Boy we need interior D

[Snakehead]

We don't have interior D on the roster.  If the roster stays as is, it's in our best interest to try to play up tempo and spread the court with Olynyk and Sullinger and play to a strength.

[Vermont Green]

"The Celtics big men are not great defenders", that is a true statement but that was not the only problem last night.  Toronto was running the high Pick and Roll with their bigs and we did not have enough overall talent to defend it.

If we sagged off their perimeter players to help in the box, they killed us with 3s.  When those players stayed home, we had no one to cover for our big who was out on the perimeter "showing" on the dribbler.

Toronto is a good team.  There is probably some scheme or execution refinements that we can make but the problem was not all on the bigs.  Simply having Larry Sanders or whoever is not going to suddenly make us able to defend.  It would help, but the problem in the 4th period last night was more nuanced than that.

[Csfan1984]

"The Celtics big men are not great defenders", that is a true statement but that was not the only problem last night.  Toronto was running the high Pick and Roll with their bigs and we did not have enough overall talent to defend it.

If we sagged off their perimeter players to help in the box, they killed us with 3s.  When those players stayed home, we had no one to cover for our big who was out on the perimeter "showing" on the dribbler.

Toronto is a good team.  There is probably some scheme or execution refinements that we can make but the problem was not all on the bigs.  Simply having Larry Sanders or whoever is not going to suddenly make us able to defend.  It would help, but the problem in the 4th period last night was more nuanced than that.

I agree with much of this as it wasn't all interior Defense. A lot problems on high pick and roll defense. I also agree Our bigs seem to struggle with every kind of defense. Currently there appears to be a lack of length,  athleticism,  and planning.

[Irish Stew]

"The Celtics big men are not great defenders", that is a true statement but that was not the only problem last night.  Toronto was running the high Pick and Roll with their bigs and we did not have enough overall talent to defend it.

If we sagged off their perimeter players to help in the box, they killed us with 3s.  When those players stayed home, we had no one to cover for our big who was out on the perimeter "showing" on the dribbler.

Toronto is a good team.  There is probably some scheme or execution refinements that we can make but the problem was not all on the bigs.  Simply having Larry Sanders or whoever is not going to suddenly make us able to defend.  It would help, but the problem in the 4th period last night was more nuanced than that.

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with one part of your post. Simply having Larry Sanders will make us able to defend. We are probably last in the NBA when it comes to interior defense talent. We are also, when Smart and Bradley are paired, in the upper third of the league when it comes to perimeter defense talent. As you correctly suggested, interior and perimeter defense complement each other. Getting an exceptional rim defender like Sanders will make us a solid defensive team and almost certainly a playoff team. I've been on the "get Sanders" bandwagon for a long time while fully understanding that this is a high risk move with his substance issue. The only thing that would change my mind is if the price is just too high, say someone like Rondo, Sullinger, or Smart.

[Kuberski33]

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.

Totally agree with this.  Lateral movement, strength etc just aren't in KO's skill set - which I'm sure they realized when they drafted him.  He just got destroyed defensively when Toronto made their run - but he wasn't the only one.  I'm not ready to abandon ship on Zeller.  I still think getting him was a decent buy low move.  But they need a lot more than him back there.

[LarBrd33]

Yep... we're a sub 30 win team until we get some interior D and an offensive superstar to carry us.  But other than that we have some nice role players.

[Kuberski33]

Yep... we're a sub 30 win team until we get some interior D and an offensive superstar to carry us.  But other than that we have some nice role players.

Did you catch Turner in the Pierce role on the last possession at the end of one of the quarters?  They gave him a high pick and let him make the play....Maybe Stevens can help turn him into a poor man's Paul Pierce.. 

[freshinthehouse]

Luckily this draft looks to be long on big men.

so, the celtics should choke for oak? 

Choke for Oak, Clown for Towns, Play Terrible for Harrell, etc.  The options are nearly limitless!

[gar]

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

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

Bass / Sully pairing would be seriously undersized. I think Sully / Zeller should get more play. Add Powell at the 3 and you have serious size. We are missing green's perimeter D. So no need to panic. Also think Rondo will be able to bring out Zeller's offense more.

[LarBrd33]

Yep... we're a sub 30 win team until we get some interior D and an offensive superstar to carry us.  But other than that we have some nice role players.

Did you catch Turner in the Pierce role on the last possession at the end of one of the quarters?  They gave him a high pick and let him make the play....Maybe Stevens can help turn him into a poor man's Paul Pierce.. 

It looks like Turner might end up being a pleasant surprise.

It makes sense, though.  He struggled fitting in with a playoff team in Indiana, but he proved he could be a stat hog on a bottom 5 lotto team.   NOw that he's back on a bottom 5 lotto team, he shouldn't have any trouble racking up the stats.

[tstorey_97]

This one is on Ainge. He will not get the big wee need. In two seasons of nothing Ainge gets Cody and Vitor.

He might as well fly the "draft pick" flag.

This year the Celtics offense is greatly improved. They will win some more games with it.

Hey, we have a great back court!

Oops, no front court.

[hwangjini_1]

This one is on Ainge. He will not get the big wee need. In two seasons of nothing Ainge gets Cody and Vitor.

He might as well fly the "draft pick" flag.

This year the Celtics offense is greatly improved. They will win some more games with it.

Hey, we have a great back court!

Oops, no front court.

I love this.

[Jonny CC]

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

You are being kind.  He's a lot worse than "stinks". 

[vjcsmoke]

I like Sanders as well.  However it's hard to blame C's management for not making a move for him.  We already got burned by an alchoholic big man before - Vin Baker.  Loads of talent, but can't stay in the league unless he can get the alcohol addiction under control.

Hibbert would be a much safer bet, but what would it take?  I'm willing to trade just about anybody on this roster.  But can we beat Cleveland's offer?

http://www.hngn.com/articles/43993/20140929/cleveland-cavaliers-rumors-roy-hibbert-trade-pacers-dion-waiters-haywood.htm

Getting an exceptional rim defender like Sanders will make us a solid defensive team and almost certainly a playoff team. I've been on the "get Sanders" bandwagon for a long time while fully understanding that this is a high risk move with his substance issue. The only thing that would change my mind is if the price is just too high, say someone like Rondo, Sullinger, or Smart.

[SHAQATTACK]

Until  a big healthy active center is retained ....not going anywhere to speak of.