Paxson Chooses #4

1988

A number long sitting in mothballs has been exhumed for Jim Paxson. The newest Celtic will wear the No. 4, last seen on the back of former Boston College star Gerry Ward in the 1964-65 season.

Others who wore that number were, in reverse order, Clyde Lovellette (who also wore 34), Carl Braun, Ken Rollins, Sonny Hertzberg, Tony Lavelli (who also wore 11), Saul Mariaschin and Wyndol Gray.

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.