Connecticut Celtics fans rejoice! Your beloved team is returning to Hartford for the first time in nearly 14 years. Tickets went on sale Monday for a preseason game with the Toronto Raptors, which will be held at the XL Center on Oct. 14.
Former UConn star Ray Allen will come back home to lead his team along with Celtics megastars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. The team has also recently signed NBA powerhouse Rasheed Wallace. The game will be the first in Hartford for the Celtics since a preseason game vs. the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 18, 1995.
Tickets are priced from $15 to $75, and can be purchased at the XL Center box office or through Ticketmaster.
LINK
14 years, huh?
It seems more like 20 years.
About Me
Dave Cowens: More Intense than KG?
fe·ro·cious
adj.
1. Extremely savage; fierce. See Synonyms at cruel.
2. Marked by unrelenting intensity; extreme: ferocious heat.
ma·ni·a·cal also ma·ni·ac
adj.
1. Suggestive of or afflicted with insanity: a maniacal frenzy.
2. Characterized by excessive enthusiasm or excitement
There was no ordinary, garden-variety rebound for Dave Cowens. Every time he came down with a missed shot, the elbows were out, the legs were spread, and the nostrils flared. Think Bill Russell in this famous picture. Cowens took no prisoners. That sounds like a cliche. But if you even looked at him funny, the bumping started, and, if you didn't like that, the shoving and elbowing followed.
You would not get the upper hand on Dave Cowens. Pure and simple. Example: Cowens faced off against Wilt Chamberlain four times during the season after the Lakers went 69-13 on their way to the championship. The Celtics won all four games, with Cowens averaging 31 points and 19 rebounds a game in those four contests. The Lakers' run was one-and-done, if Cowens had anything to say about it.
Bob Ryan once wrote:
Dave Cowens stands 6 feet 8 1/2 inches, and even 20 years ago that was considered a bit runty for a center. Indeed, it was a raging local talk show controversy in the fall of 1970. This kid Cowens is OK, but he's not really a center. But Cowens was a center, all right, because he believed he was a center with every pore of his body. "Being a center was everything to me," he admits. "It's the best position. Simple mathematics. There are two guards and two forwards, but only one center. You're in the middle of everything."
He relished the play-within-a-play concept of dueling with the rival center as part of the grand spectacle. "That's where it starts," he explains, "with the one-on-one confrontation. It doesn't matter if it's Kareem, Wilt, Tom Boerwinkle or Dennis Awtrey. Start with you and him, and then factor in the team strategy. You live off the competition."
Nobody in the history of the NBA ever competed more ferociously, recklessly and honorably than Dave Cowens -- nobody. Anybody can expend energy with a championship in sight, so when Cowens belly-flopped after that loose ball he had knocked away from Oscar Robertson to create a crucial turnover in Game 6 of the 1974 Finals, he was better than anyone else only in that he was able to execute.
But there were few present in Asheville, N.C., on an October night in 1974, and there was absolutely nothing at stake when he spotted Fatty Taylor half the length of the court after the latter's steal in the waning first-half seconds of the first exhibition game and caught up in time to block the shot. Cowens tumbled into the basket's superstructure and broke his foot, causing him to miss the first 17 games of the season. It was at once an unmakeable and irrational play. It was, therefore, pure Dave Cowens.
If you have a chance, buy this set of Celtics' DVDs. They include a bunch of old Celtics' games, plus tons of footage from all of the eras. The game footage of Dave Cowens is captivating. You are left with the impression that KG's intensity pales in comparison.
My attitude was, "Let's see what these players are all about. I knew a Wilt Chamberlain could overwhelm me on offense", but I said, "Let's just see how hard these guys want to work." I think they got pissed at me because I wanted to work hard. They weren't used to somebody who played the way I did. I'd be running them, and after a while they'd think, "The hell with this." That's intimidation, when you're in condition and you can run somebody all the time. That, to me, is true intimidation. If every time you're down court you're right in a guy's face, if every time you're boxing him him out - I mean every time - it gets to a lot of people.
