How the Celts could turn the Laker series around

[John S]

The Celts primary disadvantage against LA is LAs length and  matchup problems.  The Celts are holding LA to 95.7 ppg which is good enough to win.  Celts need to up their offense, neutralize LAs length and create a matchup advantage of their own.  To do that they need to start Wallace in place of Perkins which does all 3.  Here's why:
 
1) Perkins provides no offensive threat.  Wallace is a good scorer.
2) Perkins and Bynum clog the middle not allowing Rondo or Pierce to get in the lane where they are both extremely effective.  Wallace stays at the 3 pt line and draws LAs length far from the hoop where it is ineffective.  And it creates a matchup problem as Bynum and his gimpy knee will have a tough time staying with Wallace or Garnett.  Bynum was last seen on the bench nursing a tweaked knee.  Imagine Wallace at the 3 line and Garnett 18' out.  That leaves the lane wide open for Rondo to drive and create and Pierce to finally be effective on offense by driving and getting fouled.  The offense improves dramatically as all 5 Celts would be offensive threats whereas now it is only Allen and Garnett, and that is only when their shot is on, which has only been one game for each so far.  This gets Pierce in rhythm (essential), and the Celts are at their best when Rondo can drive and create.  And it would be easier to create with an open lane and 4 offensive options to pass to.  Pierce and Rondo are more dangerous on offense with Wallace in, and Wallace is always more of an offensive threat than Perkins.
3) On defense, Wallace is at least as good as Perkins.  He has demonstrated that in guarding Howard and Gasol.  For example, Perkins has no blocked shots and Wallace has 2 blocked shots in about half the minutes.  Wallace would guard Bynum rather than Gasol if needed which would help stay out of foul trouble.
4) Rebounding - Wallace is leading the team in rebounds/min against LA
5) Wallace's best value in this series is when both Gasol and Bynum are in because Wallace can best neutralize LAs length.  Hence, play Wallace at the start when both of LAs big guys are in.
6) Pierce needs to get going from the start, and its not likely to happen unless he can drive, which he can't with a clogged lane.  Wallace needs to play when Pierce and Rondo are playing which is the start of the game.  Pierce is only shooting .361 in the current system which, predictedly, isn't working.
7) This new dynamic offense would help get the crowd into the game.
Provides an element of surprise for the essential game 4.  LA would be forced to adjust.
9) LAs length and matchup advantages are clear.  Boston needs to do something significant to change that dynamic.
10) Boston is getting killed in the first 3 quarters by a total of 26 points and winning big in the 4th quarter by 15.  Even in the 2008 series LA generally got ahead early.  Boston needs to get off to a better start and set the tone.  The team that has been ahead after one qtr has won each game.
11) Guarding Wallace or Garnett would help wear out Bynum's gimpy knee.  Currently all Perkins does on offense is set screens.  Bynum simply hangs out in the paint.
12) What do they have to lose?  The current system isn't working even while Kobe is off, which won't last forever.  The Celtics will need more offense.
 
In case you haven't noticed, Wallace leads all Celts at .27 bounds per minute and .600 bounds plus points per minute, shooting a solid 5-6 from 2 pt range and 2-8 from 3. 

It's not too late to make this bold move, but it may be after Thursday.

[tgreanier]

I knew I bought that Sheed jersey for a reason. I could not agree more. I would *love* to see Doc start Wallace and bring Perkins or KG off the bench. We keep hearing how there are no egos in the way of this team. This move would certainly prove it.

Sheed looks like he means it. I say let him play. Could it be worse?

[Drucci]

Indeed, extending Sheed's minutes would benefit us tremendously (not to the point of starting him in place of Perk though) but the problem is that Doc can only play him for short spurts because his back injury doesn't allow him to play a lot of minutes and long stretches.

Basically, Sheed is producing at a high level but we can't count on him too much because he is hurt. It sucks.

[John S]

He needs to start for reasons noted in the post

[Chris]

I'm not sure how much "turning around" is necessary.  All they need to do is close out a couple games.  These teams are evenly matched, and they are both playing well.  If the C's hit a couple extra shots, or the Lakers missed a couple extra shots, it would already be turned around. 

[More Banners]

While I agree that Sheed is proving to be the better player in this series, and consequently should get more minutes, starting him makes no sense.  The only matchup that works with Perk is Perk/Bynum because Perk doesn't do well guarding mobile bigs, so matching him up against Gasol in the high post or Odom would heavily favor LA.

