Summer Forecast: Center Of Attention

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Summer Forecast: Center of attention
August, 14, 2014
AUG 14 10:00 AM ET
By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com



Each weekday for a three-week span, our summer panel of prognosticators -- a motley crew featuring our friends in the Celtics blogging community -- will join forces to tell you how the 2014-15 season will play out for Boston. We'll gaze into our crystal balls and attempt to answer all your questions before this season's team even hits the floor together for the first time.

SUMMER FORECAST 2014

Throughout the month of August, we'll break up the summer doldrums by trying to predict exactly how the 2014-15 season will play out for the Boston Celtics. A rundown of the series:

* Aug. 8: Preview: Grading the summer
* Aug. 11: Predict the record | Fans
* Aug. 12: How does season end? | Fans
* Aug. 13: Gone by October? | Fans
* Aug. 14: Who starts at center?
Coming later this week ...

* Aug. 15: Rondo's best year ahead?

Today's Celtics Summer Forecast topic: Who starts at center?


The Celtics navigated much of the 2013-14 season without a pure center -- or at least one it could consistently lean on -- forcing first-year coach Brad Stevens to mix and match at the big-man spots, often playing the likes of second-year big man Jared Sullinger out of position.

Boston started the season with rookie Vitor Faverani at the center spot as he offered the best option for pure size (6-foot-11, 260 pounds), but despite some initial success, the move wasn't sustainable and Faverani soon faded from the rotation (and soon spent time bouncing to the D-League before suffering a season-ending injury).

The Celtics didn't hide the fact that not having a pure backline defender was a big reason for their struggles. Both Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge and coach Brad Stevens often noted that the lack of a rim protector was maybe Boston's most glaring weakness.

Boston didn't add much pure size this offseason, but it did land a young 7-footer in Tyler Zeller as part of a three-way trade with the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers. While our 15-member voting panel was split on two particular options, it leaned slightly towards the idea that Zeller will be the team's starter on opening night.

Our panel was given five options for potential starters, including a combo of Kelly Olynyk and Jared Sullinger (who often shared the floor last season, even though both are power forwards). The other options included Zeller, Faverani, Joel Anthony and Colton Iverson (who has since signed to play in Spain next season).

To our experts, there were only two options. A look at the voting:





Summer Forecast: Who starts at center?


This writer's vote? I believe Zeller will get every opportunity to win the starting center job. The Celtics can benefit from allowing Sullinger to play his natural power forward position and, even as the team looks to ramp up Olynyk's playing time, there's potential for him to thrive coming off the bench (while still pairing him with Sullinger at times as a potential early sub).

Zeller's ability to run the floor makes him an intriguing option with the starting group. It comes down to his ability to be a defensive presence and he's already stressed that part of his offseason has been spent on getting stronger and being able to joust with NBA 5s.

Faverani's rehab, and his offseason woes, make his future a little bit more cloudy. He has potential to compete for backup minutes, but the knee injury stunted any development last season and forces the team to start over a bit this year.

Read on to see how our panel responded in our forecast poll:


Michael Pina, CelticsHub (Olynyk/Sullinger)

Olynyk will start at center, because having him and Sullinger as a tandem in the starting lineup should be a priority. Boston played extremely well last season with those two on the floor.



Kevin O'Connor, CelticsBlog (Zeller)

Zeller isn’t much of a shot blocker, but he’s a 7-footer with very quick feet that can disturb opponent’s shots using proper technique and positioning. With strong perimeter defenders like Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart, and occasionally Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green, Zeller could have a career year on the defensive end. Zeller will have a lot to prove, but considering Boston’s prior interest in the defensive-oriented Omer Asik, it’d make sense that they’d want to put an inside big man alongside a stretch big like Olynyk or maybe Sullinger in the starting lineup.

Bill Sy, CelticsBlog (Olynyk/Sullinger)

As the league moves to a more positionless style of basketball, centers have seen the most evolution. There are defensive specialists, stretch 5s that can venture out to the 3-point line, or more traditional back-to-the-basket bigs that operate in the paint. Olynyk is Boston's most talented big man with the most versatile skill set. He showed more lateral quickness and a bulked up body at the Orlando Summer League and held his own representing Team Canada versus Spain's Gasol Brothers and Serge Ibaka.

