Scouting the Scouts

Interesting read, Jeff. I don’t see the point that KG is more glue than RA or PP as being a dig on character. I see it as a recognition of the different level of impact they have when the team’s on the floor. And accurate.

As to Rondo, I see it as their giving RR credit for only being a weak link with the big 3 this early in his career. If he’s not as ‘good’ as them, that may well be just now, because he could conceivably be more valuable that RA or PP within a couple of years.

Finally, somehow that little observation about Doc—if actually true—doesn’t increase my confidence in his game strategy and play-design skills.

Jeff,
         Not sure if anybody else is having this problem but on some of the comments and even some of the articles the left side get’s overwritten by the boarder. Making it impossible to ready the first few words of every line. any idea why that woudl be happening?

Thanks,

I don’t think the fact that KG missed 6 games the last 2 years means he is an increased risk for injury at all, in fact, we would be thrilled if he played in 76 games this year. This may be somewhat more applicable to RA and PP, but the point is still shaky. Both of them shut down prematurely last year when playing on lotto-bound teams, Pierce most certainly would have returned sooner and played more if there was anything at stake. Similarly, RA had surgery early purposely so he would be fully recovered by the start of this year, again, had there been anything on the line, he could have played out the season before having surgery. PP was a model of health until last year, the conservative approach taken with him in no way means he is now at greater risk of injury, or that this somehow is a harbinger of things to come. RA has similarly been fairly durable, and bone chip surgery on ankles is routine now, Big Al had the same thing done, and nary a word is spoken about this particular injury/surgery making him an increased injury risk. Granted, RA is older, but is also one of the most fit players in the league. I think as with most media templates, this is an easy target for those reviewing teams, as is “Rondo and Perk are the big question marks”.

A few comments: all the ESPN sports writers polled and we were #3 in the East, Bulls(1), then Pistons and us. I guess I rate us the #1.

Chemistry to me is blown way out of proportion. This will not be a major problem.

Perk and Rondo are a lot more serviceable, especially the way they compliment the Big 3 than the “experts” think.

Last point, of the big 3, the worst FT shooter is Pierce at 79, that my friend wins close games. Big Al for all the love we had for him, only shot 66. When you are trading baskets, not playing great D and one of your 2 main options is shooting 66% from the line, expect close loses. This year, expect the opposite.

This team will get out of the gate no worse than 6-2. Many of the naysayers will watch as we go onto probably a 55 win season and then as the playoffs are ready to start, say we haven’t accomplished anything yet.

I saw Skip Bayless say that same thing yesterday on ESPN. Paraphrasing him he said we hold off the Nets to win our division but we get bounced in the first round because our Big 3 individually aren’t mentally tough enough to get past the first round.

IMHO, Mr. Bayless may have some serious words to eat.

Rondo will get the better of more than half the points in the league right now. He’s not up to Kidd/Nash/Parker level by any means, but he’s a strength on this team not a weakness.

Soon other teams won’t exploit the point guard match up; they’ll try to minimize their deficit there.

It’s point guard retribution time.

Thanks Jeff!! It looks like the problem has been solved…at least for now.

Who knows? I can’t say at this point that some of the doubters are right or wrong.

What puzzles me is how they turn everything into a “chemistry” issue. That’s baloney. The issue is, will they play defense, particularly perimeter defense?

Garnett is a great defender, but not at the center position. He lacks the beef. Perkins is a good defender, but he’s foul prone. Will Pollard or Glen Davis defend well when Perkins is on the bench?

Pierce and Ray Allen are great scorers not known for their defense. We know that Posey will defend the other team’s stud when Posey is in the game, and Tony Allen can also fill that role. Who is going to do it when Posey and Allen are on the bench?

Another factor no one in the national media mentions is Rivers’ penchant for throwing games into the toilet with terrible 4th quarter coaching decisions. Will Rivers’ coaching be up to the standard that these quality players deserve?

I always get a kick out of the digs at Perk and Rondo…my prediction is that, by the time the playoffs roll around the media will be calling them solid veterans…the truth of the matter is that Perk will have fewer fouls because he is playing with elite vets (refs are human)..and as far as Rondo is concerned…well, he is just a talent…solid handle, extremely quick and a great defender..the media will actually see him play now that the Celtics matter..Jeff is 100% correct about injuries…if Shaq,Dirk,Lebron,Kobe,etc…go down, so does their team…