Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo to the Celtics...

[DoctorBombay]

Don't quite understand the Melo-bashing here, and I'll chalk up most of it to pronounced Cuse haterade.
Melo works, and he works hard. The kid got better every game, and honestly, pleasantly surprised alot of Cuse fans.
The old adage "you can't teach size" applies here- and as a 20+ pick, what more can you expect other than that he'll work hard, be a role player and eventually get better?
We're not talking Olajuwan here...but I doubt he's a Thabeet either. I think taking a flyer on Fab was a good move, especially with Sully already in the fold.

 

[tykurez]

Garnett has yet to say anything and there is more speculation he'll retire, especially since Danny Ainge an hour ago said that he's not sure. If Ainge is not sure, no one is sure. In recent days, Green's agent has made it clear that a return to Boston is not a certainty given the amount of interest he's garnering. Ray Allen is about as 50/50 as you can get (though he certainly will be relegated to a role player's position) and Brandon Bass is probably the most likely of the group to resign (though I know there's a huge contingent of Celtics fans that would rather not see that happen.)

From what I hear Stiemsma, Pietrus, and Bass are all expected to sign ... and who wouldn't want Bass back? He was an obvious upgrade over Baby.

 

[aceboon]

this thread pretty much defines NBA discussions on the boneyard....yikes

 

[NHUConnfan]

From what I hear Stiemsma, Pietrus, and Bass are all expected to sign ... and who wouldn't want Bass back? He was an obvious upgrade over Baby.

My most hardcore Celtics fan friends. They think he's lazy and that his bad games cost the Celtics more than his good games help the Celtics. I'm not a particular subscriber to that belief...but I'd say there's a healthy contingent who believe that.

 

[HeGotGame]

My most hardcore Celtics fan friends. They think he's lazy and that his bad games cost the Celtics more than his good games help the Celtics. I'm not a particular subscriber to that belief...but I'd say there's a healthy contingent who believe that.

You say the C's needed to draft a C who can play now. But you do not say who they should have taken? There is no C in this draft outside of Davis that can step in and start now and at the 22 pick there will never be one sitting there, unless the player is a complete surprise. The C's are hoping Melo is that surprise.

So many posters on this board judge picks in a vaccumm, without looking at what other players are there and what the team needs. Like the Waiters bashing here is so nonsensical. All they see is a guy who didnt start going #4 without looking at the Cavs roster and the other options available.

So instead of bashing the Melo pick please tell me who is the center they should have taken at 22?????

 

[nomar]

Hey Nomar, I like the guy & nobody doubts his skill. He was probably a top 5 pick last year. I was just trying to point out that a guy with self-admitted weight issues and a herniated disk is a different type of roll of the dice. Ainge said last night that he'll need "short and long-term maintenance," whatever that means. Hope it works out for him and the C's.

We're on the same page. It is a roll of the dice. Hard to do at, say, #10. But at #21 I'm happy to roll the dice...

 

[nomar]

My most hardcore Celtics fan friends. They think he's lazy and that his bad games cost the Celtics more than his good games help the Celtics. I'm not a particular subscriber to that belief...but I'd say there's a healthy contingent who believe that.

Those are people who b*tch and moan about everybody. Bass was a big upgrade over Baby. Period. Those people hated Baby worse; they just forgot about it when they found someone new to complain about. Bass is no All-Star but he's a better shooter and rebounder than Baby was. Davis was good as a rook and 2nd year guy but then suddenly thought he was KG. He took waaaay too many 15-17 footers. Bass makes them, at least.

 

[nomar]

p.s. FWIW, NHU, on the RealGM main board there is a thread "Draft Winners & Losers" and pretty much 90% of people named Celtics in their list of Winners and I didn't see a single person name them as a Loser. And it's not like the Celtics are fan favorites on RealGM.

I don't like Melo, myself, but I do like Sullinger. I hope I'm right about him and wrong about Fab.

