O'bryant has been working out with Clifford Ray!!!!!!!!!

[Celtics_85]

When you compare POB playing with GS or the Celtics, how do you compare the two? GS doesn't play any kind of defense at all, and the Celts are built around defense. We don't know what he can bring on defense yet, but one thing I do know is that he can move and you can't teach length with a 9'5" standing reach. Ainge says he has a nice touch touch in the low post, a part of the game you really don't see in GS. I think it all comes down to learning to play defense, and the one thing I haven't heard about this kid is him being stupid. The kid will be OK, and like it or not, he has more upside than Perkins.

[Rocky5000]

All O'Bryant needs to really do on offense is finish around the basket and put the ball up quickly. He can probably play some high post, but we happen to have the best high post player in the league, so most of his time will be down low. In the past when we had Al and Perk and ran the offense, Perk would be in the high post which didn't work at all, because he's no threat to shoot from there, KG solved that problem so it's no longer a big issue. I do think that in certain situations, O'Bryant could allow KG to bang down low a little bit more if he wants but it's not going to fundamentally change what we do.

[Mylie10]

As a back-up and newcomer the last thing you'd want him to do is think about his offense. He should be and I'm sure is thinking about his defensvie assignments.

Golden State does play defense it's just a non-traditional passing lane defense. They gamble on steals to fuel the break. They keep stats on deflections for Heavens sake. They also try and shoot more than their opponents which is a twisted Nellie defensive stat.

I see O'Bryant as a more traditional type of big who makes his living in the paint. Try and pay attention to more than blocked shots while he's on the floor. Watch for his CHANGING of shots. With that huge standing reach he is able to disrupt shots in his area without blocking them.

He rebounds well based on his length, but his mechanics are raw. He's got so many skills it would be a waste if he doesn't make it in the league. He's not dumb and he's not a bum. He's immature and needs guidance. Nellie didn't have time to nurture. Nellie's into grit and fire. We all love that, but we also need to understand that people are different and you need to be flexible in your approach sometimes.

By the way his outside shot is pretty nice out to the top of the key. Personally though I'd tell him not to shoot it until he's established that he's a keeper.

KG, Ray Allen, and Powe are perfect for this kid.

[Dave_From_NB]

POB could make his mark on defense for sure. If he can do for Powe/Davis what Perk does for KG, then we're in a good place. I.e., cover his back on defense, clear the boards and block out, let other players like TA do help defense because he's the last line of defense.

Offense from him can be secondary - TA/Giddens slashing, House throwing up shots, Powe/Davis both have offensive pop, and either Pruitt or Cassell will be taking their shots. He just needs to be opportunistic like Perk.

I think if Doc can give him a straightforward assignment out there, he could help right away.

For the defending Champions, somehow the Celtics have a whole bunch of players I looking forward to seeing for the first time (other than Youtube videos).

[GuyClinch]

Turning into another Mark Blount is one thing I don't you guys don't have to worry about. POBs a guy who will play defense, rebound and block shots and other than shoot from the outside (he has a nice little jump hook from about 10 feet) he's not going to be looking to shoot the ball except for an occasional putback on the o board.

Hardcore C's fans know Blount is an interesting story. It's not so simple with him. Back when we first had him - prior to the time he was shipped to Denver he was a total scrub. Not a guy capable of commanding any kind of salary. Then he was shipped to Denver - after a surprising return it was suddenly - OMG Mark Blount can play. Who knew?

He started having all this big games - and even had a 20 rebound game. People were like WTF. He was seen as a symbol of a "hard worker" and a "hustle" guy. People really liked him. Later on his game reverted to this soft offensive minded game (that in fairness no one new he even had the skill to play when he was first here).

So maybe we could see something similiar out of POB - a guy written off like early Blount as a total waste - a Fredick Weiss - morph into a hungry guy trying to earn a big contract..

Pete

[LongTimeFan]

Dave:
"For the defending Champions, somehow the Celtics have a whole bunch of players I looking forward to seeing for the first time (other than Youtube videos)."

I know it's like we're rebuilding again, only we're the champs.

[sully00]

The more I think about the Mark Blount thing the more I agree with it. I think in the end almost everybody wants to touch the ball. The more Mark touched it and shot it the more he wanted to rebound and play defense. Blount's contract was a far bigger problem than his game, well except perhaps his hands. You could almost tie Marks success and failure to Antoine. Toine was here no shots for Blount and he wasn't even serviceable on the court, minus Toine he was a thumbless marshmallow with a stroke for the bullseye.

My guess is that mins will motivate O'Bryant at first but eventually the big dog is going to want to eat. I really liked this kid coming out of school but he was a guy who touched the ball offensively almost every possession in college. Beyond being a scorer he is a skilled passing big man. I am not saying this guy is Brad Miller but if you told Brad Miller to just go in there and be a hustle guy rebound and play defense, guess what? He friggin sucks you wouldn't even draft the stiff and nobody did. Now if you move the ball through him and keep him focused on the offensive end then the competitor in him comes out and he starts making plays at least on the glass on the defensive end.

Either way I think Doc fell in love as soon as someone said he had a top of the key jumper.

[Mylie10]

Obee made a play in a game last year where he posted at one side of the key on an out of bounds play. By a stroke of luck the ball was passed into him and in one swift movement he hit a no-look bounce pass to a cutting Matt Barnes that resulted in a beautiful basketball play.

Not saying he's Jason Kidd, but it's there if you can bring it out.

[DelMonte West]

Turning into another Mark Blount is one thing I don't you guys don't have to worry about. POBs a guy who will play defense, rebound and block shots and other than shoot from the outside (he has a nice little jump hook from about 10 feet) he's not going to be looking to shoot the ball except for an occasional putback on the o board. This is unlike Blount who so far in his career has played soft and prefers to shoot long range instead banging down low. Not to mention that he makes about 8 times as much as you guys are paying O'Bryant I believe. He's a nice fit in Boston, considering you have plenty of guys who can put the ball in the hole.

*blatantly plugs sig*

Sadly, any 7-footer with questionable work ethic will inevitably draw comparisons to Skippy...I think the attitude of this team is contagious enough to light a fire under Patrick.

[BillessuR6]

I guess majority here would rather have this guy:

[nasbahceltic]

I guess majority here would rather have this guy:

LMAO....WOW who would've thought that the Sonics choosing this weirdo would eventually lead to the greatest turnaround in NBA history. Robert Swift, the most important non-Celtic player in recent memory!

[hiphop1]

HELLO MARILYN MANSON! LOL

[St.Nick]

An ugly, 7ft tall, red head. He needs to get on his knees every day and thank God that basketball exists. He'd have been burned at the stake long ago otherwise.