Should we start Jeff Green at SF?

[LarBrd33]

Regardless of how long Bradley will be out, doesn't it make sense to start Pierce at SG and Jeff Green at SF?  Especially considering we are paying Jeff Green close to 10 mil per year.  That's not backup money... that's starter money.

I have to admit that my confidence in Jeff Green definitely wavered a bit during the 26 games he played for us.  I guess I expected slightly more out of him, but as a mid-season acquisition I think he was probably having trouble finding his role, picking up the system, etc.  All things considered, he averaged 10 points, 3.3 rebounds and 48% shooting in 23.5 minutes while playing for us during those 26 games.  I think partially my disappointment was that Jeff seemed made to run the break... and he clearly was getting out ahead of the break many times, but he and Rondo just never developed chemistry during that stretch.  You can partially blame the fact that Rondo was mildly catatonic post-Perk trade.  He was mentally checked out for much of it.

So I'm just going to pretend that stretch never happened and reiterate my original thoughts on Jeff Green.  I live in Seattle and have been keeping an eye on Jeff since his rookie season.  I've always been really impressed with his game.  I think he's got the potential to be a fringe all-star in this league.  He is a small forward.  He has always been a small forward.  In fact, he's the kind of small forward that Ainge has desperately wanted for years ... lengthy and athletic.  Jeff is 6'9 and 235 which is great size for the position.  Unfortunately for him, he happened to get drafted by a team that also took Kevin Durant... one of the transcendent players of our generation... and also a small forward.   Early on, the Sonics actually tried playing Durant at shooting guard to solve this problem.  That never made sense to me.  Then they moved Jeff Green to power forward... that never made sense either. In fact, that Sonics/Thunder roster at no point made sense to me.  I remember reading an interview with Sam Presti at the time and he basically talked about how he wanted to rethink a lineup... and how he thought it would work if they just had lots of tall forwards playing together instead of a traditional roster.  It was dumb then and it's dumb now.  There was no way they were ever going to trade Durant... trading Jeff Green was inevitable.  It absolutely had to happen at some point.  He was too talented to come off the bench... and playing him out of position was a bad idea.  I had been waiting for them to trade Jeff Green for a legitimate big man since the first month of his rookie season... I hadn't anticipated it would be for Perk, though.

So Green spent his majority of his tenure in Seattle/OKC playing out of position... and as the third option between Westbrook (undeniably a chucker, but he's improved) and Durant.  He still managed to average 15-16 points with solid shooting percentages 45%/34%/78%. 

What was also interesting to me was how Jeff Green played in the few games that Durant missed with injury.  In 2008-09, there were 5 games we got to see Jeff without Durant.  Here's Jeff's stats during games:

12/31 - 26 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, 52% shooting
2/27 - 28 points, 12 rebounds, 1 steal 45% shooting
2/28 - 27 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal 40% shooting
3/10 - 22 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal 46% shooting
3/11 - 19 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal 41% shooting

It's a small sample size for sure... but it was interesting.

I joked that when we first traded for Jeff Green that I could totally see him be a 20 point scorer on the post-big 3 lotto Celtics.  I can still see it.  At this point, I think it definitely makes the most sense to start Paul Pierce at SG and Green at his natural SF... you can bring Terry (and eventually Bradley) off the bench since they are undersized guards best suited for bench roles.  Allow Jeff the ability to play his natural position and run with Rondo.  Let's see if they get some chemistry.  4 years 36 million is a serious commitment by the Celtics.  That's starter money.   

[BudweiserCeltic]

Honestly, I'm fine with Pierce at SG and Green at SF, just as I'm fine with starting Green alongside KG in PF.

I really don't have much of a preference with who starts, I think we're building a very versatile team.

I tell you this though, I'm not a big fan of starting Bass.

[Who]

In the latter stages of the regular season, Avery Bradley played at a higher level than Jeff Green ever has.

Stick with Bradley as a starter for now and see if he can maintain (or improve) that performance. If he can't, then I am open to re-considering Jeff Green's place as a starter on the wing.

[Who]

I tell you this though, I'm not a big fan of starting Bass.

Me either -- I just can't really see a better option at the moment. I'd love it if Doc could move Bass back to the bench and into that backup PF role that he plays so well.

[Who]

Honestly, I'm fine with Pierce at SG and Green at SF, just as I'm fine with starting Green alongside KG in PF.

I am not a fan of Green starting at PF. Too weak as a defender/rebounder.

I like him as a backup PF when he can play the majority of his PF minutes against less talented opponents. I think J.Green's offensive advantage against lesser PF talents outweighs is lack of defense/rebounding but it doesn't against superior talents at PF.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I tell you this though, I'm not a big fan of starting Bass.

Me either -- I just can't really see a better option at the moment. I'd love it if Doc could move Bass back to the bench and into that backup PF role that he plays so well.

It's not so much about "better" as I think he takes away too much opportunities from other members in the starting unit, then you add how he has butter hands minimizing Rondo's effectiveness.

I love him from the bench, where he should be one of our main scorers and playing more minutes with bench ball-handlers who don't make difficult passes to him, etc.

That's why I'm for starting Jeff at PF, particularly with KG helping him protect the basket which maximizes his usage at PF, while minimizing his weaknesses there. Though I'd still prefer to play him SF, which he'll move to once Pierce takes a breather.

Not sure, still have to think it through.

[mctyson]

Regardless of how long Bradley will be out, doesn't it make sense to start Pierce at SG and Jeff Green at SF? 

TP.  That's a great idea and we become a much larger and better rebounding team immediately.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Honestly, I'm fine with Pierce at SG and Green at SF, just as I'm fine with starting Green alongside KG in PF.

I am not a fan of Green starting at PF. Too weak as a defender/rebounder.

I like him as a backup PF when he can play the majority of his PF minutes against less talented opponents. I think J.Green's offensive advantage against lesser PF talents outweighs is lack of defense/rebounding but it doesn't against superior talents at PF.

I agree. The other component is that I want to maximize his playing time with Rondo, and that can only be done with the starting unit.

I just have to see it in-game to make the determination. All I know is what I've seen from Bass, and I didn't like it much.

[mctyson]

I tell you this though, I'm not a big fan of starting Bass.

Me either -- I just can't really see a better option at the moment.

One word:  Sully.

[wdleehi]

If Bradley is healthy, he will start.



He earned the chance last season. 



Just because Green is now overpayed doesn't mean he should start.

[Who]

I tell you this though, I'm not a big fan of starting Bass.

Me either -- I just can't really see a better option at the moment.

One word:  Sully.

I think Sullinger is going to be too poor defensively to start his rookie year.

Going forward, yes, in a future season, I think Sully has a chance to claim the starting PF spot.

[Prof. Clutch]

I think Pierce at SG and Green at SF to start the season makes sense, at least until Avery is back.

[saltlover]

Knowing that AB could be out for at least the first month of the season, I also was thinking about PP at the 2, with Green starting at the 3.  I'd like to keep Terry coming in from the bench to give a burst of energy, and unless we get another SG (which is quite possible) the other option at the starting 2 spot would be Moore or Pietrus (if he comes back).  I like Moore a bit more than others on this board, but my animosity towards Ray Allen leaving will increase substantially if Moore is our opening night starter.

[Celtics18]

My preference is still to start Bradley alongside Rondo in the back court, keep Pierce in his role as the team's starting small forward with Bass and Garnett on the front line.  Terry and Green off the bench give you a lot of scoring punch and versatility.  

We'll see what happens.  Doc is going to have a number of options.

[Change]

If Bradley is healthy, he will start.



He earned the chance last season. 



Just because Green is now overpayed doesn't mean he should start.

I have to disagree. Avery did well, yes. But he also got beat up frequently. His body broke down eventually. Celtics as much as they can have to limit those mismatches at least for regular season. A healthy Avery Bradley in post-season is more important than him starting. Avery/Terry tandem of the bench will be lethal. Ultimately Doc has the final say.