Sorry...

I think the better move would be to limit BBD to what he does well and accept when he's done what he can do (energy guy in limited minutes) and not try to think he can guard Gasol in crunch time just because he's been doing okay-put Sheed in to close out games when we're down.  Our best 2 bigs are KG/Sheed, and that's who should be closing out games.  It's not who starts, but who finishes.

[Jaycelt]

I think this would make a ton of sense if Sheed was healthy, but he's not.  That more than anything else is why his minutes have been limited. 

[John S]

Sheed played 18 min 40 sec last night and was fine.  There is no next game.  Tomorrow is as must as can be.  This is not a time to worry about minutes.

Perk's time should be limited.  Celts need more offense and Perks only offense is on bounds.

Irrespective of minutes, Wallace needs to start to help get Pierce and Rondo off to set the tone.  By unclogging the lane, that is best apt to happen. 

Wallace has done far more than mop up time.  Wallace helped turn game 2 around when the Celts were +15 when he was in. He helped stop the stampede in game 1 when he was +3.

[wdleehi]

Celtics were at their best last night when Perk was on the floor.  His size and defense effects the Lakers big men.  His rebounding was a key part when he played.

[vinnie]

Celtics were at their best last night when Perk was on the floor.  His size and defense effects the Lakers big men.  His rebounding was a key part when he played.

I disagree. Perk's defense has had little or no impact on either Bynum or Gasol. He did rebound well last night. However, he did not play at all in the fourth quarter and the Celts were extremely effective except for the last 3 minutes. If the Celtics need to score points to catch up, they really can't have Perk on the floor for too long. For the most part he gives the Celts less than zero on offense.

[wdleehi]

Sheed played 18 min 40 sec last night and was fine.  There is no next game.  Tomorrow is as must as can be.  This is not a time to worry about minutes.

Perk's time should be limited.  Celts need more offense and Perks only offense is on bounds.

Irrespective of minutes, Wallace needs to start to help get Pierce and Rondo off to set the tone.  By unclogging the lane, that is best apt to happen. 

Wallace has done far more than mop up time.  Wallace helped turn game 2 around when the Celts were +15 when he was in. He helped stop the stampede in game 1 when he was +3.

DOnt't underestimate Perk's defense.

When he was on the court, the Laker big men shot 2-12.  Off the court, they shot 9-13

As for +/-

Wallace was -10 last night.  Perk was + 7

If the officials are not going to be calling the foul train (like game 1 and 2) Perk's defense is a plus out there.

[wdleehi]

Celtics were at their best last night when Perk was on the floor.  His size and defense effects the Lakers big men.  His rebounding was a key part when he played.

I disagree. Perk's defense has had little or no impact on either Bynum or Gasol. He did rebound well last night. However, he did not play at all in the fourth quarter and the Celts were extremely effective except for the last 3 minutes. If the Celtics need to score points to catch up, they really can't have Perk on the floor for too long. For the most part he gives the Celts less than zero on offense.

When he was on the court, the Laker big men shot 2-12.  Off the court, they shot 9-13

[vinnie]

Celtics were at their best last night when Perk was on the floor.  His size and defense effects the Lakers big men.  His rebounding was a key part when he played.

I disagree. Perk's defense has had little or no impact on either Bynum or Gasol. He did rebound well last night. However, he did not play at all in the fourth quarter and the Celts were extremely effective except for the last 3 minutes. If the Celtics need to score points to catch up, they really can't have Perk on the floor for too long. For the most part he gives the Celts less than zero on offense.

When he was on the court, the Laker big men shot 2-12.  Off the court, they shot 9-13

Just curious. Do you have the Lakers' big man stats for the other two games when Perk was on or off the court? I guess the problem I see is that he is such a liability on offense the Celts are playing 4 on 5 when he is out there.

[bobdelt]

But what's the 2nd unit look like then? We need Rasheed off the bench for when Rondo and a couple of the guys are taking breathers.

Yesterdays 2nd quarter lost of the game when the bench was out there. We need some kind of spark from them.

[John S]

Perk has no blocks.  Wallace has 2.  

The Celts have won Q4 by 15.  They have lost the first 3 Qs by 26.  The team that has won Q1 has won each game.  They need to get off to a good start and win Q1.  Yes, I agree we should finish w/ Wallace, but we need to start w/ him too.  

In the first 2 games Perk was -14 and +3.  Wallace was +3 and +15.