2011 CelticsBlog Draft Board

[action781]

You know, I don't remember picks getting as much heat after the first round as much as Bahku is getting for Love

Last year

Rondo 9th?
The guy after him at 10th?
A second year guard in the teens later on?
Rookies in the first round many years?
Other players I can't mention from 2010?

Come on.

So he said dominant. Love is a solid pick there as was all of the first round.

Oh, don't get me started on all the questionable picks in the first round of last year's draft... 

I agree with SO that it's mostly dissenting opinions on Love that brings up this conversation.  It's also that there just weren't that many great nor bad picks in the first round so some of us are kind of nit-picking.  I know that's how I feel.

[Bahku]

Should Paul Pierce not been drafted because he played on a Celtics team that won less than 20 games?

How many games had he missed?


What was his track record before that?   



The only history we have with Love is losing.  The most wins he ever had was when the other PF on his team played like an all-star and he had good 2nd star type numbers.  But even then, the team was terrible.



So, before throwing out terms like "dominate", his team actually has to do something. 

I don't think so ... I watched quite a few games this year, (that the Wolves lost), where he was clearly the "dominating" player on the floor, there's just no other word for it, (and stats provided show it). Did his team dominate? Not remotely, but that really has little to do with a player's ability to dominate at his position, or as much as is possible when surrounded by very little additional talent ... especially at the NBA level. I certainly hope to see more success for him as far as team accomplishments go and a winning record, otherwise his career will be cut short. But I still feel he has what's needed to dominate on the floor if surrounded with the right people.

[wdleehi]

I don't pin it on him.


I just don't agree with "dominate" player

Dominate is definitely not an accurate assessment. But I don't know how many guys selected after him I'd consider 'dominant.'

I wouldn't call the guys after him dominate either.


I think the pick was fine.  

The argument created for him I disagree with.  That can kill you as much as what others think of a player.  



For example, the player I selected.


Young C/PF that stepped up last season when injuries attacked his team taking out the "best player" and the "centerpiece of the future".

He stepped up to a level that helped lead his team to 49 wins.  When I add the equal talent around him that they lost this season, I will have a contender in this game.

[action781]

By the way, I'd like to take back everything I said about Pierce's selection in the first round being a bad one.

My opinion on him being drafted too high was based on the idea of him being the #1 option on the team and his supporting cast being drafted in the 2nd, 3rd rounds etc.  I didn't think he could carry that kind of team and there were better players available for that kind of role.  Now that I see that he's paired with another top player in Pau, I think that Pierce was a fantastic selection there and probably one of the best players on the board to pick right there.  Great pick, Utah!

[KCattheStripe]

The Celtics would like to pick up an additional 3rd rounder. PM if interested.

[celticpride07]

im looking to move up in 2nd rd from pick 2.18

[Bahku]

Article:


As expected, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love won the NBA’s Most Improved Player of the Year award, the league announced Thursday afternoon. In addition to becoming the first Timberwolf selected to an All-Star Game since Kevin Garnett, Love averaged 20.2 points and a league-leading 15.2 rebounds for Minnesota this season. Further, he diversified his offensive game by adding a three-point shot, connecting on 41.7 percent of his treys in 2.9 attempts per game.

The UCLA product won the award handily, receiving 400 award points from a panel of 116 writers and broadcasters. First-place votes were worth five points, second-place votes three, and third-place votes one. LaMarcus Aldridge (157 points) and Dorell Wright (124 points) were the closest to beating Love for the award.

Love, just 22, averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds in a promising sophomore campaign, but made the leap to stardom this season. He became the second player in history, joining Hall-of-Famer Charles Barkley, to average at least four offensive rebounds and one made three-pointer per game over the course of a single season, and Love did so while topping Barkley’s poor 28.3 percent shooting mark on threes.

Love accepted the award at a Target Center press conference, where he attributed his success to increased confidence, working with an athletic trainer, and his experience winning the gold medal for the United States in the FIBA World Championships last summer. He also thanked Wolves fans for their support, saying "the fans at Target Center were great all year."


