Peter May (TSN) Celtics Report

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

Not exactly titillating news...


      Boston Celtics
      Team Report posted JUNE 17, 1999      

      By TSN correspondent
      Peter May
      Boston Globe
      An analytical look at the Celtics heading into the draft 
      TEAM NEEDS 
      The Celtics have many, none of which are likely to be solved by the draft. 
      That's what happens when you trade your first-round pick, your 
      second-rounder and end up with someone else's late second-rounder. The 
      Celtics won't pick until No. 55 unless they make a deal. They will go in 
      with a list of their top 70 choices and hope that someone slides to 55. 
      But they are disinclined to draft for need at that point. That's not to 
      say, however, that they don't recognize their shortcomings. 
      Scorer off the bench: If there's a Vinnie Johnson in this draft, he'd be 
      what Rick Pitino is looking for. There's plenty of punch in the starting 
      unit, but the bench is bereft of scoring power. This (partially) explains 
      Pitino's interest in Rodney Rogers. His bench, to now, has basically been 
      a defensive-oriented, trapping, pressing group designed to keep the game 
      close while the starters get a rest. 
      A defender: Pitino may have a chance at a solid defensive-oriented chap at 
      this stage of the draft. But he'd love to have a guy like Michael Curry, 
      who thinks defense first but also can make shots. 
      Maturity: This need most definitely won't be addressed by the draft, 
      unless there's some 28-year-old rookie out there who's been hiding in 
      Bolivia the last six years. Had the Celtics kept their No. 1 pick, they 
      might have been able to use it to extract a veteran. But getting a veteran 
      to come to Boston by his own volition may be hard. Most don't like to play 
      that style of play. 
      FIVE WHO MAKE SENSE 
      Who knows at 55? The Celtics have some ideas about players, but will not 
      even know until draft night if any of them are even going to be around. 
      They might even draft someone with the understanding that the player play 
      overseas for a year or two so he won't languish on the bench or, worse, 
      not make the team. 
      A few players to keep in mind are Pitino favorite Wayne Turner, who does 
      everything the coach likes at point guard except shoot the ball. The 
      Celtics don't expect him to be there, however. Two big men, Tyrone 
      Washington from Mississippi State and Francisco Elsen of California. 
      Another possibility is St. John's forward Tyrone Grant, who was the MVP of 
      the Portsmouth Invitational but then broke his wrist and has dropped out 
      of sight a bit. 
      But the team really can't pin its hopes on anyone at No. 55, mainly 
      because it can't predict if the player will even be on the board at that 
      time. A further complicating factor is that someone who might be there may 
      decide to go back to school. 
      DRAFT RUMORS 
      The rumors swirling around Ron Mercer don't necessarily translate into 
      draft picks. Pitino thinks his team is too young already. That's not to 
      say he would shy away from Steve Francis, but the chances of a pre-draft 
      deal for a higher pick is unlikely at this time. Pitino, however, has an 
      historically itchy trigger finger. 


     


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