Big Al is truly a class act. He won't have to miss the support of the Boston fans because for the most part, he still has it. I know that I will be following his progress and his career. I truly believe that the Celtics will one day regret having traded him. Al, we miss you you and wish you the best!
Well, the honeymoon is over. No news from the Herald or the Globe today. But there are a few things out there. First, FSN has a video of the House and Pollard press conference if you missed it. All I can say is that the locker room won't be boring with Scot Pollard and Big Baby around. They are both comedians and very funny.
Bill Simmons checks his mail. Paul Pierce is hosting his charity event in LA. Sports in Boston has a good article on keys to success for the Celtics. Crazy juice can be just as dangerous as koolaid in case you were wondering. Perkisabeast feels that Garnett would be much better suited at the center position.
52 days till training camp. With the Celtics training in Europe, there should be a lot of media coverage. The Celtics will face the Timberwolves in London on October 10 and that should be a very exciting game. I will find it very hard not to cheer for Big Al, Gerald and Gomes even when they are playing against us.
I have said it before and I now feel more than ever that Doc is the weakest link in this team. We have arguably the best "big three" in the league. We have some talented young players who can play a supporting role on the team. We now have some veterans to support the younger players and to back up the "big three." But what we don't have is a head coach who has proved that he knows how to coach. He says all the right things, but I haven't seen him doing the right things. He has been incapable of managing the rotation, making wise decisions during games, and teaching defense to a young team very capable of playing it.
First and foremost is his lack of respect for defense. He has made the comment that he worked on offense in practice because because "after all half of the team is playing defense when they work on offense." This would seem to be a bad approach to coaching because our team desperately needs more defense. We won't win without it. Any coach who doesn't stress defense is not a good coach. Defense wins games and championships and a team will go nowhere without it. During Summer League, Doc made the comment that he was going to take over the defense this season and leave the offense to his assistants. He also threw Tony Brown under the bus saying that in the past 3 seasons he was the one who was in charge of the defense. But as head coach, if you give the defense to an assistant, and that assistant obviously isn't doing the job, don't you have to step in at some point? With the hiring of Tom Thibodeau and with KG in the lineup, with or without Doc, we should be a much better defensive team this season. For three years, we haven't been able to defend the pick and roll. This is something we have to do if we expect to win a championship. KG, Rondo, Tony Allen, Pollard, Wallace, and Manuel are all good defensive players, but we need the coach to develop the team defenses. I am hoping that Tom Thibodeau is that coach because I don't see Doc being able to do it.
Second, Doc doesn't seem to know his players. He sat Gomes on the bench for half a year before giving him a chance to play and when he did play, he became a starter almost overnight. I just can't believe that Gomes wasn't showing enough in practice to get some playing time all along. Doc started Telfair much of the season, even when it was obvious that Rondo was the better point guard. Doc pulls some players from the game for the smallest mistake while leaving some veteran players in the game who are making mistake after mistake and because of this, he doesn't instill confidence in his younger players. Last season, after watching Leon Powe have a great game, Doc said that he would be playing him more but in the following games, Powe barely played. What does this do to a player's psyche, to be told that they would be getting more minutes because of their strong play and then find themselves stuck to the bench.
Third, Doc doesn't have a clue as to how to use our bigs. I am very tired of seeing our center inbound the ball and then run up the floor only to stand at the top of the three point line to wait for the ball to be passed around the arc. Bigs should play in the paint, not out on the 3 point line. Doc loved Raef and Blount because they could "stretch the defenses," and even though they didn't rebound and mostly stayed on the perimeter, he played them over Perk, which caused Perk to get very little playing time over his first 3 seasons. Our young bigs have played tentatively because at their first mistake, Doc tends to pull them and sit them. They know that they get very little time in the first place because Doc tends to rely on veterans, whether they play well or not. And they are afraid of making a mistake because they don't want to be pulled from the game and that makes them more tentative. Doc needs to let them play through their mistakes and soon they will make a lot fewer of them. Doc needs to get his bigs in the paint and hopefully with KG here he will do so. If I see KG come up the floor and stand outside the 3 point line while the ball is passed around the arc, Doc needs to go.
Doc loves small ball but doesn't realize that when you go to small ball, you will be at a big disadvantage on the boards if you don't keep at least one of your bigs in with them to grab rebounds. Yes, the small ball teams are faster and can run more, but you can't run without the ball. Small ball is good to shake things up but you have to have a rebounder in with the small lineup. Too many times Doc went to small ball without a rebounder or a shot blocker in there.
