2011 CelticsBlog Draft Board

[mgent]

He might be on the decline but that also means he has way more experience and he also has a much bigger history of winning.  And it's not even like Chauncey has seen a huge drop in his numbers, the year before last he posted his career high in scoring.

Yeah, I'm not debating that Billups is or isn't serviceable. He clearly is. The difference is that Billups is likely a year, (maybe two) away from retirement while Harris is in his prime and will likely get better as long as he has the minutes.  

5.23, 7.8, 9.23, and 12.2

for

3.6 and 6.6

I like to look at this stuff for perspective, but lets not forget that 1) Billups likely went about 20 picks too early and Harris probably went about 20 picks too late. He should've been an early 5th rounder or late 4th, and Billups should've been a late 3rd, early 4th. I think there is a clear disparity between the players favoring Billups, but only if it is on a win now team.

Chauncey puts up the same numbers as Harris does on some of the worst teams in the league, while playing much better defense and shooting WAY better from long range.  That + his championship experience and leadership puts him on a whole other level than Harris.

See, Devin Harris before he got to New Jersey was known primarily as a defensive PG. He just didn't bring it as hard because he played on a crappy team that needed him to do all the scoring.

That happens with a lot of guys (see Pierce, Ray Allen). I think on the Kings, Harris's defense would've been at or above Chauncey's level in pure ability, and we should see a marked improvement in him in Utah next season.

Sometimes 'being the man' is too much of a burden on a guy, and it clearly was for Harris. After he killed himself trying to fill that role for NJ in 08-09, I think he got a little burned out and jaded.

Well this is a one year draft right, so he only needs to be serviceable for that one year.  If he retires after that it doesn't really matter.

As for Harris, I don't think he's ever really been in that "only offensive option/forced to carry the load" type role.  The last two years Brook Lopez has been the man in New Jersey.  The year before Lopez took that larger role, they had Vince, who if I remember correctly gave them the highest scoring backcourt in basketball.  The year before that (Devin's first year) they had Carter and ________________.  He definitely wasn't doing all the scoring.

With Harris I think it's completely an effort issue.  He doesn't even bend his knees on D.  But that doesn't mean playing next LeBron would automatically fix that.

Edit:  Whoops, don't think he's been picked yet.

[celticpride07]

waiting on blockbuster announcement still...

[Who]

As for Harris, I don't think he's ever really been in that "only offensive option/forced to carry the load" type role.  

With Harris I think it's completely an effort issue.

Wholly agree

[indeedproceed]

Blockbuster trade that I like for both teams:

CHI sends Melo, 6.17, and 13.8
OKC sends Nash, Ariza, and 9.20

I think the value is fair, I like the players involved, and I like what it does for both teams.

[Who]

Blockbuster trade that I like for both teams:

CHI sends Melo, 6.17, and 13.8
OKC sends Nash, Ariza, and 9.20

I think the value is fair, I like the players involved, and I like what it does for both teams.

Wow, Carmelo Anthony, that is surprising. Interesting.

[indeedproceed]

So we're looking at:

PG. ?  
SG. Kobe Bryant
SF. Carmelo
PF. JJ Hickson
C. Chris Kaman

and

Nash
J-Rich
Ariza
Haslem
Noah

I think Lucky did himself a pretty huge favor here, but I can't wait to see how CP fleshes out that Bryant/Melo core. I don't like Hickson at the 4, but beyond that I love Kaman there, and I am anxious to see how people think Melo/Bryant are going to co-exist.

[Gainesville Celtic]

With the next pick in the Coaches Round the New York Knicks

 Tom Thibodeau, 2010-2011 NBA Coach of the Year

Jgod is up next....

[celticpride07]

So we're looking at:

PG. ?  
SG. Kobe Bryant
SF. Carmelo
PF. JJ Hickson
C. Chris Kaman

and

Nash
J-Rich
Ariza
Haslem
Noah

I think Lucky did himself a pretty huge favor here, but I can't wait to see how CP fleshes out that Bryant/Melo core. I don't like Hickson at the 4, but beyond that I love Kaman there, and I am anxious to see how people think Melo/Bryant are going to co-exist.

melo and kobe are really good friends. i see this as a wade and lebron pairing(they dominate). It will be pretty hard to stop both guys on any given night they can combine for 60+ points...

i wasnt feeling the nash uptempto style of play as a great fit with kobe and kaman...im going to look for a point guard that can run the half court offense well.

as far as hickson goes..he is extremely talented but inconsistent..in games against the celtics this year he looked like a beast.

