This position will be fruitful for years to come especially with the rise of Blake Griffin and Paul Millsap. Long time underrated guys such as David West are no longer on the top 10, but they remain very useful if you come by one. Long time stalwart and future Hall of Famer, Tim Duncan, is no longer on the top 10 either. The time has arrived. It’s sad to see him go. The present and future are still bright for power forward aficionados. Stats are up to date as of December 2, 2010.
David West is close to a three-year sign-and-trade deal just under $30 million with the Celtics.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The Boston Celtics have quickly rebuilt their front-court.
Earlier today Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis was sent to the Orlando Magic for Brandon Bass as part of a sign-and-trade, and now they’ve shipped Jermaine O’Neal to the New Orleans Hornets for David West in another sign-and-trade.
Bass, West, and three-man Jeff Green give coach Doc Rivers plenty of options to complement and eventually fill in for the aging Big Three of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce.
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The 2010-2011 Boston Celtics features the stars from the 1990s such as Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Jermaine O’Neal, and the eventual return of Rasheed Wallace. Either they moved one step closer to a title or hospital bed, the Green Machine remains the team to beat in the East despite Miami’s Super Friends. The Celtics are still the Eastern Conference Champions and until any other team officially knock them out; they remain the favorites to return to the Finals.
Donny Marshall — the former NBA player who covers the Celtics and does some color commentary for the team’s broadcasts — was on NBC’s SportsTalk today talking Rajon Rondo and saying the Celtics were open to moving Rajon Rondo more because of his personality than his game. “My sources tell me he’s started to wear his welcome out a little bit,” Marshall said.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Where there’s smoke, there’s often fire.
That thing called the ‘World Wide Web’ has been reporting that the Boston Celtics were very willing to send Rajon Rondo to the New Orleans Hornets for Chris Paul.
This wasn’t just about the Celtics acquiring Paul. This was also about cutting ties with Rondo.
After all, Rondo’s temper has, at times, alienated coaches, teammates, and fans. There’s also a theory his lack of offensive polish will be exposed once The Big Three of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce retire.
Unfortunately, Paul wasn’t interested in joining Boston. His heart is set on joining New York.
So the Celtics will have to deal with a jilted Rondo when training camp opens. Of course, GM Danny Ainge will blame the 24 hour news cycle, bloggers, and talk radio.
There may be some truth to Rondo getting moved. Maybe not. Either way, this is a storyline worth watching.
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The Los Angeles Lakers crushed the Boston Celtics in the first game of the NBA Finals, 102-89. Kobe Bryant cleaned up with 30 points on 10-22 shooting (1-2 from three, 9-10 from the line) to go with 7 boards, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 4 turnovers. Pau Gasol produced 23 points on 8-14 shooting (7-10 from the line) to go with 14 boards (8 offensive), 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks, and 3 turnovers. At one point, the Lakers were up by 20. The most alarming stat is Phil Jackson’s 47-0 perfect record when he leads his team to a game one victory. Wow.
The Orlando Magic has been eliminated at the hands of the Big Green Monster, The Boston Celtics. The one thing that is shown during this series is Superman is really Clark Kent. The Green Machine is definitely his Kryptonite. Many experts didn’t count out the Celtics against the Heat in the first round, but the majority counted them out against LeBron and The Cavs. I did not. I was in the minority. They trashed Cleveland and gave some false hope for Orlando before eviscerating them. Give them their due; there is room for old middle aged men.
HoopsVibe is proud to welcome Marija Kero, better known to many of you as The Knicks Chick, to the team. Marija will be checking in with videoblogs covering everything from her beloved Knicks to Ron Artest's latest hair-related mishap. In her first piece, Marija shares her thoughts on Boston's bad temper, the surging Mavs and the ghosts of NYK past appearing in the postseason.
“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.”
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.
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When they convened, instead of the union’s head, Hunter, or their negotiating committee of Maurice Evans, Matt Bonner, Roger Mason, Theo Ratliff, Etan Thomas and Chris Paul, representing the players were Fisher, Kessler, and three superstars who had been to very few of the meetings at all: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant.
A bad sign: Pierce was still wearing his backpack. The players had two pieces of news that shocked the league: 50/50 was not good enough. And there was nothing further to discuss.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Are they up for it?
Are Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce up for being scapegoats if players and owners don’t solve the lockout and eventually cancel the season.
