They're saying "Lue," not "Boo"

by InTheFace on Dec 11, 2009 6:05 PM EST

So after tons of debate here and elsewhere, Ainge decided that the Celtics could get by without a traditional backup point guard because Marquis Daniels plays a decent point-forward. I was skeptical, but it has seemed to work out well enough, and Eddie has been able to go back to doing what he does best (shooting) and not doing what he does pretty terribly (bringing the ball up the floor). So far, so good.

Until... (ominous music) Marquis goes down for 6 - 8 weeks with a thumb injury. So how do we get Rondo some rest now? I'm sure Rondo's capable of playing 40 minutes a night until Marquis gets back, but given how much his feet were hurting in last year's playoffs, I don't think that's a great idea. And how about when Rondo gets in foul trouble, like he did early last night vs. Washington?

I say now is the time to get Tyronn Lue out of his unofficial assistant coach role and get him in green. Wasn't that the whole point of hiring him? In case the point-forward backup thing didn't work out? Unless we really want to see what Lester Hudon is made of, this seems like the obvious time to get Lue out there for 15 minutes a night. I'm assuming that Marquis' injury allows us to put him on injured reserve and put another guy on the roster, right? Or would we have to cut/trade someone to make that happen?

Be respectful and keep it clean. Thanks.

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If they're gonna do it

Better sooner than later. Lue will have no legs for a good while, so if the plan is to have him ready for the playoffs (ultimately all that matters), then let him get in game shape and familiar with his teammates and all the sets. It’d make no sense to sit him out until March to finally activate him and try and get him ready. We’ve seen that experiment with Sam and Marbury. Takes more time. Especially having been out as long as Lue has been.

by Mencius on Dec 12, 2009 10:44 AM EST reply actions

Gotta cut someone to make it happen.

No I/R list in NBA. Just 15 guys on a roster, 12 dressed for a game.

by JudsonMerrill on Dec 12, 2009 4:10 PM EST reply actions

Can we send someone like Giddens or Hudson to D-League still?

by Justin_Bobo on Dec 13, 2009 12:00 PM EST up reply actions

Yes

But it has no effect on the basic equation as JudsonMerrill described it. 15 signed players, 12 that can dress for an NBA game. Whether the 3 that aren’t dressed are hurt, toiling in Maine, or anything else, the roster cannot change unless a player is released.

by KJ33 on Dec 15, 2009 12:23 AM EST up reply actions

no need to over-react

We’ve won 9 in a row and have already shown that we’ll make the playoffs easily.

Let Lester take the backup point minutes, or get by with house taking them for awhile.

by SeanR on Dec 12, 2009 4:25 PM EST reply actions

I bet Lue already plays with the team in practice. I don’t see the big need to rush. This is a good way to find out what everyone else can do. We know that House and TA are not strong ball handlers. Now is the time to see if Giddens or Hudson have anything to offer.

by BleedinGreen417 on Dec 12, 2009 7:57 PM EST reply actions

So is this a good enough reason to agree to the Nocioni trade?

So if we injuries and demotions to the D-League don’t get us another roster spot for Lue, does 2 months of no real PG backup warrant pulling the trigger on the Nocioni trade that Ainge apparently turned down a few weeks ago because he didn’t want to take on Nocioni’s contract? That Boston-Sacramento-Phily deal would rid us of three spots (Scal, Tony, and Giddens), and we’d only get one back. And I think BleedinGreen is right that Lue already practices with the team and knows the plays, so it shouldn’t be a tough transition for him or the team.

Other than our Christmas game vs. Orlando, we have a pretty easy schedule this month, and Rondo can probably handle it. We face much better competition in January and February, however, and it makes sense to me to get Lue (and maybe Nocioni) as accustomed to Doc’s system as possible before we hit that stretch. Pagliuca’s got plenty of money – we can take on another contract if it makes us better.

by InTheFace on Dec 13, 2009 11:40 AM EST reply actions

i am not so sure that the C's signed Lue for that purpose

by friedgreentomatoes on Dec 13, 2009 2:28 PM EST reply actions

I had the Bulls announcers for the game last night and they claimed the Celtics were planning to allow Lue to get into shape and then they’d activate him.

by RebusRankin on Dec 13, 2009 10:41 PM EST reply actions