Tony Allen needs to step up or he needs to go

[ryaningf]

Listen, TA's been playing out of position as the defacto point guard because Doc has decided, once again, that Eddie House can't play point guard effectively. The sad thing, he's right: a shaky dribbling, focus-challenged TA is a better point than Eddie!!!!

So, yeah, TA's going to struggle when you ask him to play out of position. We really have three options going forward:
1. See what Pruitt can give us. He's a better point than Eddie or TA. We don't have to bench anybody, just move Eddie to 2, let TA roam at 3.
2. Use Rondo as 1st team/2nd team bridge and see if he still be effective playing 36 or so minutes a night. This moves House to 2 and TA to 3 as well.
3. Bring in a stabilizing veteran presence. We had these same PG problems last season, but overcame them through veteran leadership. When we didn't get into a set, or didn't move the ball, we had Posey or PJ there to bail us out. Now, we have a bunch of young players who panic when the ball sticks and the shot clock runs down. Bring in a veteran backup center and I think it helps the 2nd team's cohesiveness alot.

To me, it all boils down to point guard play. Doc is asking a lot of TA right now, playing point when he's really a 2/3 slasher still on his way back mentally from knee surgery, and we're going to see high turnover #s as a result. People want to dump on TA, but they don't realize he's playing point guard out there because Eddie House can only do one thing: shoot.

[7seventynine9]

Id rather have Tony Allen than any other bench player on the Celtics. If you can upgrade and get a better bench player, just slide TA to 7th.

Are Powe, Davis, House really much better? Powe has his moments.

[Kids Are Alright]

i'd like to see more of Tony on the receiving end of a pass (which basically never happens). He's making great dishes in the paint, picking off passes better than anyone not named Rondo and getting good boards.

His shot and his free throw shooting will never be good, so he's right there with our future all-star pg in that respect.

i'd play Pruitt, TA, one of the the three, and a couple of post guys, maybe even throw POB and Scals into the mix with Baby and Leon. Screw Eddie. He's not hitting enough when it's needed or he's not waiting for the catch-shoot opportunities and taking jumpers that he hits about 5% of. Those are not helping us at all.

[return2glory]

Listen, TA's been playing out of position as the defacto point guard because Doc has decided, once again, that Eddie House can't play point guard effectively. The sad thing, he's right: a shaky dribbling, focus-challenged TA is a better point than Eddie!!!!

So, yeah, TA's going to struggle when you ask him to play out of position. We really have three options going forward:
1. See what Pruitt can give us. He's a better point than Eddie or TA. We don't have to bench anybody, just move Eddie to 2, let TA roam at 3.
2. Use Rondo as 1st team/2nd team bridge and see if he still be effective playing 36 or so minutes a night. This moves House to 2 and TA to 3 as well.
3. Bring in a stabilizing veteran presence. We had these same PG problems last season, but overcame them through veteran leadership. When we didn't get into a set, or didn't move the ball, we had Posey or PJ there to bail us out. Now, we have a bunch of young players who panic when the ball sticks and the shot clock runs down. Bring in a veteran backup center and I think it helps the 2nd team's cohesiveness alot.

To me, it all boils down to point guard play. Doc is asking a lot of TA right now, playing point when he's really a 2/3 slasher still on his way back mentally from knee surgery, and we're going to see high turnover #s as a result. People want to dump on TA, but they don't realize he's playing point guard out there because Eddie House can only do one thing: shoot.

Option # 3 may be picking may be picking up Marbury. That rumor is still going on.

[ryaningf]

Listen, TA's been playing out of position as the defacto point guard because Doc has decided, once again, that Eddie House can't play point guard effectively. The sad thing, he's right: a shaky dribbling, focus-challenged TA is a better point than Eddie!!!!

So, yeah, TA's going to struggle when you ask him to play out of position. We really have three options going forward:
1. See what Pruitt can give us. He's a better point than Eddie or TA. We don't have to bench anybody, just move Eddie to 2, let TA roam at 3.
2. Use Rondo as 1st team/2nd team bridge and see if he still be effective playing 36 or so minutes a night. This moves House to 2 and TA to 3 as well.
3. Bring in a stabilizing veteran presence. We had these same PG problems last season, but overcame them through veteran leadership. When we didn't get into a set, or didn't move the ball, we had Posey or PJ there to bail us out. Now, we have a bunch of young players who panic when the ball sticks and the shot clock runs down. Bring in a veteran backup center and I think it helps the 2nd team's cohesiveness alot.

To me, it all boils down to point guard play. Doc is asking a lot of TA right now, playing point when he's really a 2/3 slasher still on his way back mentally from knee surgery, and we're going to see high turnover #s as a result. People want to dump on TA, but they don't realize he's playing point guard out there because Eddie House can only do one thing: shoot.

Option # 3 may be picking may be picking up Marbury. That rumor is still going on.

