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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jan 11, 2007 11:30:29 GMT -5
(This is a continuation from the piece that FLCeltsFan has on Loy's Place Blog)
I do think there's a silver lining, though right now its hard to look past the gloom of losing Tony. What makes losing Tony so hard is that he was playing at such an unbelievable pace, and he was doing it the right way as well. He was slashing first and taking jumpers only when he had to. And his defense had been stellar, often keying fastbreaks on stolen and deflected passes. More than any other injury we've encountered this season, losing Tony hurt me the most.
But yes, there is a silver lining to all of our injuries. Gerald is certainly going to get a bulk of playing time, whether he sinks or swims, and Doc has little options to run to. And along with Gerald, Allan Ray will also see playing time. Now that Delonte may also miss the next couple of games with a back injury, Ray will spot more minutes backing up the 2, and I'm really looking forward to it. I think he's got the game to really fit in with the team and find himself a role.
And now with Scalabrine out, Doc has to use Powe more. Of course, he always has the option of using Olowokandi over Powe, but I hope Doc thinks long and hard about our future and sees that Kandi is not going to be a part of that future, while Powe is (at least we hope he is).
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cfoo
Welcome To Celtics Green!
Posts: 1
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Post by cfoo on Jan 11, 2007 12:32:40 GMT -5
Well these are the guys you wanted to see more of Derren as do I, so we will get that chance. I would have rathered bring them along slowly and I don't think they are ready yet, but PT is PT and it will be good experience for them.
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Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Jan 11, 2007 12:46:14 GMT -5
Yeah! We get our wish and find out who the keepers are and who we let go, I suppose. Doc sounds like a nice guy but he is not a big league coach. He has to be replaced at the end of the year. I think Danny needs to start signing veteran players to 10 day contracts and find someone who can stick.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jan 11, 2007 22:40:27 GMT -5
Idealy, bringing the kids along slowly, under the tutelage (sp?) of great players is the way to go.
But we are not in this situation--we don't have many veterans for the kids to learn under.
Even before the injuries hit us, we knew that the only way we were ever going to consistently compete against the better teams in the NBA was when guys like Jefferson, Gerald, Tony, Telfair, Rondo and Perkins were ready to take off the "under development" sign and step up their games.
What all these injuries have done is speed up many of our young player's playing experience. This will help to get out the nervous butterflies in their stomachs, and the quicker the kids can get comfortable playing at this speed, and gain confidence in their games, their development will come quickly.
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Post by eja117 on Jan 11, 2007 22:48:34 GMT -5
If a vet gets a little banged up it bothers me not, but when the kids (TA, West, Perk) get hurt that bothers me tons
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jan 11, 2007 23:09:02 GMT -5
Right, Eja. They are the future of the Celtics--not Wally, not Olowokandi, not Theo. Maybe Pierce, but with the way Tony was emerging, it was getting easier envisioning a starting tandem of Tony and Gerald.
Losing Delonte doesn't bother me too much. First of all, I know he'll be back (probably quicker than expected because he wants to be a warrior) and secondly, it gives Allan Ray the chance to play.
Ray is a more athletic version of Delonte, plus he's got longer arms (that helps him to get steals) and the ability to create his own shots. Celtics fans have another young player to get excited about.
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