Doc: "We could really use" Delfino

[AB_Celtic]

In my mind, Dooling is pretty much the guard equivalent of Jason Collins. I cringe when we have to depend on him to make shots. The difference is, if Jason Collins fails to perform, then he'll be competing for mop-up minutes  in the big rotation with Jeff Green and Fab Melo. 

It's a logjam only if you actually have good players. I don't think Dooling will (or should) ever get off the bench on any team that vies to contend for anythign unless there's an emergency (and known months-long outage of your start SG isn't one). Also, the alleged logjam will be alleviated by running lineups withere Delfino or Lee slide into the SF spot with Green at the 4.

Then I guess we just disagree on Dooling's usefulness.

[kozlodoev]

In my mind, Dooling is pretty much the guard equivalent of Jason Collins. I cringe when we have to depend on him to make shots. The difference is, if Jason Collins fails to perform, then he'll be competing for mop-up minutes  in the big rotation with Jeff Green and Fab Melo. 

It's a logjam only if you actually have good players. I don't think Dooling will (or should) ever get off the bench on any team that vies to contend for anythign unless there's an emergency (and known months-long outage of your start SG isn't one). Also, the alleged logjam will be alleviated by running lineups withere Delfino or Lee slide into the SF spot with Green at the 4.

Then I guess we just disagree on Dooling's usefulness.

I guess. I wonder what you see in him? He's given us effort on defense, yes -- but he's too small to defend SGs, his shooting has been erratic to say the least, and when his shot isn't falling he brings zero offensive contribution to the table (both in terms of scorign and facilitation).

We're tryign to use him like we used Eddie House, except House was a lights-out shooter with a nose for the clutch shot. Dooling is great for the locker room, and he's Rondo's binkie, but please, let's not put him on the floor unless we have to.

[AB_Celtic]

In my mind, Dooling is pretty much the guard equivalent of Jason Collins. I cringe when we have to depend on him to make shots. The difference is, if Jason Collins fails to perform, then he'll be competing for mop-up minutes  in the big rotation with Jeff Green and Fab Melo. 

It's a logjam only if you actually have good players. I don't think Dooling will (or should) ever get off the bench on any team that vies to contend for anythign unless there's an emergency (and known months-long outage of your start SG isn't one). Also, the alleged logjam will be alleviated by running lineups withere Delfino or Lee slide into the SF spot with Green at the 4.

Then I guess we just disagree on Dooling's usefulness.

I guess. I wonder what you see in him? He's given us effort on defense, yes -- but he's too small to defend SGs, his shooting has been erratic to say the least, and when his shot isn't falling he brings zero offensive contribution to the table (both in terms of scorign and facilitation).

We're tryign to use him like we used Eddie House, except House was a lights-out shooter with a nose for the clutch shot. Dooling is great for the locker room, and he's Rondo's binkie, but please, let's not put him on the floor unless we have to.

We're not using him like House. House averaged nearly 5 more minutes per game than Dooling when he was with us, 33% more than Dooling. He was a scoring option first, Dooling is a defensive option first. With a lights-out shooter in Terry in the second unit, I could see Dooling be able to focus on that and not have to be the shooter.

Plus, you argue that Delfino will be a big height upgrade over our small guards, but Dooling is actually the second tallest, behind Lee. It's Rondo and Bradley that are the short ones, and we aren't replacing them

[moylana25]

By mid season we're likely to have six guard players: Rondo, Bradley, Dooling, Terry, Lee, Christmas. I know Christmas is big for a guard, has the body of a small forward, but his game and passing are more akin to a SG. Why use the money on Delfino just to bury him on the bench, or bury a player like Lee who was a significant part of our summer?

I'm sorry, I don't agree with some of the members' stance on our bigs. Anyone who can give KG rest is pivotal to the team's success, especially with KG playing 2-3 more years with us.

The way I see it, you have KG, Wilcox, and Collins as the only true seasoned players that can really play the C position. Fab can MAYBE contribute sometime this season. Sullinger needs to worry about being a PF in this league, not being a center. If you wanna stretch Bass to the C position in small lineups then fine.

[AB_Celtic]

By mid season we're likely to have six guard players: Rondo, Bradley, Dooling, Terry, Lee, Christmas. I know Christmas is big for a guard, has the body of a small forward, but his game and passing are more akin to a SG. Why use the money on Delfino just to bury him on the bench, or bury a player like Lee who was a significant part of our summer?

I'm sorry, I don't agree with some of the members' stance on our bigs. Anyone who can give KG rest is pivotal to the team's success, especially with KG playing 2-3 more years with us.

The way I see it, you have KG, Wilcox, and Collins as the only true seasoned players that can really play the C position. Fab can MAYBE contribute sometime this season. Sullinger needs to worry about being a PF in this league, not being a center. If you wanna stretch Bass to the C position in small lineups then fine.

