Who is the back up point guard?

[TheSundanceKid]

I think Smart should be the back up pg. He has developed into the roll when he's been given the opportunity and it would be nice to see him do it over the course of a full season. If it helps keep him from taking so many 3s then that's also a positive

He lacks the ball handling and explosiveness. Decent enough spot up shooting, great defense (even at PG) and versatility to guard most positions -- frieken wonderful. That said, I imagine he will be traded sooner than later. Seems a PHI deal would've already happened if they valued Smart (and a pick) as much as Okafor or Noell.

That is backwards. Smart is a guy valued by the USA national team structure. His value isn't low. I very much believe the value is the other way around. Smart is more valuable than Okafor and certainly Noel.
I don't think Smart has been put in a role yet where we can say he doesn't have the ball handling ability. Where he has been given it he's been successful in finding teammates in the pick and roll and generally making the right play. He hasn't got the explosiveness of a Teague or Westbrook but he uses the space well and seems to have good timing on his passes. The knock is that he doesn't necessarily create well enough for himself, his touch needs to improve when he is left to shoot it. Also when he drives hard to the rim he is sometimes out of control. I'd like him to be given a chance though, if he can show proficiency in running our offence that makes him incredibly valuable to us

[dreamgreen]

Steven's rotation doesn't really need a pure PG. Just give him someone who can handle the ball and both Smart and Rozier would do just fine with it.

Agreed, PG on this team is more of the person who brings the ball up the court. After that everyone needs to keep the ball moving.

[Celtics4ever]

I think it is going to be Rozier.   Smart is a combo guard you can throw in their for defense and to make things happen.   Sometimes we will need one sometimes another.

[RockinRyA]

If you ask brad he will tell you he doesnt view players as 1-5 and tell you that both Rozier and Smart are ballhandlers. Rozier brings up the ball, but I trust Smart to run the offense better. His playmaking was good during the playoffs.

[td450]

Neither guy is going to be a real point guard.

Both guys have sloppy handles, both guys lack the balance you need when you get in the lane, and neither guy is developing a set of reliable shots that they can go to when they get there. It isn't about being explosive either. There are a bunch of guys in the NBA that aren't anywhere near as explosive as they are, who know how to finish in the lane. I think Smart should be better at this than Jose Barea, but he isn't.

Watching Rozier in summer league, he still was over dribbling, and has no idea how to use a pick. He was just a class above the guys he was playing against and was able to score despite his flaws.

[Surferdad]

If you ask brad he will tell you he doesnt view players as 1-5 and tell you that both Rozier and Smart are ballhandlers. Rozier brings up the ball, but I trust Smart to run the offense better. His playmaking was good during the playoffs.

Even though Stevens doesn't like the 1-5 designations and prefers terms like "ball handlers", "swings", "wings", and "bigs", I see these terms as mostly referring to the offense.  On defense, I think the 1-5 designations are more appropriate since you have to match up with what the opponent puts out there in terms of size (and quickness).  In this respect, I don't think Rozier is big enough to guard a lot of 2's whereas Smart can guard 2's and 3's.  This is also AB's problem: He's a great on-ball defender but not big enough to guard a lot of 2's.

IMO, Rozier is the backup PG and Smart is the backup SG. My 2nd unit:
Rozier/Smart/Brown/JJ/KO

[BDeCosta26]

Smart and Rozier will both be secondary ball-handlers behind IT. Jaylen will get the ball in his hands to create a lot too.

We won't have a back up PG per se. Well have multiple players who initiate offense both when IT is off and on the floor.

[Celtics4ever]

 

Both guys have sloppy handles, both guys lack the balance you need when you get in the lane, and neither guy is developing a set of reliable shots that they can go to when they get there. It isn't about being explosive either. There are a bunch of guys in the NBA that aren't anywhere near as explosive as they are, who know how to finish in the lane. I think Smart should be better at this than Jose Barea, but he isn't.

Watching Rozier in summer league, he still was over dribbling, and has no idea how to use a pick. He was just a class above the guys he was playing against and was able to score despite his flaws.

One has to wonder if we were watching the same games in summer league.

http://www.nba.com/summerleague/2016/players/sl_terry_rozier/

He shot  .45% from downtown this summer league season, it might not translate to the NBA regular season but he played well.  But that is pretty reliable, reading your post, one would think he played horribly, which simply was not the case.  Please note that this is statistic, not opinion, and a cold hard fact.

[CelticD]

im not sure if the c's as constructed need a "true" pg. a pass first guard works best wen surrounded by good shooters which the c's currently lack. ET worked well not simply because he could pass, but because he could handle the ball, and create his own shot.

[td450]

Both guys have sloppy handles, both guys lack the balance you need when you get in the lane, and neither guy is developing a set of reliable shots that they can go to when they get there. It isn't about being explosive either. There are a bunch of guys in the NBA that aren't anywhere near as explosive as they are, who know how to finish in the lane. I think Smart should be better at this than Jose Barea, but he isn't.

