In the midst of Chris Forsberg’s terrific Summer Forecast over at ESPN Boston we’ve reached a question of utmost significance in the C’s hopes next season, the importance of Marquis Daniels. Here’s what I wrote today, over at the Forecast:
Daniels’ performance next season is one that bears close watching for C’s fans. Brought back on a one-year $2.4 million deal, purely out of necessity more than anything else, Daniels follows up last season’s disappointing campaign as the team’s top reserve at a wing position thin on depth.
The C’s can’t afford another down year from Daniels, with Tony Allen out of the picture and Ray Allen and Paul Pierce one year older. Those guys need to have their minutes kept down during the regular season more than ever, and Daniels needs to hold his own as a key reserve.
The good news is I expect Marquis to step up to the challenge. A clean bill of health and not having to learn a new system should do wonders for Daniels’ play as he becomes more comfortable in Celtic green without having to battle TA for minutes.
The guy has the overall skill set to be a big contributor; I just don’t think we saw him really healthy at all last year. If he can stay healthy (a huge if, I know), Daniels has both the ability and a strong supporting cast on the bench to excel in his role this season.
I don’t expect him to play 82 games, but a strong bounce-back performance — in a make-or-break season for his career — should be in the cards.
Let’s get a bit more in-depth here as there are a few more points I want to dig into more in discussing Daniels’ prospects next year » Read more: The Importance Of Quisy
Two weeks ago, Glen “Big Baby” Davis was asked to comment on the Celtics’ offseason. Specifically, these topics included the addition of Shaquille O’Neal, playing with future Hall of Famers, and being in a contract year. Perhaps the comment that should have resonated the deepest with Celtics fans is Davis’ feelings on himself.
When asked by the Boston Globe about the team’s high expectations of Davis, he responded by saying all the right things:
“This is the year of finally hitting that line of maturity of finally becoming that player that I knew I could be. This is the year of just all-around. Throughout my career, my three years being here, it’s been up and down. When I play, you’ve seen glimpses, like, ‘Wow, this guy could start. Or come off the bench.’ Glimpses up and down. But this is the year of Glen becoming that whole player that 10 years down the road, eight years down the road will hopefully be an all-star.”
Rajon Rondo may no longer be with the squad, but that doesn’t mean CelticsHub won’t be keeping an eye on Team USA as they try to bring home their first World Championship since 1994. The National “B” Team opened up in pool play this afternoon against Croatia on the slow side, only leading by two after the first frame.
Luckily, Coach K’s squad used their defense and athleticism to break things wide open in the second period, holding Croatia to just 6 points, while opening up a 22 point halftime lead they never looked back from on their way to a 106-78 victory.
Kevin Durant led the scoring with 14 points, but it was a couple NBA sophomore stars that stole the show with Eric Gordon (13 points) and Kevin Love (10 rebounds) serving as terrific sparkplugs off the bench in the balanced effort.
Everyone on the team scored at least 4 points, and 9 of the team’s 12 players made a 3, as Coach K put a premium on shooting by going with a small lineup with 3 guards (Rose, Curry, Billups) to start. I am curious to see if they will stick with this lineup heading into tomorrow’s game against Slovenia (9:30 a.m. ESPN2)
In honor of the win against Croatia, naturally we had to bust out some highlights from the greatest Croatian Celtic of all-time, the one and only Dino Radja. Incredibly, someone made a mix tape on Youtube, combining both Dino Radja and Eric Montross highlights, which will make any 90′s Celtics fans weekends.Enjoy the goodness.
…or should I say “Fors-cast”? Our friend Chris Forsberg over at ESPN Boston has been collaborating with the local blog writer’s to come up with some answers to this offseason’s most poignant questions.
