Speaking of Indiana

[droopdog7]

I know we are a long way from this happening, but assuming we get by Philly (and the pacers can shock the heat), that series would certainly not be a cakewalk.

In fact, of all the teams in the east, the pacers are the one team that presents matchup problems.  They have size and inside play.  Kg would have to work hard to stop Hibbert.  Their sg is 6-9 while ours is 6-1.  It could be argued that that granger is pp's equal.  West is a big advantage against bass.  The only clear advantage we have is rondo.

I fully expect fans to say, bring it on.  Or to caution against talking about something that may never happen.  But the objective observer should favor the pacers, should that's series happen.

[Celtics4ever]

Those same matchups are what is hurting the HEAT,  Paul George is a nightmare for MIA too.

[Who]

Roy Hibbert is not a problem. He is an advantage for Garnett because KG can guard Hibbert a heck of a lot better than Hibbert can guard KG. There is no way Hibbert can both check KG away from the basket and supply effective help defense at the rim. He is simply too slow and immobile to get the job done (like he would have been against Bosh if Bosh was healthy).

Paul George has great size on the wing but he has limited shot-creation abilities and no post game so his size doesn't create much of an advantage (offensively) for him.

Pierce is still a considerably better player than Danny Granger. Then there is Rajon Rondo vs George Hill and/or Darren Collison. Another advantage for Boston. The one position in their starting lineup where they are at a deficit is at PF with Bass against David West. A 3-to-1 situation in terms of matchup advantages for Boston over Indiana in the starting five.

The Pacers bench lacks size and talent in the frontcourt (Hansbrough has played poorly all year long, Amundson is limited) and on the wing (Danhtay Jones) but they do have terrific bench guards in Darren Collison and Leandro Barbosa. Avery Bradley will be very useful defensively against those small backcourts. Meanwhile the Celtics have an advantage with backup wings with Ray Allen and Mickael Pietrus. As well as similar backup big man issues and a Dooling at PG.

[droopdog7]

Roy Hibbert is not a problem. He is an advantage for Garnett because KG can guard Hibbert a heck of a lot better than Hibbert can guard KG. There is no way Hibbert can both check KG away from the basket and supply effective help defense at the rim. He is simply too slow and immobile to get the job done (like he would have been against Bosh if Bosh was healthy).

Paul George has great size on the wing but he has limited shot-creation abilities and no post game so his size doesn't create much of an advantage (offensively) for him.

Pierce is still a considerably better player than Danny Granger. Then there is Rajon Rondo vs George Hill and/or Darren Collison. Another advantage for Boston. The one position in their starting lineup where they are at a deficit is at PF with Bass against David West. A 3-to-1 situation in terms of matchup advantages for Boston over Indiana in the starting five.

The Pacers bench lacks size and talent in the frontcourt (Hansbrough has played poorly all year long, Amundson is limited) and on the wing (Danhtay Jones) but they do have terrific bench guards in Darren Collison and Leandro Barbosa. Avery Bradley will be very useful defensively against those small backcourts. Meanwhile the Celtics have an advantage with backup wings with Ray Allen and Mickael Pietrus. As well as similar backup big man issues and a Dooling at PG.

Some food for thought.  Hibbert is considerably bigger than kg.  He will make kg work on defense and could eventually wear him down and or get him into foul trouble.  Kg taking Hibbert outside is not something that should make them shiver in their boots.  It's not like kg is going to be driving and finishing consistently.  He will be reduced to a jump shooter.  The reason kg is dominating now because he is able to post up these smaller defenders, forcing double teams.  He won't be able to do that against Hibbert.

I agree that George may not present as big a problem as it seems on paper.  But don't sleep on granger.  At this point in their careers, he and pp are not that far apart.

[Kane3387]

Agreed. Indiana will be tough and they are good at home. Hill has the strength, length, and athleticism to guard Rondo. Collison has given Rondo issues in the past as well.

[syfy9]

It's not like kg is going to be driving and finishing consistently.  He will be reduced to a jump shooter. 

KG's jumper goes in almost as often as Kareem's skyhook...

If Hibbert wants to camp down in the paint and NOT brutally guard KG's shot, let him.

[Who]

Roy Hibbert is not a problem. He is an advantage for Garnett because KG can guard Hibbert a heck of a lot better than Hibbert can guard KG. There is no way Hibbert can both check KG away from the basket and supply effective help defense at the rim. He is simply too slow and immobile to get the job done (like he would have been against Bosh if Bosh was healthy).

Paul George has great size on the wing but he has limited shot-creation abilities and no post game so his size doesn't create much of an advantage (offensively) for him.

Pierce is still a considerably better player than Danny Granger. Then there is Rajon Rondo vs George Hill and/or Darren Collison. Another advantage for Boston. The one position in their starting lineup where they are at a deficit is at PF with Bass against David West. A 3-to-1 situation in terms of matchup advantages for Boston over Indiana in the starting five.

The Pacers bench lacks size and talent in the frontcourt (Hansbrough has played poorly all year long, Amundson is limited) and on the wing (Danhtay Jones) but they do have terrific bench guards in Darren Collison and Leandro Barbosa. Avery Bradley will be very useful defensively against those small backcourts. Meanwhile the Celtics have an advantage with backup wings with Ray Allen and Mickael Pietrus. As well as similar backup big man issues and a Dooling at PG.

Some food for thought.  Hibbert is considerably bigger than kg.  He will make kg work on defense and could eventually wear him down and or get him into foul trouble.  Kg taking Hibbert outside is not something that should make them shiver in their boots.  It's not like kg is going to be driving and finishing consistently.  He will be reduced to a jump shooter.  The reason kg is dominating now because he is able to post up these smaller defenders, forcing double teams.  He won't be able to do that against Hibbert.

