FWD: Usenet Draft: #10 - Boston Celtics

[witchcraft1998@hotmail.com (Witch)]

Subject: Forward:  Usenet Draft: #10 - Boston Celtics
From: witchcraft1998@hotmail.com (Witch)

Newsgroups: alt.sports.basketball.nba.boston-celtics


In article , Craig A. Simpson says...
> 
> With the 12th pick the Boston Celtics select 
> Al Harrington, SF, 6-8, St. Patricks HS.   
> The Celtics are represented by Ellie Cutler.
> 
> For previous picks, please see the Usenet Mock Draft web site:
> 
> http://sunsite.unc.edu/craig/draft/1998_draft/1998.html
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> STATE OF THE CELTICS:  1997-1998
> 
> TEAM HISTORY
> What a difference a year makes.  The laughingstocks of the 
> '96-'97 season gained some respectability, as the Celts improved 
> their record from 15-67 to 36-46 this past year. Teams took them 
> seriously. And, other players were suddenly interested in playing 
> for the Celtics.  Not bad for the team that lost the Duncan Sweeps 
> (a pain that only grew worse as the season progressed - I knew he 
> was good but this is ridiculous!).  
> 
> Year one of Rick Pitino's 5-year plan went as advertised. He promised 
> an energized team who would entertain and show up to play every night.  
> On those counts, he delivered. The Celtics topped the NBA in forcing 
> turnovers and also finished first in steals. On the other hand, they 
> had no interior defense, again. You'd think between the Southeast 
> Expressway and the Big Dig that some of the lane congestion  in Boston 
> could make it into  the Fleet Center.
> 
> Pitino is not afraid to pull the trigger, and we were certainly 
> entertained by the myriad of trades that happened.  His rule is to 
> always get someone of value, so if they don't work out you can turn 
> around and trade them to someone else.  The work it takes to get in 
> "Pitino shape" was not everyone's cup of tea. Eric Williams showed 
> up reportedly out-of-shape and not ready to work, and was packed off 
> to Denver, where he promptly tore an ACL. After seeing half the team 
> on IV fluids following one practice, Chris Mills decided it wasn't 
> for him either, so off he went to the Knicks for Walter McCarty,  
> Scott Brooks, Dontae Jones, and a great young power player named John 
> Thomas.  Brooks was soon gone, Jones spent the season as the designated
> phantom injury in Roster Roulette, and Thomas was traded to Toronto in
> a later deal.  (Toronto wouldn't make the deal without him, which was 
> too bad - Thomas is a tough player with a nice skill set. With limited 
> minutes, he always had more than his share of rebounds, blocks, and 
> steals.)
> 
> In February, they were finally able to dump Chauncey Billups. He 
> wasn't worth the 3rd pick, but Mercer turned out to be way worth the 
> 6th, so it all evened out.  Anyway, they shipped Billups to Toronto 
> to complain about his taxes, and acquired Kenny Anderson (Portland -> 
> Toronto), Popeye Jones and Zan Tabak.  Unfortunately, John Thomas 
> was part of the deal.  Also bidding adieu to Boston were Dee Brown 
> (the last Celtic to play with Bird), and Roy Rogers.  Dee had his 
> good years in Boston, but the last few were not among them.  His 
> attitude never got that much better, and it was best for all concerned 
> that he get some new scenery.  I was happy that he was making good
> contributions for Toronto  (I scooped him for some late-season 3-pointers 
> on my fantasy team). Popeye Jones was on the IR, but if he can come back 
> next year and play like he did in Dallas, the Boston paint might not 
> remain the league's biggest pushover. Haven't seen enough of Tabak - he 
> may stick around next year or he may be gone to make cap room (see 
> Capology).
> 
> Other season highlights: Robert Parish's number  was retired at halftime 
> of the game vs. the Indiana Pacers --  Coach Larry Bird's  first trip to
> Boston. I loved Larry the coach!  It's been wonderful to see him in action
> again - we've missed him a lot over the past five years (and if ratings 
> are any consideration, so did the rest of the hoops-watching world). We're
> seeing other sides of him now, the humor, the coaching smarts, the natty
> suits.  I love what he did with Jalen Rose.  I read today that Indiana may
> be interested in Sprewell.  Makes sense to me - could you imagine Spree
> trying anything like that with Bird?  I don't *think* so. 
> 
> Biggest team needs: another scorer, a strong center, and a  solid,
> starting-caliber forward.  
> 
> BY POSITION:
> 
> CENTER  (DeClerq, Knight, Ellison, Tabak):
> The biggest hole.  The C's had flat-out terrible post defense. Teams scored
