Post by DERRENMATTS on Apr 12, 2006 0:00:04 GMT -5
Hey there fellas (and FL12). Thought I’d drop by to say hello and give my thoughts on this rollercoaster season as its just about to end. How’s everything going with y’all? C17, you still giving RR a hard time? BC, any more kids? ;D BTW, the site looks great. Esco, good job with the college/draft board. I’ll stop by sometime in June to post my thoughts on the draft. Fl12, I hope Loyalist has given you a raise for all the work that you do here. And to the rest of you, don’t think that I’ve forgotten about you--I do miss coming by here.
Well, onto my thoughts.
First of all, by no means was this a wasted season. Aside from Al Jefferson, every single young player who is poised to become a core player for our future team has benefited from this season. Delonte West has already cemented himself as one of the best players to come out in the ’04 draft. He’s developed incredibly from last year and plays like a 5-year veteran, even though he’s only played an equivalent of a year and some change. His instincts are impressive and his focus is intense. I’m looking forward to seeing him use his jumper more as a weapon next season. Tony Allen has been terrific as of late, mainly because his health has finally returned, and its about time! He’s exciting fans with his slick athleticism and all-around basketball talent. He’s such a slippery player that defenders have a hard time sticking with him. He’s been scoring in double digits regularly, scoring very efficiently, but there’s so much more to Tony Allen that we haven’t seen yet. He’s yet to show consistency attacking the rim and finishing plays. With his body control and hang time, and ability to get to the rim, we’re going to see him finish a lot of acrobatic plays. Along with Delonte, Tony is a key part of our future backcourt, whether its as a starter or backup.
Ryan Gomes has been steady Eddie. When opportunities arise, he’s capable of putting up big scoring nights. But when they’re not there, I like the fact that he’s just as productive in other areas, mainly rebounding and coming up with baskets off of offensive rebounds. We’re going to see Gomes post up more next year, seeing that he is quite able to score in the paint on isolation plays. One of our drawbacks as a team is that we don’t have an inside attack. But a healthy Al Jefferson and a more experienced Ryan Gomes should shore up our weakness (maybe not entirely next year, but a big step forward, nonetheless). I had the notion to label Gomes as our future starting PF because of how solid, reliable, and productive he is, but more ideally, he’d be heavily used in our big man rotation. Next season, expect to see a lighter and quicker Ryan Gomes, so that he can also be used as a SF. That will enable Doc to have him on the court more.
Perkins has been developing very well as a defensive presence and rugged rebounder. His use of his left hand blocking shots has paid off tremendously. His developing strengths are sealing his man to position for rebounds and defending his man in the post. His offense is too rigid, which makes me think that he’s likely to be our immediate backup Center—but that all depends on who we are able to draft or obtain via trade / free agency. But either way, his defense is his calling card and will be a weapon for us to use.
Gerald Green—what can I say about this kid!! I just love his aggressiveness and his moxie. He’s only a rookie, but you can see the look on his face that he knows he belongs here. His scoring ability is pretty evident to see. He’s got a feathery touch, dynamite jumping ability (which allows him to get up faster and higher than his defender when he’s shooting), and the knowledge of how to get into scoring position. He’s also quick and long and he can stop and pop on a dime, and he’s already a decent ball handler, even with his left hand. Watching this kid develop before our eyes is going to be fun. IMO, he’s a hybrid of Shawn Marion and Richard Jefferson. I hate to be in Ainge’s shoes when Green is ready to break into the starting lineup. With Pierce and Wally here, its already stacked.
Al Jefferson had a disappointing season, but we’ll never know what could have happened had he never gotten injured. One thing that we can look forward to is a better attitude from him toward conditioning. Its reported that he’s already showing improved work habits since going down with his second ankle injury. Only Jefferson can hold himself back from being a future standout player. He’s got the tools to be a dynamite scorer and rebounder, so he needs to make good on his given abilities and come through for us.
