Running Unit?

by Jeff Clark on Oct 10, 2008 10:12 AM EDT in News/Links

JB and the boys from Celtics Stuff Live discussed this after the game the other day, so I thought I'd toss it out there for discussion.

Wouldn't it be fun, at least in preseason, to experiment with the following lineup(s) and really see what they can do pushing the tempo on the fast break?

Gabe Pruitt (or Rondo), Tony Allen, Bill Walker (and/or Miles), Leon Powe, and Patrick O'Bryant.

With that lineup, you could count on Powe and O'Bryant to get rebounds and hit the outlet and even fill the lanes behind the break. Allen, Walker, and Miles are some of our best finishers. Pruitt or Rondo can push the tempo with the dribble or the pass.

I'm guessing a good team could adjust and figure out a way to counter this attack with enough time, and pesky things like defense and half court offense might counteract the benefit, but for a short period of time, it might be a way to press an advantage on the other team's second unit.

Thoughts?

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It’d be fun but it’d be nice if one of those guys could knock down an open 3

by Bowskis55 on Oct 10, 2008 10:25 AM EDT 0 recs

That team would dominate!!!…the D-league >:(

by BrickJames on Oct 10, 2008 10:39 AM EDT 0 recs

That athletic group probably would produce a few highlight dunks, but overall would be offensively challenged in the half court and foul-prone defensively.

by speedster on Oct 10, 2008 10:39 AM EDT 0 recs

Heinsoln mentioned during the game that he wanted to see Miles/POB/Walker and Pruitt & Allen as a running team. POB with his outlet passes, and blocks. Miles/Walker and Allen coming at you with Pruitt having the ball is a scary thought.

by Bozo on Oct 10, 2008 10:41 AM EDT 0 recs

I think Cassell should play the 5-spot. Baby at PG. The captain of the dancers should play the off-guard. Thibodeau at the 3 and Red’s statue at power forward.

by The Real Large James on Oct 10, 2008 10:42 AM EDT 0 recs

Could work as a tempo changer, but definitely not for more than a few minutes. My primary concern would be Allen and Walker/Miles on the wings… that’s a lot of potential for balls bouncing of feet right there.

by Schupac on Oct 10, 2008 10:49 AM EDT 0 recs

I’d like to see Pruitt play some with Rondo. I think they need to use Pruitt more as a combo guard.

by liam on Oct 10, 2008 12:12 PM EDT 0 recs

Aside from Phoenix can anyone name a “running unit”. Sounds good on paper but I think needs an exceptional PG. We have one but he starts.
What we need on 2nd unit is not a change of pace. Because they are playing the other teams 2nd unit we simply need the best all around 2nd unit

by Wildblu1 on Oct 10, 2008 12:44 PM EDT 0 recs

I wasted a ton of energy during the summer explaining how we could potentially have a highly energetic small ball unit, with tons of athletism, and capable of playing good defense. Very few thought it was a good idea at the time.

The unit I really want to see is:

Rajon Rondo
Tony Allen/JR Giddens
Bill Walker/JR Giddens
Darius Miles
Kevin Garnett

by BudweiserCeltic on Oct 10, 2008 12:45 PM EDT 0 recs

I think people underestimate the outside shooting of Tony Allen and the nice mid range jumper that O’Bryant has.You also saw Darius Miles move well without the ball in the half court offense.

Yes the main rotation guys will be expected to blend in with a couple of starters, but for a few minutes here and there, a fast breaking offense can be quite effective.

I remember the later teams of the early dynasty with Sam and KC Jones running all the time and it worked very well,of course they also pressed a lot, which might be effective also,in spots, with O’Bryant and Miles back to block shots/defend the paint.

Versatility is there…. I’m pretty sure we will see more looks this season.

by JB_Celticsstuff on Oct 10, 2008 4:43 PM EDT 0 recs

I’m with you completely on this JB. I TA has a better jumper than what he showed last year, and he can certainly hit that corner 3 in a decent clip. Then you can insert KG into this type of unit, and it adds someone who can spread the floor. O’bryant has shown he can hit the midrange jumper himself. Although these guys are not great shooters, I’m quite confident that they can hit the corner 3’s, so you simply place some there from time to time to spread the floor, while you have people slashing all over the place.

Of course, they key to this group will be early offense and simply out running people for fastbreaks, etc. But what I mainly like is that I think this group can defend really well too, which will fuel the fastbreak. It’ll bring a ton of energy when our main unit of wings is resting, and it’ll keep the crowd in the game… don’t underestimate that. We know that flashy dunking doesn’t win games, but they are crowd pleasers and with that alone they could be a very effective weapon from time to time.

by BudweiserCeltic on Oct 10, 2008 5:48 PM EDT 0 recs