September 9, 2006

You would think that there would be more Celtics news out with players in Boston now and working out. But it seems to get slower and slower. Today was bereft of news and even the blogs didn't have much going till later in the day. But there are a few things to pass on.

Last night 2 of the Hall of Fame inductees had ties to the Celtics: Dave Gavitt, who served as CEO of the Celtics for a time and Dominique Wilkins, who played for the Celtics in 1995.

Word is that Denver is looking to move a couple of their bigs and are looking for a shooting guard. Here is a quote from a Hoopsworld article:

"After speaking to a source close to the Nuggets, it appears that the team may be planning to move some of their big men in the near future as many have speculated.

"Signing Evans is not a 'checkers' move, as Mark Warkentien likes to say, but a 'chess' move. It is a move designed to set something else up," the source explained."

While this may mean nothing for the Celtics, it is possible they may offer one of their bigs to Danny for one of our SG's. While we wouldn't want Martin with his bad knees and even worse contract, Evans is a very good rebounder and may catch Danny's attention.

Jeff at Celtics Blog is having fun with Ron Artest.. Also a new Cheap Seats Article that makes a good read.

Celtics Stuff Live has another great show planned for tomorrow night. Fabio Anderle will be their guest and he is the chief editor of Italian Celtics Pride and “second in command” on Celtic-Nation. I am sure he will have some good information on European prospects along with some good insights into the Celtics.

Fox Sports New England has their interviews with Al Jefferson and Theo Ratliff posted on their website. Some interesting stuff. Check them out.

Being a big Perk fan, I loved this site when I came across it.

tenaciousT has another good article on Celtics 17. He takes a look at which teams will be winners and which will be losers this season.

Finally, a video on Youtube with Bill Russell on How to Guard Two Players.

Things are slow now but they are going to start jumping soon... Only 24 days till training camp.

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September 9, 2006

Defense... First and foremost, the key to the season and anything beyond is a commitment to defense. We don't need 2 stars to win a championship, but we do need to play tough defense. That defense must start this season. This falls mostly on Doc. Last season Doc made the comment that the team would pick up defense because while they were practicing offense, half the team was playing defense. But hopefully after Danny talking about defense being the main priority for the off season, Doc will get the message that it is important and actually work on it.

Rebounding... Our rebounding needs to improve. We were 26th in the league in rebounding last season. Blount and Raef got the majority of the minutes at center and neither one of them was a rebounder. I believe that our rebounding will be greatly improved this season. This year, our bigs are Perk, Al, Ratliff, Gomes, Powe and Jones, all of whom are good rebounders. I loved that quote from Pat Summitt, "Offense sells tickets, defense wins games, rebounds win championships." I am convinced that we are on the way to becoming a good rebounding team. But I still have concerns about defense since that depends on a coach who doesn't have a clue about defense.

Frontcourt Play...This brings me to the next key. Clifford Ray. Everywhere he has gone, teams increase their rebounding. But, I believe he is going to help a lot more than our rebounding. He has been working with Al and Gomes most of the summer on defensive positioning and foot work along with rebounding and post moves. He has over a month to work with Perk on the same things.

Veteran Leadership... Ratliff may be one of the keys to our bigs as well. He is already in Boston working out with the team and getting to know his teammates. The article on Celtics.com says, "he sets solid picks and carves out space for his jump hook quite nicely with his broad shoulders. The elder statesman on the floor by far, he was already dispensing advice to younger players about setting picks and getting open." Not only will he be a solid defensive presence in the center but his experience will be invaluable in teaching our younger bigs. I am very encouraged by what I hear from him.

Big Al... A big key to this season will be a healthy Big Al. Al is determined to prove his critics wrong. His goal is to average a double double. He is playing without pain in his ankle for the first time since he injured it in the preseason last year. He has worked on increasing his range a little further from the basket and is in the best shape of his career. The problems he had with getting winded last season should be a thing of the past. If Al has the break out season that he is expected to, the Celtics should have a very good season.

Point Guard Play... For the first time since I can remember, we have 2 very quick pass first pure points on the team. We also have a combo guard in West who can handle the ball. Both Telfair and Rondo can run the fast break and find the open man. This brings me to another point and that is our turnovers. With pure points handling the ball, and no Mark Blount to fumble it, we should be able to cut down on turnovers. The competition at the PG spot is going to be a good thing as it will push them all to play their best.

Running... Doc and Danny have brought in quick PGs to run. The kids will run, but will Pierce? Pierce so far has bought into the system and changed his game quite a bit last season. That resulted in a career year for him. I think that he is going to run as he will see the benefits of it. I think he will do whatever it will take to win. Besides, if everyone else is running, he is going to have to or he won't get the ball.

Coaching... Doc will need to set a rotation this season. He will need to improve his in game decision making. And he will need to stress defense. I have the hope that having Clifford Ray on the coaching staff will help. Hopefully he will be able to show Doc how to use the bigs better. We need them playing under the basket and not out on the 3 point line. We saw in the summer league that Clifford is going to be a hands on coach and will be vocal in the games and working with the bigs even during games. I hope that continues during the regular season.

Staying healthy... Last year, we had a good team and had high hopes entereing the season, but had so many injuries that we couldn't seem to get anything going. This year, if everyone stays healthy, we should see dramatic improvement at every position. Of course if Al, Tony, Wally, Pierce, Perk, Telfair, West and more on the injured list for periods of time, it may be an uphill battle, just as it was last season.

There are a lot of things to be excited about and things seem to be going in a positive direction. 24 days until training camp and then we will know how all these things will work out. I don't know about you, but I can't wait!!

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September 8, 2006

This is excellent news. Danny's draft day trade is looking better and better. Very interesting that he singled Gomes out for praise. We can only hope that he stays healthy and if he does, he will make a big difference for us, both by teaching our young bigs and by giving us a rebounding and shot blocking center when Perk isn't in. Between Ratliff and Clifford Ray, our bigs should make a huge leap this season.

Joining forces: Theo Ratliff joins Wally Szczerbiak and Paul Pierce as one of the veterans on a young Celtics squad this season. Celtics.com checked in with Theo this week after some pick-up ball in Waltham to talk about his role on the team.

School brought Theo Ratliff to Boston about a month before training camp. He had to get his kids enrolled for the fall, and he's already done a little teaching in Waltham with some of his young Celtics teammates. When we caught up with him on Wednesday, he had just played a few rounds of pickup with Ryan Gomes, Rajon Rondo, Allan Ray, Dwayne Jones, Gerald Green, Tony Allen and Kevin Pittsnogle. At 33, Ratliff has more NBA experience (11 years) than everyone else in the gym combined. "We have a lot of quality young players here who are very eager to learn and listen," Ratliff said as he watched the young guys hit the bikes hard with Strength and Conditioning Coaches Bryan Doo and Walter Norton. "My role is just to play off my experience and help get them some experience." Ratliff's reputation as an all-around good guy precedes him here in Boston, and he takes more of a lead-by-example approach rather than dispensing unsolicited advice. "I'm more of a worker than a talker," Ratliff said. "I want guys to see that I'm out here working early, and I'm going to give 110% when I'm out on the floor. I want them to realize that in order to have longevity in this league, you've gotta learn how to work." It was suggested that the young pups may be able to push him to play harder due to having more energy thanks to their youth, but Ratliff objected. He says he hasn’t lost much in his game, and he can still run with the best of them. When he needs an advantage, he knows how to get it. He can just dip into his playbook of tricks of the trade, things that were passed down to him when he was trying to find his way in the NBA. [More] source:Celtics.com Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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September 8, 2006
I love this kid!!!!

