forum.connpost.com/celticscentral/2008/04/posey_is_far_more_than_statist.html#commentsA Conversation with James Posey and More
James Posey has turned out to be the key off season acquisition, post Garnett for this Celtic team.
At that time, he looked like he would be big...and he has been. He has been everything the team, fans, Doc Rivers and, I would guess, ownership would have hoped he would be. As it turns out, he was much more.
5th Best Defensive Rating in the NBA
Who would have thought James Mikley Mantell Posey would have has the 5th best defensive rating in the entire NBA, according to Basketball-Reference.com? Link
Let me note that he is one of 5 Celtics in the top 11 in the league, which is no surprise because this year's Celtics have the best defensive numbers in the league in all of the key areas. It makes perfect sense.
But he is the only reserve to crack that group. The other 4 Celtics are all starters.
Just as in war, team sports is a battle. It is a between you, your team mates, and the enemy - the other team.
In the ultra macho world of male sports, the fraternity of males bonding in the form of hugs is nothing unusual. But it usually occurs after a game or in a group embrace before the contest, whatever sport it may be. James Posey's now widely known pre-game ritual sends each Celtic starter into battle with a hug and a whispered message.
I was unaware of it before this year, but James Posey's pre-tip-off hugs of his team's starters was something he been doing for years now.
"It actually started, I say, when I got traded to Houston and that was just a couple of team mates. Then from Houston I went to Memphis, it was pretty much...(just) some team mates at the beginning, but then at the end, it was all my team mates, then from there I went to Miami, it was the same thing."
Another reporter asked, "Do your past team mates miss it?
"Nah, they ain't gonna say that! (laughter all around)
It's just my way of letting guys know, before they go out there, 'Y'all, we're in this together' (still) and all these years, I say something different every game for the most part."
To have a personality on the team like that is special. I mean...really unique. Chemistry can be an elusive thing. Yet, it is critical for winning in team sports. Doc has said that James is like an extension of the coach, and that is one of the unknown bonuses that James Posey brings. The fact that supposedly jaded stars like Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen have accepted it, is a credit to who Posey is as a human being. It is also a credit the the three stars and the rest of the team. They are in it for each other and team comes first.
Speaking of this team....What was the biggest surprise for him about this team, now that we are near the end of the season?
"....How we gelled so early and had that chemistry going. I mean, that's rare [for most teams]. With the type of talent we had and the guys we had, coming in early. We got know each other, on and off the court. I think that was key for us. Then we had the trip overseas. That really brought us closer together. And then..these guys in here...they're very competitive. That's fun. We like hanging around with each other on and off the court."
When asked if he was ever around a group of guys like that before...
"Not at all. Even in Miami, we didn't start gelling until March, for the most part. Then we started hitting our stride."
This team did gel early and kept getting better and more balanced in scoring on the court as the year went on.
"We enjoy being around each other. Going out to eat, going to each other's houses, you know, just hanging out. I just wish every team you (were) a part of understood this, and had, you know what I'm saying, the same feeling each guy brings into this locker room. At the end of the day it's about winning and enjoying the process and being happy for your team. And sticking with each other through the course of the season."
You have had a number of head coaches. What is different about Doc that makes this work?
James was silent for a number of seconds as he thought a little deeper for a moment...
"His communication skills with the players. Everyone communicating back and forth. He's not always talking at you and beating you over the head with everything, because he played, he understands a little bit. You can have a conversation with him and tell him how you feel and he tells you what he sees, and then you like..okay... I understand that. That you can get things off your chest, instead of keeping things bottled up. You gotta have that communication with the coach. That's been key with us."
Then James thought of a specific example of Doc's unique style....
Even in tight situations, he still has that sense of humor or is able to relate and communicate with us so we can get the job done.
It was crazy... (pause)...we (were) in Orlando and we were down big and we were shorthanded a little bit, and he came in the huddle, I think Rondo went down, and he said, "(expletive) you guys bring it in. Just go out there and play hard. We got tomorrow off! (laughter)
See, we were already down, getting smacked and everything, and at that point in time that's how he talked to us and we fought ourselves, got back in the ball game. We lost on a last second shot. Things like that. Not just pounding us over the head. He made us just relax and we got back in the game. That (moment) sticks out as the main thing as far as Doc being (good) communication-wise."
James went on to say that Doc also cares about the players beyond basketball. He knows that players have other things going on. Does that make a more committed team?
James says yes. His final testament to Doc's way being effective...