--#18
McHale Drama Continues
July 1983
The quotes have been nice and the smiles have been wide, but the Celtics didn't completely achieve their objective in their War of the Greenbacks with the Knicks. New York fouled the master plan by matching Boston's offers to Rory Sparrow, Marvin Webster and Sly Williams.
Once the Knicks went after Kevin McHale, Red Auerbach and Harry Mangurian went after the Knicks. The Celtics' master plan, a tad Machiavellian, was as follows:
- Match any offer for McHale and keep him in Boston.
- Sign Sparrow, Williams and Webster.
- Keep Sparrow and deal Williams and Webster for draft choices. The Celtics reportedly had those deals set to go.
If that had happened, Boston would have picked up Sparrow, still would have had McHale and also would have obtained the draft choices (from the Williams-Webster trades).
New York, meanwhile, would have been decimated by not signing McHale, losing Sparrow, Webster and Williams, and having already allowed Paul Westphal to depart so that McHale could be signed. The Knicks then would be out four players from their rapidly improving '82-83 team for going after McHale. A heavy punishment, indeed, for attempting to snatch McHale.
But the Knicks counterpunched by matching Boston's offers for Sparrow, Webster and Williams. Still and all, Mangurian and Auerbach fared well and both the Knicks and McHale may be twisting in a warm wind this weekend.
What has soured the Celtics with McHale is that Mangurian and Auerbach thought they twice had agreements. In the famous "reneging" in Philadelphia, Mangurian shook hands with McHale on a deal only to learn the next morning that McHale now wanted a $1 million guarantee if he were traded. Mangurian supposedly told him that was a new condition and the deal, which Mangurian thought he had, was off.
Then, last week, the Celtics were told by John Sandquist, McHale's agent, that McHale likely would stay in Boston if they would extend their three-year, $1 million-a-year offer by another year. Auerbach and Mangurian reportedly thrashed it out and finally decided to do it, but when they called Sandquist to tell him they had a deal, Sandquist reportedly said that deal was off.
So here's the NBA scoreboard for the Fourth of July weekend: The Knicks are out Paul Westphal, stuck with Marvin Webster and have come out the worst in the journeymen Rudy Macklin-for-Sly Williams trade (besides, New York will be paying a healthy chunk of Williams' Atlanta salary) and both New York and Boston are unhappy with McHale.
And the Celtics are waiting for McHale to come home to roost.
Mangurian Finds Buyer for Celtics
July 1983
The next owner of the Celtics, barring any last-minute snags, will be Boston businessman Steve Belkin. Belkin already has the stamp of approval from current owner Harry Mangurian, who announced his plans to sell the team at a May 24 press conference at Boston Garden. "The sale is almost finished," Mangurian said last night from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "Unless something unexpected comes up, the team will be sold within the next few days. We just have some minor details to work out."
The sale price is reportedly in the $12 million-to-$15 million range. Belkin spent the past five days conferring with Mangurian in Fort Lauderdale, and he must have made a good impression. "I think he'll be a perfect owner for the club," said Mangurian. "I was really impressed with him. He has substantial money, enough to own the team. He told me he's a longtime Celtics fan who really has been interested in the team."
The next owner of the Celtics, barring any last-minute snags, will be Boston businessman Steve Belkin. Belkin already has the stamp of approval from current owner Harry Mangurian, who announced his plans to sell the team at a May 24 press conference at Boston Garden. "The sale is almost finished," Mangurian said last night from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "Unless something unexpected comes up, the team will be sold within the next few days. We just have some minor details to work out."
The sale price is reportedly in the $12 million-to-$15 million range. Belkin spent the past five days conferring with Mangurian in Fort Lauderdale, and he must have made a good impression. "I think he'll be a perfect owner for the club," said Mangurian. "I was really impressed with him. He has substantial money, enough to own the team. He told me he's a longtime Celtics fan who really has been interested in the team."
Not Too Many Things in this World
get me cranked up like the C's. But this just might be one of them.
