Felger: Warriors, Hawks Not A Proven Model For Celtics To Follow

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/02/13/felger-warriors-hawks-not-a-proven-model-for-celtics-to-follow/



Celtics
Felger: Warriors, Hawks Not A Proven Model For Celtics To Follow
Felger & Massarotti
February 13, 2015 4:09 PM




Warriors guard Steph Curry (L), Celtics president Danny Ainge (top center), head coach Brad Stevens (bottom center) and Hawks forward-center Al Horford (right). (Getty Images)


WBZFM_Bio_Felger_Mazz
Felger and Massarotti



BOSTON (CBS) – The hometown hoop team got themselves a big win on Wednesday night, entering the All-Star break on a positive note after Evan Turner’s game-winner put away Atlanta in the final seconds.

As Mike Gorman (and others) has noted, the Hawks can be the blueprint not just for the Celtics, but the entire NBA. Al Horford is their lone lottery draft pick, and the rest of the roster is filled with mid-to-late first round picks that buy into a team-basketball concept.

Both Atlanta and the Golden State Warriors lead their respective NBA conferences, and while they’re fun to watch, 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Mike Felger doesn’t feel like the Celtics should follow their model of team-building.

Why? Because it hasn’t been proven.

“I think a lot of the NBA people are now looking at [Atlanta] and saying, ‘See! You can build slowly through the draft. You don’t have to have that singular superstar! You don’t need to win the lottery if LeBron James is up! You can build smartly through the draft and have an NBA champion,'” Felger said at the start of Friday’s show.

“Memphis has been that team for a couple of years. I don’t think that’s the way. I still don’t think that’s the way. What has Memphis ever won? Let me see an NBA Finals where one of these teams is actually vying for a championship before I say the Toronto model, the Memphis model, the Golden State model [works]. What will people say when the final four are OKC, San Antonio, Cleveland and whoever?”

If you’ve ever heard Felger talk basketball, you know his least favorite thing about the NBA is the belief that you need one singular superstar to win.
Felger would more than welcome one of these up-and-coming teams to be the new model of success in the league. But the only problem is he hasn’t seen it result in a title yet, therefore he’s not convinced the Celtics should follow suit.

“It’s neat that Al Horford and the collection of mid-drafted players in Atlanta has the best record in the East, and it’s neat that Golden State is putting up these kinds of numbers, and that Memphis is at the top of their division. But when it really comes down to it, what have they won other than regular season games? I just haven’t seen anybody break that mold, other than the Pistons [in 2004]. That’s it. I haven’t seen anybody else do it.”

Do you agree with Felger’s take? Do the Celtics need a superstar? Or can they build through the draft like these other teams?


bob



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In general, I find Felger abrasive. But I often have to admit grudgingly that he has a point, and this is one of those times. There are just so many variables that can alter a team's direction nowadays. I think the superstar route sucks unless he's home grown. For someone to become a superstar within the context of growing up in your team's system may be the best of all worlds. Heck I really thought the Celtics were going to develop along the route of pushing the ball, fast-breaking, and a motion offense. If they're doing that, maybe I blinked and missed it. They just don't have the personnel and, in fact, got rid of some personnel who could potentially thrive in that environment. I guess he's going the reactionary route (aka opportunism in some circles), meaning he'll see what's available and develop a plan that will fit accordingly.

Sam