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RETRIEVING CONTENT...PLEASE WAIT
Celtics Assistants Part 5: Clifford Ray
Saturday, May 19, 2007
by FLCeltsFan 7:26 PM
Clifford Ray is just finishing his first season as an assistant coach with the Celtics. When you watch Dwight Howard play and dominate on the boards, think Clifford Ray. Dwight and his dad credit Clifford Ray with his development when he was with the Magic. When you watch classic Celtics games from the 80's and see Parish dominate in the middle, think Clifford Ray. Parish credited Clifford Ray with helping him to develop his game when they were teammates on Golden State. When you see the emergence of Al Jefferson this past season, think Clifford Ray. He has succeeded everywhere he has been and one thing is agreed - Clifford Ray is the best big man coach in the NBA.
Ray played his college basketball at the University of Oklahoma. In 1971 the Chicago Bulls selected him in the third round of the NBA draft. He spent three seasons with the Bulls, his best being 1973-74 during which he averaged 9.3 points and 12.2 rebounds per game. Ray is also a musician with a degree in fine arts from Oklahoma and plays most woodwind instruments. He sees similarities between a well-played concert and a well-played basketball game.
After the 1973-74 season Ray was traded to Golden State for fellow center Nate Thurmond. At 6'9", Clifford Ray was one of the shorter starting NBA centers to ever win a title. Without a lot of athleticism, and being under sized for a center, he manned the center as Golden State won a championship in 1975. Ray is one of a handful of players to have played at least ten seasons in the pros and record more rebounds (6953 over 784 games for an 8.9 average) than points (5821, for a 7.4 average) for his career.
After his playing career, Ray worked as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks. He also coached in the Continental Basketball Association, where he landed his lone head coaching job with the Fort Wayne Fury. Later, he worked as a New Jersey Nets assistant before returning to Golden State as an assistant coach. He had also worked as an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic where he was credited with being responsible for the development of Dwight Howard.
As an assistant coach who specializes in teaching big men, he has had wonderful results wherever he has worked. If you follow his career, teams where he has been an assistant have been among the league's best in rebounding, in spite of being among the worst before he arrived. That's a huge fact since as the old adage goes "offense sells tickets, defense wins games and rebounding wins championships. . He has molded a long list of players including P.J. Brown, Adonal Foyle, Roy Tarpley, Erick Dampier, and Nazr Mohammed. In his first year as a part-time coach in Dallas, in 1987-88, the Mavericks led the league in rebounding. When Ray was an assistant in New Jersey in 1995-96, the Nets led the league in rebounding. In Ray's two years at Golden State (2000-01 and '01-02), the Warriors ranked first and second in rebounding. In Cleveland two years ago, Ray had the Cavs up to second in the league in rebounding. The Magic, which ranked 23rd in rebounding the season before Ray arrived, ranked second the following year.
Celtic legend Robert Parish has credited Clifford Ray for lifting his game to another level as well. For years Parish and Ray have held big men camps together in Florida.
Clifford Ray was also responsible for saving the life of a dolphin. In 1978, Mr. Spock, the dolphin at Marine World, had his tank repaired. The diver dropped a large stainless steel screw. They assumed that Mr. Spock had swallowed this screw. So, they took him to the local hospital for an x-ray. They couldn’t do surgery and could not get the screw. The doctor exclaimed, if only my arms were 9” longer, I could reach down his throat and pull it out. Mike Demetrius then remembered Clifford Ray whose arms are 3 feet and 9 inches long. Clifford Ray volunteered to try. He cut his fingernails, greased his arm and reached down through the dolphin’s mouth, grabbed the screw, and pulled it out."
He was diagnosed with prostate cancer while coaching in the CBA and underwent chemotherapy while coaching with the Cavaliers. He still has his blood checked every 60 days and works hard to keep his energy level up. "One thing about cancer, though," Ray says. "It makes you realize you don't have time to sit around and feel sorry for yourself."
We know for certain that Clifford Ray isn't sitting around and feeling sorry for himself. Last summer, Ray was a regular at the Celtics' practice facility working with the Celtics young bigs. He has a sense of urgency about him that is catchy to the players fortunate enough to be taught by him. On the sidelines, he is often heard yelling instructions to the players and was very active on the side lines last year in summer league.
This off season he is even more important to this team. Last summer, Perk didn't have much time to work with him due to the shoulder surgery and then during the season there was the plantar fasciitis. This summer, Perk and Big Al plan to stay in Boston and work with Clifford Ray throughout the off season. After the draft, I expect our top draft pick to join them and gain valuable instruction going into the season.
Many around the league were surprised by Jefferson's emergence last season. But it was a natural result of having worked with the best big man coach in the league. If history is any indicator, we can expect even more improvement from our bigs in this next season as Clifford Ray once again works his magic with them.
