lack of all around sg

[guava_wrench]

Not having a multitool SG isn't a good thing or anything, but I don't think it's really a terrible hinderance. You'd like to have a guy who can score, pass, and defend. But it's really not that big a deal as long as one or two skills are there. A guy who can defend and make a set 3pt shot is more than enough to get by, as long as your team has talent around him.

We don't have that last part. Id gladly attempt to get by with Courtney Lee and Avery Bradley for the next 20 years if we had 3 legitimate all-star players also on the roster. That's the difference.

Agreed.

[BballTim]

Yeah... I see Bradley as a "PG Stopper".  A little rascal you throw in to cause headaches for the league's elite point guards. 

I've always felt he was too small to be a starting SG. 

But anyways... this team lacks a lot more than just an "all-around SG".

  Yes, our biggest problem will be the guy who's about 8 inches taller than that.

Was Ray Allen doing a much better job on those guys? Have taller guys actually been taking advantage of Bradley's height, or is this just worrying about something that is far from a serious problem?

  I meant a center.

[Kuberski33]

This thread has hit upon the proof that Danny is really hoping to not win too many games.  When this team is finally serious about winning again, it will have wing players who can make the 3 consistently. 

In the current NBA if you have 2's who shoot better mid-range than 3 pt, you're at a competitive disadvantage.

This is why Bradley can never start as long as Rondo is here. 

[LooseCannon]

Brooks is out best bet currently; but not sure that is saying much. He is a nice complement to Bradley (or Rondo) in terms of size; but not sure he has the determination and will to make it in the NBA. He is sneeky and long and a pretty good rebounder. Kind of opposite of Bradley. He has more patience and makes better decisions than Crawford. He can create his own offense better than Lee.

Bradley developing a consistent, dependable jump shot seems much more likely than Brooks developing a consistent, dependable level of defense.

[2short]

Brooks is out best bet currently; but not sure that is saying much. He is a nice complement to Bradley (or Rondo) in terms of size; but not sure he has the determination and will to make it in the NBA. He is sneeky and long and a pretty good rebounder. Kind of opposite of Bradley. He has more patience and makes better decisions than Crawford. He can create his own offense better than Lee.

Bradley developing a consistent, dependable jump shot seems much more likely than Brooks developing a consistent, dependable level of defense.

[2short]

You know I don't think its completely crazy to put Babb or Bogans in the starting sg spot once Rondo is back.  Size and defense, both guys seem to be able to hit the occassional open 3.
This brings Bradley off the bench and makes in order brooks, crawford and lee part of a trade.

I think I just solved the problem!  All it took was 2 cups of coffee 

[crimson_stallion]

Outside of not having a decent pg in rondos absent , the biggest issue since ray allen has left is Not having a legit sg in the lineup. A player that is at least 6'4, that can defend, pass, shoot and make open jump shots consistently and able to drive in for layups.

Doesnt even have to be an all star calibre player but someone like a afflalo , nick young would be nice to have in the lineup.

You're going to tell me Ray Allen played defense and showed a strong ability to drive in for layups?  In his last couple of seasons in Boston his defense was horrendous, and you'd be lucky to see him drive once every 4 games - he pretty much was just a catch and shoot guy.

The way Crawford is playing I think they are the most likely guys to slip in this role. He is passing the ball well, shooting at a high percentage and has the ability to score off the drive.  his defense is still mediocre, but so was Ray's.

If crawford keeps his head on straight and continues to shoot even close to as efficiently as he has so far in the preseason, he might be a real surprise.  He's already got me shocked.

Brooks also has potential.  He's leading the team in Pts+Reb+Ass per 36 minutes so far in the preseason, averaging around 21/3/6 per 36.  Those are impressive numbers.  Not sure if he'll keep it up.

Either way I don't think the SG spot is our biggest probably after the PG spot - I think  that clearly is center.  Shooting guard is an easy spot to fill, there are billions of SG's in the NBA who can score the ball and pass decently.  Qualilty big men are a rarity, and neither Sully, Bass nor Olynyk has the size to man the Center spot effectively at this stage.

[Celtics4ever]

he pretty much was just a catch and shoot guy.

Trouble is now we have catch and miss guys.   No one is a consistent threat to spread the floor.  Teams can pack it in on us because we lack a clear offensive threat from deep.  Right now neither our Sf or SG or PG demands covering the floor and spreads the D.

I am of the mindset, Bradley would be best served as a combo guard defensive stopper off the bench.  He surely is not a PG and questionable as a SG at times.   I think his shot has improved some.   But confidence guys make me nervous, when they don't have it they kill you, when they do they are great but you never know when their shot is going to take a vacation.  With Avery the D is always there but the shot comes and goes. 

We could do a lot worse than Bradley.   I think we have more problems than him right now.  Nut take heart we are tanking by roster.   The guys will play hard but they are not that good.  We will lose many games and get a solid pick.

[CFAN38]

To me the SG position is a lynch pin for the future make up of the celtics.

If the plan really is to build a championship team around Rondo then it will be important to have a dynamic scorer at the SG. This can either be a player who starts over AB or a guy in a Ginobli like 6th man role. This creates a 3 guard rotation.

If the plan is to move Rondo then I would like to see the Celtics find a dynamic scoring combo guard. Like Exum or Harrison in this up comming draft. Both of these players could potentially be 20+ pt a game scores while defending the SG position. This leaves AB to play off the ball but defending opposing teams SGs. The opposite of the Eric Snow AI combo in Philly a few years ago.




On a side note everyone should not forget that AB is still only 22. The same age as Kelly. He has shown to be a better SG then PG but is being pressed to play the point. He also is coming off of a tragedy filled off season.

[PhoSita]

Take a look at the quality 50+ win playoff teams in recent years.

The vast majority of them have two things.

1. A quality point guard who can run the pick and roll.

2. A quality center with legitimate size who can protect the rim.

Team that don't have those things yet still win a lot of games tend to have a serious advantage in another area . . . e.g. LeBron or Kobe.

Right now, with Rondo sidelined, our team has neither of those things, and we certainly don't have a transcendent talent elsewhere to make up for our roster construction.  So our team stinks.

[LooseCannon]

To me the SG position is a lynch pin for the future make up of the celtics.

If the plan really is to build a championship team around Rondo then it will be important to have a dynamic scorer at the SG.

I think it would be best to avoid a high-usage SG who needs the ball in his hands.  The best fit next to Rondo is probably a SG who is good at catch-and-shoot jumpers, especially threes, and who can switch defensive assignments occasionally to let Rondo conserve energy.

[SHAQATTACK]

Take a look at the quality 50+ win playoff teams in recent years.

The vast majority of them have two things.

1. A quality point guard who can run the pick and roll.

2. A center with legitimate size who can protect the rim.

Team that don't have those things yet still win a lot of games tend to have a serious advantage in another area . . . e.g. LeBron or Kobe.

Right now, with Rondo sidelined, our team has neither of those things, and we certainly don't have a transcendent talent elsewhere to make up for our roster construction.  So our team stinks.

Bingo !   Nice post.

[Celtics4ever]

The best fit next to Rondo is probably a SG who is good at catch-and-shoot jumpers, especially threes

Agree

[Chris]

One of the best kept secrets in basketball is that in todays NBA, quality SGs have become one of the most rare commodities you can have.  There just aren't many out there. 

[wdleehi]

One of the best kept secrets in basketball is that in todays NBA, quality SGs have become one of the most rare commodities you can have.  There just aren't many out there.

But still not worth overpaying for like say the talented big man.