Did we miss KO against the Cavs?

[j804]

We sure could have used him would have meant less Zeller and more floor spacing. I noticed the Cavs were really packing the paint during their big second quarter run. Thompson would have had to respect him and step outside. You can laugh if you want but he's actually been pretty good on defense as well.

[CroCorvus]

I don't know why would anybody laugh at that? KO is a big part of this team.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Olynyk has been quite bad (terrible at times) against Cleveland (injuring Love aside), so no we didn't miss him in this particular game.

We missed Mickey more than Olynyk for this game.

[Celtics4ever]

I think our lack of size hurts us against CLE often.  The issue is often at the guard position too, they have guys who can smother IT with their size and bother his shot.  That was not the case last night so much but during the series it was, CLE has elite size.

I think KO helps a bit in this regard.  But as Bud, pointed out he has not dominated against CLE.

We don't have as much quality talent as they do.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I think our lack of size hurts us against CLE often.  The issue is often at the guard position too, they have guys who can smother IT with their size and bother his shot.  That was not the case last night so much but during the series it was, CLE has elite size.

I think KO helps a bit in this regard.  But as Bud, pointed out he has not dominated against CLE.

We don't have as much quality talent as they do.

Problem with Cleveland is not whether he dominates them or not, but the opposite... their bigs dominate him, particularly with rebounding.

For example, in the playoffs he started the series incredibly hot. So much so that Stevens decided to start him in the 2nd half of the first game, but we all know how it went from there.

So maybe there's room for him if he's playing all world on offense that we can make due with his other deficiencies, but the problem is that is not something we can count on night in and night out (against the Cavs in particular), but on the other hand chances are that he'll be dominated in the glass and post regardless by them.

I do think we are missing some of his production off the bench through the stretch he's been injured, and some of his defense in some situations... but against Cleveland? Nope.

Size aside, which is a valid observation, I think we should start with the basics and start freaking boxing out and go from there.

[The Oracle]

I think our lack of size hurts us against CLE often.  The issue is often at the guard position too, they have guys who can smother IT with their size and bother his shot.  That was not the case last night so much but during the series it was, CLE has elite size.

I think KO helps a bit in this regard.  But as Bud, pointed out he has not dominated against CLE.

We don't have as much quality talent as they do.

Problem with Cleveland is not whether he dominates them or not, but the opposite... their bigs dominate him, particularly with rebounding.

For example, in the playoffs he started the series incredibly hot. So much so that Stevens decided to start him in the 2nd half of the first game, but we all know how it went from there.

So maybe there's room for him if he's playing all world on offense that we can make due with his other deficiencies, but the problem is that is not something we can count on night in and night out (against the Cavs in particular), but on the other hand chances are that he'll be dominated in the glass and post regardless by them.

I do think we are missing some of his production off the bench through the stretch he's been injured, and some of his defense in some situations... but against Cleveland? Nope.

Size aside, which is a valid observation, I think we should start with the basics and start freaking boxing out and go from there.

^^Not this!  The Celtics got rolled in the 3rd quarter of game 1 this is true.  K.O. played just fine in that 3rd qtr. basically everyone else on the floor for the C's was a disaster.  He was defending Mozgov to start the qtr. and later Thompson.  They combined for next to nothing while he was on the floor.  They had 1 rebound in total an offensive rebound by Mozgov and K.O. blocked his put back attempt.

 It is made up jargon that he got dominated by Cleveland's bigs.  Outside of that 3rd qtr. of game 1 K.O. was +20 in total spanning the 1st 2 playoff games against Cleveland.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I think our lack of size hurts us against CLE often.  The issue is often at the guard position too, they have guys who can smother IT with their size and bother his shot.  That was not the case last night so much but during the series it was, CLE has elite size.

I think KO helps a bit in this regard.  But as Bud, pointed out he has not dominated against CLE.

We don't have as much quality talent as they do.

Problem with Cleveland is not whether he dominates them or not, but the opposite... their bigs dominate him, particularly with rebounding.

For example, in the playoffs he started the series incredibly hot. So much so that Stevens decided to start him in the 2nd half of the first game, but we all know how it went from there.

