The old shell game.

[Eggcentric at aol.com]

< I've no objection to show time, so long as it is fundamentally 
solid.> - Kim

As you point out, show time and fundamentally solid are not 
necessarily mutually exclusive.   But is Sergio fundamentally solid? 
All I know is what I hear and what I read.   No doubt Sergio is an 
exciting offensive weapon, assuming one appreciates the 
Jason Williams’ types. But here's a rather scary scouting report
on some of his weaknesses.
 
< Weaknesses: Not really a physical marvel (6'3, 170 lbs.) as his 
explosiveness is just average ... Not very strong and can still be 
pushed around by the bigger guards ... Still prone to being 
careless with the ball, and can get carried away trying to entertain, 
making impossible passes, or trying to force a three when a 
smart play is needed ... Often goes for the flashy play instead of 
the simple, smart, play Also could use some work on defense, 
mostly staying fundamental and exerting the same intensity and 
effort ... Outside jump shot also needs some fine tuning, it is 
very formidable now, but shot selection and shooting percentage 
both need improvement. > - DraftNet

Also making me a bit suspicious of Sergio's thousand points of light 
("all the moves of a Cousy or a Magic Johnson") is that he 
continues to be ranked overall behind seven other point guards
(many of them combo guards) in a draft that is considered bereft 
of topnotch PG's.   Not that the draft gurus (i.e. Nation of Sheep)
are infallible, but Williams, Foye, Brewer, Rondo, Farmer, Douby, 
and even Collins are all projected to be drafted ahead of him.   
Now why is that?   
       
< Oh come on Egg. {Danny} Was caught off guard???? I don't 
think so, although I agree he might not be ecstatic about having 
the seventh pick. Ignoring tempting puns about off guard and 
former shooting guards as GM, no way it was a surprise. It was 
clear for the last couple of months that we'd likely be drafting in 
the lower to mid end of the lottery. End of the first round was 
never an option. > - Kim

I never said "End of the first round."   I said "bottom half." 
Do you really feel that when Danny was doing the bulk of his 
scouting that he ever dreamed we would end up with the 
#7 pick?   Even with a dozen games to go we were just two games 
behind the 8th place rapidly self-destructing 76ers.    
Think Danny concentrated on the top six or seven talents 
in the draft or on the guys he felt he could grab late lottery or 
just out of the lottery?

<And say what you will about Danny otherwise, the one thing he 
has shown he understands is the draft.> - Kim

Yes and no.   I personally like West, Perkins, and Gomes yet feel
none will ever become legitimate "stars."   Danny naively 
catapulted Banks into a lottery pick, and his public admiration 
of Robert Swift likely entered into Seattle drafting him as 
high as #12.   He foolishly traded Songaila for the Hunter 
pick, and was prepared to grab Gomes at #18 before luckily 
seeing him fall to #50.   His two other biggest coups, Jeff and 
Green, also fell to him as well, but both already have been/are 
trade bait.   He has chosen a PG in the past three drafts yet 
continues to search for the ultimate answer at PG. Three years
and ten picks later, he admits we still need a burly, tough BIG
who is a defensive presence, the "right" PG, a rebounding,
defense-oriented SF, and a SCORER off the bench. 

If history has taught us anything, Danny will continue to annually
gobble up draft picks, trading away his previous mistakes. 
Meanwhile we remain forever young, his three-year plan 
becoming a five-year plan, his five-year plan becoming an 
eight-year plan.   

Good thing true Celt fans are not results oriented. As it will 
always be about "next year."

Egg