[BallerScriptParticipant]

Boston has lost a lot of their defensive leadership (not all though) with the departures of Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder. Tony Allen is still available and still a top defensive wing in the league. It is best that Boston pitches an offer to him instead of being forced to give minutes to Semi, Bird and Kadeem Allen early.

PG – Kyrie Irving | Smart, Rozier

SG – Tony Allen | Brown, Bird, Allen

SF – Gordon Hayward | Tatum, Ojeleye, Nader

PF – Marcus Morris | Yabusele

C – Al Horford | Baynes

On a side note Bogut depending on his recovery could also be a nice option for the C’s as their big are lacking depth and defense.

 

 

 

 

[Anton123Participant]

Is there a good reason to start Tony Allen instead of Marcus Smart? Smart is bigger and will probably be better on both ends next season. Do they need a second, slightly worse, Marcus Smart? I’m sure he wouldn’t hurt the team, but come playoff time, I don’t see Tony Allen playing big minutes in a shortened rotation. 

Where did you get the notion the Celtics would be forced to play their rookies next year? I mean they probably will play some of them 5-7 mpg in the regular season, but I think that’s more of a good thing – develop the young guys a bit.

Also, I really think the Celtics would be better off getting someone who can shoot at least a tiny bit, so they can occaisionally pair that player with Marcus Smart. I have high hopes for Marcus’ jumper, but I wouldn’t bet on it if I were a GM.

Again, if I was a Celtics fan, I wouldn’t be mad with a Tony Allen signing, but it doesn’t address the real problems that proved to be their downfall in the playoffs: rebounding and rim protection. Their bigs right now are even worse defensively than last year, they are attrocious, Gordon Hayward might lead this team in rebounds. And that’s where they lack defensive leadership most of all, not on the wings, they’ve got arguably the best perimiter defender in the league.

[cohenbc1Participant]

 I think Tony Allen helps any team, but like Anton123 said, the Celtics need another big. Right now Baynes is the only backup other than rookies. And it’s not like Marcus Morris is a killer starting PF, either. He’s never shown any indication that he’s a starter on a championship team.

Is Boris Diaw still unsigned? He would be a good fit for cheap.

 

[mowestenParticipant]

Tony Allen doesn’t help the Celtics in any meaningful way. First, he’ll be 36 this year, second he can’t shoot, third he can’t scored and fourth his abilities are similar to Marcus Smart who is 15 years younger.

Funny, because I actually think the Celtics, while improved, might have as many significant weaknesses as any contender in recent memory — and addressing those issues should be a much greater priority than signing Allen.

1. No shot blocking.

2. No depth, of any kind, on the front line.

3. Shooting guards can’t shoot.

4. Their starting 4-5 combo might be the worst rebounding starting 4-5 combination in the history of the league. I’m not kidding on that front. Horford averaged 6 rebounds, Morris 4 rebounds last season. That’s incredible.

 

 

 

 

[cohenbc1Participant]

 It’s odd how Horford’s rebounding fell off, he was a solid 9-10 rpg guy his first five seasons. And the dropoff started in Atlanta, so it’s not a quirk of Brad Stevens’ spacing or anything like that.

[mowestenParticipant]

 It’s not really that odd, some guys as they get older start to like contact less and less and begin to treat the paint like it has herpes.

All you need to understand Horford’s rebouding decline is watch where he is at on offense — he is 20 feet from the basket chucking jumpers. 

[Author]

Posts