So maybe there's room for him if he's playing all world on offense that we can make due with his other deficiencies, but the problem is that is not something we can count on night in and night out (against the Cavs in particular), but on the other hand chances are that he'll be dominated in the glass and post regardless by them.

I do think we are missing some of his production off the bench through the stretch he's been injured, and some of his defense in some situations... but against Cleveland? Nope.

Size aside, which is a valid observation, I think we should start with the basics and start freaking boxing out and go from there.

^^Not this!  The Celtics got rolled in the 3rd quarter of game 1 this is true.  K.O. played just fine in that 3rd qtr. basically everyone else on the floor for the C's was a disaster.  He was defending Mozgov to start the qtr. and later Thompson.  They combined for next to nothing while he was on the floor.  They had 1 rebound in total an offensive rebound by Mozgov and K.O. blocked his put back attempt.

 It is made up jargon that he got dominated by Cleveland's bigs.  Outside of that 3rd qtr. of game 1 K.O. was +20 in total spanning the 1st 2 playoff games against Cleveland.

OK, thank God we had all of 5 rebounds total for the whole series from Olynyk to rely on.

Good call...

[Celtics4ever]

Size aside, which is a valid observation, I think we should start with the basics and start freaking boxing out and go from there.

It might help, but we really only have Sully who can battle with them physically.   Pencil me, in for drafting some big physical guys with our second round picks and late firsts.  We have to take the best player available early on, I think.  But those late first round picks are crap shoots unless Ainge uses the other picks to move up some.  Hoping for some size who can play, but not holding my breath.

Plus, last night, the C's would have boxed out and CLE would have went over the back and nothing would have happened because of the refs.

[Ilikesports17]

I think our lack of size hurts us against CLE often.  The issue is often at the guard position too, they have guys who can smother IT with their size and bother his shot.  That was not the case last night so much but during the series it was, CLE has elite size.

I think KO helps a bit in this regard.  But as Bud, pointed out he has not dominated against CLE.

We don't have as much quality talent as they do.

Problem with Cleveland is not whether he dominates them or not, but the opposite... their bigs dominate him, particularly with rebounding.

For example, in the playoffs he started the series incredibly hot. So much so that Stevens decided to start him in the 2nd half of the first game, but we all know how it went from there.

So maybe there's room for him if he's playing all world on offense that we can make due with his other deficiencies, but the problem is that is not something we can count on night in and night out (against the Cavs in particular), but on the other hand chances are that he'll be dominated in the glass and post regardless by them.

I do think we are missing some of his production off the bench through the stretch he's been injured, and some of his defense in some situations... but against Cleveland? Nope.

Size aside, which is a valid observation, I think we should start with the basics and start freaking boxing out and go from there.

^^Not this!  The Celtics got rolled in the 3rd quarter of game 1 this is true.  K.O. played just fine in that 3rd qtr. basically everyone else on the floor for the C's was a disaster.  He was defending Mozgov to start the qtr. and later Thompson.  They combined for next to nothing while he was on the floor.  They had 1 rebound in total an offensive rebound by Mozgov and K.O. blocked his put back attempt.

 It is made up jargon that he got dominated by Cleveland's bigs.  Outside of that 3rd qtr. of game 1 K.O. was +20 in total spanning the 1st 2 playoff games against Cleveland.

OK, thank God we had all of 5 rebounds total for the whole series from Olynyk to rely on.

Good call...

Olynyk was not ready for Cleveland last year, and he is still a soft.

This years KO is a different player.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I think our lack of size hurts us against CLE often.  The issue is often at the guard position too, they have guys who can smother IT with their size and bother his shot.  That was not the case last night so much but during the series it was, CLE has elite size.

I think KO helps a bit in this regard.  But as Bud, pointed out he has not dominated against CLE.

We don't have as much quality talent as they do.

Problem with Cleveland is not whether he dominates them or not, but the opposite... their bigs dominate him, particularly with rebounding.

For example, in the playoffs he started the series incredibly hot. So much so that Stevens decided to start him in the 2nd half of the first game, but we all know how it went from there.

So maybe there's room for him if he's playing all world on offense that we can make due with his other deficiencies, but the problem is that is not something we can count on night in and night out (against the Cavs in particular), but on the other hand chances are that he'll be dominated in the glass and post regardless by them.

