Clippers and Lakers Fight Over Staples Center Banners
Lakers offended Clippers want championship banners covered.
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: If it's a Clippers home game they should get to do what they want. It's THEIR home game.
doc-rivers
Doc Rivers to Clippers, but Stern to Block KG Trade?
Rivers to Clippers, but Kevin Garnett trade blocked?
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: When will David Stern finally retire and leave the NBA alone?
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Blockbuster Trade Rumor: Garnett, Pierce, Rivers for Griffin, Bledsoe, Jordan and Butler?
Stephen A. Smith creates a stir claiming the Clippers are in talks to execute a blockbuster trade with the Celtics.
Hoopsvibe's quick call: This rumor sounds almost too ridiculous to be true, but it's interesting nonetheless.
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Paul Pierce trashes Miami Heat; “I hope they lose every game”
The Miami Heat have one of the greatest win streaks going in history, but Paul Pierce is one baller who could care less.
Hoopsvibe's quick call: Expect a dogfight between Miami and Boston Monday night, especially if the Heat's win streak is still alive.
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Ray Allen explains what happened in Boston
Ray Allen is finally talking about what went down with him and the Boston Celtics this offseason.
Hoopsvibe's very quick call: Allen's week is already off to a busy start.
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Video: Mickael Pietrus hospitalized after awful fall in Celtics-76ers game
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The score didn’t matter. Not one bit.
During tonight’s Celtics-76ers game, Mickael Pietrus drove the lane and fell awkwardly on his back and neck. The green-and-white’s reserve swing lay motionless for several minutes and was throwing up before being removed from the court on a stretcher.
There is good news: Celtics coach Doc Rivers told reporters Pietrus had passed several medical tests and was being kept overnight in hospital.
Watch the fall (it’s a bit of gruesome) and get at HoopsVibe News with thoughts in the comment box below.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
Delonte West: Judge won’t let me play overseas
Delonte West via twitter: ‘Can’t even go get that overseas money. Judge said it’s a no go on leaving the country.'
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Well, Delonte West is one player who won’t be playing overseas.
West tweeted that a judge won’t let him leave the United States to play with a foreign team during the lockout because he’s still on probation.
West, a reserve for the Boston Celtics, is finishing the final stages of a weapons case from 2008.
However, basketball should take a backseat to West’s health. The left-handed combo guard has a history of mental illness.
The Celtics knew, and were comfortable with, this when they re-signed him. They also established a support group for West, so he could succeed on and off court.
Bottom line: Coach Doc Rivers and GM Danny Ainge cared. Just like West’s teammates in Cleveland, who often shielded him from the media.
Would a European or Chinese team do the same? And how would West handle being abroad?
Perhaps the judge’s ruling is a blessing in disguise. Perhaps this, in a weird way, is best for West.
--Oly Sandor.
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Rumor: Would Larry Brown burn the Celtics?
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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Report: Detroit Pistons to hire Lawrence Frank as coach?
Lawrence Frank is Detroit’s choice to be its next head coach, and formal offer imminent within next 24-36 hours, league sources tell Y!
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The Detroit Pistons aren’t kind on coaches –but I suppose new sideline boss Lawrence Frank is aware of this.
Whether because of Executive Joe Dumars or the team’s temperamental players, the Pistons have chewed up and spit out seven coaches in eleven years. Many of those coaches left on bad terms; a few had awful experiences.
Frank knows this. He also knows what he has –or doesn’t have. The Pistons are a mediocre team, with several players who may resist his defense-first approach.
Still, Frank has one of the NBA’s thirty head coaching gigs. After getting fired by the New Jersey Nets and spending time as an assistant with Doc Rivers' Boston Celtics, Frank is back in ‘The Big Chair’.
--Oly Sandor.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
Rumor: Would ‘T-Mac’ fit with Celtics?
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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Video: Will NBA fans turn to Austin Rivers?
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Austin Rivers may be an NBA fan's best hope in 2012.
If the NBA goes on long-term injured reserve because of the lockout, fans may pay greater attention to Rivers –the son of Celtics Coach Doc Rivers and a high profile freshman at Duke University.
If the lockout lasts the full season, Rivers may join his father when the NBA re-opens in September, 2012.
For now, enjoy the highlights. So click the video and get at us with thoughts on Austin Rivers in the comment box below.
--Oly Sandor.
Doc Rivers’ advice for LeBron: Tell The Media To ‘Screw’ Itself
When asked about the level of criticism LeBron received, Rivers was surprisingly sympathetic: "Some of it was self-inflicted, some of it inflicted by everyone else. After Game 3, someone asked LeBron, 'When are you going to step up'?. The problem is that he answered, when he should have said 'Go screw yourself'."