In spite of promising a running game for the past three years, we always revert back to half court sets, even though we have a point guard who can run a fast break team and flourishes in the open court. Here is a quote from Ainge from the Globe:
"He was clearly our best point guard coming out of training camp," Ainge declares. "At the time, we were running an offense called 'Random,' which is more of an uptempo style that fits his game. We stopped doing that, and I'm not saying we shouldn't have, due to our personnel."
The Random offense was designed to get the team into it's offense quickly. The idea was to keep the defense off-balance by making quick decisions and by getting into the offense quickly. We stopped doing that. My question is why. Is it because Doc couldn't motivate the players to run on the break? Is it because Doc couldn't teach the younger players this system? Either way, it should have been Doc's job to get the team to succeed in the uptempo style. In spite of talking about a running game and in spite of having a PG who could run a fast break team, Doc doesn't know how to coach a fast break team. They don't run and settle for way too many half court sets and usually end up with a Pierce ISO. Too often we had the point guard walk the ball up the court instead of trying to get into the offense quickly. A running team should have the player closest to the ball inbound it. Instead, Doc always had a big come back to the ball for the inbound pass, even if others were closer.
Last but not least, Doc's rotations are bizarre. He will stick with players who are not playing well and pull players who are playing great but make a mistake. He plays small ball way too much without leaving a rebounder in the game and when we need a stop, doesn't put our best defenders on the floor. He doesn't manage the minutes of his players very well, like when doctors said that Wally shouldn't be playing more than 25 minutes per game and Doc was playing him close to 40 mpg. I have this fear that Doc will be playing our veterans 40+ minutes per game and they will have nothing left for the playoffs and at the same time, the bench won't have a chance to develop together.
I am not alone in my assessment of Doc's weaknesses. Here is a quote from Mike on BSMW's Full Court Press:
I certainly don’t think Doc is at the top of his profession. He seems incapable of managing his team’s rotations, to the point where it seems like every other game finds the Celtics with 5 subs getting run off the floor by an opponent playing 2 or 3 starters. Similarly it is rare to see the Celtics play a solid game two games in a row. Most people would lay that at the feet of the youth movement, but the coach has some say in that too.
Steve Bulpett pointed out that there are no more excuses and questions the results that Doc has gotten over his first 3 seasons with the team.
If a player has the requisite talent and aptitude to learn, then exactly whose fault is it if he doesn’t perform to his capabilities? I don’t know,” said Rivers. “I don’t think it’s necessarily on the coach. I think it’s on both of us, but I don’t think you can say, ‘Now this year I’ve got to get them to do this.’ That’s just idiotic thinking.” Even after the positive signs displayed by a number of the Celtic kids? “What did we accomplish?” countered Rivers. “We accomplished a bunch of individual guys doing things.” Precisely. And the logical flow model states the next step is getting the conductor to figure out how to put his musicians into the same harmonic key. What sets best fit their talents? The measure of a coach will be told in the results. First, however, the coach must get his players to put team concerns ahead of personal matters. We can blame youth, injuries, and whatever for the failure of this team to progress, but it all comes down to the coach's inability to bring it all together.
With the addition of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, most would say that Doc just became a much better coach. But, there are still decisions to be made such as whether or not to guard the inbounds pass on the final play of the game or whether to foul when up by 3 in the final seconds. There are decisions as to playing time and rotations. And in spite of having some excellent defensive players on the team now, we also have some players who are weak on defense and so there has to be a team defense set up and stressed. Will Doc be able to do all these things? Will he be able to coach 3 all stars and manage the supporting cast around them? With Garnett, Allen and Pierce as the centerpieces of this team, anything short of a trip to the Finals will be considered a failed season.
I like Doc, I really do. He is a very likable guy and the players seem to like him a lot. House and Pollard had lunch with him before their press conference and they said that he was just like another player and didn't seem like a coach. He is good with the press and always says the right things. But he just hasn't shown that he is a good coach. He has never won more than 45 games in his 7 years as a head coach. He has never gotten a team out of the first round of the playoffs. I am all for keeping Doc if he can do the job, but if this team doesn't get off to a good start, Doc should be fired even with the extension in place. He has a veteran team now so youth isn't an excuse. He has 3 All Stars on his team who will form the best trio in the league this season. There can be no more excuses. Doc needs to produce this season or Danny needs to bring in a coach who can. With the hiring of Tom Thibodeau, who was considered for several head coaching jobs this season and who is considered by many to be the best assistant in the league, Danny may have already put Doc's replacement in place just in case Doc stumbles out of the blocks this season. We have a short window to win a championship now that Danny traded away our young core and I don't want to waste it with a mediocre coach. Hopefully, Danny doesn't either.
