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?"

Three-peat is highly possible for Lakers in next NBA season posted by nbaball

THE BOLD declaration of Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard Kobe "Black Mamba" Bryant that the team will attain its third straight crown in the next season of the National Basketball Association is highly possible. Basketball experts said three-peat might be hard to achieve in the face of the tough competition in the NBA but if the Lakers will continue to play its full potential it is very possible.

The basketball experts said one thing going for the Lakers in its quest for a piece of NBA history is the fact that almost all of their important players will be back for the team to defend their crown. Bryant the heart and soul of the Lakers had an existing contract to play for the Lakers for many years to come.
With the superstar guard still part of the Lakers roster, the team will remain solid for years to come. Aside from Bryant other Lakers players who will be back to defend their crown are superstar center Pau Gasol, versatile power-forward Lamar Odom, veteran point-guard Derek Fisher, rising young center Andrew Bynum and defensive specialist Ron Artest.

Gasol had been a vital factor in the Laker's tough victory against its arch rival Boston Celtics in their best of seven NBA Finals.
The Spanish center provided front-court scoring and defense to frustrate and defeat the determined Celtics who was able to send the game into a deciding game seven. Odom although undersized as a power-forward still contributed big for the team with his ball distribution and clutch plays against the trough defense put out by the Celtics.

Fisher for his part provided efficient veteran leadership to solidify and add more spunk to the defending champion. Bynum for his part was a steady center who provided quality minutes in terms of scoring and defense for the team. Newly acquired Laker Artest is himself had a big contribution for the Lakers victory with his tough defense against the top scorers of the opposing team particularly in the NBA Finals against Celtics superstar forward Paul "Truth" Pierce. With those players mentioned back in Lakers uniform in the next NBA season it would very difficult for other NBA teams including the Celtics to defeat the defending NBA champion. To achieve their desired three-peat the Lakers however need to resign Lakers coach Phil Jackson to coach the championship team again in the next season of the premier professional basketball league in the planet.
Continue reading "Three-peat is highly possible for ..."

SOX SWEEP D-Backs, ... ... ...celtics lose championship... ... ... posted by Joe Franciosa, Jr.

The Sox just swept the worst team in the NL West. Wooooooooo.

 It just figures that the one time I'm actually rooting against the Sox, they win. When the Celtics play before the Sox, and the Celtics win, the Sox win. When the Sox play before the Celtics, and the Sox win, the Celtics lose. It's an incredibly stupid statistic, but no less accurate for its stupidity concerning the 2010 season. So, when the Sox won last night, I knew whatever vestige of hope had remained was squelched. That didn't stop me from rooting any harder for the C's... I was standing in my buddy's living room for the last 5 minutes of that game because I was too hyped up to stay in my seat.

 2010 Celtics, thanks for the effort. You took us on one hell of a roller-coaster this post-season. I didn't expect you to get past the Cavs. I did expect you to get past the Magic, especially after the Refs tried to give that series away.  I'm not even going to comment on the officiating of the Finals. If you watched and had half a brain in your head, it was obvious what was going on.

 So let's talk about the tragedy of this loss. Without Perk, the Celtics still had a 13 point lead in the 3rd quarter. Celtics defense held the Lakers to just 32% shooting from the field. If anyone wearing green had pulled down just two or three more rebounds, the Celtics would have their 18th banner. Instead, KG has 3 rebounds for the entire game. That's just not a Championship effort. Not in a game 7, on the road. Certainly not with your only true big man dressed in a green button up shirt with a bum knee on the sideline.

Pierce is no prophet in Celtics loss to Lakers in game 3 of NBA Finals posted by nbaball

There is no doubt, Boston Celtics superstar forward Paul "Truth" Pierce is one of the top players in the National Basketball Association today.
Despite his NBA superstar status, there is one thing certain Pierce is just a heck of a professional basketball player and not a prophet.
This developed after Pierce failed in his prediction that the Celtics will sweep the next three games of the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles which would be held at the Boston Garden.
In game three of the much talked about NBA Finals, the Lakers beat the Celtics 91-84 at the home-floor of the latter through the heroics of Lakers veteran point-guard Derek Fisher.
The defeat foils Pierce prediction that the Celtics will beat the Lakers three straight in their own home-floor.
Pierce made the bold prediction earlier 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 aren’t coming back to LA!"
The Celtics evened the NBA Finals at a game apiece with a 103-94 victory in game two of the NBA Finals.
It is not the first time that Pierce made a bold prediction regarding the outcome of an NBA playoff series.
Pierce also predicted after a Game 2 victory against the Magic in Orlando, which gave the Celtics a 2-0 series lead, that they will close the series at home.
He even posted a message on his Twitter account saying the Celtics to sweep the Magic.
Continue reading "Pierce is no prophet in Celtics loss ..."

Game 7 Necessary... posted by Joe Franciosa, Jr.

So much for Prophecy. Now we've got a broken Perk and a game 7.  Well, here's game 6...  

