Oden injury ((and Presti and Ainge) and Allen)

[asterix ninetynine]

I agree with your assessment.
   
  I am also wondering if Ray Allen doesn't end up as the piece that holds this whole thing together.  We all know that Paul Pierce is not a strong leader, he's always been a very good complimentary player a la Scottie Pippen. Garnett will provide energy and intensity but he may not be tempered properly to fill the role.
   
  I think Ray Allen will offer quiet and steady leadership, the catclyst to bring the team together and pull the best out of Pierce and Garnett.

Mark Piotrowski <mark at 10thumbs.org> wrote:
  >Sabino wrote:
>
> I still maintain that Ainge's initial move for Allen was nearly a 
>panic move, driven by his knowledge that Pierce would get very vocal 
>about wanting out if he had drafted Yi. He wanted KG. KG said no 
>thanks. Next he wanted Marion who likewise didn't want to come. I 
>think Ainge felt he HAD to get a quality vet in here to appease 
>Pierce, and he then got Allen. As THE BIG move of the summer, I 
>feel like that would have been a panic disaster move. Since it 
>precipitated the KG move, and was thus the (relatively) minor move, 
>it seems a decent one.
>


I'm going to disagree with you a bit here Sabino ---- i'm curious to 
know if i'm alone.

While the Ray Allen deal may have been "nearly a panic move". I 
guess i disagree that had we not gotten KG and therefore the Allen 
deal was THE BIG move that it would have been a disaster. 2 main 
reasons:

(a) We'd still have the ratliff contract for either a move this 
summer or at the deadline (more likely as teams fall short of 
expectations and guys want out) --- who those guys will be who knows 
but soemone will be available (Lamar Odom, J O'neal, etc).

and

(b) we'd still have a core of Pierce-Allen-Jefferson.

IMO, a lineup of Rondo/R. Allen/Pierce/Jefferson/Perk with a bench of 
Gomes, House (probably still sign him), Tony Allen and Powe would 
still be young but good enough to challenge for the playoffs. We 
wouldn't legitimatley be talking deep playoffs/finals/titles but we'd 
be improved IMO.

I think Ray Allen's potential contributions to this team were 
undervalued when we got him ---- and will always be overshadowed b/c 
of KG's acquisition (which is great by me). The improvement of Allen 
over Wally Sz is tremendous and I think Allen's professionalism, 
outside shooting and veteran leadership woudl have made Jefferson, 
Gomes and Rondo better... how much we'll never know. But it would't 
have been a disaster

(the other) Mark
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