Jared Weiss, CLNS Radio (Zeller)

It’s hard to remember the last time the Celtics had some effective length in the pivot that was less than 100 years old. In comes Zeller, someone who can get the ball near the hoop and not totally screw it up. That would be a nice change of pace in the pivot, as the Celtics, for the most part, have not had a low post presence over 6-8. Zeller provides a unique skill set that allows for Stevens to mix and match his lineups with greater variance and more balance. While Zeller may be the starting center, he will likely rotate in combinations with Olynyk, Sullinger and Brandon Bass (while he is still here).

Jon Duke, Celtics Stuff Live (Olynyk/Sullinger)

Play the kids, Brad.

Jeff Clark, CelticsBlog (Zeller)

I think Zeller gets the nod to start but I see Sullinger and Olynyk sharing the floor together a lot.

Julian Edlow, WEEI.com (Olynyk/Sullinger)

Look, Boston is in a full on rebuild. The Celtics didn’t have the “fireworks” this summer that they had hoped for. Time to start preparing to build for the future with the draft picks they have. Any option other than starting Sullinger and Olynyk at power forward and center don’t make sense. Zeller can earn his minutes off the bench, but we need to see what this Sully/Kelly frontcourt is capable of.

Cory Prescott, CLNS Radio (Zeller)

Barring an injury, the spot is Zeller’s to lose. Even if you were to somehow disregard Faverani's recent run in with the law, Zeller was brought here to try and man the back line. Sullinger has the strength, but can’t defend the rim, while Olynyk would get bullied down low as a starting 4. Anthony is bad at basketball, while Iverson was a long shot before signing in Spain. As his Per-36 numbers indicate, Zeller showed flashes throughout his first two seasons of being a more than competent center. He’s young, athletic, can run the floor, and with the loss of Kris Humphries, is most likely the team’s best shot blocker.

Mark Vandeusen, CelticsLife (Olynyk/Sullinger)

Every year the center position becomes less and less of a thing in the NBA, to the point that last season the league even eliminated it from its All-Star game. Boston is going to go with their five best guys; probably Rondo, Bradley, Green, and two of the three between Brandon Bass, Kelly Olynyk and Jared Sullinger. Even though neither fits in the traditional sense of the word, if you check ESPN.com's Celtics depth chart, both Olynyk and Sullinger are listed as centers.

Jay O., Red's Army (Zeller)

Olynyk has more overall skill, but might be best suited as a sixth man to come in at either position and spark the offense off the bench.

Also voting: Brian Robb, CelticsHub (Olynyk/Sullinger); Tom Westerholm, CelticsHub (Zeller); Padraic O'Connor, CelticsLife.com (Zeller); KWAPT, Red's Army (Olynyk/Sullinger).



bob



.

Why wouldn't Zeller get the nod?  He's a center, for Pete's sake, and there's every possibility that he hasn't yet reached his full potential.  More important, he's likely to be the single most important element in creating some sense of operational balance that was lacking last season.  For that reason, he can have an impact on the performance of all four of his floor mates at any given time.

Sam

Zeller.

Other than Olynyk (mostly at Gonzaga) he's the only one who you would consider a true trained and well experienced center.  Of course, he also appears to have some legit NBA level ability at the position, which might just be a little bit important.

Not even considering Vitor or Anthony in the equation.

Forgetting, at least for the moment, that the "new normal" is Power Forward = Center.

If not Zeller, why did we acquire him? Hawk

some of those "bloggers" see thing the way I do .

Kelly and Sully are best young big men we have right now. They need the minutes.

I don't care if some don't think they are NBA centers (circa 1980), this is 2014.

and yes Zeller is the next best YOUNG guy on the roster now.

so Zeller and Sully as starters with Kelly as the new 6th man (who just happens to get more minutes than either starter).

hopefully we get something of value for Bass soon, so he can move on and he won't be taking time from the younguns.

Zeller starts at center, that's why we got him. Sully starts at PF.

KO is the first big off the bench, subs for whichever of the above two gets into foul trouble first.

Zeller, Sully and KO get the lion's share of the minutes at the 4 and 5 positions.

Mix in the rest, each with less minutes; Bass, Fav and Jo-el. Bass and Jo-el are trade bait.

gyso

Hi,
I voted Zeller. From what I saw watching him in Cle he's head and shoulder above all others at 5,IMO.
If nothing else he has a better name - Big Z sounds much better than Big Sully or Big Olly and definately better than Big Vee.

AK

Zeller starts at center. Why?

1. Olynyk and Sullinger are NOT centers.

2. Faverani drinks too much.

3. Joel Anthony's going to be acquainted with the pine for a while.

By the way, Michael Pina has no idea what he's talking about. How are Olynyk and Sullinger a priority as the starting interior players? Didn't we try this experiment last year? How did that turn out?


