O'Bryant excited to get his shot <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>A year ago, the Celtics added Kevin Garnett, a cornerstone for a team that would win the NBA championship. Now, Boston has signed Patrick O'Bryant, another player who spent much of his life playing basketball in the Minneapolis area. O'Bryant, signed to a two-year, $3 million contract, grew up watching Garnett with the Minnesota Timberwolves. O'Bryant, who is expected to be a backup for starting center Kendrick Perkins, will do his share of watching next season as well. But the 22-year-old plans to match up some against Garnett in practice. "I watched [Garnett] for 10 or 11 years in Minnesota," said O'Bryant, a native of Blaine, Minn., at his introductory press conference yesterday. "This is going to be a great opportunity to learn from one of the best." The 7-foot, 250-pound O'Bryant signed Wednesday and worked out at the Celtics' practice facility yesterday. "There is a lot of tradition," O'Bryant said of the Celtics. "You see the banners and you know they are out here to put another one next to that one. I'm here to help do that." O'Bryant played in 40 games as a reserve for Golden State the last two seasons, including an eight-minute stint in a 105-82 loss to the Celtics in Boston Nov. 21. "We lost pretty bad, so I was able to get a couple minutes," O'Bryant said. "You could see their intensity the whole game." O'Bryant, the ninth overall selection in the 2006 draft out of Bradley, struggled to adapt to coach Don Nelson's system with the Warriors. "I had to change my whole style to the Nelly-ball system," O'Bryant said. "Run and gun." The failure of O'Bryant to produce at Golden State raised questions about his future. But O'Bryant absorbed lessons and appears ready for a fresh start. "You've got to expect that," O'Bryant said of Nelson's criticisms of his play. "Coaches always want more from you. They aren't going to say, 'That's good enough.' You have to expect that. You need to have tough skin. "But I feel I never had a chance to prove myself. You can't judge what you don't know. They didn't see me as a fit, whatever it was. I wasn't lost [in the Warriors' system], but it was different." O'Bryant expects to provide shot-blocking, plus post-up and perimeter offense. "I had some other [workouts] but this was the best offer," he said. "You can't beat Boston. I'm as excited as I could ever be. I'm ready to go to work."</div> I already like the kid.
reading these 2 articles gets your hopes up. I do hope it is a case of being in the wrong system rather than he's not making the leap to the NBA level. Guess we won't know until Oct/November though
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Celtic Fan @ Jul 18 2008, 12:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>reading these 2 articles gets your hopes up. I do hope it is a case of being in the wrong system rather than he's not making the leap to the NBA level. Guess we won't know until Oct/November though </div> And then playing for Nelson must have sucked. He usually never plays centers or big power forwards. KG and Perkins will teach him how to be a great defensive player for the Celtics. POB is our future Celtic fan.
Future back up?? indeed. future star?? umm probably not. what can I say.. I'm a pessimist when it comes to my team I'll wait to see the results first
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Celtic Fan @ Jul 18 2008, 12:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Future back up?? indeed. future star?? umm probably not. what can I say.. I'm a pessimist when it comes to my team I'll wait to see the results first</div> Yeah haha, our future back up to Perkins for years to come. on the other hand I'm very optimistic when it comes to the Celtics. (as you can see)
Little late on this one but great signing. Last year we had the priviledge of P.J. Brown, Big Fat Baby, and Planet Pollard all try and fail miserably at backup center. This guy was just the victim of being a 7-foot lottery pick drafted into the frantic Nellie-ball system.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jacoby_Ellsbury @ Jul 21 2008, 10:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Little late on this one but great signing. Last year we had the priviledge of P.J. Brown, Big Fat Baby, and Planet Pollard all try and fail miserably at backup center. This guy was just the victim of being a 7-foot lottery pick drafted into the frantic Nellie-ball system.</div> Glad you're back Ortiz. Hopefully you become more active.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jacoby_Ellsbury @ Jul 22 2008, 12:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>im tryin. my computer's finally fixed.</div> Haven't talked to you in a long time my friend. We missed you during the playoffs.
haha trust me celticking you would not have wanted me here. during those first two series at least. nothing like ortiz going on drunken internet rampages after his celtics lose two games in atlanta.
He got signed!?!? Dang. I was hoping Minny would give him a try. Good signing by Boston. I hope my fellow native Minnesotan develops into a good player. He could become a solid low post presence if he develops correctly.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Legacy @ Jul 22 2008, 12:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Man, this guy will be a good player. Too bad Nellie never played him.</div> Yeah it'll be interesting to find out if Nellie was the problem with POB. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Fatal @ Jul 22 2008, 12:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think this will make him play better, playing infront of your role model.</div> Of course, being around KG and Perkins, and then Pierce and Allen, it'll do wonders for his career. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jacoby_Ellsbury @ Jul 22 2008, 12:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>haha trust me celticking you would not have wanted me here. during those first two series at least. nothing like ortiz going on drunken internet rampages after his celtics lose two games in atlanta. </div> Haha, it would have been fun though, versus other fans. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (tim @ Jul 22 2008, 01:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He got signed!?!? Dang. I was hoping Minny would give him a try. Good signing by Boston. I hope my fellow native Minnesotan develops into a good player. He could become a solid low post presence if he develops correctly.</div> Seems like Boston is where all Minnesotan players end up playing. haha
