Post by FLCeltsFan on Aug 18, 2015 20:02:13 GMT -5
SQ23 Stand Pat Until Camp Answers Are In
I've stopped worrying about the 16th man problem. At this point, I'm more interested in the variety of fascinating stories likely to play out in camp. Some are individual, some are group dynamics, and some are coach issues. Until at least a few of these develop, it seems foolish to rush into shrinking the roster. While I know Ainge will have his ear to the rails for that home-run trade, I think we will now see another of his strengths, patience.
We've waited for three years to see how an in-shape Sullinger could alter his game. From the pictures, and comments, emerging, it looks like this might be the season. I, for one, am eager to see if a lighter and more fit Jared gains mobility, perhaps a bit more lift, maybe a little more crafty rather than bash. It should certainly help his stamina, and Lord knows I've seen far too much of his huffing and puffing down the court—late getting into the play.
The total wild-card unknown is Perry Jones III. Given the incredible numbers painted by his vital statistics, one would have to be crazy not to be tantalized to see what his new start in Bean Town will produce. No player on any recent Celtics' roster has such a high potential combined with such a frighteningly low vagabond status currently. How can it be equally easy to envision PJ3 as a dangerous starter, or as an obvious (and prepaid) waiver wire cut to lower the team to 15 contracts? His impact could jump the team to upper half of the playoff seedings, or be absolutely zero. I can pretty much guarantee that neither Ainge nor Stevens will permit that impact to fall below zero.
Other players bring up intriguing questions also. Kelly Olynyk is going through his first summer free (so far I think) of injury—so maybe an off-season of improvement rather than rehab. We have all eagerly awaited his development and have been frustrated time after time by his setbacks due to injury. If he is healthy for this camp, it will be the first time in his career. If missing camp and off-season work isn't enough, he has yet to make it through an NBA campaign without severely limiting injuries during the season. A badly sprained ankle (sadly so far a regular Olynyk occurrence) not only keeps a player out for weeks, or months, but costs him practice time and makes his improvement almost impossible, at least for a while. I think most of us have been disappointed in Olynyk's progress, but perhaps good health will make this the camp/year he sees a jump in his play.
Speaking of bad ankle sprains (and more recently dislocated fingers on his shooting hand), last season's promising rookie, Marcus Smart, should finally be able to get back to basketball activities this week. While I think almost everyone is impressed with his defense and aggressive play, he seemed quite reluctant to drive last winter after his ankle sprain, and his shooting remains a work in progress (except when delayed, and set back, and delayed!) It has to be interesting to see how much he has been able to catch up, now that he is finally able to get back to his off-season investment to improvement.
A post on another blog was reciting numbers to show how other summer league players, who weren't drafted, put up similar or better stats to R. J. Hunter. Poppycock! It wasn't his stat sheet that impressed me, although it isn't too shabby, but rather his feel for the game and off-the-ball contributions. I am eager to see if his overall game will enable him to make a most un-rookie-like impact. I do definitely feel that his tangible intangibles (the step or two to improve his team's defensive or offensive matrix, alert and heady passes, first-two-steps-of-a-drive to flex the defense and free up a teammate, help and cover for the helper, and generally unselfish play) is a perfect fit for this Steven's Celtics team.
I keep feeling better and better about this aggregation of Celtics. I love to see a team of high BBIQ players. I love to see a coach that emphasizes read and react, ball and player movement, recognizing and exploiting defensive flaws, and pushing the game speed to deny the opponents the opportunity to get comfortably into their defensive set. Turn off the ESPN highlights, set aside the ego-driven mano-a-mano isolation plays, forgo the imposition of the individual will—instead embrace the imposition of the collective will, beat strong with shrewd, run those star five's into exhaustion, and thrill to the Celtics' way.
I get chill bumps thinking about this group melding into a whole that far exceeds the sum of the parts. Yesterday I wrote of Amir Johnson and the stark contrast of his play to the individual All-Stars on the Team USA. I see this Three (Five, Twelve, Fifteen?) Musketeers attitude, and individual characteristics, becoming an essential factor in Ainge's hunt for the next new Celtic. Now that I really consider it, this is the reason that I have been drawn to the Celtics, again and again—in the 50's, and 60's, and 70's, and 80's, and for the last decade.
