As head athletic trainer, Ed Lacerte is the man responsible for keeping the Celtics players in top condition throughout the long NBA season. His medical background positions him among an elite group within his profession. He just finished his 20th year with the Celtics, making him the longest serving trainer in the history of the the team.
Lacerte's resume is impressive. He is a Licensed Physical Therapist, a Certified & Licensed Athletic Trainer, a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, and a Board Certified Sports Clinical Specialist. He is the only NBA trainer with all of these credentials. Along with his training duties, he was also the Celtics' Physical Therapist and Strength and Conditioning Coach for eight seasons. The team now employs Walter Norton and Brian Doo as strength and conditioning coaches, leaving Lacerte to concentrate on his duties as head trainer.
In 1993, his peers, selected him as the NBA Athletic Trainer of the Year. Other honors that he has earned include being the Trainer to the Dream Team, the 1992 gold medal-winning US Olympic Basketball Team, and Trainer for the U.S. Olympic Gymnastic Trials in both 1996 and 2000 as well as serving on the local organizing committee.
Lacerte is a native of Lowell, Massachusetts and earned his undergraduate degree in Physical Therapy from Boston University in 1982 and his Master's Degree in Education in from Boston University in 1987. Lacerte was the head trainer for the Boston University hockey and football teams from 1982 through 1985. He was employed in a physical therapy clinic and was a trainer on the high school level for the next two years before joining the Celtics in August of 1987.
Lacerte is an associate of the National Athletic Trainers Association and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He serves as the Treasurer of the NBTA, a post he has held for the past eight years. Lacerte also runs a physical therapy clinic, Pro Sports Therapy, at HealthPoint, Boston's new practice facility.
Ed and his wife Maureen have five children: Devin, Taylor, Arianna, Graham, and Thea. Their family lives in Westford, Massachusetts.
With all the injuries on the Celtics over the past couple of years, Ed Lacerte has been very important to the team. It was Lacerte who recognized the symptoms of appendicitis in Al Jefferson last season and quickly got him to the hospital. If it wasn't for his quick thinking, things could have been much worse. When a player goes down, it is Lacerte who is responsible for their rehab and for giving them the ok to play. He certainly earned his money last season with one injury after another. Here's to hoping he won't be needed near as much this coming season.
The hoopla is dying down over the lottery and I imagine that for awhile until we get closer to the draft the articles will continue to slow down. Thank goodness for the blogs who keep things going even when the Boston papers don't.
Today, the Herald has one article and that really is more on the Bobcats than the Celtics. Ex-Celtic Sam Vincent has been hired as the Bobcats' coach. Michael
Jordan remembers looking to the Celtics [team stats] bench during his 63-point game in the 1986 playoffs and seeing rookie Sam Vincent cheering on his extraordinary performance.
I am amazed that Vincent was still a Celtic after that. Back then, Celtics and fans didn't cheer on the enemy, unlike the recent Kobe debacle at the Garden.
The Globe has a gallery of the Celtics mistakes over the years beginning with the hiring of Rick Pitino and ML's tank job. There have been bad draft picks including Montross, Brown, Moiso, and Forte. There have been players we passed on such as McGrady, Finley and Nash. There have been players traded away before they reached their potential including Billups and Johnson. There have been bad signings such as Baker, Dickau, and Scalabrine and giving Blount the big contract. There have been bad trades including Walker for Raef, Ricky for Wally, and giving away the 7th pick for Telfair. It gets rather depressing looking over the comedy of errors that has been the Celtics over the past 20 years.
Draft Express has a mention of Rondo and Ray working out with Jerry Powell of Basketball Results in New York. Also working out there is Jared Jordan, who is the supject of an article on SI.com where they make the point that he can be the next Steve Nash.
RealGM discusses the Suns' need to reload and change their team. It seems that Marion and Diaw may be available in trades. Maybe Danny can swing a trade where he doesn't have to give up too much to get one of those guys. They signed Marcus Banks to a big contract and traded Rondo, so anything is possible.
On CelticsStuff Live, JB has a good article that asks what the 5th pick is worth. Trades aren't all that easy to make in this day and age and if Danny can't do better than a broken down veteran or a 3rd string point guard, he really needs to keep the pick and continue with rebuilding through the draft and if Pierce doesn't like it, well, he can go somewhere else and bring us more young talent back.
I have waited 21 years for the Celtics to become a contender again and I don't want to rush into something and give up a player who will be a perennial all star for someone who is headed down hill or who will just set us back. There are players that we can take with the 5th pick who are going to be all stars. I don't want to trade it away for a player with a couple of good years left. I don't want to break up the core of players we have. I may be in the minority but I like the team we have and feel that if we add a good player from the draft we will be better off than trying to make a trade. Danny is good at drafting but has been terrible in trades. I don't want a quick fix that will give us a window of a couple of years to be good. I would rather stick with our luck in the draft. Several of our young players are going to step up this season and I believe even without a trade we will surprise people and continue to do so for many, many years to come. [Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!]
With the lottery buzz dying down, I wanted to finish the series on the Celtics assistants and today we will look at Mike Crotty. You won't see him on the sidelines but he is perhaps one of the most important assistants on the team as he works directly with the players to be sure that their lives are in order so that they can concentrate on the basketball end of things. Of course, he also works with the players in practice and when the injuries hit last season, he was even pressed into service in practices so that they had enough players to run 4 on 4 or 5 on 5 drills.
Mike Crotty's title is Director of Player Development. He is responsible for working with Celtics players on personal and professional development, community service projects, helping the players adjust to living in the Boston area, scouting, video breakdowns, orchestrating individual workouts and when needed scrimmaging with the players.
Crotty's love of basketball goes way back to his youth. He joined leagues, whatever ones he could get in, at 7 years old, 8, 10, 12. Two, three games in a day. He graduated from Belmont High and then attended Williams College. He made a mark at Williams starting every single game in his career. He accumulated 752 assists (only the 5th player in Division III history to reach 750) and scored 1,287 points. He has set the Williams single-season assist record each of his first three seasons. He went to the Division 3 national championship game consecutive years, earning All-America honors twice.
One night, while he was at Willams, the Harlem Globetrotters came to the college. Crotty scored 20 points on them. Afterwards, they called him and asked if he'd like to play for a team that would play against the Globetrotters. Crotty accepted the offer. They played in 10 countries in Europe. Along the way, he joined EBC Muenster for some serious basketball in Germany. He stayed three months and was the only American on the team.
Back home in the US, Crotty continued to play in any leagues and pick up games he could find. Mike's dad had coached the son of Celtics owner Steve Pagliuca. One day, Mike approached Pagliuca and asked if there was anything at all he could do to help the team. Steve sent him to see Danny Ainge. Crotty was offered an internship with the team and for a kid who grew up a Celtics fan and who loved basketball, this was a dream come true.
Crotty served for four months as an intern under Ainge. He scouted college players for the 2005 draft, hosted college players visiting the Celtics for workouts and performed other administrative duties. Ainge liked what he saw and offered Crotty the position of Director of Player Development. His number one project in his first year on the job was Gerald Green. With Green fresh out of high school, Crotty had his work cut out for him. It was his job to stay with Green when he went down to the D-League in his rookie year.
Crotty has been a constant with the team, making himself available for just about anything that is needed. He is at all the practices and works with players to help them adjust to life on their own, helps them learn to make the right choices, helps them to help out in the community, and also help them with their development on the court. With all the young players on the team, Crotty's job may be one of the most important on the team.
I don't know how much weight there is to this rumor, but apparently the TWolves are indeed ready to move Garnett and they want another pick in the first round to begin a rebuilding process. Feelings are mixed on our Celtics Green Forums, but I for one am thinking that 4 years of losing is enough. It's time for Ainge to bring a player that can compliment our young crew and help us contend in the EC. Especially, since we got the shaft in the draft. The knocks, of course, are Garnetts age and we already have a PF in AL Jefferson. Plus, we will have to give up the 5th pick along with players like Green, Delonte, or Perk etc. The Pros are immediate impact and depth in an otherwise weak East, with the ability to put us immediately into the Playoff. It's like a guarantee.
Since the Lottery there have been lots and lots of stories and links out there about the draft, the lottery, and the Celtics. After a few days, I will be once again scrounging around trying to find new blog posts because there is nothing in the papers again. Most of the stories center on how bad the Celtics are, what lousy luck they have and how much people dislike the Celtics.
In the Globe, Shira discusses the fact that the Celtics are moving on and preparing for the fifth pick. The Globe has a list of players that the Celtics are looking at including Brewer, Green, Horford, Noah, Thornton, B Wright, J Wright, and Yi. Of that list, I like Brewer and Noah the best. We need defense, leadership, and someone who knows how to win. These guys will give us that. On the other side of it, Jackie M doesn't believe that we are cursed, just the victim of bad management and bad luck.
On Celtics Blog, Jeff discusses the bait that we have to offer team to reel in the big one in a trade. The Eagle Tribune tells us that it is back to the drawing board for the Celtics. I think we have a great core of players who are much better than our record last year shows and we can add a good player this season and be a very good team. The weak link in my opinion is still Doc.
While searching out the links this morning I was amazed by how much vitriol there is out there for the Celtics. People really do hate us. You can find evidence here (the picture on this one really hurts), here, and here.
Boston Sports Review has a good piece on Robert Parish. He wants to get into coaching and I believe he would be a good coach. He and Clifford Ray run big men's camps every off season and hopefully he will get a chance to coach somewhere. It's too bad that the Celtics don't make him an assistant coach to help him get his foot in the door.
Draft Express has a couple of good articles. The first is an interview with Ryan Gomes about his draft experience. The second is an interview with Joakim Noah. I like this kid. He is a winner and will do whatever it takes to do so and he is a leader. We need a leader on the team. And he is defensive minded and that is our biggest weakness.
Covers.com has an article that calls Danny, Doc and the owners fools and the piece ends with these thoughts.
The danger of selecting fifth is Ainge could trade the pick, even though there’s going to be an excellent player available such as Al Thornton, Julian Wright, Mike Conley, Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Joakim Noah. He wouldn’t have dared dealt the first or second choice.
Knowing Ainge’s history, some team just has to flash an over-the-hill veteran or flawed young player with character issues and there goes Boston’s chances of getting a legitimate talent with the fifth pick.
Psst Danny. I hear Clifford Robinson can be had.
This hit home because these have been my fears ever since the lottery. We can get a good player with the 5th pick. One who can come in and help right away such as Noah or Brewer. Danny drafts well. But my fear is another debacle like last draft day where we lose a draft pick who may be the rookie of the year and we end up with some broken down player or a malcontent who doesn't help us at all. Danny does well in the draft but terrible in trades. Please, Danny, keep the pick. We don't need any more disappointment from this draft. [Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!]
by The Q Dear Bill Simmons (aka Boston Sports Guy)
We have a 21 year old challenge ahead of us little brother Boston fan. It is called building back up the Boston Celtics. Our Red Sox and Patriots are in excellent shape. But the Celtics are struggling. My father always told me luck is for losers and shame on all those fan-tankers for believing losing was a good thing for the Celtics. What is needed is the Celtics to spend more money on scouting than on presentation (Hello Celtics dancers). I can live with Fleetcenter timeouts where they show old classic Celtic films of Red Auerbach barking at the referees back in the 50's and 60s (Your father would appreciate that I'm sure - so would my dad). Okay Red Auerbach was bargaining with God. And God said, "Shame on your Celtics fans for rooting for losses. You forgot the Sixteenth Commandment, THOU SHALT NOT TANK!!!!" But God forgave Red and Celtic Nation by shipping out Greg Oden and Kevin Durant as far away from the Celtics as he could and thereby burdening the Celtics ancient rival the Lakers with two more teams that have passed them in talent terms. Take joy in the Lakers missing the playoffs next year, Billy.
