2010 CelticsBlog Draft: Atlantic Division Press Conferences

[Who]

Nick Collison is a good defender but nothing special. A slightly below average man-to-man defender and a good-to-very good team defender. 

His plus/minus numbers are skewered from playing behind two poor defensive big men in Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic + alongside a good defensive big in Serge Ibaka + playing mostly against opposing team's second units.

Those +/- numbers won't hold up over time.

[indeedproceed]

who, would you say collison's 'good to great' team defense should absolutely keep him confined to the bench to anchor lineups where the majority of the starters are out?

[Who]

who, would you say collison's 'good to great' team defense should absolutely keep him confined to the bench to anchor lineups where the majority of the starters are out?

I'm having a lot of trouble with that roster ... hard to see which lineups give them their best team.

But yeah, leaning towards keeping N.Collison as the main backup big man. Either way, he definitely has to be on the floor while Nene is resting. So Collison will be getting 15 minutes a game there anyway ... in that second unit.

I would be playing Collison 30-32 minutes a night regardless of whether he is a substitute or starter. He is far and away the team's second best big man.

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Side note: Reggie Williams = SG = ignore Don Nelson's loony lineups. He is not a SF.

He is a liability as a small forward ... he costs you more defensively + on the backboards than he creates for you offensively with his shooting/scoring.

He is useful player when he is used as a shooting guard.

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Warrick and Nene is a bad combination. They are going to get out-rebounded by about 3 boards per 36 minutes. Neither of the point guards rebound well. The backup wings don't rebound which will negate the strength of the starting wings on the glass.

This team will have a real tough time competing on the backboards. They're going to get beaten up a lot in the paint.

Also, Nene's defensive effort has been dropping off consistently over the past 12 months. He has a lot of ability on that end of the floor but I worry about his focus / effort. Playing him alongside a poor defender like Warrick is going to create problems.

I think Warrick is a weak rotation player. The team lacks other options with their big men though.

---------------------------------

Both point guards are very similar.

One dimensional, scorers / shooters. Jump shooters. Both are defensive liabilities. Neither rebounds the ball well. Both are limited passers. Both players have problems over-dribbling the ball and keeping their teammates involved. Both are undersized point guards. 

Not wild about that combination.

I like Mo Williams a great deal as a change of pace point guard ... but he is not really that on this team. He is too similar to the PG he is replacing in the lineup. Lessens the matchup problem that he can create as a backup guard.

Need to play N.Collison + Nene + Iggy / Delfino as your frontcourt when playing Mo Williams and Aaron Brooks alongside one another.

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I like the Iggy + Delfino combination a great deal.

Lots of quality defensively, very good on the glass, both can handle the ball and are capable passers. Versatile scoring threats. Delfino is a solid albeit streaky shooter. Iggy is an excellent slasher.

Those two are going to cause opponents a lot of problems.

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Toney Douglas is an excellent third string PG too.

I wouldn't be using him as a rotation player on top of Mo Williams + Aaron Brooks though. Creates more problems than it solves.

[riah32]

I guess aside from me and Who no one really likes the Celtics team that I put together. I think this team isnt getting the credit it deserves. Everyone keeps mentioing Jason Kapono. I said he would play an offensive role if need. I think everyone is forgettig about Devin Ebanks on my bench as well as Jordan Crawford who may prove to be a superstar and possibly starting by the end of the season for me and into the playoffs. After all he did dunk on lebron. All reports on Bogut are that he should be ready by season opener which is more than what Toronto who has a thin frontcourt without Perkins can say.

I also think JR Smith Rush and Or Outlaw and a few of my backup bigs could be nice trade pieces to aquire at the trade deadline for that missing piece. I think that should be factored into your rankings as well. I also think JR Smith can play a little SF for me as well. I think my team has a lot of versitiliy and belive Pat Riley will be a good influence on all of the team. 

