How is your starting line-up looking so far? I think it might look something like this(correct me if i'm wrong): pg-M.Banks sg-J.Welsh/R.Davis sf-P.Pierce pf-R.LaFrentz/A.Jefferson c-M.Blount
I think the opening night starting line-up will be: C. Atkins P. Pierce J. Welsch R. LaFrentz M. Blount
PG Chucy Atkins SG Ricky Davis SF Paul Pierce PF Raef LaFrentz (if healthy by then) C Mark Blount That's what I think it should be
It's probably going to look something like this Atkins Pierce Welsch Lafrentz, if injured hopefully Al, but it could be Walter Blount What I hope it is by the end of the season: Banks Pierce Davis/Welsch splitting time Jefferson Blount/Perkins splitting time
As of right now, I'd say it's the following: Atkins Davis/Welsh(although I'd have Davis starting) Pierce LaFrentz Blount
Hmm <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bay_Area_Fan:</div><div class="quote_post">How is your starting line-up looking so far? I think it might look something like this(correct me if i'm wrong): pg-M.Banks sg-J.Welsh/R.Davis sf-P.Pierce pf-R.LaFrentz/A.Jefferson c-M.Blount</div> Tough to say right now due to the fact that its likely we will make some sort of trade of either Davis or Atkins or perhaps both. I know Davis being traded is not a popular thought but Welsch and Allen need time. If the team is as constituted though I would say C-Blount PF-Lafrentz SF-Jiri SG-Pierce PG-Banks Bench C-Perkins,Brown PF-Jefferson,Perkins SF-Jones SG-Allen,Davis PG-West,Atkins
IMO, the Celtics should free up as much playing time as possible for Jefferson, Allen, West, Perkins, and Banks. Not so much because they are sure things, but because they need the opportunity to earn a role in the roation, or not. I can only imagine the pain involved in starting one of the 2 young point guards anytime this season. So I predict Atkins, or a point guard to be named later. Also, I expect the Celtics to trade both Mihm and Davis before training camp. Starters C- Mark Blount PF- Raef Lafrentz SF- Jiri Welsch SG- Paul PiercePierce PG- Chucky Atkins Bench C-Perkins,Brown PF-Jefferson SF-Jones, McCarty SG-Allen PG-Banks, West
<font size="6"><font color="DarkGreen">First: Welcome to JBB and our Celtics Forum!</font> </font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Also, I expect the Celtics to trade both Mihm and Davis before training camp.</div> Interesting.....Not to put you on the spot, but if you have any thoughts on where or who they might be traded for, we'd be glad to hear your ideas.
Hmm, the Celtics as of now have a bunch of talent young and old, but it's up to the high schoolers in Jefferson and Perkins whether they break out or not. My bet here is that at least one of them will by the end of the season. However, I don't expect them to make an impact right at the start of the season. My lineup would look like: C-Blount PF-Lafrentz SF-Welsch <font size="-2">(I'd rather bring Davis off the bench to be an instant offensive source)</font> SG-Pierce PG-Atkins
Hagrid, you ask a fair question about the details of trading Mihm and Davis. I expect Mihm to go in a sign-and-trade later this month. We've all seen speculation of up to a half dozen teams. I'll leave it up to Danny to decide if any of the offers are worth taking. As far as Ricky Davis is concerned, I'll accept just about any trade. I cringe at the thought of Paul Pierce or any of the rookies being influenced by Ricky. This is "addition through subtraction". The word last year when Davis came to town was that he was a valuable chip, and that other GM's wanted to take a chance on his upside.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">As far as Ricky Davis is concerned, I'll accept just about any trade. I cringe at the thought of Paul Pierce or any of the rookies being influenced by Ricky. This is "addition through subtraction". </div> I take it you're not a fan of his. My follow up question would then have to be: Why do you feel that he's a bad influence? Why I realize his history with other teams, he's had no issues with us and even swallowed his ego to come off the bench. Just wondering why so many C's fans seem to be of the opinion that they don't believe he's capable of maturing. Not sure if that's your reason, but I'd be interested to hear it.
Whatever the starting lineup looks like it ain't going to be good. There are going to have to be some quantum leaps in development (Welsch, Perkins, Jefferson, Banks) to even sniff .500. I so wish we could trade LaFrentz and Davis. Those were two absolutely ridiculous moves.
I had some fun last month on another forum listing Ricky's "offenses". They span every team he has played on, and nearly every coach he played for. Exhibit A was when Ricky missed a shot at his own basket, in order to get credit for a 10th rebound and a triple double. The punch line was that it didn't count as a rebound anyway. Lat season Ricky was credited with being on his BEST behavior, and I believe I remember 2 breakaway dunks in which he embarrased the team, and the fan base. Now this could be forgivable on the Bobcats, or the Clippers, or even the Nets, but this is not the way things have been done in Boston, and the Celtics delivered 16 World Championships playing "Old School". I'm not saying that Ricky is a lost cause, but I am of the opinion that the Celtics are in no position to hope he matures, because a veteran like Ricky can have a great deal of influence on Paul Pierce or all of the promising newcomers. This is just my opinion. I will of course go with Danny and Doc's verdict, because they see the guy every week and are in a far better position to judge.
I understand your opinion on Ricky, but I respectfully disagree with it. Sure, Ricky has done some dumb things in the past, I understand that. But did any off the things in which you've mentioned effect the outcome of the game? Did they hurt the team in any way? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">and I believe I remember 2 breakaway dunks in which he embarrased the team, and the fan base</div>I remember one...the one he missed. But, He didn't embarrass the team nor the fan base....he embarrassed himself. The other one I believe you are talking about was when he did a 360 and it went down. Is that really a big deal nowadays? It is not just Ricky Davis doing fancy dunks on uncontested breakaways. A large amount of players do it. Why single out Ricky? He makes up for his foolishness with hustle. There is a reason Tommy Heinsohn fell in love with him last year, the guy just plays hard every night. There is no lack of effort there.<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Exhibit A was when Ricky missed a shot at his own basket, in order to get credit for a 10th rebound and a triple double.</div>Ok...Was that such a big deal? Did that effect the outcome of that game in any way? Sure, it was stupid, but why is this guy still hammered for that? I never heard anybody get on Bob Sura for doing it last year. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not saying that Ricky is a lost cause, but I am of the opinion that the Celtics are in no position to hope he matures, because a veteran like Ricky can have a great deal of influence on Paul Pierce or all of the promising newcomers. </div>Please explain to me how Ricky is a bad influence. I really would like to know. Do you think he is going to convince Paul Pierce to shoot at his own basket to get an extra reboud? Or perhaps you think he will convince Delonte West to attempt a between the legs dunk on a breakaway? I don't know where this "bad influence" is coming from. The guy plays hard, hustles, and he never complained about coming off the bench. If he can influence the rooks to play half as hard as he does, than I would be more than happy.
Yeah, we're all going to have some points we disagree on. For my part, I the particular issues presented thus far, aren't enough to warrant moving him, because he represents far more positives to the team, than he does negatives. Ricky and Paul are working out together this summer. I believe the only real influencing going on is Paul to Ricky, which for the most part, we all have to acknowledge has to be a good thing. To be sure, Ricky Davis has done some things in the past that have knocked some of the lustre off his unbelieveable talent. However, I think he's going to be the second best player on this team in the upcoming season and finally come out as the player many think he's just needed the right situation to emerge as.
