Congratulations to Ryan Gomes

[keltsfan]

Kim, 

I would agree that Gomes is not a three but that doesn't mean he can't
become one by developing some of those skills like, for instance, Ron Artest
did.  Right now he clearly needs to be playing the four but I don't think
the Celtics win a championship with Gomes playing the four.  Unless he has a
Tim Duncan type of player next to him of course or unless he grows three
inches.  As I've said, I don't believe his primary benefit to the team is
lost as a three. He can still do the things he does at that position while
not being a defensive liability against the quality bigs in this league.

I'd prefer Gomes make his weaknesses strengths. Then he will be a matchup
nightmare for opposing teams. 

I'm not sure I ever said that Gomes primary focus should be outside and if I
did, I didn't mean to.  I think his midrange game and rebounding is vitally
important to this team and fits with the other starters but as I've said,
this kid has the smarts and work ethic to have a very well rounded game
which will make him even more dangerous to the opposition and more
beneficial to his mates. 

I think Gomes improved his defensive stance and footwork quite a bit during
the season whether it solely by his own efforts or with help from the
coaching staff.  He's very fundamentally sound and I think he could be one
of the better defenders on the team.  I wasn't being critical of him in the
sense of griping but being critical in the sense of this is what he needs to
do to improve his game this offseason so that he continues on his trajectory
which I personally think is quite high.  IMO, he needs to work on specific
things defensively to be a factor at the three. Obviously we disagree as to
what position he can and can't play. 

We know Gomes can play defense inside. He's battled big and physical players
throughout his college career and has held his own.  He knows how to work
position and battle on the blocks so there is not too much he needs to be
taught in terms of fundamental defense on the blocks.  What you can't teach
is height however and when matched up against big and athletic fours he's
going to struggle.  Yet, he's a guy that needs to be on the floor because
frankly, he knows how to play the game, like few on the team do. So what to
do?  Develop him to the point that he can be on the floor even when
overmatched against good bigs. How? Play him at the three. 

We don't really disagree as to what we both believe are important skills he
brings to the table and more importantly what this team needs but should the
need arise for more from him, then he might as well be prepared to be able
to offer more. 

Ravi  





> -----Original Message-----
> From: celtics-bounces at igtc.com 
> [mailto:celtics-bounces at igtc.com] On Behalf Of Kim Malo
> Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 4:04 PM
> To: The Boston Celtics Mailing List
> Subject: RE: Congratulations to Ryan Gomes
> 
> At 06:45 PM 5/4/2006, keltsfan wrote:
> >Kim,
> >
> >Because to play the three at a high level, which I believe 
> he can do, 
> >he's going to have to be able to hit the 20 footer consistently and 
> >he's going to have to be able to take his man off the 
> dribble in a one on one situation.
> 
> Uh duh, but he's clearly not a 3 and shouldn't be slotted there. 
> Sorry, guess I didn't make it clear enough that I disagree 
> with that idea when I spoke of "some people"... his game is a 
> 4, he's most comfortable at the 4 (he's said that himself) 
> and he does things at the 4 we need and is smart enough to 
> take advantage of his speed to make up for the size. 
> Especially when there's other defense being played on the 
> floor to back him up. Call him just a forward like there are 
> just guards, but he's not a natural 3 and I don't see the 
> point to forcing him into being one and losing some of his 
> primary benefit to the team. And if he starts, as I would 
> like for a number of reasons including how well he meshes 
> with the starters, Pierce - who is a very natural SG that 
> people continually mistakenly slot as a SG - is the starting 3 anyway.
> 
> I just really really don't understand the emphasis on taking 
> someone away from the basket whose best assets to the team 
> have been his play near the basket (and in the midrange, 
> where unlike most of the team he moves very well without the 
> ball to provide options). Again, I don't object to his 
> improving his shooting outside, I just don't get the idea of 
> making it a primary focus to want him out there.
> 
> >Ryan Gomes is gifted when it comes to the fundamental and mental 
> >aspects of the game.  Why not add to those abilities so that 
> he can really shine?
> 
> That's a straw man. I've no problem with improving it in 
> general as I said. But I damned well don't want him focusing 
> on things that keep him far away from the basket when his 
> most important contributions are close to it. I want him 
> working on his strengths to make them better strengths so 
> he's less of a match up liability at times against bigger 
> guys inside rather than forcing him to play to his 
> weaknesses, which happens to be something the team doesn't 
> need because it's something others already provide.
> 
> >Lateral quickness when defending smaller, quicker threes is still 
> >inconsistent and thus my comments about learning from Artest.
> 
> See above - he's not a 3. I didn't question learning from 
> Artest (and for cripes sake, he's a freaking rookie on a 
> defensively challenged team, which raises issues about how 
> much development help he's getting). Just your pointing at 
> him as a target for that particular criticism and that the 
> only thing you wanted him to focus on on defense.
> Kim 
> 
> 
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