After all, there’s plenty to suggest a deal was within reach last week at or near the 50-50 split of Basketball Related Income.
Then Bryant, Garnett, and Pierce walked into Commissioner Stern’s office and said no way. The even split of BRI was off. The players wanted 53%. Or no deal.
The players and owners who thought a new collective bargaining agreement was within reach and were prepared to negotiate around the clock to preserve the 82 game season were dumbfounded.
Here’s why I think they were shocked:
1) How can three guys who have earned hundreds of millions of dollars and can live off endorsements tell (yes, tell) a fringe player to stand united with their cause?
At some point, their interests diverge. At some point, there will be a split in the union.
2) Bryant, Garnett, and Pierce are intelligent, confident guys. They will be informed and up-to-date on facts and information, however, Pierce was the only one actively involved in negotiations.
Bryant and Garnett did not attend the majority of negotiations, and had no business hijacking these high stakes meetings or claiming to represent the union.
Billy Hunter should have been there. Heck, somebody with an MBA or law background should have been there.
3) I would want Bryant, Garnett, and Pierce leading on-court. I would not want Bryant and/or Garnett leading off-court.
Their emotional, competitive temperament that is ideal for playoff runs and championships makes them ill matched for negotiations.
This group, especially Bryant and Garnett, are prone to outbursts that result in ill-fated decisions like the storming of Stern’s office. Moreover, their situation does not reflect the needs of most in their union.
The consequence could well be a backlash from fans whenever the season does start.
--O.Sandor.
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If the NBA institutes a hard salary cap and eliminates the mid-level exception, the Celtics would likely to be forced to build around their Big Four with minimum-salaried players.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The new NBA will be different.
With the luxury tax likely replaced by a hard cap financial structure, have-franchises like the Boston Celtics will have a top heavy payroll.
Translation: the green and white will pay big-ticket salaries to Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo, and everyone else will earn the league minimum.
So GM Danny Ainge and the club’s front office are searching far and wide for bargains that can plug holes and fill roles next to their Big Four.
The green-and-white’s front office are scouting colleges, Europe, Asia, and anywhere else there's basketball.
This, of course, could be the new reality of the NBA, where a hard cap and revenue sharing creates some semblance of parity between big and small markets and have and have-not franchises.
In theory, an NFL style system sounds good, however, the NBA has always been a star driven league with high profile franchises. Think of the following for LeBron James and 'The Heatles' last season.
The NBA’s new and different financial system may kill the golden goose of showcasing players and teams.
--O. Sandor.
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"I want to finish my career as a Celtic,” said Garnett, who joined Boston in a trade with Minnesota before the 2007-08 season. “This is it. I don’t plan on bouncing from team-to-team, that’s not really the plan. Hopefully God willing, I can finish my career out in the classy, elegant with a class-full organization as Boston. I don’t want to downgrade. I want to continue to be where I’m at. This is the first option and hopefully the only option.”
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Why would he leave?
Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics seem a match made in heaven, and the future member of the Hall of Fame wants to finish his career with the storied green-and-white.
Garnett, who has a year left on his contract at $21 million, claims to have little interest in demeaning his legacy by bouncing from team-to-team, especially since he already won a championship.
Leaving is easier said than done. Garnett’s passion for basketball may keep him in an NBA uniform into his late thirties.
If so, it’s unlikely Garnett retires with the Celtics as GM Danny Ainge won't prolong rebuilding around Jeff Green and Rajon Rondo.
--Oly Sandor.
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“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.”
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.
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But Allen doesn’t believe a lost season would end the Big Three era, even if he and Kevin Garnett have only one year left on their respective contracts. “I don’t think so,” Allen said yesterday before teeing off in his charity golf tournament at the TPC River Highlands.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Ray Allen doesn’t know when the lockout will end. He does know the lockout won’t be the end of the Boston Celtics’ 'Big Three', though.
It’s hard to disagree. Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce, the Celtics’ trio of veteran stars, can use the time off to rest, recuperate, and heal from many long NBA seasons.
The green-and-white had gone far in the last four playoffs, which, of course, added significant mileage to Allen, Garnett, and Pierce’s odometer.
So time off is good. Allen, Garnett, and Pierce will heal and return. There's precedence for this.
Years ago, Anaheim Ducks star Teemu Selanne used the NHL lockout to rest his wonky knee and returned to score a pile of goals and win a Stanley Cup.
