Ok the C's are struggling and when teams do they usually tinker with the starting line up to change things up in hope for the better.

I think Rondo and Perk are untouchable and need and deserve to remain in the starting lineup.

But how about the following idea:

We get Ray to come off the bench (to provide him more rest) and provide the bench with fire power and start House who has younger legs in hopes he can get out of his shooting slump.

or

We get Garnett to come off the bench (to provide him more rest) and provide the bench with fire power and start Big Baby instead in hope being a starter will motivate him to play better as he did last year when he started late in the season or start Rasheed who did a nice job starting for Garnett while he was out just  recently.

or

We get Pierce to come off the bench (to provide him more rest) and provide the bench with fire power and start TA and his young legs instead.

Red Auerbach always said it does not matter who starts a game, only who finishes it so I do not think it would be a problem having the big 3 come off the bench, since they will be on the floor at the end of  games when it counts anyway.

The C's once had celtic hall of famer and great Kevin Mchale come off the bench late in his career, so if he can do it, I see no reason why any of the current big 3 should not be able to as well.

Also putting one or some of the big 3 to come off the bench this year can maybe prepare them for next year when it may be a good idea (and maybe necessary due to age and health) to have them not start but instead  come off the bench.

I just think something is not right with the C's and that tinkering with the starting lineup can not make matters worse and may help short term this year and long term looking to next year as well.

Ok I think we can all agree House is having a horrible year so far especially on the offensive shooting end which is suppose to be the strong point of his game.

I do not think we can say he is just in a slump and will snap out of it because he has been in a funk all year long.

His jumper has been erratic and if House is not shooting and scoring well, then since he is not much of a defender it makes no sense to have him on the floor.

Due to his struggles so far this year and the fear they will continue the rest of the year and into the playoffs, I think its time to contemplate trading House for the good of the team and to upgrade the backup shooting guard position.

The C's can possibly trade him and his valuable 2.8 million expiring contract straight up for another shooting guard, or trade him for some draft picks and then sign another back up shooter off waivers or obtain one through a buyout etc.

I just think heading into the playoffs we really need solid shooting from the back up shooting guard position to open things up for our other players and since House appears he can no longer provide that service for us anymore we need to find another player who can.

Anyone else agree?

I just do not understand why Doc is giving Scal  minutes, since he is useless on the floor.

Even now considering the injury's we face, I believe he should be benched and Doc should turn to more talented, athletic players like  Williams and Walker.

Though he plays hard and has a great attitude its just hard watching Scal be out on the court, struggling and being outplayed by the opposition.

Also does any one have any updated info on any rumors if Danny plans to  trade Scal and his valuable $3.5 million contract or not ?

That's a great contract to pick up if your a team looking to dump payroll and their should be teams willing to give us a more serviceable big man (I am hoping a rebounder to help us on the boards) in exchange for Scal contract I would assume.

I just think Scal has been giving ample chance and is just not getting it done and needs to be benched and traded  for the good of the team.

Anyone else agree with me ?

To begin I think the C's are a deep team and have alot of strengths that teams have a hard time combating and roster depth (when healthy)  that most teams can not also match up against.

But even the C's do have a few weak spots that I think would be wise for them address before the trade deadline and prior to heading into the playoffs.

Here are my suggestions:

The first weak spot is the lack of a pure back up point guard which I think can and will easily be resolved by activating Ty Lue who is currently practicing with the team but who is now currently only a player coach.

The 2nd weak spot is the need for more big man who can help  out on the boards and with low post defense.

I think the following trade idea could help remedy that  weak spot.

Celtics can trade Scalabrine and Giddens for either the Bulls Tyrus Thomas or Golden states Ronny Turiaf .

The trade is doable since the contracts match and swapping Scal who is not even close to a power forward a small for either Thomas or Turiaff would be a great big man upgrade.

Both big men are true power forwards which Scalabrine is not and  would help improve the C's rebounding numbers, low post interior defense and add more big man depth off the bench .