[Edgar]

I guess aside from me and Who no one really likes the Celtics team that I put together. I think this team isnt getting the credit it deserves. Everyone keeps mentioing Jason Kapono. I said he would play an offensive role if need. I think everyone is forgettig about Devin Ebanks on my bench as well as Jordan Crawford who may prove to be a superstar and possibly starting by the end of the season for me and into the playoffs. After all he did dunk on lebron. All reports on Bogut are that he should be ready by season opener which is more than what Toronto who has a thin frontcourt without Perkins can say.

I also think JR Smith Rush and Or Outlaw and a few of my backup bigs could be nice trade pieces to aquire at the trade deadline for that missing piece. I think that should be factored into your rankings as well. I also think JR Smith can play a little SF for me as well. I think my team has a lot of versitiliy and belive Pat Riley will be a good influence on all of the team. 

lol

why attacking us          emphasis in * i am kidding

I was just about to say i like your team just because of rondo
and riley
oh well

[The Walker Wiggle]

Side note: Reggie Williams = SG = ignore Don Nelson's loony lineups. He is not a SF.

He is a liability as a small forward ... he costs you more defensively + on the backboards than he creates for you offensively with his shooting/scoring.

He is useful player when he is used as a shooting guard.

Well the popular sentiment seems to be that the 2/3 are largely interchangeable. (See for example discussion on Rudy Gay.) Not that I agree.

But myself, I prefer Williams at the 3, where he seemed to fair better defensively on the Warriors. Yes, he out-rebounded opposing 2s but was also badly out-scored. Although without much help defensively. But I suspect his lateral quickness at SG is more of a liability than his height at SF.

He was also the starting 3 for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, in an MVP worthy campaign. And played the 3 at VMI while leading the nation in scoring two years running.

I like the Iggy + Delfino combination a great deal.

Lots of quality defensively, very good on the glass, both can handle the ball and are capable passers. Versatile scoring threats. Delfino is a solid albeit streaky shooter. Iggy is an excellent slasher.

Those two are going to cause opponents a lot of problems.

Co-sign. I like the Nyets starting wing tandem a great deal. And like either player alongside Williams.

[indeedproceed]

riah, regarding your team:

I think that you have a case that your team is being under valued.

obviously you built around rondo and bogut. id look at comparing your team to last season's bucks, who were capable of beating any team on any given night while bogut was healthy.

there is some fear from the bucks camp now because no one knows for sure when bogut will be back.

that aside, rondo's better than jennings, so that's a good place to start.

I don't think anyone is buying your chemistry or 2 guards with problematic crawford being the only one who will be active starting opening night, as jr smith has proven to be a class a knucklehead, and brandon rush isn't doing himself any favours using the gange during the season enough to get caught 3 times (that's bad).

rondo's a silent leader, and if you search 'bogut high five' on youtube, you'll see bogut is a better player than a leader also.

to me it looks like you have a rudderless ship. a talented, potentially very good ship, but rudderless all the same.

[StartOrien]

Ya, the wings just don't do it for me.

[Edgar]

From this day on
The trophy for MVP, GM and Team of the year goes to

p.s.
Nobody fears howard in this team

[Rondo2287]

Hey Edgar, just an FYI, You spelled Jameer Nelson's name wrong in your sig. 

[StartOrien]

Nobody fears howard in this team

How about now?

[Roy H.]

Hey Edgar, just an FYI, You spelled Jameer Nelson's name wrong in your sig. 

Nah, I think Edgar is having him legally change his name to "Jammer".  It sounds cooler. 

[riah32]

riah, regarding your team:

I think that you have a case that your team is being under valued.

obviously you built around rondo and bogut. id look at comparing your team to last season's bucks, who were capable of beating any team on any given night while bogut was healthy.

there is some fear from the bucks camp now because no one knows for sure when bogut will be back.

that aside, rondo's better than jennings, so that's a good place to start.

