Since Tony Allen is injured

[DERRENMATTS]

Since Tony Allen will not be available for presesaon games and possibly some regular season games at the start of the year, here are a few possibilites Rivers could use in the starting lineup.

--he could use Delonte at SG and Dan Dickau at PG to give the team 2 PG's who can pass and shoot and handle the ball in the backcourt

--he could use Pierce at SG and Ryan Gomes at SF to give the team 2 sturdy wing players who can play inside and out and rebound

--he could use Pierce at SG and Justin Reed at SF for a more defensive unit

--he could use Pierce at SG and insert Scala at SF to give the team size and muscle

--he could use Ricky Davis at SG instead using him as a 6th man

Amazing how taking Tony Allen out of the mix can cause a miriad of different possibilities.

[Celtic17]

derrenmatts said:

--he could use Pierce at SG and Ryan Gomes at SF to give the team 2 sturdy wing players who can play inside and out and rebound

--he could use Pierce at SG and Justin Reed at SF for a more defensive unit

--he could use Ricky Davis at SG instead using him as a 6th man

I could see these three options happening. I would rather it be Gomes and Reed steping up to earn PT. They might need to rotate to fit the opposition, to make it work.
I would like to keep Buckets as the 6th man to help lead the B-team, but we know he can jump into the starting line-up. What drawbacks could this bring, from the bench, if he starts.

[DERRENMATTS]

I actually see Rivers going with the first option, which is using Delonte and Dickau in the backcourt together. But it'll only work if Delonte looks to score more. If he's too passive, like how he was at times last year, it won't work.

The other possibility I see is using Gomes at SF. I think Gomes' game will be attractive to Rivers because of his ability to go inside and out and how much of a gamer he is. IMO, he and Pierce are very identical in the way they move and play.

[Celtic17]

If it turns out to be Dickau and West that means Banks, Greene or Bynum step it up - big time...

[Roadrunner]

I like the idea of P2, and Gomes. Though, I would like to see Reed get some real playing time as well. Gomes could be the steal of the draft.

Davis is too valuable to start. He is the only one that will shoot the ball on the second unit.

[Celtic17]

roadrunner said:

Davis is too valuable to start. He is the only one that will shoot the ball on the second unit.

If G-Money steps up he might give us a nice 1-2 off the bench, w/RD.

[ferbo]

Don't see a West Dickau duo starting. Not with as many wing options as there are.

[Celtic17]

Right Ferbo. We might need DD or DW off the bench.

[DERRENMATTS]

I can see it working. Rivers and Ainge want smart players on the court who can facilitate the smart basketball/high IQ style of play they want. In this system, its not about creating your own shot--its about moving the ball, getting open, and hitting open shots. They both can shoot, they both can pass, they both are smart (at least I know Delonte is), and they both hustle.

I'm really in favor of Ricky coming off the bench. I wouldn't mess with a good thing. He's already proven how valuable he is off the bench.

[freshnthehouse]

I gotta hunch that Ricky will be starting if Allen is out.

I want to see if Scala is going to get any time at SF. I have hard time believing he could keep up with the average SF. Maybe against 2nd unit SFs.

I could see a backcourt West and Dickeau working in small spurts. It would be fun to watch if nothing else. Not quite Sherman Douglas and Dee Brown fun, but close.

[eja117]

I like projecting, but sometimes it makes my brain hurt. I just think of the simplest answer. Gomez or Reed get more minutes and maybe GG (they at least don't send him down). Doc then gives minutes according to the game situation. if he needs more D he gives more to Reed. When i predict who will start I just think of the next best player without hurting chemistry. For example Ricky is perfect as 6th man so they leave him there and Gomez gets the starts. or maybe Reed if we have enough scoring, which we quite likely do. Not that Gomez is a slouch on D or anything. It may depend on what happened in practice

[DERRENMATTS]

Those are probably the 2 options that are likely to happen--either Dickau and Delonte play in the backcourt while Tony is out, or Gomes is inserted at SF while Pierce plays SG.

Ricky stays on the bench in his usual role. He says that he won't mind playing that role again because he has matured in the way he views things (talks about it in today's Herald).

Fresh, Scala could play some SF if Rivers wants a big lineup. I doubt this will occur often, but Doc isn't easy to guess.

[meltinjohn]

I think that with Allen gone, they can do more with the lineup. In the long run, If I see Pierce and Ricky around, Allen will be the one traded I think because other guys in these next drafts can be just as defensive minded as him. Allen I don't think will be here for the future though. Not 2 yrs from now anyways. That will leave Pierce, Ricky and GG. Thats much more solid. Green has star potential written on him while Allen has it but not quite the way GG has it.

[Celtic17]

eja117 said:

I like projecting, but sometimes it makes my brain hurt. I just think of the simplest answer. Gomez or Reed get more minutes and maybe GG (they at least don't send him down). Doc then gives minutes according to the game situation. if he needs more D he gives more to Reed. When i predict who will start I just think of the next best player without hurting chemistry. For example Ricky is perfect as 6th man so they leave him there and Gomez gets the starts. or maybe Reed if we have enough scoring, which we quite likely do. Not that Gomez is a slouch on D or anything. It may depend on what happened in practice

Just what I was thinking too EJA. Every word of it...