Stevens doesn't think we need a big

[saltlover]

This is a quote from the Tom Ziller article linked on the front page.  I found it interesting, and have bolded for emphasis:

"Everybody starts with ones, twos, threes, fours and fives when they’re looking at a basketball team," Stevens said. "I look at ball handlers, wings, swings and bigs. I’ve only got four categories. The more guys that can play the more positions the better. Right now when you look at our roster, I think we’ve got the three of the four categories with a lot of depth. That swing area where you can go three, four and play that way, that’s the area we’re going to have to address as we move into the next few weeks."

It sounds like he'd prefer free agency targets like Leonard, Green, and Harris as opposed to Monroe or Love.  Who knows if we'll get any of them, but this would confirm why Winslow was the #1 target, as that's absolutely the role he fills.  It would also be surprising, therefore, if Crowder were allowed to get away, as he's probably the only player on the roster who really fills that role.

That's not to say that I think Stevens would turn down a talent upgrade in the bigs.  But if you were to say he could only get one big free agent, I think that's the type of player he'd like.  It makes me wonder if the C's will make a big offer to convince Golden State to sign-and-trade Green, if Green were interested in coming here.

[Evantime34]

He says we have depth at those positions, he didn't say anything about an upgrade though.

[saltlover]

He says we have depth at those positions, he didn't say anything about an upgrade though.

And I say just that in my second paragraph of commentary...

[D Dub]

He says we have depth at those positions, he didn't say anything about an upgrade though.

And I say just that in my second paragraph of commentary...

I like Dray's game and all, but he's probably not the best use of our cap space.  I feel like Jae Crowder is a very similar player, and for a fraction of the cost we can utilize cap resources to get another scorer. 

In my opinion, Kevin Love is still Danny's number 1 option. 

[Evantime34]

He says we have depth at those positions, he didn't say anything about an upgrade though.

And I say just that in my second paragraph of commentary...

Then I guess I agree with you. Tp.

[Celtics4ever]

That is swell but he mentioned them here.  Jay King wrote this article BTW

"Obviously everyone starts with 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s and 5s when they look at a basketball team," Stevens said. "I look at ball-handlers, wings, swings and bigs. I only have four categories. The more guys that can play the more positions, the better. Right now I think if you look at the roster, I think we have three of the four categories with a lot of depth. And I think that swing area where you can go 3-4 and play that way, that's the area we're going to have to address as we move into the next few weeks and look at our team."

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2015/06/brad_stevens_boston_celtics_lu.html


He thinks we need to get more versatile guys who can do multiple things, nothing about not needing bigs or length.

[BudweiserCeltic]

This is a quote from the Tom Ziller article linked on the front page.  I found it interesting, and have bolded for emphasis:

"Everybody starts with ones, twos, threes, fours and fives when they’re looking at a basketball team," Stevens said. "I look at ball handlers, wings, swings and bigs. I’ve only got four categories. The more guys that can play the more positions the better. Right now when you look at our roster, I think we’ve got the three of the four categories with a lot of depth. That swing area where you can go three, four and play that way, that’s the area we’re going to have to address as we move into the next few weeks."

It sounds like he'd prefer free agency targets like Leonard, Green, and Harris as opposed to Monroe or Love.  Who knows if we'll get any of them, but this would confirm why Winslow was the #1 target, as that's absolutely the role he fills.  It would also be surprising, therefore, if Crowder were allowed to get away, as he's probably the only player on the roster who really fills that role.

That's not to say that I think Stevens would turn down a talent upgrade in the bigs.  But if you were to say he could only get one big free agent, I think that's the type of player he'd like.  It makes me wonder if the C's will make a big offer to convince Golden State to sign-and-trade Green, if Green were interested in coming here.

My interpretation of his quote it's not about needing talent on certain areas, but more so about depth.

[D Dub]

Kind of rationalizes their drafting two more points, especially if you consider Marcus a wing--

points
Thomas, Pressey

wings
Smart, AB, Turner, Young

swings
Crowder, Jerebko, Gigi

bigs
Bass, Sully, Olynyk, Zeller

[Ilikesports17]

Obviously as an undrafted free agent you cant really say he "fills a hole" as he probably wont even make the roster, but Jonathan Holmes ( a summer league invite) seems to be a textbook swing. He is 6'9" and quick enough to cover 3s for spurts. He is a streaky shooter, but has done a decent job extending his range.

[heyvik]

Kind of rationalizes their drafting two more points, especially if you consider Marcus a wing--

points
Thomas, Pressey

wings
Smart, AB, Turner, Young

swings
Crowder, Jerebko, Gigi

bigs
Bass, Sully, Olynyk, Zeller

I don't know what Stevens is talking about, we need a HUGE upgrade at the Bigs! can we bring in a guy over 6'10 with legit scoring down low.

[D Dub]

Kind of rationalizes their drafting two more points, especially if you consider Marcus a wing--

points
Thomas, Pressey

wings
Smart, AB, Turner, Young

swings
Crowder, Jerebko, Gigi

bigs
Bass, Sully, Olynyk, Zeller

I don't know what Stevens is talking about, we need a HUGE upgrade at the Bigs! can we bring in a guy over 6'10 with legit scoring down low.

Agreed.  Really hoping we don't start the year with both Sully & Olynyk again.  Both get exploited defensively when we try run Brad's small ball system. 

[BudweiserCeltic]

Kind of rationalizes their drafting two more points, especially if you consider Marcus a wing--

points
Thomas, Pressey

wings
Smart, AB, Turner, Young

swings
Crowder, Jerebko, Gigi

bigs
Bass, Sully, Olynyk, Zeller

I don't know what Stevens is talking about, we need a HUGE upgrade at the Bigs! can we bring in a guy over 6'10 with legit scoring down low.

Upgrade <> Depth

[Celtics4ever]

Trouble is we have bigs who can't play on both ends of the court presently.   Sully is a poor defender, KO is slow and lacks confidence.   Zeller is ok on both ends.  Bass is gone but he never could rebound.  Who knows about Mickey.

[saltlover]

This is a quote from the Tom Ziller article linked on the front page.  I found it interesting, and have bolded for emphasis:

"Everybody starts with ones, twos, threes, fours and fives when they’re looking at a basketball team," Stevens said. "I look at ball handlers, wings, swings and bigs. I’ve only got four categories. The more guys that can play the more positions the better. Right now when you look at our roster, I think we’ve got the three of the four categories with a lot of depth. That swing area where you can go three, four and play that way, that’s the area we’re going to have to address as we move into the next few weeks."

It sounds like he'd prefer free agency targets like Leonard, Green, and Harris as opposed to Monroe or Love.  Who knows if we'll get any of them, but this would confirm why Winslow was the #1 target, as that's absolutely the role he fills.  It would also be surprising, therefore, if Crowder were allowed to get away, as he's probably the only player on the roster who really fills that role.

That's not to say that I think Stevens would turn down a talent upgrade in the bigs.  But if you were to say he could only get one big free agent, I think that's the type of player he'd like.  It makes me wonder if the C's will make a big offer to convince Golden State to sign-and-trade Green, if Green were interested in coming here.

My interpretation of his quote it's not about needing talent on certain areas, but more so about depth.

Yes, but I think he would like the focus to be on the swing position, and not bigs.  I'm sure no coach ever would turn down a talent upgrade.  But we have two rotation bigs hitting free agency (unless he considers Jerebko a swing), and it seems unlikely they'll be replaced by others at that position.  And as GSW just won a title featuring a rotation without a true big, its entirely possible to create a championship team without upgrading the bigs.

[PhoSita]

He says we have depth at those positions, he didn't say anything about an upgrade though.

Right.

Think about the roster in terms of his "ballhandlers, wings, swings, and bigs" categories:

BH - Thomas, Turner, Rozier, Pressey
W - Smart, Bradley, Young, Hunter
S - Crowder, [Jerebko], [Datome]
B - Sullinger, Olynyk, Zeller, Mickey, [Bass]


You can see that the category which is thinnest right now is "Swing," and the team already has 4 bigs on the roster.

That said, the "big" category is 4 deep in guys who are probably bench guys on a good team.  The "Wing" category is also pretty undersized.