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The Suns and The Luxury Tax
by FLCeltsFan 12:47 PM
The Suns are facing a $12 million luxury tax hit if they keep all their core players and if they sign 3 first round picks. If Atlanta doesn't land a top 3 pick Phoenix will get their lottery pick. Phoenix also owns Cleveland's number 21 pick and their own pick at 29.
While they came ever so close to the top tier in the playoffs this season, I expect them to make some changes and some deals to avoid the luxury tax hit as well as to address some deficiencies. According to AZCentral, Marion's name has been surfacing in trade talks. If I had my preference, Marion would be the veteran we should go for. It is possible that Phoenix will also try to trade some of their picks as well. They may consider an expiring contract such as Ratliff's along with a young player to make some space under the luxury tax level.
They are also trying to move Marcus Banks who hasn't panned out to be the back up for Steve Nash that they had hoped he would be. Been there, done that, and not interested. Let's hope that Danny keeps them in mind when searching out trading partners this off season.
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Fiddlin' and Diddlin' on 5/19
by FLCeltsFan 9:42 AM
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?
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Celtics Assistants Part 4: Armond Hill
Friday, May 18, 2007
by FLCeltsFan 7:57 PM
Celtics assistant coach Armond Hill,Globe columnist Bob Ryan and Joakim Noah all have something in common. All three attended the Lawrenceville School. The Lawrenceville School is a distinguished prep school located in Lawrenceville, N.J., a small community equidistant from Trenton and Princeton. Founded in 1810 by Presbyterian minister Isaac van Arsdale Brown.
Bob Ryan of the Globe graduated from Lawrenceville school in 1964 and in 1963 his team won the New Jersey Group IV Private School championship. Ryan scored 12 points in the championship game but admits that his play was mostly in garbage time.
Hill's academics weren't up to where he wanted them when he graduated from Bishop Ford High School in Brooklyn, New York, and so he went to Lawrenceville for a post-grad year in 1971 to prepare for Princeton. Thanks to him, the team went undefeated that season. The high point of the year was against undefeated Trenton High, who dared to guard Hill man-to-man, the only team to attempt that all season. When Hill left the game in the fourth quarter he had outscored the entire Trenton High team. His 50 points is a record that still stands today.
Noah attended the Lawrenceville School with the Class of 2004. Noah's team, which was 28-4 and won the state tournament. If we don't get Oden or Durant, there is at least one person in the Celtics organization who will be pushing for Noah. Here are Hill's thoughts on him at Lawrenceville: "He was long and lanky, and he ran the floor just like he does now," says Hill. "But the big thing is his intensity. He's always up and down the floor and he tries to involve himself in every play. He is the definition of long," says Hill. "And he plays with such passion. They even use him at the top of their press. He's just great to watch."
After his year at Lawrenceville School, Hill attended Princeton University, where he played under legendary coach Pete Carril. He was named Ivy League player of the year as a senior in 1976. He was drafted 9th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 1976. Hill had a solid career as a role player in the NBA, compiling 6.9 points and 4.3 assists per game over eight seasons playing with Atlanta, Seattle, San Diego, and Milwaukee.
After his playing career Hill returned to Princeton to complete his baccalaureate degree, earning a B.A. In psychology in 1985. He then returned to Lawrenceville School as an assistant coach. Three years later he was promoted to head coach at Lawrenceville. Hill won two Coach of the Year Awards and in 1990, he led Lawrenceville to the New Jersey State Prep School Championship.
In 1991 Hill entered the collegiate level by returning to his alma mater Princeton as an assistant coach under Pete Carril. As an assistant under Carril, he helped to guide Princeton to a 71-35 record over four seasons, winning the Ivy League title and going to the NCAA Tournament in 1992.
In 1995 he succeeded Jack Rohan as head coach at Columbia University. In eight seasons as head coach of the Lions, Hill did not have any winning seasons He compiled a 72-141 record over his 8 seasons as head coach at Columbia. On March 10, 2003, two days after Columbia finished with a 2-25 record (0-14 in Ivy League play), the worst season in the school's 103-year basketball history, Hill was fired.
Hill jumped to the NBA for the 2003-2004 season as an assistant under Terry Stotts on the Atlanta Hawks. After just one season with the Hawks, he was named to the Celtics coaching staff on July 1, 2004.
Throughout his basketball playing and coaching careers, Hill has nurtured his other passion: art. His love of art started early, when as a boy, he won a contest that awarded him a scholarship for art classes at the Brooklyn Museum. He spent one summer away from the playgrounds and basketball in favor of drawing and painting. Years later, Hill served as curator of the Lawrenceville School's museum, where he built up the collection and organized gallery shows to enhance the art education program on campus. Even while a professional player, Hill was a museum researcher in Atlanta and served on the board of the Atlanta Ballet. "Basketball and art are very similar," Hill explained. "You're dealing with creativity, discipline and how to see."
