Cofman: C's Deeper, More Talented, But Chemistry?

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

C's cozy up to buddy system<BR><EM>NBA Notes/by Mark Cofman</EM>
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      C's cozy up to buddy system
      NBA Notes/by Mark Cofman 
      Sunday, August 15, 1999
      On paper, the Celtics are an improved team as a result of their offseason 
      deals. They've added versatility, depth and experience.
      But games aren't won on paper - particularly basketball games. Of all the 
      major sports, basketball relies most heavily on familiarity and chemistry 
      among its personnel. Which brings up a significant concern awaiting the 
      Celtics at October training camp.
      On a roster expected to be somewhat stable this summer, there are six new 
      faces (Danny Fortson, Eric Williams, Eric Washington, Calbert Cheaney, 
      Adrian Griffin, Wayne Turner). All of the newcomers, with the exception of 
      Washington, are expected to contribute.
      Rick Pitino, who set his sights on 1999-2000 as a breakthrough season, is 
      under the gun to organize this revised nucleus in time for the regular 
      season. Unlike last year's lockout disaster, he'll have a full training 
      camp and preseason to mix and match the rotation. He's also had two 
      summer-league entries to get the ball rolling.
      But it isn't until the regular season that coaches get a true handle on 
      how and when their players function best. The Celtics, who in the words of 
      their coach were inclined to ``deflate instead of inflate'' when adversity 
      struck last season, simply can't afford to fall into an early season rut.
      So, while some teams might use a portion of the first-half schedule for 
      experimentation, Pitino and the Celtics do not have that luxury. Not if 
      intend to make the playoffs for the first time since 1995.
      Just passing through
      Of the 15 players who suited up for the Celtics at one time or another 
      last season, seven are gone - Ron Mercer, Dwayne Schintzius, Popeye Jones, 
      Damon Jones, Bruce Bowen, Marlon Garnett and Eric Riley. Meanwhile, Greg 
      Minor is out for the season with a career-threatening hip injury.
      The position receiving the biggest facelift for the Celtics is off-guard. 
      In effect, Mercer, Minor and Bowen have been replaced by Paul Pierce, 
      Cheaney and Griffin. That's not a bad exchange.
      Pierce's ability to play off-guard, of course, made the Celtics' decision 
      to deal Mercer to Denver possible. Pierce will slide into Mercer's 
      starting backcourt slot alongside Kenny Anderson, with Antoine Walker 
      penciled in as the small forward. Walker has played some of his best 
      basketball at that position. His weight and level of conditioning hold the 
      key.
      As for the Celtics' versatility and depth upgrade, consider that before 
      the Denver deal they were vulnerable at the center and power forward 
      slots. If either Vitaly Potapenko, Tony Battie or Walker had gone down 
      with an injury, Pitino's alternatives were a trio (Pervis Ellison, 
      Schintzius, Popeye Jones) that spent virtually all of last season in 
      street clothes.
      As it stands now, the power forward/center rotation includes Potapenko, 
      Fortson and Battie, with Walker and Walter McCarty available to log 
      minutes at power forward if necessary. There is also the addition of Eric 
      Williams, beginning his second tour with the Celtics. Williams, one of the 
      more aggressive penetrating forwards in the league, gives the team an 
      inside scoring presence it previously lacked off the bench.
      Meanwhile, the Celtics no longer have to rely on the healthy return of 
      Ellison, a wise strategy considering the 6-foot-10 center has appeared in 
      just 39 total games the past three seasons because of an assortment of 
      injuries. Ellison, who had surgery on his right ankle last November, has 
      been working out at HealthPoint in Waltham this summer.
      ``The moves we've made this summer make this team deeper and far more 
      versatile than last year's team,'' said Pitino.
      Charles not in charge
      The Raptors might have closed the door on Charles Oakley's return when 
      they re-signed 6-10 center Michael Stewart to a six-year, $24 million 
      deal. Oakley, 35, highly instrumental in the youthful Raptors' surprising 
      run at a playoff berth last season, was offered $6 million per year by 
      Toronto, about $2 million below his asking price. The 6-9 power forward 
      might end up with the Los Angeles Lakers, courtesy of the team's $2 
      million exception.
      Stewart is the free agent who turned down an offer for more money from the 
      Celtics last season to sign with Toronto. He is being paid for potential - 
      not performance. Stewart averaged 1.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in 9.4 
      minutes per game last season.
      Miller the real deal
      Cleveland signed first-round pick Andre Miller last week. The Cavaliers 
      secured the former Utah star with the pick they acquired from the Celtics 
      (No. 8 overall) in last season's Potapenko deal. Miller, a 6-2, 200-pound 
      point guard, led the Utes in scoring, assists and steals last season. His 
      contract is worth $5.4 million over the next three years with a club 
      option for a fourth at $2.1 million.
      Former Celtics scout Rick Weitzman, currently working in the same capacity 
      with the Cavaliers, believes Miller has the goods to be a future NBA 
      standout: ``He takes it to the basket, defends, rebounds, runs the 
      offense. Really, the only knock against him right now is his outside 
      shooting. But I liken him to DJ (ex-Celtics star Dennis Johnson), who 
      wasn't known as a great shooter but who made shots when they counted 
      most.''










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