Celtics picks could mean less iso-ball this season

I am not alone in my dislike of isolation basketball. All of the quotes below are from former NBA player and coach, Sam Mitchell:

"I thought this was supposed to be the new NBA where its not so much iso-basketball."

Many NBA fans are tired of watching a single player control the ball, ready to take their defender one-on-one while teammates streak to the corners waving for a chance to launch a 3-pointer.

"Its supposed to be space, pace and flow - and everybody touches the ball."

The Celtics grabbed 6'6" wing Aaron Nesmith with the 14th pick. Not known for his passing skills or proclivity, Nesmith is tagged as a guy with non-stop, off-ball movement that can hit the long ball. We used to see a lot of that from the late John Havlicek and Detroit's Rip Hamilton. I want it back.

"Last couple years, it's been your turn - my turn, and see who can get to the basket."

Danny Ainge took 6'1" guard Payton Prichard with the 26th pick. Prichard is a scorer but also a willing, and effective facilitator (20.5 PPG, 5.5 APG last season at Oregon).

"That type of basketball (iso-ball) will wear a player down."

The above quote by Mitchell was uttered in reference to the recent injury to Klay Thompson. Sam's argument is that going 1-on-5 or 1-on-3 "wears you down", promoting the onset of fatigue and injuries. Playing the young guys early in the season may lower injury risks for the vets.

"Let's get down to playing team basketball."

I agree! The Celtics are stacked with talent, a brilliant coach and a crafty GM. But brilliance often leads to overthinking solutions. That perhaps defines Brad Stevens. What happened to off-ball movement, team play and floor time for the young guys?

"There may be guys from 10-to-17 that prove themselves early."

Mitchell's final quote above refers to the depth of this draft and the possibility of mid-first-rounders proving themselves better than their draft position. So Brad, play the kids. Demand less iso-ball. Let Nesmith do what he does best - never stop moving and getting the ball from his teammates to justify his claim as an "absolute sniper", And see what Pritchard, the 4-year product from Oregon, can accomplish early in the season.

Comments

The Elm Street Nightmare

A true-and-suspenseful horror tale of haunting, homicides and the hunt for triple-murderer, Daniel Laplante - as told by the cops that were there By Lt. Thomas Lane (Ret.) Daniel Laplante - cold, calm, clever, calculating- Photo: YouTube Elm Street surfaces on six (6) occasions in the Laplante saga: 1.) He resided on Elm Street in Townsend, Massachusetts 2.) He kidnapped a woman at gunpoint on Elm Street, Pepperell , Massachusetts 3.) That kidnapped woman fled to the Gillogly residence on Elm Street after escaping from the armed fugitive, Laplante. 4.) He was arrested and transported to Massachusetts State Police Barracks on Elm Street in Concord . 5.) He was tried, convicted and sentenced for the murders at Superior Court , corner of Elm Stree t and Gorham Street, Lowell, Massachusetts. 6.) The author, Thomas Lane, lived on Elm Steet, Pepperell, Massachusetts while a police Sgt./Lt. for the town police force. When evil and cleverness reside in the same mind, the st

In defense of Marcus Smart

Let me make it clear first of all that I am totally against making a threat of any kind that even hints at harming, or certainly killing, another human being. Marcus Smart was wrong in doing so in the Celtics loss to the tanking Oklahoma City Thunder , and he deserved the one-game suspension. But to be honest, part of me loved that it occurred. . This type of thing can happen when a player gets to a point "beyond frustration" and is having a bad game. Marcus and his teammates have been under-performing generally - were in the process of losing to a pathetic-and-tanking Thunder team - and Smart was having a bad game . And he let loose verbally at the closest target - an NBA official. Wilt Chamberlain did a similar act versus referee, Earl Strom when Wilt was having his usual tortuous time at the free throw line (per Chicago Tribune's Sam Smith): ''He was in one of those 1-for-13s,'' recalls referee Earl Strom. ''Nothing was getting close. S

Did the Celtics Kevin McHale really have a wingspan of 8-feet?

According to many sources, the Celtics Kevin McHale did indeed have an estimated wingspan of 8-feet. One of those sources is Wikipedia, as seen below: Kevin McHale American basketball player DescriptionKevin Edward McHale is an American retired basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Boston Celtics. He is a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, and is regarded as one of the best power forwards of all time. He was named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. Wikipedia Born: December 19, 1957 (age 61 years), Hibbing, MN Wingspan: 8′ 0″ Height: 6′ 10″ Spouse: Lynn McHale (m. 1982) NBA draft: 1980, Boston Celtics (Round: 1 / Pick: 3) Hall of fame induction: 1999 Number: 32 (Boston Celtics / Power forward, Center) Kevin was listed at 6'10" tall when he was drafted with the 3rd pick in the 1980 draft. Red Auerbach, in yet another heist, brought in both McHale and center Robert Parish (via trade) prior to the Celtics' 1980-81 Champion

Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

Search This Blog