Sunday Rambles

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

Red Auerbach tells Will McDonough that Joe Forte
can be a very good player in the NBA. Has wonderful
hands and a great touch. Just needs the coaches to
give him the time to develop. No problem with that, and
there's plenty of time on the Celtics continuing journey to
mediocrity to give Forte all the playing time his little undersized
shooting guard body needs.

Actually, I thought Forte was terrific pick at 21. Guys that
can shoot, rebound, and pass, are nice commodities to have.

10 & 11 and not moving up in a draft, that was unusually
strong in Big Men, is my quarrel with Celtics management.
Kwame B, Gasol, Curry, Twiggy Boy Chandler, Griffin,
Raw as Celery Diop - they really should have traded up and
gone after a C/PF type.

Especially if you look at the upcoming draft. Point guards
aplenty, big men bereft.  Except Yao, and who knows
how long it's going to take to stabilize his contract situation.
Oh well, maybe a surprise Euro Big Man or two will draw
some attention like 18-year old Georgian Nickoloz Tskitishvili

And speaking of Euro Big Men: Have the Pistons caught up and
passed the Celtics?  They were only 4 games behind the
C's last year, and added an excellent veteran in Cliff Robinson,
a dynamic rookie in Rodney White, and a legitimate NBA
Big Man in Zeljko Rebraca, considered to be the best center in
Europe, and noted for his rebounding and shot-blocking skills.

Ray