Breaking News: Patrick O'Bryant wants to play

[GuyClinch]

I dunno. It hasn't been killing our team defense that much. Considering we're again 1st in FG%Against and 2nd in scoring defense I'd say we're ok.

That's because your mixing in the first unit with BBD who plays on the second unit. The defense with BBD ON the court is 102.8. The defense with BBD OFF the court is 95.8. That's 7 point jump. That's pretty huge.

Call me one of those who believe our supposed length issues have been blown way out of proportion thus far.

I beg to differ - see above.

Beyond the Lakers and maybe Cleveland are there any teams with frontcourt length we should even fear?

It's not front court length AGAINST us that's the problem. It's teams killing us with dribble penetration. BBD even when he is fast enough to get over and help is hopeless at actually altering shots.

I love the idea of O'Bryant being able to earn the time to play but he has to do just that. But it's still early. Maybe after the all-star break he starts proving he belongs.

Well it's either O'Bryant or someone else. I don't think we can win a championship with BBD as a back up center. We need to get Joel Pryzbilla or someone like that with legit length.

Pete

[buckner1976]

I dunno. It hasn't been killing our team defense that much. Considering we're again 1st in FG%Against and 2nd in scoring defense I'd say we're ok.

That's because your mixing in the first unit with BBD who plays on the second unit. The defense with BBD ON the court is 102.8. The defense with BBD OFF the court is 95.8. That's 7 point jump. That's pretty huge.

Call me one of those who believe our supposed length issues have been blown way out of proportion thus far.

I beg to differ - see above.

Beyond the Lakers and maybe Cleveland are there any teams with frontcourt length we should even fear?

It's not front court length AGAINST us that's the problem. It's teams killing us with dribble penetration. BBD even when he is fast enough to get over and help is hopeless at actually altering shots.

I love the idea of O'Bryant being able to earn the time to play but he has to do just that. But it's still early. Maybe after the all-star break he starts proving he belongs.

Well it's either O'Bryant or someone else. I don't think we can win a championship with BBD as a back up center. We need to get Joel Pryzbilla or someone like that with legit length.

Pete

I agree Baby doesn't have the length nor the long arms to be a full-time answer at Center. I guess I meant more like right now it hasn't killed us we're still winning well. He's rebounding, going to the basket on offense setting picks. doing some dirty work. I've been pleased with him overall despite his shortcomings. Ideally, yeah I would've preferred O'Bryant earning that spot. I don't see BBD being here next year so if the POB experiment doesn't work out they will try to get more length again next year.

[campybatman]

Maybe Doc is showcasing BBD. He's been talking him up nearly every press-briefing, almost saying that he's the anchor of the 2nd unit.

Notice how Davis has developed on his own or was asked to develop an outside range. I seem to recall Gomes developing an outside range too (I believe in his last season with Boston) further adding to his offensive arsenal. Or, perhaps, Boston prefers for their big men to have at least a mid range shot to bring opposing centers out of the paint. Maybe, Powe's the one who could be traded and Ainge wants to make sure he isn't going to trade the wrong one. So, the coaching staff is working Davis to see what else could he be capable of.

[captain_cheapseats]

Of course I did. I feel he should say something to Doc privately but not to the media. I hate it when players do that. It doesn't make much sense anyways since he should have realized he may not get a lot of playing time on Boston and should have signed on a team like Minnesota where he could at least get a lot of playing time.

As I read the article, POB is saying that he is dissapointed in HIMSELF for not earning more playing time. I guess I just don't understand how anyone could possibly have a problem with that.

[humblebum]

This talk about Davis being the problem defensively on the second unit is absolutely laughable. He's the second best defensive player on the unit after Tony Allen. Davis also spends a lot of time playing out of position and making up for the poor perimeter defense of Eddie House and Scalabrine (and to some extent a tired Ray Allen or Paul Pierce). Powe doesn't bring much to the defensive end beyond flopping around. Surround Davis with Rondo, TA, Pierce and KG or Perk and I'm positive the TEAM defensive numbers wouldn't be bad at all.

MAYBE Doc actually really likes what Davis is doing on the court. He's actually been bringing in Davis as the first big off the bench around the two minute mark for KG. If the C's are able to bring in a veteran big don't be surprised when Davis beats out Powe for minutes on the second unit.

And the little jumper is starting to come around for Davis, in the last four games he's 8-11 from the field and 11-12 from the FT line. He's a solid role player for the Celtics and he's improving.

On the POB front, I don't see anyway he earns a role this season, he's completely too raw right now. He could earn some minutes next season perhaps.