Kobe Misses a 3

KG for 2

Kobe for 2

Rondo for 2

Bynum with the hook for 2

Ray for 2 with a tough jumper

Fisher flops and Perk is called for a foul. Least he doesn't get to shoot

Artest misses a 3, Bynum rebounds and misses a hook, ball out, Celtics Ball

Rondo misses a 3 at the end of the shot clock

Artest makes a 3, Lakers go up 1

Perk has his pass intercepted by Fish,

Fish with the Layup

KG misses a tough shot, deflects a pass at the other end and the C's end up with the ball.

Ray loses the ball to Fisher, who throws the ball out of bounds

Ray for 2 and 1!!! Makes it, Tie Score with 8:02 left in the first

Gasol misses an easy shot but gets the benefit of a bullshit foul on Ray Allen. Gasol misses the first but makes the second

RAY ALLEN FOR 3!!!

Kobe for 2 off the jumper

Perk is blocked by Gasol,

Kobe for 2

Rondo fouled by Fisher. Non shooting foul

Ray misses a 3

Kobe for 2...

Bad pass is stolen by Kobe, Gasol with a running layup..

Rondo misses another jumper (why is Rondo taking so many jump shots already?...) Perk is fouled hard on the rebound and is down. We better BREAK Bynum for that. C'mon Perk. Get up Perk. Perk is the Keystone of the Celtics defense. C'mmmmon Perk.

Oh that's not good. That's horrible.

Well, let's go Sheed

KG with the open J

Kobe for 3

KG for 2 off a nice pass to him in the lane

3-2 Celtics. See you in L.A. posted by Joe Franciosa, Jr.

No minutes for game 4, though it would have been a hell of a game to write during. Instead, I watched the game on an almost wall-sized television with some buddies, Nothing better than seeing a life-sized Glenn Davis drooling in hi-def.

However, I'm back for Game 5, and a hell of a game it will be.

Start Growling

Get those goose bumps

And here we go

Lakers win opening tip

Bynum takes a bad shot and misses

C's rebound, KG for 2

Fisher misses a 3.

Pierce with the easy lay up on a 3 on 1 break

Kobe misses, KG rebounds

C's move the ball well but Ray misses a short jumper

Bynum misses, Gasol rebounds, misses, KG rebounds

Rondo with the 20 ft jumper

Artest misses a 3, Bynum rebounds, makes the shot and 1. Misses! KG rebounds

Pierce misses a open jump shot

Pierce called for a foul on an out of control Fisher. Garbage. Fish makes the first. Makes the second

Moving screen called on KG...

Fisher for 2. Tie game 6-6

Pierce misses a wide open 3.

Bynum on the alioop off Kobe's pass. Lakers go up 2

Rondo misses a long jumper in and out

Artest misses a jumper. KG with the rebound

KG for 2 off a nice pass from Pierce

Fisher for 2 on a difficult jumper.

PIERCE IN ARTEST'S FACE 10-10

Pierce and Perk block Bynum. Jump Ball. Bynum wins the jump but a 24 second violation. CELTICS BALL

KG WITH THE JUMP HOOK OVER GASOL!!

Bynum for 2

RONDO WITH A SILLY SPIN FOR 2

Pierce called for a foul on Fisher's long jumper.

Ray Allen 0 for 13... ... ... posted by Joe Franciosa, Jr.

I'm starting this a little late. I was watching Strasburg's debut in the Major Leagues, (14k, 2 earned runs...Impressive) and I forgot to change the channel in time.

So the Lakers just went up 13-12 on a bullshit foul by Rondo on Kobe. Rondo apparently already has 2. We can see where this is going.

On the plus side, Garnett looks like he came to play tonight. 16-16.

Gasol for 2 with an easy lay in

Garnett misses a wide open jump shot after a lot of crazy madness

Kobe misses a jumper, Rondo the rebound. Pierce loses the ball under the basket, ball out, Celtics ball.

Garnett has 10 of the C's 16 points to start the game. Yeah, somebody poked the sleeping, uh, Big Ticket.

Sox are up 3-2 with Wakefield still pitching in the 8th. Good for Wake.

Back to the C's, Pierce gets called for a foul. 2 on Pierce, 2 on Perk, 2 on Rondo. Garbage. Kobe makes the 1st free. makes the 2nd. 20-16 Lakers with 2 minutes left in the 1st.

Big Baby just tried a fall away...and hit the side of the back board. Sweet.

Sheed blocks the Llama...Sorry, Gasol.

Rondo is fouled on the drive. Rondo misses both. C'mon Rondo. Just cause they're free throws doesn't mean you should throw them away. Those shots deserve points just as much as your circus shots do.

Gasol front rims a jumper.

Tony Allen is fouled by Odom. TA makes the 1st. Misses the 2nd. ew

Brown for 2 23-17 Lakers..

Boston has the last shot of the period. ...except Sheed misses a 3 and turns the ball over to Odom who gets a lay up and 1. Awesome. Makes the free.

RAY ALLEN FOR 3!!!!!!!!!!!! posted by Joe Franciosa, Jr.

