Post by FLCeltsFan on Jun 27, 2006 11:09:06 GMT -5
Got this from CelticsBlog. I agree with Gabe. I don't think PG is our top need. Our number one need is to get another solid big man in the middle. I still think that Shelden Williams is the best bet along those lines. I think if we need another PG it should be a veteran. I also don't think AI is the answer to our problems if we have to give up any of our kids to get him. I just think he will damage our chemistry and just won't fit in our system.
celticsblog.net/blog/
Celtics Have A Point
June 27th, 2006
by Gabe Kahn
For over a month, there has been a near unanimous call for the Celtics to approach the upcoming NBA draft looking to upgrade their position at point guard. The Green, owners of the 7th pick on Wednesday night and owners of the 5th worst record in the Eastern Conference have a lot of problems, chief amongst them being their lack of production from a proper floor general, so sayeth the experts.
Well here’s one interested observer who disagrees.
Without a doubt, the C’s do, in fact, have numerous issues they need to work out, but the starting point guard, Delonte West, is not one of them. West is believed to have the highest basketball IQ on the team and frequently makes excellent decisions when he is guiding the team. He may be the best shooter on a club that was primarily built with an eye towards spreading the floor to give Paul Pierce room to maneuver, and Pierce is West’s only threat when it comes to a better outside threat. In 2004, West averaged 11.8 points and 4.6 assists and shot almost 49% in what was essentially his rookie year. Although he’s not a defensive gem, he is capable and maybe the best shot-blocking point guard in the league.
Off the court, West is exactly the type of guy the Celtics want around, too. He’s one of the team’s hardest workers and consistently ruins the afternoon plans of Boston reporters by being the last player to leave the practice court. His leadership is everything an organization could want, as he has shown a maturity well beyond his years and is brave enough to rip into his teammates if he feels they’re not leaving it all on the court. And he’s more than willing to be playful when there’s no game, as anyone who’s witnessed one of his pre-game interviews can attest. Following a summer league game in Las Vegas last season as both teams filed into an elevator leading to the locker rooms, West noted out loud that he was clearly the most handsome of them all.
The common line is that the Celtics need a pure point guard, though the question of why is still a mystery to me. They averaged 98 points per game but proved that they could score as well as anyone as they shot 46.7%, good for 5th best in the league. It’s not like they had trouble distributing the ball, either, as they managed 20.9 assists, 10th best in the league. With West in the game, the C’s fared well, too, as his plus/minus numbers were 6.6 (according to 82games.com), and first on the team (sorry Dwayne Jones, you’re 12.9+/- in14 career games doesn’t qualify).
I think we can finally put to bed the notion that only a traditional point guard can lead a team to a championship. The last seven starting point guards on championship teams? Jason Williams, Tony Parker (2), Chauncey Billups and Derek Fisher (3). The only one who could be considered a pass first point guard is Williams, and he was essentially sharing time with Dwayne Wade. The fact is that while the aforementioned list has seven rings, guards like Steve Nash and Jason Kidd have none. Is that an unfair conclusion? Sure, but so is one that asserts that you need a traditional point guard to win it all when the recent evidence doesn’t support it.
It’s not that the Celtics don’t have problems at point guard. Just not starting point guard. Orien Greene was the first guy off the bench to sub for West and as soon as he’d come in, the offense would stagnate and the team completely lacked the kick out and shoot ability they used to start the games so strongly. How many times did we see the Celtics run off to a big lead and then give it all back before the first quarter was over? More often then not, Greene had a large hand in that. Dan Dickau proved to be a defensive liability right from the get-go, and then was injured early and lost for the season. Tony Allen was the team’s emergency option at the point and while he improved the more he played the position, it’s doubtful he’ll ever be a good enough ballhandler to create more points than he’ll give up with turnovers.
If Danny Ainge really wants upgrade his backup point guards, fine, but don’t waste a high draft pick on it. We’ve been hearing from Danny, the owners and Doc Rivers that the team intends to win some this year, and maybe even sneak into the second round. If they’re going to do that, is it really wise to bring in another young player to learn the toughest position in the game? Better to bring in someone who’s done it before, be it through free agency or a trade.
Or, you can look at the real problems of this team, namely the inability to stop anyone else from scoring. The Celtics were 19th in the league in points allowed per game and 18th in opposing field goal percentage. They were also tied for 25th in rebounding. While the last seven champs did not have pure starting point guards, they all had exemplary defensive big men (Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Ben Wallace and Alonzo Mourning). Isn’t that an area the C’s are really lacking?