KJ

Zeller by default.

Further, for anyone in the press, and I know this came from ESPNBOSTON to suggest Sully to play center again has to be crazy.  Sully is NO CENTER...and the more he is playing that position the more the Celtics will continue to lose, but in addition Sully's career will be down the drain as well.

HE IS NOT A CENTER!

My god the guy is not only challenged with his height - maybe 6'9" but he has no vertical leaping ability!!!!!!

112288

Well 100% pick Zeller and it is rare that everyone finds themselves on the same page.

I am still waiting to see if Boston attempts to void Fav's contract.

We still could use another center.

The big question in my mind is who will start at PF along with Zeller at center.  If Zeller proves to be a solid rebounder on the defensive glass you could start KO as a stretch 4.   Or if you want a reliable partner why not Bass?  However,  if Jared was the starter at PF, playing his natural PF position, you would be very strong on the glass although weak defensively.  

The Celtics are collectively weak at the 4 and 5 positions.  Our best all around player is the undersized Brandon Bass.  All the rest are deficient when they are on the court.  None of them can cover their position defensively.

We should see a rotation at 4 and 5 that includes Zeller, Bass, KO, Sully and YES, Anthony. Unless Sully is tasked again with playing center.

dboss

So far, I'd say there seems to be a certain trend in the responses.  What a shock!

Sam

12-0 and counting. So much providing thought-provoking substance. Where did I go wrong?


:-)



bob


.

bobheckler wrote:12-0 and counting.  So much providing thought-provoking substance.  Where did I go wrong?


:-)


bob


.

Hold ur horses! I ain't voted yet

Eh.... 13-0 for the kid from Cleveland

Okay, Bob, if it'll make you feel better, I vote to bring JaJuan Johnnson back.

Sam

Yes, I think Zeller should start, but I voted for other in this poll. My real center of attention this summer has to be Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for his article in the current issue of Time Magazine:

http://time.com/3132635/ferguson-coming-race-war-class-warfare/

I don't want to provoke political discussion pro or con about what he says, but I do want to acknowledge Kareem for having the courage and sense of social responsibility to air his views in public. There's much of what he says with which I agree, some things with which I disagree. What impresses me is the quality of his caring and clarity or his self-expression. Kudos Kareem.

sam wrote:Okay, Bob, if it'll make you feel better, I vote to bring JaJuan Johnnson back.

Sam

I am an oyster, grateful for the grain of sand.



bob



.

Bob, that's about the size of it.  (Couldn't resist).

Sam

I did not want to comment on this post about Kareem but I felt it was my obligation to do so when people like Kareem use half truths and try to weave sensitive historical events in a twisted and misinformed way in order to justify and support their own political agenda.

Therefore I had to respond to the post and set the record straight so as people can get a clear and unbiased understanding of history and events, and not to accept something as truthful because that person happen to be a star athlete and person or notoriety.  All to often that has been the case in the past which has helped divide people rather then bring people together.


That being said, I wonder if Kareem, when he penned his article, also knew that Michael Brown stole items from a convenience store and physically assaulted the clerk at the front door while Brown was trying to leave.  The theft was broadcast over the police radio minutes before Brown was in the altercation with the officer.  

Was Brown on guard and thought that he was about to be arrested for the crime? Autopsy reports show that he was shot in the front and not in the back as was first reported..........again people jumping to conclusions.

Sadly Kareem jumps to the conclusion that it was a race based killing before having all the facts presented to local, state and federal officials. LET THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUDE BEFORE YOU JUMP TO SOME HALF BAKED NOTION THAT RACE PLAYED A PART IN THE SHOOTING.  IF IT WAS RACE, I AM ON RECORD SAYING THEY THEY SHOULD HANG THE POLICE OFFICER FOR THE KILLING! 

Otherwise, in my mind this is race baiting on the part of Kareen and lending credence and justification for rioting. Why are they rioting and destroying a town that people have to live, work and shop in. Like taking a crxp on the floor of your own house!  What are people thinking! Let the justice system determine what really happened!

TO SHOW YOU HOW HARMFUL JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS BEFORE THE FACTS ARE IN AND HOW IT MAY DESTROY INNOCENT LIVES......LET'S TAKE THE CASE OF THE TAWANA BRAWLEY HOAX.......FEATURING THE REV. AL SHARPTON

This is a perfect example how certain people divide people and pit one race against another for personal gain, notoriety and most of all POWER!

