Reality check -- how good are we?

[CaptChris]

Just how do our BIG SIX rate at their positions in the league? How good are they using 2 accepted measurements, EFFICIENCY RATING & PER, that show how you stack up against others at the same position.


Paul Pierce -- EFF. -- 17.46 -- ( 9th) at SF. PER. -- 17.26 -- (8th) at SF.

Kevin Garnett -- EFF. -- 18.91 -- 16th at PF. PER. -- 19.28 -- (10) at PF.

K. Perkins -- EFF. -- 15.62 -- (20th) at Center. PER. -- 15.93 -- (27th) at Center.

Ray Allen -- EFF. -- 14.85 -- (12th) at SG. PER. -- 14.54 -- (16th) at SG.

R. Rondo -- EFF. -- 21.26 -- (4th) at PG. PER. -- 20.01 -- (5th) at PG.

R. Wallace -- EFF. -- 10.63 -- (34th) at Center. PER. -- 13.85 -- (37th) at Center.

So we have a SF who ranks 9th in EFF. & 8th in PER.

PF who is 16th in EFF. & 10th in PER.

Center who is 20th in EFF. & 27th in PER.

SG who is 12th in EFF. & 16th in PER.

PG who is 4th in EFF. & 5th in PER.

6th man - Center who is 34th in EFF. & 37th in PER.

We have 2 guys from the 6 who rank even in the TOP 10 at their position. Rondo & Pierce.


The problem is that they don't want to play until the play-offs according to some. Others either credit the Celtic System or blame it for thier favorite players faults or successes. Whatever it is -- it isn't working.

Maybe we just aren't that GOOD!

[texascelticsfan]

Defense wins championships not settling for jumpers and jacking treys.

[CaptChris]

In that case we are in Deep Trouble. Last I heard Rebounding was a part of "D". We rank 28th in "O" rebounding and 24th in "D" rebounding.

All our major opponents play "D" as well as we do. Clevland -- Orlando -- Lakers -- play GOOD "D", but can Score & Rebound. We have a problem Scoring the ball.

Have you looked at the splits?

Example: You LOVE Perk! Good ballplayer! Here are his splits.

Perk's "O" FG% ---- Scoring
Oct. -- .545 -- 9 Pts.
Nov. -- .633 -- 11.7 Pts.
Dec. -- .673 -- 12.7 Pts.
Jan. -- .588 -- 11.2 Pts.
Feb. -- .557 -- 8.0 Pts

Perk's Rebounding
Oct. -- 4.0
Nov. -- 8.6
Dec. -- 8.6
Jan. -- 9.6
Feb. -- 5.9

Perk has slipped badly in Feb.. He only scored 8 Pts. a game with 5.9 Rebounds. Not just him but everyone has let down and not produced at either end.

Why don't you check and see the teams that lead the Celts in "D" catagories. Like Portland -Charlotte -- Chicago -- Miami -- they aren't winning any Championship soon.

It takes a combination of good "O" & Good "D" to win Champ[ionships.

[hurdler]

Perk has been below average lately. I like perk, but had to roll my eyes a little when I read fans thinking he should be an all-star. All the starters have faced criticism except perk. Rondo and Ray have faced the most criticism, partly because of their contracts. Pierce and KG are off, but nobody really knows how much injuries are the factor and how much age has take it's toll. We are .500 for the last 2 months--8th seed level. The players talk like they need to flip the switch. There are no coaching changes in style of play, rotations, or new emphases. Ainge only makes one minor trade.

We are a good team, probably second tier right now instead of top tier. They have been playing like they are supposed to win and the other team is supposed to know that and lay down. When that doesn't happen, they seem shocked that a good 1st half isn't enough to win a game. And because of that our record is mediocre lately.

KG finally had another 20 pt game, he was starting to roll right before he got injured. I'm glad that Ray had a strong Feb after a weak Jan. He should go thru his next slump completley before the playoffs. Hopefully pierce can still be our #1 option and healthy enough to absorb contact. Those 3 are key, especially on offense. We might have an outside chance. Orlando is beatable, especially since perk can usually handle howard without much help. Cleveland is playing great, but there's always a chance if the role players don't produce for a series. Atlanta's athleticism is a tough matchup, but we might not need to play them this year. THis is our last shot at the top.

[RAH]

KG finally had another 20 pt game, he was starting to roll right before he got injured. I'm glad that Ray had a strong Feb after a weak Jan. He should go thru his next slump completley before the playoffs. Hopefully pierce can still be our #1 option and healthy enough to absorb contact. Those 3 are key, especially on offense. We might have an outside chance.
I agree, we might have an outside chance, if all these things happen. Stranger things have happened. It is possible.

[hurdler]

I agree, we might have an outside chance, if all these things happen. Stranger things have happened. It is possible.

If we have a bad playoffs could the payroll be slashed? ...Not bringing ray back, not using the MLE and filling out the roster with bargain bin players. Rondo, pierce, kg and some hungry young guys might scrape together a .500 season, basically the same record we've had for the last 2 months or so. Only trading one of the big salaries or buying out sheed could get us under the tax. The owners said they were willing to pay the tax if we were competing for a championship. IF we stumble to a first round defeat, with what ainge has said, things could go nuclear--even if kg is untradeable.

[CaptChris]

It seems that some think that we have all these home losses because of poor "D". The numbers show that we played poorly on the "O".

Here is how our chargers played during the Wins and the Losses.