Shown here are two pictures, taken over two years apart, one from a December 13, 2003 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves (left), and the second from a November 25, 2005 game against the Charlotte Bobcats. He is striking almost identical poses in the photographs with his hands on his hips and his elbows flared as he prepares to take a free throw. These pictures show the big difference in Perk as he worked very hard to remake his body from High School ready to NBA ready. And keep in mind that he had already started working out and had come aways already before the first picture was taken. "I remember in my first training camp, I almost died," said Perkins, laughing. "It's a matter of going into the off-season and doing the work. Not only do you want to lose weight, but you also got to make sure that you keep your strength. So you've got to lift at the same time. You've really got to step your game up because this ain't high school no more, so you've got to elevate your game." As far as a "welcome to the NBA" moment, Perkins recalls a game against the Detroit Pistons where he only played 12 minutes but had absolutely no energy left when he was finished. But perhaps more of an inspiration was spending most of his rookie year on injured reserve, and playing just 35 minutes the entire season. While some players would have been discouraged by the lack of playing time, Perkins says he's grateful that the team gave him a chance to develop at his own pace. "I just try to keep improving and not let them down, because the Celtics drafted me. I feel like I owe them something," said Perkins. So Perkins continued to work on his body and his conditioning, and over the course of the last three years he's lost 53 pounds of body fat and transformed his bulky frame into a constantly evolving NBA body. "Defensively, Perk comes out with a purpose every night," said Doc Rivers, speaking rather loudly within an earshot of his team after practice, perhaps sending a not-so-subtle message. "I think he's the only guy who gives us an identity, and he's starting to learn how to play physical without fouling." Perkins says he watches himself on tape after every game, looking for ways he can improve. He checks to make sure he saw cutters, set good screens and was in proper position on set plays. He sees improvement in his overall game on a daily basis, and he points to his post moves, an improved jump hook and the way he runs the floor as the biggest strides in his development. Said Perkins: "It's all about 'keep working', and when the time comes you've got to be ready for it." The time is now, Perkins is ready, and he's certainly worked for it. "No Layups." Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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September 8, 2006

Derren posted this good look at our positional depth. We certainly have depth at each position. Although many are still young, I expect many to break out this season. But we are too deep in some ways. Most of these kids need playing time to complete their development and they won't be able to get it with so many players ahead of them. We may see some of our young players go to the D League to continue their development until there is more room on the roster for them to play. Of course, as we found out last year, injuries may cause us to need all these players by the end of the season.

An early look at our depth chart: Point Guard For a long period of time, we were talentless and depthless at this position. We actually had Jr Bremer and Tony Delk manning the spot 4 years ago. Since then, we've had a bit better luck, with an over-ripe Gary Payton and an underrated journeymen named Chucky Atkins. But those days may long be gone and we may be in for an exciting era of fast paced Celtics basketball, thanks to the PG's Ainge has brought this summer. He traded away for Sebastian Telfair, a talented young PG who's dying for a chance to show his magic, and he swapped 1st round picks with Phoenix to acquire Rajon Rondo; another playmaking prodigy with tremendous speed and court vision. These 2 PG's are geared to run full throttle and deliver crisp passes to anyone who's willing to get open. Their passing ability and court vision are second to none compared to the PG's we've had the past decade. Beyond Bassy and Rajon, we have the trustworthy Delonte West, the rookie Allan Ray, and Tony Allen, who can play spot PG duties. Shooting Guard We'll start off with Wally Szczerbiak, since he's been an All-Star in the NBA. A healthy Wally is a productive Wally. Last season, he had trouble exploding off his right knee, and this hampered the way he played. He wasn't able to drive as strongly as he normally could, and he couldn't get the lift on his jump shots like he's accustomed to. Now that he's had it taken care of, we should expect to see a more productive Wally, and this is saying quite a bit because he actually looked very good in our offense after coming over in the trade. A sharp shooting Wally is valuable in our run and gun offense. Beyond Wally, we have a bunch of young combo guards who act as PG's during the day and SG's at night. Delonte West should see time on the court as a backup SG, and he'll take right over where Wally left off because of his accurate shooting. Tony Allen will also provide backup minutes here, and I wouldn't be surprised if Doc tries to find minutes for Tony wherever he can. Tony is a suffocating defender and an excellent slasher and these are the little things that help us win games. Allan Ray is suited more for playing SG than he is PG, and he's also a terrific shooter. Doc is definitely blessed to have such depth at the 2 guard. Small Forward Paul Pierce is the only guaranteed starter on the team, and he's earned it. He's a deadly scorer because of his midrange and 3 pt shooting ability, as well as his uncanny ability to get to the free throw line. He's also a good post up player, but doesn't use this part of his game as he should. He's truly tough to stop because he has so many ways to score. At the end of the game, no matter how hard a defender tries, Pierce ends up having a good scoring game. If you throw off his shooting rhythm, he'll kill you at the line. If you cut off his angle to the basket, he'll step back and drill a jumper. He's a veteran scorer now and knows how to get his points. Behind of Pierce waits the young, but highly talented Gerald Green. Green's shooting stroke is advanced for a second year player out of high school. He can elevate and get off a good shot most of the time, and towards the end of last season, he was getting pretty comfortable looking for his shot. His one on one game is much further along in development than his team game, but he's working on it. He has a chance to be a big time scorer off the bench in a year or two, and we have the luxury of waiting for him to grow into the role because we have Pierce, Wally, Delonte, and Tony Allen covering for him. Power Forward Though our wing spots may be our strongest and deepest position right now, our PF spot could very well challenge that distinction very soon. Fans are undecided about Al Jefferson's future projectibility, but no doubt about it, he has the talent to be a stud. He's got size, quickness, explosiveness, touch, and instincts to score and rebound in the trenches. Now he has to prove that he has the desire and determination to make himself into the player he's capable of being. Staying healthy and gaining confidence will be a big factor in how quickly he starts blossoming. Breathing down Jefferson's neck is Ryan Gomes. If Jefferson slips even a bit, Gomes is right there to pounce on the situation. Gomes is a consumate pro, even if this is just his second year in the league. He's a gamer; a guy who knows how to play the game. He's one of the best at cleaning up the boards and putting the ball back up for the score. He can step out and bang in a 20 footer, he will run the break and finish the play, and he will crash the boards and grab tough rebounds--all without being told to do so. He's truly a blessing to have on the team and a good example for the young guys because he plays like a professional. And if it wasn't a miracle that we landed Gomes with the 50th pick in last year's draft, this year we may have landed another big 2nd round steal when we were able to trade for Leon Powe late in the second round. Ainge got on the phone and called every team who had a pick in the second round, trying to secure Powe. And Denver rewarded his diligence by agreeing to swap 2nd round picks for the powerful stud. Leon Powe is a darkhorse player. He has a lot of game in his chiseled body. Blessed with incredibly long arms and a quick spin move in the post, Powe has made a living in the paint playing against taller competition. Like Jefferson and Gomes, Powe is a terrific glass cleaner and garbage player. Each of these 3 young PF's lurk around the basket as the shot goes up and they time their jump perfectly to tip in missed shots back towards the hoop. Powe is a strong rebounder and does an excellent job at keeping loose balls alive when he isn't directly in line to pull one down. One of these 3 guys will emerge as our starting PF for the next decade. Center Not as deep as we would like this spot to be, but Ainge has improved our depth a bit by bringing in Theo Ratliff and Dwayne Jones. (My wish would be to land Greg Oden, but that's as far a chance as trading for Lebron James) Perkins remains our hope for the future, and he's more than willing to live up to the task. He's a mountain of a player, and that's after losing more than 40 lbs of body fat since his high school days. He's now chiseled and rock hard and this has increased his agility, his mobility, and his vertical. His role on the team is to be the enforcer and the guy who gives us toughness inside. He's also learning how to set better picks, and with his big body, he can clear a lot of space for his teammates. He may not get the recognition around the league as some of his fellow teammates may (Jefferson, Gerald, Sebastian), but his role on the team is just as important. Ratliff and Jones will need to step in and keep up the rebounding intensity when Perkins goes to the bench. Dwayne Jones has the chance to really work himself into a bigger role, and since Ratliff has a history of injury problems, we must hope DJ does so. All in all, we have a lot of depth and talent, but very young depth and talent. 11 players on the team have 2 years or less of experience in the NBA, not including Perkins, who has a mere 3 years of limited experience. Doc has the unenviable task of getting this team to play like a playoff team, but at the same time, develop the young players. Its a blessing to have such a collection of solid talent, but we're going to have to get through the growing pains first before we see the fruit of Ainge's masterful work. If Ainge keeps this team intact and lets the younger players grow, develop, and mature, we will have an incredibly deep roster that could possibly be the NBA's best. [More] source:Celtics Green - Derrenmatts Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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September 7, 2006

