After 12 games, what are our weaknessess

[DERRENMATTS]

...or maybe we don't have any.

We are nearing the 20 game mark, which is usually a good indication of the status of a team.

We started out of the gates roaring, but have seemed to stall as of late. There are many times when we are playing so good, it doesn't appear that any team can stop us. And then we have times when we struggle against teams we have no right to struggle against (the Bobcats, and maybe the Raptors).

Ray Allen hasn't shot better than 42% in the last 8 games, and during this span, he's only passed the 20 pt mark 2 times. He's a lot better than that, and I wish Doc would use him better. We should design plays for Ray that the Pacers ran for Reggie Miller, or the plays the Pistons run for Rip Hamilton.

Lets start with this.

[BCHISTORIAN]

a couple of small observations:
ball movement used to be better in frist games
pp still tends to do some stuoid isos from time to time

[CelticsLoyalist]

P2 definitely reverts back to his old habits of trying to go one on 5. This, as we know, is from the years of actually being the only scoring option and being forced to go one on 5. He's definitely got to break that habit, but at this point, it may be to embedded in his game. Though, I think it will come in handy in the Playoffs when he looks to get the C's back into a game IF they happen to be trailing. Ala the NJ series of old. Good to have the option to kick it out if he gets to deep and have KG, Allen, Posey or even, I believe in him, Rondo.

Another weakness which has been minimized these last two games is turnovers. It's still a lingering problem with opposing teams who look to run off steals and such taking advantage.

The biggest weakness I think is Doc. I just dont think he is a good coach and even with good players it seems like the games we should be blowing out have been close. I dont know enough about coaching to understand what the malfunction is, but it may be the rotations, the play calls, or a combo of a bunch of things. If anyone has anything further to add, I am sure you can enlighten me a little more, but there doesnt seem any reason to blame the players. Outside of Ray's shooting slump which doesnt concern me.

[DERRENMATTS]

Doc's coaching may be masked by the greatness of Kevin Garnett, and our two other star players. Why do we not get our players in better scoring opportunities?

[findawgg]

Taking care of the ball is the biggest problem I see.

--Fin

[CelticsLoyalist]

As well as ball movement. I am starting to see a trend of one and done until Big Baby gets in there.

[eja117]

Just looking at box scores I think it's that some young guys like Perk and Rondo are in awe of the Big Three's greatness, while some more confident guys (Big Baby, House) aren't, while some smarter vets like Scala, Pollard, and Posey are trying to find their roles. Hopefully Doc sits down with Rondo and Perk and tells em "Actually you kinda have to be stars too cause it has to be 5 on 5 not 3 on 5.

When the previous Big Three played everyone on the court was an equal in the sense that they were all smart and had confidence they could beat their man and that somebody would be there to help them, and I think that will take a long time to happen here.

I'm not sure if the Big Three trust the other guys yet. I haven't watched much. I think KG is trying to get others involved, but I doubt guys like Perk are calling for the ball. When I see a box score where Big Baby outscored Perk in 6 minutes that tells me something. Maybe Perk needs to be sat for a game or two to get the message. When KG can pass off to Big Baby and just be there for the rebound for ten minutes a game it's a huge help and I doubt that kind of thing is happening. The other players have to give other teams more things to think about. I'm glad House shoots and Scala can shoot and Rondo has that 18 footer but we need more

[cfoo]

Baby is really the only guy i see come in off the bench and really change the way the game is played and increases the energy and the tempo. He is still so young that he still can't be counted on for that though. I think that is a weakness.

I also think As much as Rondo and Perk are playing within the team and doing a good job for the most part they havent really made their mark for any stretch. They have their moments but I'd like them to be more aggressive. If they screw up they screw up. They are basically doing what they can do right now.

I honestly don't think Doc is overly the problem. He's not the greatest coach, but the offense we are running is good at its core. He could be more creative. Our offense is basically setting picks and playing off of picks for the most part. I'd like to see more of Allen coming off of screens like Derren said, but he does do that, just not enough. He was screaming at the players to push the tempo in the cleveland game and we were walking it up the court. We should have been more aggressive that game. We tend to fall into stretches where we are becoming complacent. Doc needs to find new ways to open up the offense is the point. I think the offense is good, but when we become stagnant which we are starting to, it's his job to find ways to open things up. The players have to listen to him though.

[eja117]

I think seeing as how Pruitt scored so much in the DL he should give some mins to him to see what happens and give some competition to Rondo and House. Plus after playing OT games and whatnot they must get tired here and there. It's hard work going 11-2

[Roadrunner]

Free throws. Doesn't become a factor in a blowout, however, it costs the team both losses in OT.

[CelticsLoyalist]

I just came up with two thoughts. One isn't real original and I am suer its a no brainer the other is just an idea to maybe alleviate the issue of all 3 of our starters struggling on the floor at the same time.

First, KG needs to be the focal point of our offense. We need to move the darn ball around, but ultimately we should be looking to set up KG in the post to use his height and quickness to get to the rim or shoot short, high percentage, close to the hoop jumpers.. All this standing and jump shooting with P2 driving out of control has got to stop.

Second, how about using a page out of the Spurs book? By that I mean why not have one of the 3 come off the bench. Spurs use Manu as the 3rd option on the team, but as a 6th man. He doesnt lose minutes and has made them hard to handle. This is not because our bench is bad, but it will do a bunch of things for us. Namely, allow us to work our primary option of in the post. My idea is to start Posey over Ray and have Ray off the bench. Here's why...Posey is a great defender and can give us 7-10 points a game. KG will be the main option with P2 to do his thing and get his as usual. Then Ray will come in and add that scoring punch from the bench. It adds so much more of a deadly dimension to our already deadly game. Thoughts?

[DERRENMATTS]

My idea is to start Posey over Ray and have Ray off the bench. Here's why...Posey is a great defender and can give us 7-10 points a game. KG will be the main option with P2 to do his thing and get his as usual. Then Ray will come in and add that scoring punch from the bench. It adds so much more of a deadly dimension to our already deadly game. Thoughts?

Hmmmmm... sounds eerily familiar to an idea some other poster here at Celtics Green thought of awhile ago ;D

Yes, I do agree that we should do this. I'm just waiting for James Posey to play consistently enough to warrant the move. He's got to be hitting his jumpers and slashing to the basket on a regular basis. RAllen will still play his usual minutes, and in the 4th quarter, he will be on the floor with Pierce and KG. Bringing him in off the bench in the 1st quarter will allow him to take more shots to get into rhythm, and conversely, allow Pierce his opportunity at the start of the game to get his shot in rhythm too.

I agree, Bos. Pierce is starting to rub me the wrong way again. His game is slowing down again, and I see him doing more iso's that lead to turnovers. He also appears to hold onto the ball a second too long, especially when it comes to delivering passes to Ray. Rather than giving him the pass before Ray makes the pivot, Pierce passes him the ball after Ray makes the turn, after his momentum has stopped, and after Ray's man has caught up with him.

Also, KG needs to have the ball go through him. With him, there are so many options to choose from.

[CelticsLoyalist]

Sorry Derren, I had no clue you suggested that before. Was it at the beginning of the season? In any case, Posey is such a great defender I would like us to be more in the mold of Spurs and see how well we can score. So if this your idea, its a good one IMO.

[Roadrunner]

The Celtics would be wise to try to run the offense through a second or even third player. Example - San Antonio; the team focuses now on the development of Parker, not Duncan.