Boston's Bench

So we know that Allen, Pierce, Garnett and Rondo are all going to play anywhere from 35-45 minutes a game (barring foul trouble) and Perk will get 28-38 (of course he'll be in foul trouble). Where does that leave our man from Oak-town?

Doc needs to limit the team to a nine man rotation. This seems to be a fairly popular sentiment and I agree wholeheartedly. Now, Posey will be on Kobe duty whenever he's in the game. On offense, he'll stop of for an occasional three in transition, but his role is definitely set. Papa PJ has stepped up his game in the playoffs and deserves some burn to spell Perk. (Quick aside here. How was PJ spending his time before he got signed by the Celtics? Whittling in a rocking chair? Eating lukewarm bowls of soup? Burngo/Bingo?) Brown stands 6-11 to Gasol's 7-0. I don't see Perkins guarding Radmanovic or Lamar plus it'll be good for Perk to be banging down low like he did in monster Game 5 against Detroit. Depending on Phil Jackson's rotation, Brown will most likely be bothering Gasol the whole series.

(Not so quick aside. I absolutely cannot stand the PA announcer for the Pistons. I mean, this is all that's wrong with professional sports today. It's bad enough that certain play by play, color commentaters and "analysts" make the game more about themselves than the players, but a PA guy? And the fact that I know his name makes me want to strangle myself with my own large intestine. It's Mason. Thanks ESPN! Really wanted to know the name of the jackalope who stirs up the crowd in the worst city in America. If the Pistons made the finals, their home games wouldn't tip off until 9:30. People complained about all the pyro and fireworks during the Celtics' openings, and rightly so. But since there is no lingering smoke afterwards in the Palace of Auburn Hills, people tend to forget about that unfunny stooge. But there is lingering smoke Mason...in my soul. I hate you so much.)

Anyway...so Posey and Brown are taken care of, that leaves Eddie House who will obviously be coming in for Rondo. Having House bring up the ball with any kind of pressure should worry even the most confident Boston fan, but his outside shooting and half court presence will hopefully offset that. Besides, it's him or Cassell. Yikes.

This all brings us to Leon. He stands 6-8 and weighs 240 pounds. Radmanovic and Turiaf both have two inches on him but Powe is easily the better rebounder. Where Leon might come in to play the most...is guarding Lamar Odom. If they are in the game at the same time, I think Leon is the most athletic "big" Boston has besides Garnett. Lamar has been known to lose his temper/concentration during games so a tough dude like Powe could really get him out of his game. Plus, you know Kobe is not going to pull a LeBron and suddenly go cold from the floor for three games straight. Gasol was extremely consistent during the Spurs series, so that leaves Odom as the X factor for the Lakers. As previously discussed, Leon will do the dirty work down low on the offensive and defensive glass. But getting in Lamar's face could be just the thing to convince Doc to call Leon's name a few times this series. I'll be happy with anywhere from 7-12 minutes a game for #0. C'mon Doc, this is the Finals! No time to screw around! Just remember, I'll be there tonight and even though I may be sitting in a 300 section, but I'll be doing my best to let you know if you're sleeping on my boy.