Center, Point Guard

[Michael Joseph Byrnes <mbyrnes@leland.Stanford.EDU>]

Jeremy wrote:

> Stewart, Battie, Popeye, and DeClerq won't cut it.  They are all 4's who
> can give you some minutes at center.  They will all get abused in the
> paint by the above starting centers.

True.  If this is what the C's go with, then their perimeter talent might
allow them to dominate teams that lack a true center.  However, they will
still be at the mercy of those teams that do have true centers,
particulary the Twin Towers in San Antonio.

Ellis Cutler wrote:

> What's looking weak to me is backup PG.  No guarantees that Anderson
> will stay healthy all season, esp. with the schedule. Barros is there,
> but where is the 3rd PG?  They won't trade Barros. Not only can he play
> the point, he's their only legit 3-point threat. Guess we'll find all
> this out late tomorrow, and we can also see who else was invited to
> camp. 

I like Barros as the backup to Anderson, but I wish the Celtics had a
third point guard who was a tough defensive player (since Anderson and
Barros really aren't).  One of my favorite Celtic moments from last season
was watching the Celtics beat the Lakers in LA, thanks to an excellent
defensive play by Chauncey Billups in the final seconds.  Van Exel was
attempting to drive, and Chauncey cut him off perfectly; having nowhere to
go, Van Exel turned the ball over and the Celtics won.  I don't think the
Celtics have a point guard who could make that play on their roster; I'd
like to see them give Derrick Phelps a shot.  I think he'd be a Bruce Bowen 
kind of player, but at point guard.

Michael Byrnes
mbyrnes@stanford.edu