The lineup I would like to see out on the floor

[Evantime34]

Smart
Bradley
Crowder
Sully/KO
Amir

Sully has really fought hard to earn playing time and his size has actually been helpful against bruising bigs, like Okafor, but KO might be a better fit with this lineup. And I love Crowder, but we desperately need scoring on the wing; we either need a trade or one of Young or Hunter to be a diamond in the rough.

Agree with this. Sully can help the first unit with the scoring and Amir is a better defender than Zeller.

Eventually subbing in KO and Jerebko to play the 4 and 5 with IT keeps the spacing strong which was why Amir and Kelly were put with Thomas in the first place.

[fairweatherfan]

We could use the strengths of each guy below.  Give them a few mins. If they get rocked, then fine.  But I doubt that will happen.  All three have shown that they can play and help the team right now.

Mickey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu-yjOS6ipw

Rozier
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piQsN_0Lp4U

Hunter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAtueJsoY6g

Wait... When did they do that? They haven't played one minute of actual NBA basketball.

You may have missed the memo, but we're squarely in "our rookies are clearly better than the veterans getting minutes ahead of them!  The coaches who constantly watch and evaluate their play are obviously idiots!" territory.  Tis the season!


...to be fair though, Rozier and Mickey have played a minute of NBA ball.  Two each in fact! 

[Tr1boy]

Mickey and Young have been inactive and Hunter hasn't sniffed minutes. Know why? They aren't good enough or ready enough yet. This need of yours to want to have young kids play who aren't franchise changing players is obsessive.

The starters have struggled but its only been three games. The top 11 on this team are vets that will get into a groove eventually. How about we just give the rotation some time to work itself out. I don't see a need to suddenly give up on the season and trade all the vets to play rookies that aren't ready for NBA basketball yet.

No.  Because this team has had enough time to gel since last season.  The issue has to do with starting Lee and Crowder.  These guys are not starting material

Mickey is an explosive pf that is ready to play.  He has not shown a reason why he shouldn't . Why don't you look back since SL and see what he has done.  For Preseason games in 8 mins scoring 10 points , 12 points, block shots, teams hesitating to drive in anytime he is on the court etc.  is lotto pick type of productions.  If he was messing up like Melo did , I would not be advocating for him to play. This team needs upfront defense in the worse possible way.   You don't even have to be a great coach to instruct, "go to the paint and abuse their not so good defense PF/C".    Don't press on Crowder so much and let him beat you on offense.   

You won't know how good Mickey is until he is given a chance.  Remember this topic once Mickey gets a chance. Its crazy how I have to keep on defending this guy .

Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens have decided he isn't good enough or ready enough to break this rotation. Mickey will be in Maine almost all season.

I don't have to go back to useless basketball times like SL and preseason to see what Mickey can do. I saw him. He looked okay but nowhere near ready for NBA minutes on a team that is trying to make the playoffs. And his bosses have decided the same thing I did.

You need to get over your fascination with this kid and start to comprehend he isn't playing this year. Zeller, Lee, Olynyk, Sullinger, Johnson and Jerebko are all in front of him on the depth chart. He's this year's James Young, an NBADL All-star who belongs to the Celtics.

was this the same thing that happened with Rondo? 

Sometimes GMs and Coaches have no choice but to play guys like Lee who are getting paid big dollars and have previous experiences as their strengths.   

We have some nice blue collar guys that I really like. Like Crowder, but skillwise he is behind a guy like Hunter. Easily.   Rozier is ahead in the skills department of a guy like AB at the same age.

Anyways yes I know what I WANT , is not going to happen tomorrow . Or until some of these guys get traded or unfortunately injured.  But when it does, it will be exciting to watch this team play again. 

The main guys we have on the team are grinding things out.  Shots are not falling because guys like Crowder , Sullinger are inefficient shooters.   Team can't defend the drive because Zeller , KO are not rim protectors. 

If you are the opposing coach studying the celts from last season, you attack the teams weakness. What I want to happen is, to decrease the "issues" and make teams unable to have an easy game plan against us.

[MJohnnyboy]

We could use the strengths of each guy below.  Give them a few mins. If they get rocked, then fine.  But I doubt that will happen.  All three have shown that they can play and help the team right now.

Mickey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu-yjOS6ipw

Rozier
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piQsN_0Lp4U

Hunter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAtueJsoY6g

Wait... When did they do that? They haven't played one minute of actual NBA basketball.

You may have missed the memo, but we're squarely in the "our rookies are clearly better than the veterans getting minutes ahead of them!  The coaches who constantly watch and evaluate their play know are obviously idiots!" part of the year.  Tis the season!


...to be fair though, Rozier and Mickey have played a minute of NBA ball.  Two each in fact!

That's right! I stand corrected! In fact, Jordan Mickey's scoring averages per48 are 48 points and 48 rebounds! Start him!

[PhoSita]

.

I'd love to see Isaiah Thomas get traded to open up some minutes for Rozier. I know it will not happen but I would love to see it happen. I think Rozier offers the team more term with his two-way talent and is a better fit under the Celtics mentality identity than I.Thomas with his selfish offensive game & abysmal defense.

