Post by DERRENMATTS on Jan 16, 2007 20:48:55 GMT -5
Not quite at the halfway mark yet, but close enough (nothing else to talk about right now). Here's how I see our players shaping up:
Paul Pierce (expendable): IMO, he's expendable. Gerald is showing glimpses of fitting in better in an uptempo offense. I don't think he'll want to be here long term, and I think we are better, in the long term, without him. I wouldn't trade him just for anyone, though. Certainly for Gasol, but not for, say, Maggette.
Wally Szczerbiak (backup wing player): When he's healthy, I think he's an excellent player in an uptempo attack because of his quick and accurate outside shooting. I have to wait and see if he can recover from his ankle and knee injuries before I say hold onto him for the long term.
Al Jefferson (starter): It goes without saying that we need to hold onto this kid. Nothing short of an 18 and 10 guy next year. He could be a mid 20's scorer, but in an uptempo offense, we won't go to him as often as we would under a halfcourt offense.
Kendrick Perkins (backup C): Perkins has a rugged body and is a workhorse, but he doesn't quite meet my taste for a championship caliber starting Center. I see him more valuable as a backup defensive and rebounding Center.
Gerald Green (starter): He's developing a nice catch and shoot game, and this is what will allow him to thrive in an uptempo game. He's still got to work on his game a lot (dribbling in particular), but he's improving a lot this year. I'm getting excited thinking about how good Gerald will be in 4 years.
Tony Allen (starter, if healthy): Too bad he went down with a torn ACL and MCL. He was quickly cementing himself as an emerging force in the East. If he can come back healthy and regain what he had before he went down, he's got a spot as our starting 2.
Rajon Rondo (flip a coin): Rajon is a star if he had a jumper. Right now, he's our sparkplug off the bench, and for now, I like him in that role. He's really dynamic and changes the tempo of the game when he comes in. I think that's a weapon we can use. But he does deserve to start because he's got more basketball skills than Sebastian Telfair, and can impact the game more all around. His defense and rebounding are big pluses.
Sebastian Telfair (flip a coin): Rajon is breathing down Telfair's neck, so Telfair has constantly gotta be improving his game. Telfair seems to work well in the halfcourt offense because he can pop jumpers (needs consistency though). But Doc has got to let him play freely and use pick and rolls. Right now, I think this is what's keeping Bassy from exploding.
Ryan Gomes (backup): Ryan has been a steady contributor when healthy. He can handle a bigger role if Doc wants to use him more. But, as well as Gomes has been playing, I see him as a backup down the line. Maybe I'd change my mind if he was a shot blocker, or a guy who can throw down alley oop dunks.
Delonte West (backup): Delonte is best used as a shooting weapon. This opens up the floor for him to take it to the hoop, where he masterfully gets off his lefty layups. Despite Delonte's heart and gritty-ness, I don't think he's a long term fixture in Boston. Once Telfair and Rondo secure their roles, Delonte will see little time on the floor, and there are bound to be backup SG's who are taller, quicker and more athletic, who fit in with the uptempo game a lot more than him.
Leon Powe (backup): Once Powe gets his playing time (and he will), Doc will start making excuses for why he wasn't using Powe earlier. Powe has an outside shot at being a starter, but in order for that to happen, Al Jefferson will need to be playing at an All-NBA 1st team level at the Center position. If Powe was taller, he'd be a shoe in for the starting spot. But his rebounding, his plhysical play, his shot blocking, and his scoring ability will be a big boost off the bench.
Allan Ray (backup): IMO, he makes Delonte expendable. He's a better catch and shoot guy, he's quicker and longer, and he's got better handles than Delonte. Down the line, Ray will be a backup SG, and one of our best scoring weapons off the bench.
Theo, Olowokandi and Scalabrine are not long term players, so I won't comment on them (though Scalabrine has finally found some love in Boston).
Paul Pierce (expendable): IMO, he's expendable. Gerald is showing glimpses of fitting in better in an uptempo offense. I don't think he'll want to be here long term, and I think we are better, in the long term, without him. I wouldn't trade him just for anyone, though. Certainly for Gasol, but not for, say, Maggette.
Wally Szczerbiak (backup wing player): When he's healthy, I think he's an excellent player in an uptempo attack because of his quick and accurate outside shooting. I have to wait and see if he can recover from his ankle and knee injuries before I say hold onto him for the long term.
Al Jefferson (starter): It goes without saying that we need to hold onto this kid. Nothing short of an 18 and 10 guy next year. He could be a mid 20's scorer, but in an uptempo offense, we won't go to him as often as we would under a halfcourt offense.
Kendrick Perkins (backup C): Perkins has a rugged body and is a workhorse, but he doesn't quite meet my taste for a championship caliber starting Center. I see him more valuable as a backup defensive and rebounding Center.
Gerald Green (starter): He's developing a nice catch and shoot game, and this is what will allow him to thrive in an uptempo game. He's still got to work on his game a lot (dribbling in particular), but he's improving a lot this year. I'm getting excited thinking about how good Gerald will be in 4 years.
Tony Allen (starter, if healthy): Too bad he went down with a torn ACL and MCL. He was quickly cementing himself as an emerging force in the East. If he can come back healthy and regain what he had before he went down, he's got a spot as our starting 2.
Rajon Rondo (flip a coin): Rajon is a star if he had a jumper. Right now, he's our sparkplug off the bench, and for now, I like him in that role. He's really dynamic and changes the tempo of the game when he comes in. I think that's a weapon we can use. But he does deserve to start because he's got more basketball skills than Sebastian Telfair, and can impact the game more all around. His defense and rebounding are big pluses.
Sebastian Telfair (flip a coin): Rajon is breathing down Telfair's neck, so Telfair has constantly gotta be improving his game. Telfair seems to work well in the halfcourt offense because he can pop jumpers (needs consistency though). But Doc has got to let him play freely and use pick and rolls. Right now, I think this is what's keeping Bassy from exploding.
Ryan Gomes (backup): Ryan has been a steady contributor when healthy. He can handle a bigger role if Doc wants to use him more. But, as well as Gomes has been playing, I see him as a backup down the line. Maybe I'd change my mind if he was a shot blocker, or a guy who can throw down alley oop dunks.
Delonte West (backup): Delonte is best used as a shooting weapon. This opens up the floor for him to take it to the hoop, where he masterfully gets off his lefty layups. Despite Delonte's heart and gritty-ness, I don't think he's a long term fixture in Boston. Once Telfair and Rondo secure their roles, Delonte will see little time on the floor, and there are bound to be backup SG's who are taller, quicker and more athletic, who fit in with the uptempo game a lot more than him.
Leon Powe (backup): Once Powe gets his playing time (and he will), Doc will start making excuses for why he wasn't using Powe earlier. Powe has an outside shot at being a starter, but in order for that to happen, Al Jefferson will need to be playing at an All-NBA 1st team level at the Center position. If Powe was taller, he'd be a shoe in for the starting spot. But his rebounding, his plhysical play, his shot blocking, and his scoring ability will be a big boost off the bench.
Allan Ray (backup): IMO, he makes Delonte expendable. He's a better catch and shoot guy, he's quicker and longer, and he's got better handles than Delonte. Down the line, Ray will be a backup SG, and one of our best scoring weapons off the bench.
Theo, Olowokandi and Scalabrine are not long term players, so I won't comment on them (though Scalabrine has finally found some love in Boston).