Jo Jo's Number Hoisted
Two championship rings . . . a lifetime 21 points a game playoff scorer, four points a game higher than his regular-season average . . . sixth all-time Celtics' scorer . . . fourth all-time Celtics' assist man . . . And now, the 14th Celtics' player to have his number retired. Meet Jo Jo White.
Jo Jo's No. 10 went up to Rafter Heaven in a nice ceremony prior to last night's pennant-clinching game with the Nets. Present for the occasion were his wife, two children and parents, as well as his Celtics coach, Tom Heinsohn, and teammates Dave Cowens (a one-time roommate), Satch Sanders and Hank Finkel. Jo Jo, now an assistant basketball coach at the University of Kansas, his alma mater, played nine-plus seasons for the Celtics, participating in 717 of his 824 NBA games, but the one for which he will always be rightfully remembered was on June 4, 1976, the famed triple overtime playoff conquest of Phoenix. White was the only Celtic player to maintain a shooting touch throughout the grueling affair, canning seven of his final eight shots while scoring 15 of his 33 points in the overtimes.
The Celtics went into the game needing either a victory or a 76er loss last night in order to clinch their third straight Atlantic Division title, since in the event the Rte. 95 rivals had both done the same thing, the Celtics would have been guaranteed an edge in tie-breakers . . . The only other team in NBA history to win 60 games three years in a row was the Milwaukee Bucks of 1970-73 . . . Robert Parish's 36 points tied a personal season high . . . He had 16 points in the first period, which was a comedown from his last first period against the Nets. He had 18 points against them in the first period back on March 12. That night he had 26 by the half; last night he had 24.
After a glorious 15-game run, Larry Bird has ceased being Mr. Automatic from the outside. His 7-for-17 showing last night made him 18 for 50 in his last three games . . . M.L. Carr. a dandy 2-for-19 shooter in his two previous games, hit his first two shots quickly en route to an 11-point evening.
Olajuwon (college) Beats Bird (pros)
July 10, 1983
RENSSELAER, Ind.
Larry Bird went one-on-one against the University of Houston's Akeem Abdul Olajuwon yesterday and was outscored, 4-0. "I couldn't score on him today," Bird said after the short contest in the St. Joseph's College gymnasium. "But I'll guarantee you I'll score on him someday (in the NBA)."
The unexpected duel between the Celtics star and the 7-foot Olajuwon, who rejected a chance to turn pro and will to return to school in the fall, came at the B-C All-Star Basketball Camp.
Bird, a native of Indiana, was putting on a demonstration for about 400 high school players and 200 or so coaches in the gym. Suddenly, he turned to the seats and shouted, "Akeem, get down here. I want to use you a little bit."
Olajuwon came down to the floor and engaged Bird in a slam dunk contest. Then they went one-on-one, and Bird missed each of the half-dozen shots he attempted.
RENSSELAER, Ind.
Larry Bird went one-on-one against the University of Houston's Akeem Abdul Olajuwon yesterday and was outscored, 4-0. "I couldn't score on him today," Bird said after the short contest in the St. Joseph's College gymnasium. "But I'll guarantee you I'll score on him someday (in the NBA)."
The unexpected duel between the Celtics star and the 7-foot Olajuwon, who rejected a chance to turn pro and will to return to school in the fall, came at the B-C All-Star Basketball Camp.
Bird, a native of Indiana, was putting on a demonstration for about 400 high school players and 200 or so coaches in the gym. Suddenly, he turned to the seats and shouted, "Akeem, get down here. I want to use you a little bit."
Olajuwon came down to the floor and engaged Bird in a slam dunk contest. Then they went one-on-one, and Bird missed each of the half-dozen shots he attempted.
The Cowens-Era Celtics Deserve More Respect
The 1974 and the 1976 Celtics were my teams. I became a Celtics' fan on day one of the 1974 Finals. Cowens v. Jabbar. Celtics v. Bucks. The Bucks were the prohibitive favorites. The Celtics didn't stand a chance. That was enough for me. I'm rooting for the Celtics. The memories are so vivid that I even remember the pair of shoes my parents bought for me when we went out for dinner before game 1 started.
