If I Knew Then...
by Jeff Clark on Mar 7, 2007 5:15 AM EST
in Boston Celtics Articles
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PrintOne of the funny things with blogs is how quickly material gets dated and forgotten about. I spend a lot of time working on some of these posts (and not enough time on others), but the minute some new thought pops into my head, it goes to the top of the page and the old posts get pushed down and forgotten.
So every once in a while I like to look back and laugh at myself or pat myself on the back or even look at the reactions that commenters had to the posts of days gone by. The season is starting to wind down and I really should leave the offseason talk for the offseason and soak in what is left of real NBA basketball. However, I can't help but look back and see what we thought this season was going to be like heading into it.
For one thing, I had lots of questions about the young players on the team. I wondered if someone was going to make "the leap."
I thought it was going to be West:
Delonte West: My odds on favorite. He’s got the touch, the work ethic, and the overall talent to get there. He just needs to step it up a notch and produce more. The only thing I can see holding him back (baring injury) is the question of what position he’ll play and how to find enough minutes for all the guards.
While West has come along after a slow start, I can't say that he's really taken "the leap." I think the indecision on his position has indeed stunted his growth, and I still think he'd be better suited to play the 2. He has played well, but he wasn't the one this year. Guess who was:
I actually have really high hopes for Jefferson. He just has so many “if’s.†If he can put the ankle stuff behind him… If he can put to rest the whispers of work ethic… If Telfair can get him the ball where he likes it… If all goes right, he’s one of those no-limit guys, and that’s why he was on the media guide last year. I have to discount his chances because of the â€if’s†but he could be the best of the bunch.
Looks like his hard work from the offseason and working with Clifford Ray really paid off. Jefferson has made it by consistently putting up double doubles all year and really coming on strong once Pierce returned to the lineup.
On the flip side, I think the only guy that we can say has been a flat-out "bust" would be Telfair. I still have some hope that he'll come around, but probably not this year, and maybe not on this team.
I'm not exactly batting for a good average on my SWAGs either. Of humorous note:
5. The Celtics will not only make the playoffs, but win one series. They’ll be up and down. They’ll be fast out of the gate, hit a wall or two, and get back momentum down the stretch. KG or no KG, by the end of the year, this team will be the proverbial “team nobody wants to play†going into the postseason. Telfair, West, Pierce, Jefferson, and Perkins are the future, and they’ll prove it in the playoffs.
Ummm, ...oops. That's what you get with an eternal optimist folks. Sometimes the world just doesn't cooperate.
Some other random articles I enjoyed writing:
So, can you find some of your comments from the offseason? What comments did you make that made you cringe when you read them? Be honest! Call yourself out!
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Well,lets see. I noted that the C’s had a divison edge by being able to rotate 8 guys w/PERs in the teens. Now they only only start 4! Also said TJ for Charlie V was dicey. Got NJ, PH, and NY right, tho.
celticsblog.net/cheapseats/?cat=18
by TenaciousD on Mar 7, 2007 8:10 AM EST reply actions
Well, you were right about the Celtics hitting “a wall or two”. It just happened to be a really, really big wall. ;) And, perhaps unfortunately, you also may be right about the Celtics picking up momentum down the stretch.
As for Telfair, who knows. I think there’s a system out there where he would flourish, but it’s not in Doc’s.
Jeff, you were not that far off West. Remember he has had to share a lot of time with other pretenders, so its not like he has been playing the 1 and/or the 2 by himself. I think he has a better future as a 2 and is a very productive shooter. hes problem is that he has Tony, PP, Rondo and even Telfair looking at him at the 2 and Rondo and sometimes Telfair stalking him. Also Doc wants him to be a 2 one day and a 1 another day and that certainly cant help his confidence and concentration. In spite of all these distractions, I think West has turned out to be one big asset for us at the 2 and He is doing pretty good at it. Dont feel bad.
Al is another story all together. He has no competition at what he is doing and he has transformed himself into a low post beast. Ive been saying that we have to build around him, not around PP. He just didnt meake a leap; he made a Quantum Leap that not many could foresee. take care
Jeff; Your retrospective analysis of West being indecisive at the point is right on. You can add to that his lack of ball movement. He waits too long “deciding” if he’ll have a passing angle or by dribbling around trying to find a passing angle. The fastest way to expose a passing lane is through ball movement and “off the ball player movement”. In both situations the defense can’t react fast enough to close a passing lane. Great ball movement and “decisiveness” are particular attributes of Rondo.
West is also offensively indecisive. As a PG he needs to draw the defense to him yet he often passes up wide open shot opportunities thereby allowing defenses to sag inside. While we all admire a distributor this team needs come first and scoring from the outside is one of those needs. That West can perform this function has been aptly demonstrated in crunch time where West becomes a different player.
