"For me, social media and Twitter is all about connecting with your fans," James said. "From day one, that's why I got to Twitter, to connect to my fans."I would never apologize for anything like that when I'm connecting with my fans." James said he certainly never "called out" Perkins."I can see why he may have felt embarrassed," he said. "I don't think I was the only one that reacted to that unbelievable play by Blake, and that's what it was all about, me acknowledging how great of a play it was. If Kendrick Perkins had dunked on somebody else on the other end, I would have done the same thing. "I'm an easy target, let's leave it at that."

Link

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Kendrick Perkins and LeBron James have no problem telling us how they feel, especially about each other.

Clearly, Perkins didn't like James teasing him on twitter after he got poster-jobbed by Blake Griffin in a recent game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers.

So Perkins responded. Now it's James' turn. Of course, the back-and-forth between these two isn't surprising.

Perkins and James have history. They two spent years battling each other for Eastern Conference supremacy with the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.

They may have changed teams, but are still rivals. 

James' Heat could meet Perkins' Thunder in the NBA Finals. Both players know this. And both players are attempting to gain an edge during the dog days of the regular season. 

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

“It’s a different team,” said O’Neal, at All-Star weekend as part of the TNT broadcast. “They (the Boston Celtics) miss me.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Shaquille O’Neal will thrive as a broadcaster once he gets over his shyness.

O’Neal, the new darling of TNT’s Emmy-winning cast, is declaring that the Boston Celtics 'miss' him.

On the one hand, he’s right. O’Neal provided a post presence in limited minutes for the green-and-white.

On the other hand, he’s forgetting about Kendrick Perkins, the club's heart and soul.

O’Neal was signed, in large part, to fill in for Perkins who was out with knee troubles. The Celtics then dealt Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the deadline for Jeff Green because they believed O’Neal would be healthy.

Well, The Big Shamrock wasn’t healthy. He got hurt in February and never played again. So, the Celtics were without their heart-and-soul down-low, Perkins, and O’Neal in the playoffs. Not surprisingly, they lost in the second round.

And GM Danny Ainge hasn’t replaced either -even if Brandon Bass can score.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Anything LeBron James can do Blake Griffin can do better, right?

During Sunday‘s clash between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls, James hurdled John Lucas III on a backdoor alley-oop that left fans in awe.

The highlights were just starting, though.

Just one day later, Griffin left Staples Center speechless with his poster-job on Oklahoma City Thunder post Kendrick Perkins.

So, which dunk is play of the year? LeBron making like Vince Carter on that French dude at the Sydney Olympics or Griffin giving Perkins the ‘Mozgov’ treatment?

Watch both videos and get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The season is almost over. It is time to look back and reflect on the positives and negatives. The hype before tip-off was through the roof. There was a lot of anticipation on new rivalries and storylines to be played out. Will the South Beach trio work out? How will Blake Griffin play? Is Steve Nash’s window closed? Are the Lakers still the team to beat? Kevin Durant got the MVP? The Chicago Bulls are 4th seeders, right?

A source close to Boston Celtics forward Jeff Green says the 6-foot-8 forward is expected to miss some games early on this season due to an undisclosed health condition that became apparent during his most recent physical.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The Boston Celtics have had a mixed off-season.

First, they were unsuccessful in their attempts to send Rajon Rondo to New Orleans for Chris Paul, who has since been traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. Rondo is still upset with the Celtics trying to move him.

Second, they couldn’t put the final touches on a sign-and-trade for post David West, so their front line will be anchored by veterans Kevin Garnett and Jermaine O’Neal.

Third, Jeff Green is now out with a heart ailment. Green was acquired last year at the trade deadline in a controversial deal for Kendrick Perkins.

The green-and-white’s season immediately went down the toilet after the trade and now they’ll have little to show for dealing their defensive anchor.

Expect Celtics’ GM Danny Ainge to stay active in an attempt to give his aging Big Three a final chance at a championship.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

What happened? The game was over when Kendrick Perkins got injured. The Lakers took their hearts. After Kobe questioned his teammates’ hearts, they proved that they had more than enough for game 6 in Los Angeles. Pau Gasol finished with a near triple double: 17 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 blocks. Derek Fisher didn’t need to do much. Kendrick Perkins is done. Rajon Rondo took a vicious elbow from Ron Artest that required stitches. The Lakers got this and Kobe got his 5th ring.

“Hurt, surprised, I think it really still hasn’t hit me yet — not really,” he said later. “I think everything happened so fast, last year coming back from my ACL injury and getting traded to Oklahoma City where I had to be a leader. “It still hurts that I got traded, but then the city of Oklahoma has been great to me. They’ve embraced me with open arms, and I have no complaints about the city of Oklahoma and the whole organization.”

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Kendrick Perkins reminds me of John Starks.

There are differences: Perkins is a center, Starks was a guard; Perkins is a defensive anchor, while Starks played both ends of the floor; Perkins won a championship with the Boston Celtics and Starks’ New York Knicks fell short in the NBA Finals.

However, Perkins and Starks are both fiery and have massive hearts.

Consider that the veteran-laden Celtics fell apart after Perkins was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder last February. Part of this had to with the hole Perkins left down-low, but this was more about the hole he left in the locker room.

