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Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Feb 15, 2007 12:55:40 GMT -5
Paul Pierce [stats] expanded on his comments from a recent Herald story in a radio appearance yesterday, repeating that he’d like to see the Celtics [team stats] get more immediate help this summer (he’s proposed a trade for a key veteran) and saying he doesn’t want to run out his career on a team that has no chance to contend for a championship.
It was the public expression of conversations that have taken place in private. Sources acknowledge Pierce is very interested to see what happens this summer before evaluating his presence with the Celtics.
“Well, in a year or two if we are still here (record-wise), I don’t think I’m going to have to be able to answer that question, or anybody else around here,” coach Doc Rivers said before his team went out and snapped an 18-game losing streak with their 117-97 win at the Garden against the Milwaukee Bucks.
“But obviously if we’re at this point in two years from now, everyone’s going to be asking out, and they probably should. You look at the fact that in games Wally (Szczerbiak) and Paul have played in, we’re .500. That still ain’t good enough. Right now if you look at our record, (.500) sounds great, but realistically that’s not good enough, not for me it’s not, and not for Paul.
“I don’t think we will be there even if we stay the same. I don’t think we will, but even if we stayed the same and had health - great health - and we had a starting lineup of Tony Allen and Delonte (West) and Paul and Al (Jefferson) and whoever else is the fifth guy, I think we’d be a much better team, especially with the guys coming off the bench being better.”
If “whoever else” ends up being Ohio State freshman Greg Oden, Pierce will have the immediate help he seeks. But the captain has noted on more than one occasion that he doesn’t want to have to wait for another young player to develop.
Should we let go of Pierce in a trade? Where should we trade him to? Or should we get serious about acquiring Pau Gasol who never has won a playoff game?
Does Pierce for Artest and Brad Miller interest anybody? Certainly Ron Artest has had personality issues but we do need some toughness out there and Artest can certainly provide that.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2007 13:45:25 GMT -5
You first try to find some help for Paul Pierce. As we know, this team isn't much of anything without our Star. If I was the GM, the best option i would go with is to wait out the season to see where our draft pick is going to be. If it's not a top 2 pick, I would try to move it to get a veteran big man like Pau Gasol or Jermaine O'Neal. Our best chance would have to be with Pau Gasol since A) he's from the Western Conference B). we have what they need i.e. Young talent, lottery draft pick plus an expiring contract (Ratliff).
IF we cannot come up the necessary help to give PP a chance at a championship then all means try to get as much value as we can while his value is high.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Feb 15, 2007 21:42:39 GMT -5
That's why I think Ainge is making a run for Gasol. Ainge is going to hold onto Jefferson, and I'm sure he'll try his best to hold onto Green too.
I liked seeing Jefferson and Pierce last night in the Milwaukee game because they are both go-to threats. Another veteran scorer/rebounder like Gasol would be a nightmare for any team to face.
But if Pierce wants to go, I'm sure we can find teams who want a big time scorer like him for their playoff run.
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Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Feb 15, 2007 23:31:26 GMT -5
That's why I think Ainge is making a run for Gasol. Ainge is going to hold onto Jefferson, and I'm sure he'll try his best to hold onto Green too. I liked seeing Jefferson and Pierce last night in the Milwaukee game because they are both go-to threats. Another veteran scorer/rebounder like Gasol would be a nightmare for any team to face. But if Pierce wants to go, I'm sure we can find teams who want a big time scorer like him for their playoff run. Didn't I tell you we should make a run for Gasol? If the Celtics can obtain him then I would not be surprised if we finish the season winning 2 out 3 games and match last years record. And next year we begin our push in earnest. See my multiple choice thoughts.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Feb 15, 2007 23:51:32 GMT -5
I was on board for Gasol for a while as well.
