O'Bryant hate

[guava_wrench]

The O'Bryant hate we see from many posters reminds me of the House hate before last season. Why not relax and wait to see how it plays out.

I still maintain that it is hard to evaluate a center based on how Don Nelson played him. Ainge is picturing him in a different system.

People tried to anticipate House's influence based on his shortcomings, but missed Ainge's point - House's strengths complimented Rondo's weaknesses. It was a great move in the context of the Celtics. We will have to wait to evaluate O'Bryant based on the particular goals Danny has for him.

[Edgar]

Agree guava
just to add a little

if dallas will roll the dice on Gerald
I rather roll the dice on a 7.0 footer who plays a little D

[wdleehi]

Yeah, roll the dice. 



But have someone on the team that can be the 2nd center in case he craps out. 

[Soy Reek]

The O'Bryant hate we see from many posters reminds me of the House hate before last season. Why not relax and wait to see how it plays out.

I still maintain that it is hard to evaluate a center based on how Don Nelson played him. Ainge is picturing him in a different system.

People tried to anticipate House's influence based on his shortcomings, but missed Ainge's point - House's strengths complimented Rondo's weaknesses. It was a great move in the context of the Celtics. We will have to wait to evaluate O'Bryant based on the particular goals Danny has for him.

Great point guava wrench.  Nellie's fun-and-gun style, doesn't play to a post players' strengths.  Think about it: 7 feet tall, only 22 years old, small salary, and Clifford Ray.  Give the boy a chance!

[Thruthelookingglass]

Agree guava
just to add a little

if dallas will roll the dice on Gerald
I rather roll the dice on a 7.0 footer who plays a little D

Amen Edgar.  And I don't think we ever get the true measure of an NBA center until he's reached at least his mid-20s--or about 380lbs in some cases.

Besides, we have no choice.  His name is Patrick O'Bryant.  He HAS to be on the Celtics at some point in his career.

[zerophase]

i'm fine with the o'bryant signing. i think he has potential to be a good backup.

[Jon]

The O'Bryant hate we see from many posters reminds me of the House hate before last season. Why not relax and wait to see how it plays out.

I still maintain that it is hard to evaluate a center based on how Don Nelson played him. Ainge is picturing him in a different system.

People tried to anticipate House's influence based on his shortcomings, but missed Ainge's point - House's strengths complimented Rondo's weaknesses. It was a great move in the context of the Celtics. We will have to wait to evaluate O'Bryant based on the particular goals Danny has for him.

A lot of the fear about Eddie House was partially tied into fears about Rondo's youth.  So I'm not sure the comparison really stood up.  People would have been less worried about House if they knew Rondo was going to be as cool and confident as he was much of the postseason.  I still don't love Eddie House as a point guard; however, now that I know Rondo can guide a team to a title, it doesn't matter as much.  House will rarely, if ever, be playing at the end of a meaningful game. 

Also, House actually had a reputation of success coming to the Celtics.  He had played significant minutes with many teams and had averaged as much as 10 ppg before. 

O'Bryant on the other hand is a radically different story.  I don't think anyone would care if P.J. was still around; however, if the playoffs started today, he'd really be the only legitimate starting center the team has other than Perk.  That's not an encouraging thing.  Danny Ainge noted the other day that if the playoffs started today he wouldn't be happy with the backup center spot (meaning O'Bryant).  Remember, O'Bryant's done NOTHING of merit in his NBA career and the Warriors didn't even pick up his player option for his third year, which is EXTREMELY rare and [dang]ing. 

Still, I agree he MIGHT be good.  He obviously had some sort of talent to get him picked where he was in the draft and he probably didn't have the easiest time playing under the perimeter-obsessed Nellie.  I'd be more happy, though, if he was in the same situation as Walker and Giddens where it'd be great if any of them pan out, but the team really isn't counting on it this season. 

[ram]

I keep looking at the 9 blocks in 99 minutes last season and his per 36 minute averages of 12.7/10.5/1.5 and 3.3 blocks, 1.5 steals (and, of course, 9.8 fouls). How would Perk have done with GS?

Extremely limited minutes but still very encouraging. Playing with better players in a different system and working with Clifford Ray and TT the Guru of D and getting regular minutes will do wonders for his career.

This is top 10, first round talent that has not been tapped.

I am extremely optimistic about this acquisition.

[Jon]

I keep looking at the 9 blocks in 99 minutes last season and his per 36 minute averages of 12.7/10.5/1.5 and 3.3 blocks, 1.5 steals (and, of course, 9.8 fouls). How would Perk have done with GS?