Rajon Rondo missed Perkins, his best friend. Kevin Garnett cried when told of the trade. And the green-and-white never recovered.

Yesterday Perkins received a massive ovation while at an exhibition game near Boston.

Starks, a real life Rocky, had a similar impact in New York. He played at several colleges, semi-pro leagues, and bagged groceries before sticking with the Knicks.

Fans could relate to Starks` blue-collar work ethic. Eventually, he became an All-Star and a key part of some rugged Knick teams.

He was immortalized with his dunk on THE GOAT and when the Beastie Boys declared 'I got heart like John Starks'.

The lockout has shown what’s wrong with the NBA. The league needs more players like Perkins and Starks.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

After arriving from the Celtics last season and being looked at as the veteran leader Oklahoma City needed to take the next step to compete for a title, Perkins went hard at Westbrook with his verbal criticisms, often saying that the Thunder's playmaker couldn't match Rajon Rondo as a playmaker. Those words didn't sit well with Westbrook, who already had been criticized for shooting too much and was the subject of a benching heard-round-the-NBA when the Thunder played the Mavs in June.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Chemistry matters. It can be the difference between a team competing and attending the Draft Lottery.

Such an intangible takes years to develop. So it’s surprising to hear that post Kendrick Perkins criticized point guard Russell Westbrook by comparing him to Rajon Rondo.

Perkins, who has acquired by the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trade deadline, understands the importance of chemistry from his days with the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics were a nice balance of talent and chemistry, especially on the defensive end where their rotations and help were a thing of beauty.

However, Perkins and Rondo are best friends. And the blue-collar point post is known, and even respected for his temper, outbursts, and intensity.

Whatever the case, this will be another thing the young Thunder address when the season begins.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

I even told (Boston General Manager) Danny Ainge not to do the Kendrick Perkins deal with Oklahoma City. I told them I might not be ready, and I’m definitely not coming back. Those guys did what they’ve got to do. I wasn’t surprised; I’ve seen it before. They say all that blah, blah, but you know it’s always going to be something different.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: There’s a problem with Shaquille O’Neal taking the I-told-you-so approach with GM Danny Ainge about the Kendrick Perkins trade.

The Perkins deal wasn’t done for 2011. Ainge, for whatever reason, decided the Boston Celtics weren’t getting past the Miami Heat in the playoffs and traded his defensive post to the Oklahoma City Thunder for forward Jeff Green.

In time, Green will give the Celtics greater versatility and athleticism. He’ll be a large part of the rebuild whenever Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce call it a career.

Then there was Perkins. He was coming off a serious knee injury and demanded a big-ticket extension, something Ainge was weary of giving.

So Ainge cut ties. He got the best deal available, even if some felt it left the Celtics exposed down low and compromised what little chance they had of advancing deep in the playoffs last season.

And he was right to deal Perkins as it was in the best interests of the club -irrespective of Shaq’s health and commentary after the fact.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

 

“They’ve been together for a number of years,” Green said of the Celtics. “They’ve already won a championship, they’ve already have a system, they already have their chemistry and that bond on that team. “It was tough to go into that situation.”

Link

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Three future members of the Hall of Fame. One All-Star point guard. One championship. One NBA Finals appearance. And a heap of pressure on a young forward to replace the team's heart-and-soul.

Welcome to Jeff Green's world last February.

The Boston Celtics acquired Green from the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trade deadline. The green-and-white gave up Kendrick Perkins, their burly center, in the deal. 

It didn't matter that Perkins was coming off knee surgery or that his contract demands were impossible to meet.

Trading Perk' didn't go over well. Kevin Garnett cried, Rajon Rondo went into a funk, and the team lost their tough, blue-collar identity.

Worst of all, fans and players felt GM Danny Ainge had given up on 2011 to prepare for the future.

All of this impacted Green, who came into an impossible situation. The expectations were sky-high, while fans and teammates were slow to embrace him.

The Celtics, however, will make every effort to re-sign Green, a restricted free agent. In time, this trade could work out.

After all, Green has talent. He can guard multiple positions, score, and stuffs the stat-sheet with the all-important little things.

For now, things are tough, though.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

In a press released obtained by 12 News HD, Beaumont attorney Langston Scott Adams says, quote "Mr. Perkins has maintained his innocence to the charges and is recovering at home with family suffering from injuries he received during the incident."

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Well, every story has two sides, I guess.

Kendrick Perkins claims he was an innocent bystander and sustained injuries during a brawl at a nightclub in Beaumont, Texas, and in no way instigated the incident.

Perhaps the Oklahoma City Thunder center is innocent. Perhaps not.

Regardless, nothing good happens at 3 am. As a professional, as someone who claims to be serious about his craft, Perkins can’t be out all hours of the night.

Especially when considering Perkins had a charitable event the next day, an event he organized with children and teenagers where he was hoping to present himself and other NBA stars as models to follow.

Sorry Perk’. Innocent or not, you’re guilty of bad judgment.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

EARLIER SATURDAY-KFDM has confirmed that NBA star Kendrick Perkins was booked and released early Saturday morning into the Jefferson County jail around 4:00a.m. on charges of public intoxication and disorderly conduct. The charges are a class C misdemeanor. Per Texas penal code 12.23, an individual guilty of a class C misdemeanor shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500. Perkins posted bond of $150 shortly after being booked and was released.

Link

“It wasn’t like the man passed away or something,” Rondo said. “I think we put too much emphasis on it. It’s a business. He got traded. He’s very happy where he’s at. We still talk and I’m always going to have his back. It shouldn’t have affected us the way it affected us.”

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: For all intensive purposes, it ended the Boston Celtics’ season.

Last February, Celtics executive Danny Ainge sent center Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder for forward Jeff Green.

In theory, it made sense. Perkins was coming off a nasty knee injury. He wanted a multi-year, big-ticket contract. And Green, a talented player, would be around long after The Big Three retired.
 
The reality was different, though. Perkins, even when injured, formed a large part of the Celtics’ identity as a tough, defensive-minded club.

And Perk’ did the little things: he banged, he glared, he rebounded, he blocked shots, he sometimes delivered cheap-shots, and he intimidated. In short, he did what an aging Kevin Garnett is no longer capable of.

So it didn’t matter who Ainge was getting back. And it didn’t matter that the O’Neals, Jermaine and Shaquille, never got healthy.

Boston had lost their identity, their way. It was plying the middle for an upstart Oklahoma City club.

Ainge can do his part by acquiring a body to plug-the-hole down-low. The current crop of Celtics need to forget Perk' -if they want one final run at a championship.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

Every team could use an enforcer and, in that category, there's no better free agent available than Thomas. As with every veteran free agent, Boston will use its championship potential as its best pitch.

Link

HoopsVibe`s Very Quick Call: They need a post. He needs a championship. So the Boston Celtics and Kurt Thomas seem a fit.

In February, the Celtics traded starting center Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Jeff Green. The green-and-white clearly missed Perkins' toughness, defense, and rebounding.

Nenad Krstic, who was included in the Perkins-for-Green deal, recently signed a long-term deal in Europe, while Glen 'Big Baby' Davis, when not fishing for lobsters, seems determined to leave when the lockout ends.

The Celtics have a hole down low. Thomas, a cross between Perkins and Davis, might be the answer.

Like Perkins, Thomas has presence. His shoulders are wide. His elbows are razor sharp. And his screens are lethal.

Like Davis, Thomas has skill. As a senior, he led the NCAA in scoring and rebounding. And he has a jump-shot, especially off pick-and-pops.

Then there's Thomas' demeanour. He's always professional, but has no problem calling out a teammate in the wrong –like Stephon Marbury.

The only downside is age. Thomas is 39, so the veteran-laden Celtics wouldn't get younger or more athletic.

Everything else works. Perhaps the Celtics and Thomas join forces for one last run at a championship.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Not that Perkins cares about critics, but the road to silencing them starts this summer. Perkins wants to show up for training camp at 265 pounds, 20 pounds lighter than he is now. He's hired a nutritionist and is planning to get to work right away, spending most of his time working out in Houston with former coach John Lucas.

The Thunder has toyed with this disturbing trend throughout the playoffs. Oklahoma City has trailed after one quarter in 11 of its 15 games this postseason. But this was as bad as it's ever been. “Tonight, we didn't trust each other,” said Kendrick Perkins. “We just got to have trust in each other. That's the bottom line.”

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Is Kendrick Perkins a touch too assertive right now?

Yes, he has playoff experience. Yes, he has a championship. Yes, he has a tell-it-like-it-is personality.

Still, it's a bit harsh to publicly declare that the Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t trust each other in game three.

Perkins, after all, is new. He joined the Thunder at the trade deadline. He’s a valuable player, but hardly a superstar. That role belongs to Kevin Durant, who isn’t calling out teammates to reporters.

So why should Perkins?

Another question: why is Perkins calling a timeout early in the third quarter of game three? That's the coaching staff's job. Only a few great players can get away with calling for a stoppage in play.

To be fair: I like the burly center. I like the simplicity of his game. If healthy, he’s probably the difference between the Boston Celtics winning and losing game seven of the 2010 NBA Finals.

He just needs to take it down a notch.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: I like James Harden. I do. However, I disliked his flop in game three of the Western Conference Finals. 

For those that missed it: Harden’s face gently grazed Tyson Chandler’s elbow, but he still hit the floor like a member of the Italian national soccer team.

Chandler got a technical. Oklahoma City went to the free throw line.

Two things are worth noting. First, Harden’s ‘performance’ could’ve changed the series. Suppose Chandler already had a technical; something that was not unlikely given his battles with Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins.

Harden’s flop job would have led to Chandler getting ejected, which would have had ramifications on game three and the series.

Second, Stern and the suits at head office should fine and/or suspend players for flopping. Other sports like hockey and soccer punish players for embellishing infractions.

The NBA should do the same, which may deter flopping.

Anyway, watch the video and get at us with thoughts on Harden in the comment box below. 

