Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 27, 2006 8:19:37 GMT -5
I got this from Celticsblog and thought there was a lot of good info here:
Dennis: Did you do this to change the chemistry, clearing MB's contract, more pt for Perkins and Jefferson or freeing up more space for Paul at the 2 and 3.
Ainge: THe first three are valid reasons. The third one isn't really. We like Ricky, we wanted to try something different. Wally is a better shooter. We got a first round pick and Wally for Ricky.
Wally is a great player great shooter and great team player
Dennis: Theortecially does Wally compliment Pierce as well as Ricky does?
Ainge: I do think so, I think Ricky and Paul even thought their games are slightly different buth they are similar in a lot of ways. I think Wally is a better spacer than Ricky. I think we also need spacing in transition where as Ricky runs the floor and gets alot of alley oop dunks and get to the basket alot but we dont have good spacing. Wally can take the defender out to the three point line. I think the other thing is that one guy has to be defneded by the 2 guard and it will create matchups. Wally is an excellent post up player and so is Paul.
Dennis: What do you loose? We hear Doc talk about defense every week?
Ainge: We defintely loose some atheleticism, we feel Tony Allen can make up some of the athletisicsm at the end of the game. Tony Allen and Orien Greene can be out there at the end of games. Gerald Green can be out there next year.
Dennis: Can you tell us ideally how that first round pick works out?
Ainge: We really didn't want a pick in this years draft. We wanted a pick in the 08 draft. We analyzed talent in the draft this year and thats where the talent is, 08. Its lottery protected in 08, protected to 5 in 09, and top 3 protected after that
Dennis: The basic examination of Wally's stats and Ricky's stats show basic offensive production the same, but fewer minutes.
Ainge: In our offnese we do points per touches to measure effeciency. Wally has a better points per touch so that will trickle down to Raef, Al and Perk for more touches
Dennis: So based on that you don't agree with Peter May who says "I dont agree how Pierce and Wally will co-exist, thats too many shots"
Ainge: No, thats not true, Wally is efficient. Our statistics show that Wally has performed at a higher efficiency and production in the minutes that he's on the court with KG. We've looked into all these things and its not always who got the best player in the deal it is the chemistry, especially in basketball, but we just didn't feel it was working up to par.
Dennis: What does Doc say about this? Is it more coachable?
Ainge: I think it is, without Justin, we like Justin Reed, but it clears up an opporutnity for Ryan. Justin is a FA this summer and we have Ryan for 2 years. And we have Orien too. We had alot of equality in our roster and Doc got criticized for not having a set rotation. But nobody really stepped up for one job. Kind of like we did last year with Jiri, we weren't trying to get rid of him but when he left it cleaned it up for Tony and Ricky.
Dennis: How does Wally's toughness and intentsity manifest itself on the floor
Ainge: He's mentally tough, doesn't get easily distracted. He's a physical player also, he's not a fast quick guy he's a strong tough guy, uses head coming off screens at the 2 / 3 position
Dennis: A week ago everyone was taling about Blount/Kandi deal. Did the Artest deal get Kevin to pick up the phone ?
Ainge: We had disucssed this bigger deal for several weeks. But what prevented it was that they were going after Artest. It heated up a couple of days ago. Thats just the way negotiations go.
Callahan: Micheal Olawkanadi's Agent wants him released, will you?
Ainge: Well, Micheal told me last night they were coming to Boston with an open mind and we assured them we would have an open mind and give him an opportunity to get some time on the court.
Callahan: Are you convinced because physically he's has the ability but what has gone wrong in his career?
Ainge: Micheal has had to live up to high expectations. He has had some good moments/games in the leauge. He had 9 rebounds against us the other day. He is hungry to play. I told him one of our main objectives in the trade was to get minutes for Perkins and Al so he knows that. He could come in and get some minutes.
Callahan: Was this the only thing on the burner or did you choose this over other options
Ainge: You know, alot of conversatoin goes on, if you asked me yesterday if this deal was close i would say no. Really this one was the only one disuccsed seriously
Callahan: According to one analyst the next deal is Pierce being dealt
Ainge: First of all, what do you think?
Callahan: its ridiculous
Ainge; You're right, it is ridiculous, we are trying to find pieces to work with Paul. This isn't a anti-rRcky complaining. We feel like we got a different producitive scorer and the other way wasn't working. We want to give it a shot. We feel like Al and Delonte have been efficient. Perk has been an excellent defender.
