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[triboy16f]

Like i mentioned previously, small ball only works against certain teams. And we had to adjust to both 76rs and heats speed last playoffs. Anyways took a lifetime to just simply but KG back at pf. It somehow shaved off 2 years of his age. Collins was effective tonight as the starting center, but it was against the cavs. The celts can see a legit center can make a huge difference.

If collins as a role center did what he did for the lineup tonight i would love to see what melo could do if given a chance. All collins is good to do is set good picks, not make mistakes and use his big body to alter shots/fight in the paint. If melo can just do these basic things the same, follow collins, plus is a much better shot blocker, rebounder and scorer, we could be a better team than we have been all year long.

I know Melo is raw but he needs experience. It took Deandre Jordan a few years but look at him now. Melo and Jordan imo are very comparable players. You don't have to start him but play him a few mins on the 2nd unit for the next few games. See what he can do. If he screws up, you can send him back to the nbdl and try to acquire a decent center.

Thoughts?

[Fafnir]

If Paul Pierce scores 40 points on 16 shots I don't think it really matters who the center is. So unless you think Collins sparked Pierce tonight I don't see how this makes the case to bring up Melo.

[PhoSita]

The thing is, as useless as Collins is in terms of impacting the box score, he stills knows where he's supposed to be and when, and he doesn't tend to make many mistakes out there.  He might be slow, but he knows his role and he does it.

Melo has very little idea how to properly play the game of basketball.  Put him out there and he'd miss at least half his rotations and cause the Celtics to give up more points than he'd help prevent. 

[triboy16f]

The thing is, as useless as Collins is in terms of impacting the box score, he stills knows where he's supposed to be and when, and he doesn't tend to make many mistakes out there.  He might be slow, but he knows his role and he does it.

Melo has very little idea how to properly play the game of basketball.  Put him out there and he'd miss at least half his rotations and cause the Celtics to give up more points than he'd help prevent.

You make it sound like Melo is fresh from Brazil just picking up a basketball. He came from a very good program playing for Syracuse and was a big part in helping them have one of the best records last year. Some state due to his academic mess up it could of cost the team of a championship.

I think is also great he learned zone defense because the celtics use a hybrid ind/zone defense to cause other teams issues. He just needs to nail the ind defense down. Bring him up and have him go against other teams 2nd unit and lets see what happens

[bfrombleacher]

The thing is, as useless as Collins is in terms of impacting the box score, he stills knows where he's supposed to be and when, and he doesn't tend to make many mistakes out there.  He might be slow, but he knows his role and he does it.

Melo has very little idea how to properly play the game of basketball.  Put him out there and he'd miss at least half his rotations and cause the Celtics to give up more points than he'd help prevent.

You make it sound like Melo is fresh from Brazil just picking up a basketball. He came from a very good program playing for Syracuse and was a big part in helping them have one of the best records last year. Some state due to his academic mess up it could of cost the team of a championship.

I think is also great he learned zone defense because the celtics use a hybrid ind/zone defense to cause other teams issues. He just needs to nail the ind defense down. Bring him up and have him go against other teams 2nd unit and lets see what happens

Isn't the zone blamed for the failure of most 'Cuse products?

[Edgar]

I dont know...

tough call but if Collins and KG teach him a cheap trick or two I can live with a young banger in this team , maybe next year will be the right time to do that

[LarBrd33]

Yeah I agree.  He's the 10th best player on our D-League Roster.  Give him a shot.   We're trying to tank, right?

[ScoobyDoo]

I'm all for bringing Melo up for a run - I knwo that we are currently ranked #1 in the Power ranking and we want to be careful not to mess that up, but, I'd give it a shot.

And here is a "reallY" crazy, crazy idea. How about playing Melo along side KG and within a Zone defense - try it for 10 minutes, see what happens.

I can't remember when we did it, but I think it was at some point in last year's playoffs and we had a pretty effective Zone.

I know, I know, it would require some creativity in finding ways to utilize players most familiar strengths, but...

[triboy16f]

If Paul Pierce scores 40 points on 16 shots I don't think it really matters who the center is. So unless you think Collins sparked Pierce tonight I don't see how this makes the case to bring up Melo.

Its not collins but having a decent center out there is better for Pierces game. You throw the ball in to collins, and the guy guarding pierce gets off track a little. Pierce can lose him or once getting the ball back, have a step on him. Without a decent centre, the celtics have keep playing hot potato around the key and that does nothing for pierce except have defenders on him like glue.

[ScoobyDoo]

Put a lot of Spped on wth wings when you do it:

Melo - plant him in the middle
KG - Free safety
Pierce, Lee and Rondo right now
Pierce, Rondo and Bradley once AB comes back.

[Edgar]

If Paul Pierce scores 40 points on 16 shots I don't think it really matters who the center is. So unless you think Collins sparked Pierce tonight I don't see how this makes the case to bring up Melo.

Its not collins but having a decent center out there is better for Pierces game. You throw the ball in to collins, and the guy guarding pierce gets off track a little. Pierce can lose him or once getting the ball back, have a step on him. Without a decent centre, the celtics have keep playing hot potato around the key and that does nothing for pierce except have defenders on him like glue.

Even when Collins isnt offensive presence at all this help on D too. They play transition better tonight with someone helping to box out even when not rebounding himself. thats the value I am talking about the Box out i am not nonexistant center who cares about getting the ball back

[Celtics18]

I say, no need to rush things.  I'm fine with taking it nice and Melo.

[RJ87]

Melo is so, so, so raw as a player. He's just nowhere near ready for prime time. We drafted him as a longterm project. I'd rather leave him in the d-league and let him develop at his own pace instead of playing him too soon and risk breaking his confidence.

Really, it'd just be best if people forget about Melo until next season. I think its fair to hope that he can give us 10-15 mins as a rotation guy next season, anything sooner than that seems farfetched.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

I agree.

I understand he's so raw and still figuring things out. But one thing he can contribute right now is really needed, his shot blocking presence. At worse he'll challenge anyone's shot in the paint. Anything good out of that is a bonus.

I mean c'mon, we have no Center outside of Collins. I'd call him up and give him a consistent 10-12 minutes per game (about 3 a quarter), just to see what he can do. He showed he can learn and. Improve at a very fast pace, practicing with the main roster might help him better than playing in the d-league. And even I he's not yet ready, like I said, he will at least alter a lot of shots.

[RJ87]

I agree.

I understand he's so raw and still figuring things out. But one thing he can contribute right now is really needed, his shot blocking presence. At worse he'll challenge anyone's shot in the paint. Anything good out of that is a bonus.

I mean c'mon, we have no Center outside of Collins. I'd call him up and give him a consistent 10-12 minutes per game (about 3 a quarter), just to see what he can do. He showed he can learn and. Improve at a very fast pace, practicing with the main roster might help him better than playing in the d-league. And even I he's not yet ready, like I said, he will at least alter a lot of shots.

Him constantly being missing defensive rotations and being out of position on the defensive end/being a constant foul machine will negate any blocked shots. And then when you factor his complete lack of offensive polish, it just makes no sense to bring him up... He's still practicing with the main team, but I much rather he consistently get 30 mins a game in the d-league, as opposed to a sporadic 10 mins a game with the C's.