Betting on the Boston Celtics After Ray Allen’s Departure posted by Celtics Fan

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Celtics Thoughts posted by Charles Bisbee

Here are some thoughts on the Celtics as training camps open:

·      It’ll be interesting to see how much KG has left in the tank. His numbers have regressed across the board from just a couple seasons ago. Nonetheless, the intangibles and the desire remain intact and it’s impossible to discount the role they’ll play on a young Celtics squad. Rondo may be the C’s best player, but KG remains the heart and soul.

·      Here’s hoping Garnett can effectively light a fire under rookie Jared Sullinger, the talented but scatter-brained big man from Ohio State. Sullinger impressed during Orlando Summer League action, scoring 20 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in just 24 minutes of action during his first game. Talent, however, has never been the issue. If KG can continually keep Sullinger focused and dedicated, the Celts may have the answer at power forward over the next 10-15 years.

·      I’m interested to see how Avery Bradley handles an increased workload when he returns in January. With Keyon Dooling retired and Ray Allen in Miami, Bradley will get the bulk of the load backing up Rondo and aging (but still effective) combo-guard Jason Terry. Bradley is a shut-down defender, but I'm not sure he can produce enough offensively to warrant the minutes. Relatedly, the Celtics lack of depth at guard scares me. Outside Rondo, Terry, and (possibly?) Courtney Lee, there are a lot of unproven youngsters.

·      Paul Pierce refuses to show his age. As the years go by, he only gets craftier. His array of start-and-stops, head fakes, and up-and-unders would make Kevin McHale proud. I think Pierce should play until he’s 50.

NBA Anarchy posted by Charles Bisbee

The NBA is completely bonkers right now. With less than two weeks until season’s tip-off, players are being flipped faster than flapjacks at IHOP. Chris Paul has been perfecting his start-and-stop from the comfort of his living room. Dwight Howard can't seem to decipher his own feelings about the Magic. Lamar Odom, as collateral from the Paul fall-out, whined his way to the Mavs, who were spurned earlier in the week by Tyson Chandler (Knicks). Chauncey Billups took his frequent flier miles to the Clips (though he could be dealt again by the time I finish this sentence) and Big Baby was swapped for Brandon Bass.

Wait, there's more! The Celtics thought they had Baby's replacement in David West (Paul’s former right-hand man) but the Pacers swooped in and snagged him for a cool $20 mil. Consequently, the Hornets are trying to fill out a roster with Quincy Pondexter and a collection of ball boys. Vinsanity joined Odom in Dallas, which lost Caron Butler to the Clippers, which matched Golden State’s absurd, $43 million qualifying offer to DeAndre Jordan (he with the career 5.9 ppg). T-Mac, Rip Hamilton, Chris Wilcox, Mike Bibby and Dunleavy are on the move as well, though these names seem like afterthoughts compared to the seismic activity higher up. 

And all this happened in slightly over a week. It’s certainly enough to make the casual fan's head spin. The ramifications of this unforseen, pre-season turbulence on the regular season, though, is what really boggles the mind. With little time to mesh, little time to prepare, and a season packed tighter than Delta coach, teams should be in for a wild ride. We're staring down the barrel of the most slapdash, unforseen and chemistry-bungled season since, dare I say, 1998! Should be a wild ride. 

Eye on the Draft - Trade Winds posted by Randolph Charlotin

Reports came out that San Antonio is shopping three-time All-Star Tony Parker. It’s rumored that the Los Angeles Lakers are trying to move PF Lamar Odom. Phoenix just shot down rumors that they are trying to trade two-time league MVP Steve Nash.

And where is Trader Dan during all these talks? Surprisingly quiet. Danny Ainge, notorious for making exchanges, says he plans on staying put at picks 25 and 55.

Is this gamesmanship by Ainge or is he speaking the truth? Boston’s roster is very thin with just six players under contract plus restricted free agent Jeff Green. In a draft that lacks franchise players, the motivation to move up is low.

But more than anything else, what do the Celtics have to offer in potential trades?

Four of the five starters are well into their 30’s and are viewed as declining or will be soon. Expiring contracts (Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Jermaine O’Neal are in the last year of their respective deals) usually don’t become attractive until just before the trade deadline. The most appealing player on the Celtics is Rajon Rondo, but what could Ainge get in return for Rondo that would make the Celtics better?

Fans have suggested that Ainge pry Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets with Rondo, sign and trade Glen Davis, and the top-10 protected 2012 first round pick. I’d like to see those fans’ prescriptions.

