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RETRIEVING CONTENT...PLEASE WAIT
Fun Feature on NBA.com
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Are the Celtics a Different Team?
by FLCeltsFan 10:26 AM
September 16, 2006Derrenmatts over at CG has posted a great piece about the differences between the 2005 and 2006 teams. Since our team is so young, and they all work so hard, I believe that they will be much better just based on progress from each of the players. We will be better just because we hopefully won't have the injuries that we did last season. But add to that the fact that we now have 2 very quick, pass first point guards who can run the fast break, this will be a completely different team. Thankfully the bad attitudes that we started last season with are all gone and the entire team will be on the same page and the chemistry on this team will be second to none. The Celtics are going to surprise a lot of people this season and those of us who have known it all along can just sit back and nod our heads with a very sage smile on our faces.
| Some critics have said that we haven't really changed much from last year, and thus they're giving us low grades for this coming season. I'm not sure what they are looking at, but we've made a lot of changes; changes for the better, and we are definitely going to be a team to watch out for. We are a team on the rise, aiming for the top of the hill.
First of all, let the era of quick pass first PG's start. No longer should we be seeing Pierce or Ricky walking the ball up the floor. No longer should we expect a methodical and predictable offense. Gone are the days of our PF acting the part of PG. Telfair and Rondo should make a noticeable difference right off the bat, and the more they gain chemistry with their teammates, the better we'll become. We're going to get a lot more fast break points than we have in years, and we should get some easy points off of penetrations too. We must not underestimate the impact of PG's who have the ability to create plays for teammates.
Secondly, our frontcourt will be a better rebounding unit that plays better defensively as well. Big man coach extraordinaire Clifford Ray has been working a lot with our big men, improving their game offensively and defensively, and his track record of improving team's rebounding numbers will be greatly appreciated by the fans who have watched this team bomb on the boards for all these years. Perk is ready to take on a bigger role as defensive stopper and rebounding machine, and Big Al Jefferson is poised to have a breakout year. The addition of Theo Ratliff should also help solidify our frontcourt. He's a defensive presence and he'll teach our young ones some tricks of the trade. Rebounding, or lack thereof, has been our achilles heel for many years, and improvements in this department will be positively felt on our win/loss record. One of the biggest strides a young team makes is when they start rebounding and playing better defense. And I fully expect to see marked improvements here with our team.
And lastly, our young and inexperienced team is growing up. Delonte West, Tony Allen, Al Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins and Ryan Gomes will be big contributors for our team. Whereas in the past, we lost games because of youthful inexperience, these kids are getting better with development and will play more like seasoned veterans this year. And since our team is largely comprised of young kids, our success hinges greatly on their ability to pull their own load and produce when need be. And I feel they are poised to start holding down their ground.
The league cannot turn their backs on us and brush us off anymore. Ainge has stockpiled his team with quality young talents and we have 2 of the league's top wing players (Pierce and Wally) showing the way. It won't be long until we are considered a powerhouse, not only in the Eastern Conference, but in the NBA. We have depth at every position, and key pieces in the right spots. Let this be a warning to all 29 teams in the league; the Boston Celtics will return to prominence and another Celtics dynasty will be started. [More]
source:CelticsGreen - Derrenmatts
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Positional Battles Part 5 - Shooting Guard
Friday, September 15, 2006
by FLCeltsFan 9:14 AM
September 15, 2006Here is the final part of our look at the positional battles.
| At Shooting Guard we should have a battle for the starting spot. With Telfair and Rondo sharing most of the PG duties, Delonte West should be spending more time at the 2. There are two schools of thought. One says that Delonte should start, given his great year last year and that he deserves the starting spot because of it. With Delonte starting, that would bring Wally off the bench, which would preserve those bone on bone knees of his and bring some scoring to the second team.
The other group feels that Wally should start because he is a veteran. Also, Wally seems to play very well with Pierce. This would bring West off the bench as the 6th man. As 6th man, West would also add some scoring as well as a spark off the bench with his energy and toughness. Delonte is a fighter and will battle for a spot in the rotation whether it is at the 1 or the 2. Hopefully today's report of Delonte coming in with a sore back won't affect training camp or the season.
