Rebounds and Tony Battie

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

Gradually, the Celtics are closing on parity in terms of 
rebounds per games, one of the remaining negative team 
stats.

Surprisingly, Walker is averaging more defensive rebounds 
this year (6.6) than his career average (6.4). But he's 
averaging just 1.2 offensive boards, a big drop by more 
than half from his career stats. Hence the career low 
numbers (7.8). He'll probably have to pick up all of it 
on the offensive end in order to get back up to around 9 
boards per.

Paul Pierce is a mirror image, doubling his offensive 
board work (2.2) compared to each and any of his past 
three NBA seasons. Pierce, incidentally, is also 
averaging a career high in defensive boards at 6.2.

Along with Tony Battie, the Celtics have three players at 
or around 8 rebounds per game. Considering that none of 
these guys have missed games, that's a pretty solid stat. 
Its like having three 35-homerun hitters.

Meanwhile, based on the weakness of the ballot choices, 
one can almost make a rational case for Tony Battie 
making the All Star team.

I'm not sure if Jermaine O'Neil is even listed at center 
on the ballot, nor does he play there. 

Brian Grant and Kurt Thomas are both listed as centers, 
but team record tends to come into play in the All Star 
selection process. If Allan Houston (or their best 
player, Sprewell)makes the team, Thomas shouldn't. 
Whatever the case, few think of either Grant or Thomas 
as "All Star centers", any more than we think of Rodney 
Rogers or Aaron Williams in those terms. 

The other quality post scoring threat, Zydrunas 
Ilgauskus, is shooting .369 from the field on a bad team. 

Its hard to picture, but Brad Miller may have the best 
numbers for the job. But the fact that the Pacers may 
have multiple representatives, including Jermaine O'Neil, 
may force the issue. 

After that, it becomes a race between Ben Wallace, Tony 
Battie, Magloire and Theo Ratliff. Not one of these 
players currently averages double-figure scoring, so 
Battie is hardly at any handicap. Ben Wallace averages 
6.5 ppg. Ratliff is around 8 ppg.

With a little extra on-line voter turnout (that's our job)
to push Bat Man into the top-five, and maybe an expanded 
role and minutes this month from Obie (TB averages just 
28 mpg), Battie might have a shot at the All Star game, 
crazy as it sounds. That's especially true if Boston goes 
on a December run like they did last year, where they got 
to 10-games over .500.

We still haven't come up with even a starting center for 
the East. Ultimately, the All Star head coach (Isiah?) 
will probably stack the East with extra wing and power 
forwards, clearly the EC's strength. 

I presume Ben Wallace will win the popular vote at 
center, based on name recognition. Am I leaving anyone 
else out?

All in all, Tony B. may not realize it but he has all the 
motivation he'll need to keep on playing hard this month, 
with solid production on the boards and on blocked shots. 
Its easy to fall into the mid-winter doldrums when you 
are only getting four or five shots a game, and nursing 
injuries. I think there is a puny chance that he'll even 
be in the running this year, but if he plays well this 
month and next, it will at least be something to build 
on. He's having a borderline All Star year already in 
terms of boards, blocks and FG%. 

Joe H.

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