Callahan: You may be interested to know that McHale says Ainge never made Pierce available to the Twolves.
Ainge: There are bad offers out there (kandi for peirce) I do get those offers sometimes. People around the league have great respect for Paul. But we feel that he's a big part of our future. He has one of those bodies that has a good 10 years left him. and probably 3/4 years of all-star play left.
Callahan: Wally arrives today for the phsyical when will he suit up
Ainge: I don't know, lots of paperwork has to be signed, ther are physicals to pass.
Dennis: Redsox stopped phsyicals, you should too
Ainge: hahah
Callahan: His wife is due, he might miss the next three games?
Ainge: Yeah, she has a C-section planned for 3 days. Its not impossible that they can play today but unlikely. We hope to have them ready for Sunday. maybe he can be in Minnesota Monday night and play too
Dennis: With Artest playing tonight. How seriously did you consider whether Artest would be a fit for this team
Ainge: We considered it until he was gone. It was in conversation but we never got close. One thing Larry wanted was someone like Peja or Magette or Peja straight up. And the second thing if they couldnt get that was maybe unload some contracts with a lesser player. We didn't want either one of those, we like artest, but we know there was a risk their end we were unwilling to give up Delonte and Al.
Dennis: Or pierce?
Ainge: Yeah...
Dennis: Its hard to say 8 games under .500 that you ruined the chemistry but whats the goal. WIll you be disappointed if you don't make that 8th spot.
Ainge: Its important to develop Al and Perk and if we win because of that and our young guys I think that that is possible But its not might priority right now. Winning games every night isn't my priority. It's funny we have pretty good chemistry, locerk room chemistry , work ethic, etc. but I didn't think we had good on-court chemistry. But I feel like the right players weren't complimenting the right players
Dennis: was that Ricky's fault?
Ainge: No, rRcky played hard, did everything we asked him too, we were very happy with how he handled himself.
Dennis: Who has reached their maxed out potential and who has upside (ricky/wally)
Ainge: I think they both will probably stablize, I don't see a great improvement for rRcky, but they are who they are.
Callahan: Wally can take the pressure off Paul with the FTs at the end of the game
Ainge: Yeah i've seen people struggle with that alot...
Callahan: Are you done now?
Ainge: I won't be done until we are one of the elite teams in the leauge. We don't feel like we need to do anything right now
Dennis: Did you do this to change the chemistry, clearing MB's contract, more pt for Perkins and Jefferson or freeing up more space for Paul at the 2 and 3.
Ainge: THe first three are valid reasons. The third one isn't really. We like Ricky, we wanted to try something different. Wally is a better shooter. We got a first round pick and Wally for Ricky.
Wally is a great player great shooter and great team player
Dennis: Theortecially does Wally compliment Pierce as well as Ricky does?
Ainge: I do think so, I think Ricky and Paul even thought their games are slightly different buth they are similar in a lot of ways. I think Wally is a better spacer than Ricky. I think we also need spacing in transition where as Ricky runs the floor and gets alot of alley oop dunks and get to the basket alot but we dont have good spacing. Wally can take the defender out to the three point line. I think the other thing is that one guy has to be defneded by the 2 guard and it will create matchups. Wally is an excellent post up player and so is Paul.
Dennis: What do you loose? We hear Doc talk about defense every week?
Ainge: We defintely loose some atheleticism, we feel Tony Allen can make up some of the athletisicsm at the end of the game. Tony Allen and Orien Greene can be out there at the end of games. Gerald Green can be out there next year.
Dennis: Can you tell us ideally how that first round pick works out?
Ainge: We really didn't want a pick in this years draft. We wanted a pick in the 08 draft. We analyzed talent in the draft this year and thats where the talent is, 08. Its lottery protected in 08, protected to 5 in 09, and top 3 protected after that
Dennis: The basic examination of Wally's stats and Ricky's stats show basic offensive production the same, but fewer minutes.
Ainge: In our offnese we do points per touches to measure effeciency. Wally has a better points per touch so that will trickle down to Raef, Al and Perk for more touches
Dennis: So based on that you don't agree with Peter May who says "I dont agree how Pierce and Wally will co-exist, thats too many shots"
Ainge: No, thats not true, Wally is efficient. Our statistics show that Wally has performed at a higher efficiency and production in the minutes that he's on the court with KG. We've looked into all these things and its not always who got the best player in the deal it is the chemistry, especially in basketball, but we just didn't feel it was working up to par.
Dennis: What does Doc say about this? Is it more coachable?
