OT - Celtic fans delusional about their young players

I posted this on 6/27 (Link)
I have been cruising the Celtic boards since it became obvious that the Payton-Fox-Pick for Mihm-Atkins-Jones was such a steal for the Lakers. I have been consistently amazed at how much the Celtic fans love Danny Ainge. To them, he is one of the best GM's in the league because he drafts so well. I am not a good evaluator of talent, but when I look at the stats for the C's young players, I just can't find that awesome potential that they see. So, I thought I would pull some together comments C fans made in a recent thread and then show how those Celtic players compare to similar Laker players.

Al Jefferson
Celtic fan comments
"...hoping that Big Al will be the next Amare? (The one thing I'm sure of, actually.)"

"...once AJ starts dropping double doubles every night."

"What can you say? This kid can play and play with the big boys...My opinion on him probably carries some green glasses, but this kid is for real, good NBA body, great instincts and length. Not afraid to mix it up with anyone. I know he has not shown it (well he did in pre-season)but this guy actually has a mid-range game also. He is quick to the ball and even though he tended to get lost on D sometimes (okay...most of the time) he made up for some of it with athleticism and quickness. mark it down here...absolute STUD in his third season."

"If Big Al pans out and turns into a star, all we need to do is find him a side-kick."

"...I think it is highly likely that Al Jefferson will be the only one of the group to ever play on an All-Star team."

"19 year old high school kid. You all saw it...if he works as hard as Perk...Franchise cornerstone."

"never having played against any real competition, could not be more raw than he was as a rookie. He is going to be an all-star in this league. As high as people tout him on this board, we can't adjust expectations high enough."

Stats
A. Jefferson - 71 gms, 14.8 mpg, 6.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.77 bpg
B. Cook - 72 gms, 15.1 mpg, 6.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.36 bpg

My Comments
Jefferson was drafted out of high school, so he could improve significantly in the next few years. But right now, isn't putting up future All-Star stats.

Delonte West
Celtic fan comments
"i love his confidence and attitude. he's a winner. whether he develops into an all star PG or is just a great 6th/7th man on a great team, that's fine. he'll be a key player in getting #17."

"First, let me say I love the IDEA of Delonte's potential. Payton obviously loves him, and that's a nice start. But no matter how you slice it, he's a combo guard, not a pure point guard either, and how many of THEM have we had to deal with. Countless. I'm not so much down on Delonte as I am very, very skeptical as to his eventual value to the team. I fear he's no better than a solid combo guard, off the bench. Not bad, but not great. In other words, what you might expect to get at that draft pick level."

"I still belive Delonte can be our PG. I think he can do it all. If he can learn to post up like GP, and still keep his outside shooting threat, then his left hand passing and smooth style will pay big dividends for the C's. I am not giving up on DW just yet as a PG for the Celtics."

"He's a nice player, but he falls into the same catergory as Banks--small 2 guards who are decent passers."

"Dennis Johnson Type with a better shot. He's a champion, very smart, very tough. Anyone remember him tangling with stoudemire in Phoenix. May not be an all star but probably in the mode of a Michael Cooper, Derek fisher type. He is definately a guy that will contribute to a championship."

"...smooth and confident, with a good shot and a good feel for the game. He'll be a solid rotation guy."

"you can't know what this kid can do from his numbers and appearances last season. Many rookies would have fallen behind with the two injuries. He's going to be better than even his fans on this board believe. All star would be a stretch, but an essential leader and contributor to #17."

Stats
D. West - 39 gms, 13.0 mpg, 4.5 ppg, 1.4 apg, 0.54 spg, 2.21 A/TO, 42.6 FG%
T. Brown - 76 gms, 14.0 mpg, 4.4 ppg, 2.0 apg, 0.42 spg, 2.09 A/TO, 35.6 FG%

My Comments
Stats very comparable to Tierrable, a player no one in the NBA should want to be compared to.

Kendrick Perkins
Celtic fan comments
"he's already shown he can play D, rebound and be a force inside. he plays his a$$ off, and you can already see he has the celtic pride. i honestly dont care if all he ever becomes is a solid 8 and 8 kind of guy. with pierce, davis, jefferson, etc, we really dont need him to be a big scorer. he could be a perfect fit on a championship team."

"Perk shows some really intruiging flashes but is still so raw--I really want him to be CHarles Oakley v2.0 !"

"[H]e is, the best rebounder and shot blocker we have."

"Another project. I found it very hard to get on the "Give Perk Minutes" bandwagon simply because I saw a very raw player who didn't know to be an enforcer without being a thug, had no offensive skills and still needs tons of time/development/patience. Again, I'm not "down" on Perkins so much as wondering what his arc will actually produce. Does anyone really expect him to deliver more than 10 points and 8 rebounds? OK, maybe 10 rebounds, which is awesome for us."

"High School kid, 19 years old. In one game with extended minutes he grabbed 13 rebounds, in a few other games he had 5 blocks. And always created an immediate physical presence on the court in the mode of Dave Cowens whenever he stepped on the floor. This, from a 19 year old moose who has a burning work ethic and desire to win. Not someone you trade. With time I feel like he will become alot better than most people think."

"Perk may never have much of an offensive game, but I think he can become a taller Ben Wallace."

"has the long arms, strength and body to trouble any post player in the league. 6'10, but with a higher reach than most centers and a wingspan like the Spruce Goose. Better athleticism and lateral movement than you would expect. Great hands. Needs big minutes yesterday. Will make an all star team before all is said and done."

