bass has had for us this year.

When he's the number 1 big man option, he'll score more. But he'll take a ton of shots and his team isn't going to get all that far.

The reason Orlando isn't going far is not because Bass is better than Baby. It just means that the Celtics are a better team all together. It doens't take away the fact that Baby has done a lot for Orlando  in the post season that we would want Bass to do as our starting forward. I think a starting PF has to grab more than 4 rbs in in my opinion.

[Fafnir]

  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.

I agree with this.  I think Baby is the better player, but Bass is the more consistent shooter.  Now Bass fits better with this team IF he gets back to knocking down open shots and not trying to do too much.  When he tries to make a move, it usually ends in disaster because he really has no other move other than the wide open shot.  And he seems to all of sudden have bad hands.  Can't catch a darn pass.  Maybe he's nervous playing in the playoffs?

I don't think Bass' problems are with Josh Smith because the last few games of the regular season when the starters didn't play, I expected Bass to carry the team somewhat, but he was awful without the starters on the floor.  I want Baby back just for the playoffs.

Go look at Davis's game logs, when he's no the main offensive option in the big man rotation he's had mostly games like Bass has had for us this year.

When he's the number 1 big man option, he'll score more. But he'll take a ton of shots and his team isn't going to get all that far.

The reason Orlando isn't going far is not because Bass is better than Baby. It just means that the Celtics are a better team all together. It doens't take away the fact that Baby has done a lot for Orlando  in the post season that we would want Bass to do as our starting forward. I think a starting PF has to grab more than 4 rbs in in my opinion.

Which is pretty much what I said, Glen Davis being your number one option as a big man offensively says something about how good your team is.

Glen Davis didn't rebound for Boston in the playoffs either, the one exception was in 09-10 when he was the 4th big man and they sent him crashing inside in just 20 mins a game against opposing backups.

[snively]

Bass has been extremely hesitant.  Turning down jumpshots to just hold the ball or dribble into a more difficult one.

The bad hands we're more used to, but I had hoped the hesitancy was on its way out.

I'd like to see Pietrus hit something at some point.  He was so deadly for the Magic from 3-point range.

[CelticHooligan3]

Bass just looks like what he is. A guy on the big stage for the first time in his career really. Lets face it theres a lot more added pressure from both fans and media alike in the Boston market. More so than Orlando's. I think he will come around eventually (knock on wood) but from what im seeing he seems slightly hesitant in his shots and decison making ability. I attribute that to nerves more than anything else.

[Fafnir]

Bass just looks like what he is. A guy on the big stage for the first time in his career really. Lets face it theres a lot more added pressure from both fans and media alike in the Boston market. More so than Orlando's. I think he will come around eventually (knock on wood) but from what im seeing he seems slightly hesitant in his shots and decison making ability. I attribute that to nerves more than anything else.

He's played 20+ mpg in the playoffs two years in the past. (07-08 with Dallas and 09-10 with Orlando)

He has a bigger role here certainly, but the stage isn't really any bigger.

[CelticHooligan3]

Bass just looks like what he is. A guy on the big stage for the first time in his career really. Lets face it theres a lot more added pressure from both fans and media alike in the Boston market. More so than Orlando's. I think he will come around eventually (knock on wood) but from what im seeing he seems slightly hesitant in his shots and decison making ability. I attribute that to nerves more than anything else.

He's played 20+ mpg in the playoffs two years in the past. (07-08 with Dallas and 09-10 with Orlando)

He has a bigger role here certainly, but the stage isn't really any bigger.

Personally i beleive if your on a team with Dwight Howard, Stan Van Gundy, and Jameer Nelson as your leaders there's a realist part of you that knows for a fact your not getting out of the second round.

And it's the complete opposite when you have the Big Four and Doc as your leaders. Just my opinion though. So another words he knows he's gonna be on the big stage here for longer and with more pressure. And as i said the media and fan base in Boston are a lot more demanding and expect a certain level of professionalism and production.

[KCattheStripe]

Personally i beleive if your on a team with Dwight Howard, Stan Van Gundy, and Jameer Nelson as your leaders there's a realist part of you that knows for a fact your not getting out of the second round.

And it's the complete opposite when you have the Big Four and Doc as your leaders. Just my opinion though. So another words he knows he's gonna be on the big stage here for longer and with more pressure. And as i said the media and fan base in Boston are a lot more demanding and expect a certain level of professionalism and production.

Despite the fact that orlando has made it out of the second round just as many times as the Celtics have in the past 5 years.

[CelticHooligan3]

Personally i beleive if your on a team with Dwight Howard, Stan Van Gundy, and Jameer Nelson as your leaders there's a realist part of you that knows for a fact your not getting out of the second round.

And it's the complete opposite when you have the Big Four and Doc as your leaders. Just my opinion though. So another words he knows he's gonna be on the big stage here for longer and with more pressure. And as i said the media and fan base in Boston are a lot more demanding and expect a certain level of professionalism and production.

Despite the fact that orlando has made it out of the second round just as many times as the Celtics have in the past 5 years.

Im biased. What can i say? But really it comes down to who would you rather follow into battle those Orlando guys or our Big Four and Doc? That should answer your question.

Even if your being completely impartial i still think you say the Celtics crew. And when your in for the long haul (NBA Playoffs) which so far this year have been a War of attrition i think it does factor in.

[nickagneta]

We have played in 4 playoff games and I thought the bench played really well in two of them.

Stiemsma has played well in every game except game 2.

Ray has been terrific in his two games.

Dooling and Daniels have been great the last two games, Daniels especially with his defense on the big wings Atlanta has been playing and Dooling offensively shooting the rock.

And that's basically their bench. Overall, except for game one, I think the bench group has been terrific.

Bass, well, he's struggling against possibly the worst matchup except Pau Gasol that a team could throw at him.