Associated Press Story 2013


Tawana Brawley hoax: Why she's paying $627 a month

At age 15, Tawana Brawley claimed she was raped by six white men. A grand jury ruled her claims a hoax. Today, Tawana Brawley is paying one of those men $627 a month in a defamation case.

By Associated Press  AUGUST 5, 2013

NEW YORK —  A black woman who set off a racial firestorm as a teenager after alleging she was raped by a group of white men in 1987 has begun making defamation payments to one of them.

Tawana Brawley has paid just over $3,700 to former county prosecutor Steven Pagones, the New York Post reported. Pagones won a claim against her and her advisers, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, after he was named as an attacker.

Brawley, then 15 and living in Wappingers Falls, claimed she had been sexually assaulted by white men who who smeared her with feces and scrawled racial epithets on her body.

The case quickly made headlines and drew the attention of Sharpton, who became an outspoken advocate for the teen.

As The Christian Science Monitor reported: "A grand jury in suburban Dutchess County spent seven months investigating the claims. Glenda Brawley, Tawana’s mother, defied a subpoena and refused to appear to testify. Tawana did not appear either. In October 1988, the grand jury concluded that Tawana was not abducted, raped, or sodomized, noting that her sexual assault kit showed no evidence of such an attack and that physicians found no signs that she’d been outside in the woods for a prolonged time. The grand jury surmised that the teenager might have faked the attack to avoid punishment from her mother and stepfather for being absentee for several days. No charges were brought in the case."

Pagones sued Brawley for defamation and won a $185,000 judgment. She now owes him more than $400,000 with interest. She's currently paying Pagones $627 each month.

“Finally, she’s paying something,” said Pagones’ attorney, Gary Bolnick told the Post. “Symbolically, I think it’s very important — you can’t just do this stuff without consequences.”

Brawley lives in Virginia and works as a nurse. The Post reported her location in December, and Pagones then filed papers to have her wages garnished for the payments owed him. Her parents have insisted Brawley's claim of being raped was true.


I am color blind when it comes to people.  My attorney and administer of my family's trust fund is black, as well as many people I count as my close inner circle of friends.

When I see a person, I do not see color.  I look into their soul and heart to see if that person in good or bad, and I think an overwhelming number of Americans black-white- Asian - Indian feel the same way. TO ME KAREEM WAS TRYING FOR A LAYUP AND TRYING TO SCORE CHEAP POLITICAL POINTS USING A VERY TRAGIC SITUATION, AS MOST RACE BAITER DO!

If Kareem was so interested in preventing senseless killings, why is he not walking hand in hand with the President of the U.S., the Mayor of Chicago and all the other racial leaders in the country in the streets of Chicago to urge a stop of the gangland killings of many innocent people DAILY! The answer is IT DOES NOT FIT HIS AND OTHERS SOCIAL AGENDA...BECAUSE IT IS A BLACK ON BLACK CRIME.......AND PEOPLE LIKE KAREEM CLOSE THEIR EYES TO IT.

THAT MY FRIENDS IS THE WORST SOCIAL INJUSTICE OF ALL!!!!!!

Kareem also talks about social injustice in America and keeping the non white races down.............Please ..........tell that to Doctor Ben Carson, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and many other black individuals that have risen from poverty to prominence in America...........hey anyone ever hear of the poor kid from Hawaii who made it big..........Ya......his name is President Obama!!!!!!!!! It is called wanting to succeed and live the AMERICAN DREAM!

And about Kareem's assertion about the Kent State Killing sparking a protest march on Washington,  while a killing of 2 black persons lead to no protest.

The shooting may well be criminal in nature by the police even though they were stepping into a riot condition where cars and buildings were set afire.

But to suggest that there was no march due to racism............I'll have to ask Kareem to check some facts out first.

The rioting and protests that occurred during this period was an effort by far left fringe of individuals looking to topple the U.S. Government. People like Sol Lewinsky - author of RULES FOR RADICALS, Bill Ayres - FRIEND OF PRESIDENT OBAMA and bomber of Federal Buildings and killing a police officer.......HUMMMMM were using the Vietnam War as an excuse to gain support and get many people involved in their radical movement.  Using the War was easy for any college kid to agree and join the movement. 

IF YOU READ RULES FOR RADICALS, Lewinsky clearly states that the only way for their radical effort to take hold was the recruitment in numbers of individuals and not through money to change the system.

