Post by moreese on Dec 22, 2007 9:58:03 GMT -5
I definitely jumped on the Danny Ainge "we don't need a backup point guard" bandwagon prior to this season. After watching the Detroit game, I realized I may be wrong. We could really use a veteran poing guard for about 10 minutes a game right now. Mainly just to get the ball up the court, without forcing Ray Allen or Eddie House, and more importantly Tony Allen to do this.
It's not that I don't think these players can do this (well with the exception of Eddie House who was really starting to scare me). But I would rather not have Ray or Eddie in that role, since it plays away from their strengths and into their weaknesses. With Tony, it would be fine if I could completely trust him, but this 10 minute period when Rondo is resting or in foul trouble is too vital for me to trust Tony in that spot. Tony is a much better supporting ball handler, where he is helping when a team is pressing. But relying on him as the floor general during that type of stretch is not something I'm comfortable doing right now.
When Rondo went out against Detroit it was hard to watch. I felt like I was watching a girls high school game where the only girl who could dribble without looking at the ball had left the game, and shear panic ensued afterwards. Gary Payton would be perfect for this role, because he is reliable. That is all we need right now, reliability, not an all star. It is like parenting, we don't need a father of the year, we just need someone who will pick the kid up after practice. Payton can get the ball up the floor, get it to the right people, and give Rondo the much needed rest. If Rondo didn't get in foul trouble so much, I'd say just play him 48 minutes, but clearly he'll foul out long before that happens. Stay on your feet and don't reach Rondo!
It's not that I don't think these players can do this (well with the exception of Eddie House who was really starting to scare me). But I would rather not have Ray or Eddie in that role, since it plays away from their strengths and into their weaknesses. With Tony, it would be fine if I could completely trust him, but this 10 minute period when Rondo is resting or in foul trouble is too vital for me to trust Tony in that spot. Tony is a much better supporting ball handler, where he is helping when a team is pressing. But relying on him as the floor general during that type of stretch is not something I'm comfortable doing right now.
When Rondo went out against Detroit it was hard to watch. I felt like I was watching a girls high school game where the only girl who could dribble without looking at the ball had left the game, and shear panic ensued afterwards. Gary Payton would be perfect for this role, because he is reliable. That is all we need right now, reliability, not an all star. It is like parenting, we don't need a father of the year, we just need someone who will pick the kid up after practice. Payton can get the ball up the floor, get it to the right people, and give Rondo the much needed rest. If Rondo didn't get in foul trouble so much, I'd say just play him 48 minutes, but clearly he'll foul out long before that happens. Stay on your feet and don't reach Rondo!
