It's been a while since I posted my random thoughts on things. Life somehow gets in the way of blogging at times. Last night I very much enjoyed watching the Heat beat the Lakers. It doesn't really matter who beats them, I just really like watching the Lakers lose.
How crazy is it that tonight will be the second game all season where the Celtics had their full complement of players. With all the injuries and illness on this team it's no wonder they couldn't seem to get going. But it really isn't an excuse because a good team will find ways to win in spite of the injuries.
I like the Finley signing if for nothing else than the Lakers wanted him and now they can't have him. (Have I mentioned lately how much I dispise all things Laker?) Aside from that, it is a great low risk, high reward signing. Finley has been described as one of the best teammates and locker room influences in the league. And he really wants to win another ring. That kind of addition has to give a team a boost. And while I am at it, Happy Birthday to our newest Celtic.
Speaking of boosts. Nate Robinson is like the Energizer Bunny. Just wind him up and let him go and he brings a ton of energy into the game. I can see Nate becoming a fan favorite and hanging around after this season. I was sad to see Eddie go because he is a good guy but as far as what these two bring to the team, I like the addition of Nate. Red's Army posted the numbers for both since the trade and, at least so far, it does appear that Danny made a good decision.
Eddie House: 11-38 from 3, 10.8 ppg
Nate Robinson: 10-19 from 3, 10.8 ppg
But, we can't ignore what Bill Walker is doing in considering the trade, either. I have liked Bill Walker since Danny drafted him and had high hopes for him. I was very disappointed to see him included in the trade. The trade would have worked with just Nate for Eddie and Giddens but they added Walker and Landry. My guess is that NY wanted Walker and he needed to be added to seal the deal. Danny has said that he would consider bringing Walker back. But the way he is playing in NY, I don't see them giving him up. I have flashes of Chauncey Billups and Joe Johnson flashing before my eyes. Trades of young guys who were never given a chance on the Celtics and who later come back to haunt us.
I'm in the middle of reading Tim Donaghy's book and recommend it. There are a lot of things he says in the book that you can see is backed up with what we see from the refs night in and night out. David Stern would like us to believe that everything is wonderful with the refs now that the one rogue ref is gone. But, the things that Donaghy mentions in his book are still going on. I think the NBA needs to clean house from the Commissioner on down. Once I finish the book, I'll post a few excerpts from it and a few more of my thoughts on it.
Oh, and here's a surprise, Zydrunas Ilgauskas has decided he wants to return to the Cavs. Was there ever any doubt? There's no way that you can convince me that this move wasn't agreed on in the original trade. I really hate this loophole. I think they need to change the CBA to include a clause that teams that trade a player can't re-sign them for the rest of the season, not just 30 days. There is too much of this underhanded dealing. The Cavs by doing this basically got Jamison for NOTHING! This is even a bigger sham than the Pau Gasol trade. At least the Grizzlies got a prospect in the other Gasol in return.
The Celtics play the Sixers tonight and I am hoping to see the Celtics take another step up and dominate this team. KG is looking better. Pierce looks healthy. Nate has the bench energized. I love what Quisy brings. I'm still disappointed in Sheed and would rather have Shelden getting some of his minutes but I think Sheed will up his game as the playoffs approach. I'll leave you with a video of some classic Celtics/Sixers moments of the fight between Bird and Dr.J. I love the call from Johnny Most. I just finished his book High Above Courside and highly recommend it. Some good stuff in there. I just love this video. I doubt that there are any Sixers with this kind of passion left on that team.
Awesome post FL. Johnny Most is simply amazing. I'm worried about the Bill Walker thing as well. I remember when we got the Rogers rental all the Boston press at the time said it was a great deal for Boston. Walker won't become JJ, but I think the deal gets done with a 2nd rounder instead of Walker.
I want to read Donaghy's book. I'm sure it will be a great read.
Just my opinion, but I think if the C;s had traded Ray Allen for either Caron/Haywood or Kevin Martin, and Washington/Sacramento bought out Ray, Boston fans wouldn't have any problem with the waive and resign loophole. lol.
I still don't like it. I didn't like it when the Celtics did it with Payton. If a team wants to keep a player, then don't trade him. It just seems wrong to me.
