AB probably won't play any mins at PG (and other notes from training camp)

[Csfan1984]

If it gets Turner playing better team ball than it makes sense.

[2short]

If Turner can take care of the ball decently, I am kind of liking the idea of a situational (temp until Rondo gets back) starting lineup of:

PG Turner
SG AB
SF Green
PF Sully
C  Zellar

Depending on who we are playing, that could be fun.  Turner and AB probably cross match on D.  We get some size in the backcourt, and still get to bring Smart off the bench as a energy 6th man.

that is a very possible starting line up. i think the key will be turner himself and his play during camp. his experience will be a plus for him. bu

[GreenWarrior]

...sigh.

turner playing point....you have 2 pg's on your team. so let's play the sg there.

well the two that are left, pressey is undersized and overmatched against most teams, and Smart is a rookie that might be better developed by taking things slow. 

imo, pressey was pretty close to getting cut this year and isn't the answer.  if turner can take care of the ball and be effective, I don't know why they shouldn't consider him.  I personally like smart coming off the bench at first at least, less pressure, bigger impact against 2nd stingers...

this move is more about striving to be an 8 seed imo. only way i'd be ok with this is if turner plays like Crawford did last yr. for that 2 week stretch. otherwise it's a waste.

[GreenWarrior]

Interesting article on Turner playing point for the Pacers.  Small sample size for sure, so who knows..

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/03/evan-turner-playing-point-guard-for-pacers/

...and that article just made me less happy.

[LooseCannon]

If the season started today, I would expect Pressey to start next to Bradley.

[Beat LA]

Jay King ?@ByJayKing  3m3 minutes ago
Stevens pretty much said Avery Bradley won't play any point guard this year. Sounds like Pressey, Smart, Turner competing for Rondo's mins.

A. Sherrod Blakely ?@SherrodbCSN  14m14 minutes ago
It's unlikely you'll see Avery Bradley at the point this yr. #Celtics HC B. Stevens focusing on Evan Turner, Marcus Smart and Phil Pressey.

Boston Celtics ?@celtics  19m19 minutes ago
Sounds like Jeff Green is acting as James Young's big brother thus far. Young says that he's been following Green's every move in Waltham.

Scott Souza ?@scott_souza  23m23 minutes ago
#Celtics rookie James Young: I look up to Jeff Green. I am going to spend the season following his every move.

Marc D'Amico ?@Marc_DAmico  30m30 minutes ago
Evan Turner (who played some PG today) says he's much more comfortable with the ball in his hands as opposed to catch-and-shoot situations.

Boston Celtics ?@celtics  34m34 minutes ago
Brad Stevens says that Jeff Green "is in great shape" and has "a different step about him" compared to this stage a year ago.

Scott Souza ?@scott_souza  34m34 minutes ago
#Celtics coach Brad Stevens: To Jeff Green's credit, he took it upon himself to improve strength. One of team's better conditioned players.

Scott Souza ?@scott_souza  32m32 minutes ago
#Celtics Brad Stevens: Jeff Green has different way about him this year. Has already tried to pull James Young aside for extra tutelage.

Scott Souza ?@scott_souza  36m36 minutes ago
#Celtics coach Brad Stevens: Told Jeff Green he's closer in age to me than James Young. He is someone that needs to be looked up to now.

Scott Souza ?@scott_souza  40m40 minutes ago
#Celtics coach Brad Stevens: Jared Sullinger in better shape than he was last year, and through last year, but can get better.

Scott Souza ?@scott_souza  43m43 minutes ago
#Celtics coach Brad Stevens: don't be surprised if, early in the season, you see Jeff Green or Gerald Wallace at power forward.

Jay King ?@ByJayKing  44m44 minutes ago
Stevens said he felt he was "too gradual" last year putting in sets. Going quicker this time around.

Jay King ?@ByJayKing  45m45 minutes ago
Stevens called Evan Turner, "notwithstanding Rondo," as good a pick and roll player as Celtics have.

