When Ray Allen left Boston’s chowder for Miami’s beaches this past summer, the Celtics quickly hit the telephones. While Kevin Garnett was busy deleting Ray’s contact info, GM Danny Ainge chose to be a little more productive…..he was able to swing a deal with Houston for swingman Courtney Lee and then sign Jason Terry from Dallas.
Today, the scouting report says Lee likely starts games at SG while Terry finishes them. The shoulder-rehabbing Avery Bradley is also expected to play a lot of minutes there due to his defense. But, despite the numerous options, I think there’s another guy more ideal for that 2-spot.
I look for head coach Doc Rivers to go with Jeff Green at SG a lot as the 2012-13 season moves forward. It’s actually poetic that Jeff replace Ray’s spot, seeing that he’s the guy who was traded to Seattle (Oklahoma City) for Allen back in ’07.
Green has, by far, been the star of the preseason in Boston…maybe even the East as a whole. He’s in the best shape of his career following heart surgery just 12 months ago, also possessing the length and hands of something straight out of a video game. While his offense has been impressive during exhibition, it’s his defense that would be the biggest difference-maker at the 2-spot. Who better to battle the size of rival 2-guards Joe Johnson, DeMar DeRozan, Paul George, Evan Turner, and (when healthy) Iman Shumpert? It may be tough at times for Jeff to create his own shot vs shooting guards, but that’s what Rajon Rondo is for. He sets the table for everybody and has the ball in his hands most the time, anyways. When he doesn’t have the rock, it’s usually in Paul Pierce’s mits.
Doc has actually been gameplanning for this lineup already. In training camp, he ran a lot of guard-guard stuff in practice…dribble hand-offs and curls. As Rivers told NBATV’s Real Training Camp that he plans on using a lot of ”big guard offense.” What better big guard than the 6’9″, 235 lb Jeff Green. In brief stints this preseason, Green has played alongside Rondo & Pierce and looked great.
With the Celtics opening the season versus the Miami Heat next week, we’re not going to have to wait long to see Jeff Green in the Boston backcourt. Who better to check the likes of Dwyane Wade and Lebron James? maybe even on the same possession.
Who knows, Ray Allen may again be seeing a whole lotta Green.
The C’s are slow enough bro
The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed free agent guard Leandro Barbosa. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Thanks for the report but that was last week….