On this present day Boston Celtics Historical past, the crew would flop on this yr’s draft lottery, ending up shedding the primary alternative in complete in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs regardless of the best scores – 36.3% – to land the primary world alternative of the NBA 1997 draft.
The puff was one of the crucial impactful songs of dangerous probability of the draft skilled by the crew in its worst period by way of success within the historical past of the membership. The unfortunate tour would ultimately ship the massive generational man Tim Duncan to the Spurs, with Boston writing Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer with the third and sixth alternative of this mission, respectively.
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“I can let you know this,” stated the managing director of the Ml Carr interval by way of the Michael Holley from Boston Globe. “The coach (Rick) Pitino will do the appropriate factor with the alternatives. He is aware of what he’s doing, he is aware of college basketball.” The issue was that the Celtics performed within the NBA.
Boston ,: Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (L) strikes for the ball in opposition to Ron Mercer of the Boston Celtics November 26 on the Fleet Heart in Boston, Ma. AFP Photograph / John Mottern (Photograph credit score should learn John Mottern / AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
The identical day in 1976, the previous little Celtic striker, Ron Mercer, was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in an attention-grabbing coincidence. He would play for the Celtics after being picked up by them from the College of Kentucky with the sixth alternative in complete of the 1997 NBA restoration. It was there that he performed below Pitino, now his boston head coach after leaving Kentucky the identical summer time to affix the crew as a chief coach and president of basketball operations.
Mercer performed two seasons for the Celtics earlier than being exchanged with Popeye Jones and Dwayne Schintzius on the Denver Nuggets for Danny Fordson, Eric Williams, Eric Washington and mission belongings.
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He collected a median of 15.9 factors, 3.6 rebounds and a couple of.3 assists per recreation throughout his two seasons with Boston.
Cleveland, Oh – February 11: Paul Pierce raises the registration numbers for banners eliminated by the Boston Celtics throughout his jersey retirement ceremony on February 11, 2018 at TD Backyard in Boston, Massachusetts. Observe to the consumer: the consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and or utilizing this {photograph}, the consumer consented below the phrases and situations of the Getty Pictures license settlement. Obligatory copyright opinion: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photograph by Nathaniel S. Butler / NBAE by way of Getty Pictures)
It’s also the anniversary of the previous little Celtic striker Michael Smith, born right now in 1965 in Rochester, New York. He can be chosen by Boston of Brigham Younger College with the thirteenth alternative in complete of the NBA 1989 draft, and would play two seasons with the Celtics earlier than being canceled in 1991. He had a median of 4.9 factors, 1.4 boards and 1.1 assists per match on this part.
Former common of Boston Ground Sam Vincent was additionally born that day, in 1963 in Lansing, Michigan. He performed his Ballon NCAA with Michigan State and was chosen by the Celtics twentieth within the common classification of the NBA in 1985. Vincent would play two seasons with Boston as a reserve guard, successful a championship on this position in 1986.
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It might be handled on the Supersonics of Seattle with Scott Wedman for mission issues and recorded 3.4 factors, 0.7 plates and 1.2 assists per match in his time with the Celtics.
This text initially appeared on Celtics Wire: Historical past of Celtics: CS Whiff ’97 Lottery, Miss Duncan; Mercer, Vincent born
