Grande: Get A Vet PG
by Jeff Clark on Jul 21, 2007 10:42 PM EDT
in Boston Celtics News & Links
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PrintGotta love Scott Souza. All last offseason he kept us going with stories and articles when nobody else was writing. He tracked down Sean Grande and asked him some questions. I always perk my ears up a little when guys like Grande and Gorman (Sunday's guest on CSL) talk about the team's potential moves because they are technically employed by the team and may have some insight or access to inside info. With that said, it is probably reading too much into things to take everything they say (in particular their opinions) as "coming from the Celtics camp." So read into this what you like. It isn't exactly ground-breaking stuff, but it comes from Grande, so I'm all ears.
While he works for the team as its announcer, Grande has never been shy about sharing his opinions regarding its successes and its shortcomings. To its credit, he says, ownership has never tried to censor him or his occasionally sharp-tongued sarcasm.
Though he has said he was intrigued with the prospect of China's potential boom-or-bust 7-footer Yi Jianlian like many others, Grande mostly sided with the "not another draft pick" crowd and is cautiously optimistic about recent and future deals.
"It's still hard for me to imagine that this roster is the roster going to Europe (during the upcoming preseason)," he said. "So it's tough to evaluate in July. But you have to look at it and say that there has been a significant improvement and that there are legitimate assets there where you are still in the game to make another big move."
That move, Grande said, should involve getting another veteran point guard. While he said he is a "big (Rajon) Rondo guy," his studying of the league tells him that experienced point guards mean victories in the NBA.
"You look at the one year recently when this team was over .500 and made the playoffs," he determined, "and that's the year you had an experienced starting point guard (Gary Payton). My theory is that having a veteran point guard is to the NBA what having a great short game is to golf."
He added that much of the expected improvement for next year will come from players who were on last year's roster.
"Everyone talks about Ray Allen," he said. "But, to me, having a healthy Paul Pierce and Tony Allen are the two most significant pieces for this team. If you consider that last year this team was a .500 team, and borderline playoff team when healthy, then that's a better place to start right there."
I find it curious that there is no mention of the need for a backup center. Not just from Grande, but I haven't heard much about it from Danny or Doc. Either the team really is couting on Ratliff (unlikely), the team is content to play smallball with Jefferson at the 5 (hopefully not), or perhaps it is just seen as less of a priority than getting that veteran point. I guess we could always pick someone up in training camp that doesn't make someone else's roster, but thats obviously not the idea plan.
Back to the veteran point guard issue, it seems like most of the free agent points are off the market or not in the C's plans, so I'm sure the team is thinking trade. I would toss out some names to dicsuss, but they are just going to be the same ones we've been over time and time again. Chances are, the guy we actually do get will be totally out of left field. And the waiting continues.
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Ratliff and Perk are exactly what the C’s need (defensive minded centers), and Ratliff’s contract will only become more valuable as the trade deadline draws near.
Perhaps a vet point guard will be our last move of the summer, other than signing Big Al, TA, et cetera, and landing an assisstant coach…
Rondo’s greatest flaws are inexperience and shooting. The way I see it, at the end of games he will be a target for fouls from team down by just a few points. You’ve got to have a ball-handler who can hit clutch free throws. I don’t think we’re going to spend (or trade) much to get this. Ridnour? Cassell?
by Hondo to Rondo on Jul 21, 2007 11:47 PM EDT reply actions
I have always wanted Cassell on the Celtics. He’s clutch, knows how to direct a team, and his teams always do better than expected. But he’s officially on his last legs and I don’t think he can make it through a full season injury free anymore.
by cos on Jul 22, 2007 12:35 AM EDT reply actions
i’m not really a fan of andre miller and dalembert, but if pierce, allen, and jefferson are our focal points, i actually think they could fit in well as the “2nd tiers” and address some of our needs. tho combined they around 18mill, would phi take ratliff/green/scabs/gomes for them? with wallace on our team now, gerald is history especially since the wing pos. is flooded. we have 3 6’8 pf’s so gomes is in to make the money work. we would have a much deeper team while addressing both positions that we need to improve in. just a random thought
Jeff, yes, I think the team is counting on Theo at the 5. He is entering his contract year. Of course he’ll be healthy and play well to then be able to sign with some other sucker for another 4 years. Theo and Perk will hold down the spot together defensively fine thank you. Grande is spot on with wanting a vet point guard. Turnovers kill us every year. Some of that is Pierce, some our youth and some not having the right guy at the point.
Hondo to Rondo:
Rondo’s greatest flaws are inexperience and shooting. The way I see it, at the end of games he will be a target for fouls from team down by just a few points. You’ve got to have a ball-handler who can hit clutch free throws.
I don’t see this as a problem. Rondo isn’t a bad free-throw shooter. Also, in these situations you get the ball into Ray Allen.
I hate it when guys like Grande goes out there and say that we need a vet PG without giving out suggestions or at the very minimum at least pointing out if he is refering to a starting PG or a backup for RRondo. Comming from a guy like Grande, he’s got to take sides, he needs to come out and say: hey, we need to break the back and find a way to bring BDavis or say, hey, we need a backup, perhaps someone like BKnight. If someone finds out(what/who Grande is refering to) please let us know.
Celty86,
Ratliff has played 60 or more games only 4 times in his 12 year career. 4 times. That’s the definition of chronically injured. It’s not like he’s 28 years old and has only been injured once. He’s 34. And had DISK problems. I slipped a disk for the first time at 26 and could never jump my highest again, because the impact when I land slips the disk out every time I try, and the bulging sends a shock wave of pain through every nerve in my lower back. He’s had surgery, but doctor’s have told me the same surgery would limit my mobility tremendously. Again, he’s 34—you just don’t regain your athleticism at 34 after major surgery. He’s toast.
I’m not crazy about most of those PGs you mention (Tyrone Lue? Really?), but even if the Celtics wanted one of those guys, none of them are free agents. What would you propose trading for each?
Cousin, sorry about your back! It’s just a hunch on my part that this coming season will be one of the 25% years that he plays more. I guess you can call it cynicism on my part. I haven’t the foggiest who Ainge would offer for any of those points I mentioned. I agree with Grande that we need either another point, hopefully with some experience, to go with Rondo or we need to have Telfair finally become a player for us, even if in limited minutes. The turnovers need to be cut down. The guys I listed are just a few who could be in the price range contractually. I have no idea if Ainge has any interest in any of them at all.
Celty,
I definitely appreciate your optimism. Sorry if I sound bitter about Ratliff. It’s just that thing I was talking about the other day—a feeling that nothing can ever go right again for the Celtics. I keep expecting the worst. Need to snap out of that.
Anyway, in the absence of a trade, there’s not much left out there in terms of free agents.
As for PGs, I guess Brevin Knight is the best one left? I know he is small and can’t shoot, but he a good passer and playmaker, and with PP, RA and AJ, he wouldn’t need to shoot. After that? Maybe Darrell Armstrong, for really cheap in a very limited court role? I guess what he could offer is incredible energy on the bench and at practice and maybe a few games where he goes off and looks like his younger self.
I still want insurance for Ratliff. I wouldn’t mind seeing tham bring in Dikembe. He’s 102 years old, but he did a great job when Yao was out last year. He can still defend and rebound, and he has tons of attitude. I think he could be a good backup for this team because he could be a true role player; they wouldn’t need any offense from him at all. On the other hand, he has a huge ego and his agent may be looking for a longer-term contract for more money than he?s worth.
Then there’s PJ Brown. If he’s willing to accept a backup role, he’s a vet, he plays D and he rebounds. He fills needs.
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