Is Michael Finley Better than Kobe?

DATE	OPP	RESULT	MIN	FG	PCT	3P	PCT	FT	PCT	STL	BLK	TO	PF	OFF	DEF	TOT	AST	PTS
Begins Playing for BOSTON CELTICS
3/7	Was	W 86-83	0	0-0	--	0-0	--	0-0	--	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3/9	@Mil	L 86-84	8	2-3	.667	1-1	1.000	0-0	--	0	0	1	1	0	1	1	0	5
3/10	Mem	L 111-91	14	4-6	.667	2-3	.667	0-0	--	0	0	0	1	0	3	3	0	10
3/12	Ind	W 122-103	18	4-5	.800	0-0	--	1-2	.500	0	0	1	3	0	3	3	1	9
3/14	@Cle	L 104-93	16	2-7	.286	0-3	.000	0-0	--	0	0	0	1	1	3	4	1	4
3/15	Det	W 119-93	14	6-7	.857	3-4	.750	0-0	--	0	1	1	3	0	1	1	2	15
Numbers for March			14.0	18-28	.643	6-11	.545	1-2	.500	0.0	0.2	0.6	1.8	0.2	2.2	2.4	0.8	8.6

With last night's 6-7 outing, Michael Finley is shooting a blistering64% since joining the Boston Celtics. If you throw out his Cleveland outing as an aberration, Finley's shooting percentage improves to better than 76%. He's shooting 54% from range, or 66% excluding the Cleveland game.

The Celtics don't have a long history of making mid- to late-season acquisitions who adjust quickly. Ray Williams and Artis Gilmore never really adjusted. Ed Pinckney and Joe Kleinie earned Cs. Sam Cassell and Derek Smith probably deserved a B-. Jim Paxson, Tony Delk, and Rodney Rogers probably earned a B+ in their first seasons.

Right now I'm gonna give #40 a B. If he can replicate his hot shooting in a game that matters, I'll revisit his GPA at that time.