<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> Coach Doc Rivers said during the Celtics' annual media luncheon yesterday that the team could have an aggressive, fast-paced offense this season. He won't, however, decide what type of tempo fits the team best until he gets familiar with how newcomers Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett fit in with Paul Pierce during exhibition games.</p> "I know what we want to run and how we are going to do that," said Rivers. "That's not difficult. But the whole key for us is pace and what is the correct pace of play for us.</p> "I'm going to base my decision on how the big three play. If two of the three aren't sprinters, you can be a fast-paced team but you can't be an uptempo team. There is a difference. I think we can be a fast-paced team. I just don't see us being an uptempo, Phoenix Suns team. I know we're not going to do that."</p> Rivers said the Celtics would push the ball, but there wouldn't be quick shots like the Suns, and he has no problems going into a half-court offense. He has told players outside of Pierce, Allen, and Garnett during pickup games that if they turn the ball over in hopes of being uptempo, they are taking opportunities away from the aforementioned perennial All-Stars.</p> Rivers said to expect Pierce, Allen, and Garnett to be on the court together a lot during the preseason so they can get comfortable with one another. Rivers is intrigued about determining what players play best with the three stars. The Celtics begin training camp Sunday in Rome and play their first exhibition there Oct. 6 against Toronto.</p> "Whenever they play, a lot of times they are going to be together," Rivers said. "It's not only for them. The rest of the guys have to get used to playing with them, too. That's just as important."</p> Rivers will also experiment with lineups, including one with Garnett, normally a power forward, at center, and one with Pierce or newcomer James Posey at power forward. Rivers also plans on experimenting with a three-guard lineup of Ray Allen, Pierce, and Tony Allen, or Ray Allen, Tony Allen, and newcomer Eddie House.</p> "We have a lot of flexibility," Rivers said.</div></p> Source: The Boston Globe</p>
I think we'll run a fairly balanced attack, because we can hurt you in so many ways. In the halfcourt, we are obviously something to watch out for with Pierce, Ray, and KG, but we've also got a nice set of athletes willing to run the floor in Rondo, Tony Allen, Posey, Powe, and even the end-of-the-bench guys like Pruitt and Wallace will run. Aside from that, KG runs the floor beautifully for a man his size, Ray likes to get up and down, and Paul will run if he sees an open opportunity. We have a lot of assets. This is where Doc comes in. Hopefully, he can put together a decent rotation now that he has the veteran's he's been asking for in order to do so. I love the fact that we can be effective going big or small, but we all know that Doc likes "small ball." I hope he doesn't get too comfortable with that.</p>
I think its great, because it allows Rondo to get the ball up the floor quickly and get rid of the ball. An uptempo offense could do wonders for a guy like Rondo, because it limits him as a liability on offense.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (employee #5)</div><div class='quotemain'>If I had a nickel for every year they said that...</div></p> </p> same case for the Nets, too. Just because the writers and even the coach say that there's the possibility of changing up gameplans, doesn't mean it's actually gonna happen.</p>
Running a fast-break with our offense is simply dumb. The Celtics will be most effective in a medium-paced half-court set in which Garnett runs the offense through the high post. The only player on the Celtics that excels on the break is Rondo.</p>
Wow, this playing style could potnetially work very well or turn out very badly. Either way, if the Celtics will decide to run up-tempo Wizards @ Celtics on Nov. 1 should be very fun.</p>
When they say "up-tempo" they don't mean a full-force running game. I think we're going to be a pretty balanced team. A team that will set up from the high-post like Premier mentioned, but run opportunistically.</p>
