What are we missing?

[cfoo]

Last year

In 22 mpg perk averaged 4.5 ppg on 49% shooting, 5.2 rebs, 3 fouls

this year in 24 mpg he is averaging 7.1 pts on 60% shooting and 5.6 rebs, and 2.9 fouls. As the season goes hopefully he will get up around 10 pts and 8 boards

Rondo last year averaged 6.4 pts and 3.8 assists and on 42% shooting, 2.3 fouls in 23 mpg

This year he is averaging 9.4 and 5.3 assists on 50% shooting, 2.8 fouls in 31 mpg

Both players are coming along at the same clip, but people applaud rondo and say perk is sucking and that's not accurate.

Both players miss shots they should make. So many times during games Rondo will throw up an ugly shot or a layup that he should finish or make and Perk does the same. But you applaud Rondo and want to replace Perk and that's not fair. They basically are at the same pt in their career and their production and the way they play their position at this point is nearly identical.

I'm of the belief that we have 2 solid pieces in Perk and Rondo. I think eventually we will see Perk getting his 10 and 7 or 8 and 2 blcoks Rondo getting his 15 and 7 and 2 steals consistently. That's ultimately all we need from those guys and that just means they are making the shots they should. both players are going through their ups and downs.

Once we have BAby doing what he can do we will have everyone playing to their potential. Right now we are 26-3 and guys still have room for improvement and I think they will improve. That's the great thing about this team. We don't need anything. I think if anything our team is playing close to their potential but guys like Allen, Baby, Perk, Rondo need to play better and more consistent in their roles. We lost games at the buzzer and fluke thnigs because guys didn't do what they should. The same goes for Pierce, Allen, Garnett and everyone. We have the pieces.

[cfoo]

I still think Rondo, Ray, Pierce, Garnett, Perk with TA, House, Posey, BAby and matchup players like Pollard and Scal is the perfect rotation ultimately. We could maybe use another experienced ballhandler in there and another big and maybe another perimeter defender but hwo are we going to play all those guys right now? I'd much rather play what we have and let Perk, Rondo, Allen, BAby get in a groove a bit. If TA is going to come back from his knee surgery he needs to play. Same goes for everyone else. We are 26-3 and there is no urgency to make moves. That's the great thing about this team. Guys are getting time and we are winning and we need to take advantage of that while we can.

I also think people wanting to change things for the sake of changing thigns are filling up blog space like moreese said.

[cfoo]

Anyways I know what you are saying DErren and your opinion is good. You are right that we should be looking for what we need and stuff. But I just think we have those things already on our roster and it's better to let things play themselves out. Not trying to be an !!!GREENIAC!!!. I just think when we are 26-3 you can tinker only so much. I just want to enjoy the season and that's kind of where I'm at at this point. There is a point where you can tinker with things to the point of making things worse. That's not saying I'm complacent either. The team needs to improve and work hard at getting better and they are. Doc and Danny are doing all the right htings. And so is the team. I watch Rondo and Perk and Pierce and Allen get better every game, and that's what I'm enjoying.

[eja117]

You could easily be a Spurs or Pistons fan and watch them and come away saying "what are we missing"? Everyone misses something one way or another. The trick is to miss less than anyone else. My biggest concern is if Rondo goes down for a time (KG doesn't count). I think in a way he's more critical than even PP and Ray cause other swings can step up and others can hit shots but we don't really have another pg, just combos that have played the point. I hope with our roster spots we do something aggressive instead of sitting around

[cfoo]

I'm sure we will. I think if anything we are missing a perimeter defender. Hence why we are scouting Kedrick. And we didn't miss Rondo last night. We have depth at every position so trying to find what we are missing is not that simple. And I do think there is a point where you can fix things to the point of breaking them. That's not saying I don't want them to be aggressive and make a couple moves because I'm sure they will. I'm not worried about it. We all know what we could use. I think it's better to let things play out. This isn't fantasy bball where you sign someone and then can cut them the next day. The thing is the things we need are going to be there. Gary Payton is basicalyl a walmart pg at this point in his career. Signing junk isn't being aggressive. It's being stupid. Hey let's go to walmart and buy a bunch of cheesewiz and spam that's been sitting on the shelf for decades, even though we don't need it. There's a point where we are doing things just for the sake of doing things.

[eja117]

Exactly. The problem is that GP used to be some great French (that is the only time you will EVER see me write the words "great" and "French" next to each other) cheese and ham and was in a really expensive store, and people still remember that and forget that he expired, but was able to be recycled into cheezewiz and spam and sold at Wal-mart for 1.99.

[cfoo]

Hey if we can make a move that makes sense and really helps us, I'm all for it. I just haven't heard anything yet with any substance. We can say we need a backup pg or a lowpost guy, but I think we are very good with Garnett, Perk, Baby, etc and ROndo, Allen, House etc... Show me something that makes us better. Otherwise we are kind of just filling up blog space.