We also have Tony Allen who could be very valuable. West could play some at the 2 and some at the point and that would open up some time for Tony. In today's Herald Danny says:
“Sebastian and Rajon are terrific young point guards, and they can give us some flexibility. Delonte can play some at off-guard and he can guard some of the bigger point guards.” , so we can expect to see Delonte at the 2 but also at the point to guard some of the taller point guards.
If Allen is healthy and not in jail, and if he regains his explosiveness, he may be a very important part of the rotation. If Tony is healthy and plays like he is capable of, Doc will need to find him playing time.
The odd man out seems to be Allan Ray. Allan has a nice shooting touch and has athleticism but, there are just so many minutes to go around and West and Tony Allen both bring the same things to the team as Allan Ray does. If Ray makes the roster, he may be spending time in the D League in order to get some playing time.
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West's Back a Sore Spot Plus a Bit of Good News
by FLCeltsFan 8:54 AM
September 15, 2006
| Today's Herald reports that Delonte is back in town but he is not participating in work outs with his teammates because of a sore back.
“He’s got a back injury now, but when you play basketball like Delonte, everyone has back problems,” said Ainge.
When I hear back injury I see Larry Bird lying on his stomach on the floor during his last year or so in the league. I think of McGrady playing 47 games last season. In other words, I get worried. Hopefully, it is just a muscle pull or something as they don't give any specifics as to what the problem is. But since Danny doesn't feel it is a long term thing, hopefully it is just minor and he will be back to throwing his body around recklessly by training camp.
Kind of lost in the bad news of West's bad back is some very good news:
As Al Jefferson went through his first full workout yesterday after ankle surgery, Danny Ainge insisted West’s problem is not a long-term issue.
Big Al went through his first full work out yesterday. I must say, once they found the bone chips and dealt with them, Al's rehab has gone very quickly. Let's hope this is the first of many very productive workouts leading to a very productive season.
[More]
source:Boston Herald
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Stein Ranks the Celts at #7
by FLCeltsFan 8:15 AM
September 15, 2006 Marc Stein over on ESPN.com has posted his preview of the Eastern Conference. A big surprising to me is his ranking of the Celtics at #7. In spite of my high expectations for this team, I have come to expect negativism from the media. Celtics haven't gotten respect from the media for a long time, nor have they earned it. But with this group of hungry young players, I believe that they will earn respect and surprise a lot of people. If it weren't for all the injuries last season, I think we would have been much better and have opened a few eyes. This year, I am once again expecting great things and honestly feel that we will have a very good season.
Ranked above us on Stein's list are the Heat, Bulls, Pacers, Cavs, Bucks, and Raptors. The Heat have to be the favorites with the entire Championship team returning, but an injury to an aging Shaq could put a wrench into their hopes to repeat. Bulls have made some great moves and, like the Celtics, have a young roster with a lot of talent but with a bit more experience than the Celts. The addition of Ben Wallace has to move them to the next level. Any team with LeBron has to be ranked up there. He kind of wills them to win. The question marks in this group are the Pacers, Bucks and Raptors, all of which could be top teams or could falter. Here is what Stein had to say about the Celtics:
7. BOSTON CELTICS
The good news: Paul Pierce was signed to a three-year contract extension that will keep him off next summer's free-agent market. The better news: Danny Ainge didn't pull a Brian Scalabrine and needlessly bestow $15 million over five years to a marginal reserve.
Ainge also just locked up Stein Line favorite Kendrick Perkins on reasonable extension terms ... and I'll even sanction the notion that Theo Ratliff occasionally might provide a much-needed defensive presence. But let's not get carried away.
Even after Ainge acquired Rajon Rondo's draft rights and traded for Sebastian Telfair to join holdover point guard Delonte West, not much has changed for the Celts. They still have a slew of interesting youngsters around Pierce, but we've been saying that for a while now. Unless a few of them graduate from interesting to something, starting with Al Jefferson, it won't be long before the Pierce trade chatter fires up again.
I believe that several of our young players, including Perk, Jefferson, Gomes, and West are going to graduate from being interesting to being stars on the brink this season. When they do, don't count the Celtics out from moving up this list.
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source:ESPN.com
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Positional Battles Part 4 - Small Forward
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Odds and Ends
by FLCeltsFan 9:01 AM
September 14, 2006
SI.com gives a list of 6 coaches on the "Hot Seat" this season. Leading the list off in first place is Doc Rivers. The piece has this to say about Doc:
1. Doc Rivers, Boston
It's year three for Rivers and Paul Pierce isn't getting any younger. A playoff berth is a must.
