Celt's Dropped The Ball With Powe.

by MyCeltics on Aug 16, 2009 4:36 PM EDT Comment 40 comments

Leon Powe had knee surgery for the third time in his career. Chances are good that he will not be ready to play until the second half of the season. Thus, the Celtics made the correct decision by not keeping him, correct?

No. Here's why I disagree. Recovering from a knee injury and getting back to 100% form will be difficult for Powe. However, it certainly is not impossible. More to the point, if anyone can come back from this or any other injury, it's Powe. The Celtic's forward was once homeless. Think about it. This man was once homeless and has worked his way to the NBA. The mental and physical toughness that Powe has is rare.

Powe's inside presence on both side's of the court was a huge factor in winning banner #17. How many of times did Leon take the ball down the court, full speed, and slam it down with authority? He made an art form out of drawing offensive fouls. He has also been one of the fiercest rebounders in the league. Even Phil Jackson made reference to him during a press conference. (It was unfortunate that Jackson couldn't pronounce his name corrrectly).

The bottom line is this. You know what you are going to get in Leon Powe, both on and off the court. The Celtics could have gotten away with playing without Powe until he was fully recovered. Even if it takes Powe longer than expected to rehab his knee, no one would have blamed Danny if he kept Leon and he stayed on the bench. It would have been the right thing to do.

Now the green have to prepare to battle again Mr. Powe. The Celtics just made Leon Powe even hungrier.

Be respectful and keep it clean. Thanks.

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He isn't going to play this year close to what he has in the past

He had microfracture. No one has come back from that in less then a year in the NBA. Especially not a small PF having his knee repaired for the third time.

by Wide Load on Aug 16, 2009 4:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tell that to LA and Cleveland

Both the Champion Lakers and and Cav’s showed interest. The Cav’s ofcourse signed him. When the best team in the NBA is willing to take a chance on a player, it speaks volumes for him. Even if he is 75% ready, a lot of teams think he’s worth it.

Definition of Basketball: Boston Celtics

by MyCeltics on Aug 16, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They wanted to do something to get under the Celtics skins

They wanted a player with inside info.

The point is can anyone give an example of any player come back so quickly from such procedures (all procedures, not just one of them)

And how long after does it takes for the jump to return to the legs? Because Powe without his legs is just a short PF.

by Wide Load on Aug 16, 2009 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have a hard time believing

That another team will waste it’s time to try to figure out ways to get under another team’s skin.

by ICSTC on Aug 16, 2009 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

plus with rasheed and all the new players and skills we now have well prob be changing the offense up quite a bit, its not like the things teams run is a secret theres a thing called game film.

by celtics94 on Aug 17, 2009 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well i dnt think cleveland is really certain of his health at all, thats why they made the second year a team option which they probably wont pick up after this year, yea they took the chance but thats becasue they have room 4 a guy like him where they can wait for him to rehab, we dont we need all our roster spots available 4 players that will help us all year

by celtics94 on Aug 16, 2009 8:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cleveland lost Joe Smith because of the acquisition.

Cleveland dropped the ball. By signing Powe they lost Joe Smith. They signed someone who most likely won’t play one minute next year and lost one of their best backups. Boston has a great chance to sign somone who can play right now. I would rather have a chance at an aging backup that can play than someone who will just fill up a roster spot and waste our money. Signing someone who is injured is a desperate move and in this case a poor choice since Joe skipped town.

by Whetzell on Aug 16, 2009 8:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

joe smith wanted minutes

and i don’t blame him. but he wasn’t going to get those minutes in cleveland, with or without leon powe. cleveland offered smith the same $ as atlanta, and he went where the minutes were. nobody dropped the ball.

by hooray on Aug 18, 2009 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dont think it was dropping the ball, Powe wouldnt have gotten very much playing time

In Kobe we trust!

by robi s on Aug 16, 2009 8:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Leon is only 25 years old,

Getting under the Celt’s skin? Is that why LA was willing to roll the dice?
Dr. Phil is only concerned about those who can help him win another ring come playoff time.
Remember, Powe is only in his mid 20’s.
People talk about Joe Smith, but where was he during that Orlando series?
Leon wouldn’t be the first player in a green and white uniform to sit on the bench
for ever and not contribute.
Tony Allen has been riding the pine for decades.
That reminds me…are the Celtics still paying Vin Baker these days?
I do like the C’s chances in 2010. I would have rather kept Powe, though.

Definition of Basketball: Boston Celtics

by MyCeltics on Aug 17, 2009 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol why is this a response to me?

In Kobe we trust!

by robi s on Aug 19, 2009 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

First of all

Phil Jackson commented on Powe to complain about the refs. Whether he’s right or not (I don’t think he is by a long shot), I don’t know if that necessarily translates into praising Powe.