> at will against them.  Why? Part of it is that their style doesn't call for
> players camping out in the paint. They double and rotate a lot. Still, the
> lane was like a deserted country road. Andrew DeClerq did well, but is not a
> consistent front-line player. He had some good games, but for all his
> skills, opponents still owned the paint and the boards. Travis Knight turned
> out not to be such a great idea after all. Although, I think he would be a
> great bench player. He can play 4 and 5 and runs the floor well.  Pervis was
> injured, as usual.   Zan Tabak arrived too late to see much of him, but the
> Cs may keep him around to see what he can do next season. 
> 
> Of course the big talk is of signing Matt Geiger.  They have to dump some
> cap to do that, and the lockout may interfere. If so, they'll likely stay
> with Tabak and Popeye for the time being.  They won't get any help here from
> the draft, unless they could trade down and take Olowokandi, and to do that
> they'd have to give up Mercer or Walker.  So it's got to come from trades or
> free agency.  Geiger is out there, and Ike Austin, and my personal fave,
> Theo Ratliffe! Theo would fit in perfectly on a Pitino team.  Not just a
> defensive specialist anymore, he had some nice scoring nights with Philly
> (and more blocks than anyone except Mutombo, and Bradley on a good day).
> 
> FORWARD (Walker, McCarty, Bowen, Minor, Dontae Jones, Popeye Jones):
> Antoine Walker is the main man here. He wrapped up his first All-Star season
> by finishing 5th in the league in scoring, tied for 7th in rebounds, all
> career bests. He also had fewer  bone-head plays this year.  He needs some
> help to spread out the scoring load and he needs to up his shooting
> percentage (enter Kenny Anderson!) . He also needs someone else to take over
> at PF.  The big question on him is that the Cs need to sign him this summer
> to a long-term contract, or he'll be a free agent the following year.  Will
> they open the vault for 'Toine?  I like Antoine, but he's a long way from
> the maturity needed to win in the post-season. Of course, with the Cs 5-year
> plan, he could get there eventually.  He's a hot dog, but it comes from the
> right place - he has a good heart, loves to play, and cares about winning.
> For all Walker's rebounding , there were still problems keeping opponents
> out from under the basket .
> 
> Walter McCarty became a fan favorite, blossoming  into Tommy Heinsohn's
> favorite player (Walllterrr!) He was a great addition at forward.
> Tremendously athletic, great jumper, hands, timing, shot-blocker, and
> hustler supreme.  Not a great shooter, but can hit the three on occasion and
> take it to the hoop. McCarty got his share of rebounds and  blocks, but
> again, didn't keep opponents out of the key.  Good bench man - we still need
> a good SF. Greg Minor and Bruce Bowen both spent time at the 3-spot.  Minor
> is nothing special. He can shoot the mid-range jumper, and Pitino likes him,
> but it's hard to swallow the paternity  publicity around here, and Minor
> should be packaged up with one of the big salaries and shipped out. Bruce
> (Who?) Bowen needs to improve his shooting, though his D was among the best
> on the team, and Pitino loves him.   
> 
> Dontae Jones will be gone.  For a tough guy, he spends too much time away
> from the basket, and Pitino wasn't impressed with his flurry of 3-pointers
> late in the season.  I love Popeye and if he can play like he did in Dallas
> (he was on IR when we got him from Toronto), that would really pick up the
> interior D.   Reggie Hanson was a late-season roster-filler - a Kentucky
> veteran who could step into the system. Pitino didn't give him much chance,
> though, and I wouldn't expect to see him around next year.
> 
> GUARD:  Barros, Anderson, Mercer, Edney
> We loved the Kenny Anderson trade.  Billups didn't fit, he just didn't seem
> to have what it takes in the PG dept. I never liked his game. Neither did
> Bob Cousey -- how many times did we hear him say "Chauncey has to learn not
> to go up in the air unless he knows what he's going to do" - which of course
> he didn't.  It was telling to see the difference in the team once Anderson
> arrived and took the reins on the floor. In his debut he got 19 points,
> three rebounds, four assists and two steals.  The team was just so much
> better with him on the floor  - the spacing, the confidence - we're looking
> forward to having him for a full season, and hoping his knee(s) hold up.  It
> will be interesting to see if he can help keep Walker under control. It made
> a real difference having a veteran on the floor, so it wasn't all coming
