Conley and draft

[Berry, Mark S]

Conley controls the tempo of a game better than Rondo, shoots better
than Rondo, runs a team better than Rondo, and is a true pass-first
point guard -- but one who also has the ability to score if needed. He
is that rare pure point guard.

Like you said, I like Rondo. I'm just not completely sold yet that he's
a starting point guard. He's a better defender than Conley, but not by
much. Other than that, I'm not sure what he does better than Conley.
They both penetrate and finish well. Rondo still plays a little
helter-skelter in a way that I'm not sure lends itself to consistent,
winning basketball. He thinks about his offense first quite a bit. As
limited as Delonte is at that position, I think he brought some
stability there that helped the Celtics play some of their best
basketball of the season.

But I'm also perfectly fine with embracing Rondo as our developmental
point guard and running with it. You don't get to pick this high that
often, and there are a lot of talented players. God forbid we don't get
Oden or Durant, there still are other guys I think will be good players.
But Conley and Brewer are near the top of my list, along with Hibbert
and Noah. 

Let's just hope for the best Tuesday.

Mark


-----Original Message-----
From: celtics-bounces at igtc.com [mailto:celtics-bounces at igtc.com] On
Behalf Of Steve Ouellette
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 12:57 PM
To: The Boston Celtics Mailing List
Subject: Conley and draft

I know Mark loves his Buckeyes, but I don't think Conley is getting this
much love anywhere outside of Columbus. Top 10? Maybe. But I haven't
seen anyone anywhere else suggest he's a top five pick.

The kid is good, maybe the best point guard in the draft, but right now
he's looking up at Kenny Anderson (who seems to be a good comp). Kenny
averaged 20 and 8 as a freshman, without playing alongside the next Bill
Russell, and was a better shooter. 

Conley is a better shooter than Rondo, but I don't see anything else he
does better -- and his shooting isn't really very good. He's below
average from the line and the college 3-point line, though he shoots a
Rondo-like percentage from the floor because he can get to the basket.
He's got the proverbial upside, but I don't think he's going to be a
stud right off the bat ... Chris Paul is only a dream scenario if
everything works out perfectly, like the Rondo-as-Jason-Kidd fantasies.

Mark, I know you like Rondo too. Where does Conley have an edge on him?

I don't think there's any way the Celtics reach for a point guard
project in the top five. That said, I am not filled with excitement over
any of the picks after 1-2. Unless Ainge is completely sold on Brandan
Wright, I think a later pick has a 90 percent chance of being packaged
with Ratliff, etc. for ... something.

BTW, did I see the Celtics (or Fox Sports or somebody) is having a draft
lottery party? Or was that my imagination? I can't imagine the silent,
jaw-dropping horror in that room if Tommy pulls out the No. 4 draft
spot.

Steve O

---- "Berry wrote: 
> Outside of Oden and Durant, I think Conley has as much star potential
as
> anybody in this draft. He's that good. He's the point guard basketball
> fans always hoped Kenny Anderson would be. Would I take him? Probably.
I
> love Rondo, but I'm not sold on him being our long-term answer at PG
> just yet. Conley is the best draftable PG since Chris Paul, and we all
> know what that kind of PG can do for a team.
> 
> I also love Brewer, and think his uniqueness might just trump the fact
> that he's a swingman. He's a swingman who can defend four positions
and
> create havoc on both ends.
> 
> I'm not a Horford guy. He'll be a solid pro, but I can't see him being
> more than that. Plus, I can't see Horford and Jefferson playing
together
> on a serious contender.
> 
> The other guys I like in that 3-5 neighborhood are Hibbert and Noah,
but
> the consensus seems to be they're more in the 7-10 range. But either
guy
> would be an upgrade on Perk and fill a real need.
> 
> I have no idea what to think of the Chinese guy. I'm not a Brandan
> Wright fan, because he seems to be a questionable effort/toughness
guy.
> But Ainge talks highly of him and says he was underused at UNC. Julian
> Wright and Jeff Green do nothing for me with our pick (not enough
> value). 
> 
> Frankly, this is depressing. I'm going to be very, very depressed if
the
> ping pong balls don't bounce our way Tuesday. I know the odds are
> against it, but I can't help it. My hopes are up.
> 
> Mark
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: celtics-bounces at igtc.com [mailto:celtics-bounces at igtc.com] On
> Behalf Of mark at 10thumbs.org
> Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 9:54 AM
> To: celtics at igtc.com
> Subject: 
> 
> Well yeah, but then again Ainge has been known to try and throw folks
> off
> the trail during this time of year.
> 
> Or at least that's what i'm telling myself to account for his "x's and
> o's
> are overated" comments vis-a-vis Doc.
> 
> I guess that was my point/question -- if presented with Horford/B.
> Wright
> say at #4 do you take them or Conley.  Blazers GM made the point on
Chad
> Ford's podcast that you always go BPA and sort out the duplication
> later.
> 
> My "board" this early out would be:
> 
> 1. Oden
> 2. Durant
> 3. Horford
> 4. Brewer
> 5. Conley
> 
> but that's based soley on hype/the written word (though i've at least
> seen
> Brewer, Horford play).
> 
> (the other) mark
> 
> 
> --------------------------
> He's that good, but Ainge said they have their top 12 or so and
they're
> all 6-8 or taller. I think he considers the point guard problem solved
> by Rondo. Not sure I'm as convinced as he is, but I understand it. The
> team does need size.
> 
> Mark
> 
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