The other day, Pierce was rated 3rd on a list of Small Forwards... Today, RealGM ranks him second on their list. Only LeBron James is ranked higher.

Small forward is perhaps the most difficult position to play due to the workload that the spot carries. The attributes that set the great small forwards from the good ones are scoring from inside and out, defending perimeter and post, guarding big and small guys, rebounding on both ends, blocking shots, stealing the ball – basically any attribute possessed from point guard to center must be visible in the game of a great small forward. 2) Paul Pierce At age 28, Paul Pierce had a career year in Boston. Aside from his rookie year, Pierce has been an iron man in the NBA and has overcome the odds as he predicted when he was selected with the tenth pick in the 1998 NBA Draft. Last year, Pierce decided that he would not allow the lack of a supporting cast affect him and took the team on his back. Pierce may not have the support now, but as players like Al Jefferson, Gerald Green and Sebastian Telfair mature, the team will only get better. In order for Pierce to excel, Danny Ainge will have to yield some results in the near future or risk lowering his superstar player’s morale. In the meantime, Pierce continues to be a top-10 scorer and a true franchise player. He’s had five straight all-star game appearances and has lead the Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals. [More] source:RealGM Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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September 7, 2006

Even though things are fairly quiet in Boston, several things have caught my attention recently.
Gary Payton has resigned with the Heat. Gary was a class act in Boston. I believe that he is the reason that Delonte did as well as he did last season. He learned from the Master. I was really happy that Payton got his ring last season. He apparently still has something left to contribute even after all these years. I know that Danny wanted to get the running game going and Payton just wasn't as fast but he is proving that he is a very productive back up PG.

Ralph Sampson is pleading guilty to mail fraud.. I was reading in a book on the Celtics that Red really, really wanted Sampson when he came into the league. Sampson never really lived up to expectations for him and even now is making headlines for the wrong reasons. It just shows that the draft is a pretty uncertain thing. I see Sampson and more recently Kandi coming into the league as the #1 pick with a lot of potential and expectations and never living up to them. Such a shame.

Dominique Wilkins is finally going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I couldn't understand why he wasn't there before. Even though he is remembered most for his time as a Hawk, Dominique was a Celtic for a short time and takes a bit of Celtic Pride into the Hall with him. He was a class act throughout his career and deserves this honor. I look at Gerald Green and see a lot of similarities with Dominique. We can only hope that he will reach similar heights in his career.

This quote:

"Offense sells tickets, defense wins games, rebounds win championships," said Pat Summitt, the Hall of Fame women's coach from the University of Tennessee.

in an article on Joe Dumars, who is also going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, caught my attention. Offense does sell tickets. Everyone wants to see the high flying dunks and excitement of a high scoring game. Danny has brought in a running team that will put lots of points on the board to sell tickets. But if we truly want to win games and championships, we have to commit to defense and rebounding. I believe that he is trying to do that as well by bringing in Clifford Ray. Wherever Ray goes, the team improves in rebounding dramatically. We have Perk and Al and Jones and Ratliff who should be able to put up some good numbers if Doc learns to use them correctly and hopefully that is where Ray comes in again. Danny went for Rondo instead of Williams at the PG which brings in a very good defensive player at the point. If we want to get to the next level, it will have to be with defense and rebounding... Hopefully Doc will get the message.

The Toronto Raptors have become a much better team this offseason. If you watched Spain in the Worlds, you know that Calderon and Garbajosa are both players and have good chemistry. From the article:

If the second Raptor unit — in a nine-man rotation — comprises Calderon and Garbajosa with either Anthony Parker or Fred Jones, Andrea Bargnani and Chris Bosh, that's going to be pretty solid.

Toronto is no longer going to be a doormat and they feel they have a score to settle with the Celtics after Gerald Green dunked on them not once but twice last season. We shouldn't sleep on the Raptors.

The oldest play in basketball doomed the US team. This article in the Seattle times relates how failure to defend the pick and roll was the downfall for the US team. The Celtics lost several games last year because they had the same problem. I am hoping that Doc (and Clifford) work on this from the start this year. If we can't defend the pick and roll effectively, we will lose games again this season because of it. This takes me back to how important defense is to winning a championship.

Hoopsworld responded to the Globe article on how Wyc says the hardest part is being patient. Here is their take on it:

Four years...and not a whole lot of progress if you look at the win-loss column. Plus, their youth movement has gone too slow for this group of players to peak while Paul Pierce is still in his prime. Ainge should trade Pierce now while his value is high and get players in return who fit the mold of the other guys on the team.

I don't agree with their assessment. I think keeping Pierce is a good thing. I agree that the youth movement hasn't moved all that quickly to date because of injuries and lack of playing time in Perk's case. But I also believe that this year is going to be a break out year for Perk and Al and maybe a couple more. I believe that a team with Pierce at the center and our talented youth playing around him will win Championship 17. If Ainge wanted to trade Pierce, he shouldn't have signed him to the extension. Which reminds me, Ainge had better sign Perk to an extension soon or he is going to cost us a whole lot more.

NBA.com is having a Photo of the Year Contest to help spend the time until the season begins. Not a single Celtic in the mix. You would think that Gerald Green should have a contest worthy picture as he hangs above the rim. Or maybe Pierce as he muscles his way to the rim. Or even Perk swatting away LeBron's shot. But the Celtics haven't been getting any respect from the league for some time now, so it isn't really a surprise. Besides, the Celtics probably wouldn't win because all of the fair weather Celtics fans around the globe are now cheering for a winning team. All I can say is our day is coming once again very quickly!!

Will Bynum is going to be playing for Tel Aviv this season. I have always believed that the only reason Bynum was signed with the Celtics was to light a fire under Banks. It obviously didn't work. However, Bynum's signing indirectly led to Tony Allen's legal problems that are still continuing today, and that have put his career in jeopardy. Tony and Will were celebrating his signing when the alleged assault took place. It wasn't all that long after the celebration turned bad that Bynum was cut from the team. By mid season, Banks was traded. Seems like a waste all the way around.

Derren mentioned something on CG the other day that I hadn't thought of but it is pretty interesting.

"...the only way a PG is ever going to play for us is by having a unique first name Sebastian, Delonte, and Rajon are not names you hear on a regular basis (plus we had Orien too). That's why Dan Dickau is no longer with the team."

This explains why Danny picked Rondo over Williams in the draft and why Banks was traded (among a host of other things). Marcus just isn't all that unusual for a first name. It does give me pause though now that Bonzi Wells is available. Danny may not be able to pass that one up and may try to put him at the point just on the strength of the name. Be afraid, be very afraid.

What is with the Boston Herald? Are all their reporters on strike or vacation? They still have USA over Germany as their lead headline. The players are coming into Boston and working out. Perk is cleared to play. Al will be cleared to play next week and is healing rather quickly now that they found the problem and fixed it. Ratliff is here after being the invisible man since the trade. Al is vowing to average a double double. Why is the Herald not reporting any of it? The Globe isn't much better with their one article a week about the team. It is only 26 days until training camp. I see articles on a regular basis on other teams from their local papers. I can see a lack of respect from the league but not from the local Boston papers. It really is a sad state of affairs.

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September 6, 2006

Last night on FSN News Greg Dickerson interviewed Big Al. He looked very loose and was joking and having a good time. During the interview it showed him practicing his shots. The best thing I heard was that for the first time, he has no pain in his ankle and that physically and emotionally that is a good thing for him. He did say that it still crosses his mind when he sees players go up for a rebound and it may take a playing some before he can dismiss those fears. He has worked on increasing his shooting range this summer and he said he has made his goal to average a double double. He said he hopes to be cleared to run some drills and for contact next week. It seems that now that they finally found the real problem he is healing quickly and anxious to get going.

I expect Al to have a break out year for a few reasons. First, he had a very disappointing year last year and the criticism stung him when people called him soft. He had a very real physical problem that was being ignored and he couldn't help but feel hurt by all the criticism. Second, he is determined to prove all those critics wrong. He has spent his entire summer in Boston working out and getting into the best shape of his life. He is working on defense and extending his range and has set the goal to average a double double. Third, Clifford Ray and Theo Ratliff will be great mentors and role models for both Al and Perk. They haven't had that before. How much could they learn from Raef, Blount and Scal? I expect their learning curve to be very steep this season because both are working hard and very determined. 27 Days Till Training Camp.... I am getting very excited about this season!!

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September 6, 2006

Here is the third and final part of Who's Behind Those Retired Numbers? There is so much history and "Celtics Pride" in this organization. I am expecting to have at least 1 or more of the players on this current team distinguish themselves enough to have their numbers retired. Certainly Pierce will have his number retired if he remains a Celtic for the rest of his career. Hopefully several of the kids will help him win a championship and claim their place in Celtics' history as well. Here is part 3.

Number 24 was retired on March 9, 1969 for Sam Jones. Sam was named, "Mr. Clutch" by his teammates and peers for his consistent and all-around skills. He played 12 seasons in the NBA, all with the Celtics and was on 10 Championship teams. Considered one of the fastest NBA guards with superb court vision and savvy, Jones led the Celtics in scoring three times, averaging a career-high 25.9 points in 1965. Shortly after leaving the NBA, Jones became the athletic director and coach at Federal City College in Washington, D.C. (which became the University of the District of Columbia). He later coached at his alma mater, North Carolina Central, and then worked as an assistant for the New Orleans Jazz. Perhaps the greatest compliment anyone paid to Jones was supplied by Auerbach at a special ceremony at Boston Garden. "I would like to thank Sam Jones," he said, "for making me a helluva coach." Number 25 was retired on February 12, 1967 for KC Jones who played 9 seasons in the NBA, all with the Celtics. He helped lead the Celtics to 8 straight NBA world championship titles from 1959 through 1967. Jones was a defensive standout, serving first as a reserve and then as the heir to Bob Cousy at point guard. When his playing days ended, Jones continued his winning ways as a coach with six teams, employing a low-key, laissez-faire approach that won seven division titles, five Eastern Conference titles and two championships. KC is still active and speaks and does clinics all over the world. When Jones was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1989, he brought with him a legacy of personal respect. As Bird once cracked, "He's the kind of person I'd like to be, but I don't have the time to work at it." Number 31 was retired on December 15, 2003 for Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell, who became the 22nd and most recent Celtic to have his number retired. Maxwell received the nickname "Cornbread" from his college teammate Melvin Watkins after the pair went to see the movie Cornbread, Earl and Me, in which a 12-year-old boy is traumatized by the murder of his friend, a star basketball player. Watkins thought that Maxwell looked like the title character and so began calling him "Cornbread." Since Maxwell didn't like the nickname, it did not gain widespread use until Maxwell was named MVP of the NIT tournament in 1976, when, according to Watkins, the New York media picked up on the nickname. He was also called Max. While Maxwell will be remembered as an efficient shooter and a colorful character, his biggest claim to fame is as a clutch playoff performer. Maxwell was named MVP of the 1981 NBA Finals. Three years later, Maxwell scored 24 points against the Los Angeles Lakers in the decisive game-seven victory in the 1984 NBA Finals. He was traded on September 6, 1985 with a draft pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for Bill Walton. Sebastian Telfair wanted Max's #31 as that is the number he has always worn. Max said if it was just him, he would gladly allow Bassy to wear it, but it would cheapen the whole process of retiring numbers to take it down. Maxwell is now going into his 11th year as radio broadcaster for WRKO AM in Boston, where he announces Boston Celtics games with the "voice of the Celtics", Sean Grande. "Grande and Max" are one of Boston's most popular radio teams. Number 32 was retired on January 30, 1994 to honor Kevin McHale, who along with Larry Bird and Robert Parish, formed one of the best front courts in the history of the NBA. At 6-foot-10, 225 pounds, McHale's nearly unstoppable array of low post moves revolutionized pivot play and helped lead Boston to three NBA championships in 1981, 1984 and 1986. His 56-point effort against the Detroit Pistons on March 3, 1985, ranks second all-time in Celtics' single-game history behind Larry Bird's 60-point performance against the Atlanta Hawks on March 12, 1985. Larry Bird often referred to McHale as "The Black Hole" as when the ball went in to him in the post, it never came back out. McHale was often under rated due to playing along side of Bird. He once said that if he had played on a team without Larry, he would have had a lot more points and attention, but also a lot fewer wins and championships. McHale was known as a joker during playing days and always had a great sense of humor. McHale is currently the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves and has remained good friends with Celtics' GM, Danny Ainge. Number 33 was retired on March 22, 1995 for Larry Joe Bird. Larry Bird is arguably one of the greatest players ever to play the game. Larry played 13 seasons in the NBA, all with the Celtics, and was part of 3 championship teams. Bird personified hustle, consistency and excellence in all areas of play--as a scorer, a passer, a rebounder, a defender, a team player, and, perhaps above all, as a clutch performer. Bird was so self-confident that he was known to waltz up to the opponents' bench before tipoff and predict a 40-point performance for himself. He was such a deadly shooter that he sometimes practiced three-pointers with his eyes closed. Bird was the embodiment of "Celtics Pride." He was a classy, confident, hardworking player who thrived on pressure and inspired teammates to excel. Bird won three consecutive MVP awards, only the third player to achieve that feat along with Russell and Chamberlain. Continuing back problems forced Bird to retire on August 8, 1992. After he retired, Bird was named a special assistant in the Celtics' front office, with limited duties that included some scouting and player evaluation. When the Celtics named Rick Pitino as the franchise's new President and Head Coach, Bird knew any role for him in Boston would be a limited one. So he cut the ties and went home to Indiana. Bird coached the Pacers for 3 successful years, being named coach of the year in 1998. He is currently the Pacers' GM. Number35 was retired on March 22, 1995 in honor of the Celtics' fallen Captain, Reggie Lewis. Lewis starred at Northeastern University in Boston, averaging 22.2 points a game in four years as a starter. He was chosen in the first round of the 1987 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. Lewis became a starter in 1990-91, when Larry Bird was out much of the year with an injury, and he was named the team's captain after Bird's retirement in 1992. He averaged 20.8 points a game in both 1991-92 and 1992-93. In Boston's first game of the 1993 playoffs, Lewis collapsed and had to be taken to a hospital. Displeased when a team of doctors told him he would have to give up basketball because of a heart disease, Lewis changed hospitals and doctors in the middle of the night. He was then advised that his heart was healthy and that he could begin training again, under medical supervision. He died of a heart attack while taking part in an unsupervised workout. This is one of the saddest chapters of the Celtics' history. He is missed by all as he was not only a promising and talented basketball player, but a very kind and giving person as well. Number 00 was retired on January 18, 1998 for Robert Parish. "The Chief" played 21 seasons in the NBA - the career record for most seasons played by an NBA player. He played 14 of those with the Celtics. A 7-1 center who combined strength, agility and remarkable endurance, Parish won three NBA championships with the Boston Celtics in the 1980s and teamed with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale to form one of the greatest front lines in NBA history. He capped his career by winning yet another championship ring as a member of the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls. Parish was nicknamed "the Chief" by Celtics teammate Cedric Maxwell after a character from the film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." Parish is currently employed by the Celtics as their marketing executive. He has also been seen at practices working with the bigs. Jim Loscutoff was selected with the fourth pick of the first round in the 1955 NBA Draft to add some defensive to the team. Loscutoff's mean defense and strength was part of the defensive greatness of the 60s Celtics, alongside fellow Hall-of-Famer Bill Russell. Loscutoff's nicknames included "Jungle Jim" or "Loscy". When the Celtics approached him about having his number 18 retired, he said that he would rather have it remain available for other players to use. The #18 was later worn by Dave Cowens and was retired for him. On the banners where the retired numbers are posted, they have Loscy posted instead of his number. Today Loscutoff lives in Andover, Massachusetts where he owns a day camp for children. Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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September 6, 2006

Another good piece from Derrenmatts on CG. I can see more parallels with the more current Detroit team than with the previous one. The one thing we are lacking is their complete dedication to defense. A team can win without superstars if they have great chemistry and a dedication to defense. Doc is going to have to commit to defense and stress it in practice if we are to win a championship. Teams can win it all without a super star but no one will win if they don't play tough defense.