[Yao takes a break after the practice with the Chinese National Team in Beijing. Accompanied by trainer Anthony Falsone and Rockets assistant coach Tom Thibodeau.]
Maybe Danny and Doc are serious about the defense this season. Danny has hired Tom Thibodeau as an assistant to replace Tony Brown who left over a contract dispute and is now in Milwaukee. Tony Brown had been in charge of the Celtics defense before his departure and now it will fall to Tom Thibodeau to coach the defense of the team
A coach for 17 seasons, Thibodeau has been an assistant coach with Houston, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Seattle and Minnesota. During that time, Thibodeau's teams have finished among the top 10 in fewest points allowed 14 times. Perhaps his most notable stint was as an assistant with New York (1996-2003). In 2000-01, the Knicks set an NBA record by holding opponents to fewer than 100 points in 33 consecutive games. In his first year in Houston, Thibodeau helped the Rockets set franchise records in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense.
Thibodeau’s coaching career began in 1981 as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Salem State College. After three years as an assistant, he became head coach in 1984. The following season, Thibodeau became an assistant coach at Harvard. He coached at Harvard for four years before leaving for the NBA.
Thibodeau entered the NBA in 1989 as an assistant coach with the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves under the late Bill Musselman. After two seasons with the Timberwolves, he joined the Seattle SuperSonics in 1991 as an advance scout. The following year, Thibodeau moved to San Antonio, where he worked with Jerry Tarkanian and John Lucas as a Spurs assistant coach for two seasons. He left San Antonio to become an assistant coach under Lucas with the Philadelphia 76ers. Thibodeau’s stayed in Philadelphia two seasons before joining the Knicks. With the Knicks, Thibodeau worked with Van Gundy for five years and Don Chaney for two seasons. He has coached in 87 career NBA playoff games, including New York’s appearance in the 1999 NBA Finals.
During his four seasons with Houston, the Rockets advanced to the postseason in three of those seasons and won 50 games in two seasons. Thibodeau guided the Rockets to a top five ranking in the NBA in both opponents’ scoring defense and field goal percentage in each of the past four seasons. Thibodeau also led the Rockets’ summer league teams to a 10-0 record over the past two seasons. In 2005-06, he worked with All-Star Center Yao Ming as he became the first Rockets player to average 20 points and 10 rebounds in a season since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1995-96. Thibodeau has gone to China the past two summers to help Yao work on his individual skills. Yao speaks often of Thibodeau's role in his breakthrough play after coming back from the toe surgery last season. A look at tape of Yao from three seasons ago, before Thibodeau began working with him, and a tape of him from this season would be compelling evidence of Thibodeau's effectiveness.
A native of New Britain, Connecticut, Thibodeau graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and a master’s in counseling from Salem State College. He lettered in four seasons at Salem State. He was inducted into the New Britain, CT Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.
Before taking the Celtics job, Thibodeau interviewed for several head coaching jobs and agreed with Washington to be an assistant for the Wizards. He worked several days with the Wizards and then had a change of heard and didn't sign the contract. Reports are that he was promised the head assistant position and then wasn't given it and that is why he backed away from working with the Wizards. The Celtics had shown interest in him and it is reported that the Celtics also offered him a deal before he agreed to the Wizards job. He requested a one year contract according to the Herald and that may be because he is considered to be head coaching material and he may want to see what is out there next season. Or, it may be because each of Doc's assistants have a 1 year contract and he didn't want to one-up them.
This was a good hire for the Celtics and although Doc has said that he is going to coach the defense this season and leave the offense to his assistants, I think he would do well to let Thibodeau take the lead with the defense since he has been successful in the past with his defensive schemes.
The Herald is reporting that the Celtics will hire Tom Thibodeau as an assistant coach to replace Tony Brown, who is now with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Celtics will be hiring Tom Thibodeau as their new assistant coach, according to league sources.
The Salem State product has most recently been an assistant with Houston. It was announced he would join the staff in Washington, but after two days working with the Wizards this summer, he balked on the agreement when it came time to sign the deal.
Interestingly, Thibodeau’s contract with the Celtics is for just one season — a term he reportedly sought.
Thibodeau was on the Celtic radar when Tony Brown left the club on a contract issue after this season. Depending on which side you believe, Thibodeau either turned down a Boston offer or one was not made. The point was moot when he took the Washington job under Eddie Jordan, but his representative tried to rekindle things with the Celts when the D.C. situation dissolved.
It took a while to get things going again, mainly because Doc Rivers had committed to speaking with other potential hires, but things ended up working here out for the New Britain, Conn., native.
