Would you be OK with Wallace starting over Perkins?

[sully00]

I wish Doc would get over his whole second unit kick...and just do subsitute for tired players. <g>

Yeah I think that will come once he actually has some guys on the bench he can trust. To manage the starters mins he has to get 80-90 bench mins and he has never had an 80-90 min bench. He started last season with only getting consistent mins out of House and that isn't even logical on its own because he is so streaky. Tony played well for while and got hurt. Baby and Powe were slow coming and by the time they got going one was starting and then Powe was gone.

Faced with that I think Doc realizes he is better off trying to steal mins around the quarters with one starter on the floor. In the end you wouldn't care how he subbed if the subs weren't so bad.

[campybatman]

I really feel that Rivers is making a mistake here. You'll affect the team balance and chemistry by altering the starting lineup. Boston has arguably the best starting five in the NBA since the (new) Bad Boys of Detroit that was lead by Billups. Why the need to tinker with a good thing?

In my opinion, Rivers must resist the temptation to start R. Wallace just because it's Wallace. Wallace is ideal for the bench. And Garnett and Wallace starting together are redundant. That is, if your power forward shoots, then your center must be the inside force: Defense and rebounding. Same as if it were the other way around. I can't see the logic in both Garnett and Wallace starting if they both shoot and Wallace has been reluctant to play more inside in the past.

Has he [Rivers] forgotten that the current starting five has won sixty-plus games in back-to-back seasons? Or that the bench isn't really good and would further be weaken with Wallace being a starter rather than a reserve. I must be lost then, because I still believe that Wallace was signed to strengthen the bench. What was wrong with the starting five? You don't have to start all of the best players in the starting five, you start the best unit together. And Wallace has no experience playing with Rondo and company. He doesn't know Rondo's tendencies yet.

I'm not making a big deal of this. If it weren't such a big deal then why is Rivers continuing to tease with the idea of starting Wallace? And know Ainge is adding his two cents which is further confusing things. Bottom line is: Ainge views Perkins as a role player and team player. Not so much as a regular starter, perhaps. I still believe that he and Rivers have their own concerns about Perkins' nagging shoulder injuries, and this in part is fueling the ideas of starting Wallace and reducing the minutes of Perkins. I mean to say that Perkins isn't "entitled" to the position. What's that all about?!

Kendrick Perkins is expected to start at center for the Celtics next season, right? Well, while Rasheed Wallace has said he couldn’t care less if he starts, coach Doc Rivers hasn’t set the opening lineup in stone. “I’m going to let that play out,’’ Rivers said. “I’ve had plans many times as a coach and then you get in practice and you like something else. So, I just know we’ve added more talent to the team and we have enough minutes to go around for all of them. It will work out.’’ Unless Kevin Garnett is struggling following right knee surgery, there is no way that Rivers brings him off the bench. Perkins averaged 8.5 points and 8.1 rebounds while starting in 76 games last season. Wallace averaged 12 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 35.4 percent from 3-point range in 66 games (63 starts) with Detroit. Wallace has started in 943 of 1,009 career games. Rivers hasn’t discussed Wallace’s arrival with Perkins yet. “We will. I’m not concerned about that,’’ said Rivers. “Perk is a great team player as well. We have pretty good guys on our team. Good role players.’’ Celtics president Danny Ainge said, “There is no such thing as being entitled to a position,’’ but that Perkins would likely enter training camp as the starter. “I feel like I know [Perkins] pretty well and that he would be excited about [the acquisition]. I don’t think it affects him much.’’

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... es/?page=3

[enzino]

96 minutes between C and PF spot could be splitted easly by 3:

32 min Perkins
32 min KG
32 min Wallace

then s&trade big baby for an impact swingman coming from the bench and sign an undrafted young big man to play him the garbagetime

[lojowo]

I like Perkins setting the defensive tone to start the game, at 2 fouls or the six minute mark of the first quarter, Wallace coming in for Garnett or Perkins, whomever needs the rest the most.

Love to see those three average 32 minutes a game if possible and being fresh for the playoffs.

[campybatman]

If Perkins can stay healthy, I would expect for him and Rondo to play thirty-plus minutes, and to see Rivers reduce the minutes of Pierce, Ray and Garnett for obvious reasons. Pierce and Ray were forced into more minutes due to injuries and lack of experience behind them at backup. Ideally, Wallace allows Rivers to spread these minutes out overall for the Big Three. I mean Garnett needs to ease himself back, no need to feel too anxious.

