Links and Quotes

not a rosy description of batista. keep wallace. right now, pollard looks like another kandi.remember when pitino was going to give the ex louisville center ( can’t bring up his name) a horse if he played in a certain number of games? maybe doc can give pollard a hair styling or a dye job.

ex louisville center=purvis ellison.

The quotes seem to indicate that the final decision comes down to Wallace vs Batista. One could argue that the Batista comments are more negative than positive and that by exclusion, Wallace is kept. We do have a need for size, athleticism and defense at the SF position and Wallace could play center in an emergency (his college position).

On the other hand, the comments about Batisita seem to indicate indecision about his readiness to play. One could suggest that “perhaps” Batista CAN give us depth at the “5”. Or it could mean that there is sufficient doubt that he “could” be an effective emergency player at the “5”. It could also suggest that there perhaps is enough optimism about an upside that he’s worth keeping.

What we continue to lack is “inside” information about how they perform in practice. We have heard MORE about Batista than about Wallace which suggests that the Celtics, in granting Wallace a “partially” guaranteed contract, have seen enough to decide whether Wallace gets the extension or not.

Batista has potential but the hierarchy may have decided that he’s 3 or 4 years away and the needs here are more immediate. The same could be said about Wallace.

We’re trying to make educated guesses in a vacuum. Whatever the final decision, I’m anxious to hear their rationale for keeping 14 instead of 15 players. It could be that we have a commitment for a future signing and based on “head-shed” comments, it won’t be a PG.

Time to make a final prediction. Wallace, Jones and Manuel will be cut. The reason? Re Doc’s comments about Batista…he’s doing all right…

Contrast that statement with the lack of comments about Wallace.

While Batista is “doing all right” it’s only natural that Doc wonders if he can sustain his performance against NBA competition. It goes without saying that Batista still has a lot to learn…in order to “earn” NBA minutes.

Hubie Brown, as glib in front of the camera as Doc but perhaps more substantive and far more insightful, had this to say about the Celtics’ pursuit of #17…..I really like what Danny Ainge did to make this team competitive. While they have a decent chance at #17 there are other teams ahead of them. One can never tell in this sport as injuries, team chemistry, the salary cap etc can change a team’s outlook.

My biggest concern about the Celtics is their lack of an inside game. With Jefferson gone they have no reliable inside scoring and others will have to replace Jefferson’s rebounding.

While Batista’s strength seems to be rebounding and an offensive touch down low, his achilles heel has been his defense and inexperience playing against NBA competition.

Perhaps those sentiments add additional rationale for keeping Batista rather than Wallce, Jones or Manuel.

Whoever gets cut was looked at by Doc and Danny a helluva lot more than any commetators here. We did once have Ben Wallace and cut him but for the most part coaches don’t botch it at this point, ie who’s your 14th & 15th guy. Does anyone remember any such mistaken cuts? About what we do know (vs practices we haven’t seen)- D Jones got mins on the only NBA team worse than us last year. Batista got no playing time on the horrible Hawks. And Manuel hasn’t cracked the coach’s comments at all. Thus, to me, those appear the odds to be gone.

Umm Hubie, who will replace jefferson’s rebounding? How about, umm, say GARNETT!!!! Jeessshh

When the third string center has a penchant for rebounding and a scoring touch “down low” the fortunes of the Celtics don’t rest squarely on the shoulders of KG. The Wolves did an excellent job of keeping blocking KG off the boards. How comforting to have other rebounding options inside.

As for coaches and management “brain trusts” seldom making the wrong roster decisions, one only needs to look at the draft to see how fallible that philosophy is. The draft is called a “crap shoot” for obvious reasons.

As regards Wallace being overlooked by the Celtics, bigs often take longer to develop their game. What Batista didn’t do in Atlanta he did do in the America’s games. Perhaps despite little PT in Atlanta he did learn something.

Perk is by acclimation our starting center. If he was a rookie today and matched against Batista today, who would be the obvious cut? When Perk first came to us it looked like a waisted draft choice.

Chandler has improved his game and by all accounts Milicic has too. Did Chicago and Detroit make roster mistakes? If only our brain trust were infallible we could have avoided the ill advised roster moves of recent years.

Hubie Brown is Old and going senile. He probably forgot who was in the AL JEFFERSON trade.

The Ben Wallace cut was because ML Carr believed Wallace was too small to play the PF or Center position and the C’s had him in camp as a 2 guard and a small forward. Imagine that.

Me thinks the C’s will cut Manuel, Wallace, and Jones. I think Batista hangs around because of the lack of depth at the Center Position. Although I like Dahntay, I feel we have a better version of him in Tony Allen. We will see

By the way, against the Wolves, Batista had 5 reb in 19 minutes, perk had 5 reb in 24 min., Pierce had 5 reb in 28 min. and KG had 6 reb. in 28 min.

BigDanZ2000 – Show me anything backing up you saying we had Ben Wallace listed as a 2 guard… Small forward I might believe, 2 guard… Come on. He’s an immobile 6-9’’ player. Don’t buy that at all…

 I don’t see how we can cut Batista. Not only is Pollard hurt (most of the time) but when healthy he is just a good ‘take up a few minutes, give his fouls and sit back down player’. Small forward is NOT a problem now AND is the easiest position on the floor to fill (if need be) later. Powe, Davis and Pruitt can do a few mins at SF if need be. And SF IS the easiest postion to fill. There are a zillion 6’6 to 6’ 8 skinny guys always available.

If Perk goes down we are HURTING at center!

Mark Murphy says, Rivers has no doubt Jones will play for some NBA team this season. At the moment, the coach just isn’t sure if Jones’ skills are precisely what the Celtics need.

Sounds to me that Doc has a future as a sports agent, if his broadcasting career fizzles after the Celtics fire him.

Batista sounds as good as gone
Same with Manuel
Jones sounds like he’s good but not what Doc needs
Wallace seems forgotten, but his value is development this year and as deep insurance for Posey/Scal

They should keep Wallace. I think they’ll keep Wallace.

The non-talked about players, Wallace and Manuel are as good as gone. It is coming down to Batista and Jones. I think Batista will stick. If Perk has to sit out games again this year, who will take his place at Center?? The injured Pollard?