But here are my current thoughts about obtaining him. If we trade for him, we'll most likely give up Gerald Green and our 1st round pick. Now, getting Gasol would be terrific since it'll be tough for teams to match up against Pierce, Jefferson and Gasol, and we'll speed up our growing curve because Gasol is already a proven veteran. But if Gerald develops into an 18 ppg scorer, he, Pierce and Jefferson will give us a scoring trio that's hard to beat anyways, and with our 1st round pick, we can get a big man. Like I mention in a separate thread, we can win a championship even without Oden. If we draft Noah, Hawes or Aaron Gray, I feel they are the blue collar type who can spell our needs from our 5 spot.
If we can somehow keep Green, Pierce and Jefferson and still trade for Gasol (and I just can't fathom how we'd do this), a championship banner will soon come to Boston.
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cfoo
Welcome To Celtics Green!
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Post by cfoo on Feb 17, 2007 1:56:03 GMT -5
Well if Pierce is getting antsy maybe we can work that 3 way trade with Chicago to get Gasol, and then draft Durant.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Feb 17, 2007 4:09:37 GMT -5
Hmmm, very interesting thought, CF.
Rajon Gerald Durant Jefferson Gasol
Talk about long and athletic--this team will be full of long and athletic players at every position.
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cfoo
Welcome To Celtics Green!
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Post by cfoo on Feb 17, 2007 16:20:55 GMT -5
Yeah that would be a sweet team in a few years. There are so many options here we can do. I don't watch a ton of college ball although I really should because I enjoy, but I havent' really seen a lot these prospects in the draft. I've seen Durant, I know what Oden brings. Oden seems like the obvious choice if we get the #1 and he declares but who knows what could happen between now and then. I saw Hawes today. Not impressed. He seems to me like another Paul Davis but let refined and maybe a little more athletic and quick. Like a Josh McRoberts. I watched Florida as well. I think Noah will be a player but I'm not sure where he fits in and if he's the kind of player we need. If I were to draft any of these guys it would probably Holford to pair alongside Jefferson and keep Jefferson at Center. A lineup of Rajon, Gerald, Pierce, Holford, Jefferson wouldnt be bad if dont end up high enough in the draft or make a trade. But then we are playing with 2 PF's and I'd much rather get a true Center, but I haven't seen any that stand out to me yet except Oden and Gasol.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Feb 17, 2007 18:42:05 GMT -5
I saw Hawes today. Not impressed
Don't go off of what you've seen today. Today was not a good game for him (Aaron Gray, another big man I'm interested in drafting, did a good job bodying up on him). I've seen a lot of Washington games and I can tell you that Spencer Hawes is tons better than what you've just seen. He's literally the best big man in the country next to Oden and Noah. He's only a freshman, and he's shaking the rust off after missing a good part of January with an illness.
I don't care much for McRoberts.
I like Noah a lot.
I like Aaron Gray as well (mid 1st round pick).
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Post by Celtic17 on Feb 18, 2007 21:22:45 GMT -5
I would like to see PP give this one more season. After that, I would have no problem with his number in the rafters. If he pushes his way out now, I would like to see his number on another player...
He's mae a mark on the C's and the league, often over-looked by All-Star voters, yet a HOF type of player. I just think it is best for him to end his career in C-Green.
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Post by celtntexas on Feb 19, 2007 20:03:40 GMT -5
Hmmm, very interesting thought, CF. Rajon Gerald Durant Jefferson Gasol Talk about long and athletic--this team will be full of long and athletic players at every position. They better be able to score 120 points a game because aside from Rajon there isn't a single player in that line up that plays a lick of defense. Just sayin... BTW...Hi y'all
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Feb 19, 2007 20:54:57 GMT -5
In my opinion defense is the most important facet of the game. I keep hoping that Doc will be fired in the off season and we will bring in a defensive minded coach. We need to have a couple of defensive stoppers which I think we may eventually have with Rondo and Allen along with the rest of the team improving individually defensively.
Welcome to the board ... glad you are here.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Feb 19, 2007 22:55:09 GMT -5
Welcome aboard CeltnTexas.
I think defense is much needed, but we will still be able to win playing 60% offense and 40% defense. Right now, our defense is nowhere near 40% of our game, so we need to kick it up a notch big time.
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