How do the C's address the starting PG issue?

[CelticGuardian]

That Ty Lawson trade tho

[wdleehi]

Yeah the backcourt is least of my worries right now. I'll take any upgrade to the roster we can get if it is a reasonable price, but this is definitely far from a priority. We have Thomas/Bradley/Smart locked up for 3-4 years at ~18 million total. Thomas + Smart + ball movement based offense is enough "PG play." We don't need a pure point guard, and Smart will likely develop into a fine PG so there is nothing obvious about this as others have said.

As a side, if I hear another Smart and Tony Allen comparison I'm going to scream. Their similarities start and end on the defensive side of the floor. Their offensive games couldn't be any more different. One is an erractic, out of control offensive player with no jumpshot (like completely broken) and no playmaking ability at all and a high dribble. The other plays much lower to the ground, has a tighter handle, has shown an ability to run actual offensive sets, and is a much better 3PT shooter as a rookie. He's generally in much more control on the offensive end. He struggles in the pick and roll, but he can develop that. Again, they couldn't be anymore different offensively.

This league is now a PG driven league. Just look at the playoffs... Mike Conley, Steph Curry, Chris Paul, James Harden (you may say he's not a PG but he's the guy that is able to create his own and get others involved), Chris Paul, Jeff Teague, John Wall, LeBron (Point Forward/See Harden) and Kyrie, and Derrick Rose.

These teams go as those guys take them. Granted there are other players on those team that aided them to get there but the PG have a major part in that.

As comparing Smart to Allen. They are the same height, about the same weight and built. They are similar in their defensive tendencies and they have similar offensive tendencies. Smart has the greenlight under Stevens to take shots that Allen understands isn't his game, which would be the 3 ball. Yes Smart has been ok taking the 3 ball but he is still shot 33.5%. Allen shot 34.5% from 3 on less attempts. They are more similar than you think...

No, the rules have been shift in a manner to favor PGs to the point all teams have decent to good PGs.  (including the Celtics)


The teams that stand apart have the high level of play somewhere else as well. 

[Rosco917]

Point Guard is not a critical need right now. IMO, we have enough for next year (unless we score big time in free agency.) Let Smart have another go at it, with IT backing him up. (Bradley is not a PG)

 If after we acquirer a suitable center, some help at small forward, (and maybe help at PF), and we see we have a team that can make some noise in the East. IMO then we address PG.

[Celtics18]

I feel like our most glaring needs are at small forward and center. 

[Snakehead]

Yeah the backcourt is least of my worries right now. I'll take any upgrade to the roster we can get if it is a reasonable price, but this is definitely far from a priority. We have Thomas/Bradley/Smart locked up for 3-4 years at ~18 million total. Thomas + Smart + ball movement based offense is enough "PG play." We don't need a pure point guard, and Smart will likely develop into a fine PG so there is nothing obvious about this as others have said.

As a side, if I hear another Smart and Tony Allen comparison I'm going to scream. Their similarities start and end on the defensive side of the floor. Their offensive games couldn't be any more different. One is an erractic, out of control offensive player with no jumpshot (like completely broken) and no playmaking ability at all and a high dribble. The other plays much lower to the ground, has a tighter handle, has shown an ability to run actual offensive sets, and is a much better 3PT shooter as a rookie. He's generally in much more control on the offensive end. He struggles in the pick and roll, but he can develop that. Again, they couldn't be anymore different offensively.

This league is now a PG driven league. Just look at the playoffs... Mike Conley, Steph Curry, Chris Paul, James Harden (you may say he's not a PG but he's the guy that is able to create his own and get others involved), Chris Paul, Jeff Teague, John Wall, LeBron (Point Forward/See Harden) and Kyrie, and Derrick Rose.

These teams go as those guys take them. Granted there are other players on those team that aided them to get there but the PG have a major part in that.

As comparing Smart to Allen. They are the same height, about the same weight and built. They are similar in their defensive tendencies and they have similar offensive tendencies. Smart has the greenlight under Stevens to take shots that Allen understands isn't his game, which would be the 3 ball. Yes Smart has been ok taking the 3 ball but he is still shot 33.5%. Allen shot 34.5% from 3 on less attempts. They are more similar than you think...

No, the rules have been shift in a manner to favor PGs to the point all teams have decent to good PGs.  (including the Celtics)


The teams that stand apart have the high level of play somewhere else as well.

I agree with this.  I think that the quality of PGs is pretty high too though, to give players credit.  But overall like you say there are a lot of good PGs so you need a good one to compete but you may not need a great one.  I really like Conley but he isn't Paul level or anything.

Some people go a little too far and think you can get away with scraps because there are a lot of good PGs.  Lack of a good one can sink a team.  I like Smart a lot though and think he's the future.  Thomas runs an offense better than I expected as well.  We have other big needs around the roster.

[droopdog7]

I agree with the OP.  But why stop at the PG position.  Truth be told, we don't have a single player in place that could not/should not be upgraded.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Stop drafting "combo" guards who can't pass, dribble, or shoot?

[Mass_1081]

Yeah the backcourt is least of my worries right now. I'll take any upgrade to the roster we can get if it is a reasonable price, but this is definitely far from a priority. We have Thomas/Bradley/Smart locked up for 3-4 years at ~18 million total. Thomas + Smart + ball movement based offense is enough "PG play." We don't need a pure point guard, and Smart will likely develop into a fine PG so there is nothing obvious about this as others have said.

