Start a real BIG

[kozlodoev]

New coach same old celtics. Too many jump shots, no post play, no legit big man getting minutes.

  That's more of a personnel issue than a coaching issue.

What the OP is suggesting is that it isn't, that it is a matter of not playing the bigs they have and thus having a small team playing (poorly) out on the perimeter.

I think the early game planning was built around the assumption that they had inferior interior play on offense and defense, but the glimpses we've had of Olynyk and Fav suggest that may not be the case.

We only have Fav who is what I'd consider a center playing in the rotation. Unless we decided to play him high 30s minutes wise, which I don't think he's ready for, we're going to have a small team.

Yes, but starting Olynyk and Faverani gives you a considerably bigger frontline than starting Bass and Sullinger.

I'm not even so bent out of shape about the size (although there are perks with that, too), but our starting bigs have proven to be terribad ball-stoppers on offense. And the problem with this is that once the ball stops, we don't have a scorer that's good enough to make something happen against congested defense. Olynyk (and to an extent Faverani -- which really surprised me) have been much better in moving the ball around from the high post, and when you put them together with Pressey, you can actually see the rudiments of a meaningful offense being run.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Start Sully and Fav, KO first man off the bench.

Yes.

[Chris]

Start Sully and Fav, KO first man off the bench.

Yes.

This is what I would definitely prefer to see as well.  I don't actually believe it would necessarily be the best thing for winning games right now.  I think Humphries and possibly Bass deserve to be playing ahead of Fav and possibly Olynyk...but we are in a "transition" year, and things are close enough between all of these guys that you can rationalize giving priority to the young guys who probably have more of a future with this franchise.  And as a fan, it is just more fun to watch those guys learn on the job.

[D.o.s.]

What constitutes a real big?

Nobody?

I think that starting a "real" big with the current roster would run in opposition to putting your five best players on the floor.

If this is about getting killed inside... we're going to get killed inside regardless. We've got a team mostly full of meh defenders, especially outside of Lee and Bradley.

[2short]

it happened in spurts but when we went inside out with the ball last night we looked good
to me it doesn't matter if its ko or green on the block (or rondo)
but we need that sort of ball movement LOTS of side to side play but very little attacking the basket or post play
to me humphries or fav are our centers, fav is showing a really nice all around game

stevens has a lot to fiddle with as we have no set starters

lee and bradley? crawford and bradley
humphries  or fav center
green or wallace sf
sully, ko or bass pf

might make sense to go with what makes the best TWO units
I don't like sully trying to guard a traditional center (or jacking 3's    )

[billysan]

To start the season, Faverini and Olynyk should come off the bench. They are new to the league and although showing some promise, they have a lot to learn yet. Some combination of Humphries, Bass and Sullinger to start for the first 20 games. I also like the idea of playing Olynyk and Fav with Wallace on the second unit, regardless of who the guards are. They will learn from him. I would be fine with them doing this until the All Star break or longer if necessary until they are ready for bigger roles.

As to the 3pt chucking, I think Stevens has turned them all loose for the time being. I also agree with BBall Tim that it is a matter of personnel even though I would much rather see them attacking the basket in transition. Seeing Fav and Sullinger shoot threes is no fun when they arent making them for sure. If they were falling, we would be raving wouldnt we?

With 5 bigs, I think we divide the minutes at 18-20 minutes per game until someone gets hurt or someone really starts to excel. This is two roughly 10 minute stretches, one per half, which is plenty of time to get into a flow.