CELTICS GREEN BLOG by and for boston celtics fans: Fiddlin' and Diddlin' on 9/6

by FLCeltsFan 10:50 AM

Both Celtics Blog and Red's Army have some comments on Charlie Rosen's newest article that grades the off season free agent signings. He grades House at a D-plus, Pollard at C-minus and Posey anywhere from an A-plus to a D, depending on his off season workouts. I have to say I agree with Red's Army on this one: Charley Rosen is still an idiot.

Marty Burns becomes the latest writer to question the Celtics point guard position.

"His Achilles' heel is his ability to shoot the ball," the Eastern assistant GM said. "People are going to run off him and make him prove he can hit the jump shot."
If Rondo can improve his jumper even a little, it might be good enough. After all, the Celtics will have three perennial All-Stars in Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen. With House also around to handle the ball, and the 6-4 Tony Allen to defend the bigger point guards, the Celtics indeed could have most of the bases covered.
Still, Ainge appears to be taking a calculated risk by not looking to add another veteran floor leader to his roster. What if Rondo can't handle the job? What if he gets injured?
It's enough to at least temper some of the enthusiasm among those Celtics fans.

I don't have a problem with Rondo at the point. I believe that he will be able to handle it quite well. My question is what happens if he turns an ankle and we need to go to the back up. I'm not really comfortable with the back up options. I can't help but feel that either Danny knows something we don't and has another ace up his sleeve.

On RealGM, Elrod Enchilada asks how long until the Big Three become the Medium 3. He feels that we have 3 years. I did an article on this same thing here on LOY's Place and came to the conclusion that we may have anywhere from 5-8 years. When I see the kind of shape that KG is in and his workouts, I can't help but feel that he will be more along the Reggie Miller type who will play at a high level until he is 40.

The Dallas Morning News had an interesting little tidbit on Big Baby.

Read some great news coming out of Boston. The Celtics signed Glen "Big Baby" Davis, but it's only a two-year deal.
This, of course, means the Mavs don't have to wait too long to make up for the terrible draft-night decision to take Nick Fazekas instead of Big Baby. Hopefully, the Mavs will see the light and finally fill that low-post void by bringing Big Baby to Dallas before the 2009-10 season.

Very interesting. Hopefully, if Big Baby emerges and plays well, we will be able to resign him to an extension rather than lose him. If he doesn't pan out, well then, Dallas can have him.

Jackie Manuel was in the news as well. The Iowa Energy has drafted him in the D-League draft.

The Energy followed with Jackie Manuel, a member of the 2005 North Carolina NCAA championship team.
“We got two of the best defenders that were available at the guard position and we fell really good about it,” said Nick Nurse, the Energy’s coach. “I am very pleased with the first choices.”
Conroy and Manuel were the fourth and fifth overall picks of the 10-round expansion draft.

He may not have been drafted in the NBA draft, but he went 5th in the D-League draft. It's nice to know that if he doesn't make the Celtics roster he has a job waiting for him. Sports of Boston has a profile of Manuel today as well.

Full Court Press is beginning a series of articles that will do a position by position comparison of this year's Celtics vs last year's Celtics. Celtics Blog has a wonderful interview with Bill Russell. It is well worth checking out. Taking it to the Rack makes a good case for Rondo being the most improved player this season.

This season, the Refs will be able to use instant replay for fights and flagrants. I still say that Stern needs some kind of oversight committee over the refs to check into complaints from players and coaches. Allowing the refs to continue to be above questioning is just asking for more trouble. Finally, former Celtic Justin Reed was arrested for marijuana possession. The Crack Staff at Perkisabeast takes a look at an even bigger scandal than the Reed arrest as well.

26 days till training camp. The players are all expected in camp by Sunday and things should start picking up. Hopefully we will get reports on Tony's rehab, Rondo's shot, Pierce's conditioning, RA's ankles, Big Baby and Pruitt's progress and all the other little stories that the Boston media has been ignoring. We are in for some exciting times ahead.

[Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!]

Post a Comment