As a side, if I hear another Smart and Tony Allen comparison I'm going to scream. Their similarities start and end on the defensive side of the floor. Their offensive games couldn't be any more different. One is an erractic, out of control offensive player with no jumpshot (like completely broken) and no playmaking ability at all and a high dribble. The other plays much lower to the ground, has a tighter handle, has shown an ability to run actual offensive sets, and is a much better 3PT shooter as a rookie. He's generally in much more control on the offensive end. He struggles in the pick and roll, but he can develop that. Again, they couldn't be anymore different offensively.

This league is now a PG driven league. Just look at the playoffs... Mike Conley, Steph Curry, Chris Paul, James Harden (you may say he's not a PG but he's the guy that is able to create his own and get others involved), Chris Paul, Jeff Teague, John Wall, LeBron (Point Forward/See Harden) and Kyrie, and Derrick Rose.

These teams go as those guys take them. Granted there are other players on those team that aided them to get there but the PG have a major part in that.

As comparing Smart to Allen. They are the same height, about the same weight and built. They are similar in their defensive tendencies and they have similar offensive tendencies. Smart has the greenlight under Stevens to take shots that Allen understands isn't his game, which would be the 3 ball. Yes Smart has been ok taking the 3 ball but he is still shot 33.5%. Allen shot 34.5% from 3 on less attempts. They are more similar than you think...

  You can't compare Allen and Smart, totally different players.  Smart is a lot stronger, better court vision and ball handler.  Allen never shot from the outside, he might have taken one a game a couple seasons, but he was a strait slasher. Even on defense, Allen is a better on the ball defender, Smart is better off the ball. People are labeling Smart way too early, I don't know how anyone can say Smart is def not a pg off of seeing him play the position for what two minutes a night if lucky? Despite what people say he has good court vision, he's already shown to be a vocal leader, and he doesn't turn the ball over much. If you want Smart to improve offensively he needs the ball in his hands. On a team that lacks star power,the org needs to take a chance on developing Smart as a pointgaurd.

[Mass_1081]

   I also see a lot of people saying we need a pure point, but guys like Teague and Lowery took years to developed into the players they are. Guys like Paul and Wall come along in the draft every five years and Lebron and Harden aren't point guards. What championship team had a pointgaurd as their best player? I don't think it's that much of a stretch to think that Smart can't become as good as say Chauncy Billups, Tony Parker, or even the great Derek Fischer, all  point guards of and title teams.

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

   I also see a lot of people saying we need a pure point, but guys like Teague and Lowery took years to developed into the players they are. Guys like Paul and Wall come along in the draft every five years and Lebron and Harden aren't point guards. What championship team had a pointgaurd as their best player? I don't think it's that much of a stretch to think that Smart can't become as good as say Chauncy Billups, Tony Parker, or even the great Derek Fischer, all  point guards of and title teams.

TP agree

[indeedproceed]

Yah the starting PG issue to me is that we want it now, but it won't be ready until later.

This is like if you were hungry, and you had ordered a pizza, paid with by credit card, but then kept on asking your friends, "What are we gonna do about this munchies issue? Should we trade our already paid for pizza before it gets here for 2 ham and cheese hot pockets from Travis down the hall? I read Travis doesn't even like his hot pockets anymore, and he's open to waiting an additional 15 minutes to eat. Thoughts?"

[PhoSita]

Thoughts?

Ew.  Hot pockets.


I think your analogy could cover the whole state of the franchise right now.

It's like we ordered a pizza, expecting it to arrive in about half an hour.  After ten minutes, the delivery guy shows up and we're all so impressed at how fast the food came, but it turns out that he's just bringing us the complementary breadsticks and dipping sauce ahead of schedule.

Now we're like, well the breadsticks are nice.  But when's the pizza gonna get here?  We're still hungry, and we ordered a full meal, not an appetizer.  Yet it's still only been like 12 minutes.

[indeedproceed]

Thoughts?"

Ew.  Hot pockets.

There have been times in my life when Hot Pockets were like mana from heaven. Jim Gaffigan is a snob. An ELITIST, I say! Harrumph! Harrumph!

[Ilikesports17]

Yah the starting PG issue to me is that we want it now, but it won't be ready until later.

This is like if you were hungry, and you had ordered a pizza, paid with by credit card, but then kept on asking your friends, "What are we gonna do about this munchies issue? Should we trade our already paid for pizza before it gets here for 2 ham and cheese hot pockets from Travis down the hall? I read Travis doesn't even like his hot pockets anymore, and he's open to waiting an additional 15 minutes to eat. Thoughts?"

Classic Travis always wheelin and dealin

To address the thread, I completely disagree with the premise but I ainge wants to add a point gaurd I have a major soft spot for Jerian Grant. 6'5" explosive athlete, great floor vision, is a bit like smart but I think a better ball handler and far inferrior defender but he's more explosive.

Great leader, biggest knocks on him are that he is 23 and doesn't Shoot great (shooting is very similar to smarts in that it's bad but not a bad as the stats suggest due to volume and level of difficulty)

He could come in and help right away.

I think being 23 is knocking his stock more than it should hes got all the tools and has steadily improved throughout college.

I'll admit it tho I have a huge ND bias.

[PhoSita]

Thoughts?"

Ew.  Hot pockets.

There have been times in my life when Hot Pockets were like mana from heaven. Jim Gaffigan is a snob. An ELITIST, I say! Harrumph! Harrumph!

I remember being about 12 and thinking the ham and cheese Hot Pockets hit the spot perfectly when it was 9:30 at night and I was watching Sci Fi Channel.