Cs must go small to win this series

[TripleOT]

If Bass is going to build a pyramid with more and more playoff bricks, I have a simple solution. Since Bass doesn't box out, hardly rebounds, and has no defensive paint presence, why play him heavy minutes?   

Just play small, with KG at center, Pierce at PF, Allen, Bradley and Rondo. It would force Philly to either play Brand on Pierce or another wing player, which would be a disaster for them. At the other end, I don't think that Brand is enough of a volume scorer to do  tons of damage against Pierce defending him. 

With that line up, there's a lot more space for KG to post and everyone else to drive.   Philly won't be able to help on KG as much either.

Defensively, this line up allows the Cs to switch on all little/little high pick/rolls, which Philly likes to run a lot.  If Philly chooses to use a big to set a high pick, the Cs will have KG hedging it, with four quick guys ready to scramble if K can't contain the little on the switch.

At the six minute mark, sub in Bass for KG and bring in another big for one of the wings, and hope you're in enough of an offensive rhythm to survive until KG gets back in. 

[Fafnir]

We have gone small for long stretches already, I'm not sure how much more small ball possible or advisable.

I don't think going small without KG on the floor is a good idea at all. The other big men are too limited to function as the only "big".

[Kane3387]

Yeah Bass just has to play better. And we need to look for Kg more. When he gets around 20 shot attempts a game it usually bodes well for us. I think he had like 12 last night. I was really disappointed to see that play drawn up for ray when we were down one. Even though the ball was in and out on his step back jumper that really isn't his game anymore. Wish we would have got the ball to KG.

[hpantazo]

Yeah Bass just has to play better. And we need to look for Kg more. When he gets around 20 shot attempts a game it usually bodes well for us. I think he had like 12 last night. I was really disappointed to see that play drawn up for ray when we were down one. Even though the ball was in and out on his step back jumper that really isn't his game anymore. Wish we would have got the ball to KG.

I agree. When we're down 1, I'd also consider having Rondo go to the hole. He can hit at least 1 out of 2 FT's

[thestackshow]

Going small wont do anything. This team cannot hit wide open shots right now.

If your an NBA team and cant hit wide open shots, you wont beat a high school team.

Were cursed or something.

[CoachBo]

You can go small, big, midget, albino or whatever and it won't make a difference until the basketball starts moving on the offensive end.

[jdz101]

Both Pavlovic and Marquis should be getting a couple of minutes each to rest Ray and Paul a bit more. I'm sure they can hold their own for a small amount of time..

[ManUp]

Philly would run us out of the building with Young at the 4.

Simply put they're better at small ball than us.

[wiley]

Both Pavlovic and Marquis should be getting a couple of minutes each to rest Ray and Paul a bit more. I'm sure they can hold their own for a small amount of time..

Exactly right.  TP.  Made last night's game even more frustrating for me.  Resting them a bit more than Doc has is a good strategy to begin with, so when one of them is cold and ineffective like Pierce last night, that's all the more reason to play Sasha or Daniels and rest up Pierce.  Also, Pierce and Ray need enough rest that they don't hurt us on the defensive end. 

I don't want to watch Doc run Ray and Paul into the ground this post season.  That will be ugly and it will feature alot of turnovers and so so defense.  We need them at their best level, especially in the 4th quarter, and it's important to achieve that by any means necessary.  The team (Pietrus, Sasha and Daniels) can handle it just fine.  Doc is creating an urgency that just isn't there right now.....

[OsirusCeltics]

Doc is by far one of the worst in player rotations

That being said, going big is always the best option
The game is won by rebounding and post defense. And with a big lineup, (KG and Hollins at the 4 and 5), only increases those chances at winning the game

[Yoki_IsTheName]

I think we should go big.

Philly is a good rebounding team. We need to outrebound them for us to have a chance to win. Were more superior against them talent wise, but we need the ball to to establish that.

Bass hasn't been contributing. Hollins in his little ways does. He should start, for a few minutes. Make a statement that no rebounds would be easy. Makes sure Hawes, their best rebounder won't have a field day.

[thestackshow]

Size aint the problem.

We are short on effort, passion, and intensity.

I dont care what lineup changes we make, if our team isnt going to try to win the game and come with playoff level enegry, we arent winning.

[Atzar]

Size aint the problem.

We are short on effort, passion, and intensity.

I dont care what lineup changes we make, if our team isnt going to try to win the game and come with playoff level enegry, we arent winning.

I'm inclined to agree with this.  The lineups we're putting on the court can beat the Sixers, but not if they're playing with the energy that they've exhibited for all but about 20 minutes in this series.

It's really surprising that we're tied 1-1, with as lackadaisical as we've been playing.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

While playing NBA 2k12 i realized one thing that will help us.

Now I know that 2k12 and reality are two different things. But I saw something that could probably help our offensive woes and will help us win the series.

Rondo should have Iso's called for him.

Now Holiday aint a scrub defensively, but I bet 10 bucks Rondo could beat him off the dribble. It opens up a world of possibilities on offense.

While playing 2k12, having ROndo Iso'ed and the floor spaced up, it gets me easy layups and open jumpers. I bet they could do that in real life. Rondo is a good finisher in the rim so once he goes pass Holiday he can finish it. If the defense collapse on him he can kick it out for open jumpers.

Like I said, im not comparing the video game results to real life. But looking at Rajon's abilities I don't see why it would not work. Doc should ask him to shoot a bit more tonight. Open up the floor for him, and find people when the help comes.

That's just me.

[mctyson]

We are not going to win anything without contributions from Bass.  Go small this series, but then what about the next?

We need to get Bass going.  I don't agree with this board about his overall performance so far - he is giving effort, he is getting good looks, he is just not making them like he did during the season.

All it takes is one game.  I thought it was happening in Game 2 in the first quarter as he came out and hit his first 2, but then he missed like 6 in a row.  We have to get him going.