As for Pierce and Wally, there’s nothing negative to say about them, really. Both have shown terrific professionalism. Even though we’ve had a terrible year statistically, Pierce hasn’t pouted like he has in years past, but has remained a positive influence for the young guys. And for years, I’ve heard about how Wally clashed with Kevin Garnett over shots attempts, etc. But I haven’t seen anything but good things from Wally playing next to Pierce. I have certainly warmed up to Pierce this season with his improved play and improved attitude. I hope to see more of the same in the future.
This team is scrappy and plays like a cohesive unit. There’s good camaraderie and team unity, and there doesn’t seem to be any selfishness among any of the players. Guys are constantly diving for the ball, and hustling for loose balls, and trying to cover for each other defensively. I like seeing how players work hard for each other, and quickly come to pick each other up when they fall to the floor. It really shows that they are intentionally trying to be a team-centered unit.
I’m hearing fans calling for Doc’s head, or Doc possibly leaving on his own during the summer. I, for one, am on Doc’s side. I think he’s done extremely well in the most important area of basketball—to get everyone on the same page, playing for one another. On a team that’s basically starting from scratch, wins and losses are secondary when it comes to getting everyone to play as a unified group. Doc has done this, and its evident by how hard everyone is playing, even with the playoffs out of reach. Setting the foundational characteristic of the team comes first, and the fruits of hard labor will start to show as weaknesses are addressed and filled, as the team gels, and as players understands their roles.
But, we do need to become a better defensive team. We have some excellent defensive players on the team, but our defense as a whole needs to tighten up. This includes rebounding. Using Raef less and Perkins more will help. Using Scalabrine less and Jefferson and Gomes more will help. Again, we are near the bottom in rebounding and points allowed. Its important we improve in these two areas if we want to become an elite team, which I really think we can be in a few years.
Lastly, before I end my thoughts, I want to address our PG situation. Delonte has been a terrific find and Ainge has done really well by taking him at 24 when most GM’s thought he was a second rounder (admittedly, I thought so too). He’s the kind of gritty player you want on your side. But I just don’t get the feeling that he can be enough of a playmaker to push us over the top. As a reliable PG who makes sound decisions and takes care of the ball, I have no problem with him. But with the amount of exciting athletes and scorers we have on our team, a better playmaking PG will be huge. Herein lies the problem—Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, and Chris Paul aren’t available. I don’t even know if giving up Pierce could get us one of those guys. We could use Delonte as a 2 guard and backup PG, but who will take his place at the 1? I think it needs to be addressed with the draft, or by trade. 3 guys in the draft (if they declare) could help us: Rajon Rondo, Randy Foye, and Daniel Gibson. Of the three, I think Gibson is Ainge’s type because he’s athletic, he’s a playmaker, and he can score.
If we go the trade route, I can see Ainge pulling the trigger on a trade with the Bulls involving Kirk Hinrich. He’s a floor general, he’s a gifted passer with court vision, he can shoot the ball and penetrate, and I can easily see him in a Celtics uniform. We may have to give up Pierce to do this, but if Gerald Green explodes, it may not be hard to swallow the idea of life without Paul Pierce.
At any rate, I believe Ainge’s target will be our PG position. If we grab a PG, whether in a trade or in the draft, don’t be surprised if Orien Greene is let go. With Delonte and Tony Allen available to fill in for backup duties, Orien will be hard pressed to gain any minutes. Plus, with Dan Dickau coming back next year, Orien will be pushed back even further. Dan gives us a more experienced player to play left over spot minutes at PG. I don’t feel that Dickau is going anywhere because our team depends on guys who can shoot the ball. He may not be much of a PG, but he can shoot the ball.
Well, that’s pretty much what I have to say for now. I’m happy to have seen this season unfold the way it has because I know it will benefit our future immensely. The right guys have been getting a lot of playing time and I see a lot of incredible things happening once they start to become steady players. I don’t expect next year to be nearly as bumpy as this year has been, maybe we’ll win 45+ games. And I’m certainly looking forward to this offseason, with the draft and the summer league games.
