Fitting into the system or not (defensively and offensively) is 100% mental IMO. As long as Maggette is willing to accept a role and put team first, there would be no problem.
I agree with pretty much everything you said except what I quoted right here. Fitting into a system is not 100% mental. A slow lumbering center doesn't fit into Golden States system. Just like a slight fast center doesn't fit into Utah's system. A slasher doesn't really fit into Jim O'brien's system he wants three point shooters.
Other than that small point what you said was completely correct and I could not agree more.
To be completely honest with you guys, I don't think that the Celtics current offensive system is that much different than the system O'Brien ran. The big difference right now is that the C's have vastly superior players now. While I realize I'm over generalizing with that statement, this much at least holds true: in both systems spreading the floor to allow the stars of the team to take defensive players 1 on 1 was key.
That's why I worry about Maggette. I don't know if he shoots well enough to fit in here. He improved last year, shooting a career best 38% from beyond the arc, on par with Posey. However, in nearly 36 mpg he took only 203 three pointers. Posey on the other hand, took 279 three pointers in only 25 mpg. Eddie House only averaged 19 mpg, but took 298 three pointers.
What does that mean? Well, I think it calls into question how much Maggette can help. I know some people have this romantic notion of him being a catalyst off the bench. That's great, but let's be realistic. If he's going to get more than 15 mpg, he's going to have to be on the court with 1, 2, or even all 3 members of our Big Three, so he isn't going to have a ton of plays run for him. Nor should he. He's not as good as they are. So what he's going to be asked to do is what even Ray Allen gets asked to do a lot, spread the floor by planting yourself on the weakside behind the three point line.
My question is, can he do it? And that's a question on multiple levels. Not only am I asking can he consistently knock down the three, I'm also asking can he mentally accept that he's not going to have his number called very often and that a good chunk of his offense might have to come from shooting open jumpers rather than breaking his man down? I think Ray Allen struggled with that to some degree this year (he got asked to do this more than Garnett and Pierce), and Allen's a better player, a much better shooter, had more at stake given his age, and wasn't asked to take a pay cut or come off the bench.
With Posey, we know he can accept coming off the bench, we know he can hit the weakside open three, and we know he fits in well with the defense. Is Maggette the better 1-on-1 player? Sure. I'd take him if I was starting an expansion team. But I don't think he fits in here that well.
Look at the Lakers. They had just as many weapons as the Celtics on the offensive end, if not more. But the reason that the C's were able to shut them down was because Odom and Gasol can't shoot well. Thus, they were able to pack the lane and keep Kobe on the perimeter. Give Odom and Gasol even Garnett's range, and the C's can't do that, and Kobe is destroying them off the dribble.
Also look how Rondo's lack of range could hurt the team. Sure, sometimes he overcame that by hitting outside shots or being so great in creating offense that he made up for it, but you could clearly see how House and Cassell could open things up to penetrate by expanding the floor for everyone else. I worry about a backcourt of Rondo and Maggette that a defense doesn't have to stay home on.
Granted, Maggette isn't the end of the world. He might prove me wrong. But I think some people are treating this like a video game or a fantasy game. This isn't just about stats. This is about how everyone's game melds together.
Topic: Maggette says he could be willing to take pay cut to come to Boston (Read 84724 times)