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

“‘Well, it was more not that the trust went away, the know-how went away,” Rivers said. “The continuity went away. That’s what the trade affected more than anything. Obviously, Perk was great to our team and all that. But it was more that you have new guys playing different positions and you had a guy who could literally reach back into a playbook and throw out something that was three or four years old and they all knew it, when Perk was there. ‘I would wait until after the year is over. I’ll put it that way. I do think Jeff Green has a chance to be a starter for us in the future and a hell of a basketball player. And Krstic can help. But making that trade at the time we made that trade, that made it very tough for us. And not only that, we added other pieces as well that we tried to fit in.

Link

HoopsVibe`s Very Quick Call: Most of the time, Doc Rivers is a straight shooter.

So it`s hardly a surprise the Boston Celtics` sideline boss -fresh off signing a five-year, $35 million extension- publicly expressed frustration at the timing of the Kendrick Perkins trade.

For those living in a cave: the green-and-white sent Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder for combo forward Jeff Green during last February`s trade deadline.

Back then, the Celtics thought they made the right move. Perkins was often injured. His contract was expiring, so he`d be due a lucrative extension.

Meanwhile, Green could defend LeBron James in the playoffs. The idea was he`d contribute a little now, and his role would expand once The Big Three retired.

Sounds good, right? Well, wrong.

Perkins was the heart-and-soul of the Celtics. His rebounding and interior defence defined those great teams.

Opponents hated Perkins with a passion. They hated his scowl. They hated his knees. They hated his elbows.

Today, Rivers didn`t tell the whole truth, though. The whole truth would`ve been admitting it wasn`t just the timing that stunk -but the trade itself.

Frankly, it was a trade Ainge and the Celtics shouldn`t have made.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Shaquille O'Neal failed a conditioning test this morning, and has been ruled out indefinitely by the Boston Celtics. Danny Ainge, Boston's president of basketball operations, made the announcement this afternoon with team physician, Dr. Brian McKeon.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The Big Shamrock is down. And the Boston Celtics have a problem.

Word is Shaquille O’Neal won’t be ready for the playoffs because of nagging calf and Achilles injuries.

Glen Davis, Kevin Garnett, Nenad Krstic, and Jermaine O’Neal will split time at the 4-5 spots, while Jeff Green will get significant minutes as a stretch-4.

The Celtics struggled down the stretch without a legitimate 5-man. Whether they can make do with this platoon of players remains to be seen.

Unfortunately, this puts the spotlight on GM Danny Ainge. He traded defensive anchor Kendrick Perkins for Green mid-season, in part, because he expected O’Neal to be healthy.

Green may pay dividends in the future. Right now, he’s the Celtics’ 7th man. And Ainge is believed to have sacrificed 2011 for a piece to rebuild around when The Big Three calls it a day.

Only time will tell if this is true. Dark clouds seem to be hovering over the green-and-white.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

"It was even worse last year when we went through our struggle," Pierce said. "Definitely Kendrick had his impact, but you’ve got to remember he missed a big portion of the season and, during that portion, we were able to beat a lot of the good teams also.

"I think that’s just an excuse at this point. I think that it’s time for us to move on from that. It hurts when you lose a teammate … but at the end of the day, the guys that are in this locker room are the guys you’ve got to go to war with." Pierce said a healthy Shaquille O’Neal is capable of filling the void on both ends.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Leave it to The Truth to speak The Truth -at least, as he sees it.

Paul Pierce, the captain and star swing of the Boston Celtics, feels his club is using the Kendrick Perkins trade as an excuse not to play their best. And he’s right.

Sure, Perkins, not Kevin Garnett, was their defensive anchor. And sure, Perkins was great on the defensive and offensive glass, getting points through tips and effort.

However, Perk’s contract was up at season’s end and his knees are wonky, so GM Danny Ainge swapped him for Jeff Green to better match up against LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the playoffs.

Now Pierce may be frustrated. With Perkins, he won a championship and advanced to two NBA Finals. Yet the Celtics still changed a winning formula at mid-season.

What’s done is done, though. Pierce is keeping his thoughts private and challenging teammates to play better, especially if Shaquille O’Neal gets healthy.

Perhaps O’Neal comes to the rescue. If fit and healthy –these are big ifs- the legendary five could theoretically turn back the clock and hold his own over a seven-game series.

This may be wishful thinking, as O’Neal has missed three months. His conditioning will be suspect, and he’ll struggle to defend pick-and-rolls.

Just don’t tell Pierce. He’s having none of it. No excuses.

--Oly Sandor

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

"Boston's a different monster," he (Granger) said. "They don't have the best record in the East, but they won championships; they know how to do it. They have four, five guys you have to worry about.

"Chicago, they go as Derrick Rose goes. If you make a concerted effort to stop Derrick Rose, you have a better chance of beating them."

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call:  Danny, how about using your inner voice?

Danny Granger, the star swing for the eighth-seeded Indiana Pacers, is entitled to his opinion. He may even be right: the Boston Celtics’ experience might make them a tougher playoff foe than the young Chicago Bulls.

He should’ve kept his thoughts private, though. His silence would have been golden. Or, at least wise.
 
Granger has foolishly provided the first-seeded Bulls with extra motivation. His comments will be posted in the home locker room at the United Centre. The Windy City will be all over him, too; from Wrigley to Soldier Field.

