Well it’s half way through the season, this team in terms of record has been pretty disapointing, but our individual players have been up and down, there has been some good and some bad. So who was a standout and who was a disapointment?
Standouts:
Al Jefferson: In his first two years he showed so much potential, but never produced consistently. Now he is averaging a double double, shooting the ball a lot more, and has proven to be a defensive presence as well. It seems that he will have a long future with this team.
Tony Allen: Injuries and personal issues dogged him last year, and he started out very slow this year, nervous about his injury. After a slow start he turned out to be a superior pressure defender, wreaking havoc on wing players, and becoming a strong offensive presence, at one stretch before his injury averaging 20 points a night, became a good rebounder, and his vision was above average. Dare I say he was becoming as good as Dwayne Wade? Well he had some moments where he looked unbelievable. But he will be back next year, and I think he will be as good as he was this year.
Rajon Rondo: A speed demon, defensive stopper, and gamer in college when his role expanded with the Celtics he gave those same qualities to a team that really needed them. He fills up the stat sheet, and his leadership, playmaking, and defensive on the ball pressure doesn’t show up on the stat sheet. A point guard of his calibur seems to be the future of this team.
Paul Pierce: Future Hall of Famer, little else to say about him.
Disapointments:
Kendrick Perkins: For a man who was supposed to be the next defensive stopper he showed a lot of potential before, but his role has been limited due to injuries. He is locked up with us for some time. He could pan out but he hasn’t thus far. He could be a good packup in the future. He hasn’t been totally awful, just not what everyone was expecting him to be.
Wally Szczerbiak: Normally a very dependable clutch sharpshooter injuries have limited his role. When healthy he is a much better and underrated player, who is a guy who works every night. He may never be the same player, but at least he doens’t demand touches, unlike let’s say a current Timberwolf many Celtic fans are familiar with.
Sebastian Telfair: Everyone makes mistakes. Let’s call Sebastian Telfair Ainge’s folly. Telfair was a hot prospect out of high school, a flashy speedy point guard that could get a team moving. After a promising start he has leveled off completely, not showing any signs of life, and ceding playing time to Rondo and Delonte at the point guard position. Perkins and Wally have a role with this team even injured to make us win. At this point Telfair seems to be nothing more than a garbage man.
And one last category: Laterals:
Who has stood still this year? Who are guys that have been consistent, not gone up or down?
-Delonte West- This guy produces every night, he is a gamer, and a vety well-rounded player. He was drafted at 25 and He plays like a lottery pick. This guy is a very nice role player.
-Ryan Gomes- How many men drafted 50th average 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists a game? The answer is Ryan Gomes, and unbelievable he was drafted 50th. He is a quiet role player. When I see him in person he never does anything spectacular, just comes out and does his job. When I saw him in person I looked up at the scoreboard toward the end of the game mostly looking at Big Al and Tony Allen, and I saw he had 18 points, while completely shutting down his man Zach Randolph.
These two are role players, guys that could be the star, aren’t and just want to win. Guys like these are integral parts of championships. Let’s hope we keep them.
