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RETRIEVING CONTENT...PLEASE WAIT
Eja's 10 Happiest Celtics Moments
Saturday, July 21, 2007
by FLCeltsFan 4:51 PM
by Eja117
Eja117 has been at it again. After listing his 10 saddest moments in Celtics history, he now comes back with his 10 happiest moments.
The 10 things that made me happiest in Boston Celts history (starting in 1987)
1 When Montross fell to 9th and they took him. ( I was really young and I had just started paying attention to basketball and I really liked him ok?)
2. When they hired Pitino
3. When the Celts won that first game Pitino coached against the Bulls (Scottie didn’t play. So what?) and Walker, Mercer, and McCarty walked off the court hugging each other and I thought “We’re gonna win sooooo many championships”.
4. When Paul Pierce fell to 10th and we got him. It made up about 10% for losing Duncan the year before and when he was 3rd in Rookie of the Year voting (I think) behind Vince and Jason Williams that briefly went up to 15%.
5. Finding out Pierce had survived about 900 stab wounds to the face, brain, and heart and would be perfectly fine in about a week. (That’s how I remember it). I thought “That must be one tough dude, and this is divine intervention on behalf of the Celts).
6. Realizing Pitino’s first exhibition game was going to be at my college, getting tickets cheap, going to the game and seeing hundreds and hundreds of Celtics jerseys at an exhibition game in the middle of Pennsylvania.
7. When Larry Bird retired and Charles Barkley said something a LOT like “Larry, we’re gonna miss you. You were the best player that ever played”. I was like “Heck yeah he is.” No think about it. Barkley didn’t have to say that. He could have said “One of the best”, or “best shooter”. But no. He said best PLAYER EVER! It’s hard to disagree.
8. When they renamed the Fleet Center the Garden. It was something.
9. When they hired Danny Ainge.
10. When we traded Blount and Ricky Davis for Wally and a 1rst rounder. That was awesome. No no no. Try to remember how much we all hated Blount. No no no. Way more than Scala. More than Doc. More than Raef. Even more than Vin Baker. Remember now? Yeah there you go.
Honorable mention
When I stood in the only line longer than the one to get out of Egypt and finally got Danny Ainge's autograph when I was in 3rd grade. And he even smiled for a picture of us. At a footlocker in a strip mall in Kingston. He did not seem happy and I don't really blame him.
When they drafted Gomes in the 5000th round and he went on to win Rookie of the Year. That’s how I remember it. Close enough. Don’t you get technical with me you little Knicks fan.
Those were Eja's happiest memories. I am going to share just one. It was in 1991. I was living in south Florida and a friend gave me tickets to a Celtics game in Miami. The Miami Arena was in a bad part of town and we had to pay a guy to make sure our car was in one piece when we came out. The game was great and we had good seats. Larry, Kevin and Chief were still playing then and the Celtics won. In spite of being the only Celtics fan in the middle of a lot of Miami fans, they put up with me screaming and yelling and cheering for Celtics and I didn't get mugged or told to shut up. After the game our car was indeed still in one piece, and we followed the team bus back to their hotel and all the players hung around in the lobby and signed autographs and talked. I got pictures taken with Bird, McHale, Parish, DJ, Paxon, Kleine, Pinkney and Jimmy Rodgers. Parish bent over to get his picture taken with me, joking that he always gets his head cut off in pictures. McHale got down on his knees to get a picture with a little boy who was there. They were all very classy and stood around for over an hour after the game talking to fans and signing autographs and getting pictures taken. I had great conversations with McHale, Parish, and DJ. Of all the memories I have of the Celtics, and there are very many, this is my absolute happiest.
There have been a lot of happy memories through the history of the Celtics. Some, like Eja's memory of the Montross pick, may have seemed very happy at the time but in retrospect don't seem so happy. One single memory fits on both the happiest and saddest lists and that is the selection of Len Bias in the 1986 draft. I was the happiest I have ever been as a Celtics fan when the Celtics picked him. I had visions of the next 10 or so championships on the way. Then just 48 hours later, that memory turned to the saddest Celtics memory I have ever had. So, what are your happiest Celtics memories?
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Fiddlin' and Diddlin' on 7/21
It's Time for a Change
Friday, July 20, 2007
by FLCeltsFan 8:14 PM
The big topic all around the NBA is the scandal concerning Tim Donaghy, the ref who bet on games that he officiated and who is accused of influencing the outcome of games. David Stern has set himself up for this one. He has set up the officials as absolute authority in the league and anyone who dares to question them is fined heavily or suspended, or both. No one can dare to question how a game is officiated or call out a ref for consistent bad calls because Stern has made the refs above questioning and there is no one to oversee them except David Stern who does nothing but fine those who question their decisions. This has set the league up for a scandal just like this.
I have been saying this for some time now. This paragraph is from an article I wrote last year here on Loy's Place: The refs can very easily influence the outcome of a game. I have seen refs very obviously calling games for one team or another. I have also seen star players get calls amd role players never get calls even when the situations are identical. But if anyone dares question the refs or call them on their bias or bad calls, they get fined for it. What would stop refs from betting on games and then subtly affecting the outcome of the game by the calls they make? It seems now that I was right on as this very thing has happened. It just seems so obvious that when no one can question the refs' calls and decisions, there is nothing to stop this kind of behavior.
