Blog

I’ve seen some cautionary comments about avoiding expecting much of Kris Joseph because of his mid-second round draft status. While it is true that second round picks often fail to make an NBA roster, and Kris was hardly taken early in the round, he is my pick for surprise of the Celtics’ rookie class. Joseph is cursed with a double barrel blast of the NBA version of damning with faint praise–he is a four year college player (read lacks untapped potential) and is good but not great at everything (read lacks definitive NBA skill). That Swiss army knife tool set he demonstrated in summer league looked about three tablespoons of confidence and a burning desire to excel away from becoming something special. So what happens if he comes in supercharged and won’t be limited by his role as third banana at small forward?

Dateline: August 14, 2012––47 days until the start of training camp!

If Joseph really takes the bit in his teeth and his confidence rises with his comfort and competence level, then he is going to earn some minutes. Earn them in spite of having $25M worth of small forwards ahead of him in the rotation. So if push comes to shove where does the bulge stop?

Well consider for a moment that for several years it would have been a good strategic move, even if a tactical weakness, to sit out the aging stars the middle of three in a row, and either end of back-to-backs. With twenty something back-to-backs letting Pierce sit out one and Garnett the other would free up 30 minutes in each of those games. With Bradley possibly missing the first month or more, there may be minutes at shooting guard. And there is always the 25-point lead in the fourth quarter with both Pierce and Garnett laughing on the bench.

Now there are other options. Lee could fill in at SF while Bradley, Rondo, and Terry divide most of the 96 minutes at guard. Sullinger and Melo/Collins might see time behind Bass and Wilcox with Garnett on the bench. But if Kris Joseph plays solid defense, avoids errors, and plays within his already significant capabilities on offense, then he will, at least the very least, not hurt Boston in limited minutes to allow more rest than Pierce or Garnett have been afforded these past five years.

The intriguing thing about Joseph is the similarity to some other players without that one out-of-this-world skill. Paul Pierce, Shane Battier, Scotty Pippen, and Nicolas Batum all improved markedly after entering the league. I’m not saying he will match any of their careers, but he comes in with a tool set not unlike they brought to the table. Desire and confidence, along with a fanatical determination to improve—those will be the keys.