Secondly, the Celtics want 15 guys who are healthy and can play with absolutely needed, and I’m ok with that. SalmonandMashedPotatoes lost that in contextual translation when I said it the first time concerning this issue, cause I made it sound like all 15 guys would get to play in one game. Furthermore, we still need a backup PG or possibly a bigger SF that can defend the better SFs in the NBA. Either player would be better than an injured Powe to start the season when we are already loaded on big men.

I would’ve been ok with Powe coming back if that’s what DA really wanted, but him deciding against that doesn’t mean he dropped the ball. He got someone else to fill Powe’s role in Shelden Williams.

by Tai on Aug 17, 2009 1:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

"How many times did Leon take the ball down the court, full speed, and slam it down with authority?"

One, to my recollection – in the midst of the second half of Game 2 against the Lakers.

I’m right there as a Leon aficionado with anyone – and further, I don’t think how many times he “took the ball down the court” to dunk it is a deal-breaker in any event – but let’s please try to keep this realistic.

-sw

"I didn't go there with the intentions of getting ejected. I went there with the intentions of just telling Kobe, 'You got to relax. You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?'" -Ron Artest, 05.06.09

by Steve Weinman on Aug 17, 2009 10:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Really?

Not trying to be rude but this is kind of silly. I love Leon, hope for the best for him, but he’s an undersized power forward, having his 3rd knee surgery who, if and when he returns in the middle of next season, will be competing for a back-up spot. It’s just irresponsible to hand out a multiyear contract in that situation. Especially after signing Rasheed.

I know he’s a strong willed guy, but with injuries it sometimes doesn’t matter the measure of your resolve.

by HeadStorm on Aug 17, 2009 12:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Team D.

Powe was often criticized for his lack of team defense and was pulled from the court frequently because of it. Baby moves better on D. and seemed to get Tom T’s sets much better than Powe did. That lack of understanding as well as the major injuries, played into the Cs half-hearted offer to Powe. I wish him the best of luck and hope he comes back and kicks butt. This was a tough decision which could go either way.

by The Real Large James 2 on Aug 17, 2009 12:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

celtics ranked fifth on power rankings thats just crap, i dnt see how ppl have orlando ahead of the celtics we took em to 7 without our best player, they may have gotten bigger by keepin gortat and company but did they really get much more skilled. vince for hedo is an upgrade but not by much based on numbers to minutes celtics r way deeper than the cavs, plus r starting lineup is miles ahead, LA1, boston2 spurs, orlando ,cavs, shuld be the order

by celtics94 on Aug 17, 2009 6:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

of course

you are correct. I would actually go Celtics #1, LA #2, but that is just me. That is why we aren’t published journalists, we speak the truth.

by star18 on Aug 18, 2009 2:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well 4 now LA is the champs and until sum1 de thrones them, they stay number 1 in my book.

by celtics94 on Aug 18, 2009 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You do know that Nelson was also out that series, right?

Poster for next year? I'm thinking My Little Pony.

by Zaig on Aug 18, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

did u happen to c wut we did to orlando in the regular season with both squads 100% healthy, becasue i think it was a freakin massacre. the only 2 games orlando beat us was after KG went down so please not scard of them at all.

by celtics94 on Aug 18, 2009 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Okay

Garnett played 3 games in regular season vs Orlando
Game 1: Nelson didn’t play due to injury. Orlando used a 7 man rotation. Celtics won easily, go figure.
Game 2: Everyone played, Celtics won.
Game 3: Orlando won, granted KG only played 17 minutes. (Oddly enough those were the 17 minutes that Orlando won the game in, they got outscored after KG left.)

So… you’re basing this conclusion on one game? By that same logic would you bet on the Bobcats over the Lakers in a playoff series?

(From the way you talk I know we won’t get a civil discussion out of this, but I have to try.)

Poster for next year? I'm thinking My Little Pony.

by Zaig on Aug 19, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe that was a crappy reason to assume that we wuld beat them easily in the playoffs, but u cant argue with the fact that with jameer nelson they r not much better than they were with rafer alston, the records with the jammeer and with alston were similar. n i dnt really view orlando is a threat becsaue without hedo whos there closer. vincanity may be able to rack up points but unless ur throwin him a lob to win the game hes not clutch at all. hedo hit huge shot after huge shot. vince carter numbers based on assists r similar to hedo but vince cant run the offense at all hedo was the main point alot in the playoffs, so tell me whos the magic closer, becasue a close game between the celtics n magic, magic r losing that more often than not. ill give it to the magic they gained sum good guys in bass n barnes, but really they gave up courtney lee who played great in the playoffs, and rafer alston a good point guard who can shoot the three 4 an under sized PF and a role wing player at best. sounds like a down grade. bass makes them tougher inside but doesnt help there perimeter guys which is guys that the magic rely on heavily. barnes is a streaky 3 point shooter. the game where both teams were full squad we won by 30+ points the game u had jameer out we won by 30+ points u beat us twice without KG. the orlado magics greatest weapon is that they can mismatch rashard lewis with the PF and SF, they can do that with almost every team but the celics thats how they got past the cavs n that why they beat us twice without KG. KG handle lewis well enough where he cant win a game single handedly 4 them.