By DERRENMATTS Ok, we bombed in the lottery selection and won't get a blazing superstar. We may still land a star caliber player with the 5th pick, but it all depends on how much of their potential they reach.
We can still move toward bigger and better things, even without Oden or Durant--but we gotta make the right moves and sign the right free agents.
Lets assume Pierce is not going to ask to be traded, or that Ainge is not going to trade him away. That gives us Pierce, Jefferson, and Rajon as the most probable starters. Perkins may wind up getting the starting nod at the 5 (though I'm hoping we land a stud big man in the draft or via trade/free agency) and if Tony and Wally come back fully healthy, they may battle for the starting 2 spot (unless Green emerges over the summer and takes it away from them). Frankly, that lineup does not thrill me into thinking we'll be serious playoff contenders.
We need to bulk up our roster with better producing players. There are a few good names out there via free agency who I hope Ainge will strongly consider: They are unrestricted and won't cost us players or draft picks.
James Posey Andres Nocioni Jerry Stackhouse Steve Blake Chauncy Billups Mo Williams Mike Bibby Rashard Lewis
Rashard Lewis (who has a player option) is intriguing. I was never a big fan of his and I don't consider him a big time player or a go to guy. But on a team with Jefferson and Pierce, he'll be an incredible 3rd scorer, and he'll definitely give our opponents a big mismatch problem. I think Billups is out of the question, but Mo Williams is a tempting PG to seek, and he could push Rajon to the bench (temporarily). Some fans want Bibby, but I feel he's over the hill and will be on a downward spiral from this point on.
I like Posey for his defensive presence on the perimeter, and Iike Nocioni's solid all around game. Since we need better defense, Posey would be the better option to go for. But I will still rather have Lewis.
There aren't any good Centers who are unrestricted free agents, but one intriguing player to look at is Darko Milicic. Orlando will need to give him a qualifying offer to keep him in Orlando, but talk is that they can't afford to keep him long term (Dwight Howard is going to command big bucks soon). Word is lot of teams are interested in him, and I'm one of them. I've seen him play and know that he can be an exceptional Center--maybe not a star caliber player, but a very solid and consistent producer. He's an underrated rebounder and shot blocker, and he's got the offensive ability to be our 3rd scorer who chips in 15 ppg. I feel he will be an upgrade at the 5 because of his ability to be an offensive threat. He won't be a downgrade defensively over Perk--in the past 2 seasons, in under 22 mpg, he's averaged 2 bpg. From what I've seen, he's got excellent feel for swatting shots. Peg me down as a guy pushing to sign Darko.
The only big trades I see happening that will significantly alter our current team are the ones that include Pierce. We tend to hear Pierce rumors every summer, and it shouldn't be any different this offseason. Pau Gasol may be one of the players linked this offseason, but it would have to include a 3rd team because Pierce is not going to want to go to Memphis. I've been instigating this for some time now, but I think the 3rd team could be Golden State. With Jason Richardson's name popping up recently in trade talks, we may play musical chairs, where Richardson goes to Memphis, Gasol comes to Boston, and Pierce goes home to Golden State.
The Suns may be looking to change the makeup of their team, and Shawn Marion could be the one looking for a new home. I've also heard about Amare possibly going, but I highly doubt this. Marion is an excellent role player, and at times can step in and be the "man". But if we move the Truth to get the Matrix, Marion may be expected to carry a heavier load than what he's capable of, and it may not bode well for him. I'd rather combine Marion with Pierce instead of trading for him, but I don't think Phoenix wants anyone else but Pierce.
Turning to the draft now, with the 5th pick, Corey Brewer seems like a good selection. He's a long (6'9") and athletic SG/SF who's defensive minded, and he also likes to get out and run. He's a capable shooter who can be a weapon with more development in this area. He'd be a perfect role player in our starting lineup because he can mesh his all around skills to fill in the holes we have. One of his attractions is he's a team player willing to do whatever needs to be done to win. He'll sacrifice his own spotlight and willingly play behind the scenes, or he'll step up his game and attack if that's what's needed. Unselfish and content to play the sidekick role, he'll fit in well with Pierce and Jefferson.
I've got interest in Joakim Noah and Yi Jianlian, but if we use the 5th pick on either of them, we'd lose out on Corey Brewer. In order to fill that defensive void at the wing, we'll need to bring in James Posey--and he's only a short term fix because he's getting older. The other route to go is with Brewer with the 5th pick and sign Darko Milicic to upgrade our 5 spot, and in my opinion, this fills both our needs (C and SG). While Noah is a good defensive player with some offensive skills, and while Yi may be a versatile offensive player with a questionable defensive game, Darko Milicic is solid in both scoring and defending, and he's just as young as both of them, with 4 years of NBA experience already under his belt.
This lineup may not be good enough to win a title, but it certainly does seem to have enough strength to be contending for the eastern conference title.
I'll chime in with more of my thoughts on how to improve our team in the coming weeks. But for the time being, I think we can chew on these thoughts and ideas, and debate whether they'll work or not.
Over on Celtics.com they are advertising a contest where you can win a chance to meet the Celtics first round draft pick.
One lucky winner in our Meet The Pick contest will win a once-in-a-lifetime VIP package highlighted by a meet-and-greet with the Celtics' first round draft pick. In addition to meeting the Celtics draft pick, the grand prize winner and one guest will also enjoy a private tour of the Celtics practice facility and VIP seating at the draft pick's first press conference in Waltham.
Ok, I see some obvious problems with this. Right after the lottery, Danny said that he is going to actively shop the pick to trade it. So, if Danny trades the pick does the person meet the player that we get back for the pick? Or was that just a smoke screen by Danny and he plans to keep the pick. Does he already have a player in mind that he is going after? It just seems strange to be running a meet the pick contest if we plan to trade that pick away.
Internet and paper News abounds that the C's got what they got because of their bad karma. Because of tanking. Because they tried to cheat and justice was handed out by some act of divine intervention (Some say Stern is the act).
I was also watching the sports reports as well, specifically, Mike & Mike on ESPN, and they were saying almost exactly the same thing.
There's a few problems however...how in the hell could anyone have predicted who was going to declare early enough to begin tanking? Yeah, you may have had guys giving their intent, but nothing was official until April 29th. In fact, I seem to recall talk of Oden, Conley, and Durant staying put.
Another thing is when exactly did the C's start tanking? They make it seem and would have you believe it was all season. Must've started during the summer league, I guess? Maybe it goes all the way back to last year? Or how about even further, like when Ainge took over 4 years ago?
All this tank talk only started towards the end of the season. By that point, the C's roster was desimated by injury after injury. Must've all been faked huh? All in order to tank for the #1 pick that hadn't even declared yet?? Al's ankle. Perk's shoulder. Allen's knee. PP's elbow. Wally's knee. Scal's hamstring. Yeah that's it, we tanked without 75% of our best players. There's no way we just didn't have enough starting players and the worst coach in L was there?
So, Red is dead. DJ, dead. Bias, dead. Reggie, dead. But we got what we deserved, didn't we C's fans? They've got a case for 1997 with ML Carr and Pitino, especially since ML even admitted it directly. Oh yeah, but Gomes admitted to tanking, right? The reporter that spread the quote from Gomes immediately recanted and admitted he took the quote out of context on purpose to sell the story as soon as Stern postured like he was gonna start an investigation.
How would Gomes even be privy to such critical info in the first place? You really think Ainge and Doc would involve basketball players in front office discussions & decisions that have the potential to ruin and tarnish the organization? On top of that, risk player resentment. Come on! Honest players want to win. Are our player not honest?
Sure players are included in team decisions and discussions, but this is still a business and if you all have jobs, then I am sure you understand the dynamics of office politics. The workers are the last to know and then the public. So, you can keep your tanking conspiracy theories and hold the C's accountable for something there is no evidence of. And you would have to also discount all the curve balls and set backs that were thrown the C's way throughout the entire season as excuses to tank for a #1 pick.
As for me, I think I will understand its a little more complicated than being able to open your mouth and say something as careless as the C's deserved this for tanking. There's more important things to think about now anyway. Petty finger pointing and mis, slash, dis-information is what is the real problem. Packing in a lost cause season, that might have only meant 1 or 2 positions in the standings, is not an issue. Or grounds for malicious statements.
Perhaps, if we did win the games vs the Bucks or whoever, we may have had the #1 or 2 pick. Not to mention, historically the team with the worst record has never got the 1st or 2nd pick anyway. I suppose Ainge never considered that and just blindly went to "plan tank". After all, he's a dummy right?
So please!! No more of this tank crap unless concrete evidence, along with proof and facts are presented to support such opinions. Otherwise, it is just opinion. Very light-weight opinions at that.
The various sites haven't wasted any time updating the mock drafts to move the Celtics from 2nd to 5th. Here is a look at who the mocks are predicting for the Celtics.
Inside Hoops has Mike Conley, Jr going to the Celtics with the 5th pick. Today on WEEI Danny said he definitely wouldn't be taking a PG because Rondo is better than any of the PG's in the draft this year. He is also inviting a PG from Spain to Summer League. So this has the least credibility of any of the mocks in my view.
About.com projects that the Celtics will take Roy Hibbert at #5. But it is likely that Hibbert will be returning to Georgetown and won't be in the draft.
Fox Sports predicts that we will take Jeff Green with the fifth pick. Danny does seem to have a thing for guys with the last name Green (Greene).
I have included a link to each of the drafts as well as the profile from the site for the player they project Boston taking. I don't see Conley coming to Boston. I think Atlanta will probably take him at 3 and Danny has said that he won't be drafting a point guard (if we can believe Danny). I think Noah would be a good pick for us. The kid is a winner and is willing to work hard on his game to improve wherever he needs to. I also like Horford, Brewer and Green. It may get clearer as we get closer to the draft, but right now it is clear that no one knows who Danny will pick, if he does indeed keep the pick and not trade it.
The Celtics will test out Sergio Sanchez this Summer ( Title )
- The franchise would like to test out Sanchez as a backup to Rondo. - The Celtics are the owners of the rights to Miralles, who also should be invited to Summer League. (Story) The Students base Sergio Sanchez will play with the Boston Celtics in the Summer League. The franchise wants, according to Mark, to prove the school player as substitute of Rajon Rondo, base selected by the ' mythical greens ' in the past 'draft' of the NBA, in this hard summer league that will be disputed (played) from July 6 until July 15 in the last arena where the 'All Star' game was held( basically Vegas is what there trying to say ).
The franchise of Boston also has the option to invite to this Summer league Albert Miralles, centre ( center ) of the Pamesa ( team overseas ). After overcoming a few problems at the start of the season, the Catalan player has reached his best level during the 'playoffs' of the ACB.
The Celtics are the owners of the NBA rights of Miralles, since they achieved last year in a trade with Miami (that received him because of the Raptors, which selected him in the 'draft'). Fernando Martín, José Miguel Antúnez, Tomás Jofresa, Rodrigo de la Fuente and player Albert Miralles are some of the Spanish players who have proved themselves in the competitive summer leagues of the NBA, whereas other Spanish as Alberto Herreros (Pacers), Javier Mendiburu (Bucks) and Ferrán Martínez (Raptors), were proving themselves in trainings ( workouts ). Note: Nothing really translates exactly to English. But you can pretty much guess on everything there trying to say, even though its worded incorrectly ( English wise ).
I have had a night to sleep on it. Actually, I had nightmares all night long and didn't sleep all that well. But I did a lot of thinking about this. I have experienced so much heartbreak over the past 21 years and this is yet another in a long line of disappointments. I wanted a top pick so bad and can't help but feel that the lottery was somehow fixed for the desired result to punish teams for supposed tanking. Yes, I know that the owners were there to watch it, but did they examine the ping pong balls? It would be oh so easy to weight the 1 and 2 balls slightly so that they wouldn't come up as easily. I am not convinced, nor will I be, that this result came up as a result of natural causes.
But that was then, this is now. I can't give up on the Celtics just because the ping pong balls didn't fall our way. I was very excited about this team last season. I still am excited about our young players. We can either add a very good player or we can add a veteran who will make us even better. Danny still insists that he won't make a trade just to bring in a veteran. It has to be a very good veteran. (does he mean one like Ratliff or Telfair?) Even though I am a bit shaky about Danny's trades in the past, I like what he has to say.
If we can get a good veteran player with the draft pick and some sort of package, we’ll certainly explore that. Ideally that would be the good thing for us to do right now I think, but we don’t want to trade away a player that’s going to be a really good player for a veteran just because he’s a veteran. We want talent regardless of their age. But now we know where to put our focus, and everybody knows where everybody stands, so we’ll be able to start those discussions.”
There are several very good veterans reportedly available. There are several very good players who will be available to us in the draft. I have a lot more faith in Danny's drafting than I do in his trading. Mocks are coming out with some having us taking Yi and some Noah. I like what I have read about Noah. He knows how to win. He is working very hard to improve himself and I think he will push himself to be the very best he can be and think he would be a good fit for us. Yi's defense is suspect and there are questions about his age so I am not sold on him yet. Hawes might be a possibility. Or if Mike Conley was available we might even go for a point guard. Danny has gotten a new PG every year so far so why break the string. Rondo and Conley would be a nice PG tandem. Corey Brewer is another hard worker who knows how to win and would shore up our defense immediately. There are players who could help us. They won't be franchise players, but they can help us.
But beyond the draft, I am excited about our returning young players. Perk and Al are both in Boston for the offseason working together with Clifford Ray. Wyc said that both told him that we don't need another big man, that they will come through this season. I believe them. Perk didn't have any time to work with Coach Ray last off season because of the shoulder surgery. Then he was slowed with plantar fasciitis during the season. But he kept playing, despite being in a lot of pain, because the team needed him. That shows his heart. I can see both players taking it personally and working even harder this offseason. They are going to up their games and are going to form a very tough front line for us as they build chemistry and learn to work together.
Gomes is out in Vegas doing some serious work on his game and will be an even better this coming season. Green is working with John Lucas again this off season and will come back better. Rondo improved in leaps and bounds toward the end of the season and as hard as he works, he will come back even better and able to hit the mid range shot with regularity. Powe is a very hard worker and is determined to make it. No one plays harder when they are in the game and I am certain he will work just as hard this off season to be the best he can be. He gives us toughness inside that we need. Tony Allen is ahead of schedule in his rehab. He was breaking out and was a very exciting player before he went down and I have to believe that he will get back there. Again, Powe having been in the same position and coming back not just once, but twice, has to be an inspiration to him.
I am still excited about this team. No, we won't be adding Greg Oden or Kevin Durant but we will be adding a very good player whether it is a rookie or a veteran. We will be bringing back players who got valuable experience last season and will come back as seasoned veterans themselves this season. We have players who have been developing incredible chemistry over the past 3 seasons. I can see every player pushing themselves even harder because of the way the Celtics were treated by the lottery. I see good things ahead. I refuse to look back and feel bad about what we didn't get but to look forward to what we have and will have. I still believe, I have to believe, that the future is bright for this team.
Well it happened, C's fans. A statistically impossible stat has come to fruit as the Boston Celtics were handed the 5th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. All this means is that our current roster needs to step-up and be ready for next season. What we do with the 5th pick is questionable, but still important to our future and Paul Pierce's future with the team.
I want to go on record as stating I predicted the C's getting the 5th pick because I knew the Stern Fix was in. Portland had a 5% chance, thereabouts, of getting #1 and somehow it happened. I, for one, think the Lottery doesn't work even though most think this is how it is supposed to happen to not allow teams to tank for the #1 pick. However, how can the teams the desperately need the top picks be relegated to positions that do not fit their standings? It's been a 20 year drought here in Boston! The only argument that can be made is that the C's deserved it for tanking. Tanking 2 games??? They deserve it for 2 games?? When they had an 8 man roster suited because of injury?
There is no justice in the Lottery and the struggle for a once mighty franchise continues. How much more devastation has to occur before the C's catch a break? The answer is not to be found. Even Tom Heinsohn could not Homer this one home for us. So, it remains, that instead of complaining and feeling sorry for our selves we must look to the Draft for a trade or make sure we pick the best player available. Who that is at the 5th pick, lord knows. But if we can get our young guys, who will be vets next year, motivated into making the playoffs, we will take destiny into our own hands and not wait for Stern or anyone else, to give us a hand out.
The worst possible scenario played out in the lottery. The Celtics dropped to the #5 pick and the Grizzlies dropped to #4. Do you realize that there was approximately a 6% chance that the Memphis and Boston would pick 4 and 5? I think David Stern just sent an anti-tanking message to both teams. I would have felt better if the lottery were televised instead of being held behind closed doors.
Portland landed the #1 pick and Seattle came in second. Atlanta rounded out the top 3 and thus get to keep their pick. I wonder if Portland would consider taking Bassy back for the #1 pick? I can always hope. Or maybe we can take Conley with the 5th pick and Oden will demand a trade to play with his long time friend.
I am truly crushed by this. This is even worse than in 1997. Fifth is truly unbelievable. When will this franchise finally get some luck? Well, now it is up to our core of young kids to work hard and come back as all star caliber players. Perk, Rondo, Powe and Green have got to get to the next level. Allen needs to get back there. The world won't end, but it sure feels like it right now.
It's like Christmas in the world of the bottom feeders from last years NBA Season. So, for all us here in Celtics nation, this day has been a long time coming. Now, join us in The Box Chatroom!
Incidentally, Celtics Blog and Celtics Stuff Live are both anticipating large numbers which could overload things a bit. Luckily, we are all one big family and you may jump around to us, to them and back again if things should get hairy. Same goes for us. While I am not anticipating Celtics Green etc, getting that busy, you never know, so please be patient with us if we should experience technical difficulties. Also, be patient with Celtics Blog and CSL. Thanks you and I'll be waiting!!!
Well, after waiting all this time the lottery is only hours away. Thankfully I have been kept busy today because if I was just sitting here watching the seconds tick off on the lottery count down I would be stark raving mad by the time the lottery got here (for the record, I don't have far to go to get there). I have my "Red" Celtics shirt on today as I am hoping for a little help from him come ping pong time. My whole family is wearing Celtic green today including my 7 month old grandson. Gotta send all the positive Celtics karma out I can.
There were a couple of interesting tidbits in today's papers. In the Herald, Jeff Twiss talks about the '97 lottery.
“The real kicker to the whole process - and I remember this very well - was that they had two trial runs before they did the official drawing,” Twiss said. “I guess they just wanted to make sure the ping-pong balls were working right. The thing is, both times they did it, we got the first pick. Once we got one and two, and I think we got one and three the other time. I’m like, hey, this is great. Let’s go. “Then they did the real drawing.”
I wonder if they do a trial run or two every time. Or, maybe Stern does trial runs until he gets the result he wants.
In the Globe article, David Stern almost says something nice about the Celtics, whether he meant it or not.
NBA commissioner David Stern said recently, "I think it would be nice for the Celtics to improve themselves. I think it would be good for the team, but I can look at 30 teams and wind up saying the same thing. I do know there are players that are going to go at the 10th position this year, I am reliably informed, that are going to be impact players."
And Tommy has a very good comment as well.
Turning serious, the Hall of Famer preferred to focus on what the Celtics have and not what they might miss out on. "If Al Jefferson was coming out today, he'd be the No. 1 pick," said Heinsohn. "So, we got the No. 1 pick a couple years ago with foresight."
I love Tommy's optimism about this team. I don't know if Al would have gone before Oden or Durant though. I do agree with Tommy that no matter what the outcome of the draft, we need to focus on what we have and not sit around whining about what we don't have.
5 hours now until the Lottery show. Counting down to the first pick is going to be excruciating and hoping with every announcement that it won't be the Celtics until we get to #1. I plan to be in the CelticsBlog chat as well as the Loy's Place chat if I can manage it. I need all the support I can get. See you all there!!
Please join us as we break-in the new Celtics Green Chatroom tomorrow during the 2007 NBA Draft Lottery. As you all know our hopes and dreams for the C's future depend on getting the #1 or #2 pick tomorrow (or so I've been told). The quest for 17! I will be there early for the most of the day and I hope to see many C's fans there as well! [THE BOX CHAT!]
Only 1 day to go until we know the Celtics lottery fortunes. I get more and more nervous. Although I do believe that there is life beyond the second pick, the first 2 picks are the type of franchise players that rarely come along. I still remember that crushing feeling 10 years ago when the Celtics came up at 6 and then at 3. I don't want to feel that again.
The Salem News tells us that even Tommy, Mr. Positive when it comes to the Celtics, is nervous. It is important to remember that Tommy actually has nothing to do with the way the ping pong balls fall. Whether we get the number 1 pick or not, I still love Tommy as one of the biggest Celtics homers in the world. But, being the person to bring home the #1 pick that would set this franchise up for #17 and beyond would be a fitting tribute to Tommy's legacy.
Steve Bulpett also reports on Tommy representing the Celtics at the lottery. We have heard all the parallels to the 1997 draft, but this article draws a parallel to the 1970 draft.
Heinsohn is more than a little familiar with the current state of the Celtics. He was running the show from the bench in 1969-70 when, a year after winning the title in Bill Russell’s last season, the C’s won just 34 games and earned the fourth overall pick. There was even some talk the club wasn’t always putting its best foot forward that season in order to enhance its draft position. “Nah,” said Heinsohn. “That was taking a team, seeing who we were going to build with and how we were going to build with them. I mean, we got rid of two or three guys off that ballclub - Bailey Howell and Emmette Bryant and ultimately (Larry) Siegfried. But we weren’t deliberately trying to lose games. We were playing people to look at them. “I mean, we won 30-some-odd games with Henry Finkel as our only center, with Rich Johnson and Jim Barnes. We had (John) Havlicek and Satch (Sanders) and Jo Jo (White) and (Don) Chaney.” The Celts wound up taking Dave Cowens with the fourth overall pick. They won 10 more games in 1970-71 and were in the Eastern Conference finals a year later.
Peter May chooses to rub in the fact that we missed out on Tim Duncan back in 1997 and presents the reactions from both sides to that draft. The best one comes from Greg Popovich who says that justice will be served if the Celtics win the the lottery this year.
The Chicago Tribune reports that the team that drafts Oden may be told that he wants to play with his long time friend Mike Conley Jr as point guard. The Celtics could use another PG to back up Rondo. Having Oden plus Conley would definitely be a plus. The article also includes this little tidbit: (A Danny smokescreen maybe?)
And it's time again, with Ohio State center Greg Oden the consensus No. 1 pick … unless the Celtics get it? I think he was joking, but one personnel guru said the feeling was the Celtics were the only team that might take Texas' Kevin Durant No. 1 (no booby prize) because of general manager Danny Ainge's unusual reliance on brain typing for draft picks.
In the Providence Journal, Bill Donaldson wants the Celtics to get the first or second pick so as to keep the Celtics from using it as an excuse for continued mediocrity.
I’m rooting for the Celts with more enthusiasm than I have mustered for them in years. I want them to win the NBA lottery, because I’m tired of hearing their excuses for losing. I want them to get the first pick, or at least the second, because I don’t want to go through another dismal decade of listening to Boston fans whine: “If only we’d gotten Oden or Durant.”
BostonsportZ wants us to help out the Celtics by wearing something Celtics tomorrow. Celtics Blog has a post where you can post what you plan to do tomorrow and any good luck charms or rituals you plan. I am going to be wearing my tee shirt with the black clover with "Red" in it. I am hoping that Red and DJ can pull some strings for us. I will have everyone in my family, including my 7 month old grandbaby, wearing Celtics shirts. I think CelticBalla32 gets the prize for being the most steadfast fan (or most superstitious anyway):
Also, like I have stated before, this is what I'll be wearing on the night of May 22nd: - Celtics t-shirt with a Paul Pierce jersey over it. - Celtics night pants with Celtics shorts over it. - Celtics boxers. - Celtics socks. - A Celtics hat. - Celtics headband and wristbands. - Celtics "I Am A Celtic" bracelet (from 2005). - A Celtics pin. I will also be drinking green kool-aid (no joke, I picked up 4 packets of it yesterday) out of my big Celtics mug that I have never drank out of before. In my other hand, I'll be holding up my bobblehead of Lucky.
Southcoast Today has an article that discusses the drop off between the second and third pick. Granted there is a drop off, but I have been impressed with what I have been reading about Noah, Brewer, and Yi. I don't believe that all is lost if we don't get Oden or Durant. With the core of players we already have and any one of the top prospects, I think we can contend. I want Oden or Durant more than anything but just don't subscribe to the fact that we are doomed if we don't get them.
ESPN Page 2 has a good article on Greg Oden. Oden grew up in Terre Haute, Indiana. This is just a stone's throw from where Larry Bird grew up in French Lick. Is this an omen? Oden is a nice kid and this article hopes he won't change. I just hope he is a Celtic.
Only 1 more day. I have been sitting and watching the seconds tick off of the countdown clock. Right now I have hope. We have a 38% chance of getting a top 2 pick. If there is any justice, we will get the #1 pick. I hope we still have as much hope on Wednesday.
Who are Walter Norton and Brian Doo? No, they aren't a comedy team... They are the Celtics team of strength and conditioning coaches. They have both been with the Celtics for 4 years now and you just have to look at the before and after photos of Perk to see that they can do great things with a player if that player is willing to work.
We also see their handiwork in Al's revamped body and conditioning. He dropped 20 lbs and added muscle and we saw the difference in his ability to run the floor and not get winded this past season.
We read their names all the time in articles about the Celtics' players, but who are these guys? First and foremost they are the strength and conditioning coaches for the team. They are the guys responsible for the workouts that keep the players in shape. They are the guys who helped turn Perk from a chubby kid to a rock wall. They are the guys who helped Al to slim down while adding some muscle. They are the guys who try to keep all the kids in shape during the season and the off season.
Bryan Doo will be starting his 5th season as Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Boston Celtics. He was named to the position on August 3, 2003. Prior to joining the Celtics, Doo founded Optimal Fitness in Waltham, MA, which specializes in home personal training and post physical therapy. He also served as the Wellness Director at the Harvard Business School from 1998-2001 and spent three seasons as the Assistant Women’s Lacrosse Coach.
Doo earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Sports and Exercise Science in 1995 from Messiah College in Pennsylvania, while also minoring in Business. He is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength & Conditioning Association.
In his spare time, Doo enjoys playing ultimate Frisbee, surfing, yoga and spending time with his nieces and nephews. Brian is a very devout Christian and shares his faith openly both with his words and his actions.
Brian Doo says this about his goals:
"I have found that my biggest goal with players is to change their mindset from “playing will get me better” to “working on my body will allow me to get better”"
Here is another quote from Brian Doo from a Messiah College alumni paper:
"I have been in a great, but challenging situation where the players’ ages range from 18–36. This has allowed me to teach the young players how to train hard, since they really are coming from a place of no training. Last year one of our players lost 50 pounds of fat, dropped 12 percent body fat, and increased his vertical jump by six inches. Coming out directly from high school and taking the year to get in shape has really changed his outlook on himself and his future. Some players have come from various other teams, so you are constantly trying to find a way to implement your training style and beliefs with them without losing their trust. Players have rituals and things that got them there beliefs, so there is a fine line on how you approach them."
Without a doubt, he is talking about Perk. He really did make himself completely over. What an amazing difference. And this past season, we saw another amazing transformation in Al Jefferson and we saw the result of that in his attitude and his conditioning.
Walter Norton, Jr. Is also beginning his 5th season as Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Boston Celtics. He was named to the position on August 3, 2003, the same day as Brian Doo. Norton is a founding partner of Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning, one of the nation’s largest private strength and conditioning facilities which trains professional athletes in the NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB, WNBA, WUSA and MLS. They also prepared 25 athletes for the 1998 and 2002 Olympic Games. Prior to joining the Celtics, Norton spent three seasons as the Strength and Conditioning Coach of the WUSA’s Boston Breakers. Before moving to the Breakers, Norton spent three seasons in the MLS serving as the New England Revolution’s Strength and Conditioning Coach. Norton also served as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Boston Bruins in 1998.
Norton received his Bachelor’s Degree in Human Movement from Boston University in 1993. He currently resides in Boston, MA.
Walter is a featured speaker and presenter nationwide and is known for his passionate and enthusiastic approach to training.
So, when you hear about Al losing weight, gaining muscle and being in great shape, or Gerald gaining muscle, you will know that Brian Doo or Walter Norton are behind them, pushing them, and guiding them to be the best they can be.
Finally some Celtics news in the Boston papers. Most of it is hopeful for a top 2 pick but skeptical because of our history. This waiting sure is tough.
The Herald discusses the Celtics lottery hopes and Tommy tells us that he is not taking lucky charms with him, just himself. McHale speaks out on the Mellencamp comments that spurred talk of drug use by McHale and Bird. According to McHale the only thing smoked was cigars and cigarettes. Eva Longoria sets the record straight that she and Tony Parker are still doing the matress mambo despite all the talk otherwise.
The Globe discusses the lottery system and the fact that there never fails to be some surprises and some controversy surrounding it. Pat Williams response to having won the lottery 4 times is priceless.
Orlando, the winningest team in draft lottery history, goes to extremes when it comes to planning for the big night. (Wink, wink.) "Here's the secret," said Williams. "It comes down to the Ping-Pong balls. When you live in Orlando, you can do this -- start up a Ping-Pong ball farm out on Disney property. Every night, Tinkerbell goes over and sprinkles pixie dust over the farm. We raise these magical Ping-Pong balls. Now, there's a heritage, a history of winning Ping-Pong balls."
Jackie MacMullin discusses Bill Russell's fantasy camp. Russell hopes to lean heavily on history and will have many of the NBA's legends including Larry Bird, Sam Jones, John Havlicek, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, and Clyde Drexler to serve as coaches for the camp. All this for just over $15,000 per adult. She also discusses some of the hardships that Russell faced because of the color barrier in his playing days.
Peter May has a rather rambling column that starts off discussing Larry Brown and his desire to coach again. He may end up with one of the many teams searching for a new coach (unfortunately, the Celtics aren't one of them). Next he discusses the rule that calls for the suspension of players leaving the bench during altercations. He points out that the endorsements following one of the top two picks is reason enough to want them. Carlisle is doing a lot of TV these days and hasn't decided on coaching this season again and more.
The Globe also gives us a look at 10 prospects that Danny might pursue if we don't get a top 2 pick. Let's hope this isn't necessary and after Tuesday we will be talking about how Durant or Oden will be helping us next season.
In the MetroWest Daily News, Scott Souza takes a look at the Celtics lottery chances. While Tommy admits that he doesn't feel particularly lucky, he is hoping to be the bridge from past glory to future glory by bringing home the top prize. Scott then tells us what superstitions others in the organization are going to enact for the draft.
The Enterprise points out something that no Celtics fan needs to be reminded of. We haven't exactly had good luck in previous trips to the lottery. It looks even worse when they put it down on paper like that. Let's hope that our luck has finally come around. We are certainly due.
Tufts Daily has an upbeat piece pointing out that the Boston teams, including the Celtics are headed for good times ahead. I certainly see good things ahead for the Celtics whether we get pick 1 or pick 5. I don't believe that there are only 2 picks who are going to be good in this draft. I also don't believe that we are as bad as our record last season indicates.
Only 2 days now until the lottery. I can only imagine what Tommy is feeling right now. This guy bleeds green more than anyone on this earth. I hope more than anything that we get a top 2 pick for Tommy's sake. I know it will hurt him if we don't. While we all know that Tommy actually has nothing to do with how the ping pong balls come up, it would be a fitting part of his legend for him to represent the team when they get the number 1 pick.
I don't know how much weight there is to this rumor, but apparently the TWolves are indeed ready to move Garnett and they want another pick in the first round to begin a rebuilding process. Feelings are mixed on our Celtics Green Forums, but I for one am thinking that 4 years of losing is enough. It's time for Ainge to bring a player that can compliment our young crew and help us contend in the EC. Especially, since we got the shaft in the draft. The knocks, of course, are Garnetts age and we already have a PF in AL Jefferson. Plus, we will have to give up the 5th pick along with players like Green, Delonte, or Perk etc. The Pros are immediate impact and depth in an otherwise weak East, with the ability to put us immediately into the Playoff. It's like a guarantee.
