Charley Rosen - another columnist on grouchy pills?

[Eggcentric at aol.com]

Good thing this Rosen dude wasn't grading my college papers
or I might never have reached the heights of being an IGTC list 
contributor.   

And yes, Virginia (Douglas) there is a Pops Mensa somebody.   
But as you say, who cares?   Rosen's column (see below) is a bit 
more interesting, albeit controversial, during this quiet period.   

Surely House/Pollard/Posey are immediate upgrades over rookies 
Pruitt/Wallace/Manuel, but what vets wouldn't be?    Were any other
teams even interested in signing journeymen House (eight teams 
in ten years) and Pollard (five teams in eleven years)?   And Pat Riley 
didn't exactly break a sweat in attempting to re-sign the troubled 
Posey as he apparently feels Dorell Wright can contribute more at SF.   
--------------
Celtics' pickups are puzzling

Charley Rosen / Special to FOXSports.com 

Now that the late-summer night's dream team has copped the gold, it's time to 
get back to reality.

Since our last report on the continuing free-agent roundup, several teams 
have inked players who they hope will fulfill specific roles. And nobody has been 
more active in this market than the Boston Celtics.

With the much ballyhooed addition of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, combined 
with the subtraction of Gerald Green, Wally Szczerbiak, Al Jefferson, Delonte 
West, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff and Ryan Gomes, the Celtics needed to 
complete the drastic restructuring of their roster. Danny Ainge's design was to 
sign only those players who would complement the specific talents of Boston's 
brand-new Big Three.

Here's whom he came up with, and here's why they either will or will not fit 
Ainge's master-plan:

EDDIE HOUSE — There's no question that the offense will rely almost 
exclusively on Paul Pierce, KG and Allen. Last season, this trio combined for 73.8 
points per game, and there's no reason to doubt that their totals will be similar 
next season. It's also highly probable that Doc Rivers will take pains to keep 
at least two of them on the court at the same time. So why do the Celtics 
need a shoot-first-last-and-only point guard who can't even defend?

Based on his previous seven years in the NBA, House has amply demonstrated 
that he's incapable of running an offense. And, despite his claims that he'll 
adapt his personal game plan to suit the needs of his new team, there's no 
reason to believe that he can make the adjustment.

The Celtics are hopeful that the untested Rajon Rondo can assume the starting 
point-guard slot. For sure, the youngster can run with anybody, but he can't 
shoot a lick and he has a tendency to be somewhat wild with the ball. The 
other semi-credible candidate is Tony Allen, who has a scorer's mind-set, and will 
most likely back up Rondo. There's also been some talk about Ray Allen 
playing some point, but not much good will come of this if it ever does happen. The 
reason being that the added stress is risky business for an aging player who 
had surgery on both ankles during the summer.

That's why Ainge might have been wiser to recruit a point guard who's more of 
a facilitator than a scorer. Somebody like Brevin Knight, for example.

Ainge recently stated that since most of the Celtics' offense will run 
through either Pierce or Garnett at the high post, a traditional point guard won't 
be absolutely necessary.

Hmmm. Apparently Ainge isn't at all concerned about the importance of having 
someone who can safely carry the ball across the time-line, make appropriate 
decisions whenever the Celts are on the run, and execute timely passes into 
Pierce/Garnett. Could it be that Ainge — who believed that Antoine Walker was, 
then wasn't, then was, then wasn't Boston's savior — is once again deluding 
himself?

Because it's a reach to envision House being compatible with the new-look 
Celtics, the grade for this particular mismatched signing is D-plus.


SCOT POLLARD — This guy is a banger and a screener with a penchant for 
grabbing offensive rebounds and committing fouls. Indeed, he fouls too often to stay 
on the court long enough to function as a reliable backup big man. At best, 
he's a fifth front-liner in a four-man rotation. He will, however, push (and 
shove, and hack, and whack) Kendrick Perkins in practice. This late in the 
off-season, the Celtics are still lacking a potent man in the middle.

Oh, yes. Pollard will also sport more 'do's than Mister Potato Head.

Grade — C-minus

JAMES POSEY — This could possibly be the jewel of Ainge's free-agent 
signings. At his best, Posey is a lock-down defender and a consistent plugger of 
treys. However, Posey hasn't been in game-shape since his breakout 2003-04 season 
with Memphis.

Grade — Anywhere from A-plus to D, depending on Posey's off-season workouts.

Here's an evaluation of the other significant FA signings around the league:

BREVIN KNIGHT — L.A. CLIPPERS

A nifty, shifty point guard who can do everything except defend and stay 
healthy, Knight has evolved into an above-average backup. Knight provides adequate 
insurance if Shaun Livingston can't make it all the way back and Father Time 
finally corrals Sam Cassell. But if Knight is thrust into the starting lineup, 
who will back him up?

Grade — C-plus

RUBEN PATTERSON — L.A. CLIPPERS

He'll be extremely helpful during Elton Brand's recuperation. Patterson can 
attack the basket, the boards, and anybody he guards. What he can't do is shoot 
the ball — indeed, he couldn't hit himself in the butt with his right hand. 
The problem will be how to keep Patterson happy once (and if) Brand does return 
to action. In the past, Patterson has loudly groused in public whenever he 
wasn't getting enough time and enough shots to satisfy him. There's also the 
problem of keeping Patterson out of handcuffs.

Grade — C-plus


IME UDOKA — SAN ANTONIO

Meet the next Bruce Bowen — a 3-point specialist who can defend, but can't 
handle. Give this guy a few months to absorb Pop's scheme of things, and then 
watch him get meaningful minutes.

Grade — B-plus

EDDIE JONES — DALLAS

Jones still has enough gas in his tank to help the Mavs, but only if his 
minutes are severely curtailed. Ten per game would be ideal. At the cusp of age 
36, he can still knock down midrange jumpers and is a dangerous 3-point shooter, 
but is no longer the stopper he once was on defense.

Grade — C-plus

ADONAL FOYLE — ORLANDO

This 10-year veteran is capable of scoring in the low post against weak 
defenders (very weak defenders) — his weapons of choice being a right-handed jump 
hook and an up-and-under move. He also uses his left hand to maximum effect. 
Foyle can bang with the best of them, but is slow reacting on defense and is 
therefore always in foul trouble. Not a bad backup center, but not a very good 
one either. He will help the Magic, though, by making Dwight Howard work hard in 
practice.

Grade — C-minus

JARVIS HAYES — DETROIT

He's a capable defender, a steady jump shooter and a legitimate threat from 
beyond the arc. But Hayes' most valuable attribute is his versatility. As a sub 
at both wing positions, playing for a top-notch ballclub (at last!) should 
bring out the best in Hayes.

Grade — B-minus

ROBERT HITE — NEW JERSEY

Hite is a powerful and gifted athlete who's still learning how to play the 
point. Unless either Jason Kidd and Marcus Williams suffer debilitating 
injuries, however, Hite will mostly be a spectator with a terrific seat.

Grade — C-minus

AUSTIN CROSHERE — GOLDEN STATE

He's a better 3-point shooter than he is a finisher, but he always works hard 
whether he's inside or outside. Croshere can rebound, drive the middle, 
execute a relatively quick first step and play enthusiastic defense. Used to be 
that he could score in the pivot — with a step-through move set up by multiple 
head fake — but he's become more and more of a perimeter player. Not a creator, 
Croshere can feast off kick-out-passes. Best of all, he can sit for a week and 
still be ready to get up and go.

Grade — B-minus

There are still a few noteworthy free agents out there, including P.J. Brown 
and Chris Webber, so the brakes have yet to be applied to the off-season 
wheeling and dealing.




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