The team is all-in on making another "scrappy respectable" run to the playoffs, so trading IT so that the rookies can get more minutes is almost certainly not happening.


It bothers me, and not because of anything to do with the Celts' own draft pick.  The Nets appear poised to do all the tanking for us.  But it does bother me that it seems like a lot of minutes and some of the largest roles on the team are going to be given to guys who have no future here.

I fully expect that Amir, Lee, Turner, and at least one of Sullinger and Olynyk will be playing somewhere else this time next year.  I'd be surprised if Isaiah Thomas is here beyond next season.

[nickagneta]

.

I'd love to see Isaiah Thomas get traded to open up some minutes for Rozier. I know it will not happen but I would love to see it happen. I think Rozier offers the team more term with his two-way talent and is a better fit under the Celtics mentality identity than I.Thomas with his selfish offensive game & abysmal defense.

The team is all-in on making another "scrappy respectable" run to the playoffs, so trading IT so that the rookies can get more minutes is almost certainly not happening.


It bothers me, and not because of anything to do with the Celts' own draft pick.  The Nets appear poised to do all the tanking for us.  But it does bother me that it seems like a lot of minutes and some of the largest roles on the team are going to be given to guys who have no future here.

I fully expect that Amir, Lee, Turner, and at least one of Sullinger and Olynyk will be playing somewhere else this time next year.  I'd be surprised if Isaiah Thomas is here beyond next season.

I was talking to my son about the very same thing but there's other ramifications to having the Celtics playing the players that maximizes the team's winning and thus, not playing the youngsters.

First, the only selling point this franchise has of signing any free agents is that Brad Stevens and his excellent coaching and winning ways. Well, to have winning ways, you have to, you know, win. Stevens has a losing regular season record and hasn't won a playoff game. This team desperately needs to make the playoffs and win a series so they can sell someone like Horford on coming here.

Second, as stated, a major portion of the rotation is probably gone next year. Lee, Johnson, Zeller, Sully, Jerebko, and Bradley could all be gone in a makeover to reduce  redundancy and/or make room for a possible franchise changing prospect coming in via the draft. The C's might also be bringing in another rookie too. Maybe two. So, the young kids(Young, Rozier, Mickey, Hunter) will all see rotational minutes to develop next season after working with the staff full-time this year and getting spot minutes here and there.

Third, if they make the second round of the playoffs, that's some top notch exposure they get and extra profit due to the home dates. 3-5 extra games could mean an extra $4-8 million. That's not small change.

So barring any big trades, I think its a play it out, find that right rotation, stay healthy and see what you got type of year. Its unfortunate for those that crave the rookies but that's the way I see things.

[Evantime34]

I was bored at work so I broke down some of the C's numbers based on 2 man units and tried to come up with a rotation
Top 5 2 man Units in terms of +/-
First Player   Second Player
Johnson,Amir   Smart,Marcus
Jerebko,Jonas   Smart,Marcus
Smart,Marcus   Thomas,Isaiah
Smart,Marcus   Turner,Evan
Thomas,Isaiah   Turner,Evan

According to this the units that should play the most together are Johnson, Jerebko, Turner, Smart and Thomas.

Next 10
First Player   Second Player
Olynyk,Kelly   Smart,Marcus
Johnson,Amir   Olynyk,Kelly
Johnson,Amir   Turner,Evan
Johnson,Amir   Lee,David
Bradley,Avery   Turner,Evan
Olynyk,Kelly   Thomas,Isaiah
Bradley,Avery   Sullinger,Jared
Sullinger,Jared   Turner,Evan
Jerebko,Jonas   Olynyk,Kelly
Lee,David   Turner,Evan

The first sub off the bench should be Kelly in for Jerebko. Then Bradley in for Smart, and Sullinger in for Johnson.

[PhoSita]

I was bored at work so I broke down some of the C's numbers based on 2 man units and tried to come up with a rotation
Top 5 2 man Units in terms of +/-
First Player   Second Player
Johnson,Amir   Smart,Marcus
Jerebko,Jonas   Smart,Marcus
Smart,Marcus   Thomas,Isaiah
Smart,Marcus   Turner,Evan
Thomas,Isaiah   Turner,Evan

According to this the units that should play the most together are Johnson, Jerebko, Turner, Smart and Thomas.

Next 10
First Player   Second Player
Olynyk,Kelly   Smart,Marcus
Johnson,Amir   Olynyk,Kelly
Johnson,Amir   Turner,Evan
Johnson,Amir   Lee,David
Bradley,Avery   Turner,Evan
Olynyk,Kelly   Thomas,Isaiah
Bradley,Avery   Sullinger,Jared
Sullinger,Jared   Turner,Evan
Jerebko,Jonas   Olynyk,Kelly
Lee,David   Turner,Evan

The first sub off the bench should be Kelly in for Jerebko. Then Bradley in for Smart, and Sullinger in for Johnson.

Plus / minus numbers are dubious even when you're dealing with significant sample sizes.  There's really no point in reading much into them at this point in the season.


What I'd say, quite simply, is that Smart, Amir, and Thomas are the best players on the team.  I don't think it's really a close thing.  The team will succeed or fail based on the play of those three guys.

