Re: Jon Jennings input

["JLyell" <jlyell@concentric.net>]

Please note this was not my original posting, but something I copied from a
posting on the Boston Globe Celtic Discussion list.  What is it that they
say, the opinion's are not necessarily those of management, or something
like that ? .

I agree that Van Horn will probably be a top 4 selection, but if we don't
land Duncan, I am torn between Mercer, Battie & Van Horn.  Since we need a
big man & a shooting 2 I tend to lean toward Battie or Mercer. But if Fox
is gone, I think we should seriously consider moving Willaims for a young
big 2, and possibly taking Mercer or Van Horn if we are really sold on
them. Williams is just not consistent enough for me. I hope Texas tech &
Utah go fairly far in the tournament so we can really see how these players
perform against top competition.    Battie has satisfied me with his play
against Colorado & Kansas.


Calling anyone "The next Larry Bird" would seem to be the kiss of death,
and turn them in to the next Danny Ferry.  I would be satisfied if Van Horn
turned into a Tom Gugliotta or Chris Mullin type player.





- ----------
> From: JLyell <jlyell@concentric.net>
> To: Celtics <celtics@igtc.com>
> Subject: Jon Jennings input
> Date: Sunday, March 02, 1997 9:40 AM
> 
> In January's Celtic Monthly, Director of Basketball Operations Jon
Jennings
> comments on this years upcoming draft. His response to a question from
CM:
> Would you agree that a center is the Celtic's number one priority? His
> answer. Jennings: Only if the quality of the player were there. Obviously
> we need a center, but I wouldn't pass up a Keith Van Horn to draft a
center
> who didn't have Van Horn's level of ability. In response to another
> question CM: Is there a Top Ten list of players emerging? His answer.
> Jennings: Not a Top Ten list. It's very difficult right now to come up
with
> a list of players. There's Tim Duncan[Wake Forest] and Keith Van
> Horn[Utah], but after that it's very difficult to say. What Jennings is
> saying is that Boston will take Van Horn if we end up with the 2nd or 3rd
> pick and he is right they should. He also mentions looking at Derek
> Anderson, who I agree completely at taking with our 2nd round pick if
he's
> still there and of course if his knee is healthy. He's currently ranked
at
> #25 in the polls and could slip right into our hands with our second
round
> pick. Boston will take Duncan with the #1 pick and Van Horn if we end up
> getting the #2 or #3 pick and if he's still available. Our 1st pick will
be
> either Duncan, Van Horn or Mercer. All three will have an impact. To
> respect opinions on Van Horn's talent level I can only dispute with those
> of you who feel that he cannot play. He is very quick with his first
step,
> can run the floor and of course shoot the lights out and also pass and
> rebound. What more do you want from a guy who also is very court smart,
> always draws a double team(something Boston needs in a player badly) and
> reads the floor extremely well. Van Horn is already getting Bird like
> comparison's from other college coaches and I can still remember Bird
> running down the court and it was always so weird because it looked like
he
> was running in slow motion, yet he would always get the rebound when you
> need it, make the pass when you needed it, and hit the shot when you
needed
> it and I am telling you from someone who watched Bird play all of his
> college games on TV that Van Horn is going to be the closest player to a
> Larry Bird then we've seen in a long, long time. If we get Van Horn with
> our 1st first round pick we should seriously look at Jamison(or then a
> center if he's not available)with our next and Anderson with our 1st
second
> round pick. One way or another and I do respect everyone's opinion's
here,
> but you cannot put anyone ahead of Van Horn based on Van Horn's
conference
> or foot speed, because Boston would be a great place for Van Horn to
shine.
> He is a perfect player with a complete basketball mind to excell in
> Beantown. I'm only glad that Jennings is a part of running the show and
> don't think for one
> minute that Bird himself hasn't noticed a younger Larry in Van Horn too.
> Boston will do the right thing come draft day and we will turn things
> around, it's what all of us really want.... 
>