> from Pitino on the sidelines.   
> 
> Dana Barros had a good year.  With Billups all over the map, Dana ended up a
> starter much of the time, which didn't showcase his microwave abilities.
> Still a solid player who would be a valuable third guard. Tyus Edney didn't
> play much, but I have more confidence in him than Pitino does, and wish he'd
> get more minutes.  Doesn't seem too likely with Anderson on board and Barros
> staying (too short).  Look for him to be part of a deal somewhere, esp. if
> we can pick up a guard in the second round (there'll be a lot of decent
> players down there this year). 
> 
> Shooting guard:  Ron Mercer was terrific - better than I thought. Pitino
> knew what he was doing with that pick. Among rookies, Mercer ranked 3rd with
> 15.3 points per game, second in steals with 1.56 steals per game, and 4th in
> free throws at .839 (which says something about the FT shooting of that
> draft class, like Derek Anderson). A good shooter and defender, plays with
> poise, all-rookie team, and only going to get better. We haven't had a 2
> guard this good since Reggie Lewis.  Greg Minor played at the 2
> periodically, and is a good shooter, and Dana Barros also played the two
> (with Billups at 6-3, he could afford to, with  a shorter Anderson we'll
> see).   We could use another big guard.
> 
> COACHING:  Pitino made good on all his promises thus far, and the Cs really
> responded to the job he did. I think he's the right guy for this young team
> -- even though he yells (John Calipari is the one whose loud mouth is going
> to lose him players).  Thing is, his system is so specific, that many
> players either won't get it (too confusing), or won't want to (too hard), so
> the pool of potential player additions  is smaller.  And, it requires a lot
> of direction from Pitino - a far cry from KC Jones (or even Bird).  I think
> it's ok for now, and in five years when Rick moves upstairs (part of his
> contract), the team will be mature enough to hand over to someone else.  
> 
> CAPOLOGY:
> Cs need to free up some room to re-sign Walker and to go shopping for a
> center. Current free agents include Popeye Jones, Zan Tabak, and Ty Edney .
> They may decided to keep Tabak and Jones for a year rather than signing a
> Geiger or Austin. If they had a snowball's chance of landing Ratliffe or
> Gugliotta, that would be a different story. They might package some players
> and try to dump some contracts at the same time (Knight, though I still
> think he could be a good fit here, and Ellison). They could trade up in the
> draft (one rumor was Mercer and #10 to Vancouver for #2 to get Olowokandi).
> They could trade the pick, period. Of course, the possible lockout will
> greatly affect the free agent sweeps. Freebies  they could be interested in:
> Matt Geiger,  Tom Gugliotta, Jason Caffey,  Ike Austin,  Antonio McDyess,
> Theo Ratliffe, Othella Harrington.
> 
> PICK:.
> Al Harrington.
> Good size, good tools, good potential, quick, and can score. Worth a look at
> #10.
> 
> Pitino and Chris Wallace have to hope the rules will change to give rookies
> at least a 5-year rather than a 3-year contract. That said,  picking up a HS
> kid who would, in a few years of college be a possible #1 pick, is a smart
> way to get the  best value for #10.  Kind of like how they picked Bird.
> Pitino is looking for someone who can start in the front court. At #10,
> that's going to be an SF.
> 
> Others considered: Rashard Lewis, Bonzi Wells, Corey Benjamin, Matt
> Harpring.  I would be surprised to see them take a big player at #10. I'm
> thinking that Traylor may pan out, but I don't know if he'll have the
> mobility for Pitino's system.  I'm not personally that impressed with
> Mohammed (Tubby Smith subbed him out for Magliore on every defensive
> rotation in crunch time of the NCAA title game), and who wants to risk a
> Felton Spencer, Eric Montross, Joe Kleine (all drafted 6 or later).  Pitino
> has been quoted as saying he wants to draft someone who can start in the
> frontcourt. They could use a good SF. Look for them to take the BPA (which
> actually could be a guard).
> 
> They also have a second round pick (38), and with the depth in this year's
> draft could pull themselves a decent player out of that bunch (ie Jason
> Williams, Rafer Alston, Anthony Parker, Charles Jones, Winfred Walton). 
> 
> --
> Craig Simpson          | "Let me tell you a little bit about
> Mock Draft Commish     | myself.  I drive a truck, I'm butt
> craig@sunsite.unc.edu  | ugly, and I hate spiders."
>                        |    Tom Servo - MST3000
> 

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