[Hemingway]

Perk will start. This way when Sheed comes in and has to guard the physical centers of the league, they are already a bit tired and Perk has already beat them up for a few.

[GreenGrizz]

You need to get Sheed hot early in the game. I am not exactly ok with him starting on the bench. That's not what we pay him for. Perk is just a serviceable role. Sheed will probably make the all-star team if he starts.

[TheOGJabroni]

I would be OK with Wallace starting over Perkins if that is what Doc feels is right for this team. I am assuming all three of Perk, KG, and Sheed are going to play about equal minutes regardless.

[No1CeltsFan]

I've been debating this topic in my head ever since the press conference.

While I think it's safe to say we all agree Wallace is the better player of him and Perk, I prefer Perkins starting and Wallace coming off the bench.

The reason?

I think the Celtics need Sheeds scoring for the bench. If Perkins comes off the bench, then once again House becomes our best bench scorer. The Celtics need Sheed's 12-15 ppg coming off the bench, especially w/the lineup we have as of today.

I mean, think about it. If our bench is say House, Pruitt, Walker, Scal and TA, wouldn't you want Sheed as a great scoring option over Perk? If it's Perk, there is no guy out there who can score consistently by creating his own shot.

Also, I think Perk thrives playing along KG. I'm not sure how much of a downslide you would see by him coming off the bench, but I think it would be noticeable enough. Playing with the starters Perk is good for 3-4 drop off dunks a game because of the attention those other 4 recieve.

Luckily for us, this is what we like to call "one of those good problems too have"

[sweatdog]

There is only 1 reason you would alter the lineup to include Wallace - to appease his ego - BUT since he has already stated he is fine with the bench, its clear that he knows he is past his prime and the concept of the team he is joining is bigger than HE is.

What is the reasoning for starting Sheed over perk? To have another household name in the starting lineup? Why cant Sheed be our Ginobili 6th man o' the year candidate?

All of you who lobby for more firepower in our starting lineup please understand the purpose of moderation. We have 3 or 4 starters who collectively can score in a dynamic way, so that was never an issue. Now please add Sheed to our 2nd unit and you've greatly covered a need from last year - bench scoring. I realize his floor spacing ability would be a huge boon to Rondo, etc., but equally beneficial will be his floor spacing ability for our second string guys, the ones who are more reliant on space to create than our iso-capable starters.

Perk has improved each year as a starter, he is a bruiser and guys like that are perfect to pair with superstars. He may be a role player but don't let the word 'role' trip you up - role players DO start for successful teams.

[campybatman]

If Wallace is a reserve, he instantly becomes a Sixth Man Of The Year candidate. I've to believe he can win it.

[ddubb]

I like the idea of Sheed getting 30 mpg being the primary backup for both KG and Perk. The rotations would work better with him coming off the bench; for example:

If Perk gets in early foul trouble, enter Sheed -- if he doesn't, enter Sheed to give KG a break from late 1st qtr - mid 2nd quarter. When KG comes back, you can slide Sheed from 4 to 5, and give Perk a blow.

Perk doesn't give you nearly the same flexibility off the bench, and is better equipt to body up most starting centers in this league. And like dude above says, Wallace will become the instant 6moy favorite.

But I do like that Doc has set the tone for compitition at training camp. Good coaching move.

[campybatman]

Another reason that you would want Wallace off the bench is Rivers might play him some minutes at small forward. Age might have slowed his lateral movement or foot speed. But his length is still there. Obviously, he becomes a mismatch for most small forwards trying to guard him. Still, Wallace must hit his perimeter shots with regularity to be a weapon similarly used as R. Lewis for Orlando.

[sweatdog]

I wonder what a 2-3 zone of Perk/KG/Sheed baseline would look like for opposing teams?

[Joekickass2008]

I wonder what a 2-3 zone of Perk/KG/Sheed baseline would look like for opposing teams?

Scary!

[campybatman]

Scary equals reality if Wallace can stay healthy and the team in general.

But it would be ideal if Walker could emerge for depth purposes.

[styLesdavis]

Has Sheed already made a comment bout his jersey number ?

[Joekickass2008]

Has Sheed already made a comment bout his jersey number ?

comment?? He is gunna wear 30.

[campybatman]

Yeah, he's going to wear number thirty. Let's keep it old school.




I forgot about how ugly that version of Kentucky's uniform looked.


Remember when Washington was nicknamed the Bullets?


A rare look at Wallace as a Hawk.