Until the 1985-86 season, the two best Celtics teams I ever saw were the 1974 and 1976 teams. The 1981 team was good, but didn't play basketball at a consistently high level. The 1984 team was fortunate to walk away with a banner. You could say the same thing about the 1974 Celtics, who won the championship only after going the full seven games, or the 1976 Celtics, who lost two in a row in Phoenix, and required three overtimes to keep them from going down 3-2, heading back to Phoenix. Still, the 1970s Celtics champions exuded excellence and superiority, and you expected them to win.
Case in point.
Watching game 5 last night, the first quarter began with a Celtics steamrolling their way to a 20-4 lead. Paul Silas, of all people, was leading the way. Fifteen footers, seventeen footers, driving layups. Silas was a man possessed. "Phoenix Suns coach John McCleod may have to reconsider his game plan if Paul Silas continues to assert himself offensively," said Rick Barry, who was providing color for the game. You can almost hear Mark Jackson echo those sentiments about Leon Powe during game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals.
Just when you figured the Celtics' run would stop, it continued. The Celtics began zipping passes around the horn, running give-and-goes, and pick-and-rolls, all the while Dave Cowens is dominating the glass on both ends. 36-18 at the end of one. One of the best exhibitions of pure basketball that I have ever seen, including the infamous 36-6 quarter against the Hawks in the 1986 Eastern Conference Semis. The 1970s Celtics' championship teams could hang with any Celtics' team in history.
Which is why it surprises me that neither the 1974 nor the 1976 team makes Bob Ryan's list of best Celtics' teams. Yes, the 1972-73 Celtics make the list. But, Bob, they didn't win the title! How do they make the list and neither the 1974 or 1976 teams do? Ditto for the 1985 and 1987 teams. I mean, come on.
Back to the Celtics-Suns game.
Midway through the second quarter, we see back-up center Jim Ard dipsy-doo his way through the paint for a finger roll. Someone tell me the name of a back-up center on the 1985 or 1987 squads who could do that (and don't say Bill Walton, cuz he was useless in 1987). A couple minutes later Glenn McDonald drains an 18-footer, nothing but net. But for McDonald's heroics in OT (he scored 6 points in the final two minutes of the third overtime. He also grabbed a defensive rebound, drew a foul, and sank to free throws to clinch the 128-126 victory) , the Celtics probably don't win the game. Using McDonald at the three allows Hondo to move to the back court. Hmmm. A 6-7 off guard with off-the-chart skills and a championship pedigree. I don't think the 1985 or 1987 teams had anything like that.
One of these two 1970s championship teams deserves a top-five mention in Celtics' lore. I don't care which one. But one of them deserves some love.
The KG Huddle Pic
The one thing that always struck me about this picture, and ones like it, is how much KG towers over all of the other Celtics. This year there will be another hand at the top, along with KG's, looming over the rest.
More on Red, McHale, and the Knicks
June 1983
1983-84 Boston Celtics
The quotes have been nice and the smiles have been wide, but the Celtics didn't completely achieve their objective in their War of the Greenbacks with the Knicks. New York fouled the master plan by matching Boston's offers to Rory Sparrow, Marvin Webster and Sly Williams.
Once the Knicks went after Kevin McHale, Red Auerbach and Harry Mangurian went after the Knicks. The Celtics' master plan, a tad Machiavellian, was as follows:
- Match any offer for McHale and keep him in Boston.
- Sign Sparrow, Williams and Webster.
- Keep Sparrow and deal Williams and Webster for draft choices. The Celtics reportedly had those deals set to go.
If that had happened, Boston would have picked up Sparrow, still would have had McHale and also would have obtained the draft choices (from the Williams-Webster trades).
