The Grade So Far

I’d give the Celtics a C too

Their best option was clearly Posey but that play fell through. If the team resigned Posey I would have likely given them an A but they didn’t so they don’t get that grade.

Then came the fallback plan and the Tony Allen/Eddie House moves were solid. It was also one of their best available options. Good recovery play.

The draft picks are interesting. Looking forward to them.

The O Bryant move is a negative.

The lack of a PJ Brown replacement, or at least a legit long NBA big to backup Powe/BBD, is also a negative. If they could acquire someone like Elson that would go a long way. Doesn’t look like they will though, looks like O Bryant is being given an opportunity to disappoint first.

i like the o’bryant and house signings. People tend to forget that even though missed shots, he could come in and nail threes on a dime. Every time needs a sharpshooter like that who’s not afraid to take it under pressure. He should not be a point guard so we shouldn’t look to force him into that position. O’Bryant was never given a legitimate chance in Nellie Ball so I can’t expect that he will be a disappointment. I think he will provide some big defense and shotblocking off the bench.

I like the Tony Allen signing, and I think that he has an incredibly high ceiling (as we’ve been saying for years now) but there is no way we can trust him to be our defensive stopper. He’s too small, too mindless, etc. He can play defense well one on one, but expecting him to replace posey is crazy. Posey fit into the team d, sliding over and guarding whoever he needed too while manning the middle and taking charges when perk sat. Allen’s just not tough enough (or big enough) for that role.

Ah, Roy, Roy, Roy.

Have you no appreciation for the enormous upside of Patrick O’Blount?

 ;)

I like the C’s moves. 3 years full MLE for Posey was fair. New Orleans went a 4th year. So it goes. That enabled us to sign Eddie and T Allen which I like. For all the lame opinions on this blog about what Eddie can’t do, he’s a winner. T. Allen is going to have a good year. I’m glad it is with us. Nobody prefers Tony over Posey but two years of Tony is a better gamble than 4 years of Posey.

As for OBryant, he’s a good gamble. Young, long, chastened, Clif Ray project (I don’t over-rate Ray but he’s not nothing either). If he busts, no big deal. Leave the 15th spot open until Jan-Feb and make the decision then.

Danny has made mistakes which we’ve all discussed but you are a fool if you don’t acknowledge that he has learned from them. We are getting good GM work from our GM.

One of these two draftees is liable to pan out, just as I believe Pruitt will pan out. I also think a pat hand is not quite that because Rondo, Perk, Big Baby and Leon will all be NBA better.

How much time will O’Bryant get with Doc moving KG to the 5 and
playing either Davis or Powe at the 4 when Perk comes out?
That’s likely to happen when the Cs try to force a faster tempo.

Hopefully not a lot.

Until they cut him.

No need to dismiss O’Bryant before he plays. He could be just as good, likely better, than Perkins.

Give the young big man time with Coach Ray, KG, and Perk. You’ll see; and then you’ll come on here and say, ‘I was right all along!’

Tony Allen is going to be too small to play big 3s (e.g., James, Prince). I can’t see how he can replace Posey for this role. Plus, on offense, he can’t hit the outside shot so defenders will cheat off him like they couldn’t do with Posey. Allen is a big downgrade from Posey. I really hope they have another plan in the works.

Tony Allen signing a solid B. POB a B . Have to grade based on what was available in the market. Both fill a need, and have great upside relative to the marketplace perception of their skills last season. OKC already regrets not signing TA. POB was expendible in GS because of A Beidrens (sp).

I give Celts a B. An A if we had Posey/Tony/House back but hopefully we use some of that money and Ray’s salary for a Bosh type F.A. when the time comes. I see Tony stepping it up a couple of notches. OB is low risk with his salary. As mentioned if he doesn’t pan out there is always PJ or some other guy will be available pre playoffs. We will have a “committee” of players: JR, Walker, Tony, even a shade of Scal filling in for Pose. If worse comes to worse, again we will reload before the playoffs. Had we missed out on Tony, I’d give us a D or so.

I said this time last year we had the best chance of any team to win it all after the KG deal. That is still the case. We have the best chance of reaching the finals. Eddie will also help off the bench. Maggatte or Posey would have gotten us an A, but for now, I’ll settle for a B which is where I think we are at.

We have the best starting “5” and our bench is no less than decent. Couldn’t say that 2 yrs ago now, can you guys?

Some people here are simply hoping Ainge and the Celtics’ coaching staff actually do have an eye for talent, and used good judgement in signing O’Bryant. But I don’t see anyone predicting O’Bryant will turn into an all-star.

Meanwhile, I keep seeng others who are dead sure he’s going to be a total bust. I wonder what prompts them to stake out such a strongly negative position. It’ll be interesting to see what they’ll have to say if O’Bryant doesn’t play down to their predictions. For certain, if O’Bryant makes it to the regular season, then CoachBo will have some explaining to do. I hope to hear it.

   If the Celtics keep Giddens, he may see some meaningful, but not extensive minutes, as a small ball, disruptive 3, along with TAllen and Rondo. He has the wingspan and reach of many SF. We’ll have to see if he has the talent. I like the Walker pickup as a gamble, but I’d be amazed if he contributed first 2 years.
   I was checking wingspans on Draft Express, and O’Bryant is listed as having a WS of 7’5", and a standing reach of 9’5". Thats huge. With KG, Perk, and Powe providing inspiration, how can this guy become a slacker.

I disdain the descriptive term , foul prone Perk. During our round against the Hawks, Josh Smith would hack every shooter and instead of getting the foul call would get one of his 5 or so blocks of his average. the Hawks dont sell him as the foul prone Smith but as a elite shot blocker. With not delving into the psychiatry of this point we should describe Perk as the elite low post defender, so writers and commentators will have that imbedded view of him and he will through chain of command get the positive calls. Instead were the ones who should support his efforts instead of the ones to set a negative perception of his skills.
Its sad that perception has as much or if not more weight than reality in so many things.
 How about the elite low post defensive post play of Kendrick Perkins has him on course to be selected to the NBA all defensive 1st team in the near future.
I would think twice about not giving him the block vs automatically given him a foul if i saw that brandied around a couple times. And of course when if i kept reading descriptives like foul prone in front of a players name i couldnt posibly think it was a clean block from that guy vs a foul

So being better than Perkins makes one an all-star? Wow, how times change. I remember that not too long ago, there were some here who were dead certain that Perkins was dog-meat, and not even an adequate back-up center. I guess O’Bryant will be their whipping boy this season.