It would take a tremendous sell job to convince Paul to come to Boston and sign a long term deal with a Celtics team perceived to be in decline when Paul wants to join a team with a shot to win the championship. And the Hornets, a franchise that would shift into rebuilding mode after such a trade, would want more draft picks in return.

Eye on the Draft 2 - Guarded Concerns posted by Randolph Charlotin

Reggie Jackson. Iman Shumpert. Nolan Smith. Malcom Lee. Marshon Brooks. Just a handful of the names linked to the Boston Celtics’ first round pick. All guards. And each one worries me.

I’m not opposed to selecting a guard in the draft. Just not at 25.

Depth at the position wasn’t as bad as it looked as Delonte West played well behind Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen. The trade deadline acquisition of Jeff Green allowed the Celts to put a big backcourt of Green and Paul Pierce on the floor. Von Wafer was available if Doc Rivers cared to use him.

Free agency will leave the backcourt very thin, but there are affordable options starting with West and Wafer.

Then there’s the wild card combo guard Avery Bradley, the 2010 first round pick. If the Celtics really are interested in any of the guards named above, does that mean Bradley has fallen out of favor with Ainge and head coach Doc Rivers already?

And is a combo guard that much of a need? Truth is a combo guard is an undersized two guard playing the point. We saw in the playoffs the value of a true point guard as superstars Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City and Derrick Rose of Chicago played one-on-five in their respective Conference Championships, derailing their teams’ playoff runs.

Based on evaluations of the guards listed above, they all have glaring weaknesses, from volume shooter/scorer, to lack of a jump shot, to poor decision-making as a point guard.

A combo guard off the bench for Boston should work. Someone to take a load off Rondo and Allen would only make all three players better by splitting minutes three ways. But is a combo guard good enough to become a full time two guard in the future?

Eye on the Draft 1 - Bigs Problem posted by Randolph Charlotin

First off, my knowledge of the NBA Draft is nowhere close to my NFL Draft IQ. Not even close. I don’t follow college basketball until the NCAA Tournament and I have zero familiarity with foreign players, whether they are European or South American.

What I strongly believe in is my knowledge of the Celtics and the team needs. And what should be on the top of their list are big men. I’m not talking Glen “Big Baby” Davis wide big. I’m talking 6’10” neighborhood.

Let’s look at the facts: Centers Kendrick Perkins and Semih Erden were moved at the trade deadline. Shaquille O’Neal retired and Nenad Krstic signed with a Russian team.

Boston is down to Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O’Neal, and restricted free agent Jeff Green. None of them are long term fixtures at PF or C. And the options for free agents are either out of the Celtics’ price range or just aren’t very good players when sifting through the bargain bin of free agents.

The NBA Draft is less than a week away and it is the first step towards finding a player or two to groom into an eventual starter.

I’ve had enough of people saying this is a weak draft class. If a team’s scouting department is good, they can find the great players in a weak draft. Danny Ainge and his staff found gems year after year in the second round. If they can find players that late, they can find two drafting late in the first and second round.

Not much is known about Ainge’s research. The Celtics announce some of the players they bring in for workouts (click the links for the workout updates from Celtics.com: Workouts 1 Workouts 2), but that doesn’t cover scouting trips. Beyond that is mock draft watching and taking mental notes of the changes following updates.

Refreshed Bench posted by Randolph Charlotin

Focus on the last names:

Jeff GREEN.

Troy MURPHY.

They were meant to be Celtics.

If Danny Ainge stopped his trade deadline dealings at the two-for-two swap that sent C Kendrick Perkins and G Nate Robinson to Oklahoma City for Green and Nenad Kristic, then fan dread over Boston’s chances in the playoffs would be understandable.

But Trader Dan was far from done. Often with Ainge, he makes a deal with complementary moves in mind. The two trades that followed Perkins’ departure cleared room for productive veteran players on the bench and improved versatility.

Celtic fans have a tough time accepting change from a winning formula. Perkins was the anchor in the middle of the defense, an intimidator that protected the paint from intruders. The Celtics hung their hat on being a physical defense-first team and was the cornerstone.

Health permitting, Boston could had claimed their NBA-record 18th championship. But health hasn’t been on the Celtics’ side this season. Already down are the two O’Neals (Jermaine and Shaquille) and G/F Marquis Daniels. Ainge decided not to wait and hope for modern medicine.