I don't think anyone is buying your chemistry or 2 guards with problematic crawford being the only one who will be active starting opening night, as jr smith has proven to be a class a knucklehead, and brandon rush isn't doing himself any favours using the gange during the season enough to get caught 3 times (that's bad).

rondo's a silent leader, and if you search 'bogut high five' on youtube, you'll see bogut is a better player than a leader also.

to me it looks like you have a rudderless ship. a talented, potentially very good ship, but rudderless all the same.

How is Crawford the only one going to be the only one active on opening night? Where did it say anything about JR Smith being out??

As for bogut if you read the article I put in my response to Roy there saying he should be fine by seasons opener or shortly after.  

[StartOrien]

riah, regarding your team:

I think that you have a case that your team is being under valued.

obviously you built around rondo and bogut. id look at comparing your team to last season's bucks, who were capable of beating any team on any given night while bogut was healthy.

there is some fear from the bucks camp now because no one knows for sure when bogut will be back.

that aside, rondo's better than jennings, so that's a good place to start.

I don't think anyone is buying your chemistry or 2 guards with problematic crawford being the only one who will be active starting opening night, as jr smith has proven to be a class a knucklehead, and brandon rush isn't doing himself any favours using the gange during the season enough to get caught 3 times (that's bad).

rondo's a silent leader, and if you search 'bogut high five' on youtube, you'll see bogut is a better player than a leader also.

to me it looks like you have a rudderless ship. a talented, potentially very good ship, but rudderless all the same.

How is Crawford the only one going to be the only one active on opening night? Where did it say anything about JR Smith being out??

As for bogut if you read the article I put in my response to Roy there saying he should be fine by seasons opener or shortly after.  

I think Bogut will be back, but I never like to hear results like "He'll be back by ____ or shortly after." Probably something developed by the year of KG's injury.

[indeedproceed]

riah, regarding your team:

I think that you have a case that your team is being under valued.

obviously you built around rondo and bogut. id look at comparing your team to last season's bucks, who were capable of beating any team on any given night while bogut was healthy.

there is some fear from the bucks camp now because no one knows for sure when bogut will be back.

that aside, rondo's better than jennings, so that's a good place to start.

I don't think anyone is buying your chemistry or 2 guards with problematic crawford being the only one who will be active starting opening night, as jr smith has proven to be a class a knucklehead, and brandon rush isn't doing himself any favours using the gange during the season enough to get caught 3 times (that's bad).

rondo's a silent leader, and if you search 'bogut high five' on youtube, you'll see bogut is a better player than a leader also.

to me it looks like you have a rudderless ship. a talented, potentially very good ship, but rudderless all the same.

How is Crawford the only one going to be the only one active on opening night? Where did it say anything about JR Smith being out??

As for bogut if you read the article I put in my response to Roy there saying he should be fine by seasons opener or shortly after. 

I can't see your link in your presser, but have you seen this?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wO9ao44Xuc

Guy I don't know: Could it be on track for the start of the season, or how's it looking?

Bogut: I still don't know yet. I'd like to say yes, but like I said with the elbow, I could wake up tomorrow and have two or three degrees (mobility) in it, and I could wake up in a month's time and it will be the same, so..Its frustrating to do rehab every day and not see immediate results, but that's just the injury that I have.

Then, this:

"My goal is making it to training camp. I'm still working out now. I'm in shape," Bogut said. "I'm just trying to get the last couple degrees in my elbow (to straighten it). It's getting better every day, but sometimes, no matter how much you rehab it, it goes on its own."

The hand is fine. "I can dribble. I can handle the ball," he said.

Taking shots beyond layups, however, is problematic. "I used to be able to take 600 shots (in practice). Now the elbow gets agitated," said Bogut, who estimates he can shoot between 50 and 100. "I have to be careful I don't overdo things."

I think whether he plays during the first part of the season is very much in question.

As far as JR Smith goes...you do know he choked a teammate and police were involved, right?

He's gonna get suspended.