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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 7, 2006 18:49:43 GMT -5
Everyone, get out your crystal balls (not that I believe in that kind of stuff) and look at November 1st. Do you see Big Al starting or Ryan Gomes?
Gomes was the starter for most of the second half, and he did fairly well, sometimes having really big games (quite a bit of double doubles). If he was a few inches taller, he could very well be our future PF because of how fundamentally sound he is.
But Jefferson is working his tail off this offseason, and once his bone bruise in his ankle fully heals, he'll be looking to secure the starting spot that was supposed to be handed to him last year.
Both guys were effective when they received a good amount of playing time. Both guys can rebound well and have shown to be excellent receivers on penetration plays.
So who starts the season at PF?
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cfoo
Welcome To Celtics Green!
Posts: 1
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Post by cfoo on Jul 7, 2006 20:27:16 GMT -5
I'm hoping big Al does. But i'm not sure he will. Gomes is not the answer at PF but would make an awesome 6th man considering Doc likes to go small at times and Gomes would allow that.
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Post by Roadrunner on Jul 7, 2006 22:08:57 GMT -5
Big Al if he figures out that hard work vs. just being bigger than everyone else in high school will prolong his NBA career.
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Post by VI_CelticsFan on Jul 7, 2006 22:09:41 GMT -5
Al should start. Gomes should be the 6th man. Doc could feel differently...
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Post by ferbo on Jul 7, 2006 23:25:45 GMT -5
Will be interesting. I'll be interested to see if Gomes, who was losing weight and working on ball handling, will still be a 4, or if he becomes something of a swing man at both 4 and 3.
Could be that Doc resorts to a Kurt Rambis arrangement, whereby someone else starts and AJ comes off the bench.
There is no doubt that he will be under expectation of performance. Kind of concerned about the statement that his lift hasn't returned. Seems like that was one of the things which made him promise special things.
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Post by mev17 on Jul 8, 2006 0:34:01 GMT -5
If he plays hard and consistently, I think Al starts because he would give us the low post scoring we lack in our lineup. Gomes' versatility suits him well to come off the bench at either the 3 or the 4.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 8, 2006 11:28:38 GMT -5
It should go to Jefferson, IMO. Big Al has more ability and impact as a scorer and even as a rebounder (though I feel that Gomes is more solid fundamentally--as in using his body).
I agree with your sentiments that Gomes is a bench player. He'll be one of our most used, and most important bench players.
I don't really care for the move to make him a SF. His game is clearly under the boards, or in the vicinity. Unless we are talking about a big lineup where he becomes the SF who stays under the basket, or posts up smaller SF's. That I can live with. But the last thing I want to see is Gomes staying on the perimeter, taking 23 ft shots. His best attributes are his rebounding and offensive putbacks, and if he's out on the perimeter, it'll take him away from his strong suits. He can't be that garbage player if he so far from the paint.
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Post by eja117 on Jul 8, 2006 12:33:36 GMT -5
I think it should, but I think he should have to beat out Gomes and I think that's easier said than done. I think waaaayyy too much is riding on Al, to the point they should strongly concider trading him. The reason why is cause there are only a few elite big men in this league and I don't think he can ever be one of them. They are Shaq, Duncan, and KG and on a really good day Dirk. The next level down is Elton Brand, Rasheed, B Wallace, Yao, and J ONeal. Could any of those guys ever lead a team to a championship? I doubt it. Maybe if they also had PP and GG they could. The next generation of elites are poised to be Amare, Dwight Howard, and Greg Oden and maybe Kevin Durant. The next generation of a level down is Bosh, Vilanueva, Bogut, Alridge, Emeka, and TT. Does Al seem better than any of these guys? No. Not at all. Time to cash in on Al while everyone is still fooled. Al for KG would be a heist.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2006 16:18:58 GMT -5
Al starts. Telfair with his dishing off under the basket will help Al's game considerably. I like Gomes but would not be surprised if he is involved in a trade. If not I agree with CF00,Gomes will make an awesome 6th man. Although you can only have so many "6th" men. If AI comes on board, West will be an awesome 6th man also.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jul 8, 2006 17:44:14 GMT -5
A big welcome to the board Quad!!! Great to see you here.
I think that Al should start but after the first SL game, I am not all that sure. Gomes just really dominated in that game whereas Al struggled somewhat. I can see Gomes starting or coming off the bench to give the second unit leadership and scoring.
