Mailbag? Sorta

[Patrick.Ryan at westover.af.mil]

SNIP  "...does anyone here feel that: Big Al, Brandon Roy, Yi Jianlian,
could've been a championship core, when Al hits his prime?" - Roy

Even with a middle name of Nostradamus, I still can't predict the future
(bummer), but anyway to answer the question: no.

SNIP "In the meantime - Keith Van Horn, anyone?"  - Mike Gooen

Damn, I already used my "no" line on the previous one. No way in Hell?
We don' need no stinkin' points (well, except point guards) off the
bench especially for a washed up, no defense Van Horn.

SNIP "Could we see the return of Toine?" - John

I only have 3 other ways of conveying the word "no"! Defense, point and
rebounding/toughness - do any of those three sound like Antoine Walker?

SNIP "I'm sensing an Austin Croshere in our future ..."  - Steve O

Aaaaaaaaaaagggghhhh,
head...going...to...explode...mustn't...say...no...again...but...have...
to...or...will...drown...in...suckitude...of...Austin...Croshere...

SNIP  "POINT GUARD: Darrell Armstrong's like 100 years old, but he
actually put up some nice numbers for Indy last season in 16 mpg. He
could play about the same number of minutes behind Rondo and nicely fill
the mentor/sparkplug role." - Peter

Already covered by someone else. Armstrong will never play for Doc
Rivers.

SNIP "Brevin Knight would be a good alternative here - his
assist/turnover numbers in Charlotte have been outrageous - but he's
even smaller than Armstrong and might not cotton to bench warming in
crunch time." - Peter

This is the most prevalent name that keeps popping up, and it wouldn't
surprise me if it happened, but at the same time am I the only one a
little nervous that despite good (not great), consistent numbers that
this guy can't stick anywhere? Are the rumors of basically the guy being
a grade A jerk true? What else explains that despite being a decent
player he's played for like 20 teams?

SNIP "Another guy I like here is Brian Skinner, but Milwaukee might be
willing to outbid us. Maybe KG would be a selling point." - Peter

Love it. Do it. RIGHT NOW. Defense, rebounding and toughness - that
basically is Skinner to a T.

SNIP "James Posey and Ruben Patterson are two other tough wing men but
also might want more money than Ainge can dole out." - Peter

I hadn't thought of Patterson. Is he still considered a headcase though?
I've made no secret that I think Posey is the defensive wing fit we need
and he has a ring, but I don't think we can afford him.

"That left me with Eddie Jones." - Peter

And we were doing SO well too...I didn't "NO!" they allowed corpses to
still play in the NBA.

SNIP "I don't know, I just think we gave up too much. we're as deep as a
petri dish.  I can't believe we didn't at least get one other body in
the trade, like Hassell or Craig Smith. If Garnett goes down, we're
cooked." - Steve Knight

If any team's superstar goes down they're cooked. Do you think the Cavs
worry about LeBron? Lakers with Kobe? And neither of those teams have
two more guys to turn to. As for getting a player back in the deal -
Smith is Powe and Davis - why would we want another 6'7" power guy when
we already have two of them? Save the roster spot for a legitimate 6'10
big that can play C and PF (like Skinner or Brown) we can get in free
agency. 

SNIP "This team will run -- maybe not like Phoenix but Ray Allen and KG
get that that's a way to get quick easy points and will encourage Rondo
to push it... Pierce will hopefully learn.  Things will change...for
better and worse." - (the other) mark

Disagree Troy was absolutely right, I think the opposite will happen to
limit turnovers by our young PG. They'll run when they have an
opportunity, but they won't have a run based offense. Huge difference
there. The set offense will be half court to maximize the strengths of
the big 3 (one big, one slasher, one shooter - sounds like a George
Thurogood song), not the strength of the 2nd year PG. Rondo's job has
changed completely from last year. He will give up the ball early in the
shot clock on the majority of possessions - bet money on it.