Well we can't have Christmas and another big. That would give us a roster of 16:

PG: Rondo, Terry, Dooling
SG: Lee, Bradley, CHRISTMAS
SF: Pierce, Green, Joseph
PF: Bass, Wilcox, Sullinger, ANOTHER BIG
C: Garnett, Collins, Melo

Not sure what you're arguing here. If we get Delfino or another big, Christmas isn't even on the roster.

[kozlodoev]

House averaged nearly 5 more minutes per game than Dooling when he was with us, 33% more than Dooling. He was a scoring option first, Dooling is a defensive option first.

Dooling may have been a "defensive option", but he's nothing more than passable in this department. He's also a prime candidate for the Matt Barnes award for players who are so horrible offensively that they get billed defensive specialists.

And he's going to play Eddie House minutes this season unless we sign another guard.

Plus, you argue that Delfino will be a big height upgrade over our small guards, but Dooling is actually the second tallest, behind Lee. It's Rondo and Bradley that are the short ones, and we aren't replacing them

Actually Rondo (6'1) and Terry (6'2) are our smallest guards. Dooling and Bradley are the same size (6'3). But Dooling is so far behind all of them in talent that this whole discussion is a non-starter. Heck, even not considering size at all, Delfino is the better player, too.

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

Spoiler alert...Rondo would NOT get along with Delfino.

Delfino was forced to jack 3's in Toronto (my home) for years and then more of the same in Mil-lay-walk-kay. He's streaky, but has lost a step over the years. Also, he had that horrible concussion which kept coming back several times (statistically he was having a solid season before that concussion a couple/few years back). With that said he wouldn't fit the mould, would have a tough time adapting, and Rondo wouldn't get along with him.

[LooseCannon]

The reasonable solution would be to fill the 15th slot with a guard or wing on a contract that is not fully guaranteed, so you can easily cut him if you need to get more depth at a different position when Bradley is healthy.

[kozlodoev]

The reasonable solution would be to fill the 15th slot with a guard or wing on a contract that is not fully guaranteed, so you can easily cut him if you need to get more depth at a different position when Bradley is healthy.

Good luck finding someone who can play under these conditions.

[gar]

Not sure going an 82 game season with one true PG is such a good idea either.

Bradley, JET and Dooling are all smaller SG's that can play PG in a pinch (Not thrilled with Dooling signing).

Lee is the only Guard we have with size (other than Christmas!); but Rondo is the only true PG (other than Smith)and I would also agree that we are without a starting center. SF is all set for once.

Perhaps this is why Green is not signed yet!
They are still looking for one or two key pieces.

[gar]

If you read between the lines:

JET is our backup PG and Bradley sub
(making Dooling irrelevant).
Wilcox will be our starting center
(he can beat most centers down the court and can run with Rondo)
KG and Sulinger (in BBD mode) will play minutes at center.

Agree that Delfino is not the answer.

[Roy H.]

I'd love to see Delfino here, even if he'd be on the deep bench.  However, there's no realistic way to acquire him.

[BballTim]

Spoiler alert...Rondo would NOT get along with Delfino.

Delfino was forced to jack 3's in Toronto (my home) for years and then more of the same in Mil-lay-walk-kay. He's streaky, but has lost a step over the years. Also, he had that horrible concussion which kept coming back several times (statistically he was having a solid season before that concussion a couple/few years back). With that said he wouldn't fit the mould, would have a tough time adapting, and Rondo wouldn't get along with him.

  Do Rondo and Delfino have some sort of history of clashes?

[kozlodoev]

Not sure going an 82 game season with one true PG is such a good idea either.

Perhaps this is why Green is not signed yet!
They are still looking for one or two key pieces.

No, it isn't.

edit: Let me elaborate...

1. Green's signing was announced as imminent, so he's not going anywhere.
2. Not signing Green does not automatically help us sign other players (other than freeing up a roster spot).
3. How many pure PGs are there in the NBA?
4. How many teams have more than one pure PG?
5. How many pure PGs are still available?
6. How many of the ones in pt. 5 are good enough to hold Keyon Dooling's jock (and that's not intended to be compliment for Dooling).

Bradley, JET and Dooling are all smaller SG's that can play PG in a pinch (Not thrilled with Dooling signing).

Lee is the only Guard we have with size (other than Christmas!); but Rondo is the only true PG (other than Smith)and I would also agree that we are without a starting center. SF is all set for once.

Bradley is a pretty mediocre PG (Terry and even Dooling are considerably better).
Jamar Smith is not a PG at all.

[edwardjkasche]

The rich man's Sasha Pavlovic!

For those complaining about the need for Birdman:
This is a wing man's game now, not a big man game.

Yes, the C's can always use more rebounding and blocked shots, but Birdman is unnecessary against 25 or so of our 29 opponents (Nets, Lakers, Pacers, whatever team Howard ends up on).  He'd be our third-string center.

Delfino could be a third-string SG/SF, with the ability to go off for 20 points any given night.

Ainge is loading up on guys to throw at Wade and LeBron.

And, yes, Jeff Green may be unable to play this year.  We all know how the Celtics handle injury news.  It's always "nothing serious" until a guy's done for the season.