Comments on: NBA Splinters | July 12, 2009

By: Rey

Rey — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:52:36 +0000

JD – thanks for weighing in on the Celtics. The whole Rondo propsed trade was vert strange, and one would have to think that his play would be hard to replace. If you think about it, Rondo is a great balance with the other weapons they have. I think you and I would agree that if there is a team out there where a guy like “Star”bury and ‘Sheed can go and be convinced to play a lesser, yet very important role, it’s Boston. It certainly will be fun to see how things shape out.

Casey – Good point. Orlando was able to extend and it still didn’t make much a diff. for Boston. Again – Rondo is there main guy who can get into the lane everytime. Pierce became the king of the that little fade away from the elbow. Allen will shoot mostly jumpers. House will too. Marbury never looked comfortable playing. How does Sheed help that? Is he going to grab more boards? I don’t think so, especially since he loves to live 15 feet and out.

By: Casey

Casey — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:13:41 +0000

Just the fact that Varejo can expose a weakness in Wallace’s game has to raise a few eyebrows. Varejo?!? Really? And Wallace is supposed to help on defense? I suppose he can man up on Ilguaskas.

I don’t see Wallace keeping Dwight Howard off the boards. And we all know that is the ONLY way Dwight can score consistently. That is unless he is taking Mark Jackson’s advice and spending his summer months with Patrick Ewing.

If the reason for getting Wallace is to win a title isn’t he probably going to have to deal with Howard? I suppose they may get lucky and avoid the Magic in the playoffs. Of course maybe they won’t have to worry about Orlando considering they traded Courtney Lee with ‘Skip To My Lou’ and then they lost Turkoglu.

As for offense – I saw the Celts get bogged down because Orlando did not have to worry about them scoring in the post. Therefore, Magic defenders could afford to extend on the perimeter. Lanes were open, but Boston had no one who could finish inside. Yes, that was because MFG (great one JD) was in a suit and tie, but how does Wallace help with this? He’s a 6′11″ guy who wants to shoot jumpers, and doesn’t like to get back on defense.

As Rey put it – this is all speculation. But if we didn’t have speculation, we wouldn’t have ‘The Bench.’

By: JD

JD — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:21:17 +0000

Looking at the current Celtic roster I think they needed more help in the back court. I like Rondo but there must be some pretty big issues if management was thinking of getting rid of one of the best young point guards out there. Ray Allen is very good but getting up there in age and House is a good backup, even though I wish he was a bit more consistent and not so streaky of a player, but beyond that not much in the way of guard play. Maybe Marbury could help if he ever figures out a way to be a role player, which is where Wallace should fit in this year. I could see him as the first big man off of the bench, providing minutes for Pierce and MFG. I think he has a better chance than Marbury of fitting in and being a piece of instead of the whole puzzle himself. I don’t recall issues with teammates or in the locker room with Rasheed. In the end I think it has a good chance of working out chemistry wise and it makes the Celtics a better team; a good decision on management’s part.

By: Rey

Rey — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:52:36 +0000

“Ainge’s decision to trade for Allen and Garnett has been a success. How it will be remembered depends on the next 2 years.” — very true.

I’ve heard all sorts of stuff on Turkoglu going to Toronto, from it had to do with the money, his relationship with players and staff, to his wife liking Toronto the most because it has a large Turkish community.

In the end it appears to be money because it is no secret that Chris Bosh will probably not re-sign with the Raptors in 2010.

By: Smitty

Smitty — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:29:44 +0000

Reynell – I do agree with you on the Cs philosophy right now. Right now – as it stands, Ainge’s decision to trade for Allen and Garnett has been a success. How it will be remembered depends on the next 2 years.

I think NBA teams are so worried about getting stuck with long-term contracts on fading stars that they take this approach. Figure out that window of where they can make a run at a championship and then start over.

Which by the way – what do you think of Casey’s boy Hedo Turkoglu’s decision to sign with Toronto? The Casey’s boy comment is kidding. But seriously – does it really look like Turkoglu is interested in winning a championship. To me it looks like it was all about the $$. He could have returned to Orlando or he could have signed with Portland – who is an up and coming team. Instead it is Toronto – who I don’t think will be ready to challenge for awhile.

It just makes me question what is more important to him.

By: Smitty

Smitty — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:19:17 +0000

Casey – I think the C’s want Pierce to shoot less 3s and attack the basket. They were at their best when he was slashing and getting to the free throw line. It makes his jump shot that much easier to get off when you have to respect the ability to drive.

I agree with Reynell. House will spell Allen or Rondo. Wallace will either pull his defender away from the basket or he is going to head to the post to bruise. But he won’t be on the floor with House.

Davis is a restricted free agent. Obviously anyone that makes an offer to him – the C’s can match.

By: Rey

Rey — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:53:50 +0000

Paul Pierce is only 31 and KG is 33 (but still plays like he’s 25 when healthy). They have another 5 years out of these two wouldn’t you think?

By: Rey

Rey — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:52:23 +0000

As far as rotations go, I don’t think House and Sheed play together on the floor that much. Pierce and Allen will get their outside attempts, but Wallace can play either way. Bigger guy guarding him? He’ll pull him out and open things up, as Smitty pointed out. Smaller bruiser? No match for a 6′11″ guy on the block.

By: Casey

Casey — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:48:27 +0000

After Allen, Pierce, and House are the C’s going to want Wallace taking many 3s. Yeah, he shot at a rate of 35% last season, but that wasn’t their problem on offense.

How about this for a head-scratcher- Wallce hasn’t taken more than 200 free throws in a season since ‘03-’04. What is that telling you? It tells me he is avoiding contact. Do they need a 6′11″ guy who is not willing to go inside consistently?

Am I reading it right? Is Davis a free agent?

By: Rey

Rey — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:47:56 +0000

Smitty -

I agree it can work with Sheed and that it is in fact a short term move. You’re right on saying that his biggest contribution will be his added length and defensive play down low.

I’m personally not a big fan of the desperate moves to win one in the next two years. Considering how much better the East is now, having to go through at least D-Wade and LeBron at some point in a seven-game series, what are their chances of winning one in the next two years? It’s either a really big payoff or something that will be deemed a flop when it doesn’t work. It’s a “right now” type of move, and when you make those you better be successful. Of course this is my pessimistic side coming out, and certainly they could be onto to returning to the Finals which I don’t think is too far fetched with a healthy KG.

You’re spot-on about Rondo. I think it was Casey who jokingly said, “Can the Celtics draft Rajohn Rondo a jumpshot?” If you think about it, you explained the offensive mindset of the Cavs. Their bigs love to play outside and get those kick-outs for 3, even big Z. Sheed and Rondo could run that type of system to a T.

Great points.