Would you be OK with Wallace starting over Perkins?

[campybatman]

I wouldn't... I believe in leaving well enough alone. The current starters have chemistry playing together. Wallace should understand that playing with Detroit. What did writers point out about them? They'd pointed out that R. Wallace, Billups, Hamilton and Prince played a lot of games together.

I don't like that Rivers is being unclear that Perkins is his starting center. I've to think that Perkins' tendency to injure his shoulder might be a concern. But Perkins is such an ideal match for Garnett. Conversely, Garnett and Wallace starting together are two finesse players. That could mean that Pierce and Rondo will need to rebound more. Someone is going to have to play on the box, go inside for offense. Both Garnett and Wallace are capable of going inside, but tend not to. They like that turn around mid-range shot, or in Wallace case, to stray further outside for a three.

I think Perkins is entrenched in the starting lineup, he has earned it. But I've a feeling that Rivers will try to appease Wallace. I wouldn't have thought that starting would matter to him at this stage in his career. He simply wants to be a part of a team. He'll get that situation with Boston. He needs to tell Rivers that he doesn't want to start. But Rivers could say to him differently.

Wallace is not expected to be in the starting lineup, which includes Rondo and center Kendrick Perkins, but Rivers said no determination has been made.

“He gives us a dimension we didn’t have,’’ Rivers said. “The extra shooter is the biggest part, and the extra shooter that can guard a [center] makes it even [better]. His impact is huge because it really helps other guys. I think it will help Kevin, it will help Perk, and I think it will really, really help Rondo. Because in the playoffs, when teams decide to help off of Rondo, they use Perk as the other guy they can zone up with. When we go at times with Kevin and Rasheed on the floor, if you’re going to help off of Rondo, you’re going to leave Ray, Paul, Kevin, or Rasheed - and that’s difficult. And if you don’t, now Rondo becomes more effective, which I think is going to be the case.

“Like I’ve always said, we’ll get to camp and work it out. I envision - I don’t know if we’ll change our starting five or not - but we’re going to put our best starting five on the floor. I’m going to wait and see how his body looks. It is a long season, but we know our guys. I don’t know Rasheed, yet, in that way, so that will be something I’ll have to find out as the year goes on. We’ve done a pretty good job of pacing, but if you have injuries, all of that stuff goes out of the window.’’

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... m_celtics/

[7seventynine9]

I prefer Perkins off the bench since I think hes best suited for 25 minutes a game. I dont think it really matters in the grand scheme of things though. There is plenty of time to go around for the tall 3.

I guess Wallace would fit with the 2nd unit better than Perkins though.

[GreenDreamer]

I wouldn't... I believe in leaving well enough alone. The current starters have chemistry playing together. Wallace should understand that playing with Detroit. What did writers point out about them? They'd pointed out that R. Wallace, BIllups, Hamilton and Prince played a lot of games together.

I don't like that Rivers is being unclear that Perkins is his starting center. I've to think that Perkins' tendency to injury his shoulder might be a concern. But Perkins is such an ideal match for Garnett. Conversely, Garnett and Wallace starting together are two finesse players. That could mean that Pierce and Rondo will need to rebound more. Someone going to have to play on the box, go inside for offense. Both Garnett and Wallace are capable of going inside, but tend not to. They like that turn around mid-range shot, or in Wallace case, to stray further outside for a three.

I think Perkins is entrenched in the starting lineup, he has earned it. But I've a feeling that Rivers will try to appease Wallace. I wouldn't have thought that starting would matter to him at this stage in his career. He simply wants to be a part of a team. He'll get that situation with Boston. He needs to tell Rivers that he doesn't want to start. But Rivers could say to him differently.

Wallace is not expected to be in the starting lineup, which includes Rondo and center Kendrick Perkins, but Rivers said no determination has been made.

“He gives us a dimension we didn’t have,’’ Rivers said. “The extra shooter is the biggest part, and the extra shooter that can guard a [center] makes it even [better]. His impact is huge because it really helps other guys. I think it will help Kevin, it will help Perk, and I think it will really, really help Rondo. Because in the playoffs, when teams decide to help off of Rondo, they use Perk as the other guy they can zone up with. When we go at times with Kevin and Rasheed on the floor, if you’re going to help off of Rondo, you’re going to leave Ray, Paul, Kevin, or Rasheed - and that’s difficult. And if you don’t, now Rondo becomes more effective, which I think is going to be the case.

“Like I’ve always said, we’ll get to camp and work it out. I envision - I don’t know if we’ll change our starting five or not - but we’re going to put our best starting five on the floor. I’m going to wait and see how his body looks. It is a long season, but we know our guys. I don’t know Rasheed, yet, in that way, so that will be something I’ll have to find out as the year goes on. We’ve done a pretty good job of pacing, but if you have injuries, all of that stuff goes out of the window.’’

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... m_celtics/

Well, I'm figuring on Rondo being a better shooter next season, to begin with. It might also occur to Doc, finally, that taking the ball out of his hands isn't the smartest thing to do anyways, whci could help.

I'm pretty sure, though, that the end of game lineup will have KG and Sheed in there, which is a big reason why this deal was done. It isn't so much about how you start, it is about how you finish. Ginobili didn't usually start, but you know he was going to be outthere at the end. It really comes down to what kind of rotation works the best.

[Celts17Pride]

Celtics would be a weaker team with Wallace starting and Perkins off the bench IMO. Wallace should be coming off the bench but I don't have a problem if he is playing instead of Perkins the last 5 minutes of the game.