Interesting to look at both Pistons eras that won a championship over the past 20 years. The one in the late 80's won without a true superstar, and so did the most recent one a few years ago. It is definitely a challenge to win a championship without having at least one of the game's best players on the team, but both Pistons versions have been able to accomplish this feat. Actually, there are some parallels that can be made with our current team and both versions of championship Pistons teams. The Backcourt Pistons: Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumars Celtics: Sebastian Telfair and Delonte West I'm not sure, at this point, who is going to be our starting SG. It could be Wally, it could be Tony Allen. Or it could be Delonte West. But for the sake of this comparison, lets look at Delonte at the starting 2 spot. Both the Pistons backcourt and our current backcourt are dimunitive in size. Telfair and Isaiah are both sub 6 footers and quick as lightning. Dumars and Delonte are both short SG's with terrific shooting ability. In both comparisons, you have terrific ball handlling floor generals who are capable of creating offense for the team, as well as for themselves, and you have terrific complimentary players on the opposite side who can score from the perimeter and act as secondary PG's. Its not the prototypical way you'd construct your backcourt, but the Pistons have proven that you can assemble a short backcourt that can be highly effective. The Rebounding Big Pistons: Bill Laimbeer Celtics: Kendrick Perkins The Pistons' main anchor was Bill Laimbeer. There were other big men who helped solidify the rebounding up front, like Rick Mahorn and Dennis Rodman. But Laimbeer was the most prevalent. He wasn't athletic and he didn't run any faster than Babe Ruth circling the bases after a homerun. But he was an important cog in the Pistons system because he used his rugged body and relentless effort to grab as many boards as he could. Perkins is very similar to Laimbeer, though currently not as experienced or wily.. He also uses his bulk and strength to gain positioning like Laimbeer did, and he has a mean steak in him that could very well stir up some future brawls on the court. Perkins may not turn out to be a star, but like Laimbeer, he knows his role is to rebound and play rough and tough. Its dirty and often unappreciated, but someone has to do it. The Scoring Power Forward Pistons: Rasheed Wallace Celtics: Al Jefferson Turning to the new Pistons era for this comparison, we see that Rasheed Wallace was a key piece to the puzzle for the Pistons run at the title in '04. It was the trade that brought Wallace to Detroit that enabled them to get over the hump. He brought a big mismatch to the table because he could score from the inside and outside. Teams could not load up on Chauncy, Hamilton or Teyshaun because Rasheed was right there waiting to stick the dagger in them. He made it hard for teams to plan their defensive strategies. We also have our own scoring PF, though right now he's still under development. We are currently waiting to reveal the finished product, and we will wait in hope and anticipation because he is blessed with amazing physical gifts. Al Jefferson has the raw talent to put the ball though the hoop. At this point, he relies on quickness and catching players off guard to get his points, but he's been working hard on his footwork and positioning to become a better post player. With the right mindset and the right coaching, Jefferson should give us what Rasheed gave the Pistons--a big scoring option at PF. Deadly Wing Scorer Pistons: Richard, "Rip", Hamilton Celtics: Paul, the "Truth", Pierce Its not fair to Rip Hamilton to put him in the same league as Pierce, but on the Pistons' team, he plays just as an important part in their success as Pierce does for the Celtics. Without his shooting and clutch scoring, the Pistons are not the same team. Pierce is one of the league's top scorers and is one of the best at getting to the free throw line. His scoring is vital for the Celtics' success. Bench Scoring Pistons: Vinnie, the "Microwave" Johnson Celtics: Gerald, the "Smooth Assassin" Green Alright, I pulled that nickname out of my hat without much thought, and I'm sure there are nicknames that will be much cooler. But Gerald is definitely a smooth assassin with his slick athleticism. He can turn out to be a scoring punch off the bench, much like Vinnie Johnson was for the Pistons back in the 80's. Its an important role because as a bench player, Gerald won't be on the floor for long periods of time. So when he does get into the game, he needs to be instant offense and give teams a different look on defense. The Pistons were able to win 3 titles without a true superstar. This goes against conventional wisdom that says that there needs to be at least one Gold Medal player on a team in order to have a good chance to win a championship trophy. I do ascribe to this thinking, because statistics prove that Gold Medal players are the magic ingredient for almost every championship team in league history. But I certainly like the team we have now and the players Ainge has accumulated, and would love to see this team win it all going against the grain. source:Celtics Green - Derrenmatts Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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September 6, 2006

In his positional rankings, Tony Mejia ranks Pierce 3rd among Small Forwards. He kind of lost his credibility with me when he stiffed Perk in his Center rankings but Pierce is a top player. However, he plays more at the SG than the SF. One of the good things about our roster is that we have a lot of versatile players who can play several positions. I like that Ricky got some love... I still love Ricky. Also interesting that Gomes got some consideration even though he plays at the 4 more than the 3.

	3. Paul Pierce, Boston: He keeps getting better. There's not much else to say. Pierce stepped up as the leader in Beantown, performing consistently in the midst of a rebuilding project. There aren't many better at delivering in the clutch. Recovering from offseason elbow surgery isn't a concern. [More] source:CBS Sportsline Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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September 5, 2006

Players are back in Waltham working out and Perk, Gomes, West, Ray, Pittsnogle, Green, Jones, Allen, and Ratliff are all there working out.

Good news about Ratliff being here and he is already giving the kids pointers.
Ratliff just arrived in Boston and was getting to know his teammates, who already learned today that he sets solid picks and carves out space for his jump hook quite nicely with his broad shoulders. The elder statesman on the floor by far, he was already dispensing advice to younger players about setting picks and getting open.

Jefferson has been in Boston all summer and is working hard on his rehab. He plans to be playing by training camp. Perk's rehab has gone well and he is playing in game situations. I expect both Perk and Al to have break out years.

Jefferson also reported that Kendrick Perkins is "feeling good" and just recently started to play in contact situations. Jefferson said that it's a big year for Perkins and himself, and he think Ratliff will be a big influence on both of them.

"I think he's going to be a big key for me and for Perk," said Jefferson, who noted that the team has a lot of young veterans who are tired of losing. "He's a vet and he's been where we're trying to go. It's going to be fun."

Good news that now we have both Ratliff and Clifford Ray to mentor our bigs. Great to hear that all these players are here early and working hard on their games. There is the added benefit that they are also building chemistry.

	[More] source: Celtics.com Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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September 5, 2006

Today we have Part 2 of our piece on the players behind all of those retired numbers.

