Summertime hyperbole

[nickagneta]

This being my second summer as a member of Celticsblog, I have come to relaize that there is a very large difference between inseason and offseason blogging. Most inseason discussion is centered around the details of each game, the future outlook of the team, the performances of players, the needs of the team leading to the trade deadline, the excellent discussions and emotional swings of the game threads, and many other topics that are mostly, very grounded topics.

Offseason, not so much!

Is it the heat or the humidity or do we all just get a little crazy because we aren't getting our fix of Boston Celtics basketball and the withdrawal symptoms make us a bit loopy? The offseason definitely becomes the time of summertime hyperbole.

James Posey's role on last year's team goes from becoming a healthy lockerroom presence and needed defensive bench role to that of indispensibleplayer who's importance rivals that of Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett.

Tony Allen goes from an injury plagued, low BBIQ, turnover proned defensive shooting guard that has shown little improvement over 4 years time in Green to that of incredible sixth man being compared to Manu Ginobelli who has some sort of incredible slashing and finishing moves that transcend the game.

Eddie House goes from being a serviceable back up PG with a lightening fast release on his shot who is a good three point shooter but can't create his own shot or shots for others and is sketchy when pressured to another almost indispensible cog in the Celtics championship run who's accomplishments cannot be explained by looking at a stat sheet alone.

Besides where would this team be without Little House? He is, after all, simply the best ball boy to ever live?

Danny Ainge's ability to judge talent and make trades and sign players goes from having a very questionable past, some might even say below par, to that of Belichickian proportions of "In Danny We Trust".

I guess Green Kool-Aid during the summertime must be a popular drink.

And let's not even discuss Doc. Being a Doc supporter I must admit I have gone a bit overboard at times in support of this man but that doesn't mean the entire summer should go by without even one thread discussing how Doc can or will handle this team. Not one.

Has the summer heat so boiled or basketball brains that Doc is now beyond reproach?

Not even one thread questioning whether Doc's strategies can work two years in a row? No questioning how he will handle the change in talent? Not a peep regarding whether Doc can keep the egoes of 3 HOFers in check now that they have their coveted title and the recodnition that goes along with it?

And the part I love about the summertime hyperbole is the way that every talked about available free agent or trade prospect is either a complete bum that barely has mastered the ability to dribble or the second coming of Michael Jordan.

Sure some of this article is a bit of an exaggeration, aggrandizement. But then again, why wouldn't it be. 'Tis the season of summertime hyperbole.

[indeedproceed]

Summertime Hyperbole sounds like an Emo band. A really, really effeminate emo band. That wears eye-liner.

[Roy Hobbs]

Dead on, nick.  I like to consider myself pretty even-keel, and some of the posts on here have been way over the top.  The two that I've objected to the most are:

Tony Allen goes from an injury plagued, low BBIQ, turnover proned defensive shooting guard that has shown little improvement over 4 years time in Green to that of incredible sixth man being compared to Manu Ginobelli who has some sort of incredible slashing and finishing moves that transcend the game.

and

Danny Ainge's ability to judge talent and make trades and sign players goes from having a very questionable past, some might even say below par, to that of Belichickian proportions of "In Danny We Trust".

I understand people thinking Danny is all of a sudden infallible, because last year, he pretty much dealt fans a straight flush.  It was a superb a year as a GM could possibly ask for, and Danny's track record before that trended generally positive (although not without its missteps).

The Tony Allen thing, though, stretches credibility to new limits.  He went from being one of the very few guys coming off his rookie deal not to be extended a qualifying offer, to being a rare talent that any team would covet.  Not only is he one of the league's very best defenders (of both SGs and SFs) but he's also got an unparalleled ability to get to the hoop and create his own offense. 

Baffling. 

[BudweiserCeltic]

Tony Allen goes from an injury plagued, low BBIQ, turnover proned defensive shooting guard that has shown little improvement over 4 years time in Green to that of incredible sixth man being compared to Manu Ginobelli who has some sort of incredible slashing and finishing moves that transcend the game.

