CELTICS GREEN BLOG by and for boston celtics fans: Fiddlin' and Diddlin' on 5/19

Much of the news today centers areound the playoffs and coaching changes. The final 4 has been set for the conference finals: Jazz vs Spurs and Cavs vs Pistons. Adelman is reported to be heading for Houston and I am jealous. There is a bit of Celtics news and odds and ends out there, though.

The Patriot Ledger has an actual, honest to goodness article on the Celtics. In it, Mike Fine reports that the Celtics don't want to get too overconfident about the lottery after having been burned before.

It’s just that this might be Director of Operations Danny Ainge’s last best chance to not only save the franchise from more years of oblivion, but to save his job. Both Ainge and the franchise have a lot riding on this lottery. Finish first or second and they’ve got a chance to pick up Oden or Durant and the cash registers in the box office will immediately begin ka-chinging. Drop beyond that and there’ll be layoffs in the front office.

He doesn't subscribe to they hype coming out of the front office that there are several players who could help even more than Oden or Durant. After reading several accounts of Noah, Brewer, and Yi's workouts, I don't know as Danny is wrong. They have been impressing people all around.

Speaking of Yi, Chad Ford spent two days observing the big man and came away very impressed with him. And he isn't the only one.

For the past few months, a number of NBA general managers and scouts who have followed Yi closely have said he's the third-best prospect in the draft.

At the Home Depot Center, trainer Joe Abunassar interrupted a discussion of the players he's training to say, "Wait until you see Yi. There isn't a drill I could come up with that Yi couldn't excel at."

On Hoopsworld, Jessica Camerato looks at 5 more players who will be available should we not hit the lotto. She gives thumbs up to Green and Brewer and thumbs down to Noah, Julian Wright, and Hawes. I have to disagree with her thoughts on Noah. From what I am reading, he is going to come in and help a team right away. He has the drive and the attitude and the skills.

On RealGM, Elrod Enchilada picks up the theme that it is Oden, Durant or bust. Celtics Nation is fast becoming divided on this. Some feel that if we don't get Oden or Durant, we are doomed. Others, like myself, don't feel that it is that dire. We have a very good core group already if they can stay healthy and with the addition of a Brewer, Noah or Yi, we would be very, very good. Of course, getting Oden or Durant would be wonderful and that has to be the goal, but I just don't feel that the sky is falling if we don't.

Celtics.com examines the team by team needs of the teams in the lottery. Every team wants one of the big 2 and obviously, every one can use them.

On ESPN, The Sports Guy offers a trade scenario and gives some advice to Wyc, Doc and Danny to stop talking. I think poor Bill has gone off the deep end with Doc's extension. If we get Durant, he sees Pierce as being expendable.

...here's the deal I want them to offer G-State: Paul Pierce, Bassy Telfair, Bassy Telfair's gun collection and the No. 32 pick for Jason Richardson, Monta Ellis, the No. 18 pick and Sarunas Jasikevicius' expiring contract. And while I'm doing requests for the Celtics, here's another one ...

3 days until the Lottery. I'm as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I reallly want a top 2 pick. I really want this team's luck to turn around and break the curse that has been over this franchise since Len Bias's death. I want the Celtics to be relevant again. I don't think that is asking too much. Do you?

[Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!]

Post a Comment