by celtics94 on Aug 19, 2009 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

exspecially not a series

by celtics94 on Aug 19, 2009 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

we took u to 7 games without our best player well c who wins if u c u in the playoffs i wuldnt be surprised if it only went 5 in the celtics favor

by celtics94 on Aug 19, 2009 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

we beat u by 30+ twice with full team. we lost by 3 points without our best player n the celtics have gotten much better orlando has gotten slightly better n well c if vince carter works out casue when vince carter went to new jersey with kidd and jefferson every1 thought they were a power house until they got taken down in the east conference semifinals

by celtics94 on Aug 19, 2009 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Okay

Quit saying you, I am not from Orlando. I simply have the ability to look at something objectively.

Second, your writing makes my eyes bleed. It is really unreadable.

Poster for next year? I'm thinking My Little Pony.

by Zaig on Aug 20, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sorry i dnt use correct grammar

by celtics94 on Aug 20, 2009 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh it goes far beyond that

All good though, I just can’t read your longer posts.

Poster for next year? I'm thinking My Little Pony.

by Zaig on Aug 21, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well iv nevr had any1 complain about my posts maybe its just you

by celtics94 on Aug 21, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They probably just don't read them

Poster for next year? I'm thinking My Little Pony.

by Zaig on Aug 24, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well they comment of them so im assuming they read them, maybe your illiterate, and you dont know basetball cause thats how it seems to me

by celtics94 on Aug 24, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

please

You’re the biggest hater on these blogs. I just don’t understand you because i’ve seen you on EVERY blog i go to. I’ve been to a total of 4 blogs on SB nation —lakers, blazers, magic and celtics. You are on every single one, usually hating on someone, whether it’s Kobe and the Lakers or now even the Celtics. I don’t understand that one, since they are rivals.

So don’t tell anyone that you can “look at things objectively.” You’re the biggest hater I’ve seen on these boards using the most faulty of logic. Even in this case, what logic are you using? At least celtic94 had an argument. You on the other hand continue to talk about grammer and your eyes bleeding. Give me a break.

by plyka on Aug 25, 2009 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks bro i appreciate the backup

by celtics94 on Aug 26, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

u got to understnad im not an orlando hatr i wanted them to beat the cavs i jus dont think there as good as ppl think, n well c that come playoff time

by celtics94 on Aug 19, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Leon who? Pow?

I’m not going to get teared up over a gimpy big with a sob story. Meh.

by stevenfuzz on Aug 17, 2009 11:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Powe is great

But I think that this guy is better

He earned the 2005 and 2006 NABC Defensive Player of the Year Awards while at Duke, becoming only the fifth player in history to earn the award two consecutive years. He holds Duke’s career blocks record, single-season blocks record, and career rebounding record, while he is 17th in career blocks on the NCAA charts. He is the third player in ACC history to have 1,500 points, 1,000 rebounds and 350 blocks (joining Tim Duncan and Ralph Sampson)

A 5th overall pick, Shelden Williams is an upgrade over Powe now because of Leon’s health. Powe won’t even play in the 1st half of the season. And Shelden is going to be a much better player now he is with the Celtics. This guy is a Duke legend, he has more potential than Leon.

by star18 on Aug 18, 2009 2:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

YEAH!

Optimism! Chilling Realism! Be careful not to alienate yourself, people are weary of such blind exuberance. I like it. Warriors don’t run into battle thinking they are going to lose. Neither should fans. Here’s my ironic question of the day: “What would Powe do?”.

by stevenfuzz on Aug 18, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

celts drop the ball with powe ?

lets see scal, tony allen sheldon williams yeah the#5 pick thar turned out to be a bust fat ass big baby and bill walker teah all these guys are really better than powe next the celtics are going to say ramon rivas or alla abdelnaby is better then pierce and k.g. just admit it dannt boy you dropped the ball and tossed leon away like garbage…..

by lohaus#54 on Aug 18, 2009 6:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Everyone please move on!

Yes we like Powe and his hustle play but please move on now. Ainge wanted to win while we still have the big three in their prime. Powe will most likely miss most of the season and might not be the same after that. Tell me how that figures into winning now? Ainge made the right move, so please move past it and stop talking about it.

by esp4p3 on Aug 19, 2009 12:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hard choice but right move

Tough call for Danny, but I think he made the right move because:

1) Powe is coming off a 3rd serious knee injury,
2) We do not need to 2 under sized power forwards on the roster (Powe and Baby)
3) Id rather have the extra height and bulk Sheldon Williams has over Powe, especially since we need more insurance if injury strikes the front line players.
4) Id rather have the extra height and bulk of Wheldon Williams over Powe especially come playoff time when we face teams with big front court players.

Though it sure would of been nice to sign Powe as our 14 or 15th roster player.

by fordescort on Aug 20, 2009 8:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs