Pressey Deserves To Start For Celtics

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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1865782-phil-pressey-deserving-of-starting-for-the-boston-celtics



Phil Pressey Deserves to Start for the Boston Celtics
BY RANDOLPH CHARLOTIN (CORRESPONDENT) ON NOVEMBER 25, 2013


In 11 games played before Monday, Pressey (right) never turned the ball over more than twice in a game.
Ron Turenne/Getty Images



The four-game winning streak is a distant memory. With the Boston Celtics just 1-6 in their last seven games, the latest chapter of point guard musical chairs should begin immediately.

Jordan Crawford, your time is up. It’s Phil Pressey’s turn.

As head coach Brad Stevens tinkers with his lineups to find the optimal rotations, his open-mindedness shouldn’t exclude the pint-sized point guard from Missouri. What does Stevens have to lose, more games? Losses are going to happen anyway, so Stevens might as well try everything.

A tip of the cap to Crawford is in order first. For four games he was a glimmer of optimism after Stevens found out for himself that Avery Bradley isn’t a point guard. Crawford embraced the responsibility of running the offense and guided Boston to a win over the Utah Jazz, two wins over the Orlando Magic and a last-second stunning of the defending NBA champion Miami Heat.

During the winning streak, Crawford played with a restraint that no one thought was possible of him. He averaged 12.75 points on 48 percent shooting and 5.75 assists to just 1.25 turnovers.

And in true point-guard fashion, Crawford made his teammates better, particularly Bradley, who went from 10.75 points in the first four losses to 15.75 in the four wins.

But since Crawford’s 10-assist, zero-turnover gem against the Magic, his turnovers are up to 3.3. Before Monday's tilt with the Charlotte Bobcats, Crawford’s assists were up to 6.1 per game. But before dishing out 10 helpers against Atlanta, Crawford’s assists were down to 4.7.

Pressey’s professional body of work doesn’t compare to Crawford’s. In very limited minutes, Pressey averaged 2.0 assists and 0.8 turnovers before Monday’s game. But according to ESPN.com, that's a better assist-to-turnover ratio than Crawford's (2.7 versus 2.2). Basketball-Reference.com’s per 36 minutes statistic also makes a strong case for Pressey. Crawford edges Pressey in assists (6.3 versus 5.6), but Pressey does a better job protecting the ball (2.2 versus 2.9).

A better gauge of Pressey’s competency is what he did in the preseason. In six games Pressey averaged four assists and 1.83 turnovers per game. Pressey totaled a plus/minus of plus-31. With more minutes and more time playing with Bradley, Jeff Green and Jared Sullinger, Pressey’s statistics could improve across the board.


Brian Babineau/Getty Images
Pressey, shooting just 26 percent from the field before Monday, would have to compensate for his inaccuracy by getting teammates easy buckets.


The drawback of Pressey at point guard is his stature, listed at 5’11”. Opponents will use their physical advantage to go after Pressey offensively. Currently, Pressey and Crawford have identical 105 defensive ratings, according to Basketball-Reference.com, but Pressey’s rating likely would increase with more minutes.

Boston also risks the return of volume shooter Crawford. There’s no denying that Crawford can pour in points when he’s feeling it, like when he went off against the Indiana Pacers for 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting. But if Crawford no longer runs the team, he could go back to being the same guy that unconsciously launched shots from anywhere on the court.

It was that Crawford the lowly Washington Wizards had no interest in. And it was that Crawford that former Celtics head coach Doc Rivers played less and less in the playoffs despite the Celtics’ need of scoring against the New York Knicks.

Give Stevens credit for not judging Crawford by his reputation. Stevens is taking advantage of Crawford’s passing ability while restraining Crawford’s inclination to fire away by giving Crawford the responsibility of keeping teammates involved offensively.

Crawford is performing respectably at point guard, but maybe the Celtics can get more out of the position with Pressey starting. With a disappointing seven-game stretch, Stevens has nothing to lose by experimenting with all possibilities.



bob


.

Pressey could start. But I highly doubt it matters who starts at PG. The PG tandem of Crawford-Pressey has seen some success, but the failures have been a result of poor execution and a lazy offense.


KJ

Hey Randy. You spelled your last name wrong. It should be "Charlaton" as in "fraud." With all due respect to your credential of being employed in the Sports Department of the West Roxbury-Parkway Transcript, you have no idea what you're talking about.

Yes, it's nice to see Pressey pushing the pace and getting assists when he's in there. However, he's getting them with the second unit, which means he's also getting them against the second units of opposing teams. He also has the benefit of observing at the outset of games while Jordan is feeling out the opponents.

In terms of statistics per 36 minutes, Phil and Jordan are side by side (6.6 and 6.3 respectively. Phil does have one turnover (big whoop) less than Jordan per 36 minutes (1.9-2.9). But have you noticed that these Celtics struggle to score, and Crawford ranks second on the team in scoring per game and third in scoring per 36 minutes? Jordan averages 16.5 points per 36 minutes to 7.5 for Phil. And, in terms of composure, Phil has already had to be replaced by Crawford down the stretch of one recent game in which Jordan was instrumental in halting the opponents' charge and preserving the win.

Perhaps the time will come when Pressey, perhaps outfitted with the new "ladder shoes" that Nike is rumored to be developing, can supplant what Crawford brings to the team. Perhaps it will be sooner rather than later, although a guy named Rondo might have something to say about that. For the moment. it's no time to shake up a struggling team just because Pressey has looked good as a bench player in a couple of games. You really ought to read The Peter Principle because what you're suggesting is to risk prematurely allowing Phil to rise to his level of incompetence.

Give my regards to the Metropolis of West Roxbury, and keep that Sports Department humming on its way to a Pulitzer Prize. I'll have you know that I was the Sports Anchor for the Ronald Road Broadcasting Company in my neighborhood when I was only 13. (I was also the deejay on Crooner's Corner. Unfortunately, the Ronald Road Broadcasting Company was forced to close after two days by the FCC because some neighborhood bullies broke in, spewed some filth over the airways, and pissed off several of our mothers who were listening and who notified the authorities.

Sam

Crawford's scoring is helpful, in particular from the standpoint that Boston's offense has a tendency to stall. He ends up having to manufacture the offense as opposed to just being a distributor. So far, Pressey hasn't had much success with his own offense but he has been an energizer for the team and has helped them start nice runs.

If Boston was more apt to pushing the pace, Pressey could start with more ease. But as they only do this in spurts, it might be problematic for him to be the starter. But I guess time will tell. If Boston falls into another slump, Stevens could opt to shake things up and start Pressey. But with Rondo's return getting closer, the window of opportunity for this is closing.


KJ

No way he should start. No way he will. Barring injury. He'll get his minutes and if he continues to play well he'll get more. Starting??? not in the cards anytime soon.

beat

Pressey played a great game. Now, he needs to play another great game. Then another.

If he puts a couple of these together in a row then maybe, maybe, this is worth something.

One area he needs to show improvement in is his shooting.


bob


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Pressey may as well enjoy the minutes he's getting because once Rondo is back he'll be collecting splinters.



KJ

Kind of a silly thought; Pressey starting.

As Bob said, Bleacher Report. Not much rational thought to it.

Boston doesn't play well in the 1st quarter anyway. What would they have to lose?



KJ

Pressey will be warming the bench once Rondo returns...Crawford has carved out a niche in the rotation where he is probably going to be the first guard off the bench. And since he is proving to be a real combo guard, his value is going up.

Dboss