Extremely limited minutes but still very encouraging. Playing with better players in a different system and working with Clifford Ray and TT the Guru of D and getting regular minutes will do wonders for his career.

This is top 10, first round talent that has not been tapped.

I am extremely optimistic about this acquisition.

I, too, am cautiously optimistic.  However, keep in mind that being a lottery pick doesn't mean you're going to be great.  Just ask the Clippers about the Kandi Man.  Or if you want to look at Celtic big man lottery busts, how about Jerome Moiso, who was picked roughly around the spot in the draft that O'Bryant was. 

[Fan from VT]

I keep looking at the 9 blocks in 99 minutes last season and his per 36 minute averages of 12.7/10.5/1.5 and 3.3 blocks, 1.5 steals (and, of course, 9.8 fouls). How would Perk have done with GS?

Extremely limited minutes but still very encouraging. Playing with better players in a different system and working with Clifford Ray and TT the Guru of D and getting regular minutes will do wonders for his career.

This is top 10, first round talent that has not been tapped.

I am extremely optimistic about this acquisition.

I, too, am cautiously optimistic.  However, keep in mind that being a lottery pick doesn't mean you're going to be great.  Just ask the Clippers about the Kandi Man.  Or if you want to look at Celtic big man lottery busts, how about Jerome Moiso, who was picked roughly around the spot in the draft that O'Bryant was. 

That's true, but he's not our lottery pick, which makes a big difference. everyone hates on kandi and kwame because of where they were drafted by their original teams, but if we had picked either up in their third season, i would have taken their 9 and 6 off the bench for cheap money happily

[ScoobyDoo]

I agree. O'Bryant is coming from a program in Golden State that was guard oriented Nellie ball with no good traditional big men on it and a coach who doesn't really incorporate big men in his game plan to a team with four big men pit bulls on it ( Perkins, Garnett, Powe and Big Baby), a great big man coach and a power team in the paint.

O'Bryant needs conditioning, strength training, coaching and playing time. I think he could really break out here. Remember he came out as a junior and wnet to a program that gave him little attention.

I'll say this, being thrown in with Perk, KG, Powe and Big Baby will either make or break this kid.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find another group of four big men in the NBA on one team who are as tough both mentally and physically as that group.

I'm very interested to see how all of this affects O'Bryant.

I think he might turn into a very capable back up.

This does not, however, negate the fact that we need another big man as well.

But Danny also wasn't comfortable with just Perkins adn Pollard last season either as far as the playoffs were concerned. So I wouldn't interpret him saying he wouldn't be comfortable with the center position if the playoffs started today as a knock on O'Bryant.

I think any GM worth a crap should be uncomfortable going into the playoff battles with only two centers.    

[kozlodoev]

A lot of the fear about Eddie House was partially tied into fears about Rondo's youth.  So I'm not sure the comparison really stood up.

And a lot of the fear about O'Bryant is partially tied into fears about Perk's shoulder. Same thing.

[Mr October]

i'm fine with the o'bryant signing. i think he has potential to be a good backup.

Agreed. And the Celtics are paying him peanuts (on the NBA scale). His contract his easily moveable if he doesn't work out. A young raw 7 footer with some skills don't come through that door everyday.

[ChampKind]

This is top 10, first round talent that has not been tapped.

Even though he was drafted in the top 10, he's not a top 10 talent.  He was a reach when the Warriors drafted him after a season where he averaged 13 ppg, 8 rpg at Bradley.  A couple of good NCAA games boosted his stock to a level that I don't think he'll ever live up to. 

I don't mind taking a flier on the kid, and the price is right, but I really don't think he'll contribute much in the NBA.

[TripleOT]

I wonder if anyone who posts on here has actually seen this guy play as a professional? It would be amazing if anyone had, since the guy played very few minutes. 

Most of the posts about this guy are useless speculation, since there's not a lot of visual or even statistical evidence to evaluate him upon.  I look at his signing as this:  If Cliff Ray can't turn him into a player, with the guy going against Perk and KG in practice, and him playing games in a very demanding defensive system that holds everyone accountable every play, no one can. 

I'm pretty sure another Temp Big will be available at the trade deadline, and the Cs will grab him if necessary. 

Of course, I probably should have just smugly compared the guy to Mark Blount.  O'Blount or something like that.  If this guy plays like Mark Blount next year, the Cs would have found themselves a bargain backup bg.