I have been frustrated at times during Celtics games where it seems that every call goes against us. I have also seen it go the opposite way and almost every call goes for us. In either case, it influences the outcome of the game and makes the game very much less enjoyable to watch and I know the players must be frustrated playing in it. Some refs appear to have an agenda for or against certain teams. But yet, when there are obvious bad calls, whether they are just blown calls or refs favoring a particular team, no one is allowed to question it. How can that be good for the league? The facts that are coming out in this case prove that it isn't.
Inconsistency is also a problem with officiating. Some players get "star treatment" and can get away with things that role players on a team can't. And then there are the cases where one player is punished for something but another player is allowed to get away with the same thing. Why wasn't Kirk Hinrich suspended for a game in the playoffs for throwing his mouthpiece into the crowd during Game 1 of the Bulls' series with the Heat this year, when Miami forward Udonis Haslem was suspended for a playoff game last year after throwing his mouthpiece on the floor? It's hard to understand how the league can be so very sure that one guy did something with intent, or malice, and another guy gets the benefit of the doubt.
I believe that the league could have avoided this scandal if they had only taken my suggestion that I have emailed to them several times after particularly poorly officiated games. I would like to see a governing body being placed over the refs consisting of league officials and owners and possibly former players. When a team files a protest, the committee would review the film and determine if there is a valid reason for the complaint. If there is, the refs would be penalized, and if there isn't, the team who complained would be fined. That would avoid teams complaing about every game they lose, but if there was a legitimate complaint they would be able to get satisfaction. To just fine players and coaches for arguing a call or criticizing the refs, even when they are correct in their criticism, and not to address the situation is inviting a scandal to happen.
David Stern is very concerned about the integrity of the league. He instituted the dress code. He fined Danny for sitting next to Durant's mom. He fined Nellie and Jordan for even mentioning Oden in a press conference. Coaches, owners, and players all have questioned the integrity of the officiating and in many cases, they have a very valid point. Yet, the only thing Stern does is to fine them and nothing is done to insure that the officiating is truly fair. And the refs can feel pretty secure to call games however they want because there is no one to call them into question. It was just a matter of time until a ref was caught betting on games they officiated because with no governing body to watch over them, and with David Stern giving them absolute authority, what is to stop them?
Stern has been quick to call for changes in the league in every other area but if he really wants to protect the integrity of the game, he will put a system of checks and balances in place to keep the refs honest and to assure fairness in the officiating for all teams and all players.
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Happy Birthday to Ray Allen
by FLCeltsFan 2:01 PM
Ray Allen (aka Jesus Shuttlesworth) turns 32 today. I know a lot of fans are worried about his age, but he has kept himself in great shape and there is no reason to believe that he can't play at a high level for quite a few more years. He had his best scoring season last year and I am sure that he will be able to duplicate that this year. He had minor surgery to clean out bone spurs on his ankles which shouldn't affect his game. It isn't like he broke a bone or had major ligament damage in them. So, I am excited that he is a Celtic. Happy Birthday to Ray and many happy returns in Boston!!!
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Fiddlin' and Diddlin' on 7/20
by FLCeltsFan 9:48 AM
This morning, the Herald covered the Lakers, the Sonics and the Chinese team, but still no Celtics news. The Globe has a piece on video games and athletes but again, no Celtics news. No news on who Danny is talking to about trades, no news on Tony's rehab, no news on who is in Boston working out. Nothing. This news block out is nerve wracking.
The NY Post has tells us that a trade that would send Odom to the Nets was close but fell through. As a public service announcement, Celtics Blog gives us alternative hobbies to do in the off season (instead of obsessing over the lack of Celtics news as I do).
Kobe is turning his attention to team USA and hoping that this team will succeed. This article also mentions that Pierce isn't playing due to elbow surgery. I haven't heard anything about surgery on his elbow. He looked pretty good playing soccer recently with no bandages or apparent problems with the elbow. Chauncey Billups is also hoping to help get team USA back on track.
In a bit of Celtics news, Ryan Gomes is dedicated to a charitable endeavor for heart health. Also, he is getting married to his high school sweetheart next month. In other Celtics news, Gerald Green's pump Rebocks have been released.
SI.com discusses the summer moves so far. Hollinger discusses the teams whose moves have made them worse (as least for the coming year).
The Wizards are shopping a package that would include Navarro and a salary dump. Haywood or Thomas could be part of the package. The Heat are interested and I hope Danny is checking into it. Our own Q has his blog going again and discusses 3 things that the Celtics need to go right. Boston Sports Review discusses the draft night deal for Ray Allen and 16 fateful words.
Finally, the biggest story today comes from the NY Post. Apparently at least one NBA ref has been involved with gambling and has been influencing the outcome of games. Arguably, the NBA officiating has been terrible. There are so many blown calls and obvious calls that favor one team or another. This is a scandal that will rock the NBA before it is over. Every call that affects the outcome of a game will be scrutinized and when all is said and done, it may even affect championships won or lost.