Following Doc on this 6 Most Unwanted list are Isaiah Thomas (NY), Eddie Jordan (Washington), Jerry Sloan (Utah), Jeff Van Gundy (Houston), and Sam Mitchell (Toronto). I personally would have put Isaiah at the top of the list, but then, that is just me.
Doug Smith from the Toronto Star describes Paul Pierce as
Pierce has always struck me as the guy who gets good numbers on a bad teams.
Obviously a bit of sour grapes coming from our northern neighbor.
Celtics.com has a piece on what some former Celtics are up to these days. Eric Williams, Jiri Welsch, Tony Delk, Chucky Atkins, Mike James, Marcus Banks, Justin Reed, David Wesley, and Gary Payton are among the former Celtics who are checked on in this article. It concerns itself with players still active as players. Of course, it would take more than one article to track down all the former Celtics that are out there...
Remember those commercials from years past where everyone declared that they wanted to "be like Mike?" A Sixers Blog finds itself wishing that Sam Dalembert was more like Perk. Dalembert was signed to a contract that will give him approximately $10 million a year, even though he isn't any more proven than Perk and probably won't be as good as Perk in the long run. Perk's loyalty to the Celtics and willingness to accept a contract that is well below the going rate for centers... any centers, is very refreshing.... Have I mentioned lately that I love this kid?
Detroit Free Press reports that Celtics Legend Dave Cowens has signed on with them as an assistant. Cowens was a head coach for Golden State and the Grizzlies, compiling a 161-191 record. Last season he was coach and GM of the Chicago Sky of the WNBA who had a 5 and 29 record. Best of luck to him...There is always a soft spot for our Celtics even when they end up with other teams.
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Positional Battles Part 3 - Center
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
by FLCeltsFan 9:20 AM
September 13, 2006
Although Center may be one of our weakest spots as far as depth, there may be some battles there as well.
| At Center, we have Perk, Ratliff, Jones, and Pittsnogle. Jefferson will also see some time at center when Doc goes to his small ball lineup. Perkins is our center of the future as evidenced by the contract extension that he just signed. Doc has played Blount and Raef over Perk for the past 2 years but now both Raef and Blount are gone and Perk is poised to make the next step in his development. Al is much more effective at the 4, so hopefully, Doc won't go to that strategy too often.
In Sunday's paper Ratliff said that he plans to work toward winning the starting position. Given Doc's dependence on veterans to the point of running them into the ground, he may start him over Perk. Even if Ratliff starts, Perkins should be getting at least 30 mpg per game this season. His development is more important than playing Ratliff big minutes. The battles in practice between Perk and Ratliff should help both players to excel. I believe that Perk should start and Ratliff come off the bench to anchor the second team.
Dwayne Jones has been an interesting player. Danny insisted he be included in the Minny trade and was the reason we gave up Reed in that trade. He is quick and strong and capable of running the floor. He is a very good rebounder and led the D League in rebounds before being called up. He was given extended minutes the last few games of the season and responded with double digits in rebounds in each one. In Summer League, he barely got any minutes and that is puzzling. On the surface, it seems as though Jones should be a good center and can definitely rebound. He is in camp working hard so it doesn't seem to be a question of work ethic so why he hasn't gotten more of a look, at least in summer league is anyone's guess.
Pittsnogle played for 2 summer league teams and was very unimpressive in both where he was reportedly very out of shape. He doesn't have many skills under the basket and plays more out on the arc. He does seem to be working hard to get in shape and even won the bike race in the optional practice on Saturday. I believe that the battle for that final position on the team is going to come down to Pittsnogle and Jones. I would rather see Jones win the spot because of his defensive abilities and rebounding, both of which we very much need. But if Pittsnogle can prove that he also can play under the basket along with his shooting skills, he may win the spot. We have several 3 point shooters but need more toughness under the basket.
We will see a battle for the starting spot between Ratliff and Perk and a battle for the back up center between Jones and Pittsnogle. It should make for an interesting training camp and some heated battles under the basket.