 

[NHUConnfan]

p.s. FWIW, NHU, on the RealGM main board there is a thread "Draft Winners & Losers" and pretty much 90% of people named Celtics in their list of Winners and I didn't see a single person name them as a Loser. And it's not like the Celtics are fan favorites on RealGM.

I don't like Melo, myself, but I do like Sullinger. I hope I'm right about him and wrong about Fab.

Everyone is basing their "grades" on the Celtics draft that Sullinger will be a success. If he fails to produce, those "grades" won't matter.

 

[UConn990411]

And what else are they supposed to base it on right now?

Sullinger has "DeJuan Blair steal" written all over him, and he already has an NBA-ready offensive game. When you're drafting at 21 like the Celtics were, that's a guy you take a chance on...especially when the C's had the 22nd pick as well.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Those are people who b*tch and moan about everybody. Bass was a big upgrade over Baby. Period. Those people hated Baby worse; they just forgot about it when they found someone new to complain about. Bass is no All-Star but he's a better shooter and rebounder than Baby was. Davis was good as a rook and 2nd year guy but then suddenly thought he was KG. He took waaaay too many 15-17 footers. Bass makes them, at least.

Agreed. Those whiny old Celtics fans are unhappy with any PF not named McHale. I can tell you now, Sullinger is an upgrade over Davis. Better D, better post game, better jumper...no contest. These guys who can't jump out of the gym are forever underrated. Hell, I wonder if anyone would take Bird in the lottery in today's NBA, probably not. Sullinger knows how to play the game. I'd prefer Robinson, who can play and has the athleticism, but Sullinger will be in the league for years if healthy.

As for Rivers, he's a ball hog, no defense, undersized shooting guard. Horrible fit for the Celtics. If he can do what his father did, and turn his athletic gifts toward an unselfish game and become a distribute first PG with good range, he'll be a good player. I'm not sure he can. There was no SG in this draft worth moving up for. I don't think any of them even belonged in the top 10.

 

[HeGotGame]

My most hardcore Celtics fan friends. They think he's lazy and that his bad games cost the Celtics more than his good games help the Celtics. I'm not a particular subscriber to that belief...but I'd say there's a healthy contingent who believe that.

Sounds like a real Mensa meeting when you guys get together.

 

[HeGotGame]

I always though Flynn was better...and look at what he's doing in the NBA.

Why would you even compare the two? Because they went to Syracuse? They do not play the same position. Flynn is undersized, Waiters has very good size for his position. Waiters is much better shooter and his game translates much better to the NBA as he is so much more explosive and better in transition.

 

[NHUConnfan]

Sounds like a real Mensa meeting when you guys get together.

I'm glad you can read /sarcasm.

 

[NHUConnfan]

You guys can criticize me for whatever...but I am certainly entitled to my opinion that I hate the picks the Celtics made and I have very good reason to do so. I'm not going to argue otherwise because clearly some people really like the picks.

 

[dogfan96]

He had one bad game against Kansas where he was being guarded by an NBA body in Withey and doubled by an NBA lottery pick in Robinson. It just so happened to be his last game, and everybody was watching. This is how you make value picks: by recognizing that everyone is overrating or underrating something or someone.

Hey, he'll get blocked in the pros. Everybody not named LeBron and Durant does. What I like about him is his offensive versatility. When he gets a good matchup, he can post-up and either make a move or pass out if he gets doubled. Then he also happens to have a nice jump shot out to 20 feet.

This is all speculation, of course.

Ummm... yeah.. the NBA has "NBA bodies" and "lottery picks" everywhere... the Kansas situation will be more of the norm than the exception in the pros. Like I said, his face-up game will have to be his calling card bc he won't be scoring a lot with his back to the basket. He's just not big or athletic enough.

 

[RS9999X]

Those are people who b*tch and moan about everybody. Bass was a big upgrade over Baby. Period. Those people hated Baby worse; they just forgot about it when they found someone new to complain about. Bass is no All-Star but he's a better shooter and rebounder than Baby was. Davis was good as a rook and 2nd year guy but then suddenly thought he was KG. He took waaaay too many 15-17 footers. Bass makes them, at least.

