Point Guard Woes

Salary Cap…… limits them in any trade….

but do you want Payton, Best, Cassell if released, Bibby if released as well??

Really who else is out there that can help??

Time for Pruitt to start stepping it up !!!

In the summer league, I saw JJ Barea tearing it up for the Dallas team. The skills he showed — dribbling, passing, good judgement — would translate to an NBA squad, especially in a backup role. Recently, he was on the verge of being sent down to Dallas’ D-league team but stayed with the big club because of an injury. The C’s should look into his availability.

What’s up with Penny Hardaway or Payton or just a point guard from the D-League. Even on short money a back up point guard should be findable.

Has there ever been an NBA team that went a whole year with one point guard? (I know that Pruitt is there, but if Doc is not going to play him, then he really is not there). It is now beyond ridiculous not having a legit backup point guard on this team and I only hope Danny acts soon. Every team in the league is going to be all over either Allen or House when they are playing the point and it will not be pretty.

I’ve always assumed that Danny was waiting until closer to the trade deadline, to see what deals he might be able to be part of and who might be bought out. But yes, injuries may force him to act sooner.

Danny’s being astute by not picking up crap players. The guy knows what he’s doing. You can force Cassell to be released. I doubt Dallas wants to get rid of even JJ, as I know they’re high on him even though he’s undersized. Guys like Boykins or a crappy D-leaguer would be a net negative on this team.

The only thing I’m slightly in favor of is giving Pruitt a chance, but I do recall games where he brought it up versus scrubs in blowouts and he turned it over twice in a row. Since he’s a long term investment, giving him a chance here and there I’m OK with. Wasting $$$/assets on bad players is a trap I hope Ainge stays out of.

*can’t force Cassell to be released

I think we’re in a different position than we were in at the start of the season. If Danny had signed a veteran “backup” PG at that time, it would not have been long before that “backup” became the starter because of the pressure to win. Danny did not want to tempt Doc with that proposition. He said as much on WEEI one day when assessing the available point guards. He said that he didn’t want to bring a veteran in to be “okay” when he thought that if given the time Rondo would be more than just okay. Rondo had to earn the respect of the coaching staff and, most importantly, the big three. Now that he has done that, it’s far easier for Danny to bring one of those guys in without threatening Rondo’s development. The question is, what options does Danny really have at this point. I don’t follow the business end of things enough to know what’s allowed. But, I would wager that we could find someone better than TA to bring the ball up for the veteran minimum.

Stating the obvious: when Rondo’s out teams like Detroit initiate the press which disrupts our entire offense. When Pierce or Ray are left to initiate the offense it takes away one of the options to pass to. I really do think it’s time to try Gabe Pruitt and if he can’t do the job Danny still has time to go to a plan B. Also, Danny didn’t really say Scal could bring the ball up, did he? My calender doesn’t say April 1 yet.

Actually when we had PG woes a couple of years back, Rivers said that Scal would bring the ball up at times.

pruitt would be useful in the d league getting experience. if he is that bad as a point, ( i know he’s a combo ) what would we have lost in the last 2 games? we lost anyway and maybe pruitt learns something. in the meantime keep the feelers out danny.

There’s no one out there worth the asking price. The best practical solution is probably to see if Pruitt can handle backup minutes.

A player like Duhon or Barrea would likely cost Tony Allen. Not worth it. Maybe the answer is someone like Will Solomon or Pepe Sanchez from Euroleague, but only if one of them has an NBA buyout clause.

Doc won’t put Pruitt in until there are so many injures that he has no choice. It’s called the Gomes Principle.

I think we can do fine by playing Pruitt more, and letting Tony Allen get more action. I don’t feel that our drop off the last few games is explained away by Rondo’s injury. I feel that alot of our offense was predicated on unrealistically high shooting percentage from the 3 point range, and we simply are not making those shots at the same clip. We need to rely more on slashing and drawing fouls, and Tony Allen is among the best at doing that. Don’t know why he continues to be the cause; I think he is part of the cure.

Brevin Knight would have been great. We could have lived with him spending a third of the season on the sideline, heck it’s what Danny decided to do with Pollard.

I agree about the crystal ball “blowout” prediction. Just silly and stupid.

Well Master Po and Cousin It, alot of people make predictions around here. I made mine. If the Celtics play anything like they’ve been playing, they will be blown out by an excellent young Portland team that has won 18 out of its last 20 games. While the Celtics were losing to the Wizards, Portland was blowing out the Nets in the Meadowlands by 26.

This prediction doesn’t require a crystal ball, only objectivity.

Po,

I never said Ainge is like the paragon of astuteness, he’s just being astute in this current PG market.

As for Portland, I like them a lot, but they’re also running pretty hot. They’re 2 wins ahead of their pythagorean win/loss. They’ve only got a 1.8 point differential. Still, I’m a little scared of playing them if the Cs still come out flat on intensity and Ray Allen continues his funk.

Bibby will not be bought out, guarantee Kings want value for that voluminous contract, too bad though, I think if he was bought out (somewhere over the rainbow) he’d go to the C’s. Eddie House is his brother in law, their kids are cousins keep it in the family…

Oh yeah that was for Ancient Red ;D

Rondo is a “beast” on defense??

My cat had a litter of kittens that could defend the pick and roll better than Rondo. At least Delonte West tried to cover when there was a mismatch. Rondo just stands there with his thumb in his mouth.

We need help at the point guard spot is an understatement. while we want one to bring the ball up the court and start the offense we also must make sure he can play some defense as well. I am not sure of the lot being mentioned can do both. I too would gafavor giving Pruit some burns but i wonder why that has not happen already. I trust Doc knows best.

Everyone in the world seems to know this, including Ainge & Doc. My guess is that they haven’t found someone that will fit the bill.

Incidently, Portland is a pretty bad road team playing against the C’s with something to prove. I don’t envy the Trailblazer’s one trip to Boston.

The Celtics could use help at point guard. That’s not even a question. They’ve needed help since the start of the season. Rondo is a nice player, but he should be splitting minutes with a veteran, not playing 75-80% of the game. I’d look into bringing Keith McLeod back from Europe. He did a pretty good job for the Jazz last year when called upon. Trades are pretty much out of the question unless Ainge wants to cough up a #1 pick for a retread. Other teams can see what the C’s need and won’t be eager to help unless Danny is willing to overpay.

And another thing … isn’t it apparent that Ray Allen should be coming off the bench? Either he’s hurt or his skills are in decline. Plus, Tony Allen plays better as a starter than a reserve.

lemonadesky, I am thinking the same way concerning Ray A. I think his committment to defence is takeing its toll on him. The effort is there and its taking his legs out cause he is hustleing to play good D. Start T.A. and the defence will be great and he will begin to really get comfortable again slashing and picking up fouls on the other team. When he needs a blow, bring in Ray A. and let him be the man for a few minites while the starters rest. If they don’t do that at least run several plays in the first for Ray to get good looks and find some rhythm. Go Celtic! 8) ;)

good points about ray a, but last game there was at least 2 times that ray ran around 2 picks and before he got there, rondo passed the ball to pierce on the other side where the guys who were picked could easily pick up pierce. that kind of play doesn’t help ray. or pierce.

I don’t think we need another PG until we vet Pruitt. The chemistry is still so good on this team. It wasn’t just PG play in that Wash game Monday. It was lack of intensity by Pierce and KG, lack of mins for a hustle guy like BBD AND poor PG play.