Get me on that Blue Devil Bandwagon
http://s19.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s19southeastofdisorder"With the 7th selection in the 2006 NBA draft, the Boston Celtics select: J.J. Redick out of Duke University"
This very phrase would make many Celtics fans skin crawl come Draft Day. Redick may be the most scrutinized 2 time player of the year award winner in history. Many experts have spent the past two years picking him apart and turning him into an average NBA prospect who could go as late as the early twenties in this year's draft. He was the most hated player in the country last year, and couldn't leave Durham without being bombarded with insults. If you mention his name in College Park, MD you are bound to hear a 20 minute rant that at some point questions his sexual preference. Despite all this Redick won his second Player of the Year award this past season, and continued to improve his all around game for the fourth year in a row. So what is it that the "experts" see, or don't see for that matter in Redick?
The most consistent knock on J.J.'s NBA prospects is a myth that many seem to think he won't be able to get his shot off at the NBA level. Some come right out and say it, while others use terms like, "Must prove he can score against elite level athletes." (http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/jjredick.asp) The basis of this theory is that Redick does not have a 40 inch verticle leap, and in all reality looks like he has more of a future as a preppy, smug, grad student at Duke than as competition for Dwayne Wade. What this theory lacks is anything substantial to support it. As a freshman Redick dropped 30 points against current Denver Nuggett Julius Hodge. In his sophmore campaign it was a 23 point performance against last year's consensus rookie of the year Chris Paul. As a Junior it was 18 against a UNC team who had 4 players all drafted in the first round in the last years draft, including #2 pick Marvin Williams. For his senior year it was a staggering 27 points a game while playing in the best conference in the land. Every team focused it's defense on him, running 2 to 3 guys at him per possession. This is a luxury teams can not afford when it comes to a jump shooter in the NBA, and proved how devastating Redick truely is from the outside. No one has ever dominated the college game strictly from the outside the way Redick has, imagine what he could do against with only one guy guarding him.
Character issues have risen since a recent DUI charge against Redick. Let me remind you, J.J. is a senior in college. While I in no way condone drinking and driving, the majority of college students have done it at some point or another, some get caught and others don't. J.J.'s teammates and coaches seem to really like him, and when it comes to basketball that's what truely matters. He did not pull a Kobe and get charged with rape, he got caught doing something that should in no way reflect on his draft status. (Side Note: This is unless of course GM's find he has a Vin Baker like case of alcoholism, in that case get away immediately and consider this piece of writing irrelevant.) Redick has chown plenty of character in being so thick skinned when it comes to fan criticism. As mentioned earlier Redick has been victimized by almost every insult one can imagine in visiting gymnasium's. This speaks volumes about his ability to play in a place where he will hear his fair share of jeers like Boston.
The biggest reason I have for drafting him is this, the absolute worst he could be is another Steve Kerr. A three point and free throw specialist who is used late in games to either seal the deal at the line or hit a clutch three. I know your thinking why would we draft someone who could be the next Steve Kerr? Well the answer is what is wrong with Steve Kerr? He was a contributor on championship teams. Look at the potential #1 Tyrus Thomas, he could be the next Chris Bosh, but he could also be the next Yinka Dare. J.J. Redick is a safe pick, anyone who is consistent from the outside and at the line can contribute. Now Redick's ceiling is another story. At his best he could be Peja Stojakovich with a killer insinct. Redick has proven not to be soft, and has made plenty of big shots in his college career. He is known for throwing three point daggers to put away opposing teams. He has that intangible that Peja doesn't have, the intangible that has kept Peja from being a great player since he came into the league.
The last reason I have for wanting J.J. in a celtic uniform is he is exactly what this team needs. Paul Pierce has had zero confidence in his teammated over the last year. You can see it in the way he plays on the offensive end. Constantly taking shots he should not take rather than watch Tony Allen brick another wide open three. The only guys he gives it up to are Delonte and Raef. Delonte because hes has proven himself as a scorer, and Raef because they are old college buddies. J.J. will open things up for Pierce's drives and mid-range game. He will keep opposing guard's honest at the defensive end because anyone who has watched Duke play over the last four years knows you can't leave him open. He has improved his upper body strength and developed more of an NBA body. He's shown quick hands and compiled good steal numbers in his last season at Duke, proving he may not be such a liability on the defensive end as so many claim he will be.
I know some people think J.J. is overhyped because of the color of his skin and I'm not seeing it. I go to get my hair cut in a Roxbury barber shop, it's a black neighborhood with all black barbers and I usually have conversations about the NBA with a particular barber there. The man is a die hard Celtics fan who is not shy when it comes to critiqueing players. The first thing he said to me when I sat down in the barber chair was, "We need J.J."
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