“This topic shouldn’t even be a debate. The Celtics pride themselves on their defense, and, at this stage of his career, Shaquille O’Neal is a flat-out defensive liability on the perimeter. You don’t get to start for the Celtics when Doc Rivers is trying to figure out how to account for your lack of mobility within the team’s defensive scheme. On the other hand, Jermaine O’Neal is no world beater, but he can still hold his own on the defensive edge at this stage of his career, and he is a capable shot blocker. Offensively, both guys are upgrades over Perkins, but Jermaine’s shooting ability also plays into the Celtics’ offensive goal of keeping the floor spread. Put it all together and Jermaine O’Neal is the guy in the middle on opening night.”
Julian Benbow has the scoop in his article in today’s Boston Globe, getting a interesting quote from Danny Ainge, regarding filling the team’s final hole at the wing:
With reports circling about interest in fiery if disgruntled Portland guard Rudy Fernandez, Ainge acknowledged that he was pursuing trade options, though he wasn’t sure a deal would fall in place.
“We’re just continuing to explore available players and trade possibilities and see what sort of options are there,’’ said the Celtics president. “There are some trade discussions that we’re having. I don’t know the likelihood of those happening, but we’ll continue to not rush into something unless it’s something that we’re really excited about.’’
Can’t ask for anything more than this team doing it’s due diligence in addressing the need, and that’s exactly what Danny seems to be doing here. You would think the trade discussions he is referring to here involve Rudy Fernandez, who did no favors for his trade stock while looking unimpressive against Team USA last weekend.
A closer look for Ainge and all C’s fans will be in order this weekend at the official start of the FIBA Championship in Turkey. So even if the cutting of Rajon Rondo eliminated your interest in watching this tournament next weekend, do your best to catch a glimpse of what Rudy Fernandez can bring to the table.
As far as other trade possibilities though, this is the only one you’d think the C’s would be considering right now. I can’t see any player on their roster right now they’d be willing to move, given pretty much everyone right now is filling a need, or is a inexpensive young prospect (Harangody, Bradley, Erden).
We know a 1st Round pick has been offered for Fernandez, so it’s likely those talks are in a holding pattern right now, as each side waits for the other to blink or sweeten the pot. Could the C’s be willing to offer that 1st Rounder for someone else that could help? Don’t hold your breath.
Two weeks ago, Glen “Big Baby” Davis was asked to comment on the Celtics’ offseason. Specifically, these topics included the addition of Shaquille O’Neal, playing with future Hall of Famers, and being in a contract year. Perhaps the comment that should have resonated the deepest with Celtics fans is Davis’ feelings on himself.
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The Importance Of Quisy
By Brian Robb, CelticsHub.com @ August 31st, 1:52 pm 17 comments »In the midst of Chris Forsberg’s terrific Summer Forecast over at ESPN Boston we’ve reached a question of utmost significance in the C’s hopes next season, the importance of Marquis Daniels. Here’s what I wrote today, over at the Forecast:
Daniels’ performance next season is one that bears close watching for C’s fans. Brought back on a one-year $2.4 million deal, purely out of necessity more than anything else, Daniels follows up last season’s disappointing campaign as the team’s top reserve at a wing position thin on depth.
The C’s can’t afford another down year from Daniels, with Tony Allen out of the picture and Ray Allen and Paul Pierce one year older. Those guys need to have their minutes kept down during the regular season more than ever, and Daniels needs to hold his own as a key reserve.
The good news is I expect Marquis to step up to the challenge. A clean bill of health and not having to learn a new system should do wonders for Daniels’ play as he becomes more comfortable in Celtic green without having to battle TA for minutes.
The guy has the overall skill set to be a big contributor; I just don’t think we saw him really healthy at all last year. If he can stay healthy (a huge if, I know), Daniels has both the ability and a strong supporting cast on the bench to excel in his role this season.
I don’t expect him to play 82 games, but a strong bounce-back performance — in a make-or-break season for his career — should be in the cards.
Let’s get a bit more in-depth here as there are a few more points I want to dig into more in discussing Daniels’ prospects next year » Read more: The Importance Of Quisy
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Posted in Commentary, Offseason