Number 16 was retired on January of 1973 for Tom "Satch" Sanders. Satch grew up in Harlem and played basketball for Seward Park High School and New York University before going on to play in the NBA. He played all of his 13 years with the Celtics and was part of eight championship teams from 1961 through1969. In NBA history, only teammates Bill Russell and Sam Jones have won more championship rings during their playing careers. He retired in 1973 and went on to coach the Celtics for a brief time in 1978 and 1979. Today, 'Satch' is the NBA's Vice-President and Director of Player Programs. Based in New York City, his birthplace, 'Satch' designs programs to help both veteran and rookie players take advantage of their unique status as professional athletes and to assist them in coping with the special pressures they face. Player Programs is responsible for facilitating the following: post-career counseling; educational and employment opportunities; the NBA/PA (Players Association) Anti-Drug and Alcohol Programs; advice on dealing with celebrity status and media attention and a nonprofit foundation that benefits former players Number 17 was retired on October 13, 1978 in honor of the legendary John "Hondo" Havlicek. Even though Havlicek is considered one of the best players in NBA history, he was mostly overlooked as a college player because he was on the same team as Jerry Lucas at Ohio State University. That team, which also had future coaching legend Bobby Knight as a reserve, won the 1960 NCAA title.Havlicek was drafted by both the Celtics and the NFL's Cleveland Browns in 1962. After competing briefly as a wide receiver in the Browns' training camp that year, he focused his energies on playing for the Celtics, with head coach Red Auerbach later describing him as the "guts of the team". He was also known for his stamina, with competitors saying that it was a challenge for them just to keep up with him. Havlicek The 6-5 Boston Celtics star was a perpetual-motion machine, a human dynamo who was legendary for wearing out opponents with his relentless baseline-to-baseline efforts. A star at both forward and guard, Havlicek's versatility made him perhaps the finest all-around player in the history of the NBA, according to Sports Illustrated. Hondo revolutionized the sixth man role and became the prototype Celtics' sixth man. Johnny Most's legendary call, "Havlicek stole the ball," remains a classic description of a memorable moment in NBA history. Havlicek owns three Wendy’s restaurants and a piece of a food company in Ohio. He also handles public relations for a company in Leominster and listens to any freelancing opportunities that come up. Dave Thomas, owner of Wendy's, is a friend of Hondo's and his daughter Wendy, for whom the recipe is named, used to baby sit for him. Number 18 was retired on February 8, 1981 for Dave Cowens. Cowens' playing credo was all-out intensity at both ends of the court, a style that never wavered during his 11-year NBA career. Cowens played aggressively, often recklessly, and with great passion. He always gave fans their money's worth. At 6'9 he was considered by some to be too short to play center, but he played 11 years in the league, 10 with Boston and 1 in Milwaukee, and averaged 17.6 points and 13.6 rebounds per game over his career. He began his coaching career by serving as a combined player/coach for the Boston Celtics during the 1978-79 season, but he quit coach after the season, and returned as a full-time player before retiring in 1980. However, he was coaxed out of retirement by the Milwaukee Bucks, and played for them during the 1982-83 season before retiring for good. He returned to the NBA coaching ranks by serving as an Assistant Coach for the San Antonio Spurs in 1994-96, and became Head Coach of the Charlotte Hornets from 1996-99 and had a brief tenure as head coach with the Golden State Warriors from 1999-2001 which only lasted 105 games. He is currently the head coach of the WNBA Chicago Sky. Number 19 was retired for Don Nelson. Don Nelson personifies the hard-working, blue-collar roots of the Midwest where he was raised. Whether he was playing on the hardwood or coaching from its sidelines, Nelson, or "Nellie" as he is often referred to, has carved himself a place in NBA history as one of league's toughest competitors. Nellie played for the Chicago Zephyrs (which later moved to Baltimore and became the Bullets) and the Lakers before coming to the Celtics. He played 11 years with the Celtics and won 5 Championships with them. After he retired he has coached for 25 years with Milwaukee, Golden State, Dallas, and even a brief stint with New York. He stepped down from his coaching position in Dallas due to health issues as he was facing a bout with prostate cancer. Now healthy, and at 66 years of age, Nellie was just named the Golden State coach for next season and has vowed to turn that franchise back around. Number 21 was retired on October 15, 1966 for Bill Sharman. who played ten seasons with the Celtics, from 1951 through 1961, and helped lead the Celtics to four NBA world championship titles. Arguably the greatest shooter of his era, Bill Sharman was one of the first NBA guards to push his field-goal percentage above .400 for a season (.436 in 1952-53), and he still ranks among the top free-throw shooters of all time with an .883 lifetime percentage. After retiring as a player in 1961 Sharman distinguished himself as an inspiring and innovative coach, the only one to win championships in three professional leagues-the American Basketball League in 1962, the American Basketball Association in 1971 and the NBA in 1972. He guided the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers to the best regular-season record (69-13) in NBA history until the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls finished 72-10. He introduced an innovative training device on game days called the "shootaround," in which players went through a light morning practice session prior to the day's contest. He felt that getting his team's mind on the game early, going over strategy, and loosening the muscles, were excellent ways to prepare mentally and physically for a game. Today most (if not all) NBA and college teams use shootarounds as a regular part of their training regimens. Sharmen was GM and club president of the Lakers and later remained with the team as a special consultant. He was only 1 of 3 people (the others being John Wooden and Lenny Wilkins) who was enshrined in the Hall of Fame as both player and coach. Number 22 was retired on October 16, 1963 for "Easy Ed" Macauley who was a member of the Celtics for six seasons from 1950 through 1956. He had his Celtics No. 22 retired at the same time as Bob Cousy's No. 14. They were the first two to have their numbers retired by Boston. Easy Ed” retired as the NBA's third all-time leading scorer trailing only George Mikan and Dolph Shayes at the time. MacAuley was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1960 at the age of 32 and to this day he is still the youngest player ever enshrined. There is a story behind Easy Ed that is worth recounting here. In 1956, Ed's son Patrick became ill. They took him to a Boston doctor, who after some time diagnosed Patrick with spinal meningitis. Ed and his wife had to take Patrick back and forth to St. Louis for treatment, which was a tremendous drain on them, both physically and financially. Ed was close to the Celtics' owner, Walter Brown, and requested a trade to the St. Louis Hawks, to make getting treatment for Patrick easier for them. Although Brown didn't want to trade him, he understood the personal difficulties and agreed to seek a trade. McCauley and Cliff Hagan were traded to St. Louis for the second pick in the draft that would become Bill Russell. Ed went on to star for St. Louis and sadly Patrick died a few years later. But had Ed not requested the trade, the history of the Celtics, and thus the league, would probably have been much different. These days, “Easy Ed”, who is 78, resides in St. Louis, Missouri with his wife Jacqueline. The two of them have been married 52 years. MacAuley is retired and previously he was a Sports Director for two television stations in St. Louis.With retirement, MacAuley is currently very involved with his church serving as a Deacon and has written a book entitled “Homilies Lives” with Father Francis Fredle. Number 23 was retired for Frank Ramsey who played nine seasons in the NBA, all with the Celtics. He was the Celtics original sixth man. Red Auerbach, is often credited throughout basketball with creating the sixth man. Though Ramsey was one of the Celtics' best players, he felt more comfortable coming off the bench and Auerbach wanted him fresh and in the lineup at the end of close games. Ramsey was the first in a series of sixth men who won championship rings with the Celtics. After playing his rookie season with the Celtics (1954-1955), Ramsey spent one year in the military before rejoining the team. In the eight seasons he played after military service, he was a member of seven championship teams. Ramsey was also a head coach for one season (1970-71) in the ABA with the Kentucky Colonels, On November 15th, 2005, Ramsey's house was destroyed in a tornado that hit his residence in Madisonville, Kentucky. One of his plaques was found miles away from his home, and Ramsey himself was found unhurt. Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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September 5, 2006

Derrenmatts came up with another good post over on Celtics Green. It is no secret how I feel about Perk. I believe that if he is given a chance, he is going to break out this season and become that dominant center that we need. Doc has used Blount and Raef way more than he should have, even though they weren't as effective as Perk. Now that they are both gone, hopefully Doc will give Perk the minutes he deserves. With the addition of Clifford Ray, I am hoping that he will give Doc some pointers on how big men are supposed to be used, under the basket and not out on the 3 point line. Perk is going to be a powerful rebounder this year and he said that he was working on his offense this summer as well so I expect him to take a huge step forward this season. I expect to hear Tommy shouting "I LOVE Perk" quite a bit... (Have I mentioned that I love this kid?)

