Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Mickey and Wright would study footage of the NBA’s most relentless interior players. They focused on Dennis Rodman, the eccentric forward who thrived by rebounding, defending, and being an overall nuisance.
Rodman was an elite rebounder despite being just 6 feet 7 inches and 220 pounds, and it seemed that Mickey — who is now 6-8, 235 — would develop a similar frame. Rodman was a physical menace, but it was no accident that he was consistently in the area of missed shots.
“Jordan and I would really look at how Rodman knew the trajectory of a shot,” Wright said by telephone. “He had an ability to read a shot when it’s taken, determine where a ball is going to hit the rim, and where it might go after it does.”
Adam Himmelsbach gives us some great insight into the family and work ethic of Jordan Mickey. I don’t know how you can read this story and not think highly of Mickey.
If you’re going to study rebounding, Rodman is a great one to start with. I just went through his stat sheet – 7 consecutive years averaging 15+ rebounds per game, including 2 years with more than 18 rpg. We tend to remember the hair color, tattoos, piercings and mental issues, but Rodman was a superb player.
For those too young to remember his game, think about the impact Tristan Thompson had throughout the NBA playofffs and double it. That was Rodman.
On Page 2, the Celtics had the 11th best offseason.
THE SKINNY: Ainge stuck to the script for a couple of years of trying to build through the Draft, but after not getting high enough in the first round to get impact players, he sped up the process, turning over half of the roster — starting with signing Johnson from Toronto and getting Lee from the NBA champs. Lee insists he’s more than cool with the move, which will at least get him out of dry dock. Both he and Johnson should help the Celtics’ frontcourt, which will help coach Brad Stevens, who got Boston to play outstanding team defense the second half of last season. But Boston is extremely guard heavy, currently needing to split time between Isaiah Thomas, Avery Johnson, Marcus Smart, James Young and the team’s two first-rounders. Still need to see if taking Rozier higher than just about any other team had him rated will work out, but Mickey shows signs of being a second-round steal.
Aldridge is the latest veteran NBA analyst with a relatively positive review of the Celtics moves this off-season. Unlike the guys on Sheridan Hoops, he’s judging the Celtics on the merits of each individual move and not on the lack of a acquiring a franchise cornerstone.
I still think it’s odd that the back court is viewed as crowded when the front court has the same log jam. I’d say the situation is worse in the front court because most of the assembled cast are veterans expecting minutes. If Marcus Smart and James Young are playing well, no one is going to bitch that Rozier and Hunter aren’t getting minutes.
No, Avery Johnson is not attempting a comeback at age 50. Aldridge obviously meant Avery Bradley.
The rest of the links
ESPN Boston – Celtics waive Dragic, down to 16 guaranteed contracts
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