So I'm not keeping minutes for this game. I should be, considering how much better this game is going than game 1. But, I've a headache, and there's no way I'll enjoy this game if I'm describing every play of it. Maybe. We'll see.

Instead, I'm going to provide casual observations throughout the game beginning with the Second Half.

All things considered, a 7 point lead at the end of the 1st quarter is a nice start to the game. Even better, the C's were +4 rebounding.

RAY ALLEN FOR 3!!! (5th of the night) And it was because Perk actually made a move toward the basket. Even though he lost his dribble as he always does, he drew a double team (almost a triple) and got Ray the ball.

Here's a fun fact drawn from random memory. Sports Science analyzed Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum's wing spans and vertical leaps, and postulated that they could cover 70% of the court between the two of them. (I say postulated because that doesn't account for the presence of defenders , it just assumes those two men have free range across the court...) Sports Science then went on to mention as an after thought that Garnett and Perkins actually covered even more space, though they never gave the number.. They should have analyzed Ray Allen's shot. He just knocked down his 6th 3 of the night.

Ray Allen is having the game of his career. He just sold a charge on Kobe Bryant so hard. Wow. ...And then has it called on him at the other end. Talk about Ref's appeasing the crowd.

RAY ALLEN FOR 3!!!! ... That's probably going to be this blog entry's title.

Perk drives, loses the ball, gets it back, and is bailed out by a Gasol foul. Ha. Perk makes the 1st! Drills the 2nd. Go Perk go.

Rough Start posted by Joe Franciosa, Jr.

...I'm tired, and disappointed.

That performance was an utter disappointment.

 You may not want to read the minutes past the opening tip. It was all pretty much downhill from there.

C's win Tip

Rondo starts it out well with Pierce providing a good pass

Wow, Pierce is already locking up Artest for a double technical.

Rondo misses an easy layup

Fisher hits an open jumper.

Ray takes a bad 2 and misses

Kobe drives for the lay up, 4-2 lakers 10:01

Fisher picks up his second foul, Vujacic in. Can't wait to screw his name up later.

Bynum with a dunk

Ray Allen for 2

Artest knocks down the long jumper, 8-4 Lakers

Garnett, bad pass, turnover, Gasol fouled by Garnett. PHANTOM CALL,

Gasol knocks down a 20 ft jump shot.

Rondo hits a jumper. 10-6 Lakers

Kobe for 2.

Garnett to Rondo for an easy layup. 12-8 Lakers

Paul Pierce drives for 2. 12-10 Lakers

Artest with an Air ball 3

Dutch calls... Lakers up 6

Paul Pierce over Artest for 2

24sec violation. Celtics ball. 16-12 Lakers

Perks fouled by Bynum after a flurry of nice passes. Perk makes the 1st, barely. Second misses, Lane violation on Kobe. Misses 2nd 2nd. hehe.

Kobe's fouled by Tony Allen. Kobe makes 1st. Makes 2nd. 18-13 Lakers.

Rondo turn over. Garnett with good D. Celtics ball. Garnett misses turn around jumper

Vujacic misses wide open 3,. Blocking foul on Artest. Pierce misses 1st... Makes 2nd. 18-14 Lakers

Lakers turn over. Kobe fouls Pierce. Makes 1st. Makes 2nd. 18-16 Lakers

Suspended G West returning to Celtics (AP)

Delonte West is returning to the Boston Celtics. The team announced Wednesday that it has signed the 6-foot-3 guard, who was suspended for the first 10 games of the 2010-11 season after pleading guilty to weapons charges in Maryland. West played his first three seasons with Boston before being traded to Seattle in 2007 in the deal that brought Ray Allen to the Celtics. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

G Delonte West returning to Celtics (AP)

Delonte West is returning to the Boston Celtics. The team announced Wednesday that it has signed the 6-foot-3 guard, who was suspended for the first 10 games of the 2010-11 season after pleading guilty to weapons charges in Maryland. West played his first three seasons with Boston before being traded to Seattle in 2007 in the deal that brought Ray Allen to the Celtics. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

AP source: Shaq, Celtics negotiating deal (SportingNews.com)

The Boston Celtics are making progress on a deal that would bring Shaquille O'Neal to the defending Eastern... [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Shaq's plan: 6 teams, 6 titles in 20 NBA seasons (AP)

When Shaquille O'Neal was much, much younger and a good deal smaller, too, he chose as a role model one of the most successful big men in NBA history. "When I came into the league, I wanted to compete with Bill Russell for titles," O'Neal said Tuesday, with Russell's 11 championship banners hanging above him at a news conference to mark his signing with the Boston Celtics. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Celtics sign 2nd-round pick Harangody (AP)

The Boston Celtics have signed Luke Harangody, their second-round draft pick. The deal is for two years. Terms were not disclosed. The 6-foot-8 forward was the 52nd pick in this year's draft. At Notre Dame, Harangody finished as the No. 3 career scorer in Big East history with 1,329 points and No. 2 rebounder with 662 rebounds. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports