Does the Lee Acquisition = Small Ball?

[Jon]

Earlier today in another thread I was talking with some different people about the need actual need for a shooting guard like Lee when Bradley comes back.  While the depth and talent that Lee provides is undeniable, the fact of the matter is that there now seems to be a bit of a minutes crunch in the backcourt once Bradley comes back. 

First and foremost, Rajon Rondo is going to play 34-36 mpg on average.  People can debate the merits of that, but he averaged 37 mpg in the regular season last year and nearly 43 mpg in the playoffs.  Unless there's a blowout, he's going to be playing in at least the mid 30s, if not more. 

Putting the number at an even 36 mpg, that leaves 60 mpg left for Lee, Bradley, and Terry to split.  You could just say go with that, but the reality of the situation is that they all probably deserve more than that.  Terry averaged over 31 mpg last season, Lee averaged 30, and Bradley averaged over 30 in the month of March when he made his big push into the starting lineup. 

Obviously they're not all going to get that, but the most logical solution to finding them more minutes is to play Lee at the 3 for some time each game, which he's capable of doing (he's 6-5 200 and Pietrus is 6-6 215).  The only issue is that the C's have minutes crunch already there with Pierce and Green. 

Thus, to me, the most logical solution to the problem and certainly the best way to get the most talented players on the court for the most amount of time seems to be a fairly small rotation like this. 

PG - Rondo 36/Terry 12
SG - Bradley 28/Terry 10/Lee 10
SF - Pierce 30/Green 8/Lee 10
PF - Bass 28/Green 20
C - Garnett 28/Wilcox 20

And even that only leaves Lee with 20 mpg and Terry with 22 mpg.  Obviously Sullinger could find his way into the 4/5 rotation as well.  However, while I'm very high on his talent, I do question how much a guy two years removed from high school will contribute immediately (though Bradley fit that bill last season). 

But what seems to be apparent is that if we want to get our big offseason investments (Terry, Green, and Lee) substantial minutes, we'll likely need to go small.  While we'd give up some in height and rebounding, we'd certainly gain talent, shooting, and speed, which has its own set of advantages, especially playing next to Rondo. 

Thoughts?

[BudweiserCeltic]

Smallball was going to be the name of the game with or without Lee. I'm more comfortable about it with Lee on-board though.

[Interceptor]

Not like we have much of a choice, and were never that great at rebounding to begin with. Plus Doc loves small ball. Gonna be an entertaining season.

[Prof. Clutch]

Smallball was going to be the name of the game with or without Lee. I'm more comfortable about it with Lee on-board though.

Yup, the Celtics have already been playing "small ball" the last few years in one form or another.  Doc has loved playing a "stretch 4" for large chunks of the game and especially in crunch time as far back as 2008 with James Posey.  I think Jeff Green will be that option this year and it's likely by the end of the year that we'll be starting a 6'2 shooting guard, a 6'8 power forward, and a Power Forward who hates playing Center.  With a team like that we'll be playing "small ball" no matter what.

[BSeay8868]

I think small ball is inevitable with this roster, and I won't pretend to be able to figure out the rotations that Doc is going to use (which I'm very excited for with the likely addition of CLee)

With SG I think it would be interesting to see Lee and Bradley come pretty close splitting minutes (based more on rotations and how well lee clicks with RR)

Personally I could see one possibility working out like this:

PG - Rondo 34/ Terry 14
SG - Lee 21/ Bradley 21/ Terry 6
SF - Pierce 26/ Green 17/ Lee 5
PF - Bass 28/ Green 10/ Garnett 5/ Sully 5
C - Garnett 23/ Wilcox 19/ Vet Min or Melo 6

Just one possible way of it panning out...could be completely off

*Side note, I'm new to the forum/forums in general so take it easy on me - I'm just a guy who loves the Celtics and has some random thoughts and opinions I'd like to talk about with fellow Celtics fans.

[Celtics18]

Ray used to spend a few minutes a game playing the 3 so I don't see any reason that Doc wouldn't try Lee there for some minutes.  I actually like the idea of Rondo, Bradley, and Lee all on the floor together for some stretches.  Undersized, yes, but, also very quick, athletic and aggressive.  That unit could create a little havoc. 