Watching Rozier in summer league, he still was over dribbling, and has no idea how to use a pick. He was just a class above the guys he was playing against and was able to score despite his flaws.

One has to wonder if we were watching the same games in summer league.

http://www.nba.com/summerleague/2016/players/sl_terry_rozier/

He shot  .45% from downtown this summer league season, it might not translate to the NBA regular season but he played well.  But that is pretty reliable, reading your post, one would think he played horribly, which simply was not the case.  Please note that this is statistic, not opinion, and a cold hard fact.

I didn't say he played horribly.I watched a couple of games and I agree Rozier played quite well. I think Ainge is right that he could be fit into the rotation and would do fine. He can make shots and is opportunistic on both ends. However, I saw him just getting stronger and more poised at doing the things he was already pretty good at. I didn't think he grew as a ball handler.

I just don't think he's well suited to being a reliable NBA point guard. He's a combo guard who can give you a few minutes handling the ball.

I'm rooting for him and hope he takes a step forward because we need him to.

[Greyman]

As things stand now Smart and Rozier will both be getting game time, deputising for IT, AB and for Smart possibly covering others. I know this part of the roster has depth and is seen as a strength. It would be stronger if the team had another PG who could score 20+ points and hand out a few assists so IT could fill the 6th man role he was playing when he first arrived. He is too good in the current line up not to start. Maybe he is too much the new 'face of the Celtics' not to start and would react badly to that. I don't think it is a road the team should close off.

Edit to say, I know the problem is finding that other PG.

[RockinRyA]

If you ask brad he will tell you he doesnt view players as 1-5 and tell you that both Rozier and Smart are ballhandlers. Rozier brings up the ball, but I trust Smart to run the offense better. His playmaking was good during the playoffs.

Even though Stevens doesn't like the 1-5 designations and prefers terms like "ball handlers", "swings", "wings", and "bigs", I see these terms as mostly referring to the offense.  On defense, I think the 1-5 designations are more appropriate since you have to match up with what the opponent puts out there in terms of size (and quickness).  In this respect, I don't think Rozier is big enough to guard a lot of 2's whereas Smart can guard 2's and 3's.  This is also AB's problem: He's a great on-ball defender but not big enough to guard a lot of 2's.

IMO, Rozier is the backup PG and Smart is the backup SG. My 2nd unit:
Rozier/Smart/Brown/JJ/KO

Read his interview about Yab. He was asked the same kind of question. He didnt answer it your way 

There were a lot of times Bradley was guarding the opposing PG instead of IT, are you telling me Bradley is a PG?

It is even harder to quantify a position by defensive assignments. Matchups dictate who will defend who.

[Surferdad]

If you ask brad he will tell you he doesnt view players as 1-5 and tell you that both Rozier and Smart are ballhandlers. Rozier brings up the ball, but I trust Smart to run the offense better. His playmaking was good during the playoffs.

Even though Stevens doesn't like the 1-5 designations and prefers terms like "ball handlers", "swings", "wings", and "bigs", I see these terms as mostly referring to the offense.  On defense, I think the 1-5 designations are more appropriate since you have to match up with what the opponent puts out there in terms of size (and quickness).  In this respect, I don't think Rozier is big enough to guard a lot of 2's whereas Smart can guard 2's and 3's.  This is also AB's problem: He's a great on-ball defender but not big enough to guard a lot of 2's.

IMO, Rozier is the backup PG and Smart is the backup SG. My 2nd unit:
Rozier/Smart/Brown/JJ/KO

Read his interview about Yab. He was asked the same kind of question. He didnt answer it your way 

There were a lot of times Bradley was guarding the opposing PG instead of IT, are you telling me Bradley is a PG?

It is even harder to quantify a position by defensive assignments. Matchups dictate who will defend who.

Of course not, this defensive assignment is done out of necessity, which is why I said it is a problem for AB, and would be a problem for Rozier at the 2.  Therefore, my conclusion is that Rozier should be the backup PG.

[Chris22]

PG - Thomas, Rozier, Jackson

SG - Bradley, Smart, Hunter

SF - Crowder, Brown, Bentil

PF - Horford, Jerebko, Mickey

C - Johnson, Olynyk, Zeller

[Celtics4ever]

I didn't say he played horribly.I watched a couple of games and I agree Rozier played quite well. I think Ainge is right that he could be fit into the rotation and would do fine. He can make shots and is opportunistic on both ends. However, I saw him just getting stronger and more poised at doing the things he was already pretty good at. I didn't think he grew as a ball handler.

I just don't think he's well suited to being a reliable NBA point guard. He's a combo guard who can give you a few minutes handling the ball.

I'm rooting for him and hope he takes a step forward because we need him to.

We will see, I actually trust Ainge's opinions on guards a lot since he played that position.  Yeah, I know Marcus Banks but he has had nice ones too like Rondo.   Getting IT was solid as well.

Here is hoping he does well as well!