Post by DERRENMATTS on Sept 8, 2006 20:38:38 GMT -5
I'm not superstituous (most of the times), but I feel bad for thinking what just ran through my mind. This year's draft has 3 players who are highly coveted, and at the very top of the list is Greg Oden (followed by Kevin Durant and Joakim Noah). Somehow getting a pick that high could be the telling sign that we are destined for a new Celtics dynasty. But there's no way we're going to get a pick that high under normal circumstances. Even if we remain at the same level as last season, we are not going to be a high lottery team. And though I tried thinking of ways we could steal a non protected lottery pick from a team who is likely to be at the bottom of the barrel, it just ain't going to happen.
So what taboo thought ran through my head you ask? Well, think back to the 1996 ~ 1997 season, when the Spurs were able to miraculously grab Tim Duncan with the first overall pick, even though they were already a powerful team. Their star franchise player, David Robinson, was injured, and thus, they had a down season. That was enough to garner them the top pick, and we all know what happened to that franchise since then (and consequently, what happened with ours).
If Paul Pierce gets injured and we are forced to play on without him, we are severly handicapped and will not be able to compete on most nights. He is the heart and soul of the team and no one, not Wally Szczerbiak, not Gerald Green or Al Jefferson, will be able to put the team on their back like Pierce can. Tragic as it may be (another disappointing losing season is not what I'm looking forward to), this may be a two-fold blessing in disguise.
First of all, this could potentially put us in the running for the top pick in the draft. Its still dependent on the lottery balls, but there's still a chance. Winning Greg Oden gives us a player who's as close to Bill Russel as there has been in recent memory.
Secondly, our young players will get a chance to step in for Pierce's vacancy and get valuable playing time, thus gaining experience. After Payton went to Miami, Delonte was given the starting role and he blossomed so much with all that playing time. Perkins as well, made the most with his playing time once Blount was traded to Minnesota. And after Al Jefferson went down with his second ankle injury, Ryan Gomes got the starting nod and gained tremendous amount of playing time, which enabled him to show everyone what he can do.
We have a lot of young players at the wings (Gerald, Tony, Delonte, Allan Ray) and if they get the playing time to develop, it'll give us that much more depth for our future.
And when Pierce comes back fully healthy the following season, he could be joining a team that has Greg Oden and a more experienced group of young wing players.
So what taboo thought ran through my head you ask? Well, think back to the 1996 ~ 1997 season, when the Spurs were able to miraculously grab Tim Duncan with the first overall pick, even though they were already a powerful team. Their star franchise player, David Robinson, was injured, and thus, they had a down season. That was enough to garner them the top pick, and we all know what happened to that franchise since then (and consequently, what happened with ours).
If Paul Pierce gets injured and we are forced to play on without him, we are severly handicapped and will not be able to compete on most nights. He is the heart and soul of the team and no one, not Wally Szczerbiak, not Gerald Green or Al Jefferson, will be able to put the team on their back like Pierce can. Tragic as it may be (another disappointing losing season is not what I'm looking forward to), this may be a two-fold blessing in disguise.
First of all, this could potentially put us in the running for the top pick in the draft. Its still dependent on the lottery balls, but there's still a chance. Winning Greg Oden gives us a player who's as close to Bill Russel as there has been in recent memory.
Secondly, our young players will get a chance to step in for Pierce's vacancy and get valuable playing time, thus gaining experience. After Payton went to Miami, Delonte was given the starting role and he blossomed so much with all that playing time. Perkins as well, made the most with his playing time once Blount was traded to Minnesota. And after Al Jefferson went down with his second ankle injury, Ryan Gomes got the starting nod and gained tremendous amount of playing time, which enabled him to show everyone what he can do.
We have a lot of young players at the wings (Gerald, Tony, Delonte, Allan Ray) and if they get the playing time to develop, it'll give us that much more depth for our future.
And when Pierce comes back fully healthy the following season, he could be joining a team that has Greg Oden and a more experienced group of young wing players.