2008 CelticsBlog draft board.

[Gainesville Celtic]

I still think Gainsville brought up a point that people are ignoring.  The knicks are being hugely overrated in this league because they have three celtics on their team.  He has time and again brought up stats based on KG not succeeding when he is the prime offensive target and it is ignored.  Well i agree with him and really think they are an average to below average team. 

Then why did he make it the West Finals when there were so many injuries on that team.


But look at his teammates

Lewis, 18 pts a game.  40% from the outside  playoff team
Miller, 17pts, 7 assists.   Playoff team
Azubuike (as a starter) 13 pts.  Shot 36% from outside.  Was GS's best perimeter defender last year.  Going into his third year.
Dampier. (as a starter)  6.5pts, 7.8 rebounds. 


And the bench.

We know what Posey and House brings.

Add Berry and his playoff play.

A nice mix of experience and youth at the big positions, (Lopez, Humphries and Skinner)


2nd only to the Magic in the East (with the Nets right there with those two)

 

Simply by having KG, the Knicks are in the Mix IMO, but compare them to this years Celtics team:

KG, Posey, House = KG, Posey, House

Pierce & Ray Allen >> Lewis + Miller  --- my beef with Lewis is similar to my beef with Ben Gordon... he's a scorer but at 6-10 he should be getting more than 5 rebounds.  And he's got 20% the heart Pierce does.  If folks thought before this year Pierce was a better 1A guy.... Lewis is a better 2A guy.  Miller is a totally underated PG, but not the best defender and nowhere near the leader/scorer Ray Allen is.

Rondo + Perk >> Azubuike + Dampier --- Azubuike is a healthier Tony Allen, Dampier is Perk minus the toughness.

Barry is done... He can stand outside and hit shots, but w/o offensive options past Lewis, why would a team leave him open?

I like the young bigs, agreed, but my point was that what made this year's Celtics (and to some degree this year's KG) so special was that we matched KG's defensive prowess with and explosive Pierce/Allen combo, with Rondo & Perk doing the dirty work.

The (fake) Knicks only have 60-70% of that offensive abilty and their dirty work guys are maybe 60% of Rondo/Perk.


Like i said, NY is in the discussion b/c of KG and the overall talent, but i'm not a huge fan of the mix of talent.  Swap Lewis for a guy like Carmelo or Caron Butler or even Jason Richardson and i think the Knicks are a better.

[indeedproceed]

I don't see how the Pacers are getting hated on still.

The interior defense is very, very strong with Sheed playing the primary block scorer which clears up for Dalembert to be an amazing team shot blocker. We have a strong young point guard who was taken #1 this year and Monta Ellis (I won't revisit, but I feel strongly about his talents).

One reason I think your squad is a little flawed is that there isn't a legit starting 3 on the team.

On top of that, Ellis or Rose, whoever is guarding the 2, is gonna give a big advantage in height more nights. If you wanna play Rush in there to bulk up, you then have Derrick Rose being the only guy in the floor that can create his own shot. You need depth at the 1 and competency at the 3. A replacement for sheed when he checks out of elite player status in a year or two would help also.

[Scribbles]

Jazz select Cedric Simmons 

[Evantime34]

The West was a little tougher in the middle so I have 5 tiers for the west where tiers 2 and 3 could be combined, but anyways I feel like everything isn't 100% updated (I know the clipps aren't).  Anyways if the season started today this is how I rank the Talent

Tier 1: Blazers, Mavs, Rockets
Tier 2: Twolves, Warriors
Tier 3: Clippers, Nuggets
Tier 4: Jazz, Lakers, Suns, Grizzlies
Tier 5: Spurs, Thunder, Kings, Hornets

Really seems like that 8th spot would be up for grabs.

i'm happy being in contention for an 8th spot considering this team is built for the future as opposed to right now.

