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ESPN Insider on the Celtics
Here's the ESPN Insider stuff on the Celtics that Kestas requested. I hope
it showed up OK. Nothing earth-shattering in here.
Mark
Celtics need to run, not walk
By Joe Lago
ESPN.com
Editor's note: Here's a glimpse of the good -- and the bad -- that could
happen to the 2003-04 Boston Celtics
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=bos> .
Best Case Scenario
The Celtics will secure home-court advantage for the first round in the East
playoffs if the following three things happen.
1. The Celtics do what they say, and run. Playing up-tempo will get the
Celtics better shot selection and hopefully move Antoine Walker
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3112> closer to the
hoop and away from the 3-point line. The ball will still be in the hands of
Walker and Paul Pierce
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3253> , even though
the Celtics drafted Marcus Banks
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3716> and brought in
free agent Mike James
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3577> to play the
point. Banks and James are there to get Pierce and Walker as many easy
buckets on the break as possible.
2. Get something, anything from Vin Baker. The transformation is pretty
remarkable, really. Last season, Vin Baker
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=1279> could barely
get off the floor. This preseason, he's leaping in the lane like the kid who
quietly became an All-Star in Milwaukee. With Tony Battie
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3176> 's problematic
right knee, Baker's contributions will be even more important to Boston's
hopes of returning to the East's elite.
3. Get back to Coach O'Brien's basics. Jim O'Brien got the Celtics to do
what Rick Pitino couldn't: get them to play defense (with help from
defensive guru Dick Harter). And they made a surprising run to the 2002 East
finals because of the improved team D. If the C's can reestablish that
commitment, they can separate themselves from the morass of mediocrity in
the East.
Worst Case Scenario
Pierce and Walker should be enough to get the Celtics into the postseason.
But it'll be one round and out if these three things happen.
1. Tony Delk starts. If Tony Delk
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3086> remains in the
lineup as the starting point guard, then two things have occurred: 1) Banks
isn't ready to run the offense and 2) James, despite his splendid training
camp, didn't pan out. It would behoove the Celtics to bring Delk off the
bench or play him at shooting guard, a position even he admitted makes him
feel more comfortable.
2. Wal-tah keeps getting Tommy points. Yeah, yeah, Tommy Heinsohn loves
Walter McCarty <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3100>
. But if the Celtics' broadcaster is raving about him, that means the team
is getting nothing at small forward from Kedrick Brown
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3521> or Jumaine
Jones <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3350> . The C's
are better off with McCarty being the fan favorite.
3. The stopping and popping doesn't stop. The Fleet Center faithful still
groan when Walker passes up the drive for one of his 600 threes he's
averaged the past three years. And his ability to hit from long range has
gotten worse, dropping from .367 to .344 to .323. (Pierce shot just .302 on
threes last season, by the way.) In theory, the plan to get out and run, and
a physically fit Walker -- thanks to an offseason with MJ's trainer --
should put an end to the mindless gunning. But let's wait and see.
Joe Lago is the NBA editor at ESPN.com.
Celtics lack quality at many positions
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford
<http://insider.espn.go.com/insider/writeback?name=Chad+Ford> Thursday,
October 9
Updated: October 9
7:26 PM ET
We know Paul Pierce
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3253> . We know
Antoine Walker <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3112>
. Everybody else form a line to the right, stating your last name first and
your first name last.
This year's Celtic roster consists of three rookies, two players who have
never played for Boston before and only one player with more than eight
seasons of experience, not counting the 10-year veteran returning from a
season-ending alcohol-related suspension.
So it looks like it will be more Pierce and more Walker and another pat on
the back for coach Jim O'Brien.
Boston Celtics
Point guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes
Marcus Banks <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3716>
R 6-2 -- Three years ago, it was retread Randy Brown. Two
years ago, it was the much-traveled Kenny Anderson
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=393> . Last year, it
was rookie J.R. Bremer
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3681> . This year,
it's another rookie in Marcus Banks from UNLV. Had no idea that this
position came equipped with nametags.