Interesting that he sought just a one year deal. With most coaches and players trying to get as much long term security as they can get, it is quite odd that he would ask for only a one year deal. Especially with the talent that this team now has on it. Also interesting that he quit the Wizards after only two days of working with them. You have to wonder what was so bad there that he would back out of the contract. He is known as a defensive specialist, though, so that may be a good thing.
The Celtics also introduced Pollard and House to the media today. Pollard is a very funny guy. He said that the Celtics getting Garnett was good but now that he and House are there they really have a chance. He also said that he is happy to be the cornerstone of the franchise for this year, which got some chuckles from the media.
The big news today is Reggie Miller. Danny has indeed offered him a chance to come back with the Celtics. Maybe Danny should go after all the greats who didn't get a ring. We could use a point guard. Maybe Stockton isn't doing anything. Or how about KC Jones? Or maybe Doc could be a player coach. And then there is Karl Malone. The Stockton to Malone thing might still work. Or maybe Charles Barkley. He did win that race at the All Star game. But why stop at the players without a ring? Kareem may need a few bucks and Parish looks to be in good shape still. And we could always try coaxing Bill Russell and Jordan out of retirement. What about Cowens and Cousy? Then again, maybe I am getting a bit carried away. Here are some links to Reggie Miller stories: Herald, Globe, Miami Herald, Sporting News, Boston Sportz, and Sports Illustrated. There were a lot more but most of them just said the same things over again. But on the other side of the coin, Pacers fans are hoping that Miller doesn't defect to the Celtics. Celtics Blog has a couple of good articles worth reading. JB takes a look at the Celtics and their rapidly aging group of players while Jeff discusses the Surreal Life.
I will be following the progress of our former players in Minnesota. The Celtics and the Wolves will be entangled until one or the other wins a championship and even longer. McHale talks about KG, the new Wolves, and himself. Glen Taylor is very eager to fix the Wolves. TWolves Blog is questioning whether the PG spot should be turned over to Sebastian Telfair. Hoopsworld reports that the new players should be given a chance. Timberwolves.com has a piece scouting the new Wolves. SI.com reports that Jefferson is ready to carry the Wolves. I believe that he will and every point he scores against the Celtics is going to depress me.
In their new Power Rankings, Inside Hoops puts the Celtics at #9 behind the Spurs, Suns, Mavs, Jazz, Rockets, Cavs, Bulls and Pistons. We were at 29 in their last rankings so I guess a leap of 20 spots is a good thing.
Boston Celtics (24-58) - The previous InsideHoops.com power ranking from two months ago for the Celtics was 29. Almost the worst in the league. Now, with a major roster shakeup putting Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen alongside Paul Pierce, on paper the Celtics have three players that should terrify the rest of the league. Ray Allen just had ankle surgeries, but he should be OK, and consider that he did extremely well playing hurt last year. Pierce and KG are superstars. And they're all smart players with basketball brains. Let me (InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner) stand in the corner on offense and I'll pour in open threes as long as I can stand still and keep my feet set. And find a center. But for now, Rajon Rondo runs point and Kendrick Perkins is the man in the middle. The team needs a bench, badly. And yeah, we've probably underrated them, down here at #9. On paper we certainly have. But I'll wait for them to develop chemistry and then move them up quickly. Even if you agree #9 is too low, I find it hard to put them higher than, say, #6.
Indiana is still going back and forth about an O'Neal trade. Now that KG is off the market, JO is the best bet for another big trade. The Indy Star is investigating Jermainegate. The Sporting News doesn't feel that O'Neal will be dealt.
There is yet another Celtics blog out there. Get Garnett, the fan site that was pushing to get Garnett to the Lakers, has branched out to include Got Garnett, a sister site for the Celtics to renew the Lakers/Celtics rivalry of old. They have done a good job on the site so be sure to check them out.
Finally, a couple of general things. Remember Tim Donaghy? The ref scandal is still out there in spite of KG and the Celtics taking over the headlines. Philly.com reports that the FBI is still taking interviews in the case. It has been 15 years since that first Dream Team came back with Olympic gold and NBA.com has a good article on the original Dream Team.
54 Days Till Training Camp.... We have 1 spot left on the roster, 2 if you don't count Manuel whose contract is not guaranteed, and 4 if you don't count the 2 draft picks who haven't yet been signed. Danny is looking to bring in Reggie Miller but we still need at least a back up point guard. We could also use another center since we have only Pollard and Perk at that spot now and Pollard has missed a lot of time with a bad back and there is always a chance of the plantar fasciitis flaring up for Perk. There has been talk of interest in Sarunas Jasikevicius which would have to be a trade since he isn't a free agent. We have a little over 3 million of the MLE left to sign a free agent. It will be interesting to see what Danny does next. The team still has holes and not much to work with to fill them.
