No problems with C's draft...

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

A few people here and elsewhere have suggested that the Celtics erred in
the draft by taking 3 players who play the same position - a position
already occupied by Paul Pierce!

Will finding playing time for all of these guys be a problem?  I don't
think so.

First of all, they may all not be ready to step right into the lineup.
But, even if they are, I don't think it will be a problem.

This is because the Celtics are not going to use a "typical" lineup of one
point guard, one shooting guard, one small forward, etc.

In Antoine Walker, the Celtics have a player who can run the offense from
the power forward position.  In Joe Johnson, the Celtics just drafted a
player who can run the offense from the small forward or big guard
position.  With both of these guys on the team, the Celtics are planning
to play a lot of minutes WITHOUT A CONVENTIONAL POINT GUARD ON THE FLOOR!

Of course, when they are playing without a PG they will still need to
have someone guarding opposing PGs.  And who better for that than 6'3"
shooting guard Joseph Forte?  Forte's job when he is playing at the #1
spot will be to guard the other team's PG, bring the ball up (sometimes)
and give it to Antoine, and provide shooting and scoring to take some of
the heat off of Antoine and Pierce.

Forte is no classic point guard, and he would be a disaster if asked to
run the point for a team like the Utah Jazz.  But, since the Celtic "point
guard" won't have a wholke lot to do with running the offense, Forte will
be just what the Celtics are looking for at the position.

As for Johnson and Brown, when ready they will be part of the shooting
guard/small forward rotation with Paul Pierce.  Of course, Brown
especially may not quite be ready for the NBA level of play, so he may not
play much at the outset anyway.

I think there'll be plaenty of minutes for everyone involved, assuming
that the draft picks step up and earn those minutes.

Michael