C position is the weakest link

[KGs Knee]

I agree it's our weakest position, in that we mostly have power forwards playing center.  Still, I have two observations:

1) There are 15-20 decent or better centers in the league, so about half the teams are in the same boat as us (including Miami.)

2) Our other positions are very good and very deep, so it may be the weakest, but it isn't really weak.

You really think there are 15-20 players capable of playing the center position better than KG?

Yikes...

[saltlover]

I agree it's our weakest position, in that we mostly have power forwards playing center.  Still, I have two observations:

1) There are 15-20 decent or better centers in the league, so about half the teams are in the same boat as us (including Miami.)

2) Our other positions are very good and very deep, so it may be the weakest, but it isn't really weak.

You really think there are 15-20 players capable of playing the center position better than KG?

Yikes...

No, I think KG is a power forward playing center.  He's an incredible player, but he's not a center.  We're starting two power forwards, and because one of them is amazing, and also because the center position is so shallow throughout the league, we'll be just fine.

[nostar]

I can't even really come up with 10 true center options in the NBA. If we don't include guys who prefer the PF spot (KG/Gasol/Duncan/Amare etc.) then here is my list:

• Howard
• Bynum
• Bogut
• Hibbert
• Chandler
• Nene
• *maybe* Jefferson

And then the drop off. Gortat, Lopez, Monroe, Noah, Jordan, Dalembert, McGee, . The point I'm making is that there are so few that can bother KG physically it doesn't really matter. Oh and they mostly play in the West. We picked up Collins specifically for nights where Bynum or Howard or Bogut are bruising us down low. Combine Collins, Wilcox and Melo and that is 18 fouls. Let's say Orlando gets 90 possessions per game and we hack for 18 of them. That is 20% of the time you have Howard (49% FT) and Bogut (60% FT) standing at the line. Throw Bass, KG and Sully in on the action and you have a good shot at 1 in 4 possessions being a mind game from the foul line.

I will say I wanted Greg Oden on our team this year. I have heard he wants to be in South Beach which is sad but I think he'd have a better chance at winning here with us. We'd let him play his 10-15 minutes, Eddie Lacerte is the best trainer in the business for broken people and he'd have the best fans in the NBA on his side night in and night out. Oh and we can offer him the BAE which will offset the potential tax advantage Florida teams have. Have to cut Christmas but it's safe to say he wasn't going to see minutes this season anyway. Here's hoping.

[jbaerg]

KG dominated Howard this year if you don't recall.

[Moranis]

KG dominated Howard this year if you don't recall.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=garneke01&p2=howardw01

they had two games this year, Howard outscored and outrebounded KG in each game. 

[Celtics18]

KG dominated Howard this year if you don't recall.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=garneke01&p2=howardw01

they had two games this year, Howard outscored and outrebounded KG in each game. 

The better point is that Howard was in no way dominant against the Celtics with Kevin Garnett playing as the starting center.  As a matter of fact, Howard was very subpar by his own standards in Orlando's two losses against us. 

KG had a lot to do with that.  He's the best center that there's any realistic chance of us having on the roster this year. 

[snively]

KG is a great center. 

It's the back-ups that are the problem.  Wilcox can't defend, and Collins can do literally nothing but defend.  Nor are they complete offensive/defensive players respectively.  Wilcox depends on transition/PG play to maximize offensive utility, while Collins specializes in post defense, and doesn't offer much rim protection or any rebounding.

I still want Birdman.  He can protect the rim, rebound offensively and defensively, and he can even score some in transition.  Keep Wilcox as an offensive option (or intriguing spot starter with Rondo) and Collins as a post defense option.

[CelticG1]

Yeah but if your going to be thin at any position id take Center. Especially if your starter and main guy is KG.

As has been pointed out the C position has the least depth of any other position in the league. Everyone is thin at center

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

You got Wilcox who is actually is a PF and Jason Collins who is a certified bench warmer playing at the centre.

KG will play the 5 vs teams that play sf's C like miami at times did with Lebron or vs 76rs who have no true centre either, but against teams like the Magic (Howard) and even teams like GS with Bogut, no way you can let KG try to battle them all game.

I wonder what danny's/doc's plan on this issue. Is there faith that Sullinger and Melo can somehow magically do more than their share playing the c??

realistically these two rookies might be able to help out at certain situations of the game (needing rebounding, blocking shots, taking fouls) but no way they would be able to hold a guy like Howard down or let him even be avg. Can't see either Wilcox or Collins be able to do the same.

The truth is, Howard can score 40 and grab 20 rebounds, but with a hurting magic team otherwise, we should still prob win by 20.

But again what happens say if you face a team like the lakers that now has Howard? Even a team like the pacers who have a good young team and Hibbert now the x factor?

Maybe by trade deadline the only solution will be to trade for a decent centre. I wouldn't be one bit surprised if sullinger is part of the asset leaving. Danny is becoming famous for drafting and shipping these days.

opinions? strategy?

Who Cares about Dwight Howard? He'll be playing in the West somewhere. Jason Colllins can give Dwight fits. He's a veteran who knows how to use his body, frustrate his opponents, and use his fouls.

Clearly Collins is going to surprise you this season. Enjoy!

[CFAN38]

I actually think the Cs will be fine at the center position. The center position as changed so much in the NBA. When Shaq dominated the NBA every team had to have big 6'11+ 260lb + guys to try to contain shaq. That just isnt the case anymore the league is speed dominated and big centers are out of style.

