TBUC
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Posts: 920
Loc: austin, texas
Registered on 02-06-02
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07-30-10 07:25 AM - Post#92980
You've heard it here first, and it's a distinct possibility: Shaq might be donning the Green in the very near future.
This acquisition, again, hinges on Wallace's decision to retire. But if Sheed does hang 'em up, Danny has admittedly expressed interest in the Big Shamrock.
Though we both know Shaq's limitations on the offensive end have become glaring, his ability to board and eat up space in the paint are still major plusses. These attributes would be a boon to the C's roster as Perk rehabs his knee.
If a Big Shamrock signing comes to pass, that would leave the C's with a bruising frontcourt rotation of Baby Davis, Perk, Shaq, Jermaine O' Neal, and (I hope) an ever-improving KG. Now that would be, if nothing else, a very interesting melding of talent. Could it work? Would it work? I guess we will know more if Danny brings in the Big Shamrock for a stint in Beantown.
Thoughts, kind poster...
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Rams4ever
Diamond V.I.P.
Posts: 5941
Loc: Saint Louis
Registered on 05-27-01
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07-30-10 07:51 AM - Post#92981
In response to TBUC
You've heard it here first, and it's a distinct possibility: Shaq might be donning the Green in the very near future.
Ainge is exposing himself as yet another scared GM that relies on what he thinks are known quantities, rather than be innovative in acquiring ascending players or better yet assmebling a coaching staff that can continually develop young centers esp offensively. Ainge seems like another Gruden in that regard.
Shaq? IMO Shaq is more liability than asset at this stage of his career. He needs minutes because of his prestigious name, yet his minutes take away from a promising younger talent that could definitely help your org more over the long haul. Rasheed Wallace still had/has a lot in the tank, Shaq is so far away from what he was in his prime that it is a joke - he is literally living on a name brand. Shaq's Cleveland stint was an embarrassment - and further Shaq's acquisition contributed greatly to the Cav's postseason collapse and their organizational implosion that culminated in Gilbert's open letter to his fans. The Cavaliers have plummeted most rapidly into the most heinous of all professional sports status - irrelevancy - because a brand requires a buzz from the public...any buzz will do - and just make sure they spell your name right...
A Shaq acquisition will reek of desperation - particularly with a roster laced with aging, declining former superstars and a very much relevant team that cries out for a younger infusion of high quality players.
Come on kind poster...let it flow
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TBUC
Platinum V.I.P.
Posts: 920
Loc: austin, texas
Registered on 02-06-02
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07-30-10 08:25 AM - Post#92982
In response to Rams4ever
You've heard it here first, and it's a distinct possibility: Shaq might be donning the Green in the very near future.
Ainge is exposing himself as yet another scared GM that relies on what he thinks are known quantities, rather than be innovative in acquiring ascending players or better yet assmebling a coaching staff that can continually develop young centers esp offensively. Ainge seems like another Gruden in that regard.
Shaq? IMO Shaq is more liability than asset at this stage of his career. He needs minutes because of his prestigious name, yet his minutes take away from a promising younger talent that could definitely help your org more over the long haul. Rasheed Wallace still had/has a lot in the tank, Shaq is so far away from what he was in his prime that it is a joke - he is literally living on a name brand. Shaq's Cleveland stint was an embarrassment - and further Shaq's acquisition contributed greatly to the Cav's postseason collapse and their organizational implosion that culminated in Gilbert's open letter to his fans. The Cavaliers have plummeted most rapidly into the most heinous of all professional sports status - irrelevancy - because a brand requires a buzz from the public...any buzz will do - and just make sure they spell your name right...
A Shaq acquisition will reek of desperation - particularly with a roster laced with aging, declining former superstars and a very much relevant team that cries out for a younger infusion of high quality players.
Come on kind poster...let it flow
Did you just drop a "Gruden Bomb" on D. Ainge. Please, kind poster, you know JG never, and I mean never, would have shown the self-restraint Ainge showed in refusing to include Rondo in the deals that roped in Ray Ray and KG. Ainge, furthermore, groomed a lumbering, overweight center out of high school named Kendrick Perkins. The upshot of DA's patience here: KP is easily one of the best man-up low post defenders in the Association.
There are other examples, such as the re-signing of N. Robinson while foregoing an Eddie House return, that bespeaks not only Ainge's commitment to a youth infusion but a committment to adding quickness and explosiveness to his roster as well.
Didn't you say, with a full training camp under his belt, N. Rob might just be a "modern day Vinnie Johnson"? I mean daaaaaaaaaaaaamn...could it be that one Danny Ainge and R4E are of like mind. Who would have thunk it?
Ainge must engage in a highly calculated balancing act re: the compostion of his roster precisely because the C's are very much a "relevant" team. Relevant teams often need "to reach" for certain players (see Karl Malone with the Lakers) when championship windows still remain legitimately open. Shaq, at this stage of his career, definitely falls into the "reach" category, but Ainge seems to be deliberating carefully (and rightfully so) as to whether he will offer the Big Shamrock a roster spot.
D. Ainge has proven to be the anti-Gruden no matter what becomes of the Shaq rumor. Or do you not see plenty of youth and explosiveness on the hardwood when the C's fashion a second unit of Rondo, Robinson, Davis, Perk, and Daniels come next fall? What do you see with this lineup, R4E? I see youth, explosiveness, and a whole lot of determination. Thoughts, kind poster. I've just turned the spigot on full bore, so let it flow my brutha...let it flow!
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Rams4ever
Diamond V.I.P.
Posts: 5941
Loc: Saint Louis
Registered on 05-27-01
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07-30-10 09:04 AM - Post#92983
In response to TBUC
N. Rob might just be a "modern day Vinnie Johnson"? I mean daaaaaaaaaaaaamn...could it be that one Danny Ainge and R4E are of like mind. Who would have thunk it?
Rondo, Rob, Davis, Perk & Daniels? Damn that is a good young lineup, esp for a second unit - that is what you need to make a deep playoff run - a starting 5 for a 2nd unit.
Although to exchange Nate Rob for the Microwave? The 1988 Pistons wouldnt do it TBUC. And it is not that NateRob is not comparable offensively, he surely is comparable offensively - it is that NateRob is smaller physically and much more vulnerable to being isolated and post up on the defensive end.
Additionally and in that mode...losing TT to be the new coach of the Bulls is a key development that you have made no mention of, kind poster. You can pretend it did not happen all you want...but that devel is a major issue that I am watching for on the Celtics next season - you just do not make that postseason run in 2010 unless that Celtics defense comes together that way - much to every neutral observers shock!
Ainge reliance, over-reliance, on veterans is a fault and a crutch. Additionally allowing Rivers to pull a Favre for the foreseeable future is unwise - to put it mildly. Layer that onto the loss of TT?
Would you feel comfortable with DA as incomparable GM and bench coach extraordinaire???
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TBUC
Platinum V.I.P.
Posts: 920
Loc: austin, texas
Registered on 02-06-02
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07-30-10 02:54 PM - Post#92984
In response to Rams4ever
N. Rob might just be a "modern day Vinnie Johnson"? I mean daaaaaaaaaaaaamn...could it be that one Danny Ainge and R4E are of like mind. Who would have thunk it?
Additionally and in that mode...losing TT to be the new coach of the Bulls is a key development that you have made no mention of, kind poster. You can pretend it did not happen all you want...but that devel is a major issue that I am watching for on the Celtics next season - you just do not make that postseason run in 2010 unless that Celtics defense comes together that way - much to every neutral observers shock!
Ainge reliance, over-reliance, on veterans is a fault and a crutch. Additionally allowing Rivers to pull a Favre for the foreseeable future is unwise - to put it mildly. Layer that onto the loss of TT?
Would you feel comfortable with DA as incomparable GM and bench coach extraordinaire???
Oh, kind poster, you remain unequalled in your ability to decipher what I don't want to recognize in my beloved C's--and yes, I do not like to ponder what TT's exit means for the C's nonpareil defense.
I'd be lying if I said Game 7 of the Finals doesn't make me especially sick because the C's, minus Perk no less, held the Lakers to a woeful shooting percentage during that contest. But Ainge and Doc secured an excellent replacement for TT in the form of Lawrence Frank, a replacement that should ready the C's for a contest such as the aforementioned if it comes to pass.
Frank's NJ squads, which had nary the talent of the current C's roster, twice finished in the top 6 in overall defense. No greater litmus test exists to determine an NBA coach's acumen than whether he can get his team to play defense. (Do you deny this, R4E?) Frank has proven himself on this front during his stint in the Meadowlands. Frank should have no trouble coaxing KG, Perk, and Rondo et al. into playing defense. Will the results be the same as last year? Only time will tell...but do know L. Frank comes to the C's as a highly respected defensive mind.
As for Ainge, a "bench coach" he is not. I think his time in Phoenix has proven as much. But as a GM... I'll take him over the GM "extraordinaire" MJ any day of the week and twice during the postseason. Ooops, did any of the teams Mike GM'd even make the playoffs? (smile!)
So tell me R4E...do you see a huge dropoff between Frank and TT? Will the loss of TT somehow undermine the C's "willingness" to play ferocious defense? Tell all my, kind poster. I'm all ears!
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