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For Perk It's About Loyalty
by FLCeltsFan 8:16 AM
September 13, 2006
| Perk mentioned several times before signing his contract that he was grateful to the Celtics for giving him a chance and he felt he owed it to them to do the best he could. When details of his contract came out, many Celtics fans were saying what a bargain he is at that price. Looking at Nene's contract of $10 million a year after sitting out the entire last year with an injury and he certainly hasn't proved much more than Perk that he will be a dominant center and Mark Blount's contract of almost 7 million a year, you had to feel that Perk would be worth somewhere inbetween. There are several articles in the news today that should give every Celtics fan hope for this season and for the future.
Perk's statement in the Globe:
`` I'm happy to be a Celtic. They've been loyal to me since I got here. Everything has been good. I love the coaches. I love the organization. This is not rehearsed. This is really coming from my heart. I'm just happy we got this out of the way."
says a lot about Perk... He is loyal. I can see Perk being a Celtic for life if Danny doesn't do something dumb and trade him. As Danny said in the Herald article“I think he’s even exceeded the expectations we had for him as a young player, just from where he’s come to this day,” Ainge said. “He’s proven he’s an NBA center.”
Perk has already exceeded expectations, with very little playing time, he has proven that he can be a force in the middle.
The Celtics.com article gives several quotes that give us great hope for this season and for the future.
“I didn’t set any personal goals this season because I do not want to try to go out on the court and play for stats. I want to go out there and play for the win…just go out there and play basketball,” Perkins said.
Perk won't be trying to up his own stats. He will be doing whatever it takes to help the team to win.
“There are a lot of great guys; Rondo, Sebastian, Gerald, Al…all the young guys, even to our vets," said Perkins. "We have good veterans, Theo…he’s a great vet, Paul, Wally, Scal. We have got a great team, we have just got to join together as a family and make it work.”
Now if that isn't Celtics Pride, what is? This team will have incredible chemistry because of the young core and players like Perk who see it as a family and who just love being a Celtic.
Who can forget the game last season when Pierce was having an off game and seemed to be slacking off and Perk got in his face and told him to pick it up and play? This kid is not only going to be a dominant center but will also be a leader on this team. The fact that Pierce did pick it up during that game shows that even the veterans are willing to listen to this hard working kid because he has put in the effort and his work ethic has given him credibility with his teammates.
From Ainge: “He has proven that he is an NBA center," said Ainge. "We feel that he is just beginning. We think that he can really develop into a leader and he is well respected by his coaches and his teammates. We are very fortunate to have him under contract to the Celtics for the next five years.”
I heartily agree...
[Green Room on Perk's Signing]
source:Herald, Globe, and Celtics.com
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Postional Battles Part 2... Power Forward
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
by FLCeltsFan 10:14 AM
September 12, 2006
| This year, we should have a battle at the Power Forward spot. We have Leon Powe, Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, and Brian Scalabrine.
Al has to be the front runner for the starting position. He had a very promising freshman year. Then, his second season got waylaid by injuries and it was a big disappointment. They finally found the problem in his ankle and by removing the bone chips, they removed the pain that Al had been playing with much of the season. He has worked hard this season, losing weight and working on his strength and conditioning. Last season, even when he wasn't battling the ankle injuries, he seemed to get winded after a short time on the floor. That shouldn't be a problem this season. He has also spent the entire summer working with Clifford Ray and now with Theo Ratliff improving his moves, his footwork and his defense.
Ryan Gomes has also spent the summer working hard on his game. He has increased his shooting range, and lost a little weight so as to increase his quickness. Gomes may see some time at the 3 as well as the 4 this season and it will depend on who wins the battle at the 4 just how much.
Leon Powe has an NBA ready body and is a very hard worker. He is very strong and has a big body and he has an instinct for rebounding. He increased his vertical leap by 3 inches this summer and will come in and work hard to win minutes at the 4. He has very long arms and this helps make him a shot blocker and rebounder and he has a soft touch and a quick spin move to the basket. Like Gomes, he was a 4 year college player and averaged a double double his senior year. Although the new kid on the block, he is a tough player and will work as hard as anyone to make the roster. The only question that most have with Powe is whether his surgically repaired knees will hold up to an NBA season. Although I expect the battle for the starting position to be between Gomes and Al, I wouldn't count Powe out for the future.
Scal was Danny's big free agent signing last year but was a huge disappointment for the most part. He came into training camp out of shape and seemed to be a step behind the entire year. I don't see Danny cutting Scal but I don't think anyone would be disappointed if he did. Scal should be the 15th man if he is on the roster. He may be a veteran, but he doesn't bring anything to the team that Al, Powe, and Gomes don't. Doc seems to have an affinity for veterans whether they can play or not and so he may end up playing whether he deserves it or not.
