CELTICS GREEN BLOG by and for boston celtics fans: Odds and Ends for a Busy Thursday

September 28, 2006

Wow! after nothing in the papers for a long time, today has articles all over the place. Lots of things to talk about today so let's get right to it.

The Herald brings us good news that Perk is back to being Perk. This kid is such a hard worker that there was no doubt in my mind that he would be ready for the season and attack it with a vengeance. I am a bit worried that Delonte is still nursing a sore back. I have visions of Bird laying on the floor to alleviate his back pain over the last couple of years in his career.

MetroWest Daily has done a good job of covering the Celtics this summer. While the Globe and Herald virtually ignored them for much of the summer, we got some great info all summer from Scott and Lenny. Today's piece echos the others in that it talks about all the players getting into shape and working hard and that it mentions the many questions that still need to be answered. One tidbit caught my eye is that Scal has slimmed down this summer. I just don't know that Scal has that much he can contribute to the team that our younger players can't do better. Danny quoted Bill Russell

"We don’t want veterans just because they’re veterans," he said. "I think it was Bill Russell who said experience is overrated. A lot of veterans aren’t very good players."

Last year it seemed as though Doc was playing veterans just because they were veterans at times and hopefully Scal won't get time just because he is a veteran.

In the Globe, Shira has her usual upbeat piece letting us know that the Celtics are all in good shape coming into camp. The only question mark is Delonte with his sore back and back problems are always worrisome.

Celtics 17 presents part 2 of its article on Doc's 2 years as coach. Doc doesn't seem to take defense seriously. In his interview and talk so far he keeps stressing the offense and the fast break. This really worries me about this season because even with our players improved and a true floor general to run the team, if Doc doesn't institute a team defense and work on defending the pick and roll, we are going to be frustrated again this season.

JB has a good piece over on CelticsStuff Live that compares Gomes to Havlicek. I don't think this is that big of a stretch. There are a lot of parallels, but it remains to be seen whether Gomes takes his game to the level of Hondo's. I wrote an article that compared Perk to Cowens here a couple of weeks ago. I don't believe that is a stretch either. The parallels are there, we just have to watch their careers unfold to see if they follow the same course.

Bonzi Wells has signed with the Rockets but of note in this article is that Boston made an offer to him. Danny is still out there working the phones and trying to make a deal, but it is comforting to know that Danny won't make a deal just to make a deal.

The AP has a piece out that tells us that Doc wants a more settled rotation this season.

He never settled on a regular rotation.
"I don't think we ever had one and I don't think we were a team that should have had one. No one separated themselves enough to have one,'' Rivers said. "I do think there will be separation this year where last year I don't think I ever made that statement.''

Doc is expecting the players to separate themselves this year to work into a natural rotation. Although just about every fan in the country was calling for a set rotation last season, Doc doesn't feel that the team should have had one. The injuries and the trade last season may have contributed to the lack of a set rotation but this season, there shouldn't be any of those distractions and we should see more of a set rotation evolve. I do believe that several of our players are going to take the next step and we should see that in the lineups that Doc puts out. If Scal gets more playing time than Gomes just because he is a veteran, it is time for Doc to step down.

Leon Powe has been drafted... again. The Yakima Sun Kings of the CBA drafted him in the 5th round of the CBA draft. I guess if he gets cut from the Celtics, which I just don't see, he would find a second chance there. Even if he has to go to the DLeague this season, he shows enough promise to stick with the team. I really like this kid and am pulling for him to make it with the Celtics. Just the battles in practice at the 4 would be worth keeping him.

The Worcester Telegram points out some of the questions that will be answered as training camp begins. Doc likes the chemistry he sees as most of the players have been in Boston working out together for over a month and some have been here all summer working out. Red Auerbach will be at the Garden for the opening game as will David Stern.

I’ll need David to be there to keep Red off me when the dancers come out,” Grousbeck joked.

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