Re: [Celtics' Stuff ] Fords Insider Article

[Celtic4Hire@xxxxxxx]

I don't know why anyone is surprised by Ford's opinion. I comment regularly 
how he has hated the Cs. Here we get 3 guys in the top ten of the Reebok Summer 
league and we don't get one positive mention or retraction on previous 
statements about a poor Ainge draft.

Yet, Ford continues with his favorites on his future prognostication. He 
still loves the Pacers although they have lost personnel and have to be worse than 
last year and even they admit they need a point guard. Of course he loves 
Detroit just because they were in the ECF last year. We would have smoke them if 
we would have played them. And they haven't added one guy who will help them 
win NEXT year. Orlando added Howard but I don't see how Howard and  Gooden are 
gong to play together since they play the same position. He helps but not that 
much. That's Ford's top five with the best of the rest being the Cs and 
Philly. Funny thing is that I think Philly is going to be much improved with the 
addition of Dog, Salmons and getting out from under the iron fist of Larry 
Brown. 

My early picks

1) Nets - obviously the best by far
2) Cs - they were the second best team last year although their record didn't 
show it (we have taken both Philly or Detroit if we had to play them in the 
playoffs). Adding Banks, uptempo some cheap but quality depth although with a 
skinnier Walker will help boost them. Still, Obie will be bound to his Obieball 
and none of the depth or uptempo will matter.
3) Detroit - Didn't add any help short term except if they sign Elden who 
will help a little. He is getting pretty old. Plus, I don't see how adding Larry 
Brown is going to help the offense. Their continued defense will keep them in 
the 3 spot.
4) Philly - It is still early and I don't know who is going to be their 4 and 
5. However, Salmons, AI and Dog will rack up a lot of points. I think they 
will really take off with their new found offensive freedom by the departure of 
Larry Brown.
5) NO - These guys are solid but they just get older every year. They didn't 
do anything to improve but they still have enough talent to reach this 
position.
5) Orlando - They haven't solved the point guard problem with Lue or Gaines 
over Armstrong. However, I will give them a small boost with the addition of 
Howard and with O'Grady taking it up another notch.
7) Chicago - I hate doing this but they got enough quality veterans to blend 
with their rookies, especially with Chandler who really started to pick it up 
at the tail of the season.
8) Raptors - I think Bosh will help out but these guys need a new mix.
8) Wizards - They lose Michael but gain Arenas. Maybe this is the year that 
KBrown takes off.
8) Indy - I never saw what people liked about this team. They have no point 
guard, their shooting guard is obviously running on fumes and reputation, their 
small forward is bordering on the edge of sanity (although I wish he was on 
the Cs) and they just lost their center. They got one big time player in O'Neil 
who really doesn't have a go-to move.Why would that idiot Ford still love 
them? Ford may have the inside stuff but they don't make you a great evaluator of 
teams....

DJessen33