Only 44 days until camp.
I've stopped worrying about the 16th man problem. At this point, I'm more interested in the variety of fascinating stories likely to play out in camp. Some are individual, some are group dynamics, and some are coach issues. Until at least a few of these develop, it seems foolish to rush into shrinking the roster. While I know Ainge will have his ear to the rails for that home-run trade, I think we will now see another of his strengths, patience.
We've waited for three years to see how an in-shape Sullinger could alter his game. From the pictures, and comments, emerging, it looks like this might be the season. I, for one, am eager to see if a lighter and more fit Jared gains mobility, perhaps a bit more lift, maybe a little more crafty rather than bash. It should certainly help his stamina, and Lord knows I've seen far too much of his huffing and puffing down the court—late getting into the play.
The total wild-card unknown is Perry Jones III. Given the incredible numbers painted by his vital statistics, one would have to be crazy not to be tantalized to see what his new start in Bean Town will produce. No player on any recent Celtics' roster has such a high potential combined with such a frighteningly low vagabond status currently. How can it be equally easy to envision PJ3 as a dangerous starter, or as an obvious (and prepaid) waiver wire cut to lower the team to 15 contracts? His impact could jump the team to upper half of the playoff seedings, or be absolutely zero. I can pretty much guarantee that neither Ainge nor Stevens will permit that impact to fall below zero.
Other players bring up intriguing questions also. Kelly Olynyk is going through his first summer free (so far I think) of injury—so maybe an off-season of improvement rather than rehab. We have all eagerly awaited his development and have been frustrated time after time by his setbacks due to injury. If he is healthy for this camp, it will be the first time in his career. If missing camp and off-season work isn't enough, he has yet to make it through an NBA campaign without severely limiting injuries during the season. A badly sprained ankle (sadly so far a regular Olynyk occurrence) not only keeps a player out for weeks, or months, but costs him practice time and makes his improvement almost impossible, at least for a while. I think most of us have been disappointed in Olynyk's progress, but perhaps good health will make this the camp/year he sees a jump in his play.
Speaking of bad ankle sprains (and more recently dislocated fingers on his shooting hand), last season's promising rookie, Marcus Smart, should finally be able to get back to basketball activities this week. While I think almost everyone is impressed with his defense and aggressive play, he seemed quite reluctant to drive last winter after his ankle sprain, and his shooting remains a work in progress (except when delayed, and set back, and delayed!) It has to be interesting to see how much he has been able to catch up, now that he is finally able to get back to his off-season investment to improvement.
A post on another blog was reciting numbers to show how other summer league players, who weren't drafted, put up similar or better stats to R. J. Hunter. Poppycock! It wasn't his stat sheet that impressed me, although it isn't too shabby, but rather his feel for the game and off-the-ball contributions. I am eager to see if his overall game will enable him to make a most un-rookie-like impact. I do definitely feel that his tangible intangibles (the step or two to improve his team's defensive or offensive matrix, alert and heady passes, first-two-steps-of-a-drive to flex the defense and free up a teammate, help and cover for the helper, and generally unselfish play) is a perfect fit for this Steven's Celtics team.
I keep feeling better and better about this aggregation of Celtics. I love to see a team of high BBIQ players. I love to see a coach that emphasizes read and react, ball and player movement, recognizing and exploiting defensive flaws, and pushing the game speed to deny the opponents the opportunity to get comfortably into their defensive set. Turn off the ESPN highlights, set aside the ego-driven mano-a-mano isolation plays, forgo the imposition of the individual will—instead embrace the imposition of the collective will, beat strong with shrewd, run those star five's into exhaustion, and thrill to the Celtics' way.
I get chill bumps thinking about this group melding into a whole that far exceeds the sum of the parts. Yesterday I wrote of Amir Johnson and the stark contrast of his play to the individual All-Stars on the Team USA. I see this Three (Five, Twelve, Fifteen?) Musketeers attitude, and individual characteristics, becoming an essential factor in Ainge's hunt for the next new Celtic. Now that I really consider it, this is the reason that I have been drawn to the Celtics, again and again—in the 50's, and 60's, and 70's, and 80's, and for the last decade.
Only 44 days until camp.