CELTICS GREEN BLOG by and for boston celtics fans: A Few Thoughts and Interesting Tidbits

by FLCeltsFan 10:50 PM

There have been a few interesting tidbits coming out lately. First, the other night when KG, Pierce, and Perk all were held out against Philly, KG and Pierce were on the bench in suits. Perk was there in uniform, even though Doc didn't plan to play him. Either Perk doesn't like suits, or he wanted to be ready just in case Doc needed him during the game, or he didn't want to miss out on the warm ups and a chance to get on the court before the game. I really love this guy!

In the melee that followed the half basketball game against the Nets, things got so far out of hand that Leon Powe had this to say:

“I wanted to sign more than I did, but they really started to close in around us, and we had to get out of there,” Leon Powe said. “Someone actually grabbed me and said, ‘Give me an autograph.’ That was kind of amazing.”

Have you seen Leon Powe? Would YOU grab him and demand an autograph? That is more than amazing, that was crazy.

FIBA.com reports that the Celtics hadn't planned to cut Batista but were asked by his agent to do so.

His agent, Oscar Moglia, told urubasket.com : "He was not going to be cut, but we've asked Boston to rescind due to the few opportunities to play he would have this season."

This makes a lot more sense. Doc had been talking about keeping players for need and back up center is a definite need. He signed with Israel right after he was cut. They cut him first because he already had the offer from Israel and wanted to take it.

Congratulations to the Red Sox on winning the AL Pennant and going to the World Series. With the Pats undefeated and the Sox going to the World Series, it puts a lot more pressure on the Celtics to win. All the hype over the signings this summer and the trio of superstars and what to name them will mean nothing if they don't win , and win on a regular basis. Unlike past seasons, the fans are going to expect wins and will be very irate if they don't get them.

In the Globe, there is a little bit about the possibility of PJ Brown coming to Boston.

The Celtics failed to coax Reggie Miller out of retirement, but they might have better luck with P.J. Brown. With Brown not officially retired and not officially looking for a new team, he presents an interesting case as Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers continue trimming the roster. Adding a veteran big man wouldn't hurt, especially one with Brown's credentials.

At one time he was looking to get around 5 mil a year and that was too much for the Celtics to consider. Especially now with the Celtics over the luxury tax, he would have to come down on his original demands. The lure of playing with Garnett, Allen and Pierce along with the chance of winning a title here could make him sign for less. He wants to play for a contender if he does play this season and the Celtics would give him a very good opportunity.

"If P.J. decided to play, he would probably decide to play for a team that would be a championship contender, and the Celtics certainly fall into that category. But he has not put his mind into that thought process."

Delonte West is having a tough time with injuries out in Seattle.

For former Celtic Delonte West, a trade to a new team did nothing to help his injury-prone body. The Seattle Sonics guard missed an exhibition game against the Lakers because of lower back pain. While the Sonics traveled to LA, West remained behind in Seattle to see team doctors. With no major injury diagnosed, West was back practicing hard by the end of the week. West struggled with injuries and ailments during his time in Boston, including back problems last season. The most recent back problem marks the third injury West has suffered during camp.

I hope he can bounce back and have a good season. He plays harder than his body can take and that accounts for a lot of his injury problems. Back problems are troublesome and many times, as in the case of Larry Bird, when they start popping up, they become chronic and can end a player's career. Sending Delonte good thoughts to get over the injuries and have a good season. Also, I have read that Wally has had to sit out training camp as that left knee that kept him out of the end of the season after the trade is swelling again. Bone on bone strikes again.

Speaking of our former players, I still feel for Big Al. He really loved being a Celtic and made the comment that Boston will always be his home. Not only that, but he has to play on the same team as Blount again.

Call it an occupational hazard. When the Celtics played the Timberwolves Oct. 10 in London, Al Jefferson briefly forgot which team he played for when looking at the scoreboard. Jefferson was a key piece in the trade that brought Garnett to Boston this summer. "I looked up and saw Minnesota was ahead," said Jefferson. "I thought I was Boston for a split-second and was like, 'Oh, we're losing.' Then I caught myself."