New York, meanwhile, would have been decimated by signing McHale, losing Sparrow, Webster and Williams, and having already allowed Paul Westphal to depart so that McHale could be signed. The Knicks then would be out four players from their rapidly improving '82-83 team bu going after McHale. A heavy punishment, indeed, for attempting to snatch McHale.
1983-84 Boston Celtics
The quotes have been nice and the smiles have been wide, but the Celtics didn't completely achieve their objective in their War of the Greenbacks with the Knicks. New York fouled the master plan by matching Boston's offers to Rory Sparrow, Marvin Webster and Sly Williams.
Once the Knicks went after Kevin McHale, Red Auerbach and Harry Mangurian went after the Knicks. The Celtics' master plan, a tad Machiavellian, was as follows:
- Match any offer for McHale and keep him in Boston.
- Sign Sparrow, Williams and Webster.
- Keep Sparrow and deal Williams and Webster for draft choices. The Celtics reportedly had those deals set to go.
If that had happened, Boston would have picked up Sparrow, still would have had McHale and also would have obtained the draft choices (from the Williams-Webster trades).
New York, meanwhile, would have been decimated by signing McHale, losing Sparrow, Webster and Williams, and having already allowed Paul Westphal to depart so that McHale could be signed. The Knicks then would be out four players from their rapidly improving '82-83 team bu going after McHale. A heavy punishment, indeed, for attempting to snatch McHale.
1957 NBA Finals: Best Series Ever?
The losing team won three games by two points.
One of the greatest players in the history of basketball shot a 14-foot free throw in the clutch.
A brash rookie waltzed in and took over the series.
An even brasher coach slugged the owner of the other team prior to one game.
A seven-game series came down to the final second of the second overtime when one of the most inventive and daring plays ever conceived failed because the best player on the team missed a shot he had made, and would subsequently make, umpty-ump zillion times in his career.
Welcome to the 1957 NBA finals, better known in Boston as World Championship No. 1.
There never would be another Celtics' final series like it, and not only because there can only be one First Time. The seven-game confrontation with the St. Louis Hawks was a truly spectacular battle, and because it was so wonderfully competitive, the victors cherish the memory even more. For the principals, the first championship was the besttime of their athletic lives.
No one in Boston was used to the idea of basketball championships in those days. The Celtics had a long reputation as a good sparring partner, but that's all. They had never been to the finals, and had been eliminated the year before in the first round by Syracuse. The advent of Bill Russell, Tom Heinsohn and Frank Ramsey had made the Celtics into Eastern Division champions in that 1956-57 regular season, but winning the championship meant advancing their thinking to another level, and neither the players nor the fans were comfortable with the thought.
To veterans such as Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman and Jack Nichols, the chance to play for the championship was energizing. "To that point," recalls Cousy, "reaching the Eastern Division finals was a big thing. We weren't thinking about the championship. All of a sudden, there we were. It was more important to the guys who had been around than it was to Tommy Heinsohn and Bill Russell."
Agrees Heinsohn, "As a rookie, I just didn't feel any great pressure."
The St. Louis team opposing them had finished in a three-way tie with Minneapolis and Fort Wayne for first in the West with an uninspiring 34-48 record. But the team was in the process of construction. Coach Red Holzman had been relieved of duty after 23 games. Veteran guard Slater Martin replaced him for eight games before Alex Hannum, a roughhouse forward, took over. With Hannum came stability.
The key players on those Hawks were the great Hall of Fame forward Bob Pettit ("the prototype of the modern power forward" -- Heinsohn), rookie forward Cliff Hagan and Martin, the former sparkplug of the great Minneapolis teams of the early '50s. Other dependable players were forward Jack Coleman and guard Jack McMahon, the same Jack McMahon who would later coach the Cincinnati Royals and San Diego Rockets and who is now an assistant coach with the 76ers. The center was Charles (Chuck) Share, a plodding 6-foot-11-inch banger who had originally been drafted by the Celtics.
St. Louis came into the finals playing its best ball of the season, taking out Fort Wayne in two straight and Minneapolis in three straight. Though the Celtics had a 7-2 series edge, two of the victories had been by two points, and everyone in the Celtic camp realized that the Hawks were much better than at any point in the regular season.
