Re: Projections of the starting lineup.

[Dan Forant Sr <dforant1@nycap.rr.com>]

We don't have a real backup for center when we play the Lakers or the
Knicks, I don't expect to win those series anyway. Do you realistically?

At 01:10 PM 8/23/99 +0200, you wrote:
>Dan Forant Sr wrote:
>
>> The figures look good to me. I would be ecstatic for those numbers and the
>> Celts would not be asking too much for such output. We have a very good
>> team. It all depends on how good KA will distribute the ball. He's the key.
>> I don't care for him, but we're stuck with him, it may turn out well.
>>
>> At 04:21 AM 8/23/99 +1000, you wrote:
>> >Hey all,
>> >
>> >Projections in my opinion
>> >
>> >Potapenko - 12ppg, 8rpg, 1.5apg, 1.25-1.50bpg, 0.5spg (field - .510 ..
>> >free throws .600) - 28 minutes
>> >Fortson - 12ppg, 11rpg, 0.75apg, 0.5bpg, 0.5spg (field - .500 .. free
>> >throws .750) - 28 minutes
>> >Walker - 23ppg, 9rpg, 4.0apg, 0.7bpg, 1.2spg (field - .455 .. free
>> >throws .700) - 35 minutes
>> >Pierce - 19ppg, 5.5rpg, 4.0apg, 1.2bpg, 1.7spg (field - .450 .. free
>> >throws .750) - 35 minutes
>> >Anderson - 13.5ppg, 2.0rpg, 7.5apg, 0.2bpg, 1.3spg (field . 440 .. free
>> >throws .850) - 30 minutes
>> >
>> >Backup Minutes
>> >
>> >Battie - 28 minutes
>> >McCarty - 10 minutes
>> >Williams - 14 minutes
>> >Cheaney - 14 minutes
>> >Barros - 18 minutes
>> >
>> >Cheers,
>> >
>> >Warwick
>> >
>> >
>
>Warwick's optimistic projections would certainly make his 54-win prediction
>come true. I'd be pleasantly surprised if Potapenko averaged 8 rebounds or
>Fortson averaged 12 ppg on 50% shooting. On the other hand, I expect Pierce
>will average better than .450 FG% and also contribute more steals than
Warwick
>projects (1.7).
>
>Personally, I think Pierce will significantly ramp up his shot attempts to
>Mercer's previous level (17.6) and thus in theory be a top 15 NBA scorer even
>if his shooting doesn't improve one iota. Because of his mature shot
selection,
>I see no reason not to project Pierce as a .470 FG% guy despite the number of
>three-pointers he'll attempt. As noted before, I've seen Pierce guarded
>fulltime by everyone from Calbert Cheaney to Mark Jackson, and our rookie
>didn't hesitate to attack with the dribble against "quicker" players. If
>anything, he played better on offense against guards than forwards. I've
yet to
>see Pierce get stripped of the ball on the dribble and, compared to
Mercer, he
>will actually take on guards one-on-one whenever isolated (or at least use
his
>fantastic spin move off a post up).
>
>Unlike Antoine Walker, Pierce keeps his head when closing on the rim and
knows
>when to go for the flush and when to try to scoop it, depending on how hectic
>it gets on his trajectory to the basket. Unlike Mercer and Walker and Wallah,
>Pierce always locks his eyes onto the target leading into the shot
release. One
>of the reasons he's not flashy  is because he's too well-coached to ever
>attempt blind shots. The Kentucky boys are all pure "guess hitters" when it
>comes to driving to the basket. If the help defense reacts differently or
>converges in greater numbers than expected, they usually don't have a
"Plan B".
>
>Mercer needs a pull up jumper MUCH more than he needs 3-point range. Walker
>needs to add a pump fake and also to slow things down at the tail end of his
>spin moves just enough so that he can read & react to what the defense has
>given him. You'd think by now that he'd be sick of eating basketball
sandwiches
>every night. The defense knows he's not getting any help from the refs.
>
>Regarding El Capitano, Pitino ought to remind him that it was the double and
>triple doubles that got Antoine selected to the All Star game, not the 40%
>shooting and 23ppg that season. Based on the forward competition out there, I
>believe Antoine Walker will never again be an All Star until he returns to
>being one of actually less than a half-dozen present NBA players physically
>capable of a triple double. The fact that he no longer is a double-figure
>rebounder explains why he fell from being an All Star to being at best one of
>the top 60 players in the NBA (nowhere close to All Star level going into
next
>season).
>
>Moreover, if he actually thinks he can contribute defensively for 35 minutes
>while carrying extra body flab, then we are in trouble. I think he's lost
about
>5 inches on his vertical since his sophomore year in college, when he could
>jump like a head-above-the-rim EA Sports video game simulation. Remember,
>though, that it was Pitino who told Antoine last off-season to develop a Karl
>Malone-size body. At some point in the lockout, he obviously stopped hitting
>the weight room and stationary bike after each steak and eggs breakfast.
>
>Now that Antoine has added a serviceable post up game and finally cut down
his
>turnovers, he's not that far from connecting all the dots as a complete NBA
>small forward on a team that could actually win consistently. He needs to
block
>out the fans and realize how singularly important he is to the team. Our
other
>franchise player, Paul Pierce, will never develop into a double-double
player,
>much less an occasional triple-double talent. I see no need for jealousy and
>more importantly, I see absolutely no trace of jealousy so far between our
two
>stars (even though many people assume it would be there). The fact that
Walker
>would be shocked if he's not with the Celtics even after next season is
>fantastic news in my opinion. We are going to see some exciting fourth
quarters
>next year. We are going to battle back on the boards and win our share.
>
>Joe
>
>NB       If Eric Williams averages only 14mpg as a 6 million/year player (and
>that's with Warwick assuming Adrian Griffin gets zero and McCarty gets only
>10mpg), then I believe we should definitely trade him now for a pair of
>serviceable (and tradable) 3 million dollar veteran contracts. Pitino
needs to
>continue using his well-honed "I have no choice because of our budget
ceiling"
>excuse to con other GM's into taking a gamble on William's remaining 5 years.
>
>        Also, I hate the fact that we don't have a true backup center if
>Potapenko gets in foul trouble against a Ewing or Shaq. I imagine we may
end up
>resigning Eric Riley if Pervis is not ready by October.