Stats
K. Perkins - 60 gms, 9.1 mpg, 2.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.62 bpg, 47.1 FG%
V. Divac - 15 gms, 8.7 mpg, 2.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.07 bpg, 41.9 FG%

My Comments
Perkins went pro out of high school and last year was his second year. He has a long way to go statistically to meet the expectations of many of the fans.

Justin Reed
Celtic fan comments
"i love this kid and his potential. he's already got the ability to shut down the other team's best player(ie kobe and lebron). once the refs get to know him and give him more breaks and his game matures/improves, that ability will only improve. i think we'll see him start to assert himself more offensively as well. he was all-SEC 3 times and averaged something like 17 and 8. he's a great teammate, and i really see him being a solid role player, if not eventual starter, on a championship team."

"Sleeper, better than it appears. I too was very impressed by his defense on lebron when Cleveland had to win to make the playoffs, he gave him fits. All SEC says something as well."

"Same [He'll be a solid rotation guy] for Justin Reed, will be a very good defensive player. He kind of reminds me of Jumaine Jones, who never got much playing time here but who has been a solid rotation guy in both Philly and LA. Reed hardly plays, then gets in against some of the top swingmen in the league and smoothly holds his own (I remember him playing great D on Kobe)."

"Big, quick, athletic. A great defender, rebounder and capable scorer. Not a lot of minutes available at his postion right now. Somebody find some, because this kid will be good."

Stats
J. Reed - 23 gms, 5.3 mpg, 1.8 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.4 apg, 0.13 spg, 51.7 FG%
S. Vujacic - 35 gms, 11.5 mpg, 2.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0.34 spg, 28.2 FG%

My Comments
For a guy who fans think is a great rebounder and defender, his rpm and spm were less than Sasha's. I don't see why any fan would get excited about a 23 year old who averages only 5 mpg.

Tony Allen
Celtic fan comments
"Tony Allen does remind me of Ron Artest in a lot of ways, and I really think he could develop into a player as good...so I feel if TA's offseason work ethic is really strong, he may be considered the steal of that draft."

"I saw him play against the Hornets in New Orleans and couldn't believe his scoreline. A lot of everything. And he did do that from time to time until he hit the rookie wall. OK. Fine. And he's an ath-a-lete. Great. But the kid looks like he's got some 'tude, and you have to wonder just many egos Doc will be able to handle. Will he mature AND develop into a great player? Let's face it; he only started cuz Doc didn't want Ricky D to. But do you really, honestly believe Tony Allen will develop a consistent J, which is the whole point of being a 2 guard?"

"A mixed bag, but also expendable with the log jam that we have at the position. He definately plays D and can actually shoot the mid-range jumper. A pretty good slasher (when/If his team mates see him) He and Banks actually have the capabilities to be one of the best defensive backcourts in the league, but only time will tell if they can bring this to fruition."

"...not only does he have the talent and the drive to succeed, but he's a winner and a great teammate."

"if he gets a jump shot, a good one, has all star potential. Remains to be seen but either way will be a very solid role player."

"shooting guard who can't shoot and is a tweener. Not a great ball handler. Good defender and we love the insane dunks, but we are still waiting for the rest of the game to develop."

Stats
Walton had a terrible start to his season and ended well, so I am going to compare his best month, April, to Allen's best month, March
T. Allen - 11 gms, 20.1 mpg, 8.2 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.8 apg, 1.00 spg, 46.4 FG%
L. Walton - 10 gms, 18.1 mpg, 6.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.2 apg, 0.80 spg 46.2 FG%

My Comments
He better play good D as he doesn't rebound or pass. With Pierce and Davis on the roster, it is hard to see how he is going to get enough minutes to develop.

Marcus Banks
Celtic fan comments
"the sky is the limit here. with his athleticism, he could be the perfect PG for years to come with the style danny wants. when he improves his shot and gets more comfortable out there, there's no reason to think he cant be an all star. just his defense alone makes me giddy. not just the steals and hustle plays, but the constant pressure he puts on the opposing PG. if he makes the other team take an extra 2-3 seconds to get up the court every time down, that's absolutely huge over the course of a game, and has to help us win."

"Phenomenal speed, great penetrator, dangerous if streaky scorer. But we want a real point guard, to get to the promised land. Is he Chauncey Billups, or a bust?"

"...into the same catergory as Banks--small 2 guards who are decent passers."

"I think Marcus has the ability and raw talent that could become a solid back up point guard in this league (you can't teach that quickness and natural desire to play D) However, his head, like a few others on this team, is the big question to me."

"I think it's fair to say that Banks is already one of the best defensive points in the league. Also, his playmaking improved and in more than a few games he completely changed the outcome by both his offense and defense, even in the playoffs. Also, his intensity is a good tone setter for the entire team...The sky is the limit for this kid, just take the reins off"

"shooting guard who can't shoot in a point guard's body. Great defender, but we are still waiting for the rest of the game to develop."

Stats
M. Banks - 81 gms, 14.1 mpg, 4.6 ppg, 1.9 apg, 0.78 spg, 1.96 A/TO, 40.2 FG%
T. Brown - 76 gms, 14.0 mpg, 4.4 ppg, 2.0 apg, 0.42 spg, 2.09 A/TO, 35.6 FG%

My Comments
Again, stats very comparable to Tierrable, a player no one in the NBA should want to be compared to.