Areas of Improvement: Courtney Lee taking advantage of the fact he is not Ray Allen
This is a series of posts which highlight each key player in the Celtics’ run towards banner 18. It will highlight the areas of their game they need to improve most for the Celtics to be able to compete with the talent-blitzed teams of 2012-13. The area will sometimes be a player’s biggest flaw, or sometimes his biggest strength, but each post will highlight what this Celtics team needs players to change this season for the Celtics to have success.It remains to be seen what Courtney Lee will bring to the Celtics, as he has yet to play a game for the green and white. What should be noted is he brings three point shooting and is an active defender to what I believe should be the Celtics starting unit. He’s scrappy and has been known to put up points in bunches with his time for Orlando, New Jersey, and Houston. For more information on what Lee’s current game is, check out the post by Jordon which summarizes it quite nicely.
What he needs to bring to the Celtics is some tenacity from the two-guard position. The Celtics are used to running screens and many plays for the shooting guard. Many of those extra plays will most likely go to Rajon Rondo, for him to run the offense as he best sees fit. Long story short—Courtney Lee will have to find his offense through passes out of the post and transition.
Fortunately, transition is where Lee excels; now hitting the prime of his career he will be able to run the floor with either the first or second unit. He shot 49% for three from the corners, a skill which will be tested catching behind-the-back passes from Rondo on the break. What Lee needs to bring is a sense of scrappiness reminiscent of Posey on the 2008 championship team. If he can get under other players’ skin, get the team fired up, and play some tough defense it would be huge for the aging Celtics stars. Courtney Lee has averaged a steal per game for his career, and if the Western Kentucky product can continue to be pesky for the Celtics defense it will provide something Ray Allen couldn’t, some help on the other side of the court.
Filling Ray Allen’s shoes will be difficult, but for the Celtics to succeed, I believe they will utilize Lee in ways they simply could not with Ray. Take advantage of Lee’s younger body and the fact that he can dunk over people six inches taller than him. Lee and Allen both can shoot the ball from behind the arc, but more important for the Celtics are what they do differently. Making slight adjustments on both sides of the floor will help the Celtics in the transition of shooting guards.
The Celtics pushing it more on offense off of the rebound will help Lee feel more comfortable getting the shots he is used to. He also likes taking risks on the defensive end, so when he gambles, the Celtics will have to organize a better cover than Pete Rose. The Celtics using Lee’s youth and athleticism will be vital to both sides feeling comfortable moving on from the Ray Allen era.
Editors Note: I am sorry for mentioning the former Celtics shooting guard many times (including in the title) in this post. Once some actual basketball is played it will make it much easier to move on, but in the doldrums of the offseason, and I mean doldrums it is difficult not to reminisce.
Related posts:
Celtics Blog | Jesse Doran | September 9, 2012
As great as Ray was, and as much as he did for us, it’s more and more clear that his ego was a drag on the team in many ways. It seems clear now that he was the one who most resisted transitioning to a more Rondo-centered game, and a more up-tempo game. It also seems more clear that he was the one who was sending out negative comments about Rondo into the media, while maintaing a ‘professional’ demeanor front in front of the cameras. So Jackie, how does it feel that now you’ve been revealed as pretty much Ray’s mouthpiece, or so it seems? Any qualms about that?
Ray will do well in Miami. I wish him the best. But losing him is, sadly, really a gain for us.
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[...] In the Rear View Mirror Lex Nihil Novi The Cowens Mystique (Part VII) Celtics Town Areas of Improvement: Courtney Lee taking advantage of the fact he is not Ray Allen Red’s Army Photo Gallery: KG continues Anta tour in China CLNS Radio Boston [...]
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[...] Mad CurvesSQ12#41 In the Rear View MirrorLex Nihil Novi The Cowens Mystique (Part VII)Celtics Town Areas of Improvement: Courtney Lee taking advantage of the fact he is not Ray AllenRed’s Army Photo Gallery: KG continues Anta tour in [...]
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He may well be the best SG on this team (though I’m not sold on this, Bradley looked great last season), but that does not mean he should start. Lee has preformed well off the bench in the past and can spend time backing up both wing positions. Bradley, on the other hand, struggled off the bench and thrived in the starting lineup. With Bradley starting, and Lee backing him up, you get two solid players playing at the top of their game. With Lee starting and Bradley backing him up, you get one solid player and a second player who won’t play up to his potential. In short, not starting Lee is the right call not because he isn’t the better player, but because it’s better for the team overall.
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I think they should average equal minutes, with the edge in playing time being heavily dependent on matchups and performance on the day in question.
It should also be noted that there is a lot of talent on the perimeter for this team, and minutes are in short supply. Using Lee at SF periodically (particularly if Doc wants to go small) would be a way to get him more minutes. A lineup of Rondo, Bradley, Lee, Green and Garnett could be very interesting for a few minutes a game.
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Ray is GONE GONE GONE…and sadly it doesn’t look GOOD on him…but it is what it is…who really knows WHY he pulled a runner…sure changed my feelings towards him tho..gotta admit..
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