By BIJAN C. BAYNE
ProBasketballNews.com
Those old Red Auerbach-led Celtics teams are known for several interchangeable parts.
One was the accurate shooting guard -- exemplified by Bill Sharman, then Sam Jones.
There was the banger role, played by "Jungle" Jim Loscutoff, Wayne
Embry, Bailey Howell, and under coach Tommy Heinsohn, Paul Silas.
The most innovative puzzle piece was that of the versatile sixth man -- a wing player who could score, and guard small forwards and bigger guards. Frank Ramsay was the first to play the part, and Hall of Famer John Havlicek, who debuted in this fashion, parlayed it into an All-Star career as a starter.
Now, the Celtics have acquired a player whose contribution may prove more instrumental in their ability to contend for a championship than Ray Allen -- James Posey.
Posey, unlike Paul Pierce and Allen, can defend wing scorers. If Boston needs him to shadow a slashing forward, the 30-year old can do that. He is also capable of watching the big guards they will face in the Eastern Conference -- LeBron James, Dwyane Wade,and Vince Carter.
Where Kevin Garnett, Pierce and Allen are expected to score 20 points each and cause matchup problems for opposing defenses, the 6-foot-8 Posey is expected to do something no other current Celtic can -- which is to make the opposition's top gun work for his baskets. The other important factor in the Posey acquisition is his ability to step into a wing position should the injury-prone Allen go down, or even fill in for Pierce.
The Celtics don't need another scorer, but Posey can also contribute there when asked. He averaged 14 points per game for the Nuggets in 2002-03, and 13.7 in 30 minutes a game for the Grizzlies in '03-04. If journeyman Scott Pollard and young Kendrick Perkins can take some of the defensive and rebounding burden from Garnett, guards Tony Allen and Eddie House provide valuable minutes from the bench, and rookie inside presence Glen "Big Baby" Davis develops as a backup, this will actually be a team, not a collection of mismatched All-Stars.
Yet Posey is the sole Celtic who can set the tone and mindset of the defense. His effort in that regard will make him an extension of his coach, former defensive standout Doc Rivers. Posey will be embraced by savvy Celtic fans as a traditional Celtic -- a player who does not have to score or handle the basketball much to help the team.
For a franchise whose greatest player averaged only 15 points a game, and for whom an older Bill Walton won NBA Sixth Man of the Year honors, the distinction is significant. With Posey in the lineup, Allen, Pierce and Garnett, especially the first two, can focus their energies on the offensive end during the exhausing season.
While New England, from which I am reporting, is abuzz with the addition of Garnett, it should also be noted that Rivers and Danny Ainge have played their cards wisely by signing Posey.
Somewhere, Red Auerbach is thinking of lighting victory cigars again.
Bjan C. Bayne is the author of "Sky Kings: Black Pioneers of Professional Basketball," a member of the United States Basketball Writers Association, and the media relations director of the Association for Professional Basketball Research. He is a popular radio talk show host and regular contributor to ProBasketballNews.com.