The big issue prior to the start of the series was the condition of Pettit's left wrist. The brilliant 6-9 forward/center had broken it late in the season, and played with a cast against Minneapolis. St. Louis owner Ben Kerner went so far as to suggest that since he was superstitious, he might feel better if Pettit, who had been outstanding against the Lakers, kept the cast on. But off it came.
GAME 1, MARCH 30
HAWKS, 125, CELTICS 123 (OT)
Trouble right away . . . Martin, a 5-9 roadrunner, follows Cousy everywhere but to men's room as St. Louis shocks the Celtics in the Garden . . . "CELT STAR BOOHED BY SAD HUB FANS," reads one headline. "I don't think they can do much without him," says Martin. "I'm with him wherever he goes." . . . Pettit goes for 37, while Heinsohn leads Boston with 26 . . . Winning basket scored by Coleman with a running hook . . . Russell semi-invisible, fouling out with 7 points. "I played a real lousy game," he says. "I don't know what the matter was. I was just lousy; that's all." . . . Cozy crowd of 5,976 in attendance.
ST. LOUIS (125) BOSTON (123)
GAME 2, MARCH 31
CELTICS 119, HAWKS 99
Frank Ramsey, who could come up with 2-2--6 during the anthem, leads Celts to easy victory. He then flew back to Ft. Knox (Army Reserve duty) while awaiting Game 3 a week hence. Globe writer Clif Keane worries aloud that the plane fare will eat up the Celtics' playoff profits . . . Pettit shoots 3 for 16 in second half . . . Coach Hannum moans about Celtic roughness, and Red Auerbach unloads. "Who is he to talk?" inquires the Redhead. "I could have had Hannum from Rochester a couple of years ago almost for the asking, but I didn't want him then and still feel now that he is a hatchet man . . . and always was." This from the man who employed Bob Harris, Bob Brannum and Jim Loscutoff . . . The first-game loss must have scared Bostonians. Game 2 crowd is 13,909.
BOSTON (119) ST. LOUIS (99)
GAME 3, APRIL 6
HAWKS 100, CELTICS 98
Fun starts before game even begins. Auerbach has maintenance people measure basket height. Hawks owner Kerner comes out screaming at him, saying Red's only doing this to show him up and that he's a "bush blankety-blank." Auerbach pops him with a left, drawing blood.
Heinsohn says it was Sharman who instigated it. "He said, 'Red, the basket's an inch low.' He was the kind of guy you could believe would know."
Cousy says he was responsible. "We went through the layup line once and I knew immediately the basket was not 10 feet high," says Cousy. "I called it to Arnold's attention. He called for the measuring pole, and when Kerner saw this, he came running out and Arnold cold-cocked him."
Auerbach says both Sharman and Cousy were responsible. "Cousy and Sharman came over and said, 'We can touch the rim. We never can touch the rim, and we're not that hopped up.' "
At any rate, it was a festive touch to the occasion, but the Hawks win the game by two as Sharman (28) fouls out with 2:09 left. Celtics have last shot, but can't connect on four tries. Doesn't matter, anyway, because when game is over, all anybody can talk about is Auerbach nailing Kerner.
ST. LOUIS (100) BOSTON (98)
GAME 4, APRIL 7
CELTICS 123, HAWKS 118
Cousy (31) and Russell (20 rebounds) enable Celtics to tie the series . . . Russell says he has found the secret to playing against the Hawks . . . Andy Phillip comes off the bench and spells Cousy when needed . . . Pettit throws in 33 for St. Louis.
BOSTON (123) ST. LOUIS (118)
GAME 5, APRIL 9
CELTICS 124, HAWKS 109
Game belongs to Cousy (21 points, record-breaking 19 assists) and Sharman (32). "They are the finest backcourt I have ever seen -- or hope to see," lauds Martin. Pettit (33) and Heinsohn (23) continue their great battle in the corner . . . Russell hauls in 23 rebounds.