The Bulls are far more than MVP candidate Derrick Rose. Their team defense is first-rate, and their get-stops mentality gives them a chance in every game –at home or away.

Meanwhile, the Celtics have struggled since trading defensive anchor Kendrick Perkins. It remains to be seen how they’ll handle Perk’s departure come playoffs.

One thing is certain: the Bulls, thanks to Granger’s outer voice, will be ready when their series starts against the Pacers.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

With Perkins gone, everything changed for the Celtics and they knew it: the toughness, the tenacity, the presence in the post. “He was tough,” Rose said. “We could defend on someone that was big. He was really tough to go around. … They’re different.”

Different doesn’t mean better. It means diminished. The Bulls beat the Celtics 44-22 in the paint, beat them badly on the boards, too. They assailed the Celtics the way the Celtics used to assail everyone else. “We know we can beat them,” Rose flatly said.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Last night was the proof. It was the smoking gun, the bloody glove, and weapon of mass destruction all in one.

The Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls, two of the Eastern Conference’s premier teams, are moving in different directions. The Celtics are stumbling; the Bulls are soaring.

No other conclusion can be drawn from the Bulls’ decisive victory on Thursday in front of a national audience. The difference at point guard says everything.

After all, these teams live and die by their point guards, All-Star Rajon Rondo and MVP candidate Derrick Rose. As Rondo and Rose go, so goes the Celts’ and Bulls.

Rose soared last night, notching 30 points, 8 assists, and limiting Rondo’s effectiveness. There’s no longer any doubt he’s MVP worthy. His play clinched it.

Best of all, Rose spoke publicly of no longer fearing the Celtics, especially since they dealt defensive five Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Jeff Green.

Conversely, Rondo struggled. Mightily.

After getting outplayed, the Celtics’ floor general expressed doubt about his club’s ability to flip a switch ala 2010. He then requested a meeting with his coach, Glen ‘Doc’ Rivers.

Of course, the Celtics surprised everyone with last year's run. Repeating such heroics seems unlikely –if their point guard and best player doesn’t believe.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers offered an interesting criticism of Jeff Green following Sunday’s 101-90 victory over the Detroit Pistons. ‘I think he’s too nice,’ Rivers said. ‘He’s trying to please the other guys on the floor. I’ve always thought playing with us is difficult, when you’re new, because you’re playing with Paul [Pierce] and Ray [Allen] and Kevin [Garnett] and [Rajon] Rondo and you almost don’t think like you deserve to be an aggressive offensive player or you should be, and I think he does that way too much.’

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call:  You know where nice guys finish, right?

It’s hardly surprising Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers wants Jeff Green to stop deferring to future Hall of Famers Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce and headstrong All-Star Rajon Rondo.

Of course, it can’t be easy for Green, who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Oklahoma City Thunder for Kendrick Perkins.

He doesn’t have the luxury of training camp, the regular season, or practices. He must learn on the fly. The playoffs are fast approaching.

Green’s best strategy is to use his athleticism and size on both ends of the floor to be an effort player. In time, he’ll get comfortable with the team’s half-court sets. Then, he’ll become more assertive.

For now, the Celtics have to settle for a nice guy.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

Krstic left with 2:18 left in the first half of Thursday's game after landing awkwardly on his right leg. His knee became bent out of shape and he immediately felt the pain. With the help of Celtics trainer Ed Lacerte, Krstic limped off the floor. Krstic will return home to Boston where he will undergo an MRI on Friday.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Leave it Dwyane Wade to welcome Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Yesterday, the Heat’s superstar spun baseline and posterized Perkins, who happened to be playing in his second game as a member of the Thunder. Then Wade dropped some celebratory dance moves from the Kid N Play era.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Troy Murphy has decided to sign with the Boston Celtics.

Link

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed center Kendrick Perkins to a multi-year contract extension, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. Per team policy, the terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but Yahoo! Sports reports that it will pay Perkins $34.8 million over four years.

Link

Meanwhile, Boston will continue to monitor the buyouts going on around the league with eyes toward adding as many as two more players with its available roster spots. All eyes seem to be on Troy Murphy, the sharpshooting big man who was traded to Golden State this week and could wind up available.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: As hard as it may be, the Boston Celtics have to get over Kendrick Perkins’ departure.

Sure, Perkins was their heart-and-soul, but trading the large five-man to the Oklahoma City Thunder was prudent -especially since the club weren’t prepared to extend him to the tune of $10 million per season.

Moving on means attempting to sign free agent Troy Murphy. The veteran was recently traded to the Golden State Warriors, who will buy him out.

All it will cost is money, specifically a pro-rated portion of the veteran’s minimum. And Murphy will contribute on the glass while stretching defenses with his outside range.

In fact, he’d have a similar role to former reserve Rasheed Wallace, who was with the Celtics in 2008 and 2009.

And Murphy will be motivated. He’d didn’t fit in New Jersey and ended up getting banished from the team by Nets coach Avery Johnson.