I believe that Al will start if he is healthy to start the season and Gomes will be the second PF off the bench. Powe should get some playing time but will have to prove himself before moving ahead of Gomes or Al. He may play some in the D League if there aren't enough minutes to go around. Hopefully, Scal stays stuck on the bench.
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Kevin Eastman Rejoins the Celtics -Short Bio
by FLCeltsFan 10:04 AM
September 12, 2006
| The Herald on Sunday mentioned that the Celtics have brought back Kevin Eastman as assistant coach. Not long after Clifford Ray was hired as our big man coach, Danny announced that they wouldn't be adding another assistant, which disappointed many Celtics' fans who were hoping for the addition of a defensive coach since that was a glaring weakness last season.
Not many of us remember much about Kevin Eastman who was originally hired as a Celtics' assistant on September 15, 2004. He left the Celtics to take a major position with Nike as their National Director of Skills. It isn't clear why he is returning to the ranks of assistant coach but the Herald states that the desire to be in a team atmosphere brought him back.
Kevin brings a rich history of experience at all levels to the team. Eastman is a 1978 graduate of the University of Richmond, where he played his collegiate basketball. Eastman also earned in Athletic Administration from Richmond in 1989. He began his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater the University of Richmond from 1978-80. He was assistant coach for Colorado State University from 1980-83. He coached at Virginia Commonwealth from 1983-85 and he spent his second stint as an assistant coach at the University of Richmond for the 1985-86 season.
After these years as an assistant coach, Eastman served as head coach and athletic director at Belmont Abbey College from 1986-1989. He then went on to become an assistant coach at the University of Tulsa for the 1989-90 season. He then spent four seasons as head coach at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Eastman then spent five seasons from 1994-1999 as head coach at Washington State University.
He has both owned and conducted Kevin Eastman Basketball Camps since 1999 along with producing several teaching videos including Multiple Player Chair Drills, Intense Shooting Drills, and Six Keys to Quality Skills Development. He spent the 2002-03 season serving as Randolph-Macon College's Athletic Director. Eastman has also been directing Nike's Skills Academy for the nation's elite players. This is billed to offer the best in individual skill development.
Here is a quote from Doc Rivers that is posted on Eastman's site for his basketball camp.
"He's perfected the individual workout, and I think he could be a great help to our young players. Brendan Surhr had mentioned him to me, and then he was brought in to work with a team my son is on. I was watching him and I thought, "Damn, this guy is good. He should be working for the Celtics..." Doc Rivers, Head Coach, Boston Celtics
Others say that
"Kevin is one of the best at working with players to improve their skills"
and also
"He has a tremendous grasp of X’s and O’s and loves sharing his knowledge with others. He has a passion for skill development."
Eastman will be responsible for working with the young players on their skills, shooting, footwork, and defense. He is known for helping young players develop their skills. When he was first with the Celtics, he posted his basketball drills on Celtics.com.
Hopefully, Eastman can help Doc with X's and O's during the games and will prevent Doc from making some of the colossal blunders he made last season. He will also help our players with their shooting and their fundamentals. Here is a quote from Derrenmatts over on CG about how he feels Eastman will help the team.
Ricky's pull up jumper was an automatic 2 points last season (at one long stretch, he couldn't miss) and I think it was due to Eastman's mentoring. Eastman has our players go through drills that focus on practing in real time. He has players do shooting reps at quick paces because that's how they'll be shooting during games. I would imagine most coaches would prefer their players shooting at slower paces so that they can work on getting perfect shooting mechanics, but Eastman is different in this manner.
Hopefully the addition of Eastman and Clifford Ray, both of whom bring a great deal of experience, will help the team. Danny is adding developmental coaches to help our youth reach their potential more quickly. These two assistants should help all of our players to make a leap in their development this season. We already know from summer league that Clifford Ray will be a vocal coach during games, shouting instructions to his bigs throughout the game. Hopefully Kevin Eastman can bring some much needed experience to other areas, including Doc's in game decisions
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Breaking News - Perk Gets 4 Year Extension
Monday, September 11, 2006
by FLCeltsFan 5:04 PM
September 11, 2006 This is excellent news!! Danny was very smart to lock him up now instead of waiting for the end of the season. Perk is going to have a break out year this season and will be worth much more on the market next summer. 4 years at 4 million a year is a bargain!!!!
| The Celtics have reached agreement with Kendrick Perkins on a four-year contract extension, the Herald has learned today.