I do think we are missing some of his production off the bench through the stretch he's been injured, and some of his defense in some situations... but against Cleveland? Nope.

Size aside, which is a valid observation, I think we should start with the basics and start freaking boxing out and go from there.

^^Not this!  The Celtics got rolled in the 3rd quarter of game 1 this is true.  K.O. played just fine in that 3rd qtr. basically everyone else on the floor for the C's was a disaster.  He was defending Mozgov to start the qtr. and later Thompson.  They combined for next to nothing while he was on the floor.  They had 1 rebound in total an offensive rebound by Mozgov and K.O. blocked his put back attempt.

 It is made up jargon that he got dominated by Cleveland's bigs.  Outside of that 3rd qtr. of game 1 K.O. was +20 in total spanning the 1st 2 playoff games against Cleveland.

OK, thank God we had all of 5 rebounds total for the whole series from Olynyk to rely on.

Good call...

Olynyk was not ready for Cleveland last year, and he is still a soft.

This years KO is a different player.

This year's KO has had the same mediocre showing against the Cavs this season.

The point in all of this KO is not the answer or the need or the difference against the Cavs, he simply isn't. Marginal help at best unless he's playing all world offense.

[MJohnnyboy]

As much as I want to say yes, the truth of the matter is KO was so awful against the Cavs the last time we played them with him that Brad didn't even play him in the 2nd half, so I'm going to go with no.

I believe we miss KO in general, but not against the Cavs.

[Greyman]

Team has been humming along in KO's absence. KO is a key player and you want him ready soon and for the playoffs but the team has covered well for him and I don't think the Cavs game was much different.

I think Sully, funnily enough, is the guy we would really miss if he got injured. Obviously IT too but that kinda goes without saying. Thirty points a game is difficult to make up.

[The Oracle]

  Stats and league rankings over the last 9 games without K.O. over a pretty weak schedule. They are 16-19-1 in the 36 quarters they have played and managed to win 6 of those 9 games.  The Celtics bench has made a grand total of 13 3's over the last 9 games. 

                          League ranking
                                 Team                       

FG%         44.4            26th
3 pt.%      30.3            30th
Off. Rat.   106.4           15th
Def. Rat.  104.1           10th
Net Rat.    +2.3             9th tie


                           League ranking
                                 Bench

FG%         39.1            28th
3 pt.%      23.2            29th
Off. Rat.   101.8           19th
Def. Rat.  100.9             9th
Net  Rat.    +.9             11th
       

[BudweiserCeltic]

  Stats and league rankings over the last 9 games without K.O. over a pretty weak schedule. They are 16-19-1 in the 36 quarters they have played and managed to win 6 of those 9 games.  The Celtics bench has made a grand total of 13 3's over the last 9 games. 

                          League ranking
                                 Team                       

FG%         44.4            26th
3 pt.%      30.3            30th
Off. Rat.   106.4           15th
Def. Rat.  104.1           10th
Net Rat.    +2.3             9th tie


                           League ranking
                                 Bench

FG%         39.1            28th
3 pt.%      23.2            29th
Off. Rat.   101.8           19th
Def. Rat.  100.9             9th
Net  Rat.    +.9             11th
       

The question isn't whether the team misses KO or not, but if he was missed against Cleveland.

[The Oracle]

  Stats and league rankings over the last 9 games without K.O. over a pretty weak schedule. They are 16-19-1 in the 36 quarters they have played and managed to win 6 of those 9 games.  The Celtics bench has made a grand total of 13 3's over the last 9 games. 

                          League ranking
                                 Team                       

FG%         44.4            26th
3 pt.%      30.3            30th
Off. Rat.   106.4           15th
Def. Rat.  104.1           10th
Net Rat.    +2.3             9th tie


                           League ranking
                                 Bench

FG%         39.1            28th
3 pt.%      23.2            29th
Off. Rat.   101.8           19th
Def. Rat.  100.9             9th
Net  Rat.    +.9             11th
       

The question isn't whether the team misses KO or not, but if he was missed against Cleveland.

Was responding to the poster above and forgot to quote him.  The correct answer is the same either way anyway.