Today we get a little bit of twisted humor from Celtics Green's own Eja117. I guess the last 21 years have given us all this feeling that when things are going too well for the Celtics something is going to happen to squash it. I mean, what can you expect from a commissioner who is a Knicks fan? Here is his article:
Mid season year 2008-09
KG, PP, and Ray hanging out together in PP's apartment
PP: Do either of you guys miss being double teamed all the time?
Ray: Are you insane?
KG: I tell you what I don't miss. I don't miss seeing Amare, Dirk, Boozer, and Duncan every other week. Now all I ever have to worry about is Shaq when he actually plays, but they just send in Scala and Pollard to send him to the line 10 times, plus Perk mostly deals with Shaq, while I deal with heh heh Udonis Haslem. Perk looks so cute when he defends Shaq. This East conference thing is a vacation to me, especially now that Jermaine O'Neal has been traded to the Lakers for that 19 year old guy..what's his name. Bynam.
Ray: I prefer the snow here to the rain in Seattle.
KG: I like the way there is still nice snow but it's way less than that icebox in Minnesotta. And I tell you what else. Watching all the Goodwill Hunting reruns here is way better than all the Fargo reruns there.
PP: But does it ever seem too easy being together, like we're cheating or something?
KG: Is this that whole Kansas thing bugging you? Did Scott Pollard talk to you again? Like you have to suffer to be happy? I told you to only go there for a year like Starburry. You didn't listen. No. We deserve this.
PP: No that's not what I mean. Like the other day when we beat the Hawks by 40 points. We shouldn't have done that. It was wrong.
Ray: I said in our press conference people have to be afraid to come here and you agreed. We did what we had to do.
PP: Fine, fine, but how about this. When the TWoles come here let's not kill them, ok? It's not fair. We've fleeced the TWolves in two trades in a row and if we kill them again they might stop offering us awesome trades.
KG: Not kill the TWolves? Did you realize I was sitting right next to you?
Ray: Yeah I didn't follow that at all actually.
PP: I'm just thinking maybe we should save something for the playoffs.
Ray: It's thinking like that that kills the Heat. No way.
PP: Look guys. I've been a Celtic a long time now. Stern always figures a way to screw us. If we get too good something horrible will happen.
KG: Who are those tall men in dark clothes walking down the street outside? I've never seen such a menacing looking posse. Not even around AI on all-star break.
Ray: Maybe the Pizza is here.
Enter Ghosts of Red and DJ
Ghosts: Paul, Ray, Kevin. You must leave now. Stern has sent his "associates" to find you. They can smell your 2007-08 Eastern Conference Championship rings. They're only purpose is to find you and the rings, and when they do they will kill you. They will never stop hunting you.
KG: Who the heck are you and where is my calzone?
Ghosts: We are the ghosts of Red and DJ. You must listen to us and leave now
Associates: Hello boys. We're David Stern's associates.
Ray: Did you bring the Chinese food?
PP diving out a window: Get out of here!
Associates blow away everyone in the room. They try to kill the ghosts but the bullets pass thru them.
Associates: Who are you?
Ghosts: We are the ghosts of Red and DJ
Associates: Oh good. The boss has a deal in place to send you to the Chinese for Yi.
The associates vacuum them into a minivac and leave the room.
The Celtics go on to finish dead last in the East and lose the lottery. Doc and Danny Ainge are found dead in a hotel room in an apparent double murder suicide pact the next day with a note saying "It was Donaghy's fault", but reporters Greg Dickerson, Gary Tanguay, and Mike Felger question why the gun was in Ainge's left hand and the bullet hole on the right side of his head. They are never seen again.
Tommy is heard grumbling to Gorman "I knew this would happen". Gorman grumbles back. "So did I, but shut up".
ESPN is reporting that Reggie Miller is considering a return to the NBA with the Celtics.
Reggie Miller says he is contemplating a return to the NBA, this time with the Boston Celtics. Miller, who turns 42 on Aug. 24, played his entire 18-year career with the Indiana Pacers before retiring in 2005. Since his playing days ended he has worked as a television analyst for TNT. Miller was all set to continue that job when Celtics general manager Danny Ainge and coach Doc Rivers asked him to think about joining their revamped team in a reserve role, playing about 15 minutes per game.
We have one more roster spot available. We still need a back up point guard and could use more insurance at the center spot with Scott Pollard, who has a history of back problems, as our back up center. So, Danny goes after a 42 (yes, that is FORTY-TWO) year old shooting guard who doesn't fill either of those needs.