 Upon arrival Kristic was in the starting lineup and Green came off the bench. Regardless of their performance (they helped the Celtics win against the Los Angeles Clippers), they were available to play, which is something Perkins and Daniels can’t do right now. Perkins is expected to miss his first two to three weeks while Daniels might not play another game this season.

Can the Charlotte Bobcats be a contender in the East? posted by Sports Fan

I really like the direction this team is going but I'm not so sure they can really be a contender in the East this year.  The East has gotten a lot stronger over the last few years and while I think they can make the playoffs I don't really see any chance that they can really beat The Magic, the Heat, the Celtics, of the Bulls.  And I'm skeptical they can even beat teams like the 76ers or the Hawks.

What do you think? 

Celtics can tame the Beat in the East posted by john howard

Miami has become a 3 headed hydra with Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, and LeBron James.  What are the Celtics to do?  Keep what they are doing.  They have resigned Doc Rivers, Ray Allen and Pual Pierce.  So, the big three (Garnett) and Rojan Rondo are all intact.  Kendrick Perkins is hurt and may miss a good part of next season.  And, Rasheed Wallace is contemplating retirement. 

Part of the solution is the signing of Jermaine O'Neal.  He can score inside and rebound.  He likely will fill Wallace's shoes and start until Perkins gets back.  They still need more depth.  Glen Davis provides a great lift off the bench, but can be over matched size wise.  Without Wallace or Perkins, they don't have a big bodied 7 footer in there. 

Tony Allen is a must resign.  He did great against LeBron in playoffs and had some brilliant defensive moments against Kobe in the finals.  I don't know if they will be able to resign Nate Robinson or Maruis Daniels.  Robinson provides some spark off the bench for better or worse.  I think a team will pay him a lot more to be a starter.

Finally, the rookie.  Luke Harangody has been really impressive in summer league.  I don't think he will start or receive any votes for rookie of the year.  But, with what he has shown, he can come off the bench and develope as the year progresses and may provide some key moments with the 2nd unit come playoff time.

All in all, they need more depth and they must resign Tony Allen and find some temporary size.  They will. 

R.I.P. Rip? posted by Sabrina

There has been speculation that Doc Rivers has his eye on our very own, Richard Hamilton if Ray Allen will not return to Boston. Let's get real here, as much as we love Rip, he's getting old and can't play like he used to. A trade with Boston wouldn't hurt Detroit in any way; it could only help. Joe D should probably call up Boston and have a chat. After all, Doc Rivers likes experienced (old) players.Continue reading "R.I.P. Rip?"

Danny Green sets NBA Finals record for most three-pointers in a series (Video) (Ball Don't L

The NBA Finals is often decided by one or two huge performances from role players, but San Antonio Spurs wing Danny Green's shooting against the Miami Heat is unprecedented. With 9:39 remaining in the third quarter of Game 5 , Green knocked down his 23rd three-pointer of the series, breaking Ray Allen's record for the most threes in an NBA Finals. [Related: Danny Green's ridiculous shooting could land him in a rare club ] Green ranked seventh in the league this regular season with a 42.9 percent mark from beyond the arc. His shooting in the NBA Finals has been considerably better. Through the first four games of the series, he had made 19-of-28 long-range shots (69.8 percent). At the time of his record-breaking shot, Green had somehow done even better in Game 5, hitting four of his first five three-point attempts. That means Green converted on 23 of his first 33 tries —just better than two-thirds —to get the record. Allen, the most prolific three-point shooter in NBA history and now Green's opponent as a member of the Heat, set the previous mark of 22 threes in six games in 2008 as a member of the Boston Celtics against the Los Angeles Lakers. Allen needed 42 attempts for his record, which underscores just how amazing Green has been this series. [Y! Sports Fan Shop: Buy 2013 NBA Finals merchandise ] Directly after Green set the record, Allen expressed his dismay at losing the record. After the jump, check out a screengrab of Allen's face (via @ jose3030 ): [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Danny Green sets NBA Finals record for most three-pointers in a series (Video) (Ball Don't L