Allen, Garnett, and Pierce could do the same. They’ll have Rajon Rondo and a rejuvenated Jeff Green. When the lockout ends, Executive Danny Ainge will find a post or two to protect the paint.
So a prolonged break won’t be the end of the Celtics’ Big Three. It could be the best thing to happen to them since winning the 2008 NBA championship.
--Oly Sandor.
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“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.”
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.
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Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown has an interest in joining Doc Rivers’ Boston Celtics staff as an assistant coach, assuming Lawrence Frank accepts the Detroit Pistons' head coaching job, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Larry Brown has burned more bridges than a pyromaniac serving a five year bid at Sing, Sing prison in upstate New York.
Brown is the nomad coach. When the going gets tough, he gets going. Or when he thinks the grass is greener on the other side, he goes to the other side.
Just ask the Charlotte Bobcats and Los Angeles Clippers or the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks or the Philadelphia 76ers and those same Pistons.
Of course, this doesn't stop Brown from demanding his players 'Play The Right Way'. It doesn't matter that he's doing the opposite in front of them.
Despite the hypocrisy, Brown can teach youngsters. Unfortunately, the Boston Celtics are a veteran crew. Old heads like Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce won’t want to deal with the overbearing, impatient, and frustrating Brown.
Celtics head coach ‘Doc’ Rivers won’t be particularly enthused with Brown’s idiosyncrasies either -especially if he’s only using the defensive coordinator gig to showcase himself for a head coaching job.
Rivers and the Celtics should avoid Brown. He’ll burn them like he has so many other teams.
--Oly Sandor.
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If he was willing to accept a bench role, the Celtics could find minutes to utilize his skill set and really allow him to thrive without the weight of having to be pre-2007 McGrady.
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Would he accept a role?
Tracy McGrady heading to the Boston Celtics sounds good, however, there's the risk the former superstar won't accept less minutes, less shots, and less touches with Doc Rivers' squad.
After all, McGrady still, to some extent, believes he's 'T-Mac', the seven-time All-Star and two-time scoring champ. Last year McGrady, despite being past-his-prime, acted like a spoiled first-option and undermined Detroit Pistons coach John Kuester.
Such behaviour would never fly in Boston. He'd have to check his ego. He'd have to sit and watch his peers –veteran stars like Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce – play. And he'd have to come off-the-bench.
In short, he'd have to become a professional. Nothing else would be tolerated by Rivers and GM Danny Ainge.
Of course, there is an alternative. McGrady can sign with another rebuilding squad and try parlaying the extra minutes and extra shots into a final, decent-money contract.
That would mean more meaningless basketball, though. In fourteen seasons, McGrady has never made the second round –ever. There was the choke-job with Orlando; there were tears in Houston.
Hopefully, McGrady has pride. Hopefully, he considers Boston. Hopefully, he becomes a professional –if he signs. It's not too late to salvage what he can.
--Oly Sandor.
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“Doc Rivers has agreed to a five-year, $35 million contract extension to remain coach of the Boston Celtics, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: You don’t need to be a Johnny Kemp fan to know Doc Rivers ‘just got paid’.
Instead of cashing a two-week cheque for minimum wage, the personable sideline boss is getting $35 million over five years to coach the Boston Celtics.
There are several storylines worth noting with this development:
First, Rivers had always taken the summer to decide whether he wanted to continue coaching. It was a year-by-year process. And the Celtic faithful were on pins-and-needles/shamrocks-and-clovers to know if he was staying.
Well, no more uncertainty. Rivers is the Celtics’ man for the long-term, and vice-versa.
Remember, the team is on the hook for the full $35 million if they fire Rivers. And Rivers is giving up the chance to be a basketball dad and watch son Austin start his college career.
Second, many thought Rivers’ future was tied to The Big Three. He would leave the Celtics, or perhaps coaching, when Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce called it a day.
The term of this deal means he’ll stick around long after Allen, Garnett, and Pierce retire. He’ll be part of the rebuilding process and clearly likes the chips he already has in Jeff Green and Rajon Rondo.
Third, Rivers must be comfortable with current Celtics GM Danny Ainge. And he must be convinced Ainge will be in the front office for a while.
After all, Rivers is Ainge’s guy. Always has been, too. Even when the Celtics were a perpetual lottery team and Rivers was seen as a guy who struggled with ‘Xs’ and ‘Os’.
