Cs to draft J.J. Redick?

[Berry, Mark S]

As much as it pains me to say it, I agree that it wouldn't shock me to
see Redick as the guy at 7. And I agree with Steve -- the guy is in no
way a combo guard. He's a shooting guard and that's it.

The Celts have become a very stats-oriented operation. They have
formulas that calculate efficiency at both ends of the court and rely on
those numbers quite a bit. I point this out because I'm guessing
Redick's offensive efficiency numbers are off the charts. He shoots a
high percentage from the field and from three and is automatic at the
free throw line. I'm sure his PER numbers and whatever else the Celtics
use, are very impressive.

Now ... We all know that doesn't necessarily translate to the NBA. Can
he get that shot off against NBA defenders? Can he defend on the other
end (I'm very skeptical)? If you're looking for an Eddie House type --
10-15 minutes per game of pure shooting -- he'll probably be fine. But
is that what you want from the No. 7 pick in the draft? Not me.

I'm actually becoming more and more optimistic that someone from that
Big Six will fall to the Celts. I think Marcus Williams and Patrick
O'Bryant are doing enough that one or maybe even both of them could go
in the top six. And if that happens, the Celts are going to see a good
player slide into their laps.

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: celtics-bounces at igtc.com [mailto:celtics-bounces at igtc.com] On
Behalf Of Steve Ouellette
Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 6:39 AM
To: The Boston Celtics Mailing List
Cc: Thomas Murphy
Subject: Re: Cs to draft J.J. Redick?

I wouldn't be stunned to see the Celts take Redick ... but he is not a
point guard anymore than Tony Allen is a point guard. He's not even a
combo guard. He's a shooting guard, pure and simple. 

Steve O

---- Thomas Murphy <tfmiii at worldnet.att.net> wrote: 
> Some quotes from Chad Fraud on J.J. Redick (obtained from RealGM
board): 
> 
>  
> 
> Quote: 
> 
> >>The early word back from workouts in places like Houston, Utah and
Boston has been surprisingly positive. 
> 
>  
> 
> Sources with all three teams have said the same thing to me. Redick is
better than they thought he would be. <<
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> Quote: 
> 
> >>"I'm actually not a huge believer in individual workouts," one NBA
executive said. "However, I think we learned a lot about that kid and it
was all good..." 
> 
>  
> 
> How good? Good enough that Redick appears to be in the conversation
with the Celtics at No. 7 and in serious consideration by the Rockets at
No. 8.  <<
> 
>  
> 
> Now when I first read this I thought it must be another smokescreen
that Ainge is putting up to push someone down to #7. But then I got to
thinking: 
> 
>  
> 
> a) Neither Ainge nor Doc were pure points, both were combo guards with
PG responsibilities and so far have seemed to favor the same for the Cs
> 
> b) both Ainge and Doc are 6-5 and also seem to favor similarly sized
guards in the backcourt
> 
> c) Ainge was a gunner and one of his stated emphases has been to stock
the Cs with guys who can shoot the ball
> 
> d) IIRC both Ainge and Doc have talked about getting someone who can
'drive and dish' 
> 
> e) Ainge has mentioned PG as a priority now, rather than down the road
> 
> f) I've read that Ainge has said he thought his guy might be available
at 10-12
> 
>  
> 
> How does this all fit with J.J. Redick?
> 
>  
> 
> a) Redick is a SG but given his size and average athleticism is very
likely going to have to be a combo guard in the NBA 
> 
> b) Redick has the size that Doc and Ainge seem to view as highly
desirable in a PG (6-4)
> 
> c) Redick is nothing if not the ultimate gunner 
> 
> d) Redick can drive and dish (it may be his only PG-like ability):
"His ball-handling has improved enough he can make his way to the basket
effectively without much trouble, either to finish himself with a nifty
layup off the glass or find the open man on the dish and drive if the
paint is too crowded for his liking."
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=16 
> 
> e) Redick, a college senior coached by Krzyzewski in arguably the
toughest conference in the NCAA, is as ready as anyone to step in and
contribute 
> 
> f) Redick's name has not been too high on the charts: he'll be there
at #7 and it would not be unlikely to last till 10-12. 
> 
>  
> 
> So, the more I thought it through, the more it seems to me that Redick
may well be the one Ainge and Doc have already tabbed as the guy they
want. 
> 
>  
> 
> I am ambivalent: I am one who thinks the Cs would really improve with
a true PG at the helm, and barring that could use more help in the
interior. Getting another gunner does not seem to me to be a high
priority - particularly if he is another combo-guard. 
> 
>  
> 
> On the other hand, I can see why Ainge and Doc may be leaning this way
(although I disagree with it): 
> 
> 1) It is always good to have not only another shooter but another
scorer (and by all accounts Redick is both - including averaging eight
FTs a game). 
> 
> 2) Management also seems to be of the belief that more scoring from
deeper on the floor will spread the offense and lead to easier baskets
(I think better passing/orchestration would accomplish this more
effectively) and Redick fits into that school of thought. 
> 
> 3) Also I can see where they would envision Redick eventually becoming
the second or possibly the first option on offense: 1b to Pierce's 1a. 
> 
> 4) Redick would also be able to push Delonte soon after joining the
team and Ainge is a stated believer in people having to work to keep
their place in the line-up. 
> 
> 5) Finally, Redick is a guaranteed go-to option down the end of games.
Apparently one of the things he is showing in the workouts is an ability
to create his own shot - a big knock on him in the minds of many - (or
at the very least to 'drive and dish') and closing out games was our
Achilles heel all last year. He can shoot it from 28 feet out, he can
drive and dish and he is automatic at the line - and he is likely better
at all three right now than Paul Pierce (although it hurts me to say
it).
> 
>  
> 
> So it seems to me that for these reasons, plus the one mentioned
above, that Ainge and Doc at this point have figured Redick as the guy
they want. Thinking may change of course, but given the clues we've been
given and the way Ainge and Doc have approached designing the team, I
think this is a good a guess as one can make at this point.
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