2010 CelticsBlog Draft: Atlantic Division Press Conferences

[indeedproceed]

from what the bucks are actually saying, they expect him back, and he's expecting to come back. where have you read that redd isnt expected to come back, besides the initial (possibly over) reaction after his re-injury?

[Roy H.]

from what the bucks are actually saying, they expect him back, and he's expecting to come back. where have you read that redd isnt expected to come back, besides the initial (possibly over) reaction after his re-injury?

I can't remember where I saw it; I just know when I was researching Redd to see whether he'd be worth a pickup, sources were saying that the Bucks weren't expecting a contribution other than as a trade chip.

Based upon him suffering or recovering from a major knee injury in 80% of the past five seasons (counting next year), I can see why they wouldn't get their hopes up.

[Who]

I agree. However, I think people are underselling how good David Lee is with the ball in his hands

I don't think I am. I think he's absolutely spectacular offensive player, and I actually really like this team. I only harp on the pont because I thought some were quick to just brush the defensive issues off. In a heavy pick and roll league. This team is going to have a to put up a lot of points.

True. The Allen-Pierce-Lee trifecta is going to need to get 55-60 points a night, with Nelson hopefully pouring in another 12-13 or so. I think that's possible though.

That only gives them at best 73 points if they get 60pts from the 3 and 13 from Nelson. There going to pry need anywhere from another 15-20 pts if not more to win...Where they going to get that from?

Pierce = 18-20pts
Lee = 16-17pts
Ray = 16-18pts
Jameer = 14ppg

That would give them 64-69 points from their main four guys.

Delonte would be playing about 16 minutes as the backup one and let's say another 12 minutes as a backup two so he could chime in with another 10 points. Perk, when healthy, gives them another 10ppg as a starting center. Joel Anthony gives them similar production as last season as reserve. Brad Miller would be playing 16-20mpg as a reserve and capable of another 7-8ppg. Then there's Pondexter who should be able to chime in with another 5ppg in 15 minutes.

That would give them a ball park of 96-102 points per night.

[indeedproceed]

well I think redd returning as an above average rotation player (think michael finely of 2-3 years ago), obviously losing a decent chunk of his athleticism, but still a viable rotation player, is pretty probable.

when I get to work tomorrow I will show you what I've read on him. if you look at stuff right after the injury, it was bad...but in the months since then it has been getting a lot better, more optimistic.

[Roy H.]

well I think redd returning as an above average rotation player (think michael finely of 2-3 years ago), obviously losing a decent chunk of his athleticism, but still a viable rotation player, is pretty probable.

when I get to work tomorrow I will show you what I've read on him. if you look at stuff right after the injury, it was bad...but in the months since then it has been getting a lot better, more optimistic.

I'm curious to read it, but I *definitely* would not call it probable that Redd will be an above-average rotation player.  Too much damage has been done, I think.  I think we're going to see a dropoff of Tmac proportions from him.

[indeedproceed]

out of curiosity, who would you consider an above average rotation player?

jason terry? kirk Hinrich before he was starting?

[Roy H.]

out of curiosity, who would you consider an above average rotation player?

jason terry? kirk Hinrich before he was starting?

Well, you're the one who used the phrase (), but yeah, those two would probably would be included in the "above average" category.  I don't think Redd will make anywhere near the contribution that either Terry or Hinrich does this season.

Again, I'd love to be wrong on this, because Redd is a guy I'm truly a fan of.

[indeedproceed]

no just wanted to see how others saw the phrase.

[The Walker Wiggle]

Well given the lack of GM input here, these rankings are even more tentative than usual. But at first blush the Atlantic may in fact be the league’s weakest division. And I can see voting only the division winner on to the postseason.  

(Additional presse conferences certainly wouldn’t hurt at this point. Better late than never.)

1. New York Knicks?

2. New Jersey Nets?

3. Toronto Raptors – Is the back door open for this proven veteran team? A well balanced attack from one of the league’s most efficient offenses. But Perkins leaves a gaping hole in the middle which Miller (23.8 mpg) and Anthony (17.0 mpg) – both more than capable back-ups – are going to struggle to fill. Sure David Lee knows the drill, expect him to regularly reprise his Knicks role and top last season’s career high 37 minutes a night; but a second power forward would’ve greatly improved the Raptors' chances. Same goes for  a third point guard. Who doesn’t love the reunited Nelson/West backcourt? But Nelson averages 65 games a season over his six year career, and West – who can already be penciled in to miss the fist 10 - only averages 61. Middle of the road defensively. Going to be difficult to rest either Pierce or Allen for the post season given the team’s short rotation.

4. Boston Celtics – The hometown heroes. Rondo’s turn comes earlier than expected. He’ll relish the spotlight and Riley’s Celtics (Sacrilege!) will only get as far as their All-Star can carry them. Early on, the team will sorely miss Andrew Bogut, who made huge strides in his fifth season. And with scant few nights off in the CNBA expect the young starting five to have trouble making up lost ground later. (Mohammed and Howard to the rescue?) Does highly efficient offense at three positions (PG, PF, and C) offset the Celtics' trio of wild woolly wings? Taking their cues from Rondo and Bogut, a brash, active first unit should be better than average defensively. But then a steep drop off to a thin, offense first (Smith, Humphries, Kapono) second unit. I love Carl Landry but pressure is on him to rebound the ball better than he ever has.


5. Philadelphia 76ers?

[Roy H.]

1. New Jersey Nets?

Really?  What do you like about New Jersey?  I see them as another team with mismatched talent, but I think their talent is generally pretty mediocre.  I have them near or at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.  