Jay King ?@ByJayKing  52m52 minutes ago
Joel Anthony, Gerald Wallace and Vitor Faverani "didn't do all the things" in 1st practice, but did suit up. Rondo the only one fully out.

1).  As to Bradley not playing point guard - THANK YOU GOD!!! , and 2).  The rest of the stuff in these excerpts is pure crap.  They say the same things every year, "Oh, so-and-so's come in in the best shape of his life, another guy is going to take his game to the next level this year, and then the captain obvious statement in regards to Turner's preference to play with the ball in his hands," blah, blah, blah.  Yawn.  Who cares?  When I didn't know what I do know about the NBA and coaches' speak, I used to always believe that they couldn't believe a player fell to them in the draft, etc., but now I just ignore and dismiss this useless chatter.  Seeing that picture on the homepage of Turner and Anthony made me think, "enjoy the laughs and excitement now, guys, because that's the last time that you're going to be smiling this year."  I wish that I was being sarcastic, I really do, but this is only the second year of the rebuild.  Hopefully we'll get a big guy in next year's draft.  In the meantime, let's see what these kids can do, and will someone please get Young away from Jeff Green before James loses his aggressiveness and ability to take, and make, the big shot, haha?   I'm not taking any chances here - after all, the kid is, really, still a kid, and he's clearly still in the formative stage as a player, so don't ruin it Green lol!!!  Ugh.

[blink]

Interesting article on Turner playing point for the Pacers.  Small sample size for sure, so who knows..

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/03/evan-turner-playing-point-guard-for-pacers/

...and that article just made me less happy.

It didn't really convince me either way, too little data.   Interesting for context...Just like anything else at this point, proof is in the pudding.  Lets see how players do through camp / preseason / start of the year.

[timpiker]

Good news

[BballTim]

We also learned that CBS doesn't really know what 'notwithstanding' means.

  Give him a break, people have as much trouble with that as they do with "irregardless".

[Chris22]

James Young needs to watch some video of Alex English.

[Celtics4ever]

I do not think he plays much like Alex English or has those kind of skills.   I think he is more athletic and less skilled.

[SCeltic34]

Good if true.  AB can't run a team's offense, we've already seen that.

But what I'm hoping for is that Evan Turner gets more minutes at the point (and just more minutes overall), a lot more so than Pressey.  Pressey has impressive court vision and provides cheap depth at the PG spot, but let's be honest - he isn't a long term solution at PG and will always be a fringe NBA player at best.  I'd rather not waste minutes on him.  Let's re-establish ET's value by giving him playing time.  Danny will find a way to flip him for something better.  Classic buy low and sell high.

[BASS_THUMPER]

Danny will find a way to flip him for something better.  Classic buy low and sell high.

avery aint no house or nothin like that... g whiz..

tryin to flip my boy like pancakes...


avery stays and he can bring the rock up the court...

[blink]

Danny will find a way to flip him for something better.  Classic buy low and sell high.

avery aint no house or nothin like that... g whiz..

tryin to flip my boy like pancakes...


avery stays and he can bring the rock up the court...

I am pretty sure he was talking about Turner. 

[crimson_stallion]

Scott Souza ?@scott_souza  43m43 minutes ago
#Celtics coach Brad Stevens: don't be surprised if, early in the season, you see Jeff Green or Gerald Wallace at power forward.


ummm we have bass, sully, ko, anthony as power forwards
did a trade happen we don't know about 

I assume this would be a situational lineup for when Boston want to go small and athletic, to run in transition.

This woiuld be a VERY athletic lineup:

C: T Zeller
PF: Jeff Green
SF: Marcus Smart
SG: Avery Bradley
PG: Rajon Rondo

I would not be surprised at all to see Smart get some minutes at the SF spot.  He had quite a lot of success defensively against bigger guards (Exum @ 6'6", Wiggins @ 6'8") in the past, and while I couldn't see him match up against the really big SF's (Lebron, Carmello, KD, etc) I could see him being plenty effective against some of the leagues shorter and/or skinner small forwards.