Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff
*Who will the Celtics take tonight with their first round selection? Who cares? Let me know when/if James Posey re-signs, and who the available veteran free-agents are. I bet more than a couple of them will take less money to play in Beantown. Talk about what a difference a year makes!
*U.S.A. Basketball hasn’t learned from previous mistakes. Sure, the organization selected a defensive stopper (Tayshaun Prince) and dead-eye outside marksman (Michael Redd), but they both play the same position as the team’s best players (LeBron, Kobe, Dwayne Wade and Carmelo Anthony), meaning one or two of those guys will have to play out of position (probably power forward) to get the best possible lineup on the court at the same time. With only one legitimate banger (Dwight Howard) and two skinny power forward/center types (Chris Bosh and Carlos Boozer), the Americans will once again be susceptible to the banging, physical play of international big men. Don’t color the American Olympic team gold just yet.
*So David Ortiz says he’s weeks away from returning to the Red Sox? Color me skeptical, but I have a bad hunch about this wrist injury. Elite hitters generally don’t come back to anything resembling what they used to be.
*Save for a hiccup on the Par-5 11th at Vesper, Phil Smith was rock steady in the final round of “The Cities” Wednesday. His 3rd consecutive title was won because he made the fewest mistakes on the “Copperfield-tricky” greens, which ate most of the other competitors alive. If 17-year old Dave Gossellin, Jr. develops the same consistency with his putting stroke, he’s going to win a few of these things himself.
That’s the view from here…how do you see things?
Comments (3)
Big Papy is not your average elite player. He is one of the best (if not the best)DH the American league has ever had. HE WILL BE BACK and help the sox to another title!!
Posted by Jim Goodchild | June 27, 2008 7:51 PM
Posted on June 27, 2008 19:51
When I saw the team USA roster, I was shocked at the lack of big men. What other big men would you have picked for team USA? I can't think of any 7 footers from the US.
Posted by T2 | July 1, 2008 3:17 PM
Posted on July 1, 2008 15:17
Actually, T2, you're right. There aren't any names that jump out at you. Most of our athletic big men are soft.
I know Amare Stoudamire backed out on them due to injury...KG would have been perfect, but I think he declined cause at his age he couldn't make the commitment.
Still, I think having a rebounding and shot-blocking presence like Tyson Chandler or Marcus Camby might have helped. There are too many 2's & 3's on that team. If aHoward gets in foul trouble, you're looking at undersized Bosh and Boozer...that's it. Those guys aren't bangers.
In the end, USA basketball went for the "names" and marketing guys as opposed to the best "team" they could put out there. There's only one ball, so it'll be interesting to see what Kobe, LeBron, Wade and Carmello do when they don't have it.
Posted by Teddy P. | July 1, 2008 4:50 PM
Posted on July 1, 2008 16:50