Brad Stevens Contemplating Ways To Get Both Jeff Green And Evan Turner Into Celtics Lineup

If Turner pans out, and Green can step it up and find consistency regardless of a couple of different point guards, we have a real luxury.

Can certainly see one or the other being trade bait at some point; more likely Green IMO.

All kinds of possibilities. Green, if he steps it up, Bradley, and a few picks from the grab bag for one. Come late season with a trade deadline approaching and others trying to fill holes or get deeper at 2 and 3, that might at least be the start of something. Green just has to show a little something, and I think we can use him in a deal.

There's plenty of minutes to go around.

Also, I'd say that both Turner and Green are likely trading pieces, if a major trade does arise.


KJ

I can't wait to see Turner and Green on the floor together.  I believe that Turner could be just what Green needs—a reliable offensive threat to take pressure off Jeff as well as a pretty good ball distributor to help get Jeff some easy baskets.  Moreover, I'd like to see the fireworks potential of a Green, Thornton, Turner combination at the 3, 2 and 1 respectively.  All three can shoot from outside and can slash.  I realize some people would be concerned about the defensive ability of this combo.  But I'm coming to like Thornton's defensive intensity.  I've always thought Jeff's defense was underrated.  And I think Turner's height at the "1" would enable him to present defensive problems for opposing 1s.

Sam

NYCelt wrote:If Turner pans out, and Green can step it up and find consistency regardless of a couple of different point guards, we have a real luxury.

Can certainly see one or the other being trade bait at some point; more likely Green IMO.

All kinds of possibilities.  Green, if he steps it up, Bradley, and a few picks from the grab bag for one.  Come late season with a trade deadline approaching and others trying to fill holes or get deeper at 2 and 3, that might at least be the start of something.  Green just has to show a little something, and I think we can use him in a deal.

A team with defensive issues in the paint is gonna look even less imposing with Green as a PF, can't imagine how we could rebound competitively either. Other than dunking, Evan Turner has the handle and vision to set up others, skills needed from the SF position that Jeff Green is lacking....having said that I'm with you hoping Green has a good year so we can use him as trade bait for a Rudy Gobert type 5.

One thing I'd really like to know about Sully and Kelly and Bradley and Thornton is how well they'll come through in the clutch. They haven't played a meaningful game in the pros yet but they will this year, you can just feel it. After that first month of tough opponents, when they may not even win a game, they'll slowly start to make a name for themselves as defensive maniacs who never quit. It'll be a roller coaster ride, win one lose two, win two more, they probably won't get blown out very often, but they'll start to learn what works - relentless defense, outworking their opponents by simply running harder, diving for loose balls, never backing down. They'll discover there's this thing called Celtic pride: after a few wins, especially against teams that are considered superior to them, they'll start looking up at the rafters. There's tradition here and, as they start to win consistently, it will mean more and more to many of these guys.

They may surprise people and even win some of those early games. The great 1986 Celtics team lost 10 games (?) to teams with losing records, which indicates that the Celtics of 2014-15 may sneak up on some people. A lot of teams, such as Cleveland and Chicago, are in transition and may take time to jell. At the same time, they'll think they're better than these no-names from Boston.

It certainly would be nice to have a team full of guys who like to take the last shot. It would be like the 60s Celtics.

Spike,

I would remove Bradley from your list of players that "haven't played a meaningful game in the pros yet". Bradley replaced Ray Allen towards the end of one season as starter. When Ray was still here, we still were considered to be contenders and went deep into the playoffs.

gyso

Green and Turner on the court at the same time will be an option when Boston wants to run more.

On the defensive side of the ball Jeff will need to put more effort into rebounding the ball at the 4.

However I do not see Turner as a starter. He is the perfect 6 man and we have not had one of them in a long time. Turner is a three position player and that is rare.

When Rondo comes back that will probably push Turner to the bench. Brad will have the ability with Turner to shake up the lineup in 3 spots.

I am a little surprised that we have not heard Brad mention that role for him.

I think that Thornton is our sniper off the bench and Turner is the 6 man.

We will see what happens.

dboss

Dboss,

I agree that Turner could be a good 6th man after Rondo returns.  However, I'm not sure about the distinction between a "sniper off the bench" and a valuable 6th man.  Downtown Freddy Brown was a sniper off the bench and was known as a great 6th man.  What I'm wondering is whether it's possible to have a double barreled 6th man tandem—one at SG and the other at SF.  I don' believe there are rules about how to use 6th men.

Sam