[7seventynine9]

Also, Wallace starting instead of Perkins may keep Perk out of foul trouble.

[Kefa461]

Doc will make the best move......what I do know is it's gonna drive the other team nuts with match up problems.....gonna love it.......

can't wait.....


It gives Rondo another wonderful option..........
takes the load off of Paul and Ray too......

[Golabki]

Wallace will certainly finish games. Whether Perkins or Wallace plays predominant in the 1st a 2nd quarter is probably not this teams biggest problem.

[Bad-Thoma]

Wallace should be coming off the bench and playing significant minutes backing up KG & Perk. Perk is a better defender and rebounder than Wallace (at this point in their careers) and therefore a better fit with the starting unit, Wallace is a big upgrade on both sides of the ball over last years bench. One way or another with 96 available minutes between PF and C I'd like to see a nice even 32/32/32 between the 3 in the frontcourt unless another big steps up or BBD is re-signed. Keep everyone fresh and happy.

[Dave_From_NB]

Well, last season there was a mind numbing dropoff from the starter to backup at any position so that substituting anyone in was pretty much ridiculous assuming all starters were healthy. What a relief to actually have a roster where there is a position with depth so that there can be a reasonable discussion.

Welcome Sheed.

I'm ok with anything that wins the title. However my opinion is that Sheed is much more suited to making the second unit a consistent force than is Perk. Let Perk go to war against the starting Center, and when he's beat the snot out of him Sheed can finish the game.

[Scalamental]

There is no end all answer, and Doc knows this. He's been advocating the best line up for the best match up since day one. That said, Perk has been starting (barring injury) for a while, and I'm sure he's getting comfortable at his post. If sheed is willing to come off the bench right away, I'm sure Perk will be talked into doing the same when the time calls for it.

Edit: To answer your question, yeah I'm cool with it, but I don't see it happening right away or all the time.

[return2glory]

Perkins should be starting. Perkins was the sstarting center when we won a championship and has gotten better since. Having Perkins come off the bench will hurt his confidence. Perkins and KG side by side are a great defensive duo.

Wallace should come off the bench and play between 25-28 minutes a game. KG should play about 28-30 minutes a game. Perkins can use more minutes and play between 30-34 minutes a game.

[underneathtoDJ]

I think Perk has earned the right to start for this team. His play in the playoffs, esp. against Dwight Howard, showed me enough. Sheed will get plenty of minutes and close out most, if not all, of the tight games and I'm sure they explained that to him before he signed with us.

[bc legends]

I think Perk has earned the right to start for this team. His play in the playoffs, esp. against Dwight Howard, showed me enough. Sheed will get plenty of minutes and close out most, if not all, of the tight games and I'm sure they explained that to him before he signed with us.

Agreed. Perkins brings that toughness and rebounding that we need from the get go to set the pace of the game. While Sheed is more experienced he will be utilized most effectively as a backup reserve for the 4/5 spots as well as a finisher towards the end of close games. Regardless, our frontcourt will average around the same minutes either way.. so it's really all about how the coaching staff strategizes the rotations at this point.

[BRUNiNHO91]

I would be ok. But I don't see it happening. Perk will start...as he should.

[campybatman]

I like the idea of Wallace as your sixth man like McHale or whoever is an apt comparison from the past. What concerns me about Perkins as a reserve is that he has worked hard to move into the starting lineup and isn't an offensive threat. He complements Garnett well because he allows Perkins to do what's needed more from him: Defend and rebound.

I don't know, isn't Rivers loyal to his players? He should leave it alone. Don't give the national media something to speculate on or fuel to instigate. I would've been straightforward and said that Perkins is my starter. Because I don't want to send mixed messages to Perkins, making him feel as if I'm upgrading his position. For me, it's about chemistry and what has been working. Wallace was signed, I'd thought, to strengthen the bench and not complicate the starting lineup.

[Geech]

I think right now Wallace will be taking the places of both Davis and Powe. We have plenty of scoring options on the 1st unit, but have been trying to find reliable scoring options on the second unit for the past 2 years and Wallace fills that role a lot better.

[threrf23]

Rasheed would be a better fit for the starting lineup. He is as capable a defender, and Doc seems hell bent on running an inside/outside post game. We need KG spending more time in the low post. We benefit from Sheed's three point shot to complement Rondo's lack of one.

Perk has earned respect but hasn't earned the right to start over Rasheed unless Doc feels it would help us win more games.

[ParticleMan]

I prefer Perk starting BUT...

Having Sheed out there with the starters really opens up the middle for Rondo. If we bring in Sheed with a backup PG who's more of a standstill shooter, we run the risk of becoming a purely jumpshooting team in the 2nd unit, esp if Ray is in instead of Paul. Sheed can post a bit I suppose but in the last couple of years it seems his post game has gone downhill.

So I don't think it's crazy to start Sheed. In the end, all will get about 30 mins per game anyways.

[Celts17Pride]

A starting unit of Rondo, Ray, Pierce, KG & Wallace would have 5 guys out on the perimeter. The Celtics need Perkins in the starting lineup to have at least one guy down low.

[campybatman]

House is too up-and-down offensively. Wallace can help in that area. He'll draw double teams. Especially, if he's on fire in that particular game.

With Wallace and House, the second unit needs a defensive minded small forward and a true point guard to make things easy for the aforementioned.