First of all even if I'm in the second tier I'm still the best in my division, which makes me the 3rd seed.
Second of all I think I'm in the upper tier anyway with two top 15 players.
Third of all I've just accepted a trade that will bring us the player that should bring us to an upper esachelon team.

[bucknersrevenge]

The West was a little tougher in the middle so I have 5 tiers for the west where tiers 2 and 3 could be combined, but anyways I feel like everything isn't 100% updated (I know the clipps aren't).  Anyways if the season started today this is how I rank the Talent

Tier 1: Blazers, Mavs, Rockets
Tier 2: Twolves, Warriors
Tier 3: Clippers, Nuggets
Tier 4: Jazz, Lakers, Suns, Grizzlies
Tier 5: Spurs, Thunder, Kings, Hornets

Really seems like that 8th spot would be up for grabs.

i'm happy being in contention for an 8th spot considering this team is built for the future as opposed to right now.

My sentiments exactly in the East.

[StartOrien]

I don't see how the Pacers are getting hated on still.

The interior defense is very, very strong with Sheed playing the primary block scorer which clears up for Dalembert to be an amazing team shot blocker. We have a strong young point guard who was taken #1 this year and Monta Ellis (I won't revisit, but I feel strongly about his talents).

Any team starting a backcourt combo of Derrick Rose and Monta Ellis should CLEARLY be looking towards the future and all the rest of their top talent should reflect that direction. Wallace seems kinda counter to that direction.

As the person that acquired those three players I absolutely disagree. The Warriors didn't give Baron Davis an extension because they thing Ellis is ready to lead/star. The Bulls drafted Rose to start at Point Guard for day one for a long time. This team is built for the future and for the immediate. Sheed is the perfect compliment to the lanky and sometimes offensively challenged Dalembert.

[wdleehi]

I still think Gainsville brought up a point that people are ignoring.  The knicks are being hugely overrated in this league because they have three celtics on their team.  He has time and again brought up stats based on KG not succeeding when he is the prime offensive target and it is ignored.  Well i agree with him and really think they are an average to below average team. 

Then why did he make it the West Finals when there were so many injuries on that team.


But look at his teammates

Lewis, 18 pts a game.  40% from the outside  playoff team
Miller, 17pts, 7 assists.   Playoff team
Azubuike (as a starter) 13 pts.  Shot 36% from outside.  Was GS's best perimeter defender last year.  Going into his third year.
Dampier. (as a starter)  6.5pts, 7.8 rebounds. 


And the bench.

We know what Posey and House brings.

Add Berry and his playoff play.

A nice mix of experience and youth at the big positions, (Lopez, Humphries and Skinner)


2nd only to the Magic in the East (with the Nets right there with those two)

 

Simply by having KG, the Knicks are in the Mix IMO, but compare them to this years Celtics team:

KG, Posey, House = KG, Posey, House

Pierce & Ray Allen >> Lewis + Miller  --- my beef with Lewis is similar to my beef with Ben Gordon... he's a scorer but at 6-10 he should be getting more than 5 rebounds.  And he's got 20% the heart Pierce does.  If folks thought before this year Pierce was a better 1A guy.... Lewis is a better 2A guy.  Miller is a totally underated PG, but not the best defender and nowhere near the leader/scorer Ray Allen is.

Rondo + Perk >> Azubuike + Dampier --- Azubuike is a healthier Tony Allen, Dampier is Perk minus the toughness.

Barry is done... He can stand outside and hit shots, but w/o offensive options past Lewis, why would a team leave him open?

I like the young bigs, agreed, but my point was that what made this year's Celtics (and to some degree this year's KG) so special was that we matched KG's defensive prowess with and explosive Pierce/Allen combo, with Rondo & Perk doing the dirty work.

The (fake) Knicks only have 60-70% of that offensive abilty and their dirty work guys are maybe 60% of Rondo/Perk.


Like i said, NY is in the discussion b/c of KG and the overall talent, but i'm not a huge fan of the mix of talent.  Swap Lewis for a guy like Carmelo or Caron Butler or even Jason Richardson and i think the Knicks are a better.