If Kareem understood this, he would clearly would understand that this had nothing to do with race snubbing ....it was not a black white situation.  The radicals urged people to protest in Washington and not at the black college because Washington was a bigger stage.......and the radicals were not interested in seeking race relations....but the inducement of more civil divide and unrest for the ultimate goal of toppling the U.S. Government.

Let us all live in peace and harmony and let our own discovery of the truth guide our beliefs and destiny so we can all have unity among all of us and not create a great divide among all people so as to only fills the pockets of those who seek to divide with power and personal wealth.

112288

Whoa brother! I think you missed the point of Kareem's article, some conclusions of which I also did not agree. There was a huge protest over Kent State and very little over the slayings that happened at Jackson State or South Carolina State before that. That much is clearly true. I worked in Mississippi in the 60's and can tell you from first hand experience, for the most part violence by authority figures against whites sparked way more public outcry than against blacks. My reading was that Kareem was counseling protestors not to focus on racial injustice because they'd get shorter shrift doing that. Instead he wanted people to unite around economic issues that transcended racial lines. Americans haven't been doing so well economically, and this is hurting people across a broad spectrum. I concur with that part of Kareem's analysis. The solutions are a whole other conversation. Whether Mr. Brown deserved to be shot is a whole other story.

That Kareem has a big heart and the courage to express his views publicly were the points of my post. Peace out.

112288,

I would honestly hate for a thread to be locked over a political debate. Worcester also basically said it wasn't necessarily about agreeing with one's views, but that they felt the strength to vocalize them. You may agree or disagree with Kareem on his position, which is fine, but I don't think that particular subject needs to be taken any further, with all due respect.


KJ

As far as the race discussion goes.. The white man has been actively committing genocide against my people since they landed on this continent all the way into the 1970's..

And today my oldest sisters corpse is rotting under 6 feet of dirt because some ignorant b@$ t@rd hated her for the color of her skin- he admitted such in his trail..

So I went and married a white woman and could name a dozen black freinds I wouldn't just die for, but would happily take their place in hell for all eternity

That all being said, I think I can say I've been personally affected by racism to a greater degree than most other folks in this country and as such I think I've paid a high enough price that I ought to be able to say something on the matter...

So for those who believe this country is racially divided- your right it is, now if you want to fix the problem go find and listen to a poem John Wayne once read called the hyphen it's available on youtube, go listen to it and apply it.

Bust if one wants to argue and fight over racism, even tear apart parts of cities over what the feel is racist action taken against "their people" I have but one thing to ask of them.... PLEASE... Please, if you don't like it here.. get the % €£$ off MY land.. go back to wherever "your people" (whoever "your people" may be) came from! I'll even help you build a raft if ya can't afford a plane ticket.

That's all I got to say about that... now let's talk us some basketball.

Matty, agreed 100%. Let's go back to talking about basketball. I think Zeller will become a huge (7'+) asset this year. Huge. Sure wish he'd learn to master Kareem's sky hook. Why most NBA big men ignore it baffles me.

worcester wrote:Matty, agreed 100%. Let's go back to talking about basketball. I think Zeller will become a huge (7'+) asset this year. Huge. Sure wish he'd learn to master Kareem's sky hook. Why most NBA big men ignore it baffles me.

Even those little baby hooks ala Cowens and McHale were very effective but gosh very few of todays bigs shoot them. It can't be that hard to master and it's a high percentage shot, not likely at all to be blocked but what a goal tending call might be called, and if taken properly leaves the shooter in pretty good rebounding position to get his own miss.

beat

Worcester,

First........I am not commenting on you at all......you are a good guy.  I know what Kareem said in his commentary but he distorted history to fit his agenda and he should have let the facts unfold before writing his commentary.

You cannot distort history or you will poison the well for future generations to learn from.

I know it was a terrible period in our history and how some....not all......southern people conducted themselves.  I was for MLK all the way in how he conducted himself and HOW HE ALLOWED HISTORY TO UNFOLD WITHOUT TWISTING HISTORY to tell the story of injustice in America.

Why did it take 1 person in a high profile killing to motivate Kareen to write his article. Why not focus on Chicago and the black on black violence in that city.  Talk about blacks being blocked from advancing, why not focus on unemployment among black youth in America. You know we do have a black president....he should be ashamed of the following statistic................

A new study recently released indicates that the unemployment rate among black youth is at 38%. This number is staggeringly higher than the overall teen unemployment rate of 21%. In Obama’s hometown of Chicago, the male black teen unemployment rate is 92%. This is shockingly high unemployment among black youth. 

What has the president done to correct this with programs for the inner city....especially Chicago?   Shameful!

112288