Thick Headed Celtics Not Getting It; Doc Considers Changes

by Jeff Clark on Feb 20, 2012 12:01 PM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

I was going to post some comments by Jermaine O'Neal and Paul Pierce and all that, but what's the point? They are saying the same things over and over again. Nothing changes. It is all talk and it is getting very frustrating. Not just for me and you fans, but for everyone - especially Doc.

Celtics can’t compete - BostonHerald.com

The Celtics again followed their suicidal script. They surrendered a whopping 29 second-chance points (to their own six) and turned over the ball 24 times for 40 Pistons points. The Detroit aggression translated into a 46-15 discrepancy in free throw attempts. The C’s also were outscored in the paint, 42-20. And this was a day after coach Doc Rivers spent more than three hours in a video session and on the floor trying to correct these very problems. "They’re listening, they’re hearing, and they’re trying," the coach said, "but for whatever reason right now, it’s not translating on the floor. You see stretches of it, and you wonder why they can’t continue. But it absolutely is not translating on the floor, so I always put me at that. I’ve got to figure out a way. I’ve got to figure out another combination maybe. We’ve just got to keep searching. I think it’s a group in that locker room that fits, but I have not found that right fit yet."

So what is the answer? Perhaps a change in the lineup. But...

Asked if he has considered altering the lineup, Rivers said, "Absolutely. I’ve been at that point for a month. I just haven’t done it. It’s tough to do it when you don’t have your guys. If you wanted to make a change, well, how can you? Kevin and Brandon are out or somebody else is out. No, we’ve talked about it for much longer than you would think, but every time we think about doing it, another guy’s out."

It makes you wonder, if the team was fully healthy, what changes would he make? I know a lot of people would love to start Bass but he's hurt. Is it possible he'd consider taking one of the Big 3 out of the starting lineup? Who knows?

I think this team could use some help at the deadline in a minor deal but for the life of me I don't know who or what we could get for the assets that we have (and are willing to part with). The weeks after March 1st and before the deadline should be interesting.

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Comments

changes, yessss

I think the change that needs to be made is with the starting lineup. I would start;

pg- A. Bradley
sg- Pietrus
sf- Pierce
pf- Garnett
C- O’Neil

Allen, Rondo, Wilcox, Bass would make a good bench squad. Something similar to what the Mavericks do with J. Terry. Allen would make a good scoring threat off the bench.

I would seriously consider trading Rondo for a legit center.

by Stephen Tom on Feb 20, 2012 12:30 PM EST reply actions

????

Rondo off the bench? Why?

by bboisvert on Feb 20, 2012 12:48 PM EST up reply actions

?

You mean why be creative? Why not? Why is Rondo always handled with kid gloves. Use him as a spark plug off the bench. Try it.

by green solution on Feb 20, 2012 7:18 PM EST up reply actions

Then ...

… why do you have our illegit center starting? Anybody but JO.

by green solution on Feb 20, 2012 7:19 PM EST up reply actions

I think the answer is slotting Allen and Jermaine off the bench

And starting pietrus and Wilcox. The problem with the starters is that they can’t run like they should along side Rondo and the problem with the bench is that they can’t do anything offensively, especially in the half court.

This solves both. Wilcox is at his most useful with Rondo. Jermaine could defend the second unit players and Allen could be the focal of the bench half court offense.

by BigRedDog42 on Feb 20, 2012 12:49 PM EST reply actions

agreed..

Rondo needs to play with at least 2 runners like Wilcox and Pietrus. The problem right now is Doc Rivers is not making the necessary adjustments to his lineups.

He has consistently stayed with 4 starters in their mid-thirties and Rondo. He needs to have a better combination of youth and veteran leadership on the court.

To me, it’s not our talent, it’s the lineups in the game.

by Stephen Tom on Feb 20, 2012 1:20 PM EST up reply actions

agreed

Doc is in love with his old guys. He chokes up and plays them to their (and the teams) death. He can’t change.

by green solution on Feb 20, 2012 7:14 PM EST up reply actions

the author sounds personally offended by the Celtics failure

if they played with maximum focus, energy, and heart every night they wouldnt be medoicre, they would be one of the best teams in the league.

by ianboyextreme on Feb 20, 2012 1:15 PM EST reply actions

What Blow It UP Means

The term “blow it up” more than anything else means to give up on this year and probably next. We should not trade in March with any expectation that we can make a run for a title this June. That concept is pure fantasy. If we are unlucky enough to make the playoffs and get the eighth seed – miami will sweep us in four painful to watch games.

No, blow it up means to trade in expectation of challenging again as a serious contender within the next five years. It means acquiring assets and being careful with future free agent signings.

If “Blow it up” has a four or five year window than we will not contend again with Paul Pierce. As much as I hate to say this,since i love Pierce, i believe Danny will trade him for future assets in the next month. The other serious question is Rajon Rondo. He may be flawed enough that Danny does not see him as someone to build this team around. He may also be going for the right price in March or June.

We will not get much in any trade for Allen and Garnett but their blow it up payoff comes with salary cap space in the offseason.

I believe Dannys “blow it up” decision comes down to Pierce and Rondo since they already have a place in the current salary cap structure going forward. So, “Blow it up” means trading either or both of them in the next few weeks or months.

by jwsbeverly on Feb 20, 2012 2:11 PM EST reply actions

Rondo trade rumors again?

reports of a RR for Paul Milsap swap- anyone hear of this ?

by gocanes1 on Feb 20, 2012 2:42 PM EST reply actions

"You see stretches of it, and you wonder why they can’t continue."

Really Doc? You really don’t know why they can’t continue it for longer stretches? Are you really that ignorant or just in complete denial that you’re asking why a bunch of 30 year olds can’t maintain the same pace and intensity throughout the game. Everyone from Charles Barkley (who’s not the brightest crayon in the box)to fans, reporters and analysts can see it but not you. Really? Really??Is this really our coach saying this?

by yakyakyak on Feb 20, 2012 2:57 PM EST reply actions

Charles Barkley...

… also said that the Cs wouldn’t win in 2008. And that they would be bounced in the first round in 2010.

Barkley isn’t exactly someone I would listen to on this topic. He’s been complaining about the age of this team since it formed. Although given the broken clock theory, he may be right this time.

by bboisvert on Feb 20, 2012 3:57 PM EST up reply actions

Doc should go

Doc is so clueless, and Danny and management just bow to his wisdom. He thinks that JO is a reasonable center for a contending team. He can’t see PP getting constantly stripped, or how inconsistent Rondo is. He’s afraid of the stars.

by green solution on Feb 20, 2012 7:17 PM EST up reply actions