Danny Ainge just confirmed that he approached Reggie Miller, the former Pacer and five-time all-star shooting guard, about becoming a Celtic. “I had a couple of conversations with Reggie, and that’s all I’m going to say,'’ said the Celtics’ director of basketball operations, who is vacationing in San Diego with his family, not far from Miller, who lives in Malibu, where new Celtic Kevin Garnett also happens to live. Ainge, who approached Miller on what was described as a hunch, apparently had an effect, considering that Miller told ESPN.com that he was contemplating a return with the Celtics, who have one contract slot open, and the majority of their mid-level exception to spend.
Am I missing something or does this not make any sense other than Danny trying to give a veteran player a chance at a ring? But if we don't fill the holes on our bench, the Celtics won't win any championships. The point guard spot is especially concerning as Rondo is our only true point guard on the team. It will certainly be interesting if Miller does decide to come aboard. I wonder if Miller would want to play point guard or center. Then again, maybe they are negotiating with Parish or Jabbar and maybe John Stockton or KC Jones to come play for us too.
With the press conference yesterday to introduce the new Timberwolves, there is a lot out there about that. my impression watching it was one of sadness. This conference lacked the smiles and laughter of the Celtics press conference. Gerald was the only one in a suit and he looked really good but also a little scared. In spite of putting a positive spin on it, I really got the impression that these guys are still hurting from being traded. Here is a link to a video of the conference and also a transcript. The Pioneer Press reports that Jefferson is a loyal guy and is thinking long term in Minnesota. The Herald reports that McHale's 2 trades leave the Wolves a little green. Scott Souza is feeling a little bit Minnesota.
When an MVP is traded from his original team, there is a pattern that shows up in many of the cases where that MVP wins a title after the trade. Of the 10 MVP players who were traded from the team they won the MVP with, 7 of those went on to win titles with their new teams. Only 3 didn't win a title with their new teams.
The 3 who didn't win a championship with their new teams were Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajawan and Allan Iverson. Since Iverson is still playing, it is possible that he may still win a title before he retires. Charles Barkley won the MVP award in his first season with Phoenix in the 1992-93 season. He played 3 more seasons with Phoenix before being traded to Houston. He played 4 years with Houston before retiring. In spite of playing with other All Stars such as Olajawan, Pippen, and Drexler, those Houston teams could never find the chemistry to win a championship. Olajawan won the MVP in the 1993-94 season, his 10th with the Rockets. He was traded to Toronto in 2001 after 17 seasons with the Rockets. He didn't have much left in the tank that season and played in only 61 games, averaging only 7.1 points and 6 rebounds per game.
There were 7 MVP players traded after winning the award. Bob McAdoo won the MVP award in 1975 as a member of the Buffalo Braves. He then bounced around to the Knicks, Celtics, Pistons and Nets before landing with the Lakers in 1981 where he won 2 championships (1982 and 1985) in 4 years with the team.
Kareem Abdul Jabbar won a total of 6 MVP awards, 3 with Milwaukee and 3 with the Lakers. He won the award in 1971, 1972 and 1974 with Milwaukee and won a championship with the Bucks in 1971. He was traded to the Lakers in 1975 and went on to win the MVP with the Lakers in 1976, 1977 and 1980. He also won 5 championships with the Lakers after the trade in 80, 82, 85, 87, and 88.
Wilt Chamberlain won the MVP award 4 times, 1960, 1966, 1967, and 1968, all with the Philadelphia 76ers. He was traded from Philly to the Lakers in 1968 and he went on to win a championship with the Lakers in 1972 after being traded.
The great Oscar Robertson was named the league MVP in 1964 while he was in his 4th season with the Cincinnati Royals. He played 6 more years with the Royals before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 1970. That season, his first with the Bucks, he won his one and only championship.
Moses Malone played for the Buffalo Braves (1 year), Houston Rockets (6 years), Sixers (5years), Washington Bullets (2 years), Atlanta Hawks (3 seasons), Milwaukee Bucks 2 seasons) and finally, the Spurs (1 season). Malone won the MVP award three times in 1979 and 1982 when he was with Houston. He was traded to Philly in 1982 and he won the MVP again that season and also won his only championship that season after the trade. He was traded 5 more times after that but only won the one championship.
Shaquille O'Neal was drafted by the Orlando Magic and spent 3 years there before being traded to the Lakers in 1995. He went on to win 3 titles with the Lakers and won his only MVP award as a Laker in 2000. He was traded to Miami in 2004 and went on to win a 4th title with the Heat in 2006.
