Celtics sign O'bryant

[Chris]

call me crazy, but I predict that in these two years, O'bryant will contribute to the celtics at least as much as Bynum will contribute to the Lakers. He will be a defense force after our assistant coaches get working on him.

I am an optimist at all, but this is a bit over the top.  Do you think Bynum is going to not come back from the injury or something?  Or do you think O'Bryant is all of a sudden going to be an All-Star?  I think you might have missed just how good Bynum was last year before his injury.

I think Bynum is way overhyped. He is far from being an all-star. Maybe one day he will be, but he is far off of being one right now, and coming back from his injury will also take time. If he was on the clippers rather than the lakers, he would not be getting so much attention. If O'Bryant had the playing time that Bynum had, I think he could easily put up similar averages.

He averaged 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks last year.  I understand the idea of him being overrated a bit...but those are impressive numbers.  If O'Bryant could average even a 3rd of those numbers, he would be a success.

[goCeltics]

if nelie ran a normal system, i'll be much more down on the guy, but nelie runs that small ball system that not really good for developing seven footers.

[hpantazo]

if nelie ran a normal system, i'll be much more down on the guy, but nelie runs that small ball system that not really good for developing seven footers.

\

that's why I think he will be a force with some good coaching. He has the physical abilities to be a defensive force as a big man, he just never got a chance to do so in GS

[Roy Hobbs]

call me crazy, but I predict that in these two years, O'bryant will contribute to the celtics at least as much as Bynum will contribute to the Lakers. He will be a defense force after our assistant coaches get working on him.

I am an optimist at all, but this is a bit over the top.  Do you think Bynum is going to not come back from the injury or something?  Or do you think O'Bryant is all of a sudden going to be an All-Star?  I think you might have missed just how good Bynum was last year before his injury.

I think Bynum is way overhyped. He is far from being an all-star. Maybe one day he will be, but he is far off of being one right now, and coming back from his injury will also take time. If he was on the clippers rather than the lakers, he would not be getting so much attention. If O'Bryant had the playing time that Bynum had, I think he could easily put up similar averages.

He averaged 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks last year.  I understand the idea of him being overrated a bit...but those are impressive numbers.  If O'Bryant could average even a 3rd of those numbers, he would be a success.

4.3 pts / 3.3 rbs / 1.3 blks.  At least you're setting the bar realistically, Chris.  I'm just not sure that production is worth $1.5m per season.

[Chris]

call me crazy, but I predict that in these two years, O'bryant will contribute to the celtics at least as much as Bynum will contribute to the Lakers. He will be a defense force after our assistant coaches get working on him.

I am an optimist at all, but this is a bit over the top.  Do you think Bynum is going to not come back from the injury or something?  Or do you think O'Bryant is all of a sudden going to be an All-Star?  I think you might have missed just how good Bynum was last year before his injury.

I think Bynum is way overhyped. He is far from being an all-star. Maybe one day he will be, but he is far off of being one right now, and coming back from his injury will also take time. If he was on the clippers rather than the lakers, he would not be getting so much attention. If O'Bryant had the playing time that Bynum had, I think he could easily put up similar averages.

He averaged 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks last year.  I understand the idea of him being overrated a bit...but those are impressive numbers.  If O'Bryant could average even a 3rd of those numbers, he would be a success.

4.3 pts / 3.3 rbs / 1.3 blks.  At least you're setting the bar realistically, Chris.  I'm just not sure that production is worth $1.5m per season.

I am still waiting for that to be confirmed.  I am sure Spears did his research, but it still was just an "NBA Source".

Regardless though, if those stats come with good team defense, then those are absolutely worth $1.5 million.

[Roy Hobbs]

You're asking O'Blount to play good team defense now, as well?  That's a bridge too far.

Seriously, watch him play:  he's stiff, and he doesn't move his feet.  Dwayne Jones stiff, only worse.  Hopefully Clifford Ray can get through to him, but I'm not expecting a miracle.

[Chris]

You're asking O'Blount to play good team defense now, as well?  That's a bridge too far.

Seriously, watch him play:  he's stiff, and he doesn't move his feet.  Dwayne Jones stiff, only worse.  Hopefully Clifford Ray can get through to him, but I'm not expecting a miracle.

Fine, then we pick up someone else better, when they are available.  At the moment, the only guys who are better and affordable I still don't want on the floor for this team any more than O'Bryant (Elson, Harrison, Birdman, are all 3rd string guys, just like O'Bryant IMO).

[Surferdad]

if nelie ran a normal system, i'll be much more down on the guy, but nelie runs that small ball system that not really good for developing seven footers.

\

that's why I think he will be a force with some good coaching. He has the physical abilities to be a defensive force as a big man, he just never got a chance to do so in GS

I've read so much about how POB didn't fit in GS.  Really makes you wonder why GS drafted POB to begin with.   

As far as other FAs, certainly Elson, but also Harrison and Birdman are better players than POB right now.  However, I think this is the wrong comparison.  POB is really more like a draft pick.  He has to be at least as good, maybe better, than any big men that were available at #30 (Somebody prove me wrong.) 

POB is a replacement for Pollard but without the injuries.  As far as a vet big man for the playoffs, this team managed without PJ for 3 months and they can do it again.  Elson could possibly fill that PJ role but I would rather have PJ or possibly Zo.  Harrison or Birdman are not the answer.

[Green Mountain]

I'm curious. Wasn't it Nelson who called Tony Battie El busto?

[Roy Hobbs]

I'm curious. Wasn't it Nelson who called Tony Battie El busto?

That was Dan Issel.

[Green Mountain]

I'm curious. Wasn't it Nelson who called Tony Battie El busto?

That was Dan Issel.

Thanks. I didn't think it was Nelson but I couldn't remember the coaches name in Denver.

[billysan]

I cant think of a 'true center' prospect out there that would fit in the Nellie small ball running system.

[Emmette Bryant]

Wasn't it Nellie who had Manute Bol launching 3 pointers?

That never struck me as being a very good idea.

[footey]

Kedrick Perkins was stiff and moved slow when he first came into the league. Fact is, he still is a pretty awkward guy. But he contributes, knows his limitations. I choose to give POB the chance to contribute too. I expect KG to take him under his wing, and show him how to play.

 Maybe its my 2003-2007 Celtic perspective kicking in. You know, the same thing I said about GG, and Orien, and even Dickau and Jones.

This thread will be fun to review a year or two from now. Some of us will look smart, and others dumb. 

But we all love the Celtics!

17 baby!!

[bucknersrevenge]

We should have used the money to resign House.

This is just a thought and I am not saying it is true, but has anyone ever thought that maybe the reason we aren't seeing much ink on House is because the Celtics have determined they do not want him back?

And if that's true, I guess if they did use the LLE on O'Bryant it wouldn't have any effect on House since it has been determined they are going in a different direction.

Perhaps, and again I am only suggesting it I am not saying it is true, that Eddie's trouble being a true point, extended slump at the end of the year and then opening his mouth during the playoffs regarding playing time has left a bad taste in management's mouth about bringing him back. Doc's reluctance to go away from Cassell would make some sense if those feelings do exist within the organization.

I still have a hard time believing Spears' numbers and will wait for official league or team disclosure of the contract details before I believe that the World Champions would need to over pay to lure a 22 year old, unproven, raw center to play here. I still say it's a minimum contract team option for the second. O'Bryant hasn't earned the right to a bigger contract offer from a team that just won it all when considering the resume he presents.

not to nitpick about an issue off topic but i think youre getting same and eddie confused. eddie never said one word during the playoffs about not playing. in fact when he did speak it was to make his famous "stay ready so that when you're called on you wont have to GET ready" comment.

it was sam cassell who actually whined about not getting enough playing time to the media stating "i dont know why they brought me here if not to play". and then sam played the last few games of the season. and if you check eddies logs he definitely was not in any extended slump whatsoever. in the last game of the season he scored 10pts on 4-9 shooting 2-4 from the arc and a couple of rebounds. the 3 previous games he didnt play at all because doc wanted to give same time to get into the system. the game before the 3 he didnt play he had 9 on 3 3's. a couple of games before that he had 16 and 4 rebs. he was right in line with his normal numbers.

eddie was in no slump. he had his job yanked from him by doc really without giving him a reasonable chance to see if he could handle the job.  there certainly was no reason for him to get absolutely no time at all in the atlanta series.  and when he was finally called upon again in the finals he not surprisingly performed well again. if anything eddie should be the one upset not doc.