Such a situation has to appeal to a player’s sense of pride. So signing Murphy in a few weeks may help the Celtics' players, coaches, and fans forget Perkins.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The Celtics have agreed to send Kendrick Perkins to the Thunder in exchange for a package built around Jeff Green. Green and Perkins will both be free agents this offseason, while the former will be restricted. Nenad Krstic and Nate Robinson will also be included in the deal.Boston will also receive the 2012 first round pick of the Clippers from Oklahoma City.

Andrew Bynum's status for the start of the season is in question as he returns from offseason knee surgery. “We’re hopeful that he’ll be ready for the start of the season,” Lakers spokesman John Black said Wednesday. Black said there is “an outside chance” that Bynum will be able to take part in the team’s final exhibition games Oct. 21 and 22.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Here we go again.

The Los Angeles Lakers could be without star center Andrew Bynum for the start of the regular season, as the massive seven-footer hasn’t recovered from off-season knee surgery.

Without Bynum, the purple-and-gold is great. With him, they’re unstoppable.

Bynum’s frame and wingspan gives his team an edge down the middle over almost every squad in the NBA. For instance, the Celtics – even if Kendrick Perkins was healthy – would have no answer for a hobbling Bynum in the Finals.

So expect the Lakers’ trainers to do everything possible to get Bynum ready. His status could be the difference between winning and losing a third championship.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

"Well, I mean, we didn't do nothing spectacular. We got Shaq, we got Delonte [West], we got J.O. (Jermaine O'Neal). But it ain't like we signed no young Dwight Howards or anything like that. So if anything we just got older."

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: ‘Dem could be fighting words’.

Instead of embracing new teammates, instead of saying the right things, instead of playing nice, Kendrick Perkins threw Shaquille O’Neal and Jermaine O’Neal under the bus.

Part of this is competition. Perkins had been the Boston Celtics’ starting center, but will miss months of 2011 with injury. And he’s probably fearful Shaq and J.O. will take his position.

However, calling them old – even if it’s true - isn’t good. 

The green-and-white needs its veteran posts to play their roles if they’re to hold off the Miami Heat and return to the NBA Finals.

Perkins slamming Shaq and Jermaine O’Neal won’t get these former stars to willingly accept lesser minutes and a bench role. And it won’t help team harmony.

Perhaps Perkins – a notoriously intense competitor – would be better served focusing on his rehab and getting back on-court.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

"I'm much older now," he said. "This team is good with or without me. Sometimes, in order to win, you have to sacrifice. I don't mind sacrificing. At the end of the day, it’s all about winning."

"I'm going to do what I'm told to do. Whatever they need me to do. I'm not in a position to cause trouble or cause a ruckus. The reason why younger in my career I acted a fool is because they made me the CEO. If I'm the CEO and I'm getting all the blame, we're going to start doing it my way."

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It seems age, weight, and getting engaged to a woman named Hoopz has turned Shaquille O’Neal into The Big Realist.

Instead of demanding minutes, instead of demanding adulation, instead of demanding to be the star or co-star, O’Neal realizes – and more importantly accepts - he’s a bit part for the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics.

They’ve already got their Big Four. They’ve already established a formula for success.

However, O’Neal can still play an important role. Starting center Kendrick Perkins is out until mid season because of a knee injury sustained in game six of the NBA Finals.

While Perkins is recovering, O’Neal and Jermaine O’Neal are expected to plug the middle. If Shaq can defend, rebound, and score, he’ll have fulfilled his role for the Celtics.

And maybe he’ll get rewarded with a fifth and final NBA Championship before finally retiring.
     
--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.  

Rivers said in a radio interview with ESPN 950 in Washington that the legendary center plans to be flexible. "Absolutely coach," O'Neal told Rivers when asked if he'd be OK with a reserve role. O'Neal went on to agree that he'd even be fine with playing just 10-15 minutes per game.

Link

The Lakers have the best player, but Boston's depth of big-time playmakers will prevail in a game like this. I count eight Celtics -- the four current or former All-Stars in their starting lineup, plus Rasheed Wallace, Glen Davis, Nate Robinson’s and little-used Michael Finley, a three-point shooter with the potential to become this game's Steve Kerr -- who have it in them to make the big shot. The absence of Kendrick Perkins may create more offense for the Celtics, and they'll make up for his rebounding with a team effort led by Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo. Anticipate nothing less than a tightly wound classic played to a tempo that suits Boston.

Click here for Ian Thomsen's official game seven prediction and more analysis from the CNNSI crew.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: The Boston Celtics are deserving of respect.

Consider their road to the NBA Finals. First, they took out Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat -despite some questionable tactics from Kevin Garnett. They made the Cleveland Cavaliers – the NBA’s best team in the regular season – implode, which, unfortunately, gave us an extra month of The LeBron Watch. They then coolly took out the Orlando Magic, the reigning Eastern Conference champions, in six games.

This was a most improbable run for a club that was supposedly dead, gone, and over at mid-season. Clearly, they saved their best for last, though.

The green-and-white have now pushed the defending champion and heavily favoured Lakers to the limit. The secret to Boston’s success: inspired team play on the defensive end.

Look at the NBA Finals: they’ve mostly contained Ron Artest and Lamar Odom; they’ve battled superstar Pau Gasol; and they’ve made the immortal Kobe Bryant look surprisingly mortal.