So Rivers is staying. He’ll be the constant for the green-and-white. Expect the Celtics to shake-up their core and make changes after falling to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
--Oly Sandor.
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The Celtics have never been down 2-0 in a playoff series in the Kevin Garnett era, and they are well aware of the situation.
“The urgency is there,” Garnett said on Friday before the team took the practice floor. “This is it. We’ve used all of our lifelines. This is it. I hate to say it like that, but it’s true. There’s not a: Cool, keep your composure. Nah, this is: You’ve got to get the next game.”
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: I have no idea if Kevin Garnett is a Michael Jackson fan.
Maybe he is. Maybe he isn’t. But like the gloved one’s so-so biopic, the Celtic believes his squad must put all their chips into game three against the Miami Heat because 'this is it'. Literally.
After all, the Heat is up 2-0. Their confidence is soaring; their game is peaking; and they're comfortable.
The same can’t be said for the Celtics. Their confidence is lagging, and has been since the Kendrick Perkins for Jeff Green trade; their game is floundering; and they're tensing up.
Garnett believes game three is do-or-die. If they lose, the Heat advance to the Eastern Conference championship, and the Celtics' recent run is all but over.
The good news is they'll be at home, where they typically succeed. Look for them to key on Miami’s Chris Bosh, as neutralizing the lanky post takes the Heat out their rhythm.
So ‘this is it’ for Boston. Win and live. Lose and it’s essentially over. Expect fireworks on Saturday. Too much is at stake for there not to be.
--Oly Sandor.
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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Game two of the Eastern Conference semi-finals wasn’t good for the Boston Celtics.
First, they lost to the Miami Heat. And second, they got crossed-over, rejected, and embarrassed on several highlight reel plays by LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
Don’t believe me? Want proof? Check out the video clips below and get at us with your thoughts.
(Wade breaks Ray Allen’s ankles.)
(Wade tangles-up Garnett in the open-court.)
(James blocks Garnett’s shots.)
-Oly Sandor.
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Rondo was hampered by a back injury that began bothering him yesterday morning. He wore a wrap around his midsection during the team's morning shootaround, which he said kept his back warm. While Rondo downplayed the use of the wrap, it reappeared during Tuesday night's game. "His back was bothering him this morning," coach Doc Rivers said. "It was bothering him through the game. One time he asked to come out because he got tired."
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The straw that stirs the Boston Celtics’ drink wanted out of the game/drink –temporarily.
Of course, Rajon Rondo was hurt for game two of their series against the Miami Heat, which is an issue for the Boston Celtics. These days, Rondo is Axel, Michael, and Wayne Rooney, while the Celtics are ‘G&R’, the Jacksons, and Manchester United.
He leads. They follow.
Rondo’s penetration and ‘quicks’ forces opposing defences to help, providing room and time for veterans like Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.
Respectfully, ‘The Big Three’ need that cushion. But a hobbled Rondo can’t get in the lane and create opportunities for others, so Allen, Garnett, and Pierce have to expend extra energy to score.
Rondo is also the club’s defensive catalyst. His on-the-ball defense is a nightmare for opposing point guards and he often jumps the passing lane for easy hoops.
Bottom line: if Rondo isn’t at full health, the Celtics are in deep, deep trouble.
--Oly Sandor.
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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.
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.
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"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.
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
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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.’
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.
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O'Neal missed 27 games with foot and Achilles' tendon injuries and was making his first appearance since Feb. 1. "The update is that it's not the same injury," Rivers said. "Had nothing to do with the Achilles; it's a calf strain. It's not a bad strain, but it's a strain. So similar to the one Von [Wafer] had but not even close to the severity. Well, 'I don't know [when he will be back]' is the answer."
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: Who says the youth of today don't respect their elders?
The Utah Jazz’s Al Jefferson is a soft-spoken gentleman, and has no problem paying homage to established superstars like Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett.
Watch the video and get at us with thoughts on the interview with Jefferson.
--Oly Sandor.
This could be it because it would be hard to come back after a lockout,” Kidd told Yahoo! Sports. “I would probably move on and join the next chapter of what I would be doing in life. But I hope that isn’t the case where it just ended without having one more season.”
Garnett has hinted he could be done if the lockout cancels next season while O’Neal told Yahoo! Sports in an e-mail he’ll likely try to keep playing. Regardless, the NBA could be waving farewell to a generation of stars sooner than expected.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Fans better enjoy Kevin Garnett and Jason Kidd while they can.
Suppose a lockout between the owners and Player’s Association lasts for the entire 2012 season. Several well tenured players –for instance, like Garnett and Kidd- will call it a day and retire.
After all, missing a season in your mid to late thirties is a death sentence. Such a long layoff would likely make returning difficult, and most veterans would move into the next stage of their life.
Sadly, a work stoppage would likely mean the end for Garnett and Kidd, two of the best players of their generation. And these future members of the Hall of Fame won’t receive the grand send off they deserve.
--Oly Sandor.
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Frye later added, "People just aren’t afraid of him. It's just not as concealed. I think an elbow here, maybe tripping somebody or grabbing hold of them, that happens and it’s just people playing hard. But other stuff is a little different, being a little disrespectful. It is what it is. He plays like that and that’s what he does. Everybody knows it, but it’s not like I’m out here thinking what am I supposed to do against KG."
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Kevin Garnett is always in the middle of ‘it’.
The ‘it’ refers to the delicate grey area of the game; the Boston Celtics’ post specializes in giving elbows, shoves, and/or pokes that draw the ire of opponents.
This, of course, is the point.
Garnett is no longer a top five player, capable of dominating purely with skill. As an older, complementary player, the veteran has more and more turned to, well, ‘interesting’ tactics.
And folks are taking note. Like Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva. Even famed movie director Spike Lee has weighed in on the KG debate.
To be fair, Garnett was a similar player in Minnesota. But he never won much or made regular appearances on TNT and ESPN, so the elbows and knees were less of an issue.
However, the green-and-white has the second best record in the NBA. Last season, they were a game away from winning their second championship in three years.
So Garnett is getting attention. He won’t change, though. Not a thing. No matter what Channing Frye and others think or say.
--Oly Sandor.
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Kobe Bryant defended Kevin Garnett prior to Thursday's game against the Celtics. The forward's sportsmanship has been called into question this season after an off-color remark he made about cancer to Detroit's Charlie Villanueva and a below-the-belt hit he had on Phoenix's Channing Frye. "He's a great guy," Bryant said.
"It's been a pleasure to bring my talents to south beach now on to Memphis''.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Can you say rivalry?
The Boston Celtics do not like the Miami Heat. Not one bit.
The Celtics, who were a quarter away from winning the NBA Title, are miffed the Heat was picked to win the Eastern Conference, even though The Holy Trinity had yet to play a game together.
After manhandling the Heat for the second time in two weeks, Pierce, the Celtics’ closer and leading scorer, felt obligated to talk a little viral trash. His tweet is spoofing James’ (in)famous line during The Decision.
Fair enough. Pierce has good reason to be confident.
Kevin Garnett has turned back the clock; Rajon Rondo is the NBA’s top all-around table-setter; Ray Allen’s stroke is still silky; the bench will be productive, especially when Kendrick Perkins and Delonte West get healthy.
Garnett and Rondo, in particular, should please Pierce and worry the Heat
The Big Ticket is one of many physical Boston posts who will give Miami’s smaller frontline trouble. Also, Rondo will have his way with the underwhelming Carlos Arroyo.
A rivalry is brewing between the Celtics and Heat. Right now, it’s one way, though.
--Oly Sandor.
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"It was great to practice every day against the best young talent in the league, a veteran like Chauncey Billups and play for a Hall of Fame coach [Mike Krzyzewski]," Rondo said. "But some of these guys hadn't played since April. Lamar [Odom] and I had just got out of Game 7. And next season is right around the corner. I feel like I had to take advantage of the opportunity I have right now to win another championship. It's not often you get to play with four Hall of Famers. Another couple of years and I won't have that."
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It’s hard to criticize Rajon Rondo’s decision to step away from Team USA.
Rondo hadn’t recovered from the Boston Celtics’ crushing seven-game loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. He was drained and needed rest.
The emerging table-setter understands the championship window is closing on the green-and-white. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce – also known as The Big Three - are hitting the end of their careers.
Rondo knows he needs to be at full strength in 2011 and 2012 because opportunities to win championships are rare. Playing in the World Championship would be tiring.
Fortunately, Stars and Stripes had talented floor leaders in Chauncey Billups, Stephen Curry, Eric Gordon, Derrick Rose, and Russell Westbrook. His departure wasn’t an issue and, in fact, eased the log-jam at point guard.