On draft night, you’ll hear names like Marcus Williams, Jordan Farmar, Rajon Rondo and Sergio Rodriguez, all point guards, casually thrown around. When it comes right down to it, though, the Celtics ought to look right past them and acknowledge that while they have plenty needs, the starting point guard position is nowhere near the top of the list.
celticsblog.net/blog/
Celtics Have A Point
June 27th, 2006
by Gabe Kahn
For over a month, there has been a near unanimous call for the Celtics to approach the upcoming NBA draft looking to upgrade their position at point guard. The Green, owners of the 7th pick on Wednesday night and owners of the 5th worst record in the Eastern Conference have a lot of problems, chief amongst them being their lack of production from a proper floor general, so sayeth the experts.
Well here’s one interested observer who disagrees.
Without a doubt, the C’s do, in fact, have numerous issues they need to work out, but the starting point guard, Delonte West, is not one of them. West is believed to have the highest basketball IQ on the team and frequently makes excellent decisions when he is guiding the team. He may be the best shooter on a club that was primarily built with an eye towards spreading the floor to give Paul Pierce room to maneuver, and Pierce is West’s only threat when it comes to a better outside threat. In 2004, West averaged 11.8 points and 4.6 assists and shot almost 49% in what was essentially his rookie year. Although he’s not a defensive gem, he is capable and maybe the best shot-blocking point guard in the league.
Off the court, West is exactly the type of guy the Celtics want around, too. He’s one of the team’s hardest workers and consistently ruins the afternoon plans of Boston reporters by being the last player to leave the practice court. His leadership is everything an organization could want, as he has shown a maturity well beyond his years and is brave enough to rip into his teammates if he feels they’re not leaving it all on the court. And he’s more than willing to be playful when there’s no game, as anyone who’s witnessed one of his pre-game interviews can attest. Following a summer league game in Las Vegas last season as both teams filed into an elevator leading to the locker rooms, West noted out loud that he was clearly the most handsome of them all.
The common line is that the Celtics need a pure point guard, though the question of why is still a mystery to me. They averaged 98 points per game but proved that they could score as well as anyone as they shot 46.7%, good for 5th best in the league. It’s not like they had trouble distributing the ball, either, as they managed 20.9 assists, 10th best in the league. With West in the game, the C’s fared well, too, as his plus/minus numbers were 6.6 (according to 82games.com), and first on the team (sorry Dwayne Jones, you’re 12.9+/- in14 career games doesn’t qualify).
I think we can finally put to bed the notion that only a traditional point guard can lead a team to a championship. The last seven starting point guards on championship teams? Jason Williams, Tony Parker (2), Chauncey Billups and Derek Fisher (3). The only one who could be considered a pass first point guard is Williams, and he was essentially sharing time with Dwayne Wade. The fact is that while the aforementioned list has seven rings, guards like Steve Nash and Jason Kidd have none. Is that an unfair conclusion? Sure, but so is one that asserts that you need a traditional point guard to win it all when the recent evidence doesn’t support it.
It’s not that the Celtics don’t have problems at point guard. Just not starting point guard. Orien Greene was the first guy off the bench to sub for West and as soon as he’d come in, the offense would stagnate and the team completely lacked the kick out and shoot ability they used to start the games so strongly. How many times did we see the Celtics run off to a big lead and then give it all back before the first quarter was over? More often then not, Greene had a large hand in that. Dan Dickau proved to be a defensive liability right from the get-go, and then was injured early and lost for the season. Tony Allen was the team’s emergency option at the point and while he improved the more he played the position, it’s doubtful he’ll ever be a good enough ballhandler to create more points than he’ll give up with turnovers.
If Danny Ainge really wants upgrade his backup point guards, fine, but don’t waste a high draft pick on it. We’ve been hearing from Danny, the owners and Doc Rivers that the team intends to win some this year, and maybe even sneak into the second round. If they’re going to do that, is it really wise to bring in another young player to learn the toughest position in the game? Better to bring in someone who’s done it before, be it through free agency or a trade.
Or, you can look at the real problems of this team, namely the inability to stop anyone else from scoring. The Celtics were 19th in the league in points allowed per game and 18th in opposing field goal percentage. They were also tied for 25th in rebounding. While the last seven champs did not have pure starting point guards, they all had exemplary defensive big men (Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Ben Wallace and Alonzo Mourning). Isn’t that an area the C’s are really lacking?
On draft night, you’ll hear names like Marcus Williams, Jordan Farmar, Rajon Rondo and Sergio Rodriguez, all point guards, casually thrown around. When it comes right down to it, though, the Celtics ought to look right past them and acknowledge that while they have plenty needs, the starting point guard position is nowhere near the top of the list.