Hopefully he'll get the chance to show what he's capable of when surrounded with a team of higher caliber players ... I personally feel that's all that's missing to this equation.

I like all the picks today ... congrats to everyone, and TP to IP for all the hard work.

[RebusRankin]

There were way more questionable picks in the first than Love last year, including my own.

[RebusRankin]

How is Cleveland in the Southwest Division?

[Kane3387]

Kudos to Kane. Impressive moves for a newcomer.

Thanks for the love 

[Gainesville Celtic]

Big winners after round 1.

Utah, Cleveland, Dallas, and Sacramento, of course.(Cheap plug)

Big Losers after round 1.

None.

Need to prove a little something, and sure they all will.

Jersey, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix, Atlanta....<snip>

and now, finally an unbiased look at the first round (complete with 4 hours of hindsight):

BIG 1st round winners: ME

BIG 1st round losers: All of you

There you have it folks. The first round recap you can take to the bank.


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

Nothing personal Nick, but IMO there really is an unnecessary  rush to judgement ---- its what folks did with the Heat last year ("they'll win 70!" "No they'll win 80!, etc) and it does everyone a disservice (and happens to a team or 2 every CB Draft....)

Basketball is about TEAM... not about who is individually best. I'll wait to see who has a better team.

[Gainesville Celtic]

How is Cleveland in the Southwest Division?

Aren't they in the southwest corner of New York state?

Ipso facto!

[Kane3387]

Should Paul Pierce not been drafted because he played on a Celtics team that won less than 20 games?

How many games had he missed?


What was his track record before that?   



The only history we have with Love is losing.  The most wins he ever had was when the other PF on his team played like an all-star and he had good 2nd star type numbers.  But even then, the team was terrible.



So, before throwing out terms like "dominate", his team actually has to do something. 

I don't think so ... I watched quite a few games this year, (that the Wolves lost), where he was clearly the "dominating" player on the floor, there's just no other word for it, (and stats provided show it). Did his team dominate? Not remotely, but that really has little to do with a player's ability to dominate at his position, or as much as is possible when surrounded by very little additional talent ... especially at the NBA level. I certainly hope to see more success for him as far as team accomplishments go and a winning record, otherwise his career will be cut short. But I still feel he has what's needed to dominate on the floor if surrounded with the right people.

Kg's last few years in Minnesota were bad too... He put up incredible numbers those last couple years but still his team missed the playoffs. Minnesota lost a ton of fourth qtr leads this year bc they were so young. Like kg love played great on a bad Minnesota team but with no veterans. Kg in his first year out of Minnesota on a team with veteran talent won a ring. Is love kg? No. But he is like kg an all star pf on a poorly managed Minnesota team.

[Kane3387]

By the way, I'd like to take back everything I said about Pierce's selection in the first round being a bad one.

My opinion on him being drafted too high was based on the idea of him being the #1 option on the team and his supporting cast being drafted in the 2nd, 3rd rounds etc.  I didn't think he could carry that kind of team and there were better players available for that kind of role.  Now that I see that he's paired with another top player in Pau, I think that Pierce was a fantastic selection there and probably one of the best players on the board to pick right there.  Great pick, Utah!

Thanks I couldn't succeed with gasol as my 1a, so I had to get a guy who had the ability and presence to make him 1b. At 20 pierce was the only guy I thought that was left who made gasol 1b, and was the only guy left who would command the "captain" title away from pau. I didn't think Joe Johnson or Westbrook could do it at this point in time. The other guy I thought of plays the same position and again presently doesn't seem as good. That's my reasoning for moving up to take the captain.

[The Walker Wiggle]

17 wins.

This response is kind of a bummer. And how far are you willing to take the losing record argument? Is Tim Duncan's production more meaningful than Lamarcus Aldridge's? Can we write off all successful young players with lousy career winning %s?

I'd much rather hear about which aspects of Love's game you don't believe will translate to a better team? Or why you feel that Stoudemire is the better of the two subpar defenders?