I'm guessing you didn't actually read the posts regarding this issue AND understood the context they were presented in. I suggest you re-read the thread, specifically my posts on the matter.

How about the hyperbole of Tony falling for one head fake, and suddenly being considered a bad defender because he constantly falls for them?

How about the hyperbole of all his turnovers being cause by dribbling off his foot?

How about the hyperbole of Tony Allen being useless garbage based on the analysis of last season? A season that is very clear that is not representative of what Tony Allen is nor what he is capable of.

What I don't understand is how you can be so rational defending Doc and go out of your way to understand the circumstances that surrounded him, but can't extend the same courtesy to someone like Tony which obviously was playing through a ton of adversity last year.

I agree with most if not all your other points though.

[nickagneta]

Tony Allen goes from an injury plagued, low BBIQ, turnover proned defensive shooting guard that has shown little improvement over 4 years time in Green to that of incredible sixth man being compared to Manu Ginobelli who has some sort of incredible slashing and finishing moves that transcend the game.

I'm guessing you didn't actually read the posts regarding this issue AND understood the context they were presented in. I suggest you re-read the thread, specifically my posts on the matter.

How about the hyperbole of Tony falling for one head fake, and suddenly being considered a bad defender because he constantly falls for them?

How about the hyperbole of all his turnovers being cause by dribbling off his foot?

How about the hyperbole of Tony Allen being useless garbage based on the analysis of last season? A season that is very clear that is not representative of what Tony Allen is nor what he is capable of.

What I don't understand is how you can be so rational defending Doc and go out of your way to understand the circumstances that surrounded him, but can't extend the same courtesy to someone like Tony which obviously was playing through a ton of adversity last year.

I agree with most if not all your other points though.

First regarding the Manu comparison, I did read the whole thread and understood the context of which you brought up the comparison. That doesn't make me think it any less over the top. I thought the context quite nonsensical.

As for the rest of what you say, you are 100% correct. The summertime hyperbole swings both ways. Tony's detractors use it as much as those that support him. In reality, I would say if you counted the amount of times both he and Pierce lost the ball off their own feet, I think Pierce would have more of those types of turnovers. Obviously, that is because Pierce has a propensity of forcing the issue with his drives and often overdoes it to the point where he is losing it off his foot, or knee, or side, or it just slips loose.

Yes, I also do accord Doc a lot of room, but I also critcize him. He can be maddening at times. But he is the coach so I will support him and I also think he's a lot better than most think.

I do not accord Tony any slack because even before he got hurt I didn't like his game. He has only ever been as good as his athleticism allows him to be. He has never exhibitted any growth cerebrally as a player. He makes the same mistakes now as he did in his first year. He is a product of his body and not his mind, and I have always hated those type of players.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Yes, I also do accord Doc a lot of room, but I also critcize him. He can be maddening at times. But he is the coach so I will support him and I also think he's a lot better than most think.

And I supported him with you. I'm on the same boat currently with Tony.

I do not accord Tony any slack because even before he got hurt I didn't like his game. He has only ever been as good as his athleticism allows him to be. He has never exhibitted any growth cerebrally as a player. He makes the same mistakes now as he did in his first year. He is a product of his body and not his mind, and I have always hated those type of players.

See, I'm fine with your opinion because I like some of these types of players despite their shortcomings. I've always felt that a team benefits from having at least one of this kind of player. I like what he brings despite this things, and I'm fine with arguing this back and forward. What I don't like is when people mischaracterize the situation and the player to prove a point. That's where I draw the line. But what you just said, is quite accurate in some regards and I can respect that opinion. There's no need to make up all the other crap to diminish the capabilities of someone just so one's point looks better.