Where there's smoke there's fire, I guess. I'm still not sure what I think of Marbury. If I were Danny, I'd talk with Marbury and try to gauge his head and heart. If he's got at least the heart, I'd sit down with KG, Paul and Ray and see what they said. If they're good with it, I might roll the dice. If Marbury's motivated, we could play him at point, Ed at 2, TA at 3, and roll with Powe and Baby as the bigs. We'd let Marbury handle the ball, stress good defense and transition offense, and cross our fingers it works. It might: if he didn't overshoot (he can be a good creator if he wants) and played decent defense (it's POSSIBLE) I think he'd bring a lot to the table.

But are we that desperate? It could work, sure it COULD, but do we NEED it. Do we? I think we can win another title with or without Marbury, but I'm an optimist.

[Joekickass2008]

I can only dream that Starbury would come to boston...we'd have the big 3, the whitest gangsta around, an up and coming all-star, a large infant.....and 2 certified NUTS! Cassel and Marbury...has anyone seen the footage on youtube of KG saying to SAM in minni "what the hell r u saying?''...hilarious.....can you imagine Starbury and Sam having a convo in the locker room?? Would give eddie more material for his impressions stage show.

But seriously....the guy can score...and with a few large bodies in the second unit to use as picks...I think he would put up some big numbers. Id roll the dice...

Im a bring in Toine or Starbury guy. You can tell the young guys in the second unit drop their heads if it aint happeneing for em....we need a vet who can get it all going, put it in the bucket, shuolder the load of the second unit...posey did it, Pj did it at some points. Let the bench do what they are good at....superficial role players...and let a vet score and order them about.

[MyInsatiableOne]

We lost because of 3 things...our offense stagnated, Tony Allen has a basketball IQ slightly lower than that of the basketball itself, and one-sided reffing...

I wasn't as upset by the loss as I should have been, except for the fact that it was against the Lakers...

[return2glory]

Is is getting time to sit him yet? He keeps playing poorly but we have no one to replace him with. Is that a reason that he should keep playing? Tony Allen needs to be benched soon. The explosivness is gone, his energy is not there, his shot hasn't improved, and he still is out of control going to the basket.

[mainevent3405]

Tony is not the 6th man we need. Maybe 7th or 8th. I personally wouldn't mind have Starbury as our first off the bench. At least the scoring won't suffer

[Banks2Pierce]

I have loved Tony since his rookie year, but he is playing very poorly as of late. Time to give JR or Billy Walk a shot.

[threrf23]

I didn't watch the Knicks game, was busy and watching us play a poor team wasn't a priority.

But looking at the box score, the one positive I can take is that we outscored the Knicks whenever at least one of our bench players was on the floor. As far as Tony - we outscored the Knicks by 8 during the 15 minutes he was on the floor and were outscored by 20 with him on the bench.

Considering that the Knicks bench (Harrington/Nate Robinson) seemed to have played better (and usually do) than Jared Jeffries and Q-Rich, it would be hard for me to assume that our bench's success in this game had anything to do with playing against a weaker opponent. I would have to conclude that our bench - Tony included - was far from the problem this game.

Am I missing something? Did Big Baby and Leon Powe dominate while TA countered with horrid play?

[Bigmiketruth]

Am I missing something?

Yes - the game. Helpful, I know. Excuse me for being annoyed at you defending TA from scanning the box score.

[cisco]

TA has been a disaster! It's time to trade him and replace him with Giddens and/or Walker.

[MyInsatiableOne]

TA has been a disaster! It's time to trade him and replace him with Giddens and/or Walker.

Agreed...and after he fooled us all by playing really well earlier in the season!

[GregB]

I don't disagree that TA hasnt been stellar. But I think he gets it together. If not you have to give Giddens a chance.

Also, Can Pruitt be given a real chance to take House's minutes at PG before its too late in the year. I really think Pruitt could be that x factor. The guy is a fast with a strong handle. He plays good defense and can stroke it from 3. Plus, He looks like he can create for himself and others off the dribble. Which the second unit is desperate for right now.

[cisco]

I like Pruitt's shot and his defense, but I haven't been impressed at all with his point guard skills. My guess is Doc isn't all that impressed either, or else he'd be getting some meaningful minutes. He just doesn't do a good job of running the team, imo. I would like to see him play more though to see what he's got. Would love it if he proved me wrong. I wouldn't mind seeing him get some minutes behind Ray Allen (instead of Tony).

[GregB]

I like Pruitt's shot and his defense, but I haven't been impressed at all with his point guard skills. My guess is Doc isn't all that impressed either, or else he'd be getting some meaningful minutes. He just doesn't do a good job of running the team, imo. I would like to see him play more though to see what he's got. Would love it if he proved me wrong. I wouldn't mind seeing him get some minutes behind Ray Allen (instead of Tony).

I think he can be a fine PG. IMO, The problem is they don't give him the ball when he is in. He is relegated to a spot up shooter. I mean he really cant be any worse of a pure PG than house. When House's shot isnt falling. He shouldnt be playing.