We need a better substitution pattern!

BillessuR6 · Post #1 » by **BillessuR6** » Fri May 23, 2008 1:22 pm

I am really concerned with the way Doc substituted last night. He did a wonderful job in the first game but yesterday, especially in the second quarter he looked lost.

First thing that needs to be done is Paul Pierce must get some rest! He played 47 minutes last night! He can`t be on the court for practically the whole game...

I know when Paul is out we are in trouble but with good substitutions we can make this work.

Paul needs to be first guy substituted. After 8 minutes I would bring Posey and maybe PJ for Perk and House for Rondo. That lineup could still score points with Pierce on the bench. We should go to KG in the post every time and if they double team him Ray, House, Posey could punish that.

We can bring Paul back in after 2 minutes in the 2nd alongside Cassell and Powe and give Ray and KG some rest. Paul with Sam give us 2 players that can create their own shot in the second quarter and Cassell can bring the ball up against the press (I know Sam has been terrible but the guy can still play and help this team and now we need him more than ever).

One thing we have to do is we need to have one of Pierce or KG on the floor at all times! That to me is the key!

We have huge trouble in the second quarter, we usually lose all the momentum when the bench is in that is why I think it is important that we have some kind of a set substitution pattern, especially in the second period.

So the substitution pattern would look something like this:
1st quarter 1- 8 minutes: Rondo, Ray, Pierce, KG, Perk
Plan: Go to Pierce early and try to get them in foul trouble

1st Q 9-12 2nd Q 1-2 min: House, Ray, Posey, KG, Brown
Plan: Go to KG in the low post and punish double teams

2nd Q 3-8 min: Cassell, Pierce, Posey, Powe, Brown
Plan: This is the critical time. Go to Pierce and let him attack. Try and post up Sam on Hunter....

2nd Q 9-12 min: Rondo, Ray, Pierce, KG, Perk (or whoever is having a good day)

I know you can not have a rotation set in stone due to fouls, bad/good days of certain players but there needs to be some sort of a structure to what we are doing. Every game is different and a coach needs to do numerous adjustments through the course of the game still I would really like to see us having a definite lineup and strategy in the second quarter, which IMO is the key. We must give our big three enough rest in that period but we also must keep our momentum. And it would really help the bench players if they would know their exact roles and lineups in the 2nd. Now, everything looks a little bit experimental.

Similar rotation is also needed at the end of the 3rd and start of the 4th quarter, IMO.

Like I said in such a dynamic game nothing can be set in stone but some structure to the substitution pattern should be applied to make the game easier especially for our role players. Hopefully, we will see some adjustments in the 3rd game in DET.

Go, C`s!

Jammer · Post #2 » by **Jammer** » Fri May 23, 2008 1:30 pm

When your bench gets 55 1/2 minutes and comes up with 7 points, 5 rebounds,
and 2 assists, no substitution pattern can fix that.

Posey, House, Tony Allen and Powe were off.

PJ had 2 friggin rebounds in 18 minutes. That's pathetic, Scot Pollard could probably grab more in his rehabilitating state.

This was a perfect night to give Sammy a shot and hope that he could make a few.

Losing the game doesn't bother me as much as not giving Cassell a chance, especially in the first half.

tombattor · Post #3 » by **tombattor** » Fri May 23, 2008 1:30 pm

My biggest gripe with Doc is the fact that he seems to go with non-offensive lineup in stretches, far too long. I think we need at least 2 of the big 3 on the court together at all times.

For example, we should never have a lineup that resembles something like House, PP, Posey, BBD and PJ. Posey and House are offensive players, but they are more of spot up shooters on this team. That leaves Paul as the only guy to create offense. Having Ray or KG in there for BBD will give us another offensive option.

Each of the Big 3 needs to start playing 40+ minutes from now on, so we just need about 4 minutes of rest for each per half. It's not rocket science.

wigglestrue · Post #4 » by **wigglestrue** » Fri May 23, 2008 1:53 pm

tombattor wrote:My biggest gripe with Doc is the fact that he seems to go with non-offensive lineup in stretches, far too long. I think we need at least 2 of the big 3 on the court together at all times.

For example, we should never have a lineup that resembles something like House, PP, Posey, BBD and PJ. Posey and House are offensive players, but they are more of spot up shooters on this team. That leaves Paul as the only guy to create offense. Having Ray or KG in there for BBD will give us another offensive option.

Each of the Big 3 needs to start playing 40+ minutes from now on, so we just need about 4 minutes of rest for each per half. It's not rocket science.

