Start Crowder over Smart

[rickyfan3.0...]

This gives us more size, you put Crowder on Lebron, and you have a little more size (ET) to switch onto Kyrie. It will also help with rebounding.

If you are worried that the floor won't be spread enough you can start KO or Jerebko at the 4 over Bass to open things up a bit.

Thoughts? Am I crazy for putting all of this effort in to trying to win a game this series?

[PhoSita]

Starting Turner on Kyrie sounds like a recipe for disaster.  Hello 15 point quarter.

Also, the shooting with that lineup would stink.  Bradley is the only guy shooting over 33% from deep.


As you say, you could start KO or Jerebko, but then defense becomes an issue in a different spot.

Anyway, the starting lineup has been opening the games well.  It's the second and third quarters that are the problem.

[rickyfan3.0...]

I would put Turner on JR.

[JBcat]

I would put Turner on JR.

I kind of like this idea.  A bigger body in Turner on Smith, Bradley on Irving, and Crowder on Lebron to start the game.  Maybe even use Jonas on Lebron more, and even consider Wallace on Lebron for a few minutes if anyone gets in foul trouble.  By having Smart come off the bench maybe it will be easier to take turns with Bradley guarding Irving.

I'd maybe consider KO over Bass to start the game, but I don't think there is any easy solution to deal with Love, Mozgov, and Thompson.

[loco_91]

This gives us more size, you put Crowder on Lebron, and you have a little more size (ET) to switch onto Kyrie. It will also help with rebounding.

If you are worried that the floor won't be spread enough you can start KO or Jerebko at the 4 over Bass to open things up a bit.

Thoughts? Am I crazy for putting all of this effort in to trying to win a game this series?

I agree with subbing Crowder in, but then I'd also put in IT and pull Turner. And maybe also put in KO as KO'C suggests. Definitely do NOT want to see Turner trying to guard Kyrie, it will be RIP ankles

I'm sure Stevens will think through all the possibilities, I trust him with this sort of decision.

[JBcat]

This gives us more size, you put Crowder on Lebron, and you have a little more size (ET) to switch onto Kyrie. It will also help with rebounding.

If you are worried that the floor won't be spread enough you can start KO or Jerebko at the 4 over Bass to open things up a bit.

Thoughts? Am I crazy for putting all of this effort in to trying to win a game this series?

I agree with subbing Crowder in, but then I'd also put in IT and pull Turner. And maybe also put in KO as KO'C suggests. Definitely do NOT want to see Turner trying to guard Kyrie, it will be RIP ankles

I'm sure Stevens will think through all the possibilities, I trust him with this sort of decision.

Why not Turner on Smith and Bradley on Irving?  I guess you could start IT over Turner but I just worry about his defense being undersized if he is guarding Smith or Irving to start the game.

[Celtics4ever]

I think AB needs a sit down if he does not improve.  He was great on Irving, but why can't this kid play offense and defense the same game well.   He either does one of the other.

Truthfully, we lack size and athletic ability to match off them.   We almost need them to go cold for a win.   If we play up on them they can drive, and if we play off them and dare them to shoot, LeBron's shot has improved and Kyrie will make you pay.  Hopefully, they go cold, and we get one.

We need to attack love on offense every chance we can he is a poor defender.  Last game even though we plugged some holes, Mozgov killed us.

I was one of the guys who wanted Atlanta because I thought we matched up better.

[rickyfan3.0...]

I love IT off the bench.

[farishmj16]

i feel like smart on lebron is a great move. Bradley guards kryie as well. years back doc used to put rondo to make lebron more of a post player. I think smart has the body to match up against James and is a better defender than rondo

[rickyfan3.0...]

I feel like Lebron would Mash Smart in the post. Would crush his soul.

[Celtics4ever]

I like to see us use Wallace on LeBron at some point.

[kozlodoev]

It will also help with rebounding.

That it won't do. You'd be moving our best rebounder right now (that'd be Turner) further away from the basket on defense.

[rickyfan3.0...]

HA! He used my lineup to start the 2nd half. STUFF IT

[Vox_Populi]

Nv.

[Mass_1081]

  The Problem hasn't been the first half, it's been mostly the third and how they've been finishing. I can't blame Smart, he hasn't even seen the fourth, except for about a minute and a half. Bradley has even bad, IT has been turning the ball over, and the rebounding falls apart in the last quater.