Where do we go from here? - RealGM

[CeltsSteve@AOL.com]

Where do we go from here?
    
I know the Celtics have a lot of holes. We're a first round loss waiting to 
happen and in Boston that is just not good enough. But even worse, it doesn't 
look like we're going to be "Championship Driven" in the next couple of years 
(barring a minor miracle). 

Right now I'd say that we're set at one position: small forward with Pierce. 
Not to hate on Antoine, but until we have a Mutumbo style center playing next 
to him, I'm not comfortable with a PF leading the league in 3 point attempts 
(leading the f%*king NBA? that's more threes than Eddie Jones, Ray Allen, 
Peja, and our very own Paul Pierce). 

So instead of pointing out all the problems we have, I'm asking you -- the 
fans -- a question: Where can the Celtics get better? Not in a dream world, 
add Jason Kidd and Tim Duncan sense, but in a real world, trade for a Byron 
Russell, sign a Michael Olowokandi type of situation. 

It seems like an easy question to answer: "We need a true point guard," 
that's the first thought in my mind (Especially after watching EStrick and 
Kenny try to run the show against Seattle's zone. You'd think neither of them 
had seen a zone in their life!). But, there are only two true points in the 
East (JKidd and Andre Miller). So fixing the point situation is out. 

"Center! If we can't fix our PG problems then at least we can get a 
workmanlike center." OK, reasonable. Maybe we could get a Brad Miller type or 
a Dale Davis to bang inside, get 10 boards a game, and allow Antoine to roam 
the perimeter (can you tell that I think Antoine should play inside more???). 
IF, and that's a big if, we get someone like Dale Davis, I'll be happy. 

"What about a swing man who can shoot the trey? Take some of the pressure off 
our two big guns?" OK. Who's out there? Jalen Rose? Not gonna happen. A three 
point specialist? Is Dale Ellis still in the league, cause I know he was 
twice the player Hubert Davis still is. Other than someone off the bench to 
shoot a couple times a game (ex-Celtic Brian Shaw being the role model), I 
don't think the C's can swing a trade for a big name guy to play 2 or 3 
alongside Pierce. 

"What about trading Antoine for someone like Rasheed Wallace?" I hate how 
Antoine plays offense, I hate his ego, but I love his heart and soul. No 
offense to Pierce, but Antoine is still the glue guy on this team and it's 
most talented player (even if he doesn't always show it). No way we can trade 
a building block like Antoine. 

"So what about our own team? Could we play better on offense? Can one of the 
rooks step up?" This is my main hope for the future. Kedrick looks like the 
real deal, but not this year. As for coaching, I love Obie, but he's going to 
find out quick that unless you have three guys who can NAIL the trey, you 
shouldn't be leading the league in 3PA. Sac-town (with Bibby, Christie, 
Peja), LA (with Fischer, Kobe, Shaw, Fox, Horry), Milwakee (with Casell, 
Allen, Robinson, Thomas) would all make more sense to be leading the league 
in attempts than the C's. My two cents? Antoine starts at "power" forward, 
he's gotta start playing like one. Because Vitaly and Batite combine for one 
post move between them (Vitaly's up fake), Antoine has gotta get his ass on 
the block on offense. And if Antoine gets doubled, he has to look for an open 
Pierce, then an open Vitaly, and lastly for Walter McCarty (who's actually 
been playing decent lately). I truly feel that if Antoine played inside, 
Kenny could move the ball around, Strickland or Eric Williams would get a ton 
of space, and Pierce would still score close to 30 a night. 

Dan Kahn is the webmaster and content supervisor for celtics.realgm.com, he 
can be reached at Daniel.Kahn@tufts.edu 

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CeltsSteve