Bounces From FLCeltsFan’s Random Thoughts

As always, I love how FLCeltsFan’s random thoughts fire up the little grey cells.  They may be the almost perfect posting--the ripple effect potentially far outreaches the original splash.  Thanks for the mind games!  Most of this post was originally constructed as a “comment” to her Random Thoughts.  At some point I realized that it was taking on a life of its own.  I suspect that most literature (and no, I am not comparing my posts with true literature) is squeezed out by the rumbling of little grey cells in response to other input, be it visual, verbal, written, tasted, heard or smelled.

I think perhaps the key to Rondo fitting his game within the motion offense is developing confidence in his teammates.  To saddle him with complaints about the slow pace and deliberate play sets of the aging Big Three era is just plain foolish.  It was using a race horse as a draft animal, and he did it well--it is just that he is/was capable of so much more.  This young, athletic squad will free the beast; and I expect that Rondo will be beasting the rest of the league.

I just don't get the worry over Smart and Rondo co-existing.  Smart is a talented rookie with a lot of potential but playing backup to Rondo is perhaps the perfect ripening environment.  I see this situation as similar to the Sullinger/Olynyk situation at power forward.  Rondo/Sullinger are the clear-cut starters, while Smart/Olynyk are the talented but less experienced and polished backups.  Both backups need more than the 16-18 minutes "left over" and will get some (12-16) minutes at a second position for which they are not quite as well suited but are certainly adequate.  The only real downside is that they (Smart and Olynyk) will push other viable options (veterans [and hence probably not in the long-term plans] Thornton and Bass) further down in the substitution pattern.  Depth is always good (or at least if it is without destructive conflict) but quality depth is a real asset both game to game and as an organization.  In addition to spirited and productive practice, waves of quality tend to overwhelm opponents when they go to their benches and/or exhaust starters.  It also provides, at the organizational level, quality assets to exchange for quality to fill weaknesses.

Zeller has come out of the blocks more hesitantly than I had hoped but I see very positive things in his game.  As he gains familiarity and grows more at ease within the group and system, my belief is that Tyler Zeller becomes a solid, although not spectacular, center.  His mobility and agility are not coached, but enable activities that are very coach-able.  Add in a more developed Faverani, admittedly a notion that is a bit of a stretch at this point, and the middle could cease to be a weakness (not necessarily a strength but at least no longer a weak point).

Olynyk is an interesting problem.  His inside/outside game gives him offensive advantages over both centers and power forwards.  Right now he is at a defensive disadvantage with both quick power forwards and powerful centers.  Realistically his probable development will lessen the liability against centers much more rapidly than against quick 4's.  Plus, he is already too talented to keep off the floor.  With Sullinger earning at least 30 mpg (which IMHO should be at the four position), Kelly only has a max of 18 minutes available at power forward, ergo he needs to get at least 12 at center.  It's a long season and injuries are almost a given, but I see Brandon Bass relegated to a fill-in player.  I would rather see Zeller (and perhaps Faverani) get most of the remainder of the 96 big-men minutes after Sully and Kelly get their 30+ each game.

I like the Jarell Eddie pick up.  I don't know a thing about him but love the feel of Ainge thinking three or four moves ahead (see chess reference below).  I already feel like the Dwight Powell addition (and roster spot clearing) is a long term move as Ainge makes another investment in finding his next Power Three and multi-position Swiss Army knife.  Danny hasn't yet been able to get that difference-maker center (and you don't get them as waiver pickups) but he is combing the scrublands for potential.  The first week of October I got to visit with my grand-niece and nephews.  I taught them, as I had their father, to play chess.  Part of the lesson was a discussion of how during their lives they were likely to encounter chess-people and checkers-people; and that those two groups tended not to overlap.  Danny is definitely a chess person; some of the other GM's, not so much.

As for the pre-season schedule--you play whoever is on the schedule.  This year it was our division.  I can understand the desire to keep travel to a minimum--practice time is rare enough without spending time gallivanting across the country (or world).  On the other hand, Brad Stevens makes a good point with his desire to play more different teams/styles/groups.  The more you see and experience, the more rapidly you learn; and his charges have got a lot to learn.  I suspect that there is a middle ground for compromise.  I also vehemently object to the back-to-back games in pre-season.  This is just stupid.  It saves no travel and hinders learning.  I don’t know how far in advance the preseason schedule is made but I would expect Ainge to respond to his coach’s preferences.

I know all us fans are chomping at the bit but I can guarantee that Stevens is delighted at the week of practices to blend his players recovering from injury and bring his precocious youth along. 

As I peruse the roster, I see the Celtics as quite competitive, two deep or more, at every position except center.  I believe it was Scalabrine that recently opined that the Celtics were just a standout center away from being contenders--I quite concur.  It will happen.  Danny’s got his eye on the landscape, his assets gathered and improving, his powder dry, and his finger on the pulse.  All that remains is for another team to blink, falter, or panic.[Discuss on CG Forums!]