Don't be shocked if Fabulous Melo starts

[Jon]

If I really was forced to make a shocking prediction, it'd be that Jeff Green is going to start at PF. 

I'm not making that prediction, but it has a better chance of happening than Melo starting the season as the starting 5. 

Green very likely won't start at the 4, largely because PP has no other clear backup.  But I do think Green is going to see quite a bit of time at the 4 this year, particularly at the end of games. 

[Finkelskyhook]

Even if he started....Which will never happen...Somebody who has so little experience and is a rookie?

The real/bogus fouls would be called at 10 times the pace they called them on Steimsma.

He'd foul out in 5 minutes

[mgent]

I honestly don't think Doc doesn't like playing rookies. If we had a rookie that excelled playing defense, like maybe a rookie Bruce Bowen or AK47, they're going to get minutes.

?

[MJohnnyboy]

I honestly don't think Doc doesn't like playing rookies. If we had a rookie that excelled playing defense, like maybe a rookie Bruce Bowen or AK47, they're going to get minutes.

?

Avery Bradley never played his rookie year. The difference between '05 and '11 was that the Celtics didn't have much to lose from playing a rookie because they weren't that good then. In '11 the Cs were still a contending team.

[arambone]

sullinger and melo should be a championship level frontcourt eventually, as long as rondo is playing with them.

Sullingers biggest weakness is defensive footspeed. Melo has his back. Great instincts and footwork to cover ground and alter shots.

Sully and melo both good passers, and both good jump shooters. Very complimentary of each other, with big upside.
 
Sullinger was and will be a highly efficient player.

[Galeto]

I hope Melo is able to get some playing but I think early on he'll rack up a lot of DNPs or not dress.  He's sixth in the rotation PF/C rotation behind Garnett, Bass, Green, Wilcox and Sullinger.

I'm hopeful about him though.  His effort level is very good, he's very engaged and his basketball awareness is actually pretty good.  His passing ability was evident even during Syracuse games and he showed during the summer league games that he sees the floor very well.  If you can pass as a big, you possess a good basketball mind.

[syfy9]

I honestly don't think Doc doesn't like playing rookies. If we had a rookie that excelled playing defense, like maybe a rookie Bruce Bowen or AK47, they're going to get minutes.

?

Avery Bradley never played his rookie year. The difference between '05 and '11 was that the Celtics didn't have much to lose from playing a rookie because they weren't that good then. In '11 the Cs were still a contending team.

Avery Bradley was injured his rookie year, which prevented him from playing defense at the level he plays with now.

It's not just overall man to man defense, though - it's Doc's defensive rotations, help defense, etc.

If you can do that, you could play 10-12 minutes for Doc minimum.

[Galeto]

I think Bradley's defense is somewhat overrated.  His biggest impact is pressuring fullcourt and making the opposition play with a reduced shot clock.  On individual defense, he gets beat off the dribble too often and too easily to rate as an elite defender.  He puts on a great show with his intensity and his lightning fast feet but then all too often, the great ballhandlers deal with his pressure and drive right by him. I wish he would have a little more respect for his opponents because the good players can handle his ball pressure and back off just a bit.  He would be impossible to drive past then.

[TripleOT]

From the little I saw of Melo in SL, he's got great lateral movement for a guy that big/tall.  The Cs would be wise to spoon feed him minutes, even if he's not up to speed with the NBA game yet.  he's seems to be a good athlete and should be able to figure out how to contribute at least a little - boxing out, rebounding and defending the rim.   

[Eris]

I'll be shocked if Melo is ready to start this year. I'll be happily surprised if he is ready to play anything but garbage minutes this year. OTOH, I really hope I am happily surprised...or shocked...but I don't think I will be, not this year.

Actually I don't think Sully is going to play all that much either. I think he's behind KG, Bass, Wilcox and Green, and he's going to have a really hard time shouldering his way ahead of any of them. Unlike a lot of folks here, I'm still not convinced. He's going to have to prove himself against real NBA players before I'm convinced.

[SHAQATTACK]

HAA!! LOL don't see em starting for years either Sully or Melo .  But, I wouldn't be surprized to see em in trash minutes early on , just so DA and Doc can see how they react.   They might be valuable near playoff time to keep the 1st and 2 nd stringers healthy.

One important point that I now believe is Rondo's opinion on such matters count  and his feed back to Doc on which of the rookies "might" be ready for a few  "serious minutes" under fire at some point in the season might get one in a game.

[arambone]

HAA!! LOL don't see em starting for years either Sully or Melo .  But, I wouldn't be surprized to see em in trash minutes early on , just so DA and Doc can see how they react.   They might be valuable near playoff time to keep the 1st and 2 nd stringers healthy.

One important point that I now believe is Rondo's opinion on such matters count  and his feed back to Doc on which of the rookies "might" be ready for a few  "serious minutes" under fire at some point in the season might get one in a game.

Dude, Sullinger was a projected top 3 pick in 2011 if he had come out.

As a sophomore, Sullinger lost a bunch of weight that prevented him from dominating inside offensively.

Between the less dominant inside game and his back concerns, Sullinger dropped in the draft.

Now Sullinger is back up to his natural playing weight, which allows him to go toe-to-toe with most big men in the league, while expanding a perimeter game Doc Rivers was aware of since high school.

Do you expect the top 5 picks in this year's draft to start?
What about top 10 picks? Consider Sullinger a top 5-top 10 pick, and project his role accordingly.

Celtics are a terrible rebounding team without Sullinger.

[mgent]

I honestly don't think Doc doesn't like playing rookies. If we had a rookie that excelled playing defense, like maybe a rookie Bruce Bowen or AK47, they're going to get minutes.

?

Avery Bradley never played his rookie year. The difference between '05 and '11 was that the Celtics didn't have much to lose from playing a rookie because they weren't that good then. In '11 the Cs were still a contending team.

Um, we were the 3 seed.

[Edgar]

wonder how good or bad he is

[Eja117]

It's not out of realm of possibility Doc starts Fab Melo alongside Garnett. I'm counting on the fact Garnett the miracle worker. He made Ryan Hollins look decent which was a miracle. Doc will give Melo a small role with couple of tasks: Defend, Offensive rebound, and Take Charges. I think Fab Melo can be a difference maker on defense. An intimidator who blocks a lot of shots, and alters a lot more shots inside. And when he isn't blocking shots, he takes charges. Those small intangibles can be the difference in winning and losing.

PF: Garnett/Bass
-C: Melo/Sullinger

Sorry, but I will be shocked.