Re: The Boston Celtics Mailing List Digest V8 #379

["Orion" <johnlyell@hotmail.com>]

Ravi makes a good point that although Walker and Pierce are talented,, and
Johnson promising, they are not as athletic as a lot of players at their
position.

I think this is one reason why the Celtics took a gamble on Kedrick Brown.
In hope of bringing in a Mcgrady , Carter like athleticism.


The same is true for VP, Battie probably is close, but gives up too much on
the physical side. Too bad we can't have a center with Battie's athleticism
and VP's physical game. Oh isn't that Mark Blount?

This is where rotation and matchups each night are key.


Fortson actually is a real good 4, but does give up some defensively, but
does this matter when you are averaging 15-16 boards a game?




----- Original Message -----
From: "Ravi Singh" <kelticsfan@home.com>
To: <Celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2001 11:02 AM
Subject: RE: The Boston Celtics Mailing List Digest V8 #379


> Actually, I recall Fortson, towards the end of his time with Boston,
playing
> some solid position defense on guys like Mourning, Campbell, and the other
> under sized centers in the East.  I watched him battle Shaq better than
any
> other big man when he was with Denver. Sure he is short, and can't jump
but
> he is wide and immovable with long arms.  He can battle every bit as well
as
> Vitaly but doesn't have the skillets for hands.  I think he is at more of
a
> disadvantage trying to cover quick power forwards than he would be
covering
> 7 footers because he doesn't give up position on the block and most 7
> footers don't have the quickness to beat him off the dribble.  They can
> shoot over him but they have to go through him to get to a favorable spot
on
> the floor.
>
> Battie still gets pushed around too easy for my tastes.  Even the finesse
> Vin Baker had his way with Battie the other night.
>
> I do like your choice of the big lineup.  JJ needs work on his defense
but,
> by next year, should be a more than capable defender against guys that are
> smaller than him.  It is clear that he will be very capable of running an
> offense fairly soon.  The problem is that Pierce still cannot defend
> shooting guards and Walker cannot defend big power forwards.  It is hard
to
> mask the deficiencies
> of both players unless there is a dominating defensive presence behind
them
> which, of course, there isn't.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-celtics@igtc.com [mailto:owner-celtics@igtc.com]On Behalf Of
> GuyClinch@AOL.com
> Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2001 9:47 AM
> To: Celtics@igtc.com
> Subject: Re: The Boston Celtics Mailing List Digest V8 #379
>
>
> Hello there,
>
>
> > Anybody looking at the numbers Fortson is putting up.  At 6'-7" he could
> > have been the best starting center on this team.  Think about Fortson
> > taking
> > feeds off of penetration.  Those mits wouldn't be fumbling balls out of
> > bounds.  Not to mention how many fast breaks he could initiate.  Oh
> well...
> >
>
> Nah...Fortson is an okay PF...a bit of defensive liability though..
> As a center he is just to short and earth bound. Stats don't tell the
whole
> story.
> Fortson can work, if you pair him with say Theo Ratliff...
>
> The Fortson Walker Pierce front line just cant stop anyone.
> Yuck. We tried that remember?
>
> Defense is poorly reflected in stats..and defense is just as important as
> offense.
>
> What we need is a a Stromile Swift type player...and move Walker to small
> forward.
>
> Best lineup...Swift Battie Walker up front.
> Backcourt... Joe Johnson and Pierce.
>
> J.J. is a stud..he can dribble fairly well and sees the court great.
> The guy is just good at everything from what I have seen. I love Kenny
but,
> that
> size in the backcourt would be awesome.
>
> Most of the time Kenny would probably still start though...
> I say to all you Kenny haters...Kenny has the best handle in the game. I
> love
> watching him.
>
> Pete