Mutombo undecided to Celtics

[BillessuR6]

Great to hear! I was kind of disappointed that Deke would go to LA!

[humblebum]

I diagree with BFB about Davis... and I'm thinking more along the lines of Dave from NB. The reality is that Davis, not Powe, is being asked to play out of position. If Powe were playing the Center spot with an undersized PF next to him he'd struggle mightily to stay on the court. I hope to hell that the team signs Mutumbo because the Celtics will then be able to use Powe/Davis according to their skill levels: as offense/defense situational subs at the PF spot.

Also, I just wanted to mention that people talk a lot of smack about Davis but Doc continues to use him as the first big off the bench, subbing for both KG or Perk... Doc likes what Davis is doing on the court regardless of the popular opinion of fans. How can you all be so sure that Davis won't get a good amount of minutes even if Mutumbo comes on board? Do you actually think that Davis is a true Center? Bringing in Mutumbo would benefit Davis more than any other player on the team by allowing him to play his natural position at PF.

[mainevent3405]

I diagree with BFB about Davis... and I'm thinking more along the lines of Dave from NB. The reality is that Davis, not Powe, is being asked to play out of position. If Powe were playing the Center spot with an undersized PF next to him he'd struggle mightily to stay on the court. I hope to hell that the team signs Mutumbo because the Celtics will then be able to use Powe/Davis according to their skill levels: as offense/defense situational subs at the PF spot.

Also, I just wanted to mention that people talk a lot of smack about Davis but Doc continues to use him as the first big off the bench, subbing for both KG or Perk... Doc likes what Davis is doing on the court regardless of the popular opinion of fans. How can you all be so sure that Davis won't get a good amount of minutes even if Mutumbo comes on board? Do you actually think that Davis is a true Center? Bringing in Mutumbo would benefit Davis more than any other player on the team by allowing him to play his natural position at PF.

Don't misunderstand me, I like Baby and like you said I think he would benefit from Deke being here. I believe I stated the same thing which is that he plays out of position. His girth allows him to clear space against certain 5's but that he would be better suited at the 4 depending on matchups. Either way, a defensive stopper at the 5 will be a huge plus down the stretch. I still hold out hope for POB to one day be able to bring the energy we need from him. He is still young and raw. Another year with Cliff and hopefully by next year we will see some production from him at that backup 5 spot.

[humblebum]

I wasn't really directing that at you Main, I hear where you're coming from. Ideally the Celtics could have a true backup C who you can count on to get you buckets on the post and who can defend the paint, right now we don't possess that player... Powe, Davis, Mutumbo would possess many of the qualities that the Celtics need coming off the bench... they just lack the ability to hit the midrange jumper.

Maybe POB has that potential but I'm guessing that he is more or less a trade bait project in Danny's mind i.e. the Celtics want to develop him, up his value and then trade him for a player who fits better with the defensive/physical identity of this team.

[cisco]

I hope Mutombo signs before Christmas so we can use him against the Lakers.

[Celtsfan1980]

Does anyone think Boston could sign both Smith and Dikembe? It may not be realistic, but there's always that chance of injury so I'd feel more confident going into the playoffs with adding two bigs rather than one.

[humblebum]

If you had a choice between Smith and Mutumbo who would you take?

Tough question....

[billfromBoston]

I diagree with BFB about Davis... and I'm thinking more along the lines of Dave from NB. The reality is that Davis, not Powe, is being asked to play out of position. If Powe were playing the Center spot with an undersized PF next to him he'd struggle mightily to stay on the court. I hope to hell that the team signs Mutumbo because the Celtics will then be able to use Powe/Davis according to their skill levels: as offense/defense situational subs at the PF spot.

Also, I just wanted to mention that people talk a lot of smack about Davis but Doc continues to use him as the first big off the bench, subbing for both KG or Perk... Doc likes what Davis is doing on the court regardless of the popular opinion of fans. How can you all be so sure that Davis won't get a good amount of minutes even if Mutumbo comes on board? Do you actually think that Davis is a true Center? Bringing in Mutumbo would benefit Davis more than any other player on the team by allowing him to play his natural position at PF.

I'm fairly certain they are increasing his trade value by putting him into more situations and talking him up...his production and decision-making with the ball are equal to or worse than last season - he is a ball-stopper on offense and takes a lot of shots he is incapable of making. For all the hustle plays he's made, he also ranges away from his man and causes team defensive breakdowns from time to time - further more, he is still having trouble knowing when to use his fouls - often fouling unnecessarily early in a possession.

Davis has certainly shown true grit in defending a variety of opponents and I give him credit for that - his occasional forays to the hoop that he converts, he does with flare and I can see him evenutally improving his jumper to the point where he is able to set up drives and be a decent scoring option...

...but...

