And the tribe votes off....

[Piotrowski, Mark A]

I agree that this lineup makes not a lot of sense.  I hope that Doc is using 
it right now, the begining of 
camp, to perhaps motivate Jefferson and Perkins to step up.

If i had my way we'd start:

West / Allen / Pierece / Jefferson / Perkins

and our 2nd unit would be:

Telfair / Szczerbiak / Green / Gomes / Ratliff

I could live with Telfair replacing West (who would assume the same type of 
role as Wally below) if he'll 
commit to getting the running game in gear.

Szczerbiak would be the 6th man, playing 30 mpg or so, finishing most games a 
la Ricky Davis 2 
seasons ago.  But I like having Allen out there with Pierce b/c (a) he can 
take the toughest defensive 
assignments and (b) is eager to run, run, run which we need early in the 
games.

The 2nd unit has an inordinate amount of firepower (Wally, Gomes, Green, 
Telfair) and BBall IQ (Gomes, 
Wally, Theo) for a 2nd unit.

As much as I agree that he shouldn't start, i'll repeat that I think having 
Theo Ratliff on this team (along 
with Clifford Ray) is just going to help Perk and Jefferson SO MUCH.  I think 
this will be the underated 
addition of the decade for the C's.  It's exactly the type of trade I was 
angling for with suggestions of PJ 
Brown, Antonio Davis, etc. over the past few years -- a decent big who can 
help Perk and Jeff from 
cutting corners in practice.

(the other) mark


************
Mark B wrote:
**************
So the starting unit would be Telfair, Pierce, Wally, Gomes and Ratliff?
Is that simply the worst rebounding Celtics team of all time or the
worst rebounding NBA team of all time? Does Doc understand that if you
want to run, you have to get the ball?

I love Gomes. He's a good rebounder FOR HIS SIZE. He's not a good
rebounder by starting PF standards. And Ratliff has NEVER been a good
rebounder. He's a good help defender and shot-blocker. He provides
little help on the boards and none on offense. And never mind the fact
that Ratliff will be injured three weeks into the season playing
starters' minutes.

Throw in the fact that Delonte isn't out there -- he's a great rebounder
from the PG spot -- and Wally's mediocre rebounding ability and the only
guy we have on the floor who is a plus rebounder is Pierce.

This is nuts. They want Telfair to push the ball, but that unit won't
rebound, Pierce won't run, Ratliff is 67 years old and Wally is playing
on one knee. Does this make sense to anyone?

Meanwhile, we'll have Al and Perk out there together on the second unit
fighting for rebounds and our best finisher (Allen) playing with our
best half-court PG.

Wow, we haven't even gotten to the first preseason game and I'm already
frustrated with Doc.

Mark