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Post by jb on Jul 8, 2006 19:25:58 GMT -5
It should go to Jefferson, IMO. Big Al has more ability and impact as a scorer and even as a rebounder (though I feel that Gomes is more solid fundamentally--as in using his body). I agree with your sentiments that Gomes is a bench player. He'll be one of our most used, and most important bench players. I don't really care for the move to make him a SF. His game is clearly under the boards, or in the vicinity. Unless we are talking about a big lineup where he becomes the SF who stays under the basket, or posts up smaller SF's. That I can live with. But the last thing I want to see is Gomes staying on the perimeter, taking 23 ft shots. His best attributes are his rebounding and offensive putbacks, and if he's out on the perimeter, it'll take him away from his strong suits. He can't be that garbage player if he so far from the paint. I have to disagree. He's already the best defender at the three on the team and is a consistent mid range jumper from becomming a star. He'll never be big enough or strong enough to be any more than a situational fill in at the 4. I've said since the first day I saw him that he reminded me of Bill Bradley. For my money, I'd start Gomes at the three and let Szczerbiak be the sixth man. Read below the report from Draft express on his play, today Vegas Summer League: Day 3 Jonathan Givony - President Eric Weiss July 8, 2006 Game One Final: Boston 92- Dallas 85 Boston Eric Weiss {Excerpt} Ryan Gomes In direct contrast to Jefferson, Ryan Gomes simply dominated the 1st half of play with a complete floor game that bespoke of his hard-work at becoming a true small forward. Gomes hit effortless pick-and-pop shots from 15 and 18 feet, set screens for teammates, moved the ball effectively to facilitate action, and rebounded to good effect. Gomes has clearly put in the work to increase his speed and agility as he looks to be much leaner and agile than he was last season. Gomes hit a number of perfect outlet passes to Rondo and Telfair which led to easy transition buckets. Gomes also had one of his signature pirouette and-1 lay-ins, taking the body contact and twisting around backwards while finishing with deft touch. Excellent half for Gomes. Gomes missed his first two shots of the 2nd half…and then continued his dominance thereafter. Gomes got on the glass hard, stole balls, stripped others and generally just went to all the right places while making all the right plays. Gomes’ ability to finish after contact is virtually unparalleled, thus enabling him to throw countless fakes and stutters at taller defenders to bait them into committing. Gomes will have put to rest ANY questions of his ability to transition to the small forward position as his perimeter shooting on step backs and dribble creation was excellent. Gomes missed a few free throws which is uncharacteristic, but his play was so above everyone else it really didn’t matter. Gomes had close to 30 points and 12 rebounds in this contest-all of the “translatable” variety. .
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 8, 2006 21:30:43 GMT -5
Well, I may have to bite my words after this week of summer leagues games ;D Gomes may be able to play like a big 3, a guy who can step away from the basket and consistently hit the mid range jumpers. But as far as the starting PF spot, I don't know if Gomes' showing in the summer league will change things because he's showing that he can expand his game to the perimeter, making him an option as a 3.
JB, I can see what you are saying, and it could very well work. But Wally is an excellent shooter who has deeper range than Gomes. I say whoever can set the better picks and be the better scorer off the pick and roll should play the 3. Gomes may win the spot by doing this.
But Gomes is definitely working his way into a big role on the team, whether it be as a starter or valuable bench guy. Either way, he's making it hard for Ainge to move him.
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Post by esco33 on Jul 8, 2006 23:04:15 GMT -5
If you go on pure position, athletic ability, and what this team needs out of a power forward, a consistent low post threat, then you go with Big Al.
But numbers don't lie, and Gomes seems to put up much better numbers as a starter, so in that sense I think Gomes will start.
Big Al SHOULD be the starter, but if Gomes keeps playing like he has he will be the one getting ready to hear his name called on opening night. Gomes is just a more fundamentally sound, and much smarter ballplayer than Big Al at this stage of their careers. Big Al has more potential (I said it again eja ;D) but Gomes is the more productive player right now. They will have to battle it out in camp, and whoever fits in better with the first unit will get the nod. It's that simple.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 8, 2006 23:23:23 GMT -5
If Jefferson could be as fundamentally sound as Gomes, he'd be the All-Star we hope he will become. Big Al ankle is still not fully healed, and this is no doubt affecting his play on the court. I still can't cut off my right ankle, and its been over 3 months since I bruised my ankle bone (same injury as Al). I can't even do jump ropes yet. This is different from a regular sprained ankle. A bone bruise last much longer.
It may be another month or so before Al is fully healed and feels no pain when pushing off his ankle. Once that happens, its just a matter of him getting confidence in his ankle before he seriously starts to get back on track.
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Post by jb on Jul 9, 2006 6:44:54 GMT -5
From Scott Souza's column in today's Metro West, we learned that Jefferson played mostly center yesterday, perhaps explaining why he struggled in the first half, taking passes at different angles, etc.. Unless Ratliff spends the summer at Lourdes, we will need another center on this team. It's one thing to go small on occasion, but it works a lot better if we could go big also. My idea for Szczerbiak to come off the bench is to balance the scoring and with Gomes starting at the three, we are a lot stronger defensively, with Gomes guarding the opponents best wing scorers at the start of the game, before they tire.
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