Bosh might be the Heats starting center, so whats the possible line up?

[gar]

"Better than most", I agree, if by "most" you mean compared to other teams.

That's all you can hope for: a puncher's chance to take out the Heat by not being destroyed by their small-ball lineup.

Bass absolutely can't cover Lebron, and KG can't really do so, either.

Honestly, I'm not even sure than Lebron could cover Lebron.

We were built to take on the Heat. Wilcox and KG will make Bosh work at both ends. Bass and Green on Lebron. AB and Lee on Wade. I think we have them covered.

[Chris]

Bosh at center did create some problems for us last year in the playoffs.  I think one of the things that killed us vs. the Heat was Bosh's ability to pull KG (the only player on our team capable of protecting the hoop/altering shots) away from the basket.  When KG played Bosh close Lebron and Wade had a much easier time getting to the hoop and converting.  When KG cheated off him to help protect the paint Bosh made us pay by hitting some big outside shots.

And this is exactly the thinking behind playing Bosh at Center and Lebron at PF.  It really makes it difficult to keep a big man in the middle and to defend the pick and roll the way you would like, when your big man is forced to chase Bosh on the perimeter.

Interestingly, that is also part of the C's motivation in playing KG at center (among other things).  He pulls the opposing center out to the perimeter as well, opening up the interior.

[wdleehi]

I am hopping Sullinger becomes a true low post offensive threat by the playoffs. 

Someone that makes Lebron work down low on defense or take Battier down low. 

Put Pierce on Lebron defensively and let Sullinger stand near Battier at the three point line.  Yeah, he will not be great out there defensively, but I think the chance to wear have a guy with bulk pushing on Lebron during the playoffs could help the Celtics during a 7 game series.



I think trying to match up perimeter base PFs only will play into the Heats strengths. 

[Chris]

I am hopping Sullinger becomes a true low post offensive threat by the playoffs. 

Someone that makes Lebron work down low on defense or take Battier down low. 

Put Pierce on Lebron defensively and let Sullinger stand near Battier at the three point line.  Yeah, he will not be great out there defensively, but I think the chance to wear have a guy with bulk pushing on Lebron during the playoffs could help the Celtics during a 7 game series.



I think trying to match up perimeter base PFs only will play into the Heats strengths.

I think you have to mix it up.  I think you try to punish them with a guy like Sullinger until they adjust.  Then you throw Green at them.  Then you go really small and play Pierce at PF.  Or go really big and play KG with Wilcox.

There is no one way to beat a team like that.  But the more looks you can throw at them, the better.

[wdleehi]

I am hopping Sullinger becomes a true low post offensive threat by the playoffs. 

Someone that makes Lebron work down low on defense or take Battier down low. 

Put Pierce on Lebron defensively and let Sullinger stand near Battier at the three point line.  Yeah, he will not be great out there defensively, but I think the chance to wear have a guy with bulk pushing on Lebron during the playoffs could help the Celtics during a 7 game series.



I think trying to match up perimeter base PFs only will play into the Heats strengths.

I think you have to mix it up.  I think you try to punish them with a guy like Sullinger until they adjust.  Then you throw Green at them.  Then you go really small and play Pierce at PF.  Or go really big and play KG with Wilcox.

There is no one way to beat a team like that.  But the more looks you can throw at them, the better.

Anything that gets them to play the style they do not want to play, the better.

[Chris]

I am hopping Sullinger becomes a true low post offensive threat by the playoffs. 

Someone that makes Lebron work down low on defense or take Battier down low. 

Put Pierce on Lebron defensively and let Sullinger stand near Battier at the three point line.  Yeah, he will not be great out there defensively, but I think the chance to wear have a guy with bulk pushing on Lebron during the playoffs could help the Celtics during a 7 game series.



I think trying to match up perimeter base PFs only will play into the Heats strengths.

I think you have to mix it up.  I think you try to punish them with a guy like Sullinger until they adjust.  Then you throw Green at them.  Then you go really small and play Pierce at PF.  Or go really big and play KG with Wilcox.

There is no one way to beat a team like that.  But the more looks you can throw at them, the better.

Anything that gets them to play the style they do not want to play, the better.

Exactly.  The Heat are all about momentum.  They are one of the best front running teams I have ever seen.  Once they get a head of steam, they literally run through teams.  So, if you can slow them down and keep them off balance, then you have a chance.

[More Banners]

Bosh at center did create some problems for us last year in the playoffs.  I think one of the things that killed us vs. the Heat was Bosh's ability to pull KG (the only player on our team capable of protecting the hoop/altering shots) away from the basket.  When KG played Bosh close Lebron and Wade had a much easier time getting to the hoop and converting.  When KG cheated off him to help protect the paint Bosh made us pay by hitting some big outside shots.

I think we're set up to match up better now with the added firepower/depth.  We still have KG/Bosh as a wash, however...have better matchups against Wade/Lebron by having Lee/JET/Bradley and Pierce/Green.

The linchpin is the guys who play flex-minutes depending on matchup; perhaps Wilcox will be one of those guys, and Collins may be out of the lineup against Miami, and a key defender against LAL.

But it's not going to be the top of our roster taking the reigns this season.  We're designed for the grind.