So Stevens should try to maximize the playing time of those guys, and look into getting lineups with all three of them out on the floor during crunch time.

[Donoghus]

Ah, looks like the "allure of potential" is already rearing its ugly head three games in.

[Tr1boy]

Ah, looks like the "allure of potential" is already rearing its ugly head three games in.

No. Team needs to minimize "issues" on the floor , like having someone that can protect the rim

[PhoSita]

.

I'd love to see Isaiah Thomas get traded to open up some minutes for Rozier. I know it will not happen but I would love to see it happen. I think Rozier offers the team more term with his two-way talent and is a better fit under the Celtics mentality identity than I.Thomas with his selfish offensive game & abysmal defense.

The team is all-in on making another "scrappy respectable" run to the playoffs, so trading IT so that the rookies can get more minutes is almost certainly not happening.


It bothers me, and not because of anything to do with the Celts' own draft pick.  The Nets appear poised to do all the tanking for us.  But it does bother me that it seems like a lot of minutes and some of the largest roles on the team are going to be given to guys who have no future here.

I fully expect that Amir, Lee, Turner, and at least one of Sullinger and Olynyk will be playing somewhere else this time next year.  I'd be surprised if Isaiah Thomas is here beyond next season.

I was talking to my son about the very same thing but there's other ramifications to having the Celtics playing the players that maximizes the team's winning and thus, not playing the youngsters.

First, the only selling point this franchise has of signing any free agents is that Brad Stevens and his excellent coaching and winning ways. Well, to have winning ways, you have to, you know, win. Stevens has a losing regular season record and hasn't won a playoff game. This team desperately needs to make the playoffs and win a series so they can sell someone like Horford on coming here.

Second, as stated, a major portion of the rotation is probably gone next year. Lee, Johnson, Zeller, Sully, Jerebko, and Bradley could all be gone in a makeover to reduce  redundancy and/or make room for a possible franchise changing prospect coming in via the draft. The C's might also be bringing in another rookie too. Maybe two. So, the young kids(Young, Rozier, Mickey, Hunter) will all see rotational minutes to develop next season after working with the staff full-time this year and getting spot minutes here and there.

Third, if they make the second round of the playoffs, that's some top notch exposure they get and extra profit due to the home dates. 3-5 extra games could mean an extra $4-8 million. That's not small change.

So barring any big trades, I think its a play it out, find that right rotation, stay healthy and see what you got type of year. Its unfortunate for those that crave the rookies but that's the way I see things.

Yeah, I think we're on the same page. 

My preference, as I've stated many times, would have been to approach the off-season more like what Portland did, looking to develop some continuity and worry less about the W-L this season.  But I think Ainge went this route because he wanted to keep his options open for a big mid-season trade by having big, easily traded contracts like Amir and Lee. 

I also think the ownership group, while far from meddlesome, does really prefer to be at least somewhat relevant nationally, and after the team made the playoffs last year, they were never gonna sign off on taking a significant step backward if making a run at the playoffs again this season, without mortgaging the future, was a possibility.

[Donoghus]

Ah, looks like the "allure of potential" is already rearing its ugly head three games in.

No. Team needs to minimize "issues" on the floor , like having someone that can protect the rim

So, all of a sudden, you're starting two rookies who basically have zero NBA experience and who the Celtics head coach seems content relegating to the end of the bench.   Now those kids very well may end up working themselves into some meaningful minutes once the season progresses but I don't see how the heck you thrust them right into starters.

Umm....okay.  Whatever you say.  This is a common theme of yours season after season.

Also, I think "rim protector" is far from their biggest need at the moment.

[Tr1boy]

Ah, looks like the "allure of potential" is already rearing its ugly head three games in.

No. Team needs to minimize "issues" on the floor , like having someone that can protect the rim

So, all of a sudden, you're starting two rookies who basically have zero NBA experience and who the Celtics head coach seems content relegating to the end of the bench.   Now those kids very well may end up working themselves into some meaningful minutes once the season progresses but I don't see how the heck you thrust them right into starters.

Umm....okay.  Whatever you say.  This is a common theme of yours season after season.

Also, I think "rim protector" is far from their biggest need at the moment.

Theme? Is this the same theme when I was posting on a daily basis to get rid of Rondo? What happened after?

I was asking the Celts to draft mickey . what happened after?

I don't care to show off but posters like you make me willingly validate my points

Without rim protection of some kind, the wheels start to fall off on both ends.  Everyone has to work extremely hard and are gassed on the offensive end.

[mctyson]

Starting

C  - Amir      (best defensive big. Solid effort out on the floor. Some nice mini hookshots)
PF - Mickey  (Explosive PF - Rim presence - Strong to the basket on the offensive end)
SG/SF - Smart  (not a true SF but can play the position due to length/strength- Defense)
SG - AB      (Jump shot looks even better from last season. - Defense)
PG - Rozier (Ball handling ability-able to drive and score - Defense)

I lol'd

[Celtics4ever]

According to this the units that should play the most together are Johnson, Jerebko, Turner, Smart and Thomas.

Some size there and guys who can stay in front of their man on defense.