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Celtics make smart draft selections

On Wednesday night I entered a movie theater to watch Green Lantern, fully anticipating that it would suck. When my friend first asked me to watch the movie, my response was, “I heard that movie was horrible. But I guess I’m in.” I had nothing else to do, the movie’s special effects didn’t look bad, and if worst came to worst and the flick was as horrendous as advertised, I knew I could just spend two hours staring at Blake Lively on the big screen. Even if the movie lived up to its (miserable) hype, at least I had a fallback plan—ogle a hot chick.

So I strolled into the theater with rock-bottom expectations, expecting this generation’s Gigli. Oddly enough, I didn’t even mind the movie. I’ll be the first to tell you it wasn’t a great movie, or even a good one. The beginning was odd (at best), off-putting, and so poorly made I contemplated walking out after two minutes. Ryan Reynolds still can’t act his way into a fourth-grade class play (though he had certain moments of charm and humor, I guess). Blake Lively looked good, as usual, but brought little else to the table. And the movie’s “corny” factor jumped off the charts, inspiring many “ugh” moments and weird chills.

Despite all that, I almost enjoyed Green Lantern. I went in with expectations lower than Nate Robinson’s toilet seat, and lowered my standards accordingly. By my new standards, the movie was not THAT bad. It was even decently watchable, if only in an “I know this isn’t a good movie, at all, but it’s almost entertaining” way. In the shocker of the century, I actually exited the theater somewhat pleased to have dumped $11 on what will probably go down as the summer’s worst flick. Just two weeks ago, I had watched The Hangover 2; though that movie was certainly better than Green Lantern, I left with a far worst taste in my mouth, mostly because I actually expected a good time.

I entered last night’s NBA Draft with the same feeling I had when I strolled into the theater for Green Lantern. I expected nothing, or at least nothing enjoyable. With the Celtics drafting late in a weak draft, I felt positive Danny Ainge would either trade out of the first round or select someone with little chance of receiving playing time next season. I feared the Celtics might draft BC’s Reggie Jackson, or, in other words, their second straight point guard to keep the bench warm behind Rajon Rondo. I feared they might draft Marquette’s Jimmy Butler, who completely underwhelmed me when I watched him in college. I feared they might draft Jeremy Tyler, a physical freak, yes, but one who averaged 9.8 points for the Tokyo Apache last season. When adding that poor production to his questionable attitude, Tyler has a 98.7% chance of becoming a bust. Hell, my grandmother could average 9.8 points for the Tokyo Apache. I can’t lie—this was the least excited I have been heading into an NBA Draft since, well, ever. I had serious issues about each player the Celtics were rumored to draft.

And then the Celtics made two choices I completely agreed with. JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore aren’t perfect, don’t get me wrong. But they’re winners, they proved themselves through four years college, and they fit needs. The Celtics need shooters and scorers; Johnson and Moore do just that. They need rookies who know how to commit to defense; if you’ve ever watched Purdue play basketball, you know how Johnson and Moore feel about defense. They need polished rookies who could step right in; they picked up two All-Big Ten players with more wins than any other players in Purdue history. They need size on the interior; Johnson’s 6’11, and he can jump, too.

“We’re very fortunate,” Ainge told WEEI. “We got two really good productive college players. Mature kids, great character and attitude. We got some shooting. We got some length and they’ll be a good fit for us.”

I won’t sit here and tell you Johnson and Moore will become All-Stars. In all likelihood, they will never come close. But the Celtics desperately needed depth for next season, and in Johnson and Moore, the Celtics drafted two players who should at the very least compete for playing time. A franchise-altering draft? No. But after entering the draft with my expectations at Green Lantern status, Boston’s selections brought a smile to my face. And I didn’t even need a hot chick to ogle.

Related posts:

  1. Boston Celtics draft E’Twaun Moore
  2. Boston Celtics draft JaJuan Johnson
  3. Celtics potential draft pick: Daniel Orton
  4. Celtics potential draft pick: Damion James
  5. Celtics potential draft pick: Hassan Whiteside

categories Celtics Blog, Celtics Columns, Draft Central, Featured | Jay King | June 24, 2011

categories 2011 NBA Draft, Boston Celtics, E'Twaun Moore, JaJuan Johnson

11 Responses to “Celtics make smart draft selections”

  1. James says:
    June 24, 2011 at 11:22 am

    I expect good things from these two picks as long as Doc actually plays them and doesn’t stifle their growth and value by sitting them all year. Go Cs…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0

  2. paul says:
    June 24, 2011 at 11:27 am

    Simple, solid decisions. Stay in that zone, Danny. And get a new bigs coach. And keep after Rondo to practice his shooting.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0

  3. Nate says:
    June 24, 2011 at 1:31 pm

    When Moore scored 38 last year to beat Ohio he was asked is this the best game if your career.

    Moore responded.

    I haven’t won a championship yet.

    These guys are winners plain and simple.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0

  4. Jay King says:
    June 24, 2011 at 1:41 pm

    Nate, such a great story. I love the picks as much as I hated the Bradley pick last year.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0

  5. Lincolntf says:
    June 24, 2011 at 2:29 pm

    If Johnson is up to playing 15 minutes per game by midway through next season, that would be great. His height will help him maintain against as many players as his light build will hinder him him against others, if that makes any sense. Matchups will be interesting to watch.
    A guy 6’10 who can score from the line helps any team. As long as he can get, and stay, on the court.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0

  6. witchrunner says:
    June 24, 2011 at 2:35 pm

    Actually, I’m a little disappointed with the story. Reading the article, one would think that the C’s drafted Johnson. They didn’t. They drafted Brooks. Then traded to the Nets for Johnson and a 2014 2nd round draft pick. Would loved to had heard his analysis on that. But, maybe he didn’t pay attention to the draft and just wanted to comment on who we ended up with. Personally, I think the trade was great because they need Johnson more than they needed Brooks. Haven’t heard whether it was a deal made before the C’s drafted Brooks or after. Just curious.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0

    • mike says:
      June 26, 2011 at 11:46 pm

      yeaH i wonder also.did the nets have the celts draft brooks, thinking dallas would, and made a deal to draft johnson and then trade him for brooks n a 2nd rd pick in 2014…thats the only thing that makes sense…y draft brooks to just trade him to the nets for a guy they coulda drafted themselves

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  7. Lincolntf says:
    June 24, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    Pretty sure it was made before. We discussed it on the Liveblog contemporaneously and I think the rumor/report/whatever that we’d take Johnson came before the pick.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0

  8. Jay King says:
    June 24, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    The Celtics made the trade before picking Brooks. I like Brooks as a scorer with potential Kevin Martin ceiling (far from likely that he ever reaches that ceiling), but the Celtics’ need for a big man made Johnson a wiser choice.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0

    • Dan Hart says:
      June 24, 2011 at 7:38 pm

      I agree with you that the “Green Lantern” was a better movie than the sci-fi and super-hero hating reviewers at the “Glob” are willing to admit. They gave it one star. They gave the lame summer B-Movie “Super 8″ three stars. Go figure. You just have to take the reviews with a grain of salt and make your own rating decision after seeing the movie. The Celtics seem to have made the best of a weak draft. Are there any more good players from that Purdue team available?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  9. greenbeand says:
    June 25, 2011 at 10:21 pm

    im not saying it was an option, but the better move is trading out for next years stacked draft..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

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