Wins -- FG -- Losses

Paul .483 .425

KG .569 .489

Perk .646 .556

Ray .470 .447

RR .537 .490

RW .432 .358

Quite a difference.

The biggest drop off was Rasheed and his "3" point shooting. He shot 34.2% in the Wins, and only 17.1 in the Losses. That is (14 - 82) in the losses.

[texascelticsfan]

Perk's "O" FG% ---- Scoring
Oct. -- .545 -- 9 Pts.
Nov. -- .633 -- 11.7 Pts.
Dec. -- .673 -- 12.7 Pts.
Jan. -- .588 -- 11.2 Pts.
Feb. -- .557 -- 8.0 Pts

Perk's Rebounding
Oct. -- 4.0
Nov. -- 8.6
Dec. -- 8.6
Jan. -- 9.6
Feb. -- 5.9



You forgot MPG:
Oct: 23.7
Nov: 27.6
Dec: 28.6
Jan: 31.9
Feb: 25.2

So if we go Per 48 (not that Doc would play him over Sheed since Sheed is so clutch in the 4th jacking treys)
Rebs
Oct: 8.1
Nov: 14.1
Dec: 14.4
Jan: 14.4
Feb: 11.3

Perk has declined in February, but I sincerely doubt he is the root of the problems with the starting 5. Unless 2pt and 2 rebs really counters the miserable 3 point shooting.

[nighthob]

If we have a bad playoffs could the payroll be slashed? ...Not bringing ray back, not using the MLE and filling out the roster with bargain bin players. Rondo, pierce, kg and some hungry young guys might scrape together a .500 season, basically the same record we've had for the last 2 months or so. Only trading one of the big salaries or buying out sheed could get us under the tax. The owners said they were willing to pay the tax if we were competing for a championship. IF we stumble to a first round defeat, with what ainge has said, things could go nuclear--even if kg is untradeable.

Due to their allowing all those contracts to expire Boston doesn't have any choice. The MLE is going to be used, but it's likely to be broken up and spread among 2-3 marginal players to provide depth.

[CaptChris]

TCF: Perk played fewer minutes. Right! Did it ever occur to you that Doc sat him because he wasn't playing as well as he did in Jan.?

The 48 minute bit is playing against himself. He is 20th in the league in Reb. Per 48 minutes His "O" Reb. numbers are terrible -- 1.9. His 7.9 Rebs. gets him #28th in the league.

Perk slipped, as he did last year in mid-season. He picked it up when KG went down last year. Let's hope that he can pick it up again this year.

[nepg]

Perk plays well when they get him some offense early on. They really don't focus on this aspect very much. He's kinda "just there" most nights on offense. You have to get him the ball, he can take a lot of heat off of the rest of the offense, and he just plays better on both ends when he's being incorporated into the offensive scheme. Perk is capable of being a 16 and 10 center in the NBA. He's got good moves and a nice touch.

I think you're a bit lost in constantly bringing up the offensive rebounding. The enitre offense is built around clearing all the bigs out of the lane, then having Rondo, Pierce, or Ray Allen drive to the basket. Perk (and KG and Rasheed) is taken out to the 3pt line in most of these plays and has no shot at getting an offensive rebound. The offensive scheme is horrible. Perk is a good rebounder, and an excellent inside-out passer...yet they stick him at away from the basket for most of the offensive attempts. Obviously, the team has no shooters, but Doc never plays or utilizes shooters when he's given them, so I don't see what it matters, anyways...

[CaptChris]

nepg: Perception! Perk is the only guy in basketball that "the system" is screwing. Any problems he has are "system" problems. OUCH!

Perk shoots, and misses. How far is he from the basket? 5 ft. or less? He doesn't get the missed shot very often. System Problem? Perk has inside on foul shots. He doesn't get the rebound. System Problem? He has a good rebounding game 10 - 15 rebs., like the Laker game. Terrific! He did this in spite of the System. Huh?

The only thing I am pointing out is that FANS have a convoluted perception of the System. Perk is the biggest benificiary of THE SYSTEM. He is playing with a PG who gets him easy shots. A PF who gets him easy shots. Perk is great at getting "open" for bunnies. He move to the open spot, as well as anyone in the league. He scores most of his points on Assisted baskets. He doesn't have to get his own shot. Great System!

His play slipped in Feb., so did many others. That's all the numbers point out.

[CaptChris]

Here is the drop in other players in Feb..

Rondo -- Jan. -- .540 FG. -- Feb. -- .481 -- Reb.s Jan. -- 5.8 -- Feb. -- 4.8 -- Assists up 1.3

Allen -- Jan. -- .437 FG. -- Feb. -- .506 -- "3" 's -- Jan. -- .319 -- Feb. .354 -- RAy's worst month was Nov. when he shot .250 on "3" 's.

KG -- Jan. -- .580 FG -- Feb. .550 -- Rebs. -- Jan. -- 5.8 -- Feb. -- 7.6

PP -- Jan. -- .485 FG -- Feb. -- .361 -- Scoring -- Jan. -- 20.8 -- Feb. -- 11.7 -- PP was hurt in Feb.

Wallace -- Jan. -- .446 -- FG -- --.398 -- "3" 's -- Jan. -- .356 -- Feb. -- .171 -- Scoring -- Jan. -- 13.1 -- Feb. -- 8.6 -- Wallace was awfull.

Everyone fell down -- starters -- 6th man -- bench. We looked like crap for most of the month of Feb..