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Doc Rivers is comfortable in his skin. LeBron James is not.
So Rivers, when absolutely necessary, can tell off the media without worrying about consequences or repercussions. Things usually work out for the Boston Celtics’ personable sideline boss.
James, however, is different. His image has fallen faster than the American real estate market. Everything he says has consequences and/or repercussions. Lately, things haven’t been working out for the Miami Heat’s superstar.
What’s the answer?
Well, James has to find better people to support him. For instance, his media/communications guy can’t be his boy from an old AAU team.
James needs a world-class PR firm by his side 24/7. He needs to be retrained on interacting with the media. And he needs to do this now.
Finally, he needs to reflect and think on what’s important: his family and basketball. Hopefully, gaining perspective will allow James to again feel comfortable with himself.
Everything else, on and off-court, will fall into place.
--Oly Sandor.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
Doc Rivers didn’t like timing of Kendrick Perkins trade
“‘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.
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.
What does Doc Rivers’ 5-yr, $35 million deal mean for Boston Celtics?
“Doc Rivers has agreed to a five-year, $35 million contract extension to remain coach of the Boston Celtics, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
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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.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
Doc Rivers on Chris Bosh: He’s a ‘Key Guy’ for Heat
“LeBron and Wade are going to be LeBron and Wade,” Doc Rivers said. “They were great before the series, they’ll be great during it and they’ll be great after it and this summer when you’re talking about it you’ll say LeBron and Wade are great players. That’s not going to chance. But when Bosh plays great, then their team plays great. He’s a key guy for them.”
Derrick Rose on the Celtics: ‘We know we can beat them’
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.
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.
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Rumor: Would a lockout push Rivers from Celtics to Heat?
Celtics fans may have one reason to root for a lockout. A delay in the start of the season might actually work to the team's advantage in retaining a prized free agent -- head coach Doc Rivers.
Rumor: Kendrick Perkins and Doc Rivers to Miami?
According to two league sources, Perkins has already turned down a Celtics offer that is bound by the CBA’s current restrictions — a contract extension worth slightly less than $30 million over four years, which reflects the currently mandated contract limits of a 20-percent increase and a four-year maximum. Perkins, represented by agent Arn Tellem, has opted to wait until he is an unrestricted free agent, when even in an unpredictable market he has a chance of commanding far more.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: On the one hand, Kendrick Perkins is making a business decision. On the other hand, that business decision could take him from the Boston Celtics and put him with, say, the Miami Heat.
Reports indicate the rugged five-man rejected the Celtics four-year, $30 million contract offer because it reflected the standard 20% raise as mandated by the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Even with the league’s financial landscape bound to change with a new CBA and a potential work stoppage looming, Perkins stands to earn more as an unrestricted free agent.
Will he be making that extra paper with the Celtics, though?
Every team needs a defensive anchor, including the star-studded Heat. Perkins would clog the middle for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, while relieving Chris Bosh of his defensive anchor duties.
However, the tipping point could be Coach Doc Rivers. Rivers and Perkins have a good relationship, which could continue down south.
Rivers has always wanted to return to Florida to be near family. In fact, he nearly quit the green-and-white after the 2010 Finals and essentially operates on a series of one year contracts.
If the Heat fails to win the 2011 championship, Coach Erik Spoelstra will be replaced, and the personable Rivers would be the top candidate for the gig. And he could use his relationship with Perkins to lure him to South Beach.
Yes, the business of basketball works in funny ways. And it could see Perkins and Rivers together with the rival Heat next season.
--Oly Sandor.
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Michael Finley to Glen Davis: ‘Establish yourself’
"I'll never forget," he said, "Michael Finley told me right after dinner after Game Seven, 'Make sure in training camp, you need to establish yourself.' I took that with me through the whole summer -- 'Establish yourself. You need to be a force to be reckoned with.' "
Finley stressed to Davis that the Celtics could run the ball through him in the second unit this season. "You're capable enough to be doing that," the veteran said. Davis let the advice sink in. Then, it clicked.
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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Glen Davis should drop the ‘Baby’ from his ‘Big Baby’ moniker. Instead, he should just be ‘Big’.
This year, Davis has been ‘Big’ off the bench. His jumper has been ‘Big’. His post play has been ‘Big’. And his focus has been ‘Big’.
Instead of getting distracted by the hoopla surrounding his Boston Celtics, Davis has shown a razor focus, averaging a steady 12 points and six rebounds off the bench.
This is hardly a surprise. Davis has always had the skill-set to be a very good player. He’s surprisingly quick for his size. And he possesses world class hands.
Davis’ improved play gives Doc Rivers’ squad a deadly second unit. And he could be difference between the Celtics winning and losing another championship.
--Oly Sandor.
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