Doc Rivers’ crew is an all-time great defensive team. They can hang with any of Phil Jackson’s Chicago teams that had notable defenders like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Horace Grant/Dennis Rodman. And they hold their own against Detroit’s Bad Boys and any of Pat Riley’s squads in Los Angeles or New York.

Offensively, somebody different carries the load each night. For instance, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo have all had moments.

Of course, reserves Glen Davis and Nate Robinson – also known as Shrek and Donkey - won game four of the NBA Finals. And the defending Sprite Slam Dunk Champion went off in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals, too.

That said, the Lakers have the edge in the decisive game-seven. Here’s why:

1) Home-court matters: The purple-and-gold is a different team at home. They’re confident. They’re nasty. And they’re arrogant.     

2) No Perk’: The Celtics will miss Kendrick Perkins. They lack the size to win the paint, and contain Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.

3) Kobe Bryant: He’s the best player on either team. He’s the best player in the NBA. And he understands tonight is a legacy game.

Bryant – if he wants to be considered an all-time great – can’t afford a loss. After all, five championships are far better than four. And two losses to the arch rival Celtics in the NBA Finals would be devastating.

Expect Bryant to drop a Jordan-like effort. And HoopsVibe News expects the Lakers to win.

Prediction for game-seven of the 2010 NBA Finals: Lakers 95, Boston 88.

Got thoughts? What is your prediction for game-seven of the NBA Finals?  

"The Boston Celtics might go to Game 7 without center Kendrick Perkins.

He landed awkwardly trying to haul in an offensive rebound midway through the first quarter of Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night and suffered a right knee sprain.

Perkins was hopeful, saying: "I'm going to try to give it a go [on Thursday]." But a team source told ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan: "He's done."

Link

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Don't let his modest numbers deceive you. Kendrick Perkins could be the difference between the Boston Celtics winning and losing the championship.

The NBA Finals will be decided in the paint; the team that dominates down-low will host a victory celebration, while the team that gets dominated will spend their life wondering what could've been.

Perkins - despite his limited offensive skill and affinity for arguing fouls - is a throwback. He bangs. He competes. And he intimidates.

For instance, Perkins shut Pau Gasol down in game-five, which, not coincidentally, the Celtics won. In fact, Boston's five-man was so effective experts were again calling the Spaniard soft.

Gasol, however, was far more confident when Perkins left game-six with an injury. He ate the smaller Glen Davis up. Veterans Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace weren't much better, either.

And the Los Angeles Lakers, as a team, successfully attacked the basket, in large part, because Perkins wasn't there to deter them. Guards Kobe Bryant, Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown were able to get to the hoop whenever they liked.

Right now, Perkins' status is unknown for game-seven. What isn't unknown is how important he is to Boston.      

Got thoughts on this?   

Kobe Bryant scored 26 points, Pau Gasol added 17 points and 13 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers emphatically extended the NBA finals to a decisive seventh game with a 89-67 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 6 on Tuesday night.

Link

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Two days ago, Kobe Bryant demanded his teammates 'man up and play'. Well, the Los Angeles Lakers - both individually and collectively - fulfilled his request on Tuesday evening.

The purple-and-gold dominated every aspect of game six, building an early lead through tough defense, infectious hustle, and inspired play. The Celtics never mounted a serious challenge and the Lakers cruised through the second half to an easy win.

The difference between games five and six was obvious: Bryant had help. Loads of it.

For instance, co-star Pau Gasol had a double-double, but - best of all - the Spaniard imposed his will down-low; Ron Artest hit shots; Lamar Odom stopped complaining about the flu and got active; and Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar, and Sasha Vujacic provided energy off the bench.

Two specific plays stand out. First, Artest was so confident he over-dribbled and still sank an improbable fall-back shot. Second, Farmar out-hustled Celtic Rajon Rondo for a loose ball by sacrificing his body and diving on the floor.

Bryant aside, no Laker looked confident or sacrificed in game-five.

As a group, L.A. played superb defense. They challenged every shot. They provided helped. They got stops. They won the battle of the boards. And they held the Celtics to 67 points, the second lowest total in NBA Finals history.

Meanwhile, Boston resembled a team with a one game cushion. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo were outplayed by the Lakers' big guns. The bench - which had been so effective earlier in the series - looked awestruck.

Of course, Kendrick Perkins' injury didn't help. The rough and tumble post sprained his knee early in the first quarter and never returned. His status for game-seven is unknown.

With or without Perkins, the green-and-white must re-establish their presence in the paint and show greater urgency on Thursday.

In fact, the Celtics should consider Bryant's advice and 'man up'. Or the Lakers will win what has become a one game, do-or-die NBA Finals and will hoist the Larry O'Brien championship trophy.

Got thoughts on game six? And what's your prediction for Thursday's game-seven?             

Striking a similar tone as he did in Orlando in the Eastern Conference finals, Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce directed a bold prediction at Lakers fans in the final minutes of his team's victory in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night in Los Angeles.

After Pau Gasol committed a hard foul on Kendrick Perkins with 1:12 remaining in Game 2 and the Celtics leading, 97-90, Pierce, as he helped his teammate off the floor along the baseline near the hoop was heard on video replays yelling, "We ain't coming back to LA!"

