Optimism

[Alex Goldblatt]

Not sure if I'll be able to agree with all of this "positives", but would
like to add a couple of my own:

1. Danny has kept the core, so the last season was not just a waste of
everybody's time.

2. Wally moves and looks terrific, we might finally have a solid 3 that will
take pressure off Paul. In the pre-season he was a solid player, and (more
important) - a very vocal leader.

3. Obviously better rebounding and the low post D.

4. Telfair can shoot the ball, but is not a "pure" point guard that was
advertised. Is it good or bad? Don't know - it all depends on how
comfortable as a distributor and not a scorer. The most positive in this
case is that we have now 2 players that can easily replace him (Rondo and
west). I'm still not sold on his game, and do believe that he will be traded
by the dead line.


On 11/1/06, Steve Ouellette <bosox18 at charter.net> wrote:
>
> Lot of negative vibes on the list heading into the opener tonight, so I
> thought I would list some reasons for optimism:
>
> -- Ryan Gomes has mastered the 18-footer and will get a full season's
> worth of playing time to show his variety of underrated skills.
>
> -- Rajon Rondo! The steal of this year's draft. A playmaker, defender,
> finisher, disruptor and the quickest guy this side of Tony Parker.
>
> -- Sebastian Telfair seems to have developed some maturity (on the court)
> and his jump shot doesn't appear to be a liability anymore. Telfair and
> Rondo replace every single negative second played by Orien Greene, and then
> some.
>
> -- Gerald Green has developed the body of a man and should be able to
> contribute energy and points off the bench.
>
> -- Kendrick Perkins will finally get his chance to start. Can be an 8 ppg,
> 10 rpg, 2.5 bpg guy if he concentrates on the glass and doesn't fret about
> his offense.
>
> -- Al Jefferson seemed, to me, that he was starting to get it at the end
> of preseason, scoring, rebounding and blocking shots in the minutes he was
> given. He is definitely in the best shape of his career. He just needs to
> use his natural scoring instincts rather than settling for the jump hook
> every time. Last year was a waste, but this year will be better than his
> rookie year, no question.
>
> -- Delonte West is unfortunately losing some playing time, but he'll be
> taking more shots this year, my biggest complaint with his game last year.
>
> -- Wally Szczerbiak is healthy this year. He's not cat quick, but he's 100
> percent more mobile than he was during the last two months of last season.
>
> -- Brian Scalabrine will play less than ever.
>
> -- Michael Olowokandi is the best 12th man in the league.
>
> -- Leon Powe has shown the potential to do dirty work underneath when
> necessary.
>
> -- Paul Pierce is coming off his best season, he's still in his prime and
> he's signed an extension.
>
> -- The Celtics will run more than they have at any time during the Doc
> Rivers years.
>
> -- The Cs have as much depth as anyone they'll face. Fewer minutes for
> crappy players this year.
>
> -- Losses: Raef Lafrentz, Dwayne Jones and Orien Greene. Newcomers: Rondo,
> Theo Ratliff (injured), Telfair, Powe. That's a net plus.
>
> The young players will be a year better, and a year more in synch with
> each other. Wally has had a full training camp to mesh with Paul Pierce.
> Rondo is a revelation. The division stinks. The team is faster and more
> explosive. The season is dedicated to the spirit of Red.
>
> Championship material? Not yet. But I'm with Hollinger -- the only ESPN
> guy worth anything -- the Celts will be challenging the Nets for the
> division crown.
>
> Season's about to start. No time for negative thoughts.
>
> Steve O
>
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