Take care everyone. I’ll stop by sometime in June to give another team assessment. Until then, adios.
DerrenMatts
Well, onto my thoughts.
First of all, by no means was this a wasted season. Aside from Al Jefferson, every single young player who is poised to become a core player for our future team has benefited from this season. Delonte West has already cemented himself as one of the best players to come out in the ’04 draft. He’s developed incredibly from last year and plays like a 5-year veteran, even though he’s only played an equivalent of a year and some change. His instincts are impressive and his focus is intense. I’m looking forward to seeing him use his jumper more as a weapon next season. Tony Allen has been terrific as of late, mainly because his health has finally returned, and its about time! He’s exciting fans with his slick athleticism and all-around basketball talent. He’s such a slippery player that defenders have a hard time sticking with him. He’s been scoring in double digits regularly, scoring very efficiently, but there’s so much more to Tony Allen that we haven’t seen yet. He’s yet to show consistency attacking the rim and finishing plays. With his body control and hang time, and ability to get to the rim, we’re going to see him finish a lot of acrobatic plays. Along with Delonte, Tony is a key part of our future backcourt, whether its as a starter or backup.
Ryan Gomes has been steady Eddie. When opportunities arise, he’s capable of putting up big scoring nights. But when they’re not there, I like the fact that he’s just as productive in other areas, mainly rebounding and coming up with baskets off of offensive rebounds. We’re going to see Gomes post up more next year, seeing that he is quite able to score in the paint on isolation plays. One of our drawbacks as a team is that we don’t have an inside attack. But a healthy Al Jefferson and a more experienced Ryan Gomes should shore up our weakness (maybe not entirely next year, but a big step forward, nonetheless). I had the notion to label Gomes as our future starting PF because of how solid, reliable, and productive he is, but more ideally, he’d be heavily used in our big man rotation. Next season, expect to see a lighter and quicker Ryan Gomes, so that he can also be used as a SF. That will enable Doc to have him on the court more.
Perkins has been developing very well as a defensive presence and rugged rebounder. His use of his left hand blocking shots has paid off tremendously. His developing strengths are sealing his man to position for rebounds and defending his man in the post. His offense is too rigid, which makes me think that he’s likely to be our immediate backup Center—but that all depends on who we are able to draft or obtain via trade / free agency. But either way, his defense is his calling card and will be a weapon for us to use.
Gerald Green—what can I say about this kid!! I just love his aggressiveness and his moxie. He’s only a rookie, but you can see the look on his face that he knows he belongs here. His scoring ability is pretty evident to see. He’s got a feathery touch, dynamite jumping ability (which allows him to get up faster and higher than his defender when he’s shooting), and the knowledge of how to get into scoring position. He’s also quick and long and he can stop and pop on a dime, and he’s already a decent ball handler, even with his left hand. Watching this kid develop before our eyes is going to be fun. IMO, he’s a hybrid of Shawn Marion and Richard Jefferson. I hate to be in Ainge’s shoes when Green is ready to break into the starting lineup. With Pierce and Wally here, its already stacked.
Al Jefferson had a disappointing season, but we’ll never know what could have happened had he never gotten injured. One thing that we can look forward to is a better attitude from him toward conditioning. Its reported that he’s already showing improved work habits since going down with his second ankle injury. Only Jefferson can hold himself back from being a future standout player. He’s got the tools to be a dynamite scorer and rebounder, so he needs to make good on his given abilities and come through for us.
As for Pierce and Wally, there’s nothing negative to say about them, really. Both have shown terrific professionalism. Even though we’ve had a terrible year statistically, Pierce hasn’t pouted like he has in years past, but has remained a positive influence for the young guys. And for years, I’ve heard about how Wally clashed with Kevin Garnett over shots attempts, etc. But I haven’t seen anything but good things from Wally playing next to Pierce. I have certainly warmed up to Pierce this season with his improved play and improved attitude. I hope to see more of the same in the future.