Bass is a great off the bench player. Jeff Green could be and sometimes is.

Bradley was another player who slipped based on injury. There's risk with the Bradley's and Sulinger's no question.

Bradley was number 1 to 4 coming out of High school and is 21. Drafted 19 by the Celts. He's got a Celtics future as does Sulinger if they can manage his injury and transition.

Melo I like as a backup plan to eat some minutes. He's mobile and might be a better Center than Thabeet. The Celts need another big guy if they re-sign Bass and Garnett

I'd being the core 5 back for two years (Bass, Allen and Garnett) and Greg Stiemsma and let these guys go

Marquis Daniels (I'm really not a fan)
Kenyon Dooling
Ryan Hollins
Sasha Pavlovic (Hated him as a Laker the damn mouth breather)
Mickael Pietrus (I'm really not a fan of MP's game either)

Jeff Green if someone better is available for the price.


NBA draft: Ankle injury ends Avery Bradley's workout plans

Rob Mahoney
Jun 14, 2010, 8:00 AM EDT
1 Comment
According to Jonathan Givony of Draft Express, possible lottery pick Avery Bradley has suffered a “mild to medium soft left ankle sprain” that will effectively end his pre-draft workout tour

 

[Brochacho]

Best case for the C's is probably:

Rondo/Dooling
Bradley/Allen/Moore
Pierce/Green/Joseph
KG/Bass/Sullinger/Johnson
MLE/Melo

 

[nomar]

Ummm... yeah.. the NBA has "NBA bodies" and "lottery picks" everywhere... the Kansas situation will be more of the norm than the exception in the pros. Like I said, his face-up game will have to be his calling card bc he won't be scoring a lot with his back to the basket. He's just not big or athletic enough.

Ummm...yeah. Maybe you missed the part where I said he was double-teamed by those two guys. I really doubt he's going to be double-teamed on a regular basis in the pros. And it was one bad game. That's what you call a "small sample size." He was 1st-Team All-American two years in a row. He scored against all types of players.

And, yeah, he can and will shoot from the perimeter. It won't be exclusive. He also has some low-post moves. Nobody said he's going to be Kevin McHale down low. But when he has a good matchup, he'll exploit it.

 

[Adios]

Not sure how either help them get by the Heat.

Try to dominate the paint.

 

[RS9999X]

Best case for the C's is probably:

Rondo/Dooling
Bradley/Allen/Moore
Pierce/Green/Joseph
KG/Bass/Sullinger/Johnson
MLE/Melo

They've extended a qualfying offer to Stiemsma. We'll see 6 young guys: Bradley, Melo,Moore, Johnson, Sullinger and Stiemsma. Joseph is D-League. They don't love Dooling.

Green and the MLE are the interesting off season moves as is PG, I'm not convinced Green will sign with the Celts unless he's the guy behind Pierce and no one else..

 

[Devland]

Garnett has yet to say anything and there is more speculation he'll retire, especially since Danny Ainge an hour ago said that he's not sure. If Ainge is not sure, no one is sure. In recent days, Green's agent has made it clear that a return to Boston is not a certainty given the amount of interest he's garnering. Ray Allen is about as 50/50 as you can get (though he certainly will be relegated to a role player's position) and Brandon Bass is probably the most likely of the group to resign (though I know there's a huge contingent of Celtics fans that would rather not see that happen.)

FYI-Garnett signed a three year contract today.

 

[NHUConnfan]

FYI-Garnett signed a three year contract today.

Why thank you, I haven't noticed /sarcasm

 

[huskypantz]

If you say so. That includes healthy Bradley as well?

Are you suggesting that Bradley = Bosh?

 

[champs99and04]

It's amazing how overrated and overhyped Bradley has become in such a short period of time. Celtics fans are real crazy about a guy who averaged 7.6 PPG last season. I know he's young and talented, but comeon - the guy wouldn't have made that much of a difference in the Celtics-Heat series. What exactly does he give you that Pietrus doesn't?