According to sources, the 6-10 center, just three years out of Clifton J. Ozen High School in Texas, will receive around $4 million per year beginning with the 2007-08 season, though incentives could enrich the deal.
It was reported here in July that director of basketball operations Danny Ainge had spoken with Perkins’ agent to see if something along these lines could be worked out.
Perkins, 21 (he won’t be 22 until November 10), averaged 5.2 points and 5.9 rebounds in 68 games last season, getting a modest 19.6 minutes a night. He missed 13 games in February and March after suffering a dislocated left shoulder in practice and had surgery on the area in the offseason.
Perkins will make $1,689,409 this coming season - the last year of his rookie contract.
[More]
source:Boston Herald
SI Article on Signing
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Celtics Workout Goes Old School
by FLCeltsFan 3:34 PM
September 11, 2006Everything I read about this group gives me reason for optimism. We have kids who are working as hard as anybody out there and harder than most, even coming in on a Saturday for a tough workout. Ryan and Al are proving to be extremely hard workers this off season, as is Powe. They are also bonding and working together way earlier than they need to. This season I expect to see a lot of improvement in our young players and I expect some great chemistry on the team ins spite of all of the positional battles that are sure to follow. Sounds like they are even having fun with their workouts. Interesting that Pittsnogle won the race which means that he is working hard to get into shape and will be battling hard for that final spot.
| This past Saturday found the hard-working members of the Boston Celtics in the gym for an early morning voluntary workout. It was the culmination of a rigorous week of workouts for the team. With some members away to play in a charity event, Al Jefferson and Ryan Gomes suggested the team get an extra day of work. Bright and early but sore and tired, the team showed up to get better.
One of the conditioning tests for the Celtics is the dreaded Five Mile Bike Test. It is a mental and physical test that emphasizes cardiovascular fitness and leg strength. The end of this test is typically greeted with a 10 minute lie down session and a five minute chant of “my legs, my legs”. It is a favorite of the “Bigs” (forwards and centers) because mass and strength can contribute to a faster ride. The "smalls" usually favor the running tests because they do not have to move as much mass.
Ultimately, Pittsnogle won a tightly contested race over Ryan Gomes, Al Jefferson, Dwayne Jones and Leon Powe. It would be safe to say that Leon Powe did not train on these bikes at Cal, but he is a natural athlete who has improved everyday.
The end of the ride was met with enthusiasm and the athletes began to celebrate the beginning of their weekend. For the jogger or trail walker who happened to pass by, the following could be inferred: this is not something you see everyday and the 2006-07 Celtics will not be outworked under any circumstances.
[More]
source: Celtics.com
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Celtics Working Hard on Conditioning
by FLCeltsFan 1:42 PM
September 11, 2006 Good to see the young players all working on their conditioning. I know in the past, Jefferson would get winded if he played more than 15 minutes. I don't expect that to be a problem this year. Pittsnogle and Dwayne Jones are battling for that last roster spot.
| The Heat Is On: Kevin Pittsnogle, Al Jefferson, Leon Powe join Strength and Conditioning Coach Walter Norton in a Saturday afternoon workout in the sun outside of the The Sports Authority Training Center at Healthpoint. Not pictured but also riding were Dwayne Jones, Ryan Gomes and Strength and Conditioning Coach Bryan Doo.
source:Celtics.com
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Guarding a Chair...
by FLCeltsFan 9:51 AM
September 11, 2006
| I was looking up some information on Kevin Eastman, our new assistant coach (who is actually our former assistant coach), and came across a video that he put out titled "Multiple Player Chair Drills."
This just hit my funny bone. When Danny signed Dan Dickau, almost every article about it included the phrase, "he can't even guard a chair." I saw that phrase so much that it was embedded in my brain so that when I think about our recently departed Dickau, I think about him attempting to guard a chair.
There is hope for him after all. If he would get Kevin Eastman's video, he too can learn how to guard a chair. It may vastly improve his game... This may be the reason that Kevin Eastman was brought back. We may need some remedial work with our current players on the fine art of guarding a chair. We all know that not many of them played much defense last year. Let it not be said of any of our players in the future that they "can't even guard a chair" as I am sure they will be getting much needed experience with this fine skill from our newest coach.
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Positional Battles Part 1 - Point Guard
by FLCeltsFan 8:18 AM
September 11, 2006
This week we are going to look at the positional battles that will be taking place once training camp begins. We have a very deep team with battles at literally every position, with the only sure thing being Pierce will start. Jeff over on CelticsBlog will be going the same thing this week so check out his thoughts as well.
| This season in training camp, we should have some very heated battles at several positions. Perhaps the most heated will be at point guard.
Last season began with Delonte, Will Bynum, Dan Dickau, Marcus Banks, and Orien Greene vying for playing time. Bynum was cut before the season. Banks was injured to begin the year. Delonte beat out Dickau and Greene for the starting spot and held it all year with some very inspired play.
Greene is gone to Indiana, Bynum will be in Italy, and Dickau will be playing in Portland this season. Delonte will be once again battling for the starting point guard spot. On draft day, Danny traded for Telfair and drafted Rondo, two very quick pure point guards.
Before the draft Delonte mentioned that he was hurt that Danny was making Point Guard his priority but that it would make him work harder. He worked hard last year to become a floor leader and to be a very effective PG. Now this year, he will have to battle for his spot once again. One of the knocks on him last season was that he always went left and was therefore too predictable. He has mentioned several times this off season that he is working on his right hand and will be able to use his right hand just as well as his left hand.
Delonte isn't a pure point guard. He played shooting guard in college and it may be that Doc will use him more at his natural position. But you know that wherever Delonte plays, he will give it his all.
Telfair is expected by many to be the starting PG this season. He was very highly regarded coming into the league. He had a disappointing season last year and was playing in a system that didn't use his strengths. We saw in the summer league that he is more than capable of running the fast break and is a pass first PG. Watching him though, he tended to dribble a bit too much and also tried to make the plays a bit too flashy. The knock against Telfair is his size. He is not quite 6' and this may be an issue going up against some of the bigger PGs.
Rondo seemed to run the team more under control. He wasn't as flashy as Telfair but was very effective in running the fast break. He was very effective at finding the open man and kept the offense moving better than Telfair seemed to. Also, Rondo's defense is much better than Telfair's. Rondo has huge hands and long arms and should be very effective on defense. The knock against Rondo was his shooting but reports are that he has been working 2 + hours a day on his shot and should come into training camp with a much improved shot.
This is going to be a 3 way race for the PG spot with all three working hard. Each one brings different strengths to the team and each one has areas that they needed to work on this off season. I see West playing more at the 2 this season and Rondo and Telfair sharing the PG duties. Telfair will probably be the starter to begin the season but I believe that Rondo will be the starter by the end of the season.
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Key Dates to Look Forward To
by FLCeltsFan 8:10 AM
September 11, 2006
A look ahead at some of the key dates coming up as the season approaches.
October 2 Players report to their teams
October 3 NBA Training Camps open (22 days away)
October 5 Start of the 2006 NBA Preseason schedule
October 10 Celtics first preseason game against the Cavs
October 25 Celtics last preseason game against the Raptors
October 30 Rosters set for opening day, 6 p.m. ET
October 31 Start of the 2006-07 NBA Regular Season
November 1 Celtics open at Home against Hornets
November 3 Celtics play Detroit at home (Do you think Doc will guard the inbound pass?)
November 4 Celtics at Washington... First nationally televised game on NBA TV
November 17 Portland comes to Boston... Ratliff, Telfair, Raef and Dickau face their former teams.
December 22 Philadelphia at Boston, first nationally televised game on ESPN
February 11 Celtics play Minnesota and Skippy Blount, Banks, Reed and Ricky face Wally and the Celtics. Which team will be showing forward progress at this time?
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CelticsStuff Live Tonight 9-11 With Fabio Anderle
Sunday, September 10, 2006
by FLCeltsFan 2:27 PM
September 10, 2006
Be sure to join JB and Justin tonight on CelticsStuff Live. They will post a link to listen just before the show. The show is always great and they always come up with some great news and points. Tonight's special guest will be Fabio Anderle. Fabio is the chief editor of Italian Celtics Pride and “second in command” on Celtic-Nation. Fabio also played basketball for 25 years in the Italian Leagues. He’s been a Celtics fan since the ‘70s when he was starstruck watching a tape of the Heinsohn coached team. He tried to emulate Cowens’ game and later he learned the most from watching Kevin McHale, his drop step and fadeaway jumper. Fabio has also been a Scout and a GM in the Italian minor leagues.
