Re: Tim Hardaway rumor

["James A. Hill" <jahill@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As usual, well thought out Joe.  A couple thoughts on this:

It would be interesting to see Hardaway potentially end his career on the
team that should have drafted him in the first place, IMO.

Smarter basketball people then me question if he will de-stabilize the team
with his ego and the Walker off court connection or if he is even willing to
play just 25 min a game.  I thought he was a viable option because of his
Walker connection and his past all star credentials.

I would think that if he is "ready" to play Kidd in the ECF as the twilight
of his career is upon him and he checks any inflated ego at the door, he
could be the guy to make everyone, better.  Someone who will feed the right
guy at the right time regardless.  With Baker down low, the options will be
there for taking the higher percentage shot then last year.

When the musical chairs of FA are somewhat frozen as camp starts, he may be
the right guy at the right time.

Fingers crossed if we sign him.  He has to want to teach the others just how
wrong they were in passing him up, within the team environment.  If he does,
he could be just what we need.

<Jim



On a per minute basis, Tim Hardaway's points, steals,
assists etc. haven't declined that dramatically in the
past two seasons. I don't know how injuries affected his
play, but Tim Hardaway broke a bone in his foot last
April (fracture of the fifth metatarsal). He turns 36
next month but for the most part has been reasonably
durable (77 games in 01, 68 last year with the injury and
a 2-game suspension).

I don't know if he's a good fit in the Celtics locker
room (he's definitely a loudmouth type), but on court his
recent numbers and game fit neatly into the "Kenny" role.
Maybe Hardaway can also get you five assists in 25
minutes. Maybe he can stick in some daggers from 20 feet
on out (he has more range than Kenny). He can handle the
ball well. He can still steal the ball.

I also remember TH to be an impact defender in his prime,
although I haven't paid attention to that aspect of his
game lately and would imagine there might be a decline.
But at least he's falling off from a high skill level.

Hardaway has not really been a "complete" point guard
since the mid-90s when he last averaged 10 assists.
Arguably, his decline into "over-rated" status began in
97-98, the last time he shot above .400 from the field
(he's down to .432 for his career).

Of course at minimum wage, the "over-rated" tag becomes
kind of debatable.

We ought to not forget how valuable and dangerous he was
for Miami and, to some extent, the 2000 Olympic team. As
recently as Y2K, I felt he was nearly as valuable to and
menacing for the Heat as Zo. He personified the toughness
and cockiness of those guys.

At 36 I don't think his impact will be huge, but it could
be along the lines of Maravich in 79-80 or Ray Williams
in 1988.

As an interim measure until Pierce/Walker further mature
God-willing into "unstoppable" Superstardom status, Tim
Hardaway might account for a 5-game swing in the won-loss
column. That's big.

I think Boston's point guard situation could really blow
up on us this year, like it did for Detroit in the
playoffs last year. NBA coaches will definitely find ways
to exploit our current ballhandling weakness at both
guard positions.

So I can understand why Chris Wallace might be
researching this scenario. Can he still play ball defense
and harrass passing lanes? Can he further adjust to fifth-
option role player? Can he replicate Kenny's role last
year without complaint? If so, a one-year deal might make
sense.

And if he wants to have a chance to actually contribute
on a winning team, it should make great sense to Hardaway
too. You come in as a lottery pick and play a dozen NBA
seasons, I would hope he has built enough of a nest egg
to not care about the money. He's probably made 100
million or more.

Bottom line, I won't be overjoyed as a fan if Boston ends
up signing a guy like Hardaway. He's a guy I've grown so
used to rooting against. But, on paper, he addresses a
potential problem that Erik Strickland or Damon Jones
most emphatically do not IMHO.

Joe


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