Perkins has a chance to be a powerful rebounder. His lack of big time athleticism, agility, and quickness has often left me wondering about his future projectibility, being that the NBA is moving to a new brand of basketball, where quick running teams may soon outrun slower teams to championship trophies. But it wasn't until I started watching Perkins from a different perspective that I began to see his effectiveness in a new light. From guys like Dave Cowens back in the day to guys like Troy Murphy in the present time, big men who can use their sturdy bodies to seal off their men can put up big rebounding numbers, despite being athletically handicapped. They rely on getting good positioning and staying in front of their men to win the rebounding showdown. Big men like Pau Gasol and Tyson Chandler have a hard time making a living in this fashion, and thus have to rely on quickness and outreaching their counterparts to get rebounds. But those who are blessed with rugged bodies that can hammer out punishment have a big advantage if they learn how to harness boxing out their men. If you take at last year's top rebounders, yes you will see that the top 3 rebounders are in the new age big men mold: Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard and Shawn Marion. But the following 7 are big men who rely, at least partially, on a combination of body, strength, and positioning to win battles in the trenches. They are Ben Wallace, Tim Duncan, Elton Brand, Chris Webber, Troy Murphy, Chris Kaman and Jamaal Magloire. These guys aren't blessed with freakish athleticism for 7 footers like Dwight Howard and Kevin Garnett are, nor do they have mutant powers like Shawn Marion. These guys have to take the beatings and dish out beatings for every rebound. Its no easy task, but its how they get things done. Kendrick Perkins fits into the latter mold. He's definitely got a mountain-like body with boulders sitting atop his shoulders. If he's ever going to make it as a big rebounder who cracks the top 10, he has to rely mainly on his ability to seal off his man and control his area inside the paint. He has to learn the art of creating space between his defender and the basket so that anything inside of 5 feet is his. Clifford Ray will play an extremely big part in Perk's development. Ray was a big time rebounder in his era and he also had to rely on using his body and positioning to win rebounds. He knows what it takes to develop this type of play, and he is going to impart his knowledge to Perkins. Perkins' part will be to learn as much as possible from Ray and translate what he's learned in individual workouts onto the court where it counts. Perkins is a workoholic who always pushes himself. Foul trouble so far his been his downfall, and doing a better job of limiting the amount of ticky tack foul he picks up will enable him to stay on the court for longer periods of time. We are going to need Perkins to be a powerful rebounder. We aren't richly blessed with impactful big men and so we need each and every one of our big men going beyond what they are called to produce. [More] source: Celtics Green -Derrenmatts Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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September 4, 2006

Today gives slow a new meaning. The Herald is still touting USA over Germany as it's lead headline. Even the Blogs are getting slow with articles. Everyone is running out of things to talk about since nothing new has happened for a long time. Only 29 days until Training Camp now and there is always the possibility that Danny will pull the trigger on a big trade between now and then, but in the meantime, we have rehashed everything in the world about the Celtics. No other team has as much history as the Celtics. The biggest quandary that players have when coming to Boston is trying to find a number that hasn't been retired. Consider that Telfair couldn't have the number he has worn since high school because it was retired. When Danny was trying to get Karl Malone to come to Boston, one issue was that his number was retired there. The Celtics have more retired numbers than any other team in the NBA. But who are the people behind all those retired numbers? I figured this slow offseason was a good time to check it out.

Number 1 was retired on October 17, 1964 for the Celtics founder and the first owner of the franchise, Walter Brown. After succeeding his father as manager of the Boston Garden, he helped to found the Basketball Association of America in 1946, and was instrumental in merging the BAA and the National Basketball League into the National Basketball Association in 1949. He founded the Celtics in 1945, and helped to transform the team into a dynasty, as the Celtics won six championships in the seven years. He also was instrumental in the creation of the first NBA All-Star Game in 1951, which was played in the Boston Garden. Number 2 was retired on January 4, 1985 in honor of Arnold "Red" Auerbach. Red is the face and the heart of the Celtics. The number 2 was retired for him to signify the fact that Red is second only to Walter Brown as the most significant person in the history of the Boston Celtics.... He was the Head Coach of the team from 1950 through 1966, during which he won nine Championships that included eight straight from 1958 through 1966...After his coaching career, he went on to serve as President and General Manager, leading the Celtics to an additional seven NBA championships. Red could always be seen in the stands lighting his trademark cigar at the end of every Celtics victory. Number 3 was retired on December 13, 1991 in honor of Dennis Johnson. DJ" played for the Celtics for seven seasons, from 1983 through 1990...He helped lead the Celtics to a pair of NBA world championship titles in 1984 and 1986. DJ was always a clutch player and seemed to step up his game in the playoffs. He was known for his defense and was a perennial fixture on the NBA all defensive team. Larry Bird called DJ the best player he ever played with and that is some very high praise. DJ was an Assistant Coach for the Celtics from 1992 through 1997. He is currently the coach of the Austin Toros, which will be our D-League affiliate this season. Number 6 was retired on March 12, 1972 for Bill Russell, who is considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Russell anchored the Celtics teams that won nine World Championships, winning 8 in a row at one time. Russell is the Celtics all-time leading rebounder with 21,620 rebounds which is an astounding average of 22.5 per game. Russell was declared to be the Greatest Player in the History of the NBA by the Professional Basketball Writers' Association of America in 1980. He made the All Star team every year in his career except his rookie year. When Red Auerbach retired, Bill Russell became a player coach of the Celtics for three seasons, 1966 through 1969, finishing with a record of 162-83 (.661) and two world championship titles in 1968 and 1969. Number 10 was retired on April 9, 1982 for JoJo White, who was the point guard that led the Celtics offense and propelled the 1974 and 1976 teams to NBA world championship titles. JoJo played for the Celtics from 1969 to the 1979 season and was a member of the gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic Team in 1968. JoJo was a seven-time NBA All-Star and he reached the pinnacle of his career in 1976. On June 4 at the hot, jam-packed Boston Garden in Game 5 of the NBA Championship Finals against the Phoenix Suns, White led the Celtics with 33 points spread out over 60 minutes in the now famous 128-126 triple-overtime victory and was named the Finals MVP. JoJo remains with the Celtics organization, serving as Director of Special Projects and Community Relations Representative. He was the Celtics representative at the last draft lottery drawing. Number 14 was retired on October 16, 1963 in honor of Bob Cousy. Bob Cousy was one of the greatest playmakers and passers in NBA history Cousy spent all 13 of his NBA seasons with the Celtics. He had the nickname of "The Houdini of the Hardwood" Anyone watching him play would know how that nickname came about. He helped lead the Celtics to six NBA world championship titles. Cousy was a 13-time NBA All-Star, making the team in each of his 13 seasons in the NBA. He remains the Celtics all-time assists leader with 6,945. Cousy has enjoyed a very public life in retirement. He made a cameo appearance in the movie Blue Chips, and has worked at different capacities for the Celtics since his playing days were over. He can often be seen with Mike and Tommy broadcasting the Celtics games. Number 15 was retired on October 15, 1966 for Tommy Heinsohn. If anyone can be considered a Celtic for Life, it is Tommy Heinsohn. He helped the Celtics capture eight NBA world championship titles in his nine-year playing career, all with the Celtics...He was Head Coach of the Celtics for nine years from 1969 through 1978, and guided the Celtics to two more NBA titles. He was the NBA Coach of the Year in 1973. For the past 25 years, Tommy has paired with Mike Gorman as the TV analysts for the Celtics' games. He loves the Celtics and doesn't make any effort to hide it. Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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