Just Curious, What do you think would be the result if..

[Jajwanda]

Just throwing this out as an idea for a future match up with Boston. Just more of an amusement thread.

Say LeBron were to play PF for a heavy number of minutes against the Celticss. Now I realize that means he'd have to guard Kevin Garnett, but LeBron is just such a beast that I think that at his age he may be able to handle it. Bare with me here. Is it possible that in some respects it could seriously endanger Boston's defense in that Garnett would either have to guard LeBron straight up, would have to put Pierce at PF and Garnett at C (where Z will be very effective against him), or would result in pure one-on-one looks for LeBron?

I realize that Garnett may get some serious points if the team were to do this, but that's never really led the Celtics to success. Their offense doesn't seriously improve in my honest opinion but their defense may be in serious trouble. To make this work you'd have to throw a SF who can guard Pierce with three-point ability. A suggestion:

- Shane Battier in a trade

PG- Mo Williams/Delonte West
SG- Delonte West/Pavlovic
SF- Battier/Pavlovic-Sczerbiak when Pierce is off the floor
PF- LeBron
C- Z

[L&H_05]

Nice in theory, but you have to understand that LeBron is very rarely guarded one on one... Regardless of what you do, LeBron is going to have the defense tilt toward him at all times...Plus, just cause LeBron would be playing him at PF on offense, it doesn't mean the Celtics have to come down on defense and play Garnett on him...

If the Cavs put LeBron at the top, and bring a high screen, he's going to get trapped or strung out by the other defender...

If they put him on the block to play more of a PF role, he's going to get instantly doubled off of the initial pass in the post..

If I'm the Cavs, I would really like to see them spread the floor, and just let LeBron have that rare initial one on one coverage without bringing the screen man...Again, he'll get doubled off of it at some point, but you just need to see how Boston will react to it.. Regardless of who is on him, he's going to blow by them... When you bring that screener, it just causes an immediate double off of the screener's defender as well...

Granted, I don't want to see many 1-4 sets in the halfcourt, but if I did, that's how I would want to see it...

But in general, I would play LeBron off the ball as much as possible, and would like to see them utilize a little more post passing..

Even though I would love to see the Cavs get another big man, I would also love to see them get a bigger perimeter defender for this matchup... As I would like to see LeBron get minutes defending Rondo... I believe LeBron's size and quickness could really effect him, and I truly believe if you limit his effectiveness, you give yourself a great chance at defeating that team...

Problem is, we don't have any other defender besides Pavs to really body up Pierce, and Pierce is too crafty for a player like Pavs...

Like you mentioned, Battier would be a nice fit...

[Jajwanda]

I think that's where Marion could come in to be extremely handy. Not only does he help with the athleticism but he also is a fairly capable defender to take on Pierce.

Yes I realize the idea that Pierce may in fact decide to take on LeBron even with a smaller SF against Garnett but the problem is that if you have even a good shooter you pull K.G. way out of where he wants to be. Pull him out of the pain and you've got a shot of just having LeBron go straight up against Perkins inside causing major foul trouble.

Marion and LeBron both are plus on the boards even at the PF position and it's not much of a size downgrade with Ben Wallace's size not being overly impressive. Also the refs do seem to give LeBron quite a bit of respect so he may benefit quite a bit from that against Boston if he were to be used against Garnett who cannot simply push LeBron who is just that much stronger down low. If you're able to force Boston into a lineup with Powe instead of Perkins you've already won the series. That's the way I see it.

For reference to this sort of spread the floor against Boston idea (it works only when you have at least one great penetrating player unlike Orlando who can't penetrate worth **** outside of Jameer), watch the closing minutes of the NBA Finals game 2. Radmanovic plays a major role in allowing Kobe to have room to operate in that major comeback. A Shane Battier could play a similar role as could as could Shawn Marion.

I think that for a team to beat Boston you must go small enough to spread the zone, but tough, athletic, and strong enough to defend them. This is a major reason why Atlanta is so capable against Boston.