Rondo’s choice may be a win-win for all involved.
--Oly Sandor.
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The reality is, we are still lacking a dominant player – our version of Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade or Kevin Durant – and that will remain an item at the top of the To-Do list.
It’s possible this player could emerge from within the roster. Nearly every player on our team has his best days ahead of him. Some could make an All-Star team during their careers and one has already become an impact player on the USA Men’s National Team in this year’s FIBA World Championships. We also have eight players currently on the roster who were selected in the top-seven of their respective drafts: Michael Beasley, Kevin Love, Wes Johnson, Jonny Flynn, Darko Milicic, Corey Brewer, Martell Webster and Ricky Rubio.
The average age of those eight players is 22. However, if one of our players fails to emerge, we will be prepared to find more talent for our team – and we will seek a singular move rather than a series of moves, as we did these last 14 months.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The ‘singular move’ Minnesota Timberwolves executive David Kahn mentions isn’t happening in today’s NBA.
Superstars want to play with other superstars. For instance: there’s The Three Kings in Miami; The Big Four suit up for the Boston Celtics; and Kobe Bryant and his star studded supporting cast have won consecutive championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.
No elite player worthy of Kahn’s ‘singular move’ tag will sign with the Timberwolves, especially as a solo act. Their young supporting cast is irrelevant; superstars still remember Kevin Garnett wasting away in The Frozen Tundra of ‘Sota.
Kahn quickest way to attaining a superstar is through the draft. In fact, he may already have a potential superstar in Ricky Rubio, the club’s 2009 lottery pick.
Of course, it’s not known if Rubio is merely refining his game in Europe or refusing to play for the lowly T-Wolves.
Either way, Kahn’s job is bigger than a ‘singular move’.
--Oly Sandor.
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The Celtics have a roster spot open and are currently looking for a shooter, meaning Rudy Fernandez could be an option.
“We’re just continuing to explore available players and trade possibilities and see what sort of options are there,’’ said Danny Ainge. “There are some trade discussions that we’re having. I don’t know the likelihood of those happening, but we’ll continue to not rush into something unless it’s something that we’re really excited about.’’
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: In theory, it’s a yes. Rudy Fernandez’s energy, youth, and sharp-shooting would greatly benefit a veteran-laden Boston Celtics’ squad.
In reality, it’s a no. Fernandez has whined, complained, and moaned about being a reserve for the Portland Trail Blazers. The Spaniard wants to start, or he'll break his NBA contract and return to Europe.
With Boston, he’d back-up sure-fire Hall of Famers in Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. And the Celtics’ old school, collectivist approach wouldn’t stand for Fernandez’s diva tendencies.
For instance, if the super-intense Kevin Garnett can literally turn Glen Davis into a Big Baby, think what he’d do to Rudy?
Credit Boston executive Danny Ainge for exploring all possibilities. Fernandez, however, isn’t the right fit.
--Oly Sandor.
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"I compare it to the year I went to Boston when the Big 3 got together in 2007," House said. "But this is going to be even bigger. This is going to be Boston on steroids."
HoopsVibe's Very QUick Call: Eddie House, sharpshooter for hire, is in a unique position.
Three years ago, around this time, House signed a one-year deal with the Boston Celtics. His role was simple: hit jump-shots and punish opposing defenses for double-teaming superstars Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce.
Of course, the charismatic journeyman also witnessed the hoopla surrounding the green-and-white’s Big Three. Expectations were high; night-in, night-out, opponents got up for the Celtics.
House is right: the Miami Heat will face even greater pressure in 2010-11 than the Celtics of 2007-08. After all, South Beach pulled off the all-time free agent coup, re-signing superstar Dwyane Wade, while adding Chris Bosh and LeBron James.
Wade and James are two of the NBA’s top four players. Bosh is a perennial All-Star and legit’ 20-10 guy down low.
However, it’s not what they did, but how they did it. Resentment lingers at Miami’s Three Kings for how they handled free agency, especially James for turning ‘The Decision’ into a spectacle.
Now the Heat is public enemy number one. They’re controversial rock stars. Their every move will be chronicled. And many are hoping they fail.
So House’s steroid analogy works. This year should be awfully interesting.
--Oly Sandor.