Tony Delk <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3086> 7
6-2 9.8 ppg,
39%3P Career backup player, and dang proud of it. Actually, more of a
shooting guard but at this height will have to get his minutes at the point,
where he has proven more than capable. With a rookie in front of him and
near-rookie behind him, should see plenty of minutes without having to rely
on last season's playoff heroics for justification.
Mike James <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3577>
2 6-2 7.8 ppg,
3.2 apg Numbers are nice for third-string point guard but consider the Miami
Heat <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=mia> source.
Shooting guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes
Paul Pierce 5 6-6 25.9 ppg,
7.3 rpg It would be enough to state that this guy has averaged 23.3 ppg over
his five-year career, except for the fact that in 26 playoff games he's
averaged an even better 25.6. Multiply that by 10, carry over the
game-winning shots, and you'll begin to understand how important Pierce is
to this franchise. Really a small forward, arguably the best point guard on
the team, will play a lot of shooting guard this year. That's what happens
when, year after year, you lead the team in scoring, rebounding and are
second in assists.
Kedrick Brown <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3521>
2 6-7 2.9 ppg,
2.7 rpg Has averaged a bit over one bucket a game since being lottery
drafted two years ago by the Celtics, and considering that Pierce plays
about 40-going-on-50 minutes a game, don't expect that to change much this
season.
Small forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes
Eric Williams <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3016>
8 6-8 9.1 ppg,
4.7 rpg It took him only one season to get his starting position once the
Celtics chose him in the 1995 draft and five years, two teams and knee
surgery to get it back last season. Has still got to be looking over his
shoulder after scoring 10 a game as a rookie, 15 a game a year later and,
get this, 19.8 a game before getting injured four games into his next
season. So the 9.1 last year is nice after scoring only six the year before
but nowhere near where he needs to be to feel comfortable as the starter.
Jumaine Jones <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3350>
4 6-8 9.8 ppg,
5.1 rpg Made the most of his minutes in Cleveland last year and is looking
to cash them in at Eric Williams' expense this season. Has the nasty habit
of grabbing headlines with big numbers here and there, which is what you've
got to do when you've started only 48 of the 259 games you've played and are
still looking for No. 49.
Power forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes
Antoine Walker 7 6-9 20.1 ppg,
7.2 rpg Walker is probably thinking that if he could have just taken one or
two more 3-pointers last postseason he might have actually made a few of
them and not been so embarrassed in the second round. His coaches are
probably thinking that if he would have taken one or two less 3-pointers on
a regular basis he might be one of the best players in the entire league
rather than just the second best player on his own team.
Walter McCarty <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3100>
7 6-10 6.1 ppg,
3.5 rpg Funny thing about playing for the Celtics is that even nondescript
players like McCarty can take 248 3-pointers as a back-up power forward
playing only 23 minutes a game and no one notices.
Brandon Hunter <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3759>
R 6-7 -- Mr. Hunter, may we introduce you to Mr. Perkins on
your left, next to the cooler.
Kendrick Perkins
<http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3730> R 6-10
-- Mr. Perkins, may we introduce you to Mr. Hunter on your right, next
to the clipboard.
Center Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes
Tony Battie <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3176>
6 6-11 7.3 ppg,
1.2 bpg A starter in name only until he's clocking more than the career-high
25 minutes per game of last year. Every indication, though, that this could
his breakout year after posting career or near career highs in scoring,
rebounding, blocked shots and shooting last season. But, then again, there
has been every indication every year for the past five.
Vin Baker <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=1279> 10
6-11 5.2 ppg,
3.8 bpg Forget about the Celtics. Baker averaging eight points and four
boards (half his career numbers) would be a success story for the entire
league.
Mark Blount <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3222>
3 7-0 4.4 ppg,
4.6 rpg Another in a long line of players who get drafted by the Celtics,
find themselves in another uniform and then, eventually, end up back where
they started, us not knowing how they got there in the first place.