I have more faith in our rotation and in Perk and guys like that. I think the same of Perk and Baby and Rondo and TA. They all have potential to be that. As they become more consistant we aren't going to need these things. I think we already have better on our roster. Say we go out and get someone else does that mean he's better than if we brought in Perk or TA? No it doesn't. I tink peopel want something new and it's like if we sign someone he's automatically better than the guy we already have, which isn't true. Why would we even play GP when we have Rondo and TA and House? All 3 of those guys are better than GP at this stage in his career. I have nothing against GP either. We could use his experience but I don't think it's really worth it right now.

[cfoo]

I also understand what Derren is saying that it would be great if we had another lowpost guy but who? It's not like we are going to trade for Al Jefferson here. From the center position we need more of a defensive presence anyways. I think having Al and Garnett down there would hurt our defense. It would also creat problems with touches. We have a good mix as it is. Perk just has to do a better job of making his shots, and Baby has to do a better job of getting buckets and taking advantage of his time when he is in there. The chemistry on this team is perfect. We have a very good mix of vets and young guys, and players that play different roles I guess is the point. They have to continue to get better and play their role.

[ferbo]

Jefferson? He would be great.

But we had him and already traded him.

\Unless DA could sign someone, or get someone on a salary dump (which isn't likely because he isn't going to be taking on salary beyond this year), he would have to ship someone(s) out.

Would you ship House for a "veteran PG"? Don't think I would.

Would you ship TA for a backup 5? Maybe, may be not.

Wish DA had kept Wallace. Kid might or might not have helped. My guess is that he at least would know wht to do in any of t he front-court spots, even if he physically didn't match up too well. Salary commitment wouldn't have been that much, and there was already one open spot on the 15. if gold could be found, cutting him later wouldn't have cost that much.

I think the reality is that Davis moved by Powe a good wh ile ago. Which doesn't mean thaat Powe won't work his way up. kid has been an overcomer.

Doc congtinues to say that the team can play much better. So let's just sit back and smile and hope he is right. Because if they can, it is REALLY going to be fun.

Before Chicago started playing, I wondered if they would be in the mood to dyump Wallace. Doubt it.

[eja117]

cf00 said:

I have more faith in our rotation and in Perk and guys like that. I think the same of Perk and Baby and Rondo and TA. They all have potential to be that. As they become more consistant we aren't going to need these things. I think we already have better on our roster. Say we go out and get someone else does that mean he's better than if we brought in Perk or TA? No it doesn't. I tink peopel want something new and it's like if we sign someone he's automatically better than the guy we already have, which isn't true. Why would we even play GP when we have Rondo and TA and House? All 3 of those guys are better than GP at this stage in his career. I have nothing against GP either. We could use his experience but I don't think it's really worth it right now.

I totally agree. That's why Pollard doesn't get off the bench. I'm not sure he's better than Baby even

[DERRENMATTS]

GP is better dribbling against pressure than House and TAllen. I certainly hope we get ourselves help at backup PG because the Pistons exposed this weakness. Doesn't have to be GP (he's past his prime), but someone who can bring the ball up against pressure and run the offense when Rondo is out, without skipping a beat.

[moreese]

Yes but after 29 games when you are the best team in the NBA, why would we be looking to improve our chances. Wouldn't this run the risk of screwing up something that is clearly already working? I agree if the right situation arises, I'm all for it. But I agree with Ainge's patience on this, we don't need to do anything. If the appropriate bonus move comes along, make it happen, however let's not gamble right now, we just don't need to do it.

[eja117]

I'm concerned we might only be 3rd or 4th best. If the Mavs, Spurs, or Suns played in the East their record would be very similar and we have a long ways to go, but that doesn't mean I want a guy like GP on my team. I would at least want to see what Pruitt can do against pressure before making a panic move like that. Even if he can bring it up what good is it if he can't defend his guy when the other team brings it up? How great can he be if his man always leaves him to help on PP cause he's no threat whatsoever to drive?

[DERRENMATTS]

But we do have a need for a backup PG. Right now, in the regular season, we can get by without a quality backup--we can get by with House, Tony, and Ray bringing the ball up the floor. But this task will be magnified come playoff time (actually, it'll probably become more important as the playoff hunt begins after the break). The Piston's game revealed this truth. We could have won that game had we not given up two key possessions late in the 4th because we didn't have a backup PG who could handle pressure in the backcourt.

[findawgg]

All you have to do is revisit the Celtics loss to Detroit to see that Boston needs an experienced back up at the point. Boston lost that game when Hunter, true to his strengths, employed some 3/4 and 1/2 court traps that House simply couldn't handle, causing 3 TO's and a 7 or 8 point swing. Boston needs a PG that can handle the defensive pressure when Rondo is on the bench.

--Fin