BOSTON (124) ST. LOUIS (109)
GAME 6, APRIL 11
HAWKS 96, CELTICS 94
Hagan eludes block-out of Heinsohn for tap-in with two seconds left to win it and keep Hawks alive . . . Tough game, as six points biggest margin either way. Writes Globe's venerable Jack Barry, "This game was the most spectacular and hardest-fought of the greatest NBA final playoff series ever held." . . . Russell comes up with 23 more rebounds . . . Heinsohn collects 28 points, 11 rebounds . . . It is the fifth consecutive two-point win over Boston for the Hawks . . . Celtics complain about referee Sid Borgia, asking, "Where's Mendy Rudolph?"
ST. LOUIS (96) BOSTON (94)
GAME 7, APRIL 13
CELTICS 125, HAWKS 123 (2 OTS)
Professional basketball comes of age in epic Garden event . . . On day when the "greatest backcourt ever" combines to shoot an abominable 5 for 40 (Sharman 3 for 20, Cousy 2 for 20), the Celtics hang in behind Russell (19 points, 32 rebounds), veteran Arnie Risen (16 points, 10 rebounds in 20 minutes) and, most of all, Heinsohn (37 points, 23 rebounds to close out a fabulous final series) to win in two overtimes . . . Ramsey makes key jumper and Loscutoff sinks important foul shot, but the Celtics must sweat out a length-of-the-court heave by Hannum to Pettit, who misses a 12-footer at the buzzer after taking a pass off the backboard.
Many, many meorable plays in this game, but here are three:
1. Russell blocks Jack Coleman shot with Celtics leading by one with 39 seconds left in regulation.
Heinsohn: "This was the greatest play I ever saw in basketball. Russell had been ahead of the pack trying to take a Cousy pass. He couldn't get full control and his dunk attempt went off the back rim as his momentum carried him off the court into the basket support. The rebound came out to the foul line, and with one pass, Coleman was way ahead of everybody for what would have been the go-ahead basket. I was at the other foul line with no chance to catch him, when all of a sudden Russell blew by me like I was standing still. He caught up to Coleman and blocked the shot. That saved the championship."
2. Cousy throws air ball from the foul line.
Cousy: "It was the first time I remember choking in a game. To that point, I had never felt pressure. I swished the first one, and then Hannum called time. I got back to the huddle and everybody was saying, 'One more, Cooz, and we've got it!' I immediately went to the line and threw a Walton air ball." To this day, I get letters from people asking me what the strategy was in throwing the air ball."
3. Hannum's amazing pass.
Heinsohn: "We were leading by two points with three seconds to go in the second overtime. Hannum just took the ball and threw it the length of the court off the glass, and it went right to Pettit. It was a designed play. It came off so hard that Pettit picked it up almost at the foul line. It was a great pass."
Cousy: "The ball hit right smack in the middle of the backboard and came off to Pettit right in front of the hoop. He choked even worse than I did. When he missed, I think his rebound came out halfway to midcourt."
BOSTON (125) ST. LOUIS (123)
The Celtics were NBA champions, earning approximately $1,200 apiece. The money was nice, but the feeling was what mattered.
"My biggest thrill as a player," contends Heinsohn. "Another big thing was that Walter Brown was a guy you just loved to win for. The older guys, Cousy and Sharman, had played their tails off for years without really coming close. They were thrilled."
Agrees Cousy, "Absolutely, the first one is the best. And it was even more important because we knew what it would mean to Walter. He wanted a championship for the Celtics that would establish the Celtics' identity."
They'll surely get no argument from The Boss. "That first one was special," says Auerbach. "All of a sudden, you could walk down the street and say, 'Gee, I am affiliated with -- I'm coaching -- the best basketball team in the world.' "
It's a 29-year feeling Auerbach has never outgrown, and never intends to.
One of the greatest players in the history of basketball shot a 14-foot free throw in the clutch.
A brash rookie waltzed in and took over the series.
