Three Pointers - 4/7

by Jeff Clark on Apr 7, 2008 4:00 AM EDT in Boston Celtics Articles

I’d like to introduce a new feature (or gimmick if you like) to this site that I hope everyone will enjoy. I’ll be doing 3 bullet points on various topics about the Celtics. I’d love to say that I’ll do these every day, but I’m not going to promise that. Just expect them very often during the week (Mon. thru Fri.). Three seemed like a good number, and it lets me call them "Three Pointers." Hope you enjoy.

Everything is wrapped up now. The rest of the regular season is just a second preseason. Oddly enough, Doc’s job may be getting harder. He has to balance opposing goals of resting his veteran players and keeping the best team in the league in the right kind of rhythm to enter the playoffs. This goes beyond figuring out people’s minutes. It is about managing personalities. Pierce is probably happy to take a day off here or there while KG would rather chew on nails. I’d argue that managing these players is nearly as important as drawing up plays. I don’t know of many coaches that I’d trust with that delicate balance more than Doc.
On the flipside, nobody is quite sure how Doc is going to handle the rotation once the postseason begins. If PJ Brown and Sam Cassell get up to speed in the next couple weeks, we’ll have 12 legitimate guys that could contribute to this team. 13 if you want to count Scalabrine. Will Doc try to use them all? Will he at least get it down to 10? If so, who gets left out? Whoever he leaves out, someone will second guess that decision. My guess is that he’ll let matchups dictate when he uses someone like PJ Brown rather than Big Baby (and vice versa). He could switch between Eddie House and Tony Allen for offense/defense. Regardless, Doc will be under the microscope.
It looks more and more likely that we’ll be seeing the Hawks in the first round. I don’t have any doubt in my mind that we’ll beat them, but I don’t think we should overlook them either. Three big reasons why are named Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, and Josh Smith. Two more reasons are named Al Horford and Marvin Williams. Bottom line: they are young and talented and anything can happen if they get going. Good thing the Celtics specialize in not letting anyone get going.

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1.you play to win. i’m glad the 2nd teamers beat the cats. the giants won the super bowl because they went full out to win the 1st game against the pats- not resting their guys for the playoffs. 2. doc fiddles way too much with combos getting players out of rhythm. he knows the personnel. too many combos spoil the soup. 3.take the hawks seriously. they are young- we are not. their coach is a goof- advantage-c’s. the play phsical.

by nazzbo on Apr 7, 2008 7:24 AM EDT reply actions

underdogs with the best chance tend to be young and athletic teams…that’s Atlanta…and if they get any confidence it’ll be tougher than expected…jump’m early/often

by Motown on Apr 7, 2008 8:01 AM EDT reply actions

I hate three’s….. like Scali hates the sun. You could call it “2 Pointers And 1”….that’s a three the old fashioned way. Absolutely agree with Nazzbo above, especilly about Doc fiddling – it’s his Achilles heel. The 8th seed is still a seed and it can grow…… so kill it early before it grows. PJ Brown better than I thought/remembered…… and Sam Cassell so far???? ……hahahahahahaha….not so good. Rondo is doing a great job, so right now I have no worries.

by Master Po on Apr 7, 2008 8:37 AM EDT reply actions

Atlanta is a perfect team for a tune-up series: young and raw/talented enough to provide a semblance of a challenge for a few quarters, but sure to fail in the fianl analysis. Watch Rajon go by Bibby as if he were a chair; watch Pierce go by Josh Smith as if he were a chair … should be fun!

by Eeyore III on Apr 7, 2008 8:56 AM EDT reply actions

Sounds good Jeff. I think the Celtics are already watching Cleveland tape though.

by MVPPierceNoJoke on Apr 7, 2008 9:14 AM EDT reply actions

Do we go out this Saturday in their building and blow Atlanta out of the water to send a message? Or do we play as normal and sit all or a part of the big three? Maybe it would send more of a message if we beat them with our reserves… I am not sure on this one.

by EJPLAYA on Apr 7, 2008 9:42 AM EDT reply actions

Not that matters either way because the series will go 5 games at most but, it would be interesting what type of an effect it would have on Atlanta to be beat at home to starting unit consisting Powe, BBD, Posey, House, and TAllen. I sincerely believe that team could give Atlanta a tough series.

by Birdbrain on Apr 7, 2008 12:43 PM EDT reply actions

76 games into the season and Doc still has to work out a rotation? Cassell and PJ should only see action in an emergency, blowout or very special situation.

by Celtsfansince55 on Apr 7, 2008 3:19 PM EDT reply actions

I think Doc has already stated that resting the players will only be for at the most the Bobcats game and the next game. He has said the players staying in rhythym is important. I think there is no concern as long as Doc keeps with that plan.

by NoraG1 on Apr 7, 2008 4:29 PM EDT reply actions

Girlfriend bought us great seats for Hawks game. Have been salivating since last summer. I am resolute in my conviction that Pierce, Garnett and Allen need to play some minutes for mostly selfish reasons—I worry that I’ll never get a chance to see this again in my lifetime.

So now I’ve got to go look for Hawks playoff tickets . . . never thought I would be saying that.

by Thruthelookingglass on Apr 7, 2008 7:54 PM EDT reply actions