The 3rd weakness is a back up small forward wing defender.

I personally think giving  Bill Walker a chance to fulfill the job requirement would great idea since he is a power small forward and athletic as well who has the physical tools to could guard opposing athletic small forwards.

But if Doc does not want to count on him I think that the C's could remedy the matter by trading Tony Allen (who is to small to do the job) for a bigger strong defending athletic small forward, someone like Wilson Chandler of the Knicks who has size, great defensive skills.

This trade is doable also since Allen makes almost 3x as much as Chandler does.

What do the rest of you think of the following roster moves to prime us for the playuoffs?

Do others have any other suggestions?

I think the C's have alot of flexibility to improve this all ready great team by making some roster moves and trades and would like to hear of any other ideas others may have.

I think they no doubt are.

I think they are stacked this year and are a more talented and deeper then the 2008 club for the following reasons:

Regarding the starters:

Garnett, Allen and Pierce were on the 2008 roster and still are on the 2010 roster and if healthy should give us the same production on the court.

Rondo was on the 2008 roster but was young and not as developed and has since developed into one of the best point guards in the NBA now in 2010.

Perk was on the 2008 roster but was also young and undeveloped and has since developed into one of the best centers in the NBA.

Regarding the bench:

House was on the bench in 2008 and still is in 2010,  giving us the same production.

Baby was a young unused rookie in 2008 and now in 2010 has developed into a starting quality big man for us off the bench.

PJ Brown was our back up center in 2008  and was great but Rasheed in 2010 is a more talented player and a major upgrade in the back up center and power forward position coming off the bench then PJ was.

We no longer have Posey or Powe on the roster from 2008 but Daniels and Williams in 2010 are equal replacements and may be better since,

Daniels who maybe is not as good defensively is a more versatile player then Posey with a better offensive game and Williams is a better rebounder,low post defender and shot blocker then Powe since he is a bigger player and has more length especially with his long wing span.

I think Lester Hudson here in 2010 with his athleticism, defensive tenacity and great scoring ability is a upgrade over Sam Cassel who was old and slow in 2008.

I think Bill Walker is also another player here in 2010 that is another talented player we did not have in 2008 that makes the roster better this year, especially as our wing defender.

Regarding Scalabrine and T. Allen who were on the roster in 2008 and were seldom used, if Danny can at the trade deadline trade and their  valuable expiring contracts for a talented bench contributor that will also make us a much deeper and talented team then we were in 2008.

Do the rest of you agree with my analysis and think that this years C's team is more talented than the 2008 championship team?

Simple question to my fellow Celtic fans.

Should Danny try to up grade the back up shooting guard position by trading Eddie House and his expiring contract for a more talented back up shooting guard?

I like Eddie and think he still helps the C's, but think since Eddie has been kinda of a inconsistent shooter this year and a liability on defense it would be a very smart roster move for the C's to try to find a player in exchange for House to upgrade the position.

It would be nice to swap House for another shooting guard who is more of a consistent shooter and plays better  defense.

I am not sure who is available but I assume come the trade deadline especially their would be some shooting guards available who could help us.

Does anyone think it would be a good to attempt to upgrade the back shooting guard position and have any names of players that may be available that we could trade House for?

I would like to know if  Danny Ainge should seek to make any trades to improve the team in order too help them achieve the goal of obtaining banner #18 this year?.

Ainge after all does have some flexibility and pieces he can trade to possibly help improve the club.

He can trade the expiring contract of Scalabrine.

He can trade the expiring contract of  T. Allen.

He can trade the expiring contract of  Eddie House.

More drastically he can trade the expiring contract of Ray Allen.

With the great play of Shelden Williams he can also possibly considering trading Big baby.

Does anyone think he should trade any of the above players or package them to improve the team?

If so who can Ainge possible obtain in a trade?

Ok it was nice to see Walker on the bench last night and ready for game action, since I think the kid is very athletic, talented and has alot of upside .