I agree that George may not present as big a problem as it seems on paper.  But don't sleep on granger.  At this point in their careers, he and pp are not that far apart.

The main advantage in Garnett in the high post against Hibbert isn't KG's individual scoring but the disruption to Indiana's team defense and particularly to their interior defense and rim protection. Hibbert is their only big man who is a legitimate shot-blocker.

Also, in terms of KG's post-ups, Garnett is still too quick and agile for a plodder like Hibbert to check in the post. He will still have an advantage there too.

Hibbert is too limited a post-scorer to be worried about on the other end. Too limited physically. Good frame and excellent size/length but also very slow plus lacks in agility explosiveness. Not particularly strong either (decent but unexceptional). Hibbert will get a few hoops here and there by virtue of his size and talent but it's nothing to be concerned about. Overall, Garnett will do a good job on him and a terrific job in team defense as normal (unlike Hibbert who is incapable of both checking Garnett + supplying effective help D).

[Roy H.]

Who is absolutely right about the KG mismatch vs. Hibbert.  So long as the refs don't call KG's defense on Hibbert super-close in the paint, we should win that matchup handily.

Indiana isn't a pushover, but I would like our chances.  I still lament David West signing in Indiana; if he'd come here, we could start polishing the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

[SHAQATTACK]

I think Boston beats a Boshless Cheat team hands down .  The Pacers I'm not so sure .  Would be simular to the troubles we had with the Hawks I'm afraid.  A tuff series.

[action781]

I think where we will run into problems against Indiana is rebounding.  They have advantages in the Hibbert-KG, West-Bass, and Hansbrough-whoever matchups on the boards and that is how I recall them beating us this regular season.  If Indiana really exploits this advantage for extra possessions and makes points out of them, I think they could win the series.  If the celtics can keep the rebounding differential within a few, then I think they are the better team and should come out on top if Rondo plays at the top of his game.

In our regular season matchups, here are the team that won followed by the rebounding differentials:

1/6 pacers win:  pacers +11
1/14 pacers win:  pacers +7
1/27 celts win:  celts +3
4/7 celts win:  pacers +1

When the rebounding differential was close, celtics won.  When pacers killed the celts on the board, the pacers won.  I think thats how this series will go.

[LarBrd33]

Who is absolutely right about the KG mismatch vs. Hibbert.  So long as the refs don't call KG's defense on Hibbert super-close in the paint, we should win that matchup handily.

Indiana isn't a pushover, but I would like our chances.  I still lament David West signing in Indiana; if he'd come here, we could start polishing the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

To West's credit... I thought he was picking Indiana just because of money and was passing up an opportunity to play for a real contender.  Looks like he was right afterall... Indiana at this is as much a contender as the Celtics are.

[droopdog7]

Who is absolutely right about the KG mismatch vs. Hibbert.  So long as the refs don't call KG's defense on Hibbert super-close in the paint, we should win that matchup handily.

Indiana isn't a pushover, but I would like our chances.  I still lament David West signing in Indiana; if he'd come here, we could start polishing the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

I think you two are seriously misreading the KG-Hibbert matchup.  Hibbert is a big, physical guy.  He will definitely punish KG, who isn't really a center, down low.  Now I am not suggesting that Hibbert going to be scoring 30 ppg.  I mean that KG will be worn down to a degree just having to body hibbert for much of the time he is in the game.  Don't think that won't have an impact on KG's offense (I think it will).

And speaking of the offense, while I do think that KG will be able to get all the 20 footers he wants, that really isn't going to be as deadly a weapon as what we have now, which is a KG that is dominating both inside and outside. 

The only point I am trying to make is that I don't see KG having the kind of overwhelming impact against Ind that he is having now.  To beat Ind (again, looking ahead), the Celts would need someone else to pick up from where they are now. 

Like I said, the objective person looking at the match ups (and the fact that Ind would have HCA) would favor the pacers.  Indeed, at least two talking heads (who I know many posters will trash) recently insinutated the same thing.

[slamtheking]

I think that with the injury to Bosh, Indy presents a tougher matchup for the C's than Miami.

Indy is gaining confidence with each win and will not be a pushover if they play the C's. 

Key to C's getting past them is the team has to gang rebound on the defensive boards (including boxing out) because Indy's got active big men that will hit their offensive boards relentlessly.  If C's can control the boards and get easy transition baskets to punish Indy for crashing the boards, that should get them to ease up on the rebounding battles.

The matchups are too close to give the C's any clear hopes for individual matchup victories.  Their bigs (as a whole) are better.  Their team is deeper based on how many players they have that are consistently producing.  The C's entire roster will have to be productive every night to win this series.

[thestackshow]

I like our chances against any team where we have the best 3 players on the court.

LeBron and Wade can get our entire team in foul trouble as well as single handedly win games for their team.

I would rather deal with an up and coming pacers team with no superstar or dominant player that you have to double team.

We could single cover everyone on the Pacers roster.

[ManchesterCelticsFan]

Who is absolutely right about the KG mismatch vs. Hibbert.  So long as the refs don't call KG's defense on Hibbert super-close in the paint, we should win that matchup handily.

Indiana isn't a pushover, but I would like our chances.  I still lament David West signing in Indiana; if he'd come here, we could start polishing the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

To West's credit... I thought he was picking Indiana just because of money and was passing up an opportunity to play for a real contender.  Looks like he was right afterall... Indiana at this is as much a contender as the Celtics are.

C's would be even more of a contender with David West. Pacers are only a contender because of David West combined with Miami and Chicago having some top players injured.