He still hasn't signed his extension but word is that the Wolves are offering 50 million over 5 years. I wonder if he is holding out and hoping to get an offer from Boston as a free agent. And Big Al isn't the only one who may be thinking of coming back to Boston as a free agent. This from the RealGM boards

My friends dad works for Comcast Sports Net (formerly FSN) and flew out to Europe with the team for the games out there. Anyway, after the Twolves game on Wednesday, apparently there was an after party in the hotel and Gomes stopped by since he's still cool with all the guys and whatnot. So anyway, the story is that everyone was saying they miss him and his comment was something along the lines of "Well I am a free agent next year so you never know..."

I can definitely see Gomes on the Celtics wish list of free agents. He should be more affordable than Big Al and would fit very well with this team.

While most writers have put the Celtics at the top of their Eastern Conference previews, it seems that the players who will be facing them haven't. First, it was Rasheed Wallace questioning the ability of the Celtics to build a contender in one off season and questioning our PG, center and depth.

"They need to worry about making the playoffs first," Wallace said. "This is no knock on those three guys they have but they don't have a point guard, center or bench. They gave it away in the trade. I'll be [expletive] if you can build a playoff winning team during the off-season, it can't be done. It's going to take some time."

And, now it is Gilbert Arenas questioning whether Garnett can hit a game winner.

Washington Wizards all-star Gilbert Arenas, known to be outspoken, had some interesting things to say about Kevin Garnett's Boston Celtics and how to play defense against them. In an interview printed in Dime magazine, Arenas said it's not necessary to double-team Garnett at the end of a close game because "we already know who's going to take the last shot: Paul Pierce. ... You double Paul. Make Kevin beat you. If you ever look at game-winners, have you ever seen Kevin really take one? He's a first- through third-period player. "Then (Garnett) wants to get everyone involved because everyone's so focused on him at the end of the game. It's gonna be a battle between Ray (Allen) and Paul for the last shot. If it's me, I'm like, 'Let Kevin take it.' Because it's his nature to be so unselfish that he doesn't want that shot."

KG a first through third player?? I am beginning to wonder what planet Gilbert Arenas lives on.

And now, JA Adande attacks one of the most revered icons of all.

In 10 years as an NBA League Pass subscriber I've watched less than 10 minutes of the Celtics. That's mainly because of the way Tommy Heinsohn's voice hits my ear. To me it sounds like a garbage disposal when a fork drops into it.
But this year I'm going to have to check in with the Celtics on a regular basis. We all will. They matter again, thanks to the arrivals of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. Will the collaboration with Paul Pierce work? Will they take us back to the "Schoolhouse Rock" days and have us singing "Three is a magic number"? Will they take the Celtics back to the glory days?
I can't wait to watch … with my finger on the mute button.

Tommy is a legend in Boston and Tommy loves his Celtics and Celtics fans love Tommy because of it. No reason for Adande to put him down. I suppose the immortal Johnny Most rubbed him the wrong way too.

Finally, if you had any doubts about the fact that Isaiah is out of touch with reality, this should seal it for you. This is from an interview with Isaiah on 10/15.

When the trade was made, it looked like Fred and Dan Dickau were just salary cap throw-ins. When you made that trade, how did that discussion go?

Thomas: Both of those guys fit our team. I think Dickau is going to be a good player on our team when he's healthy. With Fred, you can't consider either of those guys throw-ins.

Ok, seems innocent enough, unless you consider that Isiah had cut Dickau from the team on October 2, nearly 2 weeks before. Ok, the guy is the GM and the coach and doesn't even know who he has cut and who he hasn't? I guess when you are spending all your time harassing employees and defending yourself in court, you can't be expected to keep up with little details like who is on your team.

[Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!]

Post a Comment