The increase in minutes he's seen have not come with any increase in efficiency or production, so coupling that with the team's desire to replace him as the backup 5, and based off Ainge's past history of doing so, I believe Davis is getting more PT simply to pump up his value. This doesn't mean that Davis is not someone of value, but there are 15 players on the roster and a select group of them are going to fall into the category "expendable" in order to obtain additional players who serve an immediate need - Davis is more project than player right now, which is why every time a 5 comes on the team radar, Ainge is in there looking at him...

[celticsfanforlife]

I agree with that completely. He's playing just as many minutes as before, if not more, and that is not coming with inreased production. That's the most important point made, and the most interesting to examine, because unless you're bein showcased, that trend would not occur.

There's a chance that it would, I suppose, but it doesn't seem logical. This team has been run very logically ever since Danny has taken over and I don't think that is stopping any time soon.

[celticsfanforlife]

Also, I'd like to add that a possibility of reasoning behind Davis' minutes are because of what motivates him. He is incredibly sensitive to his minutes because he is trying as hard as physically possible to produce. He's probably OVER trying, and that is resulting in his "poor" play. If his minutes were reduced, he would be almost completely useless when he was put in, because the emotions would weigh him down.

I think they are looking to move him because his emotional behavior leads to too much volatility in production. We need consistency and we need composure. Two things that BBD lacks tremendously in.

[celticfan42487]

I don't think Baby is playing that bad at all for what he can do at the Center position.

Powe isn't being asked to play out of position, Davis is. And that's because he's more capable of playing out of position. And he added that mid-range shot into his game and makes them at more of a rate then Rondo [who's taken what 5 midrange Js all season?]

[campybatman]

If you had a choice between Smith and Mutumbo who would you take?

Tough question....

At some point you've to figure that age's a factor. For that reason, I would rather take a fly on Joe Smith in hopes that his basketball skills haven't eroded to the point where he couldn't give you something for twelve to fifteen minutes a game. He's currently averaging nineteen minutes with Oklahoma City. The usual concern with him is his durability through the course of a season.

[Kefa461]

Our main rivals for DM seems to be Houston....now the story is he is waiting to hand out presents before making a move to me is a smokescreen....he's trying to give Houston time to free up cash to sign him. Houston is his 1st choice, they always have been. (see below)

The Houston Rockets have recently been linked to the Grizzlies. Houston ownership has been open about the desire to trim payroll for two purposes; they want to get under the tax - and they want to open up enough room to re-sign free agent center Dikembe Mutombo.

Presently Houston is at about $72.8 million in total salary. Their trade exception of $4.8 million is expected to go unused, although it could be part of a deal that helps them get under the tax if used creatively.

To get far enough below the tax to sign Mutombo, the Rockets would need to send away about $2.8 million in salary. The most obvious piece Houston would like to move is guard Steve Francis who is in the last year of his deal making $2.6 million. Other names that have hit the rumor mill include guard Luther Head and forward Joey Dorsey. Perhaps forward Chuck Hayes should be added to the list.

Houston doesn't appear close to a deal just yet, but rumors tying them to the Grizzlies aren't exactly far-fetched. http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=10975

Letting Walker go was the 1st move. So Houston not getting back to him was a crock...maybe not to him...what about his agent? He is giving Houston time.

I can only guess Danny is also looking elsewhere for players and not counting on Deke.

[humblebum]

The theory about Davis being showcased sounds interesting, but do you have ANY proof?

In my estimation, Davis is getting more minutes right now because he's seen as the more consistent, and capable defender between he and Powe. Leon hasn't really been producing at that high of a level this season and he really hasn't added much to his game beyond a few new moves in the post. Defensively Powe is more or less a flopper with mediocre (sometimes poor) team defense skills. Davis defends people straightup, no flopping, and he's been carving out space with the box out very effectively while playing against much bigger players. Davis is also very solid in the team defense schemes and is basically the leader of the second unit defense. I'm not sure I've seen too much of what you mentioned, BFB, in regards to his lapses on the defensive end... Powe is the one prone to lapses.

Again, the major point for me is that Davis' production is so low because he's playing against Centers (or the better of the two post players for the opponents) while Powe get's the easier opponent. If you bring in a Joe Smith to spread the floor and Davis gets to work underneath on the offensive glass (he's been spending more time on the perimeter) than he'll get some Perkins type looks and putbacks downlow. Plus I don't really see this ball stopper business... the second unit offense is pretty awful most times... when he gets the ball at the high post it takes Eddie, Tony, Paul/Ray like 5 seconds to get open.

I think there is something to be said for Doc just liking Davis' game/mentality. Right off the bat in his rookie season he earned minutes ahead of Powe. That goes against the norm for Doc, to give Rookies minutes right away. Doc likes what Davis is doing out there when he plays out of position. Until a trade happens with Baby involved I'm going to believe that Doc is giving him minutes because he appreciates what he does on the court.