Link

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Paul Pierce has reason to be confident.

Yes, his Boston Celtics looked solid in taking game two of the NBA Finals. And yes, the heavily favoured Los Angeles Lakers' struggled on Sunday evening.

Pierce's outburst was, in part, due to the championship series switching to a 2-3-2 game format, meaning the lower seeded team - the Celtics in this case - have the next three matches in Boston. 

The league uses a 2-2-1-1-1 game format for the first three rounds of the playoffs and critics believe the 2-3-2 format of the NBA Finals gives the lower seed an unfair advantage.

Years back, the suits at league head office thought the 2-3-2 format was appropriate for the NBA finals because it reduced travel. Today, every team has their own luxurious, five-star plane, so travel isn't as great an issue. 

With the next three games in Boston, the 2-3-2 format is an issue for the Lakers. And this has Pierce confident he "ain't coming back to LA!"

Will the Celtics finish the series at home? Is the 2-3-2 format fair? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below.

Get ready, Boston, for a rematch with Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant wrapped up a magnificent series with 37 points, Ron Artest added 25 and the Lakers held off the Phoenix Suns 111-103 on Saturday night to win the Western Conference finals.

The Lakers and Celtics, the NBA's premier teams for much of the league's history, will meet in the finals for the 12th time with Game 1 Thursday night in Los Angeles.

"We'll see how much we matured," Bryant said. "They challenged us extremely well in the finals a couple years ago. Now is a chance to see how much we've grown."

Link

HoopsVibe's Quick Call: The Phoenix Suns' zone, fast tempo, and affinity for the three-point shot wasn't enough because the Los Angeles Lakers were simply better and deserved to advance to the NBA Finals.

For instance, the Suns' fourth quarter charge was put out by Kobe Bryant, who nailed two clutch jumpers, even though Grant Hill was playing air tight defense. After sinking the second jumper, Bryant even gave Suns coach Alvin Gentry a friendly tap and stretched his arms in celebration.   

The Lakers will now face the Boston Celtics in a classic finals match-up.

These two teams met in the 2008 NBA Finals, with the Celtics prevailing in six games because of their superior toughness down-low.

The 2010 championship will also be decided in the paint. Expect Boston to try and impose their will with bigs like Glen Davis, Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, and Rasheed Wallace, while L.A. will be anxious to show they can mix it up in the middle.

Got thoughts on a Boston-Los Angeles NBA Finals? Come back to HoopsVibe for more Finals coverage.   

The NBA's most-decorated team avoided the biggest playoff collapse in league history and earned a chance to hang an unprecedented 18th championship banner from the rafters.

Paul Pierce had 31 points and 13 rebounds, and little-used backup Nate Robinson gave the Celtics a boost with 13 second-quarter points as Boston beat the Orlando Magic 96-84 on Friday night, earning a chance to play for a second NBA title in three years.

Link

HoopsVibe's Quick Call: Defense wins championships. Or in the case of the Boston Celtics, defense wins the Eastern Conference crown.

Flashback to mid season and the green-and-white were presumed dead. The Big Three was deemed too old and critics thought Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins weren't capable of filling the void.

Well, they proved us wrong. All of us.

The Celtics defied the odds because they get stops, even on the road, which gives them a chance in every game and series. Offensively, they spread the wealth with many different players capable of carrying the load or providing a spark.

For instance, in the second quarter of tonight's contest, tiny Nate Robinson chipped in with 13 points to give Boston a commanding lead, despite barely seeing the court in the playoffs.

And if the Celtics continue defending they could well win their eighteenth championship.

Has Boston surprised you? Why? Why not? Get at us in the comment box below with thoughts.      

The NBA on Thursday rescinded one of the two technical fouls assessed to Celtics center Kendrick Perkins in Boston's loss to Orlando in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday night, meaning Perkins will be available to play in Friday's Game 6.

The NBA took back the second of the two technicals, which occurred with 36.1 seconds remaining in the first half and resulted in Perkins' automatic ejection. Referee Eddie F. Rush tagged Perkins with the technical for arguing a foul call.

Link

HoopsVibe's Call:  Eddie F. Rush was too quick to slap Perkins with both technicals, even though the Boston Celtics' post is notorious for protesting calls.

Both of Perkins' technicals were overblown, and all three refs needed to show a little more patience, especially since game five of the Eastern Conference Finals is bound to be emotional. 

Coincidentally, Rush was working the game with fellow ref Joe Crawford, who also hit Rajon Rondo with a somewhat questionable technical.

Crawford, like Rush, has an itchy trigger finger on the technicals. A few years back, he slapped superstar Tim Duncan with two technicals over what was believed to be a personal conflict.

So, worst ejection of all time: Rush on Perkins or Crawford on Duncan? Watch both video clips and get at us in the comment box below with your call? 

(Rush ejecting Perkins.) 

(Crawford tossing Duncan.)      

There were two skirmishes on the court. One was with Kendrick Perkins and O'Neal and the other was with Mo Williams and Rajon Rondo. James showed no such fire and then didn't get get involved in the exchanges, staying off to the side. 

link