Re: PG slot.

["hironaka@xxxxxxxxx"<hironaka@xxxxxxxxx>]

I don't know much about the player, but scouting reports 
seem to breakdown Shammond as a very slick dribbler (and 
shooter) who happens to lack playmaking skills. Its not 
unlike Chauncey Billups in Boston..."looked the part" 
with all the point guard tools, but lacked any point 
guard court sense. That's the case even now, if you ask 
me (although he makes Detroit one of the more improved 
franchises esp. on defense and scoring).

Assuming Boston's pointguard rotation can handle what 
amount in the sytem to being "minimum" job 
requirements...break the press with the dribble and 
contain opposing point guards defensively (Delk may be 
good enough in that latter regard) then yes, Boston might 
not need to adjust the current roster. Delk is such a key 
player for 2002-03. 

A full training camp could help him finally reach a 
consistent comfort level for his role. Shammond is just 
another one-year rental don't you think (especially if 
his defense is as horrible as it sounds)? He's been in 
the league long enough that Boston likely can't even 
afford to offer him the veteran's minimum next summer.

As for Baker missing a point guard like Payton to feed 
him high percentage shots when he's hot, I don't think 
those feeds need to come from our 6-1 point guards. DJ 
and Bird were well suited for feeding the post, in large 
part because of their size. I think that's something 
Walker and Pierce will work on in camp. 

As long as Baker retains the skills to pass out of the 
double team, this could work out team-chemistry-wise. 
Baker could even get 4+ assists per game, or at least an 
occasional triple. And just as Bird and DJ got plenty of 
good looks at the hoop by making the low post scorer a 
factor in ball movement, that's what Pierce and Walker 
might also grow to understand. 

On the other hand, it wasn't just having McHale-Parish-
Walton that allowed the other guys like Sichting to shoot 
over 50% and get scoring opportunities. The overall ball 
movement was off the charts too for the 80s Celtics. 

If I were to bet you anything, it would be that the Y2K+ 
version of the Celtics aren't going to learn to pass the 
ball like the Sacramento Kings. 

But at least Boston's center and power forward can pass 
the ball with skill....that's one similarity and its not 
a trivial one given that our point guards are puny and 
have no court vision.

Joe





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