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Post by freshnthehouse on Sept 24, 2005 15:37:43 GMT -5
I just watched some FSN interview with AInge, and the topic was mostly the upcoming year. NOthing of much interest, he did mention that he thinks that BLount was ready for a bounce-back year.
I think this seeason is the one that AInge will really earn his paycheck. THis is the year he really has to evaluate the talent on his team. He has to decide which guys are special players and which ones are not, and then trade these players while they still have some value. Last year with Jiri was a perfect example. We got a 1st round pick for him. A few months later cleveland was lucky to get a 2nd rounder for him.
A lot of these moves will be met with scorn as well. A lot of people that follow the C's think that every young player we have is going to contribute to a dynasty in just a few years. I dont see that happening. Id be thrilled if 3-4 of our young guys are on our team. I think after this year we will know what guys will be part of our core lineup.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Sept 24, 2005 20:26:26 GMT -5
I agree that this is going to be prove to be a difficult season for Ainge. After going through a long stretch of not having talent, we are now filled with talent, young as they may be, from top to bottom. Deciding in a short amount of time which young players will most likely pan out and which ones probably won't is going to take a lot of scouting, a lot of gut instincts, and some luck.
Though I include myself into the group of fans who think highly of our young players, I do not feel that most of them will turn out to be better than role players. Of the 9 players who've been drafted under Ainge's watch, here's how I would categorize them:
1st Tier--star caliber
-Al Jefferson
-Gerald Green
2nd Tier-role players
-Ryan Gomes
-Delonte West
-Tony Allen
-Kendrick Perkins
-Marcus Banks
3rd Tier--possible role players but need to be seen
-Justin Reed (sorry C17, I like this kid too, but I think Gomes is going to outplay him)
-Orien Greene (this kid is a darkhorse, but right now, we know very little about his future)
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Post by Celtic17 on Sept 24, 2005 22:19:08 GMT -5
I think MBlount will show more of his contract self...
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Post by meltinjohn on Sept 25, 2005 2:11:24 GMT -5
Lets hope Blonut can come back and play hard. Now I think Reed and Allen may be the guys being dealt here. They all cant be on the team while Danny still keeps stocking up picks. Someone indeed has to go. Something tells me Orien is staying though.
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Post by BCHISTORIAN on Sept 25, 2005 2:23:46 GMT -5
is this based on the fact that blount can't get any worse?  |
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Sept 25, 2005 2:36:03 GMT -5
The only way that Blount plays better is if he's happy. Remember when O'Brien left and John Carrol took over? Blount played like a new man because he was used in a more productive way that allowed him to utilize his jumper. This new freedom seemed to make him a new man and he became quite a scorer, along with being a monster on the boards (I believe he collecte 21 double doubles the second half of the '04 season).
Last year, he reverted to being an unhappy player again, for whatever reason. And it got worse when Walker came back because he was pushed to the bench.
With Perkins and Jefferson, along with Scalabrine, getting some playing time, Blount's minutes will surely sink even more, with his attitude following suit. I just don't see him being happy in a reduced role, and an unhappy Blount is an unproductive Blount.
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Post by freshnthehouse on Sept 25, 2005 3:44:47 GMT -5
In the interview with ainge that i was talking about, one of the dudes asked Ainge about all of the point guards. When discussing dickeau, Ainge pointed out how well he runs the pick and roll. That should bode well for blount.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Sept 25, 2005 4:02:03 GMT -5
I don't know about that Fresh. For a player to excel with the pick and roll, he has to be able to catch the ball that is thrown his way after the pick. This isn't Mark's strong suit ;D
One thing about Blount is that after setting picks, he doesn't cut to the basket like how screeners should. He stays put so that he can shoot his jumper from the free throw area. He needs to start cutting to the basket because it allows the passer a better option to pass to.
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Post by meltinjohn on Sept 26, 2005 1:56:31 GMT -5
I knew Blonut was lazy. He couldnt be a bad player at all with all those double doubles that 2003-04 season. If he played like he did in his contract year, hed be more productive than Eddy Curry was. If its just a matter of Blonut being happy, a minor thing may have to be adjusted so we at least have a good productive center who isn't lazy like the old Blonut from his contract year. It would sure help if he could be a monster on the boards and hit his 15s.
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Post by freshnthehouse on Sept 26, 2005 15:28:24 GMT -5
I don't know about that Fresh. For a player to excel with the pick and roll, he has to be able to catch the ball that is thrown his way after the pick. This isn't Mark's strong suit ;D One thing about Blonut is that after setting picks, he doesn't cut to the basket like how screeners should. He stays put so that he can shoot his jumper from the free throw area. He needs to start cutting to the basket because it allows the passer a better option to pass to. I mentioned this becuase it seemed like Blount Offensive game really excelled when we traded for Adkins, who runs a good pick and roll, leaving blount open to hit that little jumper of his. |
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Sept 26, 2005 15:42:32 GMT -5
Well, that period where Atkins came over also coincided with John Carrol becoming the interim head coach. Blount seems to have enjoyed playing for him and he seemed freer on offense. I think it may be a combination of both things that made Blount a much better player than he is currently showing.
But I think its important to remember that Blount's playing time will likely be reduced now that Jefferson and Perkins (and probably Scalabrine) will be getting more playing time. Blount will not take this well, IMO. And when his sensitive feelings are hurt, he seems to shell up like a clam.
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Post by bleedgreen on Sept 26, 2005 15:55:48 GMT -5
Well, if Mr. Blonut wants to shell up like a Clam - I think Danny should "cook" him like one!!!! Let him "boil" on the bench ! 'Cause this is NO time for child's play - let the "real "men play.....and let the crybabies "mine the pine" (that includes you know who). I want this team to show that "Rookies" can deliver the goods. I like the Philosophy of MIAMI DOLHPIN'S coach, Mr. Saban, "I will play my best players, whether they are rookies or not - the best players WILL play !"
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Sept 26, 2005 16:01:52 GMT -5
Hey, always a good thing to include quotes from the Dolphins (C17, Mev, and myself are Fins fans--anyone wanting to join in on football conversations, there's a football thread in the Others category of this website).
We should part with Blount in any fashion possible. Just like I said about McCarty prior to him being traded to PHO, we will not miss Mark Blount when he's gone.
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Post by freshnthehouse on Sept 26, 2005 16:23:55 GMT -5
I hope that Blount contributes some on the offensive end when hes paired with Dickeau. THen we can trick some other team in taking him. Blount will never be a rebounder or shot-blocker, but hopefully wer can get him to average around 11-12 pts per game again.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Sept 26, 2005 16:31:37 GMT -5
For him to do that, he'll need to beat out Perkins and Raef and be the starter and average between 25 - 30 minutes a game.
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