What will be Boston's answer to Stuckey and Maxiell?

[campybatman]

Besides, Posey and Brown, the Celtics should employ Powe or Davis and House in game four and so on. Cassell brings offense but House might give more energy and effort on defense than him. The Celtics have to stifle Stuckey's offensive efforts. With him now, there isn't a drop off for the Pistons at point guard at least scoring wise. Not sure who from Boston to put on him with Tony Allen not having his number called. Maxiell just looks like their Davis. Probably, not as talented as the Celtics' Davis but he's key off their bench. He isn't tall, but he does play big like Davis.

[doctaJ_92]

Maxiell wasnt that big of a factor, he missed a few defensive rotations and he only scored in the 1st because KG was in foul trouble and couldnt guard him hard.

With Stuckey its simple, stop **** fouling and stop pressuring him as hard. Make him take the pullups with hands in his face, I'm guessing his % from midrange is probably around the league average or lower. He gets his points from wide open midrange shots and drives to the bucket, sag off him and get a hand up.

[MaxwellSmart]

Big Baby basically neutralizes Maxiell.....not sure how to stop Stuckey---he just might be a poor man's D.Wade

[Al-Haqq]

They just need to force Stuckey to shoot. He is an average shooter from the field and will more than likely make a couple. He's more of a slasher, so they need to take that away from him.

[SuperDeluxe]

Well, Stuckey will only get meaningful minutes if either Billups or Hamilton is having a bad game (which is what happened today). So Stuckey being out there is not that bad of a thing. He's both really good at attacking the basket and making free-throws, but I'm not as convinced that he can direct the Pistons' offense. So it's a tradeoff, and in the end I think I rather have him out there instead of Billups.

[MVP16]

Maxiell hasn't really hurt us this series so we don't need to do anything to game-plan for him. He was effective against us during the regular season, but I think that was an effect of us playing Posey at pf and Maxiell taking advantage of that. When we play a big against Maxiell, he doesn't really hurt us.

In regards to Stuckey, I'm puzzled at our defense on him. Most of the time, guys like Posey, Cassell and Allen are defending him and playing him tight. His game is driving to the basket and we just allow him to do that. What we need to do is force him to shoot jumpshots and that entails sagging off him if he's above 15 foot range and going under screens.

[campybatman]

Big as in bigger than his size and height is what I'd meant about Maxiell. Nonetheless, these Piston players deserve credit when they play well and make plays. Maxiell's block on Garnett was impressive and gave the home fans a reason to get excited at that moment.

I regard Wallace as the X-factor of their starting line up only because you think of Billups and Hamilton so much. Off the bench, the X-factor is Stuckey. And Boston must find a way to slow him down. When you're a young player playing with as much confidence as he's now playing with in this series. You've to bring him back down some notches. He's still a rookie. So, go at him.

[chakdaddy]

Honestly I think Maxiell is more talented than Davis, he's tons more athletic and I'd probably rather have him than Glen.

[celticfan42487]

Maxiell is more talented then Davis or at least because he is athletic he can do more.

He is a great finisher, a shot blocking presence, and a decent rebounder at the PF spot. Along with being an energy big that is quick enough to not be a concern on pick and rolls.

That said, when you in the trenches and Baby puts his ass on him he becomes a non-factor rebounding offensively and all the energy in the world isn't going to do much to move 290 pound Baby.

Maxiell is also young.

Stucky looks like the kind of back-up PG we're looking for honestly. More of a driver then shooter, but big enough to guard SGs if needed defensively. He can handle the ball, and more importantly he will provided a presence when it comes to driving to the basket that we desperately need from someone else then Pierce... could give us a great balance of perimeter players and slashers.

[campybatman]

Maybe so. Still, I'll like to see a trimmed down Davis next season. I think he's a power forward with above average play making ability like Anthony Mason. He must improve his ball handling, though. Then he can be similar to a younger Antoine Walker: rebounder and passer. I think the talent is there in Davis. He's in a great situation in Boston with Garnett and Clifford Ray.

[ParticleMan]

If the only Pistons we need answers for are Stuckey and Maxiell, then I think we're gonna be just fine.

[Master Shake]

Honestly I think Maxiell is more talented than Davis, he's tons more athletic and I'd probably rather have him than Glen.

Everyone in the country outside of Boston would take Maxiell over Davis...

Maxiell is a beast, he's a great energy guy, averaged the 2nd most rebounds off the bench in the league, he's a decent defender and good help side shot blocker. 6th man type guy off the bench. But he is limited.

For some reason, Maxiell is just not effective against Boston, KG and Perkins just over power him in the middle, and use their height to punish him. Ratliff is a better option for the Pistons during this series.