QFT. It's not rocket science, so true. Unless we're up/down by 20 late in the 4th, there should never ever be a unit featuring either Ray or Paul plus four of House/Cassell/Brown/Davis/Powe/TA. It's the ******* playoffs.

TheMartian · Post #5 » by **TheMartian** » Fri May 23, 2008 2:06 pm

Our lineup at the start of the 4th quarter last night was House, TA, Posey, BBD, Rondo. Whotheheck was supposed to handle the scoring load for that lineup?!? That's when Detroit stretched their lead on us.

cloverleaf · Post #6 » by **cloverleaf** » Fri May 23, 2008 2:11 pm

Yep, no reason not to have 2 of the big 3 out there at all times. Doc's just not adjusted to having a good team. He still goes with the hockey subs, which is counterproductive and not necessary.

Celtics_85 · Post #7 » by **Celtics_85** » Fri May 23, 2008 3:08 pm

Doc's game management has been terrible all post season. You can get away with that during the season, but you need to step up and be smarter when the post season comes. There is no reason why at any time Posey should be guarding Billups or Hamilton as they took him to school. Tony allen needs more time in this series and Posey either needs less or more time at PF. Even Stuckey took advantage of Posey playing him. Give credit to Flip for out coaching Doc last night.

Post #8 » by **ParticleMan** » Fri May 23, 2008 4:01 pm

I agree. We should bring Duncan off the bench to replace Perk. And when Ray or Paul sits, let's bring in Kobe.

Oh wait.

Folks, when the bench gets so badly outplayed like last night, it's a miracle we're in the game at all. The bench has been pretty good. They flopped last night. No reason to go change the rotation that's been in place for most of the season.

And LMAO at all these monday morning coaches who think Doc is brilliant whenever we win, and an idiot when we lose. Folks, we're doing the same thing every time. It's about execution. Detroit out-executed us last night. It wasn't like the plan was any different.

BillessuR6 · Post #9 » by **BillessuR6** » Fri May 23, 2008 4:43 pm

ParticleMan wrote:Folks, when the bench gets so badly outplayed like last night, it's a miracle we're in the game at all. The bench has been pretty good. They flopped last night. No reason to go change the rotation that's been in place for most of the season.

And LMAO at all these monday morning coaches who think Doc is brilliant whenever we win, and an idiot when we lose. Folks, we're doing the same thing every time. It's about execution. Detroit out-executed us last night. It wasn't like the plan was any different.

The problem is that our rotation hasn`t been in place in the playoffs. It would be nice if it was but there is too much experimenting going on from game to game. We aren`t doing the same thing every time if we were our bench would look much better in the second quarter...

captain_cheapseats · Post #10 » by **captain_cheapseats** » Fri May 23, 2008 7:48 pm

ParticleMan wrote:No reason to go change the rotation that's been in place for most of the season.

I can't recall the Celts having a consistent rotation in place at any point this season. Rather, guys like House, TA, Powe and Davis have fallen in and out of favor throughout the year. Ditto Brown, Cassell, Pollard and Scals during the stretches they've been available. Posey, Perk and the Big Three are the only guys on the team who have had more or less the same role all season.

But more to the point, most teams alter their rotation in the playoffs, either by shortening the bench, or using guys more likely to succeed in the playoffs, which tend to be more intense/physical than regular season games. There's no reason the Celtics shouldn't be changing what they do as well.

jab · Post #11 » by **jab** » Fri May 23, 2008 8:37 pm

Please Doc, bring Posey in for 'the Truth' at the 8 minute mark of the 1st.
Rip said he welcomes the opportunity to show Boston fans that were fishing in 2005 that he played 48 minutes in game 6 against the Spurs. At least 10 of those minutes were at the SF position against Bruce Bowen. Detroit won that game and at the end of the game interview he replied that he still had something left in the tank.

Paul better suck it up because Tay will bring out his ball handling skills on Posey if he subs for Paul that early in the game.

Stuckey said where is that guy called Sam I Am, how come he hasn't been on the court yet?

GuyClinch · Post #12 » by **GuyClinch** » Fri May 23, 2008 8:48 pm

Doc should have been concentrating on getting Tony Allen going. He could have provided more offense for that "second unit" with Ray Allen that Doc loves so much.

As I have said all year I prefer piecemeal subsitions to second units but their are arguments both ways. The second unit argument is based on the idea that the guys get to play with eachother - while the starting unit gets to remain intact.

But I just think our bench isn't strong enough to match up against NBA starters..or some NBA starters.

Pete