Unfortunately, being a Celtics' fan in Oklahoma I've had a hard time all off-season convincing my friends that Boston will be a playoff team this year. I'm keeping my expectations tempered, but I did send out a mass text last night letting everyone know the score. I will be making my annual trip to Dallas next Monday to proudly wear my Rondo jersey and support Boston. If anyone is around that area and going to the game I hope to see you there.
Yes, it's generally hard to convince people in something that's not very likely. Sure, a 20+ point win against a dysfunctional squad missing their best player is nice. However, the problems remain.
1. Rondo can't shoot. Not from three, not from outside of 15 feet, and not from the free throw line. After another season with no visible progress whatsoever, I think it's time to accept that he is what he is at this point.
2. No go-to scoring in the starting lineup.
3. No players that can create reliably create their own shot in the clutch.
Sure, it seems that unlike last season, we no longer have to play guys that are not NBA caliber players at this stage of their careers (e.g. Pressey, Wallace), but that's only moderately reassuring.
1. Stevens seems to have devised a lineup in which Rondo's lack of shooting isn't a huge problem. For the majority of the game yesterday they played him with at least 3 above average 3 point shooters. If Sullinger, Olynyk, Green, Thornton, Bradley and Turner can knock down 3's at an above average clip, Rondo's lack of shooting becomes significantly less of a big deal.
2/3. Two and three are essentially the same because the end of the game is when you need a go to cluch scorer. The hope is with the offense and the shooting that the floor is spaced enough to get clutch buckets by running the offense (similar to how the Spurs score in the clutch). Last night their 3 point shooting and spacing allowed a bunch of easy buckets in the pick and roll. I'd always rather have a layup in the pick and roll or an open 3 off penetration over a contested shot from a go to scorer in the clutch. However, when they needed a bucket last night they seemed to rely on matchups (giving the ball to Sully in the post or letting Green create on the wing) but I think you will see the ball go to either Green, Rondo or Sully for clutch/go to scorer shot creation.
The Spurs have Duncan, Ginobili, and Tony Parker. Their ability to score, in the clutch or otherwise, is just a tad different.
If you think you'd get clutch scoring by giving the ball to Rondo (who's not going to give you a long-distance shot or 2 scored free throws with any sort of reliability) and spreading the floor, prepare to lose most of the close games we play in.
As for yesterday, Sullinger worked against the likes of Mason Plumlee and Jerome Jordan, and Green was 4 for 10. That is all.
Not saying we have the same players as the Spurs, just that the idea of scoring by running your offense instead of just giving the ball to your clutch scorer is a viable strategy.
Mason Plumlee is a good enough defender that he made the national team based on his defense and energy.
Jeff Green isn't a world beater but he was a top 50 player in the NBA in clutch scoring last year.
While they might not be great in the clutch, I think their defense and solid offense will allow them to break even in close games this year.
It is a pretty lazy argument to say oh well this team doesn't have a great go to scorer so it can't be better than people think. There are so many facets of the game besides go to scoring. For example our play in the clutch will not just be a function of clutch scoring but clutch scoring defense, which with Bradley, Smart, and Rondo I think will be very good.
Topic: We are going to be better than people think (Read 30809 times)