Stuckey on the other hand has been big time for us, and like has been said, stopping him is easy, back off and don't foul, he's an inconsistent finisher. But, he will get to the rim, even if you back off, just not as much. He's so damn quick and elusive that he can get to the basket almost any time he wants, but when he gets there, he doesn't always make the right play, he is a rookie afterall.

[chakdaddy]

I hadn't seen what all the hype was about Stuckey...until today.

[GuyClinch]

Maybe so. Still, I'll like to see a trimmed down Davis next season. I think he's a power forward with above average play making ability like Anthony Mason. He must improve his ball handling, though. Then he can be similar to a younger Antoine Walker: rebounder and passer. I think the talent is there in Davis. He's in a great situation in Boston with Garnett and Clifford Ray.

I dunno. If it was so easy to get him trimmed down I think he would have been trim in HS and College. <g> Powe is the more talented player..more athletic - better body albeit with some mental lapses on D..

Pete

[Fencer reregistered]

Stuckey---he just might be a poor man's D.Wade

What's ironic is that they drafted him with the pick they got in return for the player they got with the pick they should have used on Bosh or Wade.

[7r5ur]

Well, Stuckey will only get meaningful minutes if either Billups or Hamilton is having a bad game (which is what happened today). So Stuckey being out there is not that bad of a thing.

To be fair, in game 2 Chauncey and Rip were both good yet it was Rodney taking and making the big shots in the 4th quarter.

As for guarding him... Your best bet is to sag off of him and hope he misses. He's still a streaky guy from 15 feet out. In particular when he's spotting up. He's a better shooter when he pulls up off the dribble. Even when the D sags though he still seems to get to the rim pretty regularly.

[campybatman]

I dunno. If it was so easy to get him trimmed down I think he would have been trim in HS and College. <g> Powe is the more talented player..more athletic - better body albeit with some mental lapses on D..

Pete

I like Powe. He's more of a polish player than Davis. A tenacious rebounder both offensively and defensively. And he's a nice complement to Garnett as a back up. Also, Powe is a capable scorer and average defender. However, like Davis, he lacks the ideal height for a power forward. But, can sometimes hold his own defensively against taller opponents at both power forward and center. Has he reached his ceiling? On the other hand, Davis' only a rookie. And possesses a skill that Powe doesn't possess. He's heady player like Perkins who can make the timely passes to teammates for a possibly better shot. Whereas, Powe is one dimensional in a sense. He isn't a play maker. He just goes out and does his job and excels at what he's good at. That's not a criticism. But, I believe he offers what an average power forward would offer you (defense, rebounding and some offense) and not a whole lot more. Perhaps, Davis won't jump higher but could improve his game in other areas that less weight on his frame could afford him to do. Maybe he improves his timing, foot speed, mobility, lateral movement and so forth. Some things he already does adequately. But, better conditioning can help you to last longer in a game and keep you from tiring easy. Trim your body fat and add more muscle mass. I mean imagine how much better of a player Oliver Miller could've been at center with less weight? He was already a good player when overweight.

[rambo_ortega]

maxiell is more talented than big baby at this point because maxiell already knows how to use his skills well in the NBA whil davis is still looking for the right feel for his game, besides big baby is a rookie. powe can actually neutralize maxiell imo because powe is very active inside against short big men.

with stuckey, i think tony allen could be the key. maybe a backcourt of house and allen like what we did in the season with tony guarding stuckey.

[Dogen]

maxiell is more talented than big baby at this point because maxiell already knows how to use his skills well in the NBA whil davis is still looking for the right feel for his game, besides big baby is a rookie. powe can actually neutralize maxiell imo because powe is very active inside against short big men.

with stuckey, i think tony allen could be the key. maybe a backcourt of house and allen like what we did in the season with tony guarding stuckey.

The problem there is getting into our own offense. TA/House aren't likely to see time together on the floor.

[ermocrate]

Glen is FAR more talented than Maxiell, Maxiell is more NBA ready, he relies on his athleticism while shooting and passing are all in David favor. The reality is the NBA is a phisical leauge, a guy with athleticism is far more ready to NBA than a guy with thecnique(see KMart cancelling AW during the NJ-BOS series under the basket)... Usually you work alot in the NBA on conditioning, Big Baby have some conditioning issues but be sure that they'll be gone in a season or two, then he will be much better that Maxiell because some abilities are teachable only when you're 10 to 22 yo, after that age you need to have extremely focused and willing to learn it, like MJ... Obviously we are not evaluating that Maxiell is in his 3rd year in the L and Davis on his 1st, right?

Maxiell 1st season

Played in 26 games
6,1 MPG
43%FG
33%FT
1,1 RPG
2,3 PPG

Davis 1st season

Played in 69 games
13,6 MPG
48%FG
66%FT
3 RPG
4,5 PPG

This stat seem amazing to me given the athletic difference betweed the two guys....