11.19.2009

Something Still Ain't Right

For the first time in his career as a Boston Celtic, Shelden Williams manifested a perceptible spring in his step. There would be no expressionless, meditative look and feel to his game last night. Oddly, it might have been his worst game to date in green. Conclusion? Go figger.

Rajon Rondo followed orders and impersonated D.Wade in the third quarter, taking it to the rack and scoring from range. This is not only encouraging, it is necessary. As I've noted earlier, Rajon Rondo may not be our best player, but he is our only player who can play his best 90% of the time he's on the floor. So this he must do, and I see Doc telling him to be D.Wade more and more this season as Doc realizes that this gives us our best chance to win.

Speaking of young legs, let's talk for a minute about old and tired legs. If you want to know why we aren't a dominant defensive team, it's because Kevin Garnett is no longer a dominant defensive presence. If you want to know why the Boston Celtics get off to slow first-quarter starts, it's because KG doesn't impose his will on defense from the opening tip. It's no secret that our defense fuels the rest of our game. So if KG ain't playing world class D, we ain't gonna be playing world class ball.

Next I welcome back Eddie House to the Boston Celtics. I'm not sure where he'd been. But 4-10 (including 3-5 from range) is much better than 5-20 (including 1-6 from range), which is what he shot in the previous four games.

Finally, Ray Allen shot 6-10 from the field last night. For the year, he's shooting .486 from the field. I'm pleased by this. While he's shooting only .313 from range, I have more confidence that his long-range shooting will improve than I do that KG's defensive presence will improve. I also note that Ray has converted 13 of his last 14 free throws.

15 comments:

Lex said...

Of all the things that concern me, the biggest is the decline in KG's defensive abilities. I'm uncertain whether he ever gets back to even 90% on defense.

1111 said...

i agree, KG is the core of our D and if he's not playing it to the dominant level we get used we have some issues...
but the season is long and, even if u can compare trash with cake, i know for personal experience that when surgeon touch ur knees it keeps long time to get back to real full form...

Lex said...

True. We got plenty of time. Hopefully, he'll fully recover

1111 said...

but if i can go offtopic i fear LAL will trade Bynum for a better, and cheaper, defensive center like Marc Gasol (that have an higher basketball IQ and is not soft as is older brother) and get also good bench player in the swap...

Lex said...

Wow. You and the army both think that. Bynum has been putting up decent numbers as of late. I would be surprised by such a trade. But a lot more people are talking about it than last year.

Lex said...

I was just reading some lakers blogs. I'm not seeing tons of trade-bynum sentiment out there.

Lex said...

What's the biggest shocker of the year thus far? How about this: The Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks have the same number of losses--3.

Matty said...

you got to give that one to brandon jennings, and andrew bogut being back and healthy!

also the celtics leaky defence over the last few games (i know for most teams our current d would be classed as good, but for the c's its pretty poor!)

Lex said...

Leaky D--I like it!

FLCeltsFan said...

Yeah, the defense still isn't right. And I think you are right in pointing to KG as the weak link in it. I have to believe that KG is still getting his legs under him after being out for so long and hoping that his D will improve as the season goes on. I don't think he has lost it... just misplaced it for now.

As for LA trading Bynum for the other Gasol.... Was Chris Wallace just renting and incubating Gasol for the Lakers? I mean LA traded Gasol for Gasol and now they want him back for Bynum.... Something stinks in that deal if they do. Of course if LA is in it, it pretty much stinks anyway.

Lex said...

Yeah, that would be stinky indeed!

1111 said...

the Mark Gasol trade is just an idea of mine, not a rumor or anything close to a real thing.
but it makes lots of sense (for LAL of course): the young Gasol is tall, skilled enough, have experience (he was the Eurolegue MVP a couple of years ago...) good and rude defender, and also he's cheap so Chris Wallace can send him to LA with another (good of course) player masking it as a "salary match filler" and get back "i dont need Kareem advice" Bynum...

So with one move the fakers will get a good post defender and a soo much needed player for the bench.

Hey Lex, if it happen u can said "i had it on my blog first!" LOL

Partner, Ryvin Wallace Group said...

In my own experience (reconstructive ACL surgery), Defense came back AFTER Offense. Playing D was much harder because it required reacting to my opponent; whereas O allowed me to control my actions.

Based on what I've seen, for what it's worth, I am still hopeful KG will get back to full-strength.

Lex said...

Thanks, CW.

Anyone think M.Gasol may have a better year than Al jeff?

FLCeltsFan said...

Good to hear CW. I am hopeful too. Just so he is 100% by the playoffs all will be fine.