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The Boston Celtics' new Big Three will stay together to try for a second NBA title. Ray Allen confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday night that he has agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract to return to Boston.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The Big Three is back in business, and returning to the Boston Celtics to complete the mission of winning a second NBA Title.
Of course, the green-and-white surprised the basketball world by advancing to the NBA Finals, where they lost a heartbreaking game seven to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Today, Allen inked a very fair two year deal for $20 million. Paul Pierce just re-upped for four seasons. Doc Rivers delayed retiring to Orlando. Kevin Garnett is under contract until July, 2012.
With their veterans returning, expect the Celtics to add blending pieces this off-season and take another run at a championship next spring.
-- Oly Sandor.
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The Celtics have reached an agreement with captain Paul Pierce to keep him in Boston, according to sources. The new contract is said to be four years and $61M in length, with only three of the seasons fully guaranteed.
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: The Truth is back. And at a discounted price.
One day into free agency the Boston Celtics have announced they've agreed to terms on a new contract with franchise face Paul Pierce.
Pierce's salary will fall from $21 million to $15 million annually, giving the green-and-white the financial flexibility to re-sign Ray Allen and also add another valuable piece.
For instance, reports indicate Boston is still talking to Allen, while simultaneously pursuing post David Lee or shooting guard Mike Miller.
In the short-term, Lee could replace the newly retired Rasheed Wallace as a reserve. In the long-term, he could, perhaps, take over for Kevin Garnett at the four-spot.
And Miller can play and guard multiple positions, and also stretch opposing defenses with his outside range.
If the Celtics can retain Allen and bring in other piece, they'll contend in 2011. And they'll have Pierce to thank for it.
-- O.Sandor.
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David Kahn admitted on Friday that he is exploring a trade of Al Jefferson and the likelihood of a trade increases if the Wolves re-sign Darko Milicic.
"It's the right time finally for us to explore this," Kahn said of a possible Jefferson trade. "I've met with Al and discussed this. If Darko comes back, there could be a need to create some playing time. We really need to get our front line settled."
Beating Boston for the first time in a Game 7, the Lakers came up champions again after trailing in the last quarter of the last game of their season.
Kobe Bryant, the finals MVP, scored 23 points despite 6-of-24 shooting and the Lakers won their 16th NBA championship Thursday night, dramatically rallying to beat the Boston Celtics 83-79 in Game 7 of the NBA finals.
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: In game-seven of the NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers showed that defense wins championships.
After all, tonight’s game was supposed to be a dream match-up between the Celtics and Lakers, but – at least on the offensive end – it resembled a bit of nightmare.
Both teams couldn’t execute their offensive sets. Both teams couldn’t hit shots. So both teams dug-in, defended, and battled.
Take the victorious Lakers: Kobe Bryant, the Finals MVP, shot a horrendous 6-for-24 from the floor, but grabbed 15 huge rebounds; Pau Gasol pulled in 18 tough rebounds, which offset his missed chippies and free throws; and Ron Artest – who thanked his psychiatrist in a classic Ron-Ron post-game interview – hit clutch shots, however, his greatest contribution was battling Celtic superstar Paul Pierce.
As a group, the purple-and-gold overcame a 13-point second-half deficit and won their second consecutive championship by getting stops. For instance, they held the Celtics to just 79 points on 40% shooting from the floor.
Lamar Odom sparked the turnaround. The forward entered the game in the third quarter with the Lakers trailing 49-37 and looking desperate.
Odom used his considerable length and versatility to score, rebound, and most importantly, provide energy. And his contribution was far greater than his modest stat line of 7 points and 7 rebounds.
Boston led for most of the game and looked capable of pulling off the upset to win their second championship in three years.
Their offense went cold for long stretches of the second half. For instance, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, the Celtics’ top scorers, were a combined 8-for-29 from the floor.
And the talented bench – which so often provided a lift when the starters struggled – had little impact. Of course, the reserves were short-handed with Rasheed Wallace replacing the injured Kendrick Perkins in the starting-five.
Tonight, Bryant’s Lakers defeated the Celtics for the first time in a game-seven duel, something greats like Jerry West and Magic Johnson failed to accomplish.
Winning back-to-back championships cements this team’s place in history. And their leader and best player, Bryant, keeps solidifying his standing as an all-time great.
And the Lakers, the NBA’s glamour team, achieved this feat with grimy, blue-collar defense.
Got thoughts on the Lakers winning game-seven and consecutive championships?
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?