Is it 1987 All Over Again (re: Celtics's Bench)?

[RebusRankin]

A little something to discuss on New Year's since there are no NBA games today. Are we seeing a repeat of 1987 right now. That year you had a defending champion Celtics team with a great starting line-up but a weak bench, something that hurt them in the end. Is this a comparable situation?

[Andy Jick]

minus all the injuries...

i would say, yes, it does.

[Donoghus]

That '87 team was decimated by injuries and the fact they even made the Finals was remarkable.  If they had stayed healthy, that bench looks a lot more formidable.

This current incarnation of the bench is healthy but just very erratic.  It still could be enough to carry them to the title, though.

[tb727]

This is an excellent comparison in my opinion.  This is actually something I mentioned 10 games into this season.

That 87 bench is probably what prevented the Celts from winning it all.  Think of it: 1986 6th man of the year Bill Walton is a non-factor.  The 6th man in 2008 James Posey is no longer here.

A lot of similarities in my opinion. TP for opening post.

[crownsy]

This is an excellent comparison in my opinion.  This is actually something I mentioned 10 games into this season.

That 87 bench is probably what prevented the Celts from winning it all.  Think of it: 1986 6th man of the year Bill Walton is a non-factor.  The 6th man in 2008 James Posey is no longer here.

A lot of similarities in my opinion. TP for opening post.

excapt that that bench looked alot worse than it was due to a rash of injuries.

If knock on wood, we avoid injuries to starters, than no, its not the same. If we don't, sure, it will. If we get injured up front and bench guys have to step up to starting status, then am average bench will become a weak bench.

[QuinielaBox]

It is too soon to make comparisons of the 2009 Celtics to the 1987 Celtics which had to fight through massive numbers of injuries at made it as far as a seven point halftime lead in Game 6 of the NBA finals. The bench still had Jerry Schisting, Fred Roberts?,  Scott Wedman, Greg Kite (no offensive threat but he limited Kareem Abdul Jabber at least in Game 3). I think the 1987 bench is better than this outfit of Tony Allen, Leon Powe, Glen Davis, and Eddie House. Lately we have been missing Posey. I have seen all the trade scenarios and I really don't like any of them. Our best bet maybe to interview Antione Walker and see if he can still give us anywhere near the capability lost when Posey left.

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

Why do people say Posey was our 6th man? Hmm.. he was our best bench player, but he didnt come off the bench first every night and he isnt like a manu ginobli for the spurs or anything, plenty of nights he came off the bench as a 7th or 8th man

[Redz]

To carry that comparison through KG would have to be playing on one foot for the playoffs, and Posey would still be on the roster but basically incapacitated.

[RebusRankin]

Yeah, I know its not perfect but I felt a comparison could be made. I expect to see one article about this very idea before the end of the season.

[guava_wrench]

Why do people say Posey was our 6th man? Hmm.. he was our best bench player, but he didnt come off the bench first every night and he isnt like a manu ginobli for the spurs or anything, plenty of nights he came off the bench as a 7th or 8th man

You don't have to be the first player of the bench to be consider the 6th man. You just have to be the best bench player.

Ginobili is a special case, because he plays long minutes and often comes in early. Most players are subbed by position, not by pecking order. Posey was our 6th man. He was the most important guy off the bench. He wasn't going to be the 6th guy in the game since KG usually sits first, or Perk in the case where he gets early fouls (often the case in the past).

I don't think we should get hung up on the injury aspect when considering the analogy in the thread. No comparison is 100%. The key point was that the starters may have been the best 5 in the league, but the bench cost them.

[Andy Jick]

To carry that comparison through KG would have to be playing on one foot for the playoffs, and Posey would still be on the roster but basically incapacitated.

well, tony plays with half a brain and perk is one shoulder injury away from a near worst case scenario for this team...

[crownsy]

It is too soon to make comparisons of the 2009 Celtics to the 1987 Celtics which had to fight through massive numbers of injuries at made it as far as a seven point halftime lead in Game 6 of the NBA finals. The bench still had Jerry Schisting, Fred Roberts?,  Scott Wedman, Greg Kite (no offensive threat but he limited Kareem Abdul Jabber at least in Game 3). I think the 1987 bench is better than this outfit of Tony Allen, Leon Powe, Glen Davis, and Eddie House. Lately we have been missing Posey. I have seen all the trade scenarios and I really don't like any of them. Our best bet maybe to interview Antione Walker and see if he can still give us anywhere near the capability lost when Posey left.

what would he provide that posey did?

He doesn't defend, doesn't pass, doesn't run the floor, and certainly doesn't rebound like posey anymore.

The only thing they have in common are they shoot the three ball, and posey does that better.