It would help him immeasureably if he better “handles” from his right side and could finish with either hand.
by moskqq on Mar 7, 2007 10:26 AM EST reply actions
I agree with you 90% of the time, so I too picked the Cs to be in the playoffs and win one.
-I never did buy into the, “give Telfair the keys of the car right from the start, deserving or not”, thing.
-Always had faith in AJefferson
-I am still on the fence about GG(although I am starting to see progress…and a bit of heart)
-I always believed in DWest
-I was on the fence regarding TA, but I must admit, we do play a heck of a lot better when he is healthy and his game is on…so I was comming around
-I never been desapionted with the signing of Scal…after all, he only make 3mil/yr….you can move that contract with your eyes closed if you wanted to.
Jeff, the fact that you even wrote this piece sets you apart from most sports writers. It’s a little thing called accountability. The fact that you’re willing to revisit some of your musings here and can poke a little fun at yourself for getting stuff wrong is something special. Most writers wouldn’t even venture to dare indicate that they were “off the mark” on thier predictions.
That said, I stil have faith in West and Allen (although TA’s injury makes it much harder). As far as Telfair, well I’m one of the few who got blasted about not wanting him here and that he wouldn’t be the pg savior that so many were touting him to be. For at least that part, I can claim I got something right. ;)
by hagrid on Mar 7, 2007 2:20 PM EST reply actions
i advocated trading jeff for boozer. (guess both teams are glad the didn’t listen to me)
was really optimistic about telfair
my all time most shameful bad call has to be advocating for ainge to resign blount.
jeff,
i was with you on west being most improved (i’ve been in his camp from day one). west’s numbers have been improving steadily since he retook his spot in the starting lineup.
his numbers since the all star break, 17 points, 6 assists are a significant and promising improvement from an impressive sophomore campaign, if he keeps on producing at this level, he will have to be considered for most improved. but in the end al deserves to get the nod.
Right before this season started, one of my coworkers was asking me what I thought about the Celtics this season. He’s a huge Red Sox fan and doesn’t particularly follow basketball, but he had seen some of the promising Las Vegas pre-season coverage and was curious to know what actual Celtics fans thought. I remember saying that they might not win a whole lot and they might be a little sloppy because they’re such a young team BUT win or lose, they would be an aggressive, running, dunking, fast-breaking team so at least the games would be really fun to watch….
Well, he watched a few games here and there and needless to say, I haven’t lived it down.
Well I was wrong in most of the predictions i made for this season:
1. I expected playoffs
2. I expected Telfair to be our solid and starting PG
3. I expected Ratliff as a starter, getting around 20 min
4. I didn’t have enough faith on Al Jefferson (that’s the worst one)
5. I thought Wally would play for the whole year
As long as we are talking about what we thought would be and what has actually happened…lets talk about what could happen this summer!!What if we get lucky and get the #1 pick…and…traded Pierce and whatever else needed to Memphis to get the #2. Imagine us with Oden AND Durant. I know it is a pipe dream but wouldn’t that be nice!! Now that’s one that I haven’t heard!!!!! A front line of Durant/Jefferson/Oden with West and Green in the back court. Can you say #17 and 18, and 19…….. It doesn’t hurt to dream does it!!!!!
To me, one key in looking at the forecast for next season after the draft is accomplished is to go down the roster of each team and see what they have done too to try to improve. Every team is going to make efforts to “improve”. The Knicks for example were a “basketcase” but even with Isiah at the coaching helm, things could only improve this year. The Raptors brought in TJ Ford and had a very accomplished off season. Philly was destined to be Philly with Iverson, but they too now are improving. With a healty Jefferson, Kidd, V Carter the Nets were going to be no less than decent and division contenders.
So, even if we do land Oden, remember he is a rookie. Also, Philly will get a talented pick too, Knicks may get Lewis from the Sonics in the offseason, etc. Also remember the west is still the west. So for every W that comes for us or any other team, it has to come at the expense of a L for another club. Even if every team in the NBA improves, there are always going to be as many L as W.
If you are not a top 4-6 team in the east, you are a “weak sister” in the NBA. We didn’t have the ability to be a top 5 east team, we were a weak sister going into the season.
by bceltfan on Mar 8, 2007 1:17 AM EST reply actions
Every body keep talking about Oden and Durant how good there going to be on the Celtics. First we need to get rid of Doc Rivers and get an coach who can give our team an proper system for the players we have. Do anybody know what kind system Mr. Rivers is running? If we had 4 pierces and ten Durants we would still lose under Doc’s no see system. I heard Rick Adleman might be coming to the East Coast somebody please call him or Rudy T. Not only we need an Coach with an system we also need an Veteran pg. Not to old like Bibby. Maybe Mo Williams from the Bucks. He is an free agent. :’(
by Mikey @ CelticsBlog on Mar 9, 2007 10:58 AM EST reply actions
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