KG and Bass will play there same roles as last season starting at the 4 and 5.

Wilcox and Sulllinger are both 4/5 and will serve as the first bigs off the bench

Jeff Green will play some mintes at the 4

Collins will get minutes against the bigger centers Marc Gasol, Howard, Bynum, and Hibbert.

That to me looks like solid depth/rotation at the 4 and the 5.

[Chris]

The C's have one of the top 5 starting centers in the league.  Wilcox could potentially one of the best backup centers, and Collins is about as good a third center as you will find.  Greedy greedy.

[heyvik]

I actually think the Cs will be fine at the center position. The center position as changed so much in the NBA. When Shaq dominated the NBA every team had to have big 6'11+ 260lb + guys to try to contain shaq. That just isnt the case anymore the league is speed dominated and big centers are out of style.

KG and Bass will play there same roles as last season starting at the 4 and 5.

Wilcox and Sulllinger are both 4/5 and will serve as the first bigs off the bench

Jeff Green will play some mintes at the 4

Collins will get minutes against the bigger centers Marc Gasol, Howard, Bynum, and Hibbert.

That to me looks like solid depth/rotation at the 4 and the 5.

What people fail to realize is the underlying truth that when we play teams like Miami and more athletic teams - THE C's CANNOT DEFEND/BLOCK/PLAY ABOVE THE RIM (sorry for the caps) when KG is out of the game and/or Wilcox (last year it was Hollins - Steimsma is the exception to my point) is playing Center teams will continue to drive in the paint and create opportunities for themselves because other than KG have no other (proven) way to DEFEND our basket. Those guys will drive regardless but not having someone who is over 7'ft defending the rim with skill (not you Hollins) is a weakness that needs to be addressed. Think about all the alley-oops and drives to the hoops that occurred when KG is out (foul trouble). We really could have used a healthy Steimsma this year instead of Collins. This has to be addressed on the 2nd unit ASAP. What if KG gets hurt? At least we got by last year with Steimsma as a steady back-up.

[syfy9]

Actually, I think a weak C position is probably the normality in today's league. Having a great center rotation isn't a need anymore, it's a luxury.

[Tr1boy]

I actually think the Cs will be fine at the center position. The center position as changed so much in the NBA. When Shaq dominated the NBA every team had to have big 6'11+ 260lb + guys to try to contain shaq. That just isnt the case anymore the league is speed dominated and big centers are out of style.

KG and Bass will play there same roles as last season starting at the 4 and 5.

Wilcox and Sulllinger are both 4/5 and will serve as the first bigs off the bench

Jeff Green will play some mintes at the 4

Collins will get minutes against the bigger centers Marc Gasol, Howard, Bynum, and Hibbert.

That to me looks like solid depth/rotation at the 4 and the 5.

What people fail to realize is the underlying truth that when we play teams like Miami and more athletic teams - THE C's CANNOT DEFEND/BLOCK/PLAY ABOVE THE RIM (sorry for the caps) when KG is out of the game and/or Wilcox (last year it was Hollins - Steimsma is the exception to my point) is playing Center teams will continue to drive in the paint and create opportunities for themselves because other than KG have no other (proven) way to DEFEND our basket. Those guys will drive regardless but not having someone who is over 7'ft defending the rim with skill (not you Hollins) is a weakness that needs to be addressed. Think about all the alley-oops and drives to the hoops that occurred when KG is out (foul trouble). We really could have used a healthy Steimsma this year instead of Collins. This has to be addressed on the 2nd unit ASAP. What if KG gets hurt? At least we got by last year with Steimsma as a steady back-up.

very good points.  That's why a guy like Melo might score 0 points and get 2 blocks a game, but he will make guys like lebron, wade twice before driving in.

KG mostly was good at deterring or altering shots but at some games, it still didn't matter that he was on the court. Lebron and wade drove hard , drew fouls and bumped him off for shots in.

KG was never known to be a great shot blocker. And now with age, he is considered mere avg in the nba.

So again its not only having a decent centre to battle guys like howard, but also have guys that won't be easy to move from the paint and be able to block or scare players from driving in. With this said, it would be a dream if this was Fab Melo's third year in the nba . He couldn't age or experience much faster.

lastly there is no way KG is considered to be a Centre, even by today fast paced nba standards. He loves to be around mid court most, doesn't have great inside moves and doesn't get you a whole lot of offensive rebounds. His bread and butter is the mid game turnaround j, long j's, and alley hoop dunks.

Sullinger though shorter plays more like a centre. People can say the celtics will have two pf's starting, but no way will any true centres be on the court if its a lineup of KG and Bass upfront

[vjcsmoke]

The Heat won with Bosh at center.  And Bosh is really actually a PF.  Today's NBA wins based on guard play - see the Heat's Wade/Lebron combo.  And I know you're going to say Lebron is a forward, but he handles the ball so much he might as well be a guard.

The Celtics actually have a very talented guard combo in Rondo/Avery Bradley.  Not to mention Jet + Lee.  Those are 4 very good guards.  Bradley is able to neutralize Wade when healthy.  The only real mismatch is Lebron who is just a freak but he's a mismatch for most teams.  At center, I don't see a big edge for the Heat.

Celtics could use another talented Big, not necessarily a center, but those are hard to find in this league.  All the C's have left is the biannual exception.