Celtics Still Have One Major Issue IMO

[NES 247]

LeBron v. Pierce is going to be another physical battle and Pierce is going to be mentally and physically drained from covering LeBron and playing against him for most of the game. I agree though, if Pierce gets in foul troulbe we are in deep crap, b/c we no SF's off the bench that can score consistantly enough or slow down James at all.

[billfromBoston]

A couple of things:

1. Posey was a net positive for the defensive rotation

2. Posey was not a great man defender - especially in the playoffs vs. LeBron and Kobe

3. Posey's greatest value was his help defense, intelligence in "steering" opponents to help, and giving Pierce rest

4. Boston relies on the "5 as 1" principle, (to steal a KG sponsor line.) The perimeter defenders are responsible for denying a player's primary move and forcing him to the help - not "shutting him down" which nobody did to LBJ or Kobe beyond a handful of possessions.

5. Pierce/Scal/TA/Ray will all see some time on LBJ and are knowledgeable team defenders capable of "steering" him toward help - this is consistent with what we got last season. Its a mix of looks comparable to last season.

6. Posey combined Scal's size with some of TA's anticipatory ability - he was a happy medium between their respective footspeeds in terms of latteral quickness, so its a net loss not having him.

7. However, the combination of 4 defenders, (5 if counting Walker) should give the team enough looks and enough minutes to do an adequate job forcing LeBron into jump shots - something they already did in BOTH games they've played this year.

8. If forced to - Bill Walker is a real, live body who has been practicing with the team and has defensive talents as well as size. If its needed, Doc can certainly use him in a pinch, as opposed to just taking it on the chin.

Bottom line: This team would be better with Posey defensively, but I truly believe people are vastly over stating just how critical he is in this equation. He was a critical component last season, but there are differences on this years roster that mitigate his role this year - including Scal and TA's contributions, Walker's presence on the roster, and the overall improvement of the team offense, which will put pressure on LBJ to defend himself!

That should be enough - James is a good player and will present difficulties. But James has to defend as well and he'll get multiple, talented offensive players thrown at him while facing a stout defensive unit designed to contain him and force him to shoot as many jumpers as possible.

When healthy, this team now has 6 frontcourt bodies - Perk/KG/Powe/Davis/Scal/Moore to absorb fouls and 5 wings - Pierce/Allen/TA/Scal/Walker to present different looks on-ball.

Boston's defense has never been about one-on-one defense locking down an opponent - though Pierce had his moments where he was spectacular in this regard - the team relies on all 5 players working together, with the primary defender being aware of where his help lies.

With the improvements the team has made and the potential for the bench to suddenly take a massive up-tick in production, i'd be more interested in seeing how Cleveland is going to attack and defend Boston's lineup - Boston has superior top-end talent, having 5 players who are superior to every player on Cleveland's roster outside of LeBron.

Cleveland has played much like Boston did last year - playing all-out every game and not taking any games off - that has made them look extremely formidable compared to Boston, who has definitely picked its spots more often than last season.

But on the whole, I think Boston is perfectly capable of taking Cleveland out - though Cleveland is certainly capable of doing the same.

[billfromBoston]

LeBron v. Pierce is going to be another physical battle and Pierce is going to be mentally and physically drained from covering LeBron and playing against him for most of the game. I agree though, if Pierce gets in foul troulbe we are in deep crap, b/c we no SF's off the bench that can score consistantly enough or slow down James at all.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but didn't Pierce play heavy minutes LAST year in the playoffs vs. LeBron?

I don't understand how missing Posey affects Pierce's fatigue factor in this equation...its the minutes that Pierce is off the court and ensuring the team can cover 12 minutes a game when he's not playing that counts - Pierce will be Pierce when he's in the game. As long as he isn't playing 45 mpg they'll be fine...

LeBron on the other hand is going to HAVE to play 40+ minutes in EVERY game because their team is incapable of winning a series against Boston without having him play heavy minutes - Their team defense and balance is good enough to rest him more during the regular season, but come playoff time against true contenders, they cannot afford to have Boston keeping 2-3 of KG/PP/RA/RR/SM on the court at all times -- Boston can now cover 48 minutes of a game with 2 primary offensive options on the court at all times, the best Cleveland can do is keep one of Bron and Mo on the court at all times.

[Spin Move]

I agree, if a decent three becomes available i drop pruitt (who most likley wont be brought back anyway next year) for that three, however I really dont see that happening, but with the backup PG and Center spots now taken care of, thats our teams biggest weakness, Scall will play some minutes at three and ray will have to play alot wiht Steph or Eddie at the two as is.

[Gant]

I actually think Big Baby could do as well on LeBron as anyone for short minutes. He's definitely strong enough and surprisingly fast. He's stayed with point guards on switches this year. What's keeping that from happening is it means a smaller Celtic has to guard an opposing big man.

[celticfan42487]

No, because if we had James Posey with this years team we'd be a better team then last year.

Rondo is better in his role this year, and so is Ray Allen.

Last year we had Cassell or house Playing the backup Point. With House we lost all tempo, with Cassell we had an over the hill player jacking up shots no matter whoes on the court.

But yes we also had Posey [I don't think Tony got many minutes].

This year we'll have House playing SG, and a selfish stupid talented player in Marbury jacking up shots no matter who is on the court as well as not losing tempo. But we won't have Posey.

for bigs it's a similar situation, last year we could guard centers with Pj Brown, but for the most part he couldn't release a shot as well as Miki or run free for layups. So we have a superior offensive abilities in their role instead of superior defensive abilities.

Overall we got better by a made up number like 3 points on offense and worse on defense by 4 points... that still could be enough to beat CLE and LA as currently constituted.

I disagree with you because this team won last season because it was a great defensive team. The Celtics as it stand is good enought to beat every team in the league during the regular season. However I think there are two team that I feel can beat the Cs in the play-offs and that would be the Lakers and Cavs. One the matchup that can hurt us is if Paul Pierce was to get two cheap early fouls on Lebron we don't have a James Posey to come of the bench to help slow down Lebron who is much better this season then he was last season with a much better supporting case. All I'm saying is that it took us 7 games to finish off the Cavs last season with 4 bodies to throw at Lebron right now we only have 1 and half bodies to throw at him because I don't think Ray Allen is going to be able to do a great job on Lebron nor will he be ask to guard him. So that leaves us with only Paul Pierce as someone who can try to slow down Lebron James. I guess I'm addressing a problem before he even happens but that is something Danny Ainge should have done this off season.

I know what you're saying. It's obvious what our weaknesses are against CLE. And we are less suited to play against CLE this year then we were last year.

But what my point was, is you can't negate the improvements this team has made offensively.

Ray Allen is better, and will be better in the playoffs. Rondo hasn't improved and will suck in the playoffs offensively. But Marbury will be much better for use then either Cassell or House at the 1. That will be an improvement offensively. Miki will fill in offensively anything that PJ Brown gave us.

So overall it's undeniable that we will be better offensively then last year, as much as it is that will will be worse defensively.

Now I personally agree that defense> offense. And maybe it would be better to be an elite defensive team rather then a great offense and defensive team. But we can win it all this year with the team currently constituted (hopefully Ben Wallace is out till next year).

We have no answer for LeBron on our bench. We have to hope TA recovers just so we have someone who can stay near him for the AND 1s this season. But players like Posey just don't grow on trees. And I don't think we're hopeless, I think we're even with CLE as currently constituted.