Ainge: I think it is, without Justin, we like Justin Reed, but it clears up an opporutnity for Ryan. Justin is a FA this summer and we have Ryan for 2 years. And we have Orien too. We had alot of equality in our roster and Doc got criticized for not having a set rotation. But nobody really stepped up for one job. Kind of like we did last year with Jiri, we weren't trying to get rid of him but when he left it cleaned it up for Tony and Ricky.
Dennis: How does Wally's toughness and intentsity manifest itself on the floor
Ainge: He's mentally tough, doesn't get easily distracted. He's a physical player also, he's not a fast quick guy he's a strong tough guy, uses head coming off screens at the 2 / 3 position
Dennis: A week ago everyone was taling about Blount/Kandi deal. Did the Artest deal get Kevin to pick up the phone ?
Ainge: We had disucssed this bigger deal for several weeks. But what prevented it was that they were going after Artest. It heated up a couple of days ago. Thats just the way negotiations go.
Callahan: Micheal Olawkanadi's Agent wants him released, will you?
Ainge: Well, Micheal told me last night they were coming to Boston with an open mind and we assured them we would have an open mind and give him an opportunity to get some time on the court.
Callahan: Are you convinced because physically he's has the ability but what has gone wrong in his career?
Ainge: Micheal has had to live up to high expectations. He has had some good moments/games in the leauge. He had 9 rebounds against us the other day. He is hungry to play. I told him one of our main objectives in the trade was to get minutes for Perkins and Al so he knows that. He could come in and get some minutes.
Callahan: Was this the only thing on the burner or did you choose this over other options
Ainge: You know, alot of conversatoin goes on, if you asked me yesterday if this deal was close i would say no. Really this one was the only one disuccsed seriously
Callahan: According to one analyst the next deal is Pierce being dealt
Ainge: First of all, what do you think?
Callahan: its ridiculous
Ainge; You're right, it is ridiculous, we are trying to find pieces to work with Paul. This isn't a anti-rRcky complaining. We feel like we got a different producitive scorer and the other way wasn't working. We want to give it a shot. We feel like Al and Delonte have been efficient. Perk has been an excellent defender.
Callahan: You may be interested to know that McHale says Ainge never made Pierce available to the Twolves.
Ainge: There are bad offers out there (kandi for peirce) I do get those offers sometimes. People around the league have great respect for Paul. But we feel that he's a big part of our future. He has one of those bodies that has a good 10 years left him. and probably 3/4 years of all-star play left.
Callahan: Wally arrives today for the phsyical when will he suit up
Ainge: I don't know, lots of paperwork has to be signed, ther are physicals to pass.
Dennis: Redsox stopped phsyicals, you should too
Ainge: hahah
Callahan: His wife is due, he might miss the next three games?
Ainge: Yeah, she has a C-section planned for 3 days. Its not impossible that they can play today but unlikely. We hope to have them ready for Sunday. maybe he can be in Minnesota Monday night and play too
Dennis: With Artest playing tonight. How seriously did you consider whether Artest would be a fit for this team
Ainge: We considered it until he was gone. It was in conversation but we never got close. One thing Larry wanted was someone like Peja or Magette or Peja straight up. And the second thing if they couldnt get that was maybe unload some contracts with a lesser player. We didn't want either one of those, we like artest, but we know there was a risk their end we were unwilling to give up Delonte and Al.
Dennis: Or pierce?
Ainge: Yeah...
Dennis: Its hard to say 8 games under .500 that you ruined the chemistry but whats the goal. WIll you be disappointed if you don't make that 8th spot.
Ainge: Its important to develop Al and Perk and if we win because of that and our young guys I think that that is possible But its not might priority right now. Winning games every night isn't my priority. It's funny we have pretty good chemistry, locerk room chemistry , work ethic, etc. but I didn't think we had good on-court chemistry. But I feel like the right players weren't complimenting the right players
Dennis: was that Ricky's fault?
Ainge: No, rRcky played hard, did everything we asked him too, we were very happy with how he handled himself.
Dennis: Who has reached their maxed out potential and who has upside (ricky/wally)
Ainge: I think they both will probably stablize, I don't see a great improvement for rRcky, but they are who they are.
Callahan: Wally can take the pressure off Paul with the FTs at the end of the game
Ainge: Yeah i've seen people struggle with that alot...
Callahan: Are you done now?
Ainge: I won't be done until we are one of the elite teams in the leauge. We don't feel like we need to do anything right now