The question now is what will Walker's role on the club be and how will Doc utilize him.

I think just like last years team the C's are in need of a another small forward who defend big, strong, quick, small forwards like a Lebron James and I  believe  Walker is physically built and has the talent to be the man for the job.

Though he is not very long ( he is 6'6"), he is very quick, is built like a tank and plays very aggressive physical defense which I think makes him possibly the best player on our roster aside from Pierce to defend big, strong scoring small forwards like Lebron James.

Daniels has the length to do the job, but not the muscle or bulk as Walker does, which is why I see/hope  Doc gives Walker the role of defensive stopper against players like Lebron.

I think Walker will be a especially important player to match up against Lebron specifically, because of the following reason:.

Lebron  gives the C's alot of trouble (the rest of the league also) with his very powerful, physical drives to the hoop and  Walker is perfectly physically built to slow those drives to the hoop with his quickness and muscle.

Such a player will be a very useful to put on Lebron especially come playoff time when games get more physical.

I at least feel more comfortable  knowing that  if Pierce is hurt, in foul trouble or Lebron is giving Pierce trouble that we will have Walker sitting on the bench ready to come in and bang Lebron with his 6 fouls to slow him down.

Walker is also a strong slasher, finisher around the basket offensively and if he can develop a jumper will be very decent on the offense end also to have on the floor.

I think we really needed a player like that last year and  do this year so I hope Walker is given a chance to do the job.

I say Williams who was a lottery pick and a great player at Duke, is the better power forward out of the bunch.

I  base this not only seeing him during his short time being a Celtic player but also during his days back in Duke and several years in the NBA.

I think (especially with his massive wing span)  and better jumping ability he is a better:

1) Rebounder

2) Low post defender

3) Shot blocker

4) Low post offensive - around the rim finisher scorer.

.....Than either Baby or Scalabrine.

I think Williams is not as good a outside shooter compared to Scalabrine,  but does seem to have a jumper equal to that of Baby's. 

I also think since since Williams is still very young and a raw talent that with as time goes by and he is taught by Garnett, Rasheed (Perk also) he has the potential to get even better.

It is for these reasons I think Williams is a better power forward than Baby and Scal.

Does any one agree with me?

I think that is the type of player the Celtics roster needs and is the type of player Danny Ainge needs to trade TA for.

The reason I  think it would be great if the C's could trade Allen and in return obtain a bigger, stronger and longer defensive specialist small forward is because we a need such a player on the bench who can come in for spot duty and defend strong, long opposing small forwards like Lebron James etc.

Pierce can do the job since he has the length and size, but if he gets into foul trouble, is injured or fatigued etc. it sure would be nice to have a long, strong defending small forward on the bench waiting to come in.

Currently we do not have a player on the bench who can do the job properly.

Tony Allen does not have the strength or length to defend against longer, stronger small forwards like Lebron.

Daniels who has the length to do some spot duty defending against  players like Lebron, lacks the bulk and strength to do the job properly.

I think Walker can be the type of player ( when he returns from his knee surgery) to guard big, long strong small forwards like Lebron, since he is 6'6" and has the strength, but with his knee problems I do not want to just count on him to do the job and would feel better if we had another player on the roster who could be called on to do the job also.

Finding a long, strong defending small forward in exchange fot TA's contract should not be all that hard since the player does not have to be a great overall player, for example he does not have to be able to score a lick as long as he can bang and defend well against opposing long, strong small forwards.

Basically a younger version of Bruce Bowen is the type of player the C's should seek to trade TA for , he was not much of a scorer but a great defender against strong, long   small forwards

Does anybody agree with me that the Celtics need to acquire such a player for their bench and that they should trade TA in order to obtain such a player ?

If so what players are available that have similar contracts with TA that would allow the C's to make such a trade?

Has any one noticed the size, length and physicality of the 2nd unit bench reserves?