This team is scrappy and plays like a cohesive unit. There’s good camaraderie and team unity, and there doesn’t seem to be any selfishness among any of the players. Guys are constantly diving for the ball, and hustling for loose balls, and trying to cover for each other defensively. I like seeing how players work hard for each other, and quickly come to pick each other up when they fall to the floor. It really shows that they are intentionally trying to be a team-centered unit.
I’m hearing fans calling for Doc’s head, or Doc possibly leaving on his own during the summer. I, for one, am on Doc’s side. I think he’s done extremely well in the most important area of basketball—to get everyone on the same page, playing for one another. On a team that’s basically starting from scratch, wins and losses are secondary when it comes to getting everyone to play as a unified group. Doc has done this, and its evident by how hard everyone is playing, even with the playoffs out of reach. Setting the foundational characteristic of the team comes first, and the fruits of hard labor will start to show as weaknesses are addressed and filled, as the team gels, and as players understands their roles.
But, we do need to become a better defensive team. We have some excellent defensive players on the team, but our defense as a whole needs to tighten up. This includes rebounding. Using Raef less and Perkins more will help. Using Scalabrine less and Jefferson and Gomes more will help. Again, we are near the bottom in rebounding and points allowed. Its important we improve in these two areas if we want to become an elite team, which I really think we can be in a few years.
Lastly, before I end my thoughts, I want to address our PG situation. Delonte has been a terrific find and Ainge has done really well by taking him at 24 when most GM’s thought he was a second rounder (admittedly, I thought so too). He’s the kind of gritty player you want on your side. But I just don’t get the feeling that he can be enough of a playmaker to push us over the top. As a reliable PG who makes sound decisions and takes care of the ball, I have no problem with him. But with the amount of exciting athletes and scorers we have on our team, a better playmaking PG will be huge. Herein lies the problem—Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, and Chris Paul aren’t available. I don’t even know if giving up Pierce could get us one of those guys. We could use Delonte as a 2 guard and backup PG, but who will take his place at the 1? I think it needs to be addressed with the draft, or by trade. 3 guys in the draft (if they declare) could help us: Rajon Rondo, Randy Foye, and Daniel Gibson. Of the three, I think Gibson is Ainge’s type because he’s athletic, he’s a playmaker, and he can score.
If we go the trade route, I can see Ainge pulling the trigger on a trade with the Bulls involving Kirk Hinrich. He’s a floor general, he’s a gifted passer with court vision, he can shoot the ball and penetrate, and I can easily see him in a Celtics uniform. We may have to give up Pierce to do this, but if Gerald Green explodes, it may not be hard to swallow the idea of life without Paul Pierce.
At any rate, I believe Ainge’s target will be our PG position. If we grab a PG, whether in a trade or in the draft, don’t be surprised if Orien Greene is let go. With Delonte and Tony Allen available to fill in for backup duties, Orien will be hard pressed to gain any minutes. Plus, with Dan Dickau coming back next year, Orien will be pushed back even further. Dan gives us a more experienced player to play left over spot minutes at PG. I don’t feel that Dickau is going anywhere because our team depends on guys who can shoot the ball. He may not be much of a PG, but he can shoot the ball.
Well, that’s pretty much what I have to say for now. I’m happy to have seen this season unfold the way it has because I know it will benefit our future immensely. The right guys have been getting a lot of playing time and I see a lot of incredible things happening once they start to become steady players. I don’t expect next year to be nearly as bumpy as this year has been, maybe we’ll win 45+ games. And I’m certainly looking forward to this offseason, with the draft and the summer league games.
Take care everyone. I’ll stop by sometime in June to give another team assessment. Until then, adios.
DerrenMatts