How Much Would a Decent Point Guard Help?

[nickagneta]

Guess we will find out when Rondo returns.

Strangely, I think Rondo could have stolen a game or two out of these first three games but that's because we have had a fairly soft schedule thus far. Toronto, Milwaukee and Detroit aren't exactly what I would call good teams. One of them MIGHT make the playoffs this year but only because the East is so pathetic after the top 5 teams.

If the C's had been playing contenders these first three games, with or without Rondo, they would have been blown out in every game.

[Celtics18]

I think that our point guard will help a lot when he returns. 

[kozlodoev]

If we even just had Rondo finding him off cuts and to have it so Avery didn't have to handle the ball I think we would all not be as down on Avery.  Our roster at the moment is basically tailor made to magnify all his weaknesses.

But if we could hypothetically draft a SG and have Avery coming off the bench to play combo guard minutes I think that would be a great role for him.  If you'd start Avery, you'd want him to be along like James Harden, a SG who can handle it and pass, so Avery could guard PGs.

Right, but even so things will happen in a basketball game that will make him step out of his role for stretches. How useful will he be if he cannot be trusted to not completely collapse when this happens?

[Snakehead]

If we even just had Rondo finding him off cuts and to have it so Avery didn't have to handle the ball I think we would all not be as down on Avery.  Our roster at the moment is basically tailor made to magnify all his weaknesses.

But if we could hypothetically draft a SG and have Avery coming off the bench to play combo guard minutes I think that would be a great role for him.  If you'd start Avery, you'd want him to be along like James Harden, a SG who can handle it and pass, so Avery could guard PGs.

Right, but even so things will happen in a basketball game that will make him step out of his role for stretches. How useful will he be if he cannot be trusted to not completely collapse when this happens?

Useful enough?  If your team has other capable offensive players he wouldn't be asked to do much.  When Avery was playing on our more talented teams he wasn't such a glaring offensive weakness.

You can say the same about other defensive minded players who found their way onto better teams with other players who were offensive centerpieces.  The aforementioned Bowen, or even TA on the champion Celtics team or Memphis.  We all remember TA on the Celtics when he was being asked to do too much before the big three era.  He was famous for having to drive and dribbling off his foot.

Avery would be a role player but good role players can put your team over the top.  If the price is right even on our current mess of a roster I'd like him back, but if we weren't to bring him back, a better team could sign Avery and be very happy even if his offense doesn't really improve much.

[Lucky17]

Guess we will find out when Rondo returns.

Strangely, I think Rondo could have stolen a game or two out of these first three games but that's because we have had a fairly soft schedule thus far. Toronto, Milwaukee and Detroit aren't exactly what I would call good teams. One of them MIGHT make the playoffs this year but only because the East is so pathetic after the top 5 teams.

If the C's had been playing contenders these first three games, with or without Rondo, they would have been blown out in every game.

I think the rest of the lineup has shown that they can move/share the ball well. Favs and KO display good passing skills. Avery made a lovely pocket pass to Favs (I think) that really stood out to me in yesterday's game. Lee can find the man.

With Rondo running the offense, the Celtics gain back a PG who can put pressure or even outright split opposing defenses. Even if Rondo's initial pass doesn't lead to an easy bucket, the extra pass will.

A playmaking penetrator like Rondo would do wonders for this offense. Right now, it's just high screens and handoffs for the first 15 seconds of the shot clock in the half-court set, which doesn't really pose much of a challenge for the opposition.

[Eja117]

It wouldn't help them win games but it would help keep Avery from being traumatized.

This Avery at pg stuff is stupid. I mean why not Lee or Brooks at pg?  Same thing.

[kozlodoev]

It wouldn't help them win games but it would help keep Avery from being traumatized.

This Avery at pg stuff is stupid. I mean why not Lee or Brooks at pg?  Same thing.

"Being traumatized", really?! You shouldn't have to tailor your entire lineup because a roleplayer is "being traumatized".

[Vermont Green]

An upgrade at point guard would help no doubt but so wouldn't an upgrade at just about any position.  Is Fav a real center? (Real meaning above average starter at the position)  Is Bass a real PF?  Do I need to go on?

The truth is that Bradley is our best option to be the guy who brings up the ball and covers the other teams PG (is that the same as saying he plays the point?).  With Bradley playing a similar role after Rondo got hurt last year, we actually went on a winning streak.  You could even hear the "MVP" chants for Bradley if you read between the lines here in the forums 

It is not Bradley's fault that this team is not that good.  The team is just not that good.

[nickagneta]

Guess we will find out when Rondo returns.

Strangely, I think Rondo could have stolen a game or two out of these first three games but that's because we have had a fairly soft schedule thus far. Toronto, Milwaukee and Detroit aren't exactly what I would call good teams. One of them MIGHT make the playoffs this year but only because the East is so pathetic after the top 5 teams.

If the C's had been playing contenders these first three games, with or without Rondo, they would have been blown out in every game.

I think the rest of the lineup has shown that they can move/share the ball well. Favs and KO display good passing skills. Avery made a lovely pocket pass to Favs (I think) that really stood out to me in yesterday's game. Lee can find the man.

With Rondo running the offense, the Celtics gain back a PG who can put pressure or even outright split opposing defenses. Even if Rondo's initial pass doesn't lead to an easy bucket, the extra pass will.

A playmaking penetrator like Rondo would do wonders for this offense. Right now, it's just high screens and handoffs for the first 15 seconds of the shot clock in the half-court set, which doesn't really pose much of a challenge for the opposition.

Yeah, they need a focal point to the offense that has a multifaceted game. It would really invigorate what has been a fairly bad half court offense. Bad in that it has no leader and is too predictable because of the lack of versatility in the skills of the individual players.

They need Rondo to push the transition game and when its not there to initiate the offense sooner and get people into roles they are better suited for.

Really like what Fav brings to the table offensively. He has real center size and skills offensively with a decent passing touch. Rondo hasn't played with a center like that since Shaq was healthy in 2010-11. BTW I am not comparing Fav to Shaq just saying that they play a real center position offensively and have skills there unlike Perk(no offensive skills) or KG(played the stretch big position rather than the down low guy).

[nickagneta]

BTW, can a team get anymore of an upgrade at PG than to go from the mess we have now to Rondo? I have to think Rondo's return will mean a major boost to this team. I still think they get beat bad by most good teams but they will start pulling out a bunch of these games versus the Torontos, Detroits, Milwaukees, Sacramentos, Orlandos, Phoenixs, and Utahs of the NBA.