Will Pollard Get Any Meaningful PT?

The Celtics and Pistons ended the first quarter with the Celtics ahead by four points, and then something amazing happened.

Scot Pollard entered the game.

It was a good decision by Doc, just not one he makes very often.

Before Pollard entered the game, Antonio McDyess was giving Kendrick Perkins all he could handle, grabbing two defensive boards, nailing two jumpers, drawing a foul on Perkins, and then hitting two free throws.

The second quarter started with a fresh Pollard guarding McDyess. Pollard immediately stole the ball from him. Over the next four minutes McDyess was ineffectual, taking only one shot and missing it.

Pollard came out at the four-minute mark, and the Celtics' lead had increased to seven.

Number 66 never saw the light of day again, playing a total of 7 minutes for the entire game, all in that second-quarter stint.

But McDyess returned to the floor, offering an array of jumpers, dunks, assists, and boards. He also drew fouls on Perkins and Posey. Perkins later admitted he didn't play tough against the Pistons.

The next game against the Bulls Pollard had two stints off the bench, drawing four fouls on layup opportunities by the opponent. Bulls players converted 5 of the 8 free throws.

Pollard clearly has an impact on the games when his number is called, even in games where all he does is play defense, provide a presence in the middle, and foul. The biggest impact might be to allow KG and Big Baby to remain at their more natural power forward position.

Today the Cs play Basketball Behemoth Dwight Howard. At 6'7", Big Baby is not the ideal player to give Perk a rest and defend Howard. Howard, with his improved jumper, can just shoot over him. KG, of course, is taller, but his physique is much slimmer. We also have a larger investment in KG, one that is protected better if we don't expose him to punishment by the league's oversized bigs.

Scot Pollard is several inches taller than Big Baby, and weighs a good twenty pounds more than KG.

Pollard Time, clear and simple.

Before we go and sign PJ Brown, Chris Webber or anyone else, paying them double their salary via luxury tax, why don't we see what Scot Pollard can do?

If the extra PT lands him on the injured list with back or ankle problems, then we just made the case stronger for Brown and Webber.

But we won't know unless we start playing Pollard now.