[KGs Knee]

Well, "small ball" has already been an increasing staple for the Celtics lately anyway.

Just some early speculation, but here are some lineups I could see us using in crunch time vs Mia or LAL (since those are the 2 teams I concern myself with most).

Vs Mia
C-Garnett
PF-Green
SF-Pierce
SG-Lee/Terry/Bradley (depends on who Mia plays)
PG-Rondo

Mia seems to be moving towards making LeBron their crunch time PF primarily these days, so Green is probably our best matchup there.  As far as SG, I would say it partly depends on who has the hot hand, and partly who gives the best matchup.  Will Mia go with Wade/Allen/Battier or Chalmers/Allen/Wade? I'd put Allen at SF in the latter lineup, but Pierce would destroy him, so Mia won't let that happen.  I think we matchup very well either way.

Vs LAL
C-Garnett
PF-Bass/Wilcox
SF-Green
SG-Pierce
PG-Rondo

Yes, I have Pierce at SG.  LAL likely will be rolling with Bynum/Howard,Gasol,MWP,Bryant,Nash.  Pierce has always defended Bryant well, and this lineup more than anything forces LA to use Nash on Rondo.  No more Bryant playing mid-field.  He will be occupied with Pierce or Green.  This is a big bonus for us.  I suppose we could go with Pierce & one of Lee/Terry/Bradley, but using Green and Pierce would seem to force LA's hand more.  Lee is the only alternative to Green I would strongly consider.

Also, we have to go with a bigger PF than Green, Green would have no chance against Gasol.  I'm not sure, but depending on shooting needs/rebounding needs, it may be better to play Wilcox.  I'm not too sure I like Bass trying to guard Gasol.  Wilcox would be better, but if the lane gets too crowded on the offensive end, we may be forced to use Bass.

[pearljammer10]

Im expecting to see A LOT of small ball this season...

Rondo/terry/lee/pierce/kg

terry/bradley/lee/green/wilcox

rondo/terry/lee/green/bass

with doc, the possibilities will be endless.

[Edgar]

and small ball wins...last year or not?

[33_Larry Legend_33]

The NBA is now a league of small ball...  A quality big man will be a luxury in the next decade, but not a necessity.  Melo makes a lot of sense because he's the "new breed" of NBA bigs... But the plodding big men, especially centers, are a thing of the past.  Danny almost looks like a genius for getting rid of Perk when he did...those types of centers will become dinosaurs soon.  I'm not saying I like this because I'm an old-school NBA fan of the 80's...but such is life.  As Billy Beane said in "Moneyball" - "adapt or die."

[LarBrd33]

I'm still a fan of starting Pierce at SG and Jeff Green at his natural SF.  I wonder if bringing in Lee makes Avery Bradley somewhat expendable.  I know a lot of people on this forum are gonzo about Bradley, but I think Jason Terry already has the bench tweener role locked up.  Maybe if there's an opportunity to get solid big to put next to KG, Bradley can be dangled in a package.

[Galeto]

I don't think it's so much Lee as Green that signals a lot of future small ball.  After all, Doc went to it a lot after Green arrived and Green physically fits the bill.  Doc does love his small ball.  When it's with someone like Posey who can rebound and shoot the 3, with KG barely off his prime rebounding form backing everything up like in 2008, the results are beautiful.  When it's with Green, not so much.  I hold out hope though.  The worst was when Doc played Green and Baby together.  There could not have been a worse rebounding front court in NBA history.  It was embarrassing and maddening to watch.

[Barnhill8]

thumbs up

[vl819]

I hate to be the debbie downer, but we're dismissing the fact that injuries will happen at some points during the season. To be able to have all these options is a good thing...

[Kane3387]

I'm still a fan of starting Pierce at SG and Jeff Green at his natural SF.  I wonder if bringing in Lee makes Avery Bradley somewhat expendable.  I know a lot of people on this forum are gonzo about Bradley, but I think Jason Terry already has the bench tweener role locked up.  Maybe if there's an opportunity to get solid big to put next to KG, Bradley can be dangled in a package.

Thoughts on who? Averys salary is very small.