When Doc plays either House or Hudson - both 6'1",  Daniels 6'7",  Rasheed 6'11",  Baby 6'9", either Scalabrine or Williams - both 6'9" thats a pretty big, lengthy, physical line up coming off the bench.

I think due to the size, length and physicality  of those players off that bench they are a good rebounding & defending unit and a rather physical one.

The unit even though it has size and length  is still quick and can get up and down the court and defend the outside perimeter.

It also has good low post scoring options and outside scoring options.

I think size,length and physicality is important in basketball and like this 2nd unit for these reasons.

Does anybody else notice the size, length and physicality of our bench and think it will be a plus for the C's this year like I do?

I know the C's signed Daniels to fill the job but what about Hudson?

I know its early seeing we only have seen him in just 1 preseason game, but what are the chances that he can also be a back up point guard for us?

He looked good in his 1st pre season:

He has a great body for the NBA, seems to have good ball handling skills, can bring the ball up the court under pressure, has great speed, a good outside shot and is very active on defense..

I think Hudson who is a good outside shooter will not allow his defender to sag off on him (like Rondos defender does) to double team our low post players.

This will allow for alot of easy buckets for our low post players especially if Garnett Rasheed and Pierce are on the floor with Hudson at the same time.

Id like to see more of his ball passing skills and how he sets up the offense for the others on the floor, but so far so good in my opinion.

Does any one else agree?

Is it smart for the C's to go all out and try to secure home court advantage this season which will mean maybe more minutes, stress and chance of injury to occur to the team, but will secure important home court advantage in the playoffs for them?

or

Do the C's cruise during the regular season and let the starters rest alot and play the bench a extra amount of minutes which could (maybe not the bench is so good this year) cause the C's to lose home court advantage, but increase the chance of them heading into the playoffs with a more healthier, rested team?

Home court is so critical and I think needs to be a goal after all that's the reason we play a regular season, but I also want to do everything we can to assure the C's enter the playoffs being healthy and rested, so also like the idea of cruising during the regular season and then putting the pedal to the metal and going all out during the playoffs with a fresh healthy club .

But I am torn between which course of action is best and which one  the C's should take.

What do the rest of you think is the right choice for the C's to take?

If the Celtics want to win the title this year they no doubt will need a healthy Perkins to do so.

But what exactly is the health status of Perks shoulder, which has been injured several times over the past couple of years and was repaired surgically in 08?

Is the shoulder 100% healthy now or is it a chronic problem that can breakdown any time?

I just keep remebering whenever Perk went up strong around the hoop  the last 2 years and he was met with strong resistance from opposing centers he would grimace in pain and hold his shoulder.

With Shaq and Howard waiting in the wings the pressure on Perks shoulder sure wont get any easier and we can not afford Perk to injure it.

Does anybody know the current health of Perks shoulder and if it is a chronic condition that can cause Perk and the C's trouble this year ?

Also does anybody know if Perk is providing the shoulder special rehab and conditioning during the ofseason to prepare it for the upcoming season?

.

Are their any true talented 7 foot back up centers that we can trade for this off season in exchange for Tony Allen or/and Scalabrine?

I still hope the C's can add a legit 7 foot monster center to back up Perk and Rasheed, because if either gets hurt we will not have a legit center on the team to come off the bench.

Such a center  will be vital insurance heading into the season and will also come in very, very handy when we have to deal with Dwight Howard and Shaq during the playoffs.

Anybody know of  a list of  talented centers who are currently available this off season that the Celtics may be able to  obtain in a trade for Allen or/and Scal?

Does any one know what legit free agent big man are available currently for the Celtics to sign or obtain through a sign and trade with Big Baby?

We really need a legit talented 4th string power forward and center on the team considering Garnetts knee and Perks shoulder issues and the age of Garnett and Rasheed.

Please do not count Big Baby as a big as he being 6'"5" is a power small  forward period in my  eyes.

If anybody has a list of legit big man players the C's could possibly pick up , Id like to view it in hope of  seeing what talent is still out their that the C's can obtain.