Thanks to Labor Day weekend, and my lack of being able to post anything yesterday, today you are getting two Celtics Summer Forecast questions for the price of one. What a deal, huh?
Yesterday, while Chris Forsberg was working hard putting together the answers from the panel of eighteen experts, I was relaxing with my family munching down ears of corn on the cob. I know you're probably saying, "Bpaul, you deserve to relax after all the great stuff you do here at Gino's Jungle", and I thank you for that.
Anyways... time to cut to the chase. Today, the panel of eighteen experts from eight different Celtics blogs around the web joined forces to tackle the following question:
Who is the Celtics sixth man?
Since the Celtics cut ties with James Posey at the end of the '08 season, they really haven't had a clear-cut sixth man coming off the bench. Don't expect that to completely change this season. With a roster loaded with depth it will be extremely hard for one player to establish himself as "THE Sixth Man".
When Chris Forsberg from ESPN Boston asked me the question regarding the Celtics sixth man, instead of beating around the bush, I decided to think outside the box to try to find a true sixth man for this team.
While nine of the bloggers believe it will be Glen "Big Baby" Davis, I went against the majority on this one. I love Big Baby's game, don't get me wrong, but I just can't see him establishing himself as "that guy" who is most valuable off the bench.
When I think of a sixth man in the NBA I think of a scorer; I think of a guy like Ben Gordon (2005), Manu Ganobili (2008), or Jamal Crawford (2010). Big Baby is valuable to this Celtics team; however, I don't believe he has the potential to break out and be a breakout star off the bench like the guys named above.
The member of the 2010-2011 Boston Celtics that I do believe has the potential to break out and be like those guys is Nate Robinson.
Here's the explanation I gave to ESPN:
After last year's playoffs, I really started to like what Robinson could bring off the bench for this team. He can play at the 1 or 2 spot and provide much-needed rest for the legs of Rondo and Allen. He can create his own scoring, while also adapting to the team principles. With more time in the system under his belt, you can expect a very productive Robinson off the bench.
If Nate can learn to succeed more in the role Doc Rivers gives him, this guy is going to scare the opposition this season. He is the one guy on the Celtics bench that has the potential to scorch an opponent single-handedly on any given night. For that reason, I believe he will be the Boston Celtics 2010-2011 sixth man.
As always, be sure to head over to ESPN Boston to check out what the rest of the panel thinks on this issue. There are a few that agreed with me, a few that supported Big Baby, and even a few that gave the nod to "The Big Shamrock".
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