Random Thoughts on Player Awards, Evan Turner, and More

Best Social Media Follow  The NBA Players Association announced the Player's Voice Awards today.  The players voted on Most Valuable Player (Russell Westbrook), Global Impact Player (LeBron James), Most Influential Veteran (Vince Carter),  Best Social Media Follow (Joel Embiid), Coach You’d Most Like to Play For (Gregg Popovich), Best Home Court Advantage (Golden State), Best Dressed (Russell Westbrook), The Player You Secretly Wish Was On Your Team (LeBron James), Hardest to Guard (Russell Westbrook), Best Defender (Kawhi Leonard), Best Off the Bench (Lou Williams), Comeback Player of the Year (Joel Embiid), and Best Rookie (Malcolm Brogdan).




Above are Teammate of the Year award winners.  To win this award a player needed to be the teammate with the biggest impact on the team and their teammates on and off the court. Some of these make sense but some just make you shake your head.  Gerald Green makes sense for the Celtics.  He was a veteran presence in games, on the sidelines and in the locker room.  I was sorry that they didn't have room to bring him back. 

The one that catches my attention is Rajon Rondo.  He was benched for long stretches because of his attitude and had a very public spat with both Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler.  I guess it was that one good playoff game that won them all over.  Another head scratcher is Dwight Howard.  There were stories of discord on the team and they couldn't wait to trade him but he was the Teammate of the Yeat.  Good to see Al Jefferson on the list.  I've always liked Big Al.

And best of all, The Clutch Player of the year goes to Isaiah Thomas.

Give us OT with IT. The Clutch Performer goes to @Isaiah_Thomas. #PlayersVoice pic.twitter.com/QDR4YOHZev

— NBPA (@TheNBPA) August 18, 2017

Celtics have reported that they will retire Paul Pierce's #34 on February 11th when they play the Cleveland Cavaliers. This will be one year and 6 days after he hit his last jumper on the Parquet floor as a member of the LA Clippers. The game on Feb. 11th is at 3:30 p.m. and on ABC. It’s the first Sunday after the Super Bowl and so basketball will be front and center. Reports are that the ceremony will take place AFTER the game rather than at halftime. Hopefully ABC will televise the ceremony. Pierce will be the 22nd player to have his number retired in Boston. He is the first since Cedric Maxwell's number was retired on December 15, 2003.

I miss Evan Turner. He was always good for a smile in interviews. If you don't follow him on twitter, you really should. Here are a couple of recent thoughts from Evan's twitter that made me laugh. He's one of the good guys in the league.

Last thought before I go to sleep: ladies, I dig you losing weight and I love it. But please make sure your head fits your body..

If your head is built for 135 pound body then please don't drop down to 115. It confuses all of us!

Boston Celtics have reached an agreement with guard Daniel Dixon (College of William & Mary), @BBallInsiders has learned.

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) August 19, 2017

This will bring the training camp roster to its maximum of 20 players. The Celtics have 16 players with guaranteed contracts, two training camp players who are probably destined to be on the Red Claws, and two 2-way players. Dixon is a 6’6’’ shooting guard who averaged 19.2 points per game as a senior. He shot over 48% overall and 37.8% on over six three-point attempts per game.

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