Author Topic: Do the Celtics lack a fiery leader?  (Read 911 times)

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Do the Celtics lack a fiery leader?
« on: April 22, 2017, 11:33:14 AM »

Offline vjcsmoke

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IF so, where do we get one?  As you probably heard, it was KG's voice mail message to the team that helped inspire them to a comeback win.  When gauging the personality of most of the team members, we don't really have a fiery, emotional leader.

Unless, you're going to count Marcus Smart?  Is Smart that type of guy?  But it's harder for a bench/6th guy to lead than someone who is a top player on the team the way KG was.  The problem is that KG is retired.  So even though he will always be Celtics family, we can't just count on turning to him when the Celtics get down in say the next series.

So looking to next season, if leadership is an issue, is that who you look for in your next player, or do you still just go for pure talent?  Would this sway you when you are picking amongst Fultz, Ball, Jackson, Tatum, etc.?

Re: Do the Celtics lack a fiery leader?
« Reply #1 on: April 22, 2017, 11:43:50 AM »

Offline positivitize

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So looking to next season, if leadership is an issue, is that who you look for in your next player, or do you still just go for pure talent?  Would this sway you when you are picking amongst Fultz, Ball, Jackson, Tatum, etc.?

We won't look to the draft to get a new fiery leader for our team. We're not the 6ers. I still take Fultz 100% of the time if he's available.
My biases, in order of fervor:
Pro:
Smart, Brown, Hayward, Tatum, Kemba, Grant Williams, Sleepy Williams, Edwards!

Anti:
Kanter, Semi, Theis, Poierier

Re: Do the Celtics lack a fiery leader?
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2017, 12:11:10 PM »

Offline Bobshot

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They have a few fiery types: IT, Smart, Crowder, Bradley come to mind. All small.  What they need is a big guy with some muscle who can get the ball. Horford isn't the type. The others are marshmellows.

Re: Do the Celtics lack a fiery leader?
« Reply #3 on: April 22, 2017, 12:13:35 PM »

Offline Phantom255x

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They have a few fiery types: IT, Smart, Crowder, Bradley come to mind. All small.  What they need is a big guy with some muscle who can get the ball. Horford isn't the type. The others are marshmellows.

That's an insult to Marshmellows when you compare Olynyk to them...  :laugh:
"Tough times never last, but tough people do." - Robert H. Schuller

Re: Do the Celtics lack a fiery leader?
« Reply #4 on: April 22, 2017, 12:16:24 PM »

Offline cousytoheinsohn

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This is an indictment of the coaching staff more than anything.

Re: Do the Celtics lack a fiery leader?
« Reply #5 on: April 22, 2017, 12:16:43 PM »

Offline SHAQATTACK

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Kelly bangs his head against a marshmallow before taking court .  ....



Re: Do the Celtics lack a fiery leader?
« Reply #6 on: April 22, 2017, 12:19:20 PM »

Offline nebist

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That guy is Smart.  It's just somewhat mitigated because he's only in his 3rd year.  I think by the time he signs his 2nd contract with the team he will be widely acknowledged as the team's emotional leader.

Re: Do the Celtics lack a fiery leader?
« Reply #7 on: April 22, 2017, 12:26:14 PM »

Offline kraidstar

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Supposedly we're a hardworking, motivated group who sees disrespect everywhere we look. And we also have Smart.

I don't think we're lacking "fire."

We're just lacking proper 2-way superstars. Hard to win playoff series without them, we don't have a lot of room for error. Also especially hard to win playing bad defense, which we were the first two games.

We start playing some D and suddenly our morale is great and we look like a 53-win team again.

As Doc Rivers said once, "the answers are in this locker room."

Re: Do the Celtics lack a fiery leader?
« Reply #8 on: April 22, 2017, 12:28:52 PM »

Offline cousytoheinsohn

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Kelly bangs his head against a marshmallow before taking court .  ....

With all due respect to the great KG, the ex-Celtic who had the greatest impact on the game was Rondo by being absent which was, for the CS, a most felicitous turn of events that was provided by the K-Man.

Seems like that makes him the series MVP so far.

Re: Do the Celtics lack a fiery leader?
« Reply #9 on: April 22, 2017, 12:31:57 PM »

Offline Ogaju

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Its not a fiery leader that they need, its an enforcer.

Someone on your team, that the other team knows will knock the other teams 'hot' player down, if they mess with your superstar, or even when they do not. Metta World Peace was very vocal about this when he joined the Lakers. He said he joined the Lakers because Kobe needed protection. You cannot have your star player also be your enforcer. You need a 'bad guy' on your team. A Metta, a Barnes type.

Boston lost this when Posey left, and when Perkins got injured. Just the scowl on Perkins face made opponents fear and respect the Celtics. After these two left, guess who became the enforcer on the Celtics? Rondo !!!! He was also given the keys as the leader. That is counter-productive. You cannot have your leader be your enforcer. I remember when Rondo tangled with Humphries, and I thought 'really, you are going to have your little guard go after a 6'10 guy? That should not have been Rondo's role.

The problem now is the coach does not understand the need for this type of player on his team. He wants 'good character' types that do not strike any fear in him, and therefore do not strike any fear in the opponent. If all you get on the team are players that mild mannered CBS does not have to worry about, how are these players going to strike any fear or respect in tough bad ass NBA players. Look at GSW do you really want to mess with Durant, Curry, or Thompson, and worry about Green or Ighodala giving you a hard foul? There is a reason Barnes always finds a landing spot - toughness.

Marcus Smart can do it if he is unleashed by the coaching staff.