Boy we need interior D

[ctrey]

As much as Toronto shot well from 3, it was the attacking the rim and points in the paint that killed us. We desperately need somebody at center. Zeller can not cut it, Sully is a 4 and gets abused by 7 footers and Olynyk seems to be playing the 3 basically. I can abide by the fact we do not have a go to scorer but the paper thin D in the paint kills me.

[Kuberski33]

Its a huge weakness. I actually thought Zeller competed but they need a lot more than him.  KO was invisible defensively and Sully is too small.  The interior D looks like is once again going to suck and that means we won't be beating any teams with size very often.

[coffee425]

as desperate as this sounds... having Vitor in the lineup will be so much more helpful. . But if we can get Larry Sanders that would be cool too   

[j804]

I want Hibbert on this team. If we just had a big guy that plugged it up down low and changed shots even if he didn't do much on offense but set picks and rebound. We've needed one for years one of the glaring weaknesses that was apparent tonight for sure. 

[Chris22]

Zeller made a clean block at the rim that was called a foul.
I thought it was the turning point of the game.

[rollie mass]

turning point of game -holding out bradley just showed how important it was to play different combos, get players time, to experiment -powell didn't get a show after getting some praise in press odd-pre season is precious but not for the win column but maybe a little more so in front of  home fans  in the first two-

[rollie mass]

zeller looks nothing like the player in some of past game tapes-maybe the new married life has him dozy and worn out--

[greece66]

of the low risk high reward that Ainge loves.
We knew that unlike ET he is not talented guy with bad decision making/psychological issues, but a tall body with a poor skills toolkit. If Brad Stevens can turn him into a good defender, he will be worthy of a lot of credit, but for the time being Zeller is far from a finished product.

[freshinthehouse]

Luckily this draft looks to be long on big men. 

[CFAN38]

This team has for the most part impressed me this preseason. I agree that interior D is the glaring weak point. With a legit starting level defensive big man I would expect this team to make the playoffs. Without that center this team is once again lottery bound (which isn't a bad thing). I think the make up of this team will keep it from bottom feeding and I expect 7-8 game improvement to about 32-33 wins this season. Next offseason has to be dedicated to finding a real center. If Rondo is hear then he has to be in his prime (25-30) and ready to totally contribute. If Rondo is gone then he can be younger and still in need of development. Either way I desperately want to see the celtics with a long mobile big roaming the paint...

[chambers]

as desperate as this sounds... having Vitor in the lineup will be so much more helpful. . But if we can get Larry Sanders that would be cool too   

vitor stinks

[GreenWarrior]

I was going to start a similar thread. but more about KO.

anyway, Kelly O is not a center, this team doesn't have a center. at least one that can play D. Kelly O's rotations, lateral movement, everything defensively was absolutely putrid...and I don't think he's going to overcome this, it just looks like something he doesn't have.

with that said no one else on the roster is offering anything for the center position either offensively or defensively so at least with Kelly we get some offense. in fact if his guy scores I think we should make it a point to get the ball to KO immediately so we make whoever KO is defending play both sides of he ball.

also I think defensively this team needs to do everything it can possibly do to force teams to be perimeter, put max pressure on their back court to take time off the shot-clock, do everything we can to deter teams from taking advantage of us down low. 

[DesertDweller]

Zeller needs more time with Celtic's "D" but could get better.  on the other hand, don't consider this area closed by Ainge. look for possible big move before season starts.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I'd be happy when Stevens' fascination with the Bass-Olynyk line-up gets put to rest.

If Bass i coming in as the first sub, it should be to play alongside Sullinger if anything.

[hwangjini_1]

Luckily this draft looks to be long on big men.

so, the celtics should choke for oak?