Finally, there is Bill Walton who played for Portland from 1974-1978 where he won the MVP award in 1978 and won a championship in 1977. He played 4 years for the Clippers before being traded to Boston in 1985 where he won his second championship with the Celtics in 1986.
And that brings us to Kevin Garnett, who played 12 years in Minnesota and won the MVP award with the Wolves in 2004. As everyone who can read or watch television knows, Garnett was traded to the Celtics this season and if history is any indication, Garnett will win a championship in Boston. Here's hoping that historical precedence holds true one more time and #17 is on its way to Boston.
We have all enjoyed the Carnival of the NBA with links to blogs from all over the NBA. Jeff over at Celtics Blog had a great idea to put together a Celtics Carnival since the Celtics are big news, and even when they weren't, no team has more blogs than the Celtics. Some good links there, so check it out. HoopsHype has an article with interviews from 3 of the best Celtics Blogs: Celtics Blog, CelticsStuff Live, and Red's Army.
ESPN has a piece on Paul Pierce and the fact that he is working on his legacy on and off the court.
"It's hanging in the balance," Pierce says. "People don't know what to think. I think I have the potential to be a Hall of Fame player. I think I have the potential to be one of the best ever to play the game. It's right here for me. It's all on how hard I work and how far I want to take it." So what does he plan to do differently this season? "Win more games," he says. "That's it. People know what I can do as an individual basketball player. The legacy is all about how many games you win, what you do as a team."
With Kevin Garnett out of the trade picture, rumors have turned to Jermaine O'Neal as the most likely to be traded. First he wants to be traded to LA and then he doesn't want to be traded. The Indy Star says he has put his foot in his mouth. It gives the media something to talk about besides how good the Celtics are now.
Celtics 24/7 reports that there is a 3 headed monster loose in Boston. 411 Mania asks what Garnett will bring to Boston. Celtics News appreciates Brian Scalabrine.
Projo tells us that Ainge has succeeded in making the Celtics pertinent again. The Hartford Courant reports that Ryan Gomes is ready to give his all to Minnesota. The Republican American reports that Gomes is dealing with the hurt of being traded. It shouldn't be surprising because that is just the kind of person he is. I would love to get him back.
Since Ainge and the Celtics have so much love for Gomes, could he be wearing Celtics green again? Could it be as early as next season lined up next to K.G. after all? Eh. Not likely. But that's the rumor going around, that the Wolves are going to cut him and the Celtics will pick him up. When asked about it Monday, Gomes said he heard the rumor, too, but isn't buying into it. "I think it's just something floating around because everyone knows how good they feel about me and I feel about them, but if something like that was to happen ... I mean Minnesota is trying to build something and the one thing I thought about in all of this is that they really wanted me. They wanted me to make the deal work. That's got to make you feel good, but if that was to happen, where they would cut me, the thing about that is you would be able to sign with anybody." Does that mean he wouldn't look for a return to Boston? "If something like that happened, that would be the first place I would want to go, but you just never know," Gomes said.
Big Baby is in the news. He played in a charity softball tournament with Tracy McGrady and is featured in a YouTube video that shows he has a good beat if nothing else. The Celtics still haven't signed Davis or Pruitt and we now have 12 players under contract. I am wondering when they will be signed.
Scott Souza reports that the press conference to introduce the new Wolves has been rescheduled. GoldSeat is introducing the new Timberpups starting with Al Jefferson. It is a nice piece on him and reinforces my feelings that this trade may come back to bite us.
The NBA has chosen a team of 10 select players to scrimmage against the USA team. It is headed by Iguodala and Al Jefferson. Should be some good matches. 56 days till training camp. Excited yet?
One of the keys to this season is going to be the play of Rajon Rondo at the point. His play will in a large degree determine how the team develops and how quickly they can mesh into the dominant team that we expect them to be. The point guard position is very key on any team and this year's Celtics will be no exception. But can Rondo do the job in just his second season?
Rondo has all the physical attributes it will take to be a top point guard. He is a phenomenal athlete with an incredibly quick first step, awesome foot-speed, and terrific leaping ability. He also has a gigantic wingspan and huge hands, which allows him to play much bigger than his 6'1" size.
He also possesses the intangibles that are key to success as a point guard. Rondo is a pass first point guard, being highly unselfish and featuring excellent court vision and passing ability. Rondo possesses a high level of basketball IQ and shows great poise with the ball in his hands. He has great ball-handling skills and a natural talent to find the open man. Rondo is great on the drive and dish, being able to get into the lane almost at will thanks to his terrific speed and ball-handling ability. Rondo is also an excellent defender because of his excellent lateral quickness and very quick hands. He has the potential to develop into a smothering perimeter defender. He’s not afraid to step in the lane and take a charge if the situation calls for it. Many times last season we would see Rondo go flying to the floor after taking a charge. He has taken some hard hits but always gets right back up and goes at it again. Rondo is also a terrific rebounder and he led his college team in rebounding from the PG position.
If we look at a couple of other PGs in the league we can see that it isn't impossible for a PG as talented as Rondo to make a leap from the first season to the second season. Deron Williams is one of the best examples I can think of. In his first season he averaged 10.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and .8 steals in 28 minutes. His second season, he made a leap to 16.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 9.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 36.9 minutes per game and led the Jazz with poise in the playoffs. Another example is Monta Ellis. He averaged 6.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and .6 steals in 18.1 minutes in his first season. In his second season he averaged 16.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.7 steals in 34 minutes on his way to the Most Improved Player award. Rondo was impressive in Summer League and gives every indication that he will be able to make the same kind of leap this season.
The one knock against Rondo is that he didn't have a jumper. He has a very strong work ethic and has worked hard on his jumper, taking over a thousand shots a day. From all reports, his shot is looking good and he should be able to keep defenses honest this season. He is a pass first point guard, which will be a great asset with KG, Pierce and Ray Allen on the floor to provide the offense, but he can also drive to the hoop at will because of his quickness and this season, he should be able to shoot well enough to keep his defender at home.
In case you need a refresher course in Rondoism, Here is a video to help you out. Experience Rondoism... experience Giddyupidness... and get very excited.
According to Shira Springer in the Globe, the Celtics have come to terms with Scott Pollard and will sign him for the veteran minimum. Pollard brings size but not much else to the team. He has career averages of 4.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in an average of 16.9 minutes per game. He played in only 24 games for Cleveland last season and averaged 1 point and 1.3 rebounds in 4.5 minutes per game. in This is a signing I don't quite understand. There were much better centers we could have gotten for the money. According to Shira's article:
At the very least, Pollard promises to keep the locker room loose with his quirky humor and unusual hairstyles, like the mini-Mohawk he sported with Cleveland.
But sometimes Pollard can go too far. Late last season, when the Cavaliers played one of his former teams, the Pacers, Pollard was on the bench in street clothes. He made headlines when he looked into a camera and said, "Hey kids, do drugs." Pollard later apologized for the remark, calling it a bad joke.
Joking aside, if Pollard stays healthy and earns an opportunity to play consistently, he could be a pleasant surprise. While he may be less heralded than the other 30-something acquisitions the Celtics have made this offseason, he could be a valuable role player with his defense.
According to the Herald, Al Jefferson is seeking an immediate extension starting at $10 million.
The biggest financial news is that Al Jefferson [stats] is reportedly seeking a starting point of $10 million on his next contract, and he wants to be extended now.
He wasn't looking for an immediate extension when he was in Boston so I wonder if he just isn't very sure about the Wolves ownership and wants a little more security. I can't say as I blame him. He should be able to get at least $10 million given the market for big guys. Given the fact that I expect Al to continue to improve and become one of the top big men in the league, the Wolves might be much better off to lock him up at $10 million before he is in the position to ask for a max contract at the end of next season.
There has been so much going on lately. Everyone is talking about the Celtics. I can honestly say that I haven't seen this kind of buzz about the Celtics since the 1986 championship team. It seems to be a good time to be a Celtics fan. But there are still some out there who don't like the trade. I still worry that trading Big Al is going to come back to haunt us. I really liked the young group we were building and was willing to wait for them to mature together but I love Garnett and the enthusiasm he has brought to this franchise. One thing that may hurt us is having to give up so much to get him. Our bench at the moment isn't very strong. We still need a back up center for sure and could really use a back up point guard as House is more of a shooting guard than a PG. We have to shore up our bench to make some noise in the playoffs.
The Globe takes us through the thought processes that led up to the trade. The Herald talks about how Garnett and Allen will ease Pierce's burden. The NY Daily News talk about the fact that although the new big three have All Star pedigrees, they have very little playoff experience. The MetroWest Daily tells us that Pierce is back in the spirit.
Celtics 24/7 warns us to beware of bandwagoners. I never could understand people who root for the team that's winning instead of standing by one team. I can understand the Garnett fans and Ray Allen fans coming over to the Celtics now to follow their favorite players. I plan to follow the Wolves because of all the guys they have that I have come to love. But my first love always has been and always will be the Celtics. I was loyal to them through the Russell years, the Bird years, the Pitino years, and the ML Carr years and through it all, I have loved the Celtics with no reservations.
