According to Brad Amir will start game 5

[celticinorlando]

I think by starting Amir, Brad is trying to prove to Danny that this team needs a legit, functioning big.

[hwangjini_1]

for what it is worth, and it probably is not worth a lot, i read on SoSH that brown spent a good chunk of time at practice yesterday with the starting unit wearing a green jersey, while amir wore the second unit whites.

so who knows?

[WMark]

I think by starting Amir, Brad is trying to prove to Danny that this team needs a legit, functioning big.

This sounds like when Jimy Williams batted Andy Sheets cleanup in the Red Sox lineup.  I don't think Sheets ever hit a major league homer.

[tarheelsxxiii]

After letting this resonate for a day, it's starting to make a lot of sense.  Amir admittedly looks like he's on his last legs, a shot boxer.  But this move may be brilliant. 

The Wiz have demonstrated a consistent issue with watching the paint dry in the middle, if you know what I mean.  Markieff and Gortat are solid defenders, but get caught up on double screens for open lay-ups.  Why?  Believe it or not, it's the well-timed maneuver of the PF: Hard step to the baseline, only to shoot back outside to free space for an IT-Crowder finish (dunk you very much).  Nobody has made this maneuver more successfully than Amir in the past 10 seasons (per bball-ref). If he has a few more plays left, I think Brad finally cracked the code.. just in time to save the series.



Fellow Celtic fans, welcome to the ECF.

[csfansince60s]

Brad's predilection for bigs who can defend the P and R and stretch the floor over rebounding and rim protection is coming back to bite him and the team in the ass hard this series.

Too bad Amir's toast and can't defend the P and R, spread the floor, rebound OR protect the rim.

Like Amir as a person and teammate, but it's sad and painful to watch the guy now. Zeller (did I really say that?), Jerebko, KO, Brown, Rozier or Smart (the latter 2 meaning we go small right away) should start before Amir.

PNR defense is important. There's no basket to rebound if the other team keeps on making shots.

Agree, it's extremely important.....especially when you have 4-5 chances to run the P and R in the same offensive possession because the other team (US!!!!) can't get a defensive rebound.......Just pitiful.

[jambr380]

I think by starting Amir, Brad is trying to prove to Danny that this team needs a legit, functioning big.

This sounds like when Jimy Williams batted Andy Sheets cleanup in the Red Sox lineup.  I don't think Sheets ever hit a major league homer.

Wow - you registered in June of 2007 and still have no TPs? I'll take care of that for you. Even though you only have 39 posts, usually somebody chips in - I guess we weren't as nice back in the day 

I miss old Jimy, btw.

[mctyson]

I don't get it that last start with him in the lineup was only close because Isiah was hitting everything from three. He should not be seeing time dudes cooked.

Thoughts?

I think there a couple reasons for this, whether they make sense or not is debatable:

1) He started all year long.  Their starting 5 is used to playing with each other.

2) He can set screens.

3) Gortat will abuse Horford, and Al is the best player on this team in the playoffs thus far.  We need Al to have the energy to be our #2 offensive option, not be a punching bag.  Let Amir take those body shots.

4) Gerald Green cannot play defense and thus cannot play in this series.  He was a smoke-and-mirrors spot starter agains the Bulls, and that should be it.

5) Other than Amir, Brad probably would only trust Marcus or Kelly to start in that spot, but he needs them off the bench.

1) Again, Amir started all year, but only played 20 mins or so each game.  They just need to follow the same formula...get the game close for the 4th so your closers can win the game.

[mctyson]

I cannot understand why Jerebko continues to be ignored.

I cannot either, both in the Bulls series and this one.  He even played a decent 3 min in Game 4 first-half.  Maybe his outburst in Game 2 against Chi cost him?

[csfansince60s]

I think there a couple reasons for this, whether they make sense or not is debatable:

............

2) He can set screens.

3) Gortat will abuse Horford, and Al is the best player on this team in the playoffs thus far.  We need Al to have the energy to be our #2 offensive option, not be a punching bag.  Let Amir take those body shots.

Zeller (I can't believe that I am saying his name) can set screens and take the body shots too.

more importantly, Zeller can also get Gortat a tired out by constantly running the floor. Stevens has no confidence in him. I'd give him a shot.

[mctyson]

I think there a couple reasons for this, whether they make sense or not is debatable:

............

2) He can set screens.

3) Gortat will abuse Horford, and Al is the best player on this team in the playoffs thus far.  We need Al to have the energy to be our #2 offensive option, not be a punching bag.  Let Amir take those body shots.

Zeller (I can't believe that I am saying his name) can set screens and take the body shots too.

more importantly, Zeller can also get Gortat a tired out by constantly running the floor. Stevens has no confidence in him. I'd give him a shot.

As bad as Amir is, Zeller is just as bad, and he never plays.  Amir at least has 80+ games as a starter.

[GreenWarrior]

the offense won't be better, so the d better be stellar.

[D Dub]

Just reeks of a coach who simply can't figure out what to do with the starting lineup and is relying on "old faithful," even though it has consistently been proven not to work for us. Dumb and very disappointing.

Amir literally should not be playing any more minutes this series. I'm pretty sure I read where he has the worst rating of any Celtic this postseason. I mean, legitimately Rozier, Smart, JJ, or Brown - any of those would be better than Amir, who, I repeat, has repeatedly shown that he simply cannot keep up out there with these bigs anymore.

AMIR!!

Maybe now we can stop calling Brad's moves dumb?   He at least deserves the benefit of your doubt at this point.   

[csfansince60s]

I think there a couple reasons for this, whether they make sense or not is debatable:

............

2) He can set screens.

3) Gortat will abuse Horford, and Al is the best player on this team in the playoffs thus far.  We need Al to have the energy to be our #2 offensive option, not be a punching bag.  Let Amir take those body shots.

Zeller (I can't believe that I am saying his name) can set screens and take the body shots too.

more importantly, Zeller can also get Gortat a tired out by constantly running the floor. Stevens has no confidence in him. I'd give him a shot.

Keep proving me wrong, Amir!!!!

Great start!!!! Going to the floor, running the floor!!!

[wayupnorth]

lol...and yet so many of y'all will still act like you know better than Brad..

smh

[jpotter33]

lol...and yet so many of y'all will still act like you know better than Brad..

smh

I'll admit, they played better tonight with him in there tonight.

But that's mostly on Amir not looking like a grandpa out there tonight, which is what he's looked like the other nights. Noone would have a problem with him starting if he showed this type of effort, intensity, and mobility every night, but he doesn't.

Furthermore, it working once after failing two other times is hardly evidence of anything.