[mmmmm]

Bosh at center did create some problems for us last year in the playoffs.  I think one of the things that killed us vs. the Heat was Bosh's ability to pull KG (the only player on our team capable of protecting the hoop/altering shots) away from the basket.  When KG played Bosh close Lebron and Wade had a much easier time getting to the hoop and converting.  When KG cheated off him to help protect the paint Bosh made us pay by hitting some big outside shots.

Yes, though at an absurd rate (53.8%!!!) that he's not likely to every shoot again in his life.  Defensively, I'm going to give Bosh those 3PT shots every time.  His career average from 3PT range is just 28.9%.   

You can play perfect defense, force teams to take absurd shots.  And sometimes, despite all the odds, they make them.   That was what happened there.

[mmmmm]

Bosh at center did create some problems for us last year in the playoffs.  I think one of the things that killed us vs. the Heat was Bosh's ability to pull KG (the only player on our team capable of protecting the hoop/altering shots) away from the basket.  When KG played Bosh close Lebron and Wade had a much easier time getting to the hoop and converting.  When KG cheated off him to help protect the paint Bosh made us pay by hitting some big outside shots.

And this is exactly the thinking behind playing Bosh at Center and Lebron at PF.  It really makes it difficult to keep a big man in the middle and to defend the pick and roll the way you would like, when your big man is forced to chase Bosh on the perimeter.

Interestingly, that is also part of the C's motivation in playing KG at center (among other things).  He pulls the opposing center out to the perimeter as well, opening up the interior.

The Heat may be thinking to copy the C's but it really isn't the same.

Bosh is a good jump shooter close in, but he's no where near the 'stretch big' that KG is.  KG's shooting percentages outside of 16 feet are in the 45-50% range. He shot a stellar 48% from that range last year. Bosh is down barely over 40%.  That is a huge difference.  If Bosh wants to take those shots - that helps the other team.

Bosh hurt us in the playoffs because he got freakishly lucky/hot and nailed three point shots at an absurd 53.8% clip.   He is normally a sub-par 3PT shooter (28.9%).

He's not a true 'stretch big' who you really want your defender to follow that far out of the paint.   Yes, if he gets hot he can hurt you.  But that was more freakish luck and not something I would game plan for.   Any player can get hot at a random moment.

The truth is, the real 'thinking' behind putting Bosh at C is that he's simply a more talented basketball player than Anthony and getting Anthony off the floor allows them to put Allen ON the floor.   It makes them small, but overall, that puts their most talented players on the floor.

[Interceptor]

You can play perfect defense, force teams to take absurd shots.  And sometimes, despite all the odds, they make them.   That was what happened there.

Which really grinds my gears. This was the second playoffs series in a row that the Heat buried us with miracle three-balls. Last year it was LBJ fade-aways into the bench, this year it was Bosh with a laser-sight.

Maybe we need a best of 11 series format. 

[Smitty77]

KG had an average 18.00 Efficiency Rating in the three playoff games head to head with Bosh.

Bosh averaged just under a 14.7.

Even??

Not!!

[Smitty77]

Interceptor,

Great point!  I think we now have much better closers on those 3 points attempts!!  Bradley (will be back), Green (back), Terry, and Lee.

This is huge.

Superb point though!!!

Smitty77

[arambone]

It's entirely possible that Sullinger down low could be a major handful for the heat. Sullinger shot a very high % the last two years for Ohio State, all while being the go-to option and putting up lots of shots.

Sullinger had a very untimely off-game against the length of Kansas, but I think OSU's 2nd scoring option was injured and out of the game, and Sullinger was forcing the issue. It wasn't just the length he was facing, it was that Sullinger was trying to do too much as well.

Right now Sullinger is working on expanding his moves and combinations of moves. With any luck, by the time the playoffs come around Sullinger will be well equipped to repeatedly attack Bosh and Lebron down low, even if it means leaning into them before fading away with jumpers or jump hooks. With a couple nice combinations of moves, Sullinger could be a foul magnet against Bosh and James, assuming the Stern Gang wants to play by the rules, lol.

If Sullinger isn't an expert at drawing fouls against NBA length by the playoffs, expect him to develop that ability soon in his career.

Sullinger would manhandle Bosh on the boards, and establish position down low at will on offense.

If Sullinger shows enough tricks up his sleeve, he could leave the Heat scrambling for solutions as much as Doc scrambles for solutions to James at 4.

KG, Wilcox, Sullinger, and possibly Melo. Some combination of those guys will be ready to step up to the challenge at 5. Even Melo could be an interesting look against Bosh if he can develop a couple nice post moves and counter moves. If Melo can learn to draw the foul (he already knows how to draw the charge), he could definitely be a force in the playoffs or before.

[Smitty77]

Arambone,

You make a great point about the often forgotten Sullinger.  He has the best post moves we have had since Jefferson.  He might be our best rebounder in almost a decade as well.  I am fired up about him contributing this year.

Smitty77

[CelticG1]

Bosh is not close to KG.  Maybe if you are looking at raw ppg rpg otherwise not even close to the impact KG has.

Give me a break if the Heat had Bass, he would hit those open looks and pull KG out just as much. He'd prob be even on defense as well