[indeedproceed]

So we're looking at:

PG. ?   
SG. Kobe Bryant
SF. Carmelo
PF. JJ Hickson
C. Chris Kaman

and

Nash
J-Rich
Ariza
Haslem
Noah

I think Lucky did himself a pretty huge favor here, but I can't wait to see how CP fleshes out that Bryant/Melo core. I don't like Hickson at the 4, but beyond that I love Kaman there, and I am anxious to see how people think Melo/Bryant are going to co-exist.

melo and kobe are really good friends. i see this is a wade and lebron pairing. It will be pretty hard to stop both guys on any given night they can combine for 60+ points...

i wasnt feeling the nash uptempto style of play as a great fit with kobe and kaman...im going to look for a point guard that can run the half court offense well.

I think that was a smart move. I hated the Nash/Kobe pairing, and I think if both Melo and Bryant scored about 25 ppg a piece, they'd both get better shots, better iso opportunities, and become more efficient. Especially Kobe, who will be able to tailor his game even further into 'the late Jordan jumpshooter/post up' phase.

[KCattheStripe]

So we're looking at:

PG. ?  
SG. Kobe Bryant
SF. Carmelo
PF. JJ Hickson
C. Chris Kaman

and

Nash
J-Rich
Ariza
Haslem
Noah

I think Lucky did himself a pretty huge favor here, but I can't wait to see how CP fleshes out that Bryant/Melo core. I don't like Hickson at the 4, but beyond that I love Kaman there, and I am anxious to see how people think Melo/Bryant are going to co-exist.

I really don't like how Lucky robbed himself of top level talent and I don't think Melo and Kobe will be able to exist at all.

[Who]

I think Kobe and Melo can co-exist but they'll need a near perfect supporting cast tailored to their specific strengths and weaknesses.

Without that, there are going to be problems.

[celticpride07]

So we're looking at:

PG. ?  
SG. Kobe Bryant
SF. Carmelo
PF. JJ Hickson
C. Chris Kaman

and

Nash
J-Rich
Ariza
Haslem
Noah

I think Lucky did himself a pretty huge favor here, but I can't wait to see how CP fleshes out that Bryant/Melo core. I don't like Hickson at the 4, but beyond that I love Kaman there, and I am anxious to see how people think Melo/Bryant are going to co-exist.

I really don't like how Lucky robbed himself of top level talent and I don't think Melo and Kobe will be able to exist at all.

kobe and melo can do it if lebron and wade can do it.

[KCattheStripe]

So we're looking at:

PG. ?  
SG. Kobe Bryant
SF. Carmelo
PF. JJ Hickson
C. Chris Kaman

and

Nash
J-Rich
Ariza
Haslem
Noah

I think Lucky did himself a pretty huge favor here, but I can't wait to see how CP fleshes out that Bryant/Melo core. I don't like Hickson at the 4, but beyond that I love Kaman there, and I am anxious to see how people think Melo/Bryant are going to co-exist.

I really don't like how Lucky robbed himself of top level talent and I don't think Melo and Kobe will be able to exist at all.

kobe and melo can do it if lebron and wade can do it.

Neither Kobe or Melo is anywhere near the passer DWade and LeBron are. Also, Melo is a one way player so they're not as talented defensively.

[indeedproceed]

So we're looking at:

PG. ?  
SG. Kobe Bryant
SF. Carmelo
PF. JJ Hickson
C. Chris Kaman

and

Nash
J-Rich
Ariza
Haslem
Noah

I think Lucky did himself a pretty huge favor here, but I can't wait to see how CP fleshes out that Bryant/Melo core. I don't like Hickson at the 4, but beyond that I love Kaman there, and I am anxious to see how people think Melo/Bryant are going to co-exist.

I really don't like how Lucky robbed himself of top level talent and I don't think Melo and Kobe will be able to exist at all.

Well, aside from Nash, Lucky has taken the existing 40-win Suns and improved (in some cases dramatically) at every single position.

Before that he basically had my Bulls team from last year, but with Melo in place of LeBron.

He's got more than capable defenders at 2,3,4,5, and the one of if not the best facilitators in basketball running the show. They're going to be getting up and down the court like a jet, and the transition opportunities from their defense will be plentiful.

[indeedproceed]

Neither Kobe or Melo is anywhere near the passer DWade and LeBron are. Also, Melo is a one way player so they're not as talented defensively.

This I agree with. Well...kind of. I think Bryant and Wade are probably on equal ground as facilitators and defenders, but Melo and LeBron have a pretty good body of separation between them talent wise.