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Coaching Carousel Update
by FLCeltsFan 3:08 PM
News is coming out of the many coaching positions are being filled. Peter Vescey has info on several of the positions in his article in this morning's NY Post.
First of all, Sam Mitchell is staying put and that opens up the gates for several other positions around the league. Van Gundy is out in Houston and reports are that Rick Adelman is set to be the next coach of the Rockets. Yes, I am jealous. Never a self-promoter or one to demand players he must or must not have, he merely manages (never over-coaches) the personnel on tap and gets them to the playoffs - 14 out of 14 times as coach of Portland and Sacramento.
One Van Gundy on the outs and another on the way in. Stan Van Gundy is the favorite for replacing Rick Carlisle in Indiana. In the meantime, the Celtics still have Doc Rivers (102-144) as our coach. His win totals have gone down each year he was here. I am afraid that next season we will end up with 10 wins.
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Fiddlin' and Diddlin' on 5/18
by FLCeltsFan 10:04 AM
Once again, nothing in the Boston papers about the Celtics. With only 4 days until the lottery it seems as though they should be posting articles about past heartbreak and successes or something.
The Grizzlies have been doing a good job with articles on their club in the Commercial Appeal. In today's piece they discuss their hit or miss history in the draft. They mention the trade that sent Banks and Perk to the Celtics for Jones and Bell. Although Banks didn't work out as planned, Perk is developing into a very good player for us and I believe that he will get even better this coming season. In reading through their draft history, they haven't done well at all in the draft. But then again, the Celtics could have an article very similar if the Boston writers wanted to take the time to write about the Celtics.
The Star Tribune reports that the Timberwolves will send Randy Foye to the lottery to represent the team. Foye admits to not having very good luck but hopes that will change here. He is also gathering good luck charms to take with him. Again, we could maybe hear some of how Tommy is preparing, how he feels about representing the team, if he is taking any good luck charms etc. That is, if the Boston papers were covering the Celtics.
ESPN Insider has a couple of draft related articles from Chad Ford. The first gives a look into a training session for Noah and Brewer. Both players are putting in long hours to prepare for the draft. Abunassar says that despite their near-star status in the college basketball world, Noah and Brewer are working relentlessly. "They're winners and this is the next challenge," he says. "They want to beat everyone at this, too."
Chad Ford seems impressed with both players: I think Noah will show in workouts that he's more skilled than NBA GMs think he is. His relentlessness in his workouts will impress. He has a magnetic personality. Even his grunting and shouting have a positive psychological effect; if all the other guys on the floor were working as hard as Noah, he would just sound like he's doing more.
From my conversations with NBA GMs and from what I saw with my own eyes on Monday, I think Brewer could go as high as the No. 3 or No. 4 pick in the draft. How often do you find a 6-foot-9 guy with the wingspan of a 7-footer who can play lock-down defense at the 2 or the 3, shoot the basketball and slash to the basket? Brewer has a chance to be a totally unique player at his position .
Chads other article is on Yi Jianlian and projects him to be the biggest wild card in the draft. Chad was impressed with Yi and feels that the Celtics are one of the teams that he will fit well on. I spent two days watching Yi work out in Los Angeles and walked away convinced that he's the third-best prospect (see the Top 100), ranking immediately behind Greg Oden and Kevin Durant.
The Celtics are another team that could give Yi a long look if they don't win one of the two top positions in the draft. Al Jefferson proved that he could play center in the pros last season. He and Yi would make a formidable pair in the frontcourt.
Red's Army is having fun with photoshop. There are a lot of good ones but my favorites are Powe and Perk as the tag team "Hustle and Muscle," and Doc and Danny in I'm with stupid shirts. Priceless.
Green Bandwagon has part 3 of The Rajon Rondo Movie. This is great. I was laughing out loud at this one... The wiya hangahs part is just classic!
Duke on CelticsStuff Live has some choice words for The Sporting News and they aren't very friendly. Who knows, maybe this disgustingly shocking effort by the Sporting News to sell copies of their unreadable dreck will backfire and actually allow Celtics fans to move on and clear away the bad karma evident when Russ Granik pulled out the Celtics logo out of the #3 card in the 1997 Draft Lottery.
Only 4 days to go until the Lottery. I have a feeling that these are going to be the longest 4 days in history. The picture of Duncan in a Celtics uniform is kind of like rubbing salt in the wounds and taking me back to 10 years ago when I was waiting on pins and needles just like now. We had the best chance of landing the first pick then and we have the second best chance of landing the first pick now. My hopes were dashed back then but as Greg Popovich said if there is any fairness in this world, we will win the lottery this time around.
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Celtics Assistants Part 3: Dave Wohl
by FLCeltsFan 8:06 AM
Dave Wohl was a 6'2" guard who went to high school at East Brunswick High School in East Brunswick, NJ. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Wohl was a two-time All-Ivy League selection at guard and led the Quakers to two Ivy League titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
He was selected in the third round by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1971 NBA Draft. Wohl spent seven years as a player from 1971-78. He appeared in 410 career games with the 76ers, Portland TrailBlazers, Buffalo Braves, Houston Rockets and New York-New Jersey Nets. He averaged 6.2 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists for his career.
When his playing career ended, Wohl became an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, and worked in that capacity until the team won the NBA title in 1985. He then was named head coach of the New Jersey Nets, a position he held for three years, from 1985-1987, and in 1986 he led the Nets to the playoffs.
He served as a scout for the Miami Heat in 1988 and was an assistant coach in Miami from 1989-1991. He served as a television analyst for Miami in 1991-1992. He then spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Kings and the Clippers. From 1995-1997, Wohl served as Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Heat.
Wohl then served a second stint as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of the 1998-99 season. Prior to coming to the Celtics, he served as an assistant coach for the Orlando Magic under Doc Rivers for five seasons from 1999-2004.
He was signed as an assistant in Boston in May of 2004 and brought to the team over 30 years of NBA experience as a player, analyst, coach, and GM. He works with the players on their skills and the fundamentals. More than an hour before a Celtics’ game, he can be found on the court with other Boston assistant coaches, working with players on fundamentals of the game. Despite his relatively short stature—he is listed as 6 feet 2 inches tall, a good five inches short of the NBA average—Wohl has the reputation of being a solid teacher of big men as well as guards.
Though it has been 20 years since Wohl was a head coach, he said he would consider doing it again but realizes that sometimes you only get one shot at it. He loves basketball and working with the young players in Boston. He still has a passion for the game even after 3 decades of playing and coaching. Wohl and his wife, Elena, have two daughters, Natalie and Katie.
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Fiddlin' and Diddlin' on 5/17
Thursday, May 17, 2007
by FLCeltsFan 9:42 AM
With the lottery only 5 days away, I am amazed that there are no articles in the Boston papers leading up to it. About all we have seen are a couple of articles setting us up for a 3-5 pick.
The Indy Star has two articles on the lottery today. One discusses the difference a coin flip (or lottery ball) can make for a team. Indy needs a top 2 pick in this draft if they want to keep their first pick, similar to Atlanta needing a top 3 pick to keep theirs. Franchises are built and lost on random acts of fate. The Celtics know this only too well. Something like this could have appeared in the Boston papers, but didn't. The second article in the Indy Star discusses the fact that Indiana is at the mercy of lottery luck with a 1.5% chance of landing a top 2 pick. It also gets into some lottery history.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal also has two lottery articles. The first article details how the Grizzlies hope that the lottery will change their history of bad luck. Honestly, their luck seems to be very good compared to the Celtics. The Boston papers could have written a similar article about the Celtics, but didn't. The second article tells us why they want the first pick so badly, and why the second pick isn't a bad consolation prize. Again, this could have been written in the Boston papers, but wasn't.
On CelticsStuff Live, Justin shares his thoughts on what fans can do to influence the karma in the draft. I wouldn't recommend the no change strategy. As for myself, I am hoping that faith will work. It can move mountains, why not ping pong balls. I am trying to stay as positive as I possibly can. We WILL get the 1st pick.
The Lowell Sun tells us that it is put up or shut up time for Doc Rivers. The article counters Danny's claim that continuity is important by citing Piston and Laker teams that were consistently good through a series of head coaches. They also point out that a little pressure on Doc may have been a good thing as it was for Sam Mitchell and Isaiah. And they close with this: Don't worry. Next season is as much a contract year for Rivers as it would've been without the extension. My sources tell me that at least once or twice in the history of basketball a coach has been fired with time left on his contract.
The excuses are now gone. It's put up or shut up time.
For those vocal opponents of Rivers, just sit back, relax and wait to see if he has any tricks left up his sleeve. You sat through this much of the show already.
Jeff makes a case for Doc's extension over on Celtics Blog. I was all for bringing in a new coach this season but now that Doc is our coach for good or bad, I have to hope it will be for good. I really hope he comes back with a defensive mindset and gets his coaching act together.
Green Bandwagon has part 2 of The Rajon Rondo Movie. Words fail me on this one. You just have to watch it. I can't wait for part 3. Jim also has a piece on Celtics Blog about Celtics and their lack of international players. If it wasn't for Kandi, the Celtics would have been one of only 3 teams with no international players.
