RE: Celtics trade options

[jmc@ptc.com]

Josh Ozersky responded to trade proposals:
> player a la Ike Austin.  There will always be bigger centers in the league
> - -- but you don't dismantle your team to fight them.  I think a more
> significant problem is that neither Kenny nor Antoine are really first class
> defenders (or second class, in Kenny's case.)  But I will admit that a great
> shotblocking five would allow us to gamble a lot more.  Still, I have hope
> that Riley/Andrew can get the job done.  Denver is actually a pretty

I agree wholeheartedly.  Don't take apart a wonderfully talented young 
nucleus to get a big guy who is likely to slow the team down.  The 
Celtics are going up-tempo, so they have to make themselves the best at 
that.  Yes, other teams will score on our centers.  The Celtics have 
shown, however, that they can wear those centers out by making them work 
for their baskets, then having our center beat them up the floor on the 
offensive end for easy baskets.  The key is to do that consistently from 
the start of the game, so that their big center will be worn down faster. 

Battie is a key to this.  As he improves and bulks up, he can play more 
time at center, and while others will push him around, the C's can double 
team to keep it from getting out of hand.  Then, he's fast enough to beat 
almost any center in the NBA down the floor.  In the last week he's shown 
that he's got a pretty nice shooting touch, too. 

Also, he was given the start against New Jersey Monday night, and he 
responded well, blocking 3 shots in the first quarter, then in the 
second quarter making an excellent give-and-go pass back to Pierce for 
a Pierce dunk, and following that on the next play with incredible, 
athletic, one-handed rebound and dunk all in one motion off a Mercer 
miss, that got the Boston crowd going nuts.  

If Battie can more consistently play like he did in that first half, 
and do it at the center position, he'll be able to match the scoring 
of bigger centers, and wear them down in the process, giving the Celtics 
the advantage. 

If you're going up-tempo, get the best up-tempo players at every position. 

Jon Mc