Projectile Posting (less contagious then the alternative)

Tue Apr 10 06:27:43 CDT 2007

Lots to get to from over the weekend. Let's get right to it.

SNIP   "...It's just like when we were here. He had veterans and we won the
division and we went to the playoffs." - GP

Ah yes, the championship team of Gary Payton and Antoine Walker! Oh wait,
okay the Eastern Conference Final team of...huh? The Second
round...errrr...well, that stunning playoff success was just the penultimate
with the two wise sages wasn't it? Gimme a break. These two should be busy
kissing the feet of Shaq and Wade instead of worrying about the Celtics.  

SNIP    1. Kids can't learn from kids, so an alphadog vet bench leader
helping Paul would've been great this year and the next few years.  When the
team was Raef/Toine/Paul/Ricky/GP , then Del/Al gained playoff experience &
bball IQ, from vets they could respect, instead of from what Danny called
young vets w/ PT experience and a longer future than GP: Scal/Sebastian.

I don't necessarily disagree with the above - if anything is placed on the
gravesite of Danny Ainge's GM tombstone it may well be "Tried to be all
things to all fans".  He tried to both do a youth movement and a vet
stability (witness Toine and Payton) thing all at the same time. Since
flexibility is NOT the lexicon of the NBA system (either cap, free agent or
draft) doing these two things concurrently is almost impossible unless you
are very lucky. You always have to balance trades for good/great players
with cap crap. It's difficult to attract free agents when their "current"
team can outbid you, you're not in the warm weather or megamedia outlet
cities, or you simply are not good enough to compete for a championship.
There's just a litany of variables, all uncontrollable for the most part,
which have to fall into to place to both stay competitive and get younger at
the same time.  Secondly, with both OB and Doc - the kids would've never
seen the floor, played through their contracts, and probably never have
reached the ability level they've shown this year (esp. Al Jeff, Rondo, and
Tony Allen) so it's a pretty double edged sword isn't it?

SNIP   "GP's right that the owners ARE more focused on the money aspect than
playoffs.  The team purposefully has more big-minute players on their rook
contracts than anyone.  And it's a fact they gave up on tradition, to fill
more seats w/ non-hardcore bball fans(dancers/acrobats/soundeffects) .  I'd
bet money that the owners would vote for offensive-excitement Durant over
Oden."

Yep, and we play right into their hands by continuing to go to games, buy
the merchandise, etc. Can the fan base make the tough choice if change is
what they REALLY want? I doubt it. If all the owners do is think with their
wallet (and I agree - they absolutely do) then the only way to change things
is to "gasp" effect their wallet!  As for Durant v. Oden - we're getting the
third, fourth or fifth pick anyway (yes, it's another depressing week for me
- sorry) so don't fret over picks 1 and 2.

SNIP    "How much more devastating would Rajon be longterm, if hall-of-fame
Gary was tutoring him?  Especially since they're both crafty creators,
finishers, defenders, and hesitant shooters." 

My understanding of Gary Payton is he's not much of a tutor of anything,
much less basketball. GP seems to have one thought in life "me and mine".  I
don't think either of those things involves "Rondo" very much.  

SNIP  "That being said, can this "veteran leadership" come from lower-priced
players?  From less talented players like Scal?  Or must it be a star either
at or just past his peak, like Payton when he came here?  What are the
"musts" on such a veteran leader's resume?"

In this particular league? Depends on who you believe.  I tend to think this
is a player's league and second, that it is also a caste system league as
well - star players are the hierarchical royalty. Thus meaning they are the
only ones who "get respect" from all levels - media, fans, and yes, their
own teammates. So to answer your question I do think that only the "star"
players OR elder statesman (were stars, now getting on in years) have much
sway in the youth populace of the NBA.  Honestly, I think Scal is probably
laughed at behind his back just about every day - hell, we laugh at him here
and we have less basketball UUUUUUUUpside then Kedrick Freakin Brown.