Draft Express is doing the usual excellent job at covering the draft. Today there is an interview with Corey Brewer. He feels he can come in and help a team right away defensively. I like this kid. While watching the Gators in the Final Four this year, I got the impression that Brewer was the team's best player. There is also a great article that details the West Coast Workouts of Brewer, Noah, Fazekas, and Carter at Impact Basketball with Joe Abunassar. This is the program that Gomes, Rondo and others from the Celtics will be working with this season. In the workouts, Noah really impressed. Showing that his reputation on the court is anything but an act, Noah was clearly the most intense player we’ve evaluated in the way he approached the workout. He attacked the hoop ferociously on every opportunity, punishing the rim with powerful one-handed slams accompanied by loud, primal grunts (much like a tennis player…). He showed big and incredibly soft hands catching and controlling anything and everything thrown his way, particularly in the two on two drills where Corey Brewer tossed a few difficult passes right around his knees. His length is particularly impressive in the way he finishes around the hoop with jump-hooks, giving him the opportunity to finish plays above the rim in almost every way imaginable, and with either hand. We’re more certain than ever now that teams will be making a grave mistake if they decide to pass on him outside of the top few picks in the draft.
5 more days till the lottery. 5 days of hope. At least for the next 5 days there is a chance that the Celtics will pick first. I have sat through so many lotteries with this same hope only to have it dashed. Please, please let this be the year that our luck changes. Repeat after me: We WILL get the first pick!
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The Keys to This Offseason
by FLCeltsFan 8:55 AM
 L
by DERRENMATTS
More defense and become more uptempo. Those are the keys to this offseason. Defense is big, especially in the playoffs, and without a better defensive team, we will not step into the upper echelon of strong NBA teams. Getting Greg Oden is paramount towards this cause--he boosts our defensive makeup a whole notch instantly. He'll erase a lot of our defensive mistakes, and we all know this team makes a lot of defensive mistakes (that's an understatement). Getting back a healthy Tony Allen is also important, and we already know that Rajon is an incredible defensive player who may lead the league in steals one day. But this won't be enough. We need defensive improvements from every single player on the team, especially those who will be logging in big minutes every game. This includes Jefferson, Pierce, Gomes, Delonte, Perk and Wally. They don't need to be great individual defenders, but be able to play good team defense.
Once our defense improves, our running game will also take off. Consequently, our defense will spark our transition game. That's why we need to become more uptempo. Guys who haven't been running much in the past must start to run at every opportunity. This especially means Pierce, who may be the least enthusiastic about running. Wally and Gomes may be on the slower side, but they do give the transition game a good effort most of the times. With our defense forcing steals and grabbing defensive rebounds, our guards and wing players will get ample opportunity to fly downcourt and garnish easy fastbreak points. Manufacturing points this way is a must for any serious contending team. Right now, we do have a good amount of players who can play uptempo and fly downcourt and finish breaks--Rajon, Delonte, Tony, Gerald and Allan Ray, plus Wally, Pierce and Gomes (they aren't burners, but they can finish breaks). The team just needs to get into the mindset to run whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Doc is here for at least another year, and if he's ever going to get fans on his side, he's going to have to do it by turning this team into a winner again. And to do this, he's going to have to do what he has been promising us the past couple of seasons--that we are going to be a better defensive team and play the uptempo game more. We can all see that defense is a major weakness and how stagnant and predictable we sometimes get on offense. We need to turn the tables and transform our weaknesses into strengths. Then we'll be ready to compete and regain our spot as the conference's best team. I can't wait to see the Pistons, the Bulls, and the Celtics competing for the top spot again like it was in the late 80's and early 90's. I'm going to enjoy the epic battles and the new histories we'll write as we wrestle and clash with these two teams. But in the end, it'll be the Green team standing victorious in the Eastern Conference, proudly holding the Celtics' flag in truimph.
C'mon lottery balls, we need Greg Oden!!!.
source: Celtics Green
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Fiddlin' and Diddlin' on 5/16
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
by FLCeltsFan 9:12 AM
Most of the news today centers around the playoffs and the suspensions handed to the Suns. Former Celtic Marvin Barnes was arrested for cocaine possession.
The Globe Celtics Blog gives us a lottery history lesson. It seems that every article put out by the Celtics lately is talking about getting the 3rd to 5th pick and how unlikely it is for us to get the first or second. Yesterday it was Sean Grande getting us ready for a lower pick. On the other hand, Jeff over at Celtics Blog continues to remind us how important a top 2 pick is for us.
Poisonous Paragraphs discusses Celtics' draft horror stories from the past. Beware, reading through this list of bloopers is rather depressing to see all of the wasted picks we have made in the past. One thing I have to say about Danny, he has drafted quite well. I am keeping my fingers crossed that he continues that trend this season.
Green Bandwagon has posted Part 1 of the Rondo Movie. This is pretty bizarre, but keeps you coming back for more just to see what happens next. Someone has way too much time on his hands.
Bill Russell's newest blog entry discusses rebounding. By averaging 25 points and 14 rebounds against the Warriors thus far, Carlos Boozer, who is 6-9, has been receiving a lot of national attention for his play, particularly for doing what he’s done as a perceived “undersized” frontcourt player. In my opinion, though, once you get past 6-9, it doesn’t make any difference what size you are, you can play with anybody. Like I was telling some people last week, when I was in college, with a running jump I could touch the top of the backboard because I was one of the world’s best high jumpers. But most rebounds are taken below the height of the rim. So if I jump up and touch the top of the backboard, there are no rebounds up there. In fact, when I was at my best, if I had to outjump somebody to get a rebound, that was the last line of defense. In other words, I was under duress. I hoped to never let it get to that where I had to outjump a guy. Rebounding is positioning and timing. That is why Bill Laimbeer and Paul Silas were both quite good at rebounding even though neither one could jump very high. Rebounding is more desire and instinct than height in most cases. That is what allows Gomes and Powe to get so many rebounds.
On SI.com, Jack McCallum is frustrated with the foul calling. He advocates that we ditch the rule that players foul out after 6 fouls. I too get frustrated when Perk or Al is playing well and then they have to sit due to fouls. Unfortunately, in their case, Doc often forgets they are there once he sits them with 2 or 3 fouls.
6 days until the Lottery. All these articles lately about how we don't need a top 2 pick and that there are better players beyond Oden and Durant have me very nervous. I want a top 2 pick. We deserve a top 2 pick. If life is fair in the least, we will get a top 2 pick. And in spite of all the articles hyping players beyond Oden and Durant, I will be very disappointed if we don't get the first or second pick.
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Celtics' Assistants Part 2: Kevin Eastman
by FLCeltsFan 8:38 AM
Kevin Eastman was originally hired as a Celtics' assistant on September 15, 2004. He left the Celtics to take a position with Nike as their National Director of Skills. After 2 years, he returned to the Celtics as an assistant coach, desiring to be back in the team atmosphere.
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 college basketball. Eastman also earned a degree 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 posted his Six Keys to Quality Shooting Work on the Celtics website not long after he was hired. His chair drills should come in handy for all those players Danny signs who can't guard a chair.
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
Here is another quote about Kevin from his website:
"Kevin is one of the best at working with players to improve their skills. 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."
As director of player development for the Celtics, Eastman is responsible for working with the young players on their skills, shooting, footwork, and defense. He is known for helping young players develop their skills. It was reported that he was working with Rondo on his shot and we did see a marked improvement in his shot over the course of the year.
Eastman brings a great deal of experience to the position. He is very skilled at working with players individually on skills. This is much needed with the young players that are on the Celtics. He is expected work with Rondo this summer on his shot and with West on using his right hand. Maybe if we are lucky, he will be working with Doc on his X's and O's as well.
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The Winning Lottery Numbers ...
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
by FLCeltsFan 5:44 PM
Jeff over on Celtics Blog has come up with the winning combination for next week's Lottery. These are the winning lottery numbers.
Celtics.com gave us each of the numbers that could come up to make the Celtics win the lottery on May 22nd. (thanks Zarren!)
If the basketball gods have any sense of fate and destiny, the numbers that come up will match the retired numbers of several former Celtics:
2 - Arnold 'Red' Auerbach
3 - Dennis Johnson
6 - Bill Russell
14 - Bob Cousy It would be so fitting if we would win with a combination of numbers that represent our legends with Red and DJ leading the way.
While we are on the subject of the Lottery, Sean Grande has a piece on Celtics.com that is aimed at preparing Celtics Nation for the possibility that we won't get a top 2 pick. He discusses players like Jeff Green, Al Thornton, Yi Jianlian, Corey Brewer, and Brandon Wright that may, in his opinion, be more NBA ready than Oden or Durant. I like his last paragraph. I want Oden or Durant as much as the next fan, but if we don't get them, it won't be the end of the world.
A return to the playoffs for the Celtics in 2008 will come from a healthy Paul Pierce, and another stride toward dominance from Al Jefferson. A Wally Szczerbiak from two years ago, a Tony Allen from last year and a Gerald Green from two years from now would help, too.
And that lottery ticket, no matter what number it cashes in, only sweetens the pot.
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Celtics Assistants Part I - Tony Brown
Monday, May 14, 2007
by FLCeltsFan 9:49 PM
With Doc's extension in place, the Herald reported that soon Doc's assistants will be getting extensions to match his own. Doc Rivers signed his one-year extension with the Celtics Thursday comfortable in the knowledge that he has control over his assistants. Their contracts will soon be extended to match his own.
“We won’t change anything there,” said Rivers, whose staff received particular boosts last year from the addition of big man coach Clifford Ray (credit him for at least part of Al Jefferson's development) and the return of Kevin Eastman. “I love my staff, and they’re working very hard this summer. Just who are these assistants that Doc loves? The Celtics have 5 assistant coaches: Tony Brown, Dave Wohl, Armond Hill, Kevin Eastman, and Clifford Ray. We also have 2 strength and conditioning coaches: Brian Doo and Walter Norton. In this offseason while not much is going on, we are going to take a look at each of these to find out who's behind the bench.