After two years of doing this, Wiggle, it's fair to say that you and I don't see eye to eye on a lot of team rankings.  I think that are ballots are going to be pretty much polar opposites of one another this year, which is the fun of the game.  It's pretty amazing that fairly astute, articulate basketball fans can have wildly divergent opinions about collections of players.

EDIT:  Ah, I see you moved New York up to #1.  That makes more sense to me.

[Who]

no just wanted to see how others saw the phrase.

I'd look at it one of two different ways

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

Most teams use a 9-10 man rotation so let's say about 270-300 players. So a top 150 player in the league ... or, in easier to manage terms, a top 30 player at his respective position.

In Michael Redd's case, an above average shooting guard = top 30 SG

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

Rotation player = role player = supporting cast member who plays regular minutes

So assuming an average club has a core of 3-4 players, lets say a league wide total of 100 players. So 300 rotation players minus 100 core guys ... Then there are another 200 regular role player rotation guys ... an above average rotation player would be a 100th to 200th league wide talent.

Or a 20th to 40th ranked player at his respective position. That type of ball park.

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

Whenever I say rotation player I am generally only talking about the supporting cast. About role players.

[The Walker Wiggle]

1. New Jersey Nets?

Really?  What do you like about New Jersey?  I see them as another team with mismatched talent, but I think their talent is generally pretty mediocre.  I have them near or at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.  

After two years of doing this, Wiggle, it's fair to say that you and I don't see eye to eye on a lot of team rankings.  I think that are ballots are going to be pretty much polar opposites of one another this year, which is the fun of the game.  It's pretty amazing that fairly astute, articulate basketball fans can have wildly divergent opinions about collections of players.

EDIT:  Ah, I see you moved New York up to #1.  That makes more sense to me.

It's too late. You already called me astute and articulate - even if only in a rare moment of poor judgment. I'll be dining out on that for weeks. But yes, we've had our differences of opinion. We do like many of the same players. Only when we disagree we seem to disagree wholeheartedly...

That said, owing to the lack of pressers I was having to piece together the Knicks, Nets and 76ers rotations in my head and had overlooked Kenyon Martin. Not that I’m much of a fan of Martin’s; but he’s far better than the alternative of playing a still-finding-his-way Jordan Hill 35 minutes a night.

I could still be convinced to move New Jersey, Toronto or even Boston up though. Oden’s health is a concern. I lack full faith in a Hill/Robinson rotation at the point. And Paul George is one of the rookies that this avowed fan of rookies likes least, i.e. a workout wonder.

I’m surprised that you dislike New Jersey so much? Right way players, Iguodala and Delfino at the wings. Shot in the arm offense from Brooks. And one of the league’s better center rotations in Nene and Collison. I also like Reggie Williams and Hakim Warrick off the bench. They even have Quinton Ross. See, I'm already talking myself back into ranking the Nets 1st...

[StartOrien]

Here's how I see it:

1. Toronto
---
2. New York
---
3. New Jersey
4. Celtics
---
5. Sixers


1-2 playoff teams, no contenders.

[Who]

Boo ... lost my post

Celtics

PG - Rondo, W.Bynum
SG - B.Rush, JR Smith, J.Crawford
SF - Outlaw, Ebanks, Kapono
PF - Landry, Humphries
C - Bogut, Nazr, J.Howard

I think this is one of the better defensive teams in the league. A decent offensive squad and solid rebounding team.

Not a lot of go-to scorers on this squad so I'd expect Rondo's workload to increase considerably and for his stat line to correspond accordingly.

I am thinking 16-18ppg, 10-11apg, 4-5rpg, 2-3spg and his usual brand of high quality defense.

Andrew Bogut and Carl Landry would have similar workloads. I think Landry is good for 16-17ppg along with 7rpg and solid team defense in this role. He would be the third scoring option in the starting lineup and would likely be the first or second option in the second unit alongside JR Smith. Smith would do similar work to his time with the Nuggets, hopefully more in line with 08-09 than last season.

The supporting cast gives them two solid perimeter shooters in Brandon Rush and Travis Outlaw. Outlaw can also give them another go-to scorer as a power forward on nights where they need it. Ebanks gives them a solid defender off the bench. Kapono is a bad basketball player and shouldn't play.

Will Bynum is a limited rotation player but in situations where his team needs him to monopolize the ball he can be a positive influence. Not an ideal fit but decent. If Landry doesn't play in the second unit, then W.Bynum would be a very good fit. Depends on the lineups. Bynum gives the squad another guy who can create his own shot + can create for others but only finishers, not guys who like to create their own shots ... he is poison for them.

Kris Humphries is a serviceable backup PF. Dumb player but he plays decent defense and he rebounds the ball well. Nazr Mohammed played his best season in several years last season but I am dubious about him repeating that level of performance. Ditto for Juwan Howard.

Defensively

I think Bogut gives them one of the best interior defenders in the NBA and a terrific anchor.

Rajon Rondo gives them one of the best PG defenders. Two solid defenders on the wing in Rush and Outlaw plus Ebanks off the bench and JR Smith who is capable of playing solid defense. All have good athleticism.

Carl Landry is a good team defender, good quickness, complements Bogut well. A lot like he did with Yao Ming on the defensive end. Humphries is a decent defender.

The team would drop off a fair bit while Bogut is on the bench. Not sold on Nazr Mohammed. The team lacks elite defensive talent outside of Rondo if Bogut is off the court. Will Bynum is a good pressure defender but otherwise of limited defensive use.

 

[indeedproceed]

im pretty high on nyk myself....id oden is healthy, he's the unequivocal steal of the draft. I see them and possibly toronto in the playoffs.

I wonder if the east is going to go 4-2-2 or 3-3-2. either way some good teams are going to get left.