Ainge Explains Why He Didn't Make A Minor Move For Rebounding..

[Phantom255x]

http://nesn.com/2017/02/danny-ainge-explains-why-celtics-didnt-fill-rebounding-need-at-trade-deadline/

“When you just add a rebounder, and he hurts your offense, it defeats the purpose,” Ainge told 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Toucher & Rich,” as aired on CSN New England. “A rebounder will just be sitting on your bench. We have players that are more skilled, and we play around our strengths. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that when we added Al Horford this year — and this is nothing to take away from Isaiah (Thomas) and Avery (Bradley), because they’re fantastic players — but I think that Al’s presence makes those guys all better.”

In short, Ainge didn’t believe Boston should have added a rebounder just for the sake of boosting the team’s numbers.

“We have the floor spread and we have skilled bigs,” Ainge added. “Al is leading NBA centers in assists this year, and that’s the way that we play. First of all, we know that we don’t have a great rebounding team from a personnel standpoint, but we also don’t play a great rebounding style, in that we rely on our bigs to play out on the perimeter and make plays and make passes and open up the court up for our guards.

“It is a weakness. There are some guys out there that can rebound OK. I think there was one or two rebounders that I would say that were good rebounders that could help us rebounding. But we’re always trying to evaluate if they’re going to help our team overall.”

I'm guessing Ainge also didn't think this team was beating Cleveland anyways, so why bother. Although I think we still should add someone like Jones or Bogut to help us in the first and second round series (especially against TOR and WAS).

Oh well, I'm over it now. Hoping for this team to make some noise in the playoffs and head into this draft and FA with fireworks (Fultz/Ball + Hayward/Griffin + Zizic/Yabusele)

[Big333223]

If Ainge scoops up Bogut for nothing (and he probably should), he'll look pretty slick, all things considered.

[footey]

This is very interesting. Makes you wonder how much of a role Zizic will have next year if he hasn't developed a 3 point shot. Of course, AJ gets decent burn, so maybe not as big a deal as Danny lays out. I think that is the major weakness of Ainge's claim: Why couldn't we find a better rebounder to take AJ's place in the starting lineup.   

[littleteapot]

Danny's right about roster construction - it isn't worth putting a rebounding specialist on the floor who just makes you suck in halfcourt.

I think he's wrong that the C's aren't a good rebounding team because of the way they play offense. They are the second worst team in DRB%.

[BitterJim]

I guess this kind of makes sense.  It shouldn't really be Danny making the decision of whether or not to go after certain guys - he should be asking Brad whether or not they'd get any playing time if he traded for them.  Danny can then worry about how much he's gonna give up, but if Brad isn't gonna play the guy, why give up any assets (however minor they may be) for him?

That raises the question (if it's true) of why Brad didn't think a rebounder could be an upgrade over a guy like Amir (who, admittedly, does the little things, even if he isn't a great rebounder) or Jerebko

[positivitize]

it's been exactly 6 years to the day since we traded perk

6 years since we've had a CENTER playing center. Hopefully we don't have to wait much longer.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

This is very interesting. Makes you wonder how much of a role Zizic will have next year if he hasn't developed a 3 point shot. Of course, AJ gets decent burn, so maybe not as big a deal as Danny lays out. I think that is the major weakness of Ainge's claim: Why couldn't we find a better rebounder to take AJ's place in the starting lineup.

Even Amir is a threat to take and make the 3, he is always on the perimeter. If you remember, CBS has tried to put him on the bench in favor of another spreader with Jonas. He doesn't start KO because he wants a Horford type off the bench, trying to keep that out there at all times. I'm sure we would add Drummond but that's because he would be a monster here offensively and add rebounding. That's why he mentioned the weakness offensively of other players that were available but said he would give up BKN 1 for Drummond earlier in the week.

[BitterJim]

it's been exactly 6 years to the day since we traded perk

6 years since we've had a CENTER playing center. Hopefully we don't have to wait much longer.

Are you saying that 38 year old Shaq wasn't a center!? Although I guess he might not fit the "playing" part of "playing center" 

[TheSundanceKid]

I (+ others) completely agree with him. He was right not to chase Noel or Nurkic. It would be a coup to get Bogut on the waiver wire but I guess we'll see.

As for competing with the Cavs this year, even if a Butler trade put us on a par with Cle long term it would be hard to integrate in time for this playoffs. I feel that the change in Toronto might be more difficult for them than some think, Washington I still don't see as a threat in a 7 game series

[Grindfather]

This is very interesting. Makes you wonder how much of a role Zizic will have next year if he hasn't developed a 3 point shot. Of course, AJ gets decent burn, so maybe not as big a deal as Danny lays out. I think that is the major weakness of Ainge's claim: Why couldn't we find a better rebounder to take AJ's place in the starting lineup.

I see a lot of people make the claim that the Celtics are only interested in bigs that can shoot threes and that's why they don't acquire a "rebounder."  It seems like a mischaracterization of what the team's philosophy is.  It's not that they don't want a big who can't shoot threes so much as it is they don't want a big who's only skill is rebounding. 

What Ainge is saying is that if all a player can do is rebound, he's most likely going to hurt the team overall. 

A big doesn't need to be able to shoot threes, but he should be able to do one or two of the following other things: protect the rim/provide interior defense, pass, defend on the perimeter, switch on defense, defend the pick and roll, provide elite rim running.

Drummond is a good example of this. He's an elite rebounder, perhaps the best in the league, but that's all he can really do.  He has no versatility. Before everyone started spreading the floor, being a really tall dude that could jump high was enough to make you a star, but that's really not the case anymore.

Lack of versatility is chasing a lot of guys out of the league.  Roy Hibbert, who was the second most important player on a ECF team 3 years ago, is going to be gone in the next year or two because all he can do is stand near the basket and jump up in the air.  He gets roasted in a pick and roll, can't shoot, can't really rim run, and can't defend out side of the restricted area.

We don't need one-dimensional guys.  Stevens won't play them, so what's the point of acquiring them.

[drogbagarnett]

And/or Terrence Jones!

[Phantom255x]

And/or Terrence Jones!

If he gets Terrence Jones I will forgive Danny for all the doubts I've posed on him the last 20 hours for not even making a minor move 

[liam]

I (+ others) completely agree with him. He was right not to chase Noel or Nurkic. It would be a coup to get Bogut on the waiver wire but I guess we'll see.

As for competing with the Cavs this year, even if a Butler trade put us on a par with Cle long term it would be hard to integrate in time for this playoffs. I feel that the change in Toronto might be more difficult for them than some think, Washington I still don't see as a threat in a 7 game series

I'll have to wait and see how much Washington and Toronto helped themselves. I personally don't think they'll be much better with what they added. I think Lou Williams down in Houston will have the biggest effect of any trade this season. I don't know if even Boogie moves the needle much in NO. I think Lou Williams helps most strictly because of fit.

[GratefulCs]

it's been exactly 6 years to the day since we traded perk

6 years since we've had a CENTER playing center. Hopefully we don't have to wait much longer.

wait, i thought this was a thread about rebounders

perk wasnt exactly great on the boards

but he was definitely a great enforcer and banger

[littleteapot]

Patrick Patterson was already great for them, but I think Ibaka will be huge for Toronto.