The NBA Finals is often decided by one or two huge performances from role players, but San Antonio Spurs wing Danny Green's shooting against the Miami Heat is unprecedented. With 9:39 remaining in the third quarter of Game 5 , Green knocked down his 23rd three-pointer of the series, breaking Ray Allen's record for the most threes in an NBA Finals. [Related: Danny Green's ridiculous shooting could land him in a rare club ] Green ranked seventh in the league this regular season with a 42.9 percent mark from beyond the arc. His shooting in the NBA Finals has been considerably better. Through the first four games of the series, he had made 19-of-28 long-range shots (69.8 percent). At the time of his record-breaking shot, Green had somehow done even better in Game 5, hitting four of his first five three-point attempts. That means Green converted on 23 of his first 33 tries —just better than two-thirds —to get the record. Allen, the most prolific three-point shooter in NBA history and now Green's opponent as a member of the Heat, set the previous mark of 22 threes in six games in 2008 as a member of the Boston Celtics against the Los Angeles Lakers. Allen needed 42 attempts for his record, which underscores just how amazing Green has been this series. [Y! Sports Fan Shop: Buy 2013 NBA Finals merchandise ] Directly after Green set the record, Allen expressed his dismay at losing the record. After the jump, check out a screengrab of Allen's face (via @ jose3030 ): [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Danny Green sets NBA Finals record for most three-pointers in a series (Video) (Ball Don't L

The NBA Finals is often decided by one or two huge performances from role players, but San Antonio Spurs wing Danny Green's shooting against the Miami Heat is unprecedented. With 9:39 remaining in the third quarter of Game 5 , Green knocked down his 23rd three-pointer of the series, breaking Ray Allen's record for the most threes in an NBA Finals. Green ranked seventh in the league this regular season with a 42.9 percent mark from beyond the arc. His shooting in the NBA Finals has been considerably better. Through the first four games of the series, he had made 19-of-28 long-range shots (69.8 percent). At the time of his record-breaking shot, Green had somehow done even better in Game 5, hitting four of his first five three-point attempts. That means Green converted on 23 of his first 33 tries —just better than two-thirds —to get the record. Allen, the most prolific three-point shooter in NBA history and now Green's opponent as a member of the Heat, set the previous mark of 22 threes in six games in 2008 as a member of the Boston Celtics against the Los Angeles Lakers. Allen needed 42 attempts for his record, which underscores just how amazing Green has been this series. Directly after Green set the record, Allen expressed his dismay at losing the record. After the jump, check out a screengrab of Allen's face (via @ jose3030 ): [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Danny Green sets NBA Finals record for most three-pointers in a series (Video) (Ball Don't L

The NBA Finals is often decided by one or two huge performances from role players, but San Antonio Spurs wing Danny Green's shooting against the Miami Heat is unprecedented. With 9:39 remaining in the third quarter of Game 5 , Green knocked down his 23rd three-pointer of the series, breaking Ray Allen's record for the most threes in an NBA Finals. Green ranked seventh in the league this regular season with a 42.9 percent mark from beyond the arc. His shooting in the NBA Finals has been considerably better. Through the first four games of the series, he had made 19-of-28 long-range shots (69.8 percent). At the time of his record-breaking shot, Green had somehow done even better in Game 5, hitting four of his first five three-point attempts. That means Green converted on 23 of his first 33 tries —just better than two-thirds —to get the record. Allen, the most prolific three-point shooter in NBA history and now Green's opponent as a member of the Heat, set the previous mark of 22 threes in six games in 2008 as a member of the Boston Celtics against the Los Angeles Lakers. Allen needed 42 attempts for his record, which underscores just how amazing Green has been this series. Directly after Green set the record, Allen expressed his dismay at losing the record. After the jump, check out a screengrab of Allen's face (via @ jose3030 ): [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Danny Green sets NBA Finals record for most three-pointers in a series (Video) (Ball Don't L

The NBA Finals is often decided by one or two huge performances from role players, but San Antonio Spurs wing Danny Green's shooting against the Miami Heat is unprecedented. With 9:39 remaining in the third quarter of Game 5 , Green knocked down his 23rd three-pointer of the series, breaking Ray Allen's record for the most threes in an NBA Finals. Green ranked seventh in the league this regular season with a 42.9 percent mark from beyond the arc. His shooting in the NBA Finals has been considerably better. Through the first four games of the series, he had made 19-of-28 long-range shots (69.8 percent). At the time of his record-breaking shot, Green had somehow done even better in Game 5, hitting four of his first five three-point attempts. That means Green converted on 23 of his first 33 tries —just better than two-thirds —to get the record. Allen, the most prolific three-point shooter in NBA history and now Green's opponent as a member of the Heat, set the previous mark of 22 threes in six games in 2008 as a member of the Boston Celtics against the Los Angeles Lakers. Allen needed 42 attempts for his record, which underscores just how amazing Green has been this series. Directly after Green set the record, Allen expressed his dismay at losing the record. After the jump, check out a screengrab of Allen's face (via @ jose3030 ): [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports