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Re: OK, here's what might be happening

Josh,
I agree with you on the screw Isiah theme. Nevertheless, he has done an excellent job so far there.

As for the Celtics right now having the talent to rival the nets, I would say put down the peace pipe my friend (smile).

Think of it this way:

Jason Kidd versus Mike James and Marcus Banks
Richard Jefferson versus Jiri Welch or Ricky Davis or Walter
Kenyon Martin versus Mihm Walter or Hunter

If we had trouble beating the nets in the past, how do these matchups look any better?

As for cohesion, chemistry, defense, and good attitude, these did not help us beat the nets in the past. Further, the coach who convinced the players to commit to D is gone (thank god). The leader of the team on the court is laboring in Dallas now. As for chemistry and attitude, Walker, Williams, and Battie are gone now and replaced with youngsters and a 1/3 of the roster from the worst team in basketball last year.

As for saying that this team is better talent wise than the Celts two years when they made the ECF, do you really believe that?

Kenny and Delk versus James and Banks
Pierce of two years ago versus Pierce today
Eric Williams and Rodney Rogers versus Jiri and whoever passes as our second three (Davis, Walter)
Walker and Walter versus Mihm and Walter
Battie and Blount versus Blount and Mihm.

I do not see how anyone can make that case. I am no fan of Kenny Anderson, but he at least was a competent veteran point guard. Further, he scalded our new trade target Chucky Atkins in the previous round of the playoffs for Detroit, ending the Atkins as starter routine in Detroit.

As for your last paragraph, we desperately need a real coach. We definately could use a nice training camp to get cohesive and better. As for young players, if we were to give them the kind of minutes you seem to be discussing and bring in more in the draft, we would probably be great only it would take 3 or 4 more years.



Josh Ozersky wrote:

Screw Isiah! The Celtics RIGHT NOW have
the talent to win the East, or at least rival the
Nets. This team is definitely better, talent-wise
than the one that made the ECF; the problem is
that we no longer have the cohesion, chemistry,
defense, or good attitude. (Have I left anything
out?) Somebody please kill Obie for me for
picking up his ball and going home... 

A real coach, training camp, and some young players
who will actually get minutes, and this team could
be great, if only they will get religion defensively,
the way Obie's guys did...

Josh
----- Original Message ----- From: "Sean Giovanello" <sgiovanello@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Berry, Mark S" <berrym@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <celtics@xxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 10:23 AM
Subject: Re: OK, here's what might be happening




Even if all works out well, it is still shaping up that we are facing less than 44 wins next year. Barring any offseason surprises, our starting five would look like:

Atkins/Banks
Pierce/Davis/Jiri
Jiri or Davis or Nacbhar
Taylor or Raef/Hunter
Blount (if we resign him) or Raef/Perkins

If we have three draft picks, two will be late round and probably not contribute much next year. Our first pick is looking better everyday so we can figure on adding one guy who should see some regular minutes. The problem is that we have a surplus of 2s and 3s and these are the positions its easiest to fill with a pick or a midlevel.

Assuming we do those two trades, we need to 1) make a bigger deal in the offseason that involves a big influx of talent (a clear starter at the 1,3 or 4). Then we would need a midlevel type that filled in one of the others mentioned previously or a center.

I just dont see how adding retreads like Taylor and Atkins will really help this team. Another late first rounder? I dont see it.

It might just be that we hang onto Mihm, qualify him, and see what we have next year. That is, unless we are getting the HAwks not the Pistons first rounder (which I doubt). If we can get something for some combination of Blount, Walter, Stewart, Mills, Jones or James then do it I guess.

Its looks like its going to be a pretty disappointing deadline for us - more like shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic than revamping this team. What makes it more galling is that Isiaih of all people is doing amazing things in NY. If they pull off that latest deal then I think he is making a case for himself for (gasp) GM of the year...

Berry, Mark S wrote:



Both these trades work on RealGM.



First, the Detroit/Atlanta trade:



Boston would send out Mihm to Atlanta and Jumaine Jones to Detroit, and
take back Chucky Atkins and a first-round pick.  Atkins has two more
years on his deal after this. I don't consider this a great deal, but
it's not terrible. First-rounders are valuable, and Ainge still would
have the Mills contract. Which leads us to...



Mills and McCarty to Houston for Mo Taylor and Bostjan Nachbar. This
gives Houston the outside shooting power forward they want and some
salary flexibility. It gives the Celtics Taylor, who immediately becomes
the starting power forward, and Nachbar, a promising young player.



So you'd be turning a lot of players Mills, Mihm, Jones, that don't
figure into the future, into Taylor, Atkins, Nachbar and a
first-rounder. I think that's a pretty good job by Ainge. Suddenly the
team goes into the summer with three first-rounders, Lafrentz coming
back, the mid-level exception to use, and Mo Taylor adding to the
frontcourt. I like that. And I think Nachbar could be a huge addition.
He's a small forward with size and perimeter skills, something the Celts
haven't had in a long time. If he works out, then Ainge again is dealing


from strength next season because he has Pierce, Davis, Welsch and 


Nachbar at the swing positions. That also gives you a lot of options at
draft time (along with the three picks).



Just some speculation based on the rumors out there.



Mark