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The Game - Getting to Know Ray Allen
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Fiddlin' and Diddlin' on 7/19
by FLCeltsFan 10:01 AM
We are officially in the slooooow season. There wasn't a single article in any of the New England papers that cover the Celtics. Nothing in the Herald, Globe, MetroWest Daily, Projo, Worcester Telegram, Enterprise, Courant, SouthCoast Today, Daily News Tribune, or Eagle Tribune. You would think that at least one of them would have at least a fluff piece about how hard Perk is working, how the new players are settling in, or even some of the players the Celtics are interested in. In tracking down the links, I see reports from just about every other team about how they are going after this player or that player. Yet, nothing on the Celtics. Either the Celtics organization has some very tight lipped people, or nothing is going on. Thank goodness for blogs!
First, the Daily Herald that covers our D-League team has an article about how the Flash is being patterned after the Jazz. It tells us that Danny requested that the Celtics be affiliated with the Flash. Red's Army seems to think this is further indication that Danny is insane. Or, it could just mean that Danny likes the way they are running the team.
Hoopsworld gives us a free agency update on all the players the Celtics haven't signed. China Daily reports that 2 Eastern Conference teams have invited Wang Zhizhi to work out. He was the Chinese National team's best player in summer league and he does have some NBA experience. The Celtics should be one of the teams taking a look at him, but as I said above, there aren't any reports from the Celtics as to who they are targeting. Not even FSN has reported anything on the Celtics. But Wang would be a good player to look at.
Hoopsworld also look at the high risers from fantasy basketball. Al Jefferson tops the list. Associated Content has Big Baby topping the list of the best second round picks in Summer League. FSN has a video from the draft that is interesting to watch.
NBA Glue says that the Atlantic division is up for grabs but projects the Celtics to come in first in spite of our defensive liabilities in the past. I really hope we have a better defensive team this season. Of course I have hoped for that for the past 3 seasons also. Why they've got a shot: The addition of Ray-Ray gives Boston three players capable of averaging at least 20 points a game, so offense clearly isn't a problem. Pierce, Jefferson and Allen will take most of the scoring load off of Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins, who haven't been great scorers in the past but do a nice job on the defensive end. Depth is another strong point for Boston this season: they've got a great starting five, but with guys like Tony Allen, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green and Glen Davis ready to contribute off the bench, it's going to be hard for opposing teams to find time to rest.
Why they might not: Defense. Despite Rondo and Perkins being good defenders, Pierce and Allen aren't exactly 25 anymore and Jefferson's D is still being worked on. Tony Allen and Ryan Gomes will be a breath of fresh air off the bench, but until a stronger defensive core can develop, it's going to be a rocky road.
Projected Division Place: 1st
It's nice to see that the Celtics legendary players aren't the only ones who are flopping around as GMs. SI.com tells us that Michael Jordan is on his last try to make his mark as a GM after failing in Washington. Hoopsvibe grades the GMs on their performance in the draft and the former Celtics don't fare too well. Bird rates a D+, McHale tops the trio with a B+ and surprisingly, Danny only gets a C+. They count Dahntay Jones and Troy Bell as the Celtics picks instead of the players Danny actually got in that draft. I would grade Danny a bit higher in that Perk, Al,Rondo, West, and Allen were in mid to lower first round and Gomes and Powe were second round. But they don't credit Danny with Rondo or Powe and list Green and Foye as his picks even though he was choosing them for another team so, I don't put too much stock in this report.
Celtics17 has a very good article on when players break out. Some notable folks that broke out in their 5th year include Jermaine O’Neil, Gerald Wallace, Ricky Davis, Corey Maggette, Nene Hilario, Chris Wilcox, Chauncey Billups, Samuel Dalembert, Marcus Camby, Steve Nash and Ben Wallace. Nice group of players to wait for, if you were patient enough, and only the Clippers (Maggette), 76er’s (Dalembert) and the Nuggets (Hilario) managed to hang on long enough to see their investment pay dividends. The others were moved, in hindsight, at below their market. This list interests me because it would appear that Centers and PGs take a little longer to break out. Perk is going into his 5th season. I have said it many times: Perk is going to break out this season and surprise a lot of people who feel he is at best a back up center. It takes time for players to reach their peak. It is the exception for players to be able to make an impact right away. Hopefully it won't take Rondo 5 years to develop. He seems to be ahead of the curve already and could break out this year or next. But, wouldn't it be worth waiting to have a Steve Nash or Chauncey Billups running your team?
Other articles worth reading are one from Bill Simmons on Hoops and Vegas and another from Hollinger on the teams that improved because of the moves they have made so far.
That's it for today. I suspect it may get a lot slower before training camp starts. Counting down the days: 75 days till training camp.
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10 Things to Be Positive About This Season
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
by FLCeltsFan 10:03 PM
Yesterday, we looked back over the saddest times for the Celtics. Now it's time for some green koolaid. There are things that are positive about the Celtics. Let's take a look at the top 10 things to be excited about this season.
1. Al Jefferson. Al is the Celtics' best low post scorer since Kevin McHale walked through that door. He averaged 16 ppg and 11 rpg last season and has emerged as a legitimate go to guy. And he is just beginning to scratch the surface of his talent. Al is going to be even better this season and that is something to be excited about.
2. Paul Pierce. Pierce is loved by some and hated by some, but there is no question that he is an all star talent and makes a difference on this team. After being very durable over his first eight seasons, he proved to be human and missed 35 games last season. Pierce is a very proud player and I can see him working harder than ever on his body and conditioning and coming back better than ever this season.
3. Ray Allen. The trade for Allen has met with mixed emotions from Celtics fans but it was a positive move. Ray Allen is one of the top offensive talents in the league. Last season he averaged 26 mpg, 4.5 rpg and 4.1 apg while playing 40 minutes per game. He is in great shape and there is no reason why he can't have another dominant season. The trio of Pierce, Allen and Jefferson will be one of the most lethal in the league. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.
4. Rajon Rondo. Rondo has what it takes to run a team and is a very exciting point guard. He has all the tools to be a very, very good point guard. The only knock on him was that he couldn't hit the midrange shot to keep defenses honest. Summer League showed that he has been working on his shot and he can hit it when he needs to. His shot looks good and he was able to hit when left open. He still remains a pass first point guard, able to drive and dish to the open man and that could be very exciting this season with Pierce, Allen and Al waiting to receive those passes.
5. Kendrick Perkins. Perk is poised to break out this season. At the end of last season, he was playing great defense and was able to shut down both Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh. He is a very hard worker and is working harder than anyone this off season to improve. A full summer of working with Clifford Ray (his first of doing so) should pay big dividends this season. Perk is going to surprise a lot of people this season.
6. Chemistry. This team has been building great chemistry over the past 3 seasons. We have some great kids with good character and they all get along both on and off the court. Chemistry is an important and often underrated quality of championship teams. This chemistry should pay off on the court as the players have gotten to know each others' games and tendencies.
7. Tony Allen. Tony has been working very hard on his rehab and should be ready for training camp. Tony was just starting to hit his stride last season when he went down with the injury. If he can get back to where he was last season, this would be a huge boost to have a player of his caliber coming off the bench. He gives us a defensive presence as well as an explosive offensive player.
8. Leon Powe. Leon proved in Summer League that he "gets it." He plays with heart and energy every time out on the court. He will be a good back up for Al Jefferson and can provide us with rebounding and defense along with an offensive touch around the basket. His intensity and work ethic are an example to the rest of the team.
9. The Rookies. Big Baby, Pruitt and Wallace all showed that they can play. It will be exciting to watch them develop and contribute to the team as they learn the pro game. Wallace is especially exciting as he is a long defender and can shut down the threes that we haven't been able to guard in the past. Big Baby is going to be a force in the middle and with his desire and work ethic will be able to contribute this season, not to mention all the entertaining interviews he will give.
10. No Excuses. The fact that there are no more excuses left for Doc to lean on. If he doesn't produce now, Danny will have no choice but to fire him and bring in a coach who will produce. If Doc can do it, great. If not, we will have a coach who can. Either way, there are no more excuses for Doc to hide behind. I like Doc. The players like Doc, but if he can't produce as a coach, he needs to be replaced.
Honorable Mention:
Theo Ratliff. Theo is going to be valuable one way or another. Either he will be healthy and give us that back up center that we need or his contract will be valuable to bring back another good player for the team.
These are exciting times. I haven't even mentioned the moves that Danny has up his sleeve to improve the team even more (hopefully without giving up Rondo or Al. And the improved defense we saw in Summer League will hopefully continue and be even better by the start of the season. Then too, there is training camp in Europe and the additional TV coverage that will bring and with Ray Allen here, we should get more media attention than we did last season. So, grab a glass of koolaid and enjoy.
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Fiddlin' and Diddlin' on 7/18
10 Saddest Things in Celtics History
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
by FLCeltsFan 8:28 PM
By eja117
New dad, eja117 has been feeling a little melancholy and posted the 10 things that has made him the saddest in Boston Celtics history (starting with 1987):
1 Reggie Lewis
2. Watching Bird hobbling around for the Dream Team realizing his career was very over and had been over for a while
3. Losing out on the Oden/Durant lottery
4. Losing Duncan and then seeing him win 4 championships
5. Trading Delonte as a result of #3
6. Realizing when Pitino was saying “Bird isn’t coming through that door” what he was really saying was “I’m not that good a coach and I hate you Boston fans. Your dreams of a Kentucky style championship dynasty were and remain foolish”.
7. Seeing a picture of Pitino smiling on the cover of his book “Success is a Choice”.
8. When they tore down the Garden.
9. When they called the new building the “Fleet Center”.
10. When I realized Montross wouldn’t be good.
After reading Eja's list, I thought I would add my own list of my 10 saddest Celtics related memories.
1. Len Bias. I had to go back before 1987 for this one but this was one of the saddest times in Celtics history.
2 The death of Reggie Lewis
3. Seeing the big three age and become ineffective
4. When Larry Bird left the Celtics for the Pacers
5. The death of Red Auerbach
6. The death of Dennis Johnson, and the fact that he was never elected to the HOF.
7. Tearing down the Garden
8. The whole Rick Pitino era
9. Tie: Losing the lottery twice when we should have won it.
10. Hearing that they had extended Doc's contract
What were your saddest Celtics moments?
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Fiddlin' and Diddlin' on 7/17
by FLCeltsFan 8:38 AM
We are officially in the slow season. No Celtics news in either the Herald or the Globe. The Herald has a piece on Amare Stoudamire's half brother who is in legal trouble but that is it. Nothing on the Celtics. Thank goodness for the Blogs.
Celtics Blog has a good piece on where the Celtics are now going into the offseason. Eric discusses the Ray Allen trade, the positional players, and what may yet come. Very good article and analysis. Hoopsworld reports that the moves made to bring some Western stars to the East has made the East stronger.
The Nuggets have signed Chucky Atkins so another PG is off the market. Glen Taylor is saying that Garnett wants to stay in Minny and won't mind playing with the young players there. Does this meant that Garnett is off the market? If so, can Danny now move on and try to get someone else instead of hoping that Garnett will come this way? I talked to K.G. about it; I said, 'You're going to hear a lot of (rumors) stuff, but I'll call you if something really happens.' I just asked him (about a trade), and he'd say, 'No, I haven't changed my mind.'
"I said, 'We're probably going to bring in (top draft pick Corey) Brewer with one more young guy, so you've got young guys, and you're going to have a younger team.' And he said, 'I don't think I mind playing with those guys.'
"In the end, nothing really happened."
The Wolves will continue to discuss trade scenarios, Taylor said, but they won't include Garnett.
Slam Online has one of the most interesting articles today. It is an open letter from Etan Thomas to Andrew Bogut. I bet Thomas is a good locker room guy. He plays hard too. Isn't he available?
MetroWest Daily has a few thoughts from Scott Souza post Vegas. He reports a few thoughts from Danny. Scott is one of the best reporters out there and I am very thankful for the way he keeps us up to date with the Celtics in the off season. “I was mostly just pleased with the effort. There is a lot of youth out there and mistakes made in all the games, not just our games. But more than anything I liked the intensity level.”
OK, not much there. But it gets a little better. When asked about who impressed him out in Vegas he singled out Gabe Pruitt and Davis for their play Friday night, and Brandon Wallace, Leon Powe and Rajon Rondo for their play overall. Whether it was intentional or not, there are two roster players missing from that list.
Ainge’s other interesting comments came before the fourth game when it was suggested that this was a particularly non-eventful and quiet summer league.
“It hasn’t been quiet for me at all,” he responded. “There has been a lot of talk, a lot of conversations going on.”
Asked to elaborate, Ainge predictably declined. But it does give some indication that he is, indeed, not through trying to make moves this summer and you could take from it that those moves are more likely to involve other teams than free agents.
Can Danny discusses some of the Summer League players who should catch on with a team somewhere. Speaking of canning Danny, there is a site out there that wants him gone now. If you wonder what Pierce is doing these days, he is playing soccer. The NY Daily News reports on a trade for J O'Neal that didn't happen. It gives you an idea of what they are asking for to give him up. Too much, in my opinion. Brushback feels that the game between the Celtics and the Jazz set basketball back 30 years. I have to admit, it was a very, very ugly game. Full Court Press is ok with the Allen trade as long as Danny makes another move to go with it.
That's it for today. 77 days till training camp. If it is this dead now, I can only imagine how bad it will be about 20 days from now. But, maybe Danny will spice things up with a trade or two. I just hope we don't give up too much to get too little back.
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C's vs Bucks (full game)
Undersized? Not Necessarily
Monday, July 16, 2007
by FLCeltsFan 8:14 PM
I have been hearing that Leon Powe is undersized since we drafted him. I have read that Big Baby is undersized. I have read that Perk is undersized as a center. But are they really and what consitutes undersized? Can they play the 4 and 5 and get the job done? Does a player have to be 7' to be a good center or power forward and a good rebounder? The answer is no. There is a rich history in the league of players who were considered undersized and who dominated. It is heart and desire that makes the difference.
Charles Barkley was listed at 6-6, but probably actually closer to 6-4 and he played power forward as well as anyone, often dominating players half a foot taller. There are four players in NBA history who have compiled at least 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley. He averaged 11.7 rebounds for his career. Barkley made up for his lack of size with heart and determinaton.
Bill Russell dominated the center position at 6'9". He led the Celtics to 11 championships over his career as player and coach. He averaged 15.1 points per game and an amazing 22.5 rebounds per game over his career. He played with great intensity and his desire to succeed drove him forward.
Dave Cowens was another 6'9" center who dominated at his position because of his work ethic and heart. He led the Celtics to championships in 1974 and 1976. Playing in the era of Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Wilt "the Stilt" Chamberlain, and "Pistol Pete" Maravich, Cowens didn't possess the flash and glitz of those high-profile superstars. Instead, it was Cowens' consistency, work ethic, unselfishness, versatility and energy that established him as one of the most solid and respected centers in recent NBA history. An unlikely hero in a sport dominated by men of greater size and natural ability, Cowens relied on hustle and heart to achieve NBA greatness. His determination helped to resurrect a Celtics dynasty presumed dead after the departure of legend Bill Russell. He averaged 17.6 ppg and 13.6 rpg over his career.
Clifford Ray is yet another 6'9" center who dominated at his position. He played 10 years in the league and is credited by Robert Parish for having influenced his game more than anyone else. Ray led the Warriors to a championship in 1975. Over his career, he averaged 7.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. He has become one of the best big men coaches in the league and is credited with developing many of the big men in the game today. He is helping Al Jefferson, Leon Powe, Kendrick Perkins and now Big Baby Davis to maximize their skills to become dominant post players in his own mold.
Ben Wallace is also a 6'9" center who dominates on the defensive end. He isn't known for his scoring but can change a game with his defensive play and rebounding. He is averaging 8.6 points per game, 12.9 rebounds per game, and 2.2 blocks per game.
Finally, Dennis Rodman is listed at 6'8" but in reality, was closer to 6'6". He is arguably one of the best rebounders in NBA history. He led the league in rebounding a record 7 consecutive years. He was a dominant defender and rebounder snd did it with desire and hard work. Despite often being matched at a height disadvantage, he became one of the most dominant rebounders in NBA history, and was also a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 7.3 points and 13.10 rebounds per game for his career.
All of this brings me to the conclusion that rebounding and defense are mostly desire, heart and hard work. Each of the players mentioned above is an example of just that. Leon Powe is listed at 6'8" but has a 7'2" wingspan. His long arms and leaping ability allow him to play a lot bigger than his 6'8". It would be hard to find a player who works harder than Powe (unless it would be Perk). His desire and intensity allow him to out rebound players who are taller as he did with Greg Oden.
Kendrick Perkins is 6'10" and has been called undersized for a center. He has a 7'4" wingspan that allows him to play bigger than his listed height. Perk works very, very hard and has the desire to get every rebound and block every shot. He came into the league directly from high school and it takes awhile for centers to develop but despite a lack of playing time and various injuries, Perk has improved from year to year. Perk's desire and work ethic is going to help him become a dominant center in this league.
Now comes Big Baby who is also undersized at 6'8". But Summer League proved that Davis has the desire and heart to out-rebound bigger players. He has a good work ethic and is very motivated to be the best he can be. I expect that he will surprise a lot of people just as Charles Barkley did. He has a chip on his shoulder and is ready to work hard on his body and his game to make an impact in the league.
If Dennis Rodman could lead the league in rebounding at 6'6" - 6'8" and Charles Barkley could dominate the league at 6'4" - 6'6", and if Russell, Cowens, and Clifford Ray could be dominant centers at 6'9", all because of their work ethic and desire and hustle on the court, why can't Powe, Davis and Perk become dominant big men? All three possess a very strong work ethic and all play very hard on the court and that's what defense and rebounding are all about. These three may not be the tallest players on the court but they certainly make up for it with heart and determination.
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One More Thing (or so)
by FLCeltsFan 4:52 PM
I always feel like Columbo when I say that. Carnival of the NBA is up at With Malice. They did a great job with it. Be sure to check it out. Lots of great stuff there.
True Hoop has a good article on the rumors surrounding the Celtics and the trade of just about everyone in the NBA.
Brushback says that the game between the Celtics and the Spurs set basketball back 30 years. An NBA Summer League game between the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs on Monday featured 74 personal fouls, 35 turnovers, and dozens of air balls in a horrifying spectacle that set the game of basketball back about 30 years. Fans in attendance sat in stunned silence as the teams stumbled their way through the sordid affair, which seemed to last six hours.
“That was an abortion,” said Moseman, 28. “It tarnished the game of basketball. At one point this point guard for San Antonio, whose name escapes me, drove into the lane, threw up a lay-up, hit the bottom of the rim, caught the carom, and then hurled it behind him into the stands. Then security had to run into the stands and get the ball because it was the only one they had, but the fan wouldn’t give it up, so they ended up tasering the guy, and then everybody cheered because that was like the most exciting moment of the whole game.”
It sure is quiet around the Celtics. No rumors or anything coming out. Makes you wonder what is going on. Every day I find links to rumors of the Sixers targeting this player or the Warriors targeting that player, and other teams targeting other players, but nothing about the Celtics. Either Danny is doing nothing or he is really good at keeping it quiet.
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Fiddlin' and Diddlin' on 7/16
by FLCeltsFan 10:09 AM
Well, now that Summer League is over, we are heading into the part of the offseason where things get very slow. Maybe Danny will make a couple of trades to give us something to talk about. The Herald gives us some notes and thoughts from Summer League. The most interesting part of this article isn't about Summer League, but about the possible Garnett trade. There have been some quiet denials, but one source close to the situation insists the deal for Kevin Garnett was all set before agent Andy Miller said his client didn’t want to go to Boston.
‘‘I don’t know why Danny (Ainge) didn’t just pull the trigger anyway,’’ the source= said. ‘‘There’s no way Kevin would opt out of that contract and leave $24 million on the table. No way.’’
There is also the belief among some in Minnesota that Celtics [team stats] ownership got cold feet when the initial fan reaction toward dealing Al Jefferson [stats] was so negative. Did fan reaction have a hand in stopping this trade? I feel very strongly that if a deal for Garnett involves Al or Rondo, we shouldn't do it. We have mortgaged our future before and it didn't end well for the club. Also mentioned in this article is the fact that Doc is still considering Tom Thibodeau as an assistant because of his emphasis on defense. Doc has said that he is taking over the defense this season. I guess he needs all the help he can get. But then there is this disturbing quote: The Celts may still have interest in him for his defensive knowledge, but as another veteran league staffer pointed out, ‘‘If he’s doing Jeff Van Gundy’s defense, that’s the same thing (former C’s assistant) Tony Brown teaches.’’ The last thing we need is more of the same... There have been a lot of people wanting Brevin Knight here as a veteran PG. He seemed a good fit but this article sheds some light on why the Celtics didn't move to pick him up off waivers. Apparently, he is a disruption in the locker room which would explain why he hasn't stuck with a team.
The Globe is obviously in slow mode already since they don't have any Celtics related articles today. Proving that great minds think alike, Celtics Blog has a recap of Summer League similar to the one I posted below. ESPN Insider tells us that David Stern is still messing with the ball. They used the beloved leather ball in Vegas but the Rocky Mountain Summer League will use a new composite ball as Stern is determined to institute a new ball, whether we need one or not. Stern's motto must be "If it isn't broke, fix it until it is."
Nate Robinson was named MVP in Vegas and not a single Celtic was named to the All Stars. Leon Powe deserved some recognition but maybe I am a bit biased. The Knicks finished undefeated along with the Mavs. Draft Express has a wrap up of Day 10 in Vegas including the Celtics/Mavs game.
In the Sad But True column, the great players of the Celtics 1986 Championship team have been pretty much failures in the front office. While I think they are a little hard on Danny, he definitely has made mistakes in his tenure, the biggest of which has been sticking with Doc way too long. On Philly.com we learn that Mark Blount is good for something. He taught the Sixers not to overpay for free agents based on one good season. Only 10 Things and Celtics 17 are preparing for the mid offseason lull.
Well, now we wait for the next move. I am convinced that there will be one. I would like to make one without having to give up Al or Rondo. We need another big because Perk is our only center. Al can play the 5 as well but he plays better as a power forward next to Perk. We may have Ratliff but we can't depend on him since he has only played close to a whole season 3 times in his 12 year career. I would feel better if we had more depth at the 5. We also need a veteran back up PG. I miss Delonte already. Camby, Dooling, Jasikevicius, Jack, AK47, Garnett, Dalembert and others have all been rumored to be targets for a trade. Now we just play the waiting game for Danny to make his move. Let's just hope he makes a good one.
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Summer League Wrap Up
by FLCeltsFan 8:50 AM
After 5 games in Vegas, what have we learned about our Celtics entry and the players? First, there are several players from the summer league who won't make the regular team. Allred, Carroll, Sanchez, Hicks, Glyniadakis, and Francis didn't impress enough to warrant being signed to a contract. Allred got more playing time than the others and did some good things, but not enough to stick with the team. Carroll showed a nice mid range shot but not much else. Sanchez looked mostly lost. Glyniadakis got pushed around too much under the basket and although he is 7' tall, he only pulled down 1 rebound. We hardly got to see Hicks and Francis didn't play because of an injury. Now, let's take a look at each of the others.
Big Baby Davis started off slow, but improved with each game. He displayed multiple offensive moves and could score with either hand. He played great defense, blocking 6 shots in his last game. He showed a real talent for getting rebounds. As his confidence grew, so did his production. He is definitely a keeper and should be able to help us this year. He averaged 12 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game. If he continues to work on his body and his conditioning, he could be a real find in the second round.
Gerald Green struggled throughout the 5 games. In his first two seasons, he struggled with defense, spacing, and running plays, but he was always able to score and had a very nice jumper. For some reason, he just couldn't score in Summer League, shooting 29.8% from the field, 15.4% from beyond the arc, and 61.8% from the line. His defense has improved but as the games went on, he seemed to get worse instead of better. He may have been trying too hard, but something was clearly wrong when a guy that leads the team in 3 point shooting in the regular season regresses to 15% in the Summer League. He still has a lot of potential, we just don't know if or when he will reach it. He finished with 11.4 ppg and 2.2 rpg for the 5 games.
Rajon Rondo proved that he has what it takes to run the team. In his first game, he was too unselfish and passed up open shots and layups to pass the ball to set up teammates. I have a feeling that he was given a talking to because in his next 2 games he hit open shots and finished when he drove to the basket instead of kicking the ball back out. He ran the team with confidence and earned a rest for the final 2 games. He even gained valuable experience sitting on the bench next to the coach and seeing the game from a coach's perspective. His averages were 9.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, and 1.3 apg. Rondo's continued development is key to the Celtics fortunes this season.
Gabe Pruitt got a chance to run the team the last two games. He did a good job against the Bucks, leading the team to a come from behind win. But he struggled against a quicker Barea in the game against the Mavs. It could be the result of playing a day game after playing the night before. He shows promise but needs experience to build his confidence. He shoots the ball well and plays decent defense. He has the tools to be a very good player in this league. He finished with 5.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg and 1.2 apg.
Leon Powe played very well and proved that he can be a difference maker in games. He was the Celtics best player overall in the 5 games. He crashed the boards and scored on put backs and played great defense. He averaged 12.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. He is ready to contribute this season and hopefully, Doc will give him minutes as good things happen when he is on the floor. Powe played center and won the tip in 4 out of 5 games. He out jumped Oden (7'), Yi (7'), Fazekas (6'11") and Felix ((6'9"). Only Jackie Butler (6'10") beat him to the tip. He plays with heart and intensity and his toughness is something the Celtics very much need. I love this kid.
Brandon Wallace was a real find for the the Celtics in this Summer League. He went undrafted mostly because he played center in college and was projected as a 6'9" slightly built power forward. When the Celtics moved him to small forward, he opened quite a few eyes. He has the ability to be a lock down defender at the 3 and is active on the boards along with being a shot blocker as well. Tony Allen is a great defender but struggled when he had to guard the taller 3's. Wallace can fill that void on the team. He is athletic and a very good defender along with having a nice outside shot. He seemed to swoop in from nowhere to block shots and put back misses. He needs experience, but could be a very good player for us. He is worth the contract just to find out. He finished the week averaging 4.2 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist.
Finally, Allan Ray didn't play well enough to remain on the team in my opinion. He struggled with his shot, shooting only 36% from the field. His numbers for summer league were 10.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.4 apg and 1 spg. He is a nice kid and has shown a few flashes of playing well, but doesn't seem to add enough to the team unless Danny moves some other players to create a need for Ray on the team. Danny has until August 1 to decide on keeping Ray or waiving him. I think it will come down to whether Danny is able to make a trade for a big man or bring in a back up PG. If he has to trade a few of our wing players to get a big or a PG, then he may keep Ray on the team.
Overall, it was a good Summer League for the Celtics. Although we finished 3-2 and none of our players garnered any awards in Vegas, we did see some positives from individual players. Davis and Pruitt proved that they can play. Wallace may give us that lock down player at the 3 that we need. Leon Powe showed great improvement over his first year and should be a part of the rotation this season. Rondo proved that he is ready to lead the team. Green was a disappointment in many ways, but I don't think we can give up on him yet. I believe that Danny may move him to bring in a veteran big, but I don't think we can say because of this SL experience that he is gong to be a bust. He is still young and will improve.
The biggest thing we can take from this is that it is just Summer League. We can get excited about players or declare them busts but in fact, Summer League has no bearing on the real NBA. Last year's first team honors from Summer League (both Vegas and Orlando) went to players such as John Lucas III, Casey Jacobson, James Singleton, Earl Barron, Sean May, Adam Morrison, Dorrell Wright and Travis Deiner. Will Bynum was one of the top players last year. In the meantime, Al Jefferson struggled and finished with 9 points and 7 rebounds. The bottom line is that we just can't put too much into what happens in Summer League. You know the saying, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. The best thing about Summer League is that it gives us Celtics junkies like me a chance to watch some basketball in the offseason.
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Fiddlin' and Diddlin' on 7/15
Sunday, July 15, 2007
by FLCeltsFan 10:02 AM
The most interesting tidbit comes from today's Globe. After discussing the assistant coach situation and stating that Doc's situation makes some assistants hesitant to come to Boston, Shira adds this little tidbit: But an interesting pairing that might mean something: Ainge and Golden State Warriors executive VP of basketball operations Chris Mullin standing in a corner partially obscured by the stands. Could Ainge and Mullin have been talking about Warriors guard Sarunas Jasikevicius? Almost as soon as Jasikevicius arrived in a mid-January trade with Al Harrington, Stephen Jackson, and Josh Powell, the Warriors have been hoping to find a new home for the Lithuanian, who starred with Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv before joining the NBA. Jasikevicius was coveted by none other than Larry Bird, which could peak the interest of Ainge as he looks for a veteran point guard. Interesting possibility. In this article, we also learn that Ratliff is off in Nairobi doing some cheritable work and is hoping to be able to play this season. Also in the Globe is an article with odds and ends from Vegas that reminds us not to put too much stock in anything that happens there.
The Herald has several articles this morning. One is on Lance Allred and how he is trying to make it into the NBA in spite of being 75% deaf. Another discusses the sluggish end to the Celtics Summer League. Players were trying to do too much and not playing a team game. I guess that is understandable since all were playing for a spot on the team and wanted to shine. But that never makes for good play, as we saw yesterday. A third article tells us that McHale likes the Ray Allen signing for the Celtics and sees it paying big dividends this season. Finally, there is an article discussing how Chris Wallace is fitting in Memphis.
Jarrett Jack is available in Portland after the Blake signing. There are several possibilities for veteran back up PGs available although the Miami Herald says that guard options are dwindling. It will be interesting to see which one Danny goes for, if indeed he goes for any. After all, he has been singing the praises of Telfair lately. Maybe he really means it. The Wizards are not going to bring back Hayes. Hoopsworld runs down the latest free agent signings and SI.com tells us to expect at least one blockbuster deal this off season.
Stephen Jackson and Ron Artest will both be suspended for the first 7 games of the season due to their off court legal problems. The Buffalo News tells us not to expect miracles or unselfishness from the Celtics this season. I think they are 100% wrong. I expect some very good things from the Celtics this season. True Hoop weighs in on the race issue in Boston that has been popping up lately.
Scott Souza and Sean Grande both have good articles on the Summer League and what we have learned from it. I am working on an article on my observations from Summer League and should have it done for tomorrow. It was good to be able to watch basketball again, even if it was just summer league. Now we wait for Danny's next move. It could be a blockbuster or could be a minor move to bring in a back up PG. It's 79 long days till the start of training camp and chances are the Celtics will look a lot different then than they do now.
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Mav's vs C's (almost full game)
by Loyalist 1:20 AM
Still waiting for the Bucks game to be release by NBA.com before I can post it. However, at least they were timely in releasing this game despite the loss. Check it out!
Correction: for some idiotic reason NBA.com released this game missing the first 15 minutes of action. So, no 1st qtr and almost 5 minutes missing of the 2nd qtr. Overall, I am quite disappointed with how these games have been put together, but I should be grateful we have them. Oh well.
source: NBA.com
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