[wahz]

I was one of the posters willing to "throw away" the chance to rebuild 3 and 4 years from now by giving posey what he wanted, 4 years at the mle.

by doing this, imho, we would have has the best possible chance to win the next two years, meaning 3 in a row, and then deal with the consequences after. we could have still signed either tony or House but probably not both. and i think we make late season pickups to fill needs the next two seasons. I think the OBryant as back up will work well, because i have fath that we will be able to fix laziness when he is surrounded by KG, Cliff Ray, Perk, Powe and all.

By not signing Posey, imho, we have decreased out chances of winning the next two years. Just mo. But surely we have dramatically increased the possibility of picking up a key fa or even two, in summer 2010. Will that matter? It will if kg has 2-3 good years after that, and other things fall into place, like Perk, RR, and some of the other young guys getting a lot better.

But lets look at this year and the hyberbole of some of us thinking it may well be a reasonable gamble on DA's part to lose Posey and try to fill his minutes.

its simple actually. Posey played 22 mpg. we can easily fill the minutes with quality and by playing bigger much more often. Tony doesn't have to be a world beater. Either does OBryant. I expect perk to improve more than marginally and play 5 more minutes a game. I expect the combo of Powe and Baby to play 3-5 more minutes a game. I do think OBryant will be able to play 12 and be solid at time and improving. Its more likely than not that its a good fit for him and we rub off on him. Is it really a stretch that we get a total of 20-22 more minutes from Perk, baby, Powe, and OBryant than last year? Is it really hype to expect good minutes from these guys?

As far as TA goes, I think he gets 5-7 more minutes. i also expect him to more than just marginally better. Say one notch. less to's. fewer dumb fouls. better finishing at the hoop. i don't think we need a lot more than that from him. i do think he and rajon will shot better from 15 feet on out by a few points too. Is that too much to expect?

I really think that this year the big 3 will play as well as last year. they will be better integrated; KG will not play center as much; Ray will be healthier.

What we lose with James is smarts, guts and clutch play. We are taking the chance that we are still better than everyone else and won't need this as much. I wouldn't have taken this chance but its not idiotic either. and i do think we will pick up a clutch shooter who can spread the floor when its becomes clearer that is what we are missing and that we are getting good enough play elsewhere. i wish I knew who the perfect guys for that would be. I don't.

We will be ok i think and its not hype to expect some improvement at areas that will fill in for James at least during the reg season

[guava_wrench]

I agree with the earlier stuff about Posey, House, and TA.

Danny Ainge's ability to judge talent and make trades and sign players goes from having a very questionable past, some might even say below par, to that of Belichickian proportions of "In Danny We Trust".

Wasn't Belichick a failure on past teams? Isn't a lot of talk about Belichick hyperbole too?

I also don't buy the "sub-par" estimation. Some will say that about everyone. Some are still questioning now, but they remember people ranting about last year's signings and now have more perspective.

And let's not even discuss Doc. Being a Doc supporter I must admit I have gone a bit overboard at times in support of this man but that doesn't mean the entire summer should go by without even one thread discussing how Doc can or will handle this team. Not one.

Those threads were dumb speculation last year and would be even more pointless now.

Not even one thread questioning whether Doc's strategies can work two years in a row? No questioning how he will handle the change in talent? Not a peep regarding whether Doc can keep the egoes of 3 HOFers in check now that they have their coveted title and the recodnition that goes along with it?

If you find these topics so interesting, you can start the thread.

And the part I love about the summertime hyperbole is the way that every talked about available free agent or trade prospect is either a complete bum that barely has mastered the ability to dribble or the second coming of Michael Jordan.

Sure some of this article is a bit of an exaggeration, aggrandizement. But then again, why wouldn't it be. 'Tis the season of summertime hyperbole.

Watch ESPN. Watch CNN. That's how people discuss controversial issues these days. Pretty dumb, but that's the point. Things have been dumbed down and polarized. You have kno-nothing clowns like Stephen A Smith trying their hardest to always be controversial and authoritative. People like to present their opinions as fact, which is nonsense.