I go WAY back with the Celtics. In the late 50's I actually won a shetland pony at a Celtics game. It was a name the pony contest. 2nd prize was a bike and I was the only 11 year old I knew that didn't have one. I was pissed when they called my name and took me right past the bike and put me on the freakin HORSE! Not many horses in those days in the Franklin Field Projects.
Then in the early 60's. I got real excited when my older sister told me about the time Russell hit on her in a bar, but she turned him down because she knew he was married (she was a fan too). Boy was I pissed, I came THIS close to meeting Bill Russell
In the mid 80's after I was out of teaching/coaching, I played tag football for the Celtics front office football team. Rick Weitzman was a friend from HS days. He played for the C's when Russell was the coach and we played in the same softball keague. C's GM Jan Volk ran the team and became a friend. ML Carr and Randy Vataha were our ringers. Carr had trouble catching a football, but Vathaha in his 40's and fat, could still get separation and caught EVERYTHING.
That was fun because I got SOME inside access during a very exciting era of Celtics basketball. I once got to film a game when the regular guy couldn't make it. I'm not sure how I did, but they never asked me to do it again. Once I nodded to Larry Bird, and he nodded back. He knew I was one of Jan's football guys, but I'm sure he didn't know my name. I thought it was pretty cool, though I can't speak for Larry.
God what a name dropper I am. I WIN the Ben Volin award this week, because "I know people"
NONE of this qualifies me to make any comments on the Draft, but that fact certainly won't stop me.
I don't know ANYTHING about ANY of the kids they drafted, and the key word here is KIDS. Neither of the first round picks will be eligible to go into a bar their rookie season. Langford looks like a strong wind will blow him away is only 19.
That's the thing about the NBA draft. So many of these key decisions are made on boys not MEN. Scouts often have just one year to see these kids in action, not like in the NFL where they have at LEAST 3 years to see how a kid develops.
On the plus side:
1. I really like the Williams pick. Smart, tough, plays good defense and played in one of more competitive conferences. I know at 6'8 he's a bit undersized, but that didn't stop him in college from being a good rebounder. Charles Barkley was a top rebounder on an annual basis at 6'4.
2. Romeo looks like he's more a guy who can help you NEXT year. But he has a 7' wing span and was a GREAT shooter in HS. I think he might be one of those guys who can become a star when he grows into his body and gets stronger. Willingness to play defense is a common thread in this year's draft class.
Don't think that stockpiling "wing" guys is a bad thing. Speed, athleticism and shooting are the skills that are needed in today's "position-less" game. Too often we try and shoehorn players into strict position labels like PF, or SG. Now the look is to find guys to can play a couple of positions and guard multiple positions as well.
Edwards showed up on the biggest stage, so that's a good thing. He could very well end up being the steal of the draft in a few years....or not. who cares. He was a 2nd round pick which is akin to being an UDFA in the NFL.
As for the 4th pick. I wish him well in his career with the Tel Aviv Meshugina's He'll always have his the memories of his career in the Vegas rookie league.
In the end, for this coming year, the success or failure of this team to improve on what we saw last year, will depend on what happens during the C's FA process. Nothing was decided last night.