It should be a great show. Join us in the chat room where there is always good Celtics chat and we have a lot of fun!
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source: CelticsStuff Live
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Theo Ratliff Is Getting a Lot of Attention
by FLCeltsFan 9:58 AM
September 10, 2006
After the draft day trade that brought Telfair and Ratliff to Boston for Raef and Dickau, all of the hoopla went to Telfair. Virtually no mention was made of Ratliff other than the fact that he was in the Bahamas. This lack of news gave way to posts all over Celtics' boards on how Ratliff had to be part of a deal to ship him back out. After all, wouldn't they introduce him to the media if he were here to stay?
Then, Ratliff showed up. He wanted to get his kids in school and so came in a month early to work out with the team and get to know them. He brought to an end all the speculation that he was only here as part of a pre-arranged trade. Articles are springing up in all the papers about how he is working hard and teaching our young bigs how to dominate in the middle.
First was the Celtics.com article from Peter Springer.
"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.
In other words, the "old dog" still has some old tricks, and he intends to pass them along.
This piece inspired a new group of postings about how Ratliff will bring needed toughness inside and trying to think back to the last time the Celtics had a dominant presence in the paint like this. Most of the posters were too young to remember. Now, today the Globe, Herald and MetroWest Daily all have pieces that bring new hope to the Celtics Nation.
Steve Bulpett's piece in the Herald tells us that Ratliff is in great shape and ready to help in whatever way he is asked to.
“Whatever is required of me in terms of minutes, I feel like I can go out and do it. I feel like I’m in pretty good shape and that’s getting better. We’ve got good strength coaches and I’m enjoying working with them already. By the beginning of the season, I feel like I’m going to be more than ready to go.cw0
“I’ve got no problems,” the 33-year-old said. “My body feels great. I have no aches, no pains.”
Peter May's Piece in the Globe also centers around Ratliff. Ratliff had asked for a trade out of Portland and is happy to be here in Boston. He is looking forward to being an example for the young players, but also adding a defensive presence to the team with his play on the floor.
He may be the so-called ``veteran presence," but Ratliff prefers to let his work do the talking. The more the players see how dedicated he is, the more he hopes it will filter down to what also is a very young group of players. (He already is a member of the Ryan Gomes fan club.)
``Guys respect me and my work ethic and see what I do," he said. ``It's a natural process. I got a lot of that when I came into the league and hopefully I can give these guys some wisdom on and off the floor."
May also lets us know that many of the remaining players will be coming in this week.
The rest of the Celtics who have yet to show up for pre-training camp workouts at the team's gulag, er, training facility should start arriving this week. Telfair is due in tomorrow, and Wally Szczerbiak also is expected in this week. Paul Pierce, who reports his elbow is feeling fine, is due in either this week or next, as is Brian Scalabrine .
And Scott Souza, who has kept us informed of what has been going on with the Celtics, even when the other papers had nothing, had a good piece in the MetroWest Daily this morning.
Ratliff is not only here to mentor the kids but he is out there working with them and leading by example.
Ratliff played five of the four-on-four games before the gang called it quits. Only it wasn't really quitting time yet. They then headed to the weight room for a short lifting and stretching session. After going along with the routine, he was again ready to wrap it up when he noticed his teammates march to a line of stationary bikes.
"What now?" he questioned with a laugh.
Ratliff took one step toward the bikes, then shook his head and turned around.
After 11 years in the NBA, you earn the right in September to decide when you've just about done enough for one day.
And our young players are taking notice of his work ethic and what he brings to the team.
While Ratliff said he was studying his new running mates during the pickup games, the youngsters -- who were in elementary and middle schools when Ratliff debuted with the Detroit Pistons in 1995 -- were taking notes as well.
"You can definitely see how he attacks the ball on defense," second-year center Dwayne Jones noted. "His defensive timing is still superb. You see how he jumps right on the ball."
"He can block shots and he can play defense," Powe said. "Every team needs that. He's been a big defensive threat - like a Ben Wallace or something - a major presence in the middle.
All of this should give Celtics' fans a lot to look forward to.
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source:Herald, Globe and MetroWest Daily
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