First, we will take a look at Tony Brown. There just isn't a lot of information out there on this guy. He graduated from Farragut High School in Chicago, Illinois. He attended the University of Arkansas and was a fourth round pick of the New Jersey Nets in the 1982 draft. He played 7 seasons for nine different teams including New Jersey, Seattle, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Utah, Milwaukee, Houston, Chicago, and Indiana. He averaged 6.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 16.7 mpg over his career. Brown also played in the CBA and overseas (1992-94) with Reggio Emilia in the Italian League.
He began his post-playing career as an advance scout and college talent evaluator for the Milwaukee Bucks from 1994-97. Brown also worked for four seasons, from 1997 to 2000, as an assistant to Mike Dunleavy in Portland. The Blazers had a 190-106 regular-season record during his tenure there as an assistant.
Brown then spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons under Rick Carlisle from 2001-03. During his time with the Pistons, the club recorded a 100-64 regular season record. Before coming to the Celtics, he was the lead assistant under Kevin O'Neil in Toronto. When O'Neil was replaced in Toronto, all is assistants were fired along with him.
Brown was named an assistant with the Celtics in 2004 and he is beginning his fourth season as an assistant under Doc Rivers. Brown and Doc Rivers are longtime friends, going back to their high school days in the Chicago area. Brown had always hoped to be able to be in a position to coach with Doc.
It isn't clear exactly what he does on the Celtics. We know that in March of 2006 when Doc's father in law died, Tony coached a game against the Pacers and the team won. He played some of our young players who at the time weren't getting a lot of playing time from Doc and they responded by winning the game. He gives the half time reports for FSN. I have heard it rumored that he is in charge of the defense but since the team doesn't play any, that should be an easy job.
The Sacbee mentioned Brown as a candidate for their coaching vacancy. Rick Carlisle mentioned Brown as a possible candidate for the Indy coaching job. An ESPN article that listed the top 25 coahcing candidates listed Brown at #23. 23. Tony Brown
There are those who believe Danny Ainge would take over on the bench in Boston if he fired Doc Rivers, but sources say this longtime assistant, who has a seven-year playing career in the '80s, would be more likely.
When he is not coaching the Celtics, Brown makes his offseason home in his native Chicago with his wife, Exquilynn.
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Draft Lottery Combinations
by FLCeltsFan 2:47 PM
Celtics.com has released a list of the 199 number combinations that have been assigned to the Celtics for the upcoming lottery. I know Celtics fans are very loyal (read: crazy) so let's all concentrate on the list and read them over and over again to send the karma into the universe for these numbers. If nothing else, it will pass the time between now and the lottery so we don't all go crazy waiting. Kind of like counting sheep to go to sleep.
[See Combinations Here]
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Fiddlin' and Diddlin' on 5/14
by FLCeltsFan 9:26 AM
I didn't think it could get any slower as far as Celtics' news but today hits a new low. Nothing in any of the Boston newspapers. Here are the few things I found today.
JB gives his top 5 plus a sleeper pick over on Celtics Blog. I don't agree with him at all as far as trading Durant away. This kid has all the markings of a very special player. The PG from Finland that he mentions is interesting and worth taking with our 2nd round pick. We need a point guard. Seems like we have been saying that forever now. We thought we had it with Telfair and Rondo. Rondo worked out and will be our starting PG for years to come but Telfair just didn't fit. So we need another PG to back up Rondo. It's about time we cash in on the European players that are making impacts everywhere else in the league. In my opinion we take Oden or Durant if they are available and Yi if they are not.
Ryan over at Hoops Addict has posted his mock draft. As of now, everyone has the Celtics picking 2nd but no mocks can be really taken seriously until we know where everyone picks after the lottery.
Can Danny discusses the freshmen who have declared for the draft. They had to do their one year of college because of the new rule, but did they prove anything in that year? It is interesting that Noah was considered a top 3 pick last year and this year has dropped much further down. This piece covers 7 of these players and discusses the merits of their decision to declare.
MySA.com reports that the NBA is looking into yet another allegation that Bruce Bowen is a dirty player and his actions could injure other players. This time, it was the knee to the thigh on Steve Nash last night. I don't like dirty players and if they determine that he is indeed trying to injure other players, he should be suspended. Players have been getting hurt too much as it is without someone trying to cause those injuries.
8 days until the lottery and I am a basket case. I want the lottery to get here so we know for sure where we pick. The suspense is killing me. But on the other hand, I don't want it to come because at least now I have hope that we will get the top pick but I am afraid to hope that we do because history has been very unkind to us in the lottery. Anyone else having these mixed feelings?
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No Excuses
Sunday, May 13, 2007
by FLCeltsFan 9:24 PM
We have been blaming youth and inexperience for our losses over the past 3 years of Doc's tenure as coach. A funny thing happened on the way to this off season. The kids have grown up and we don't have youth and inexperience to blame any more.
Perk is going on his 5th season. He didn't get much playing time his first two seasons, and was injured this past season. But he has been in the league for 4 seasons and has improved each season but hasn't been able to have a break out season due mostly to injuries. Jermaine O'Neal also came into the league directly from high school and it wasn't until his 5th season that he showed any promise of being an all star player. With 4 seasons in the league, Perk is a veteran and hopefully will follow O'Neal and break out this season.
Al, Tony and Delonte are all going on their 4th season in the league. All three have been slowed by injury as well, but still they have 3 seasons of experience behind them. It seems as though they also can be considered veterans. We saw Al break out last season and play at an all star level much of the season. He averaged a double double for the year and I have a feeling that he is just scratching the surface of what he will be able to do. Tony also was showing all star talent before he went down with the torn ACL. He is ahead of schedule on his rehab and should be ready in plenty of time for training camp. Hopefully he can get back to where he was when he was injured. Delonte has been a steady player for us the past two seasons, after an injury plagued rookie year. He has improved from year to year and should come back better next season also and hopefully be able to stay healthy.
Gomes and Green are going on their 3rd seasons in the league. They may not be considered veterans, but they definitely aren't rookies any more and with 2 full seasons behind they have to be considered experienced players. Gomes plays beyond his years and will rarely hurt the team when he is on the floor. Green still has a long way to go but he has improved considerably in his first two seasons and we can expect even more improvement from both of these players for the upcoming season.
Rondo is just entering his second season, but this kid didn't play like a roookie at the end of last season. He has such great reflexes and court awareness that he may just break out this season. Of course he will still make some mistakes because of inexperience, but he will do way more good than bad. The only knock on Rondo seemed to be his jumper and I would be happy to bet that he will come back with a decent jumper next season.
Danny was saying that he gave Doc the contract so that the team would have continuity. We can think the same thing of the players. It seems that with the core of this group together for several years now, the chemistry and continuity should begin to be a factor. Pierce is calling for more veterans on the team. Well, we have been growing some veterans right here in Boston. It seems to me that we have stuck with them this far, we should give them a chance to see it through. Any players we trade now are on the verge of breaking and if we trade them, we may see them becoming all stars for another team sooner rather than later.
We can no longer blame youth and inexperience for our mistakes. Doc was given an extension and vote of confidence by Danny and the owners. We have a top draft pick coming in. If we don't get off to a good start this season, we can no longer blame youth and inexperience and hopefully not injuries, either. Our players all have several years of experience behind them. We either have to admit that our players don't have what it takes or it is our coach and the system that he has them in that is holding them back. Either way, this year there are no excuses.
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Fiddlin' and Diddlin' on 5/13
by FLCeltsFan 9:44 AM
The Herald starts with an article that discusses Paul Pierce and the fact that he can realistically expect to play well into his 30's. He keeps himself in great shape and probably can expect to be an effective player for many more years. They also have an article that basically says that now that Doc has his extension, it is on him to get the job done.
Peter May discusses a lot of things in his Globe column today. He starts out with the inspirational story about Derek Fisher and his daughter's cancer. He discusses the USA team and the fact that this year's version will look much different than last year's team. He challenges fans that if they don't like the extension for Doc, let the owners and Danny know about it!! He discusses coaches, Perk's shooting and Gomes' 3 pointers and more.
Hoopsworld has their Mock Draft 3.0 out. As expected, Oden are at the 1 and 2. It is hard to get serious about any of these mocks until we know where everyone is picking.
Celtics.com has a Guess the Pick contest with the prize being lower level tickets to opening night.
Celtics Stuff Live is on tonight at 7:00 pm eastern time with special guest Scott Souza. Scott is a great guest and as always, the show promises to be a fun listen.
Scott has a good article in the MetroWest Daily News with an interview with Danny Ainge. I like the fact that Danny is unwilling to give up our young players for a quick fix. He has learned from the Chauncey Billips and Joe Johnnson trades and isn't about to make the same mistakes. "People around the league know that we have been involved in some trade talks pretty heavily the past couple of years involving our young guys," he continued. "I think we have a realistic evaluation of them. I love them. I don't want to trade our young guys, but I would (in the right deal). It's hard because I know there are guys who are 28-years-old who are better than our players today. But who will be the better players in a couple of years?" He also makes some surprising comments on Telfair. They are trying to trade him but if they don't, he is leaving the door open to a return to the Celtics, although this may just be more Danny double speak to get his trade value up.
Sports Gone South views Rick Pitino as a fiendishly clever mastermind. I guess so if you can consider his intent when he came to Boston was to ruin the franchise for the next 10 years.
Only 9 days till the lottery. Finally down to single digits. I am getting more and more nervous about this. On the one hand, I can't wait till the 22nd so that we finally know where we will draft. On the other hand, I don't want the lottery to come because at least now I have hope and I don't want to have those hopes dashed yet again. Suffice it to say, I am a basket case these days.
Finally, Happy Mother's Day to everyone, whether you are a mother or have one.
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