None of these teams are as good as last years Celtics.  

Melo would not be a good option.  He plays no defense.

Butler would be an upgrade (but not a huge upgrade).  But he was drafted earlier.  



Lewis is better the Richardson.  


And with two large PGs, House can play SG on offense.  

[bucknersrevenge]

The Bucks select Dahntay Jones.

We love Tony as our starting 2-guard. But just in case there are any lingering issues regarding his knee we love Jones here as insurance. Jones is a kid we've had our eye on for a while. We love his live, athletic body. We love his ability to defend shooting guards. As we saw in the Vegas Summer League he has clearly worked on his ballhandling ability. He showed great improvement in his decision-making and his ability to penetrate and get to the line. He has continued to improve each year and shows great work ethic. We're excited to have him.

[Kwhit10]

The West was a little tougher in the middle so I have 5 tiers for the west where tiers 2 and 3 could be combined, but anyways I feel like everything isn't 100% updated (I know the clipps aren't).  Anyways if the season started today this is how I rank the Talent

Tier 1: Blazers, Mavs, Rockets
Tier 2: Twolves, Warriors
Tier 3: Clippers, Nuggets
Tier 4: Jazz, Lakers, Suns, Grizzlies
Tier 5: Spurs, Thunder, Kings, Hornets

Really seems like that 8th spot would be up for grabs.

i'm happy being in contention for an 8th spot considering this team is built for the future as opposed to right now.

First of all even if I'm in the second tier I'm still the best in my division, which makes me the 3rd seed.
Second of all I think I'm in the upper tier anyway with two top 15 players.
Third of all I've just accepted a trade that will bring us the player that should bring us to an upper esachelon team.

Yes you will win your division, but my tiers are only based on talent not seedings.  You may have 2 of the top 15 players but currently I don't think the rest of your roster stands out as much as the top tier.  I am interested to see what type of talent you brought in which could totally change things.  But the one thing that is almost certain is you'd win your division.

[RebusRankin]

The Wolves team with KG that made the WCF had injuries (Hudson, Wally and Kandi) but his two main teammates Cassell and Sprewell were both healthy. KG was great that year but had two others who could step up and make big shots. I agree that its a valid point that others are raising. KG is great but he needs another scorer to go with him. The Knicks team he is on doesn't have it. Lewis/Miller isn't Pierce/Allen or Cassell/Sprewell. Its closer to Wally/Brandon or Wally/Hudson.

That year Cassell averaged 19.8.  Spree, 16.8.


The C, Olowokandi.


Lewis averaged before this year, 20, 20, and 22

Scoring will not be a problem for that team.    

Stats don't tell the whole story. Cassell was the go to guy in the 4th and Sprewell also had several big games. The center was Ervin Johnson. Kandi was hurt the bulk of the year.
Lewis isn't a go to scorer as Cassell and Sprewell were.

[GaBerkowitz]

Hornets select DeVon Hardin

[Gainesville Celtic]

FWIW --- Hardin, who i REALLY wanted the C's to draft, signed with an overseas team a week or so ago...

[BigAlTheFuture]

West.

Tier 1: Blazers, Warriors, Rockets
Tier 2: Mavericks, Twolves
Tier 3: Clippers, Spurs, Suns, Lakers
Tier 4: Nuggets, Jazz, Grizzlies
Tier 5: Hornets, Thunder, Kings

[RebusRankin]

Spurs should be 4th or 5th tier.

[GaBerkowitz]

are overseas guys eligible to suit up on our teams....while it has been debated I still dont think i've gotten a firm answer on that one.  cause if yes...great...the whole game is premised around contracts having no bearing.  what that being the case why should overseas contracts make any difference on the players status.  If overseas players cant play then why did the Heat aka the Mod Squad take Josh Childress...that seems illogical to me.  Either way clearer guidelines need to be set for the future of this game