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So I’m reading a post on OTR Basketball where a poster is taking ESPN’s Bill Simmons opinion of Joe Dumars’ GM’enship, with an emphasis on the Iverson trade, as the gospel.  Then,  I realized why I’m of the opinion that Bill Simmons blows leprechaun balls.  Here’s a passage that I took particular exception to:

but remember, he’s the same guy who botched the Darko pick, hired Flip Saunders, overpaid Nazr Mohammed, shoved Carlos Delfino down your throats, pushed out Larry Brown and badly misjudged Mehmet Okur. He’s not a genius. He’s a solid GM who made some good moves and some bad ones, and he definitely held on to the 2004 nucleus for about 18 months too long. It’s OK to lightly question the direction of this team without feeling like an ingrate. Really, it is. You are within your rights. The five-year grace period is almost up.

The Darko pick, yeah that was bad. I don’t think Joe is the only GM who would have taken Milicic, but I’ll give Simmons that one.

Flip Saunders, best coach available after the Larry Brown thing went down.

Nazr Mohammed, best pivot Joe could get after Ben bolted. How about if Joe had overpaid Ben Wallace like Chicago had? That would have been a bad move. Remember how Joe got rid of Nazr and his contract for two expiring contracts in Primoz Brezec and Walter Herrmann? Then Herrmann turns out to be a very solid member of the Pistons bench.

I don’t remember Joe pushing Delfino down anyone’s throat. Anyone who watched Carlos in the Olympics over the summer understands the guy has talent. Joe and the Pistons gave Delfino chances to prove himself as an NBA talent but he was too much of a primadonna. He was never forced down our throats though. When he played well he earned minutes OFF THE BENCH, when he didn’t he sat.

Pushed Larry Brown out? That’s how little Simmons is actually paying attention. First off it was owner Bill Davidson’s call to give LB his walking papers. Anyone who knows anything about Brown’s history knows the guy loves to courted and he was talking to the Cavs about a position while the Pistons were making a run at back-to-back titles. That’s unacceptable.

None one misjudged Mehmet Okur. Everyone knew the guy was a baller. We wanted to keep him but it was a choice between paying him or paying Rasheed Wallace who’d just proved to be the Pistons x-factor in winning the 2004 title.

It’s clear that Simmons, a life long Celtics fan, just has an ax to grind with the rival Pistons.

Look, I’m not completely sold on the Iverson trade myself. I love Chauncey’s game and have never been a big Iverson fan. But we’re still a contender. I don’t think we’re any worse, but probably not any better than had the trade not been made.

But, the financial benefits are a no brainer. If we’ll still be in the mix AND have an obscene amount of money to throw at free agents isn’t that the move a good GM?

As for the Pistons not being able to land any big name free agents don’t you think that’s just wishful thinking on the part of a life long Celtics fan?

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 20th, 2008 at 5:29 pm and is filed under Celtics, Fanalyzed, Rivalry propaganda. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.