"He knows you have families. But we got guys, on off days, you still see most of our team in there. Guys doing cardio, lifting weights, get their shots up, getting treatment, and whatever. I've been on teams where...when you say 'day off'...they gonna take that day off, you ain't see nobody around there. They (are) gone!" (chuckles)
That is a direct credit to Doc?
"Yeah. He's respecting us as being veterans and getting our work done without him beating us across the head. Guys still come around here like that.
He's leading us. But on top of that, we take responsibility for when we mess up. From Ticket to the last man on the bench. You have to respect that. You don't always have a coach who does things like that."
James is sold on Doc, the team is sold on James, and this is what James Posey gives you as a player, statistically and otherwise:
His Defense
Doc Rivers has surprised many by playing Posey at the 4 for much of the season. Posey has responded with great defensive efforts most of the time, while giving the team a floor spreader at the other end. He can't be left alone at the 3 point arc.
Besides solid fundamental positioning, staying in front of his player, etc., his defense includes multiple deflections most every game, and seems to come up with steals at critical moments. He draws charges, and will put a hard foul on you when it is required. He will get into opponents heads. He will frustrate his opponent. He is consistently solid. As expected, James is one of the key cogs in this vaunted Celtic defense.
Offense
He has hit a number of big three point shots over the course of the season and has made some clutch free throws to help win some games. Many of his threes seem to be a part of runs to keep Celtic rallies going. It's kind of like that player in a baseball line-up who keeps a scoring rally going by getting another key hit to move the runners along or bring another run in to destroy the opponents morale. Posey pours oil on the fire. Picking his spots, and using his picks, James can drive and finish or dish it for a better shot.
Initially, I thought Posey might be used more offensively than he has been. Something along the lines of his most offensively productive year (12-14 points per game) at Memphis was possible, in my mind.
That year (03/04) this may surprise you (it surprised me) but, according to Basketball-reference.com James Posey was:
1) 3rd in the league in true shooting pct at .614%
2) 6th in offensive rating
3) 10th in win shares (30)
4) 14th in offensive win shares - ahead of guys like McGrady, Billups and Reggie Miller
Of course your team has to be winning to get win shares, but Posey was a big reason offensively that Memphis won 50 games that season under Hubie Brown.
James Posey on Hubie Brown...
"He kept it simple for us. He made it fun. (like here) guys liked playing with each other."
James can start against the other team's best forward, as well as anchoring the second unit's defensive efforts. Though James comes off the bench here, Posey has been a starter on other teams, even the championship Miami Heat team. In fact, James started much of the year that season, only to be moved to the bench for the play-offs, to let Antoine Walker start. The moved worked well for both players and the team.
James was one of two players suspended for a few games by Pat Riley for not meeting team body fat standards. Antoine Walker was the other. Astoundingly, Shaq was not. If you are wondering just how out of shape Posey was, don't fret too hard. The team's standard was no more than 8% body fat. Posey was at 9%. I find it hard to believe that Shaq was carrying less than 10%, yet no suspension there, was there?
As a Celtic, Posey doesn't look out if shape, or have conditioning problems, though he certainly doesn't look like a weight room freak either.
In terms of off season pick-ups to revolve around the anointed threesome, James has been the most important pick up for the Celtics.
The Boston Celtics had already signed Eddie House and Scot Pollard within 9 days of making the trade for Garnett on July 31. They added Posey on August 27. This signing was the most significant of the post-Garnett signings. It legitimized Boston's chances to go places in the eyes of many previous skeptics.
After making $6.4 million the previous season, he was signed for a 2 year deal worth $3.2 mil this year with a player option for $3.5 next season. It's been reported that Eddie House had called James and helped convince him to come to Boston to help try and win a championship.
From this point forward, Boston had, at least, a solid 8 man rotation. With House, Tony Allen and Posey coming off the bench, Boston's starters had a modicum of real bench support.
With Davis, Powe and now PJ Brown all performing well, maybe James will get to play a little more at the 3, his natural position. But wherever Doc plays him, James will give you what you see in the stat column and a whole lot more.
A little over a year ago (2/14/2007), The Sun Sentinel of Florida reported how important Posey was to the Heat. It was assumed Posey was on the way out as trade rumors surfaced...
" That thinking should stop. Now.
If nothing else, recent games have proven the value of Posey, particularly fourth-quarter value, when his relentless approach has helped put away victories against San Antonio and Portland.
The acquisition of (Eddie) Jones seems to have inspired Posey. His play alongside Jones has provided the Heat with a defensive lineup that continually has flustered the opposition."
That is what James does. He has been doing it all season. Now he does it for a coach he respects and team mates that really like each other. What could be better? Answer: Adding another NBA championship to his resume with that coach and those team mates.