An even brasher coach slugged the owner of the other team prior to one game.
A seven-game series came down to the final second of the second overtime when one of the most inventive and daring plays ever conceived failed because the best player on the team missed a shot he had made, and would subsequently make, umpty-ump zillion times in his career.
Welcome to the 1957 NBA finals, better known in Boston as World Championship No. 1.
There never would be another Celtics' final series like it, and not only because there can only be one First Time. The seven-game confrontation with the St. Louis Hawks was a truly spectacular battle, and because it was so wonderfully competitive, the victors cherish the memory even more. For the principals, the first championship was the besttime of their athletic lives.
No one in Boston was used to the idea of basketball championships in those days. The Celtics had a long reputation as a good sparring partner, but that's all. They had never been to the finals, and had been eliminated the year before in the first round by Syracuse. The advent of Bill Russell, Tom Heinsohn and Frank Ramsey had made the Celtics into Eastern Division champions in that 1956-57 regular season, but winning the championship meant advancing their thinking to another level, and neither the players nor the fans were comfortable with the thought.
To veterans such as Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman and Jack Nichols, the chance to play for the championship was energizing. "To that point," recalls Cousy, "reaching the Eastern Division finals was a big thing. We weren't thinking about the championship. All of a sudden, there we were. It was more important to the guys who had been around than it was to Tommy Heinsohn and Bill Russell."
Agrees Heinsohn, "As a rookie, I just didn't feel any great pressure."
The St. Louis team opposing them had finished in a three-way tie with Minneapolis and Fort Wayne for first in the West with an uninspiring 34-48 record. But the team was in the process of construction. Coach Red Holzman had been relieved of duty after 23 games. Veteran guard Slater Martin replaced him for eight games before Alex Hannum, a roughhouse forward, took over. With Hannum came stability.
The key players on those Hawks were the great Hall of Fame forward Bob Pettit ("the prototype of the modern power forward" -- Heinsohn), rookie forward Cliff Hagan and Martin, the former sparkplug of the great Minneapolis teams of the early '50s. Other dependable players were forward Jack Coleman and guard Jack McMahon, the same Jack McMahon who would later coach the Cincinnati Royals and San Diego Rockets and who is now an assistant coach with the 76ers. The center was Charles (Chuck) Share, a plodding 6-foot-11-inch banger who had originally been drafted by the Celtics.
St. Louis came into the finals playing its best ball of the season, taking out Fort Wayne in two straight and Minneapolis in three straight. Though the Celtics had a 7-2 series edge, two of the victories had been by two points, and everyone in the Celtic camp realized that the Hawks were much better than at any point in the regular season.
The big issue prior to the start of the series was the condition of Pettit's left wrist. The brilliant 6-9 forward/center had broken it late in the season, and played with a cast against Minneapolis. St. Louis owner Ben Kerner went so far as to suggest that since he was superstitious, he might feel better if Pettit, who had been outstanding against the Lakers, kept the cast on. But off it came.
GAME 1, MARCH 30
HAWKS, 125, CELTICS 123 (OT)
Trouble right away . . . Martin, a 5-9 roadrunner, follows Cousy everywhere but to men's room as St. Louis shocks the Celtics in the Garden . . . "CELT STAR BOOHED BY SAD HUB FANS," reads one headline. "I don't think they can do much without him," says Martin. "I'm with him wherever he goes." . . . Pettit goes for 37, while Heinsohn leads Boston with 26 . . . Winning basket scored by Coleman with a running hook . . . Russell semi-invisible, fouling out with 7 points. "I played a real lousy game," he says. "I don't know what the matter was. I was just lousy; that's all." . . . Cozy crowd of 5,976 in attendance.
ST. LOUIS (125) BOSTON (123)
FG FT Pts. FG FT Pts.
Macauley, F 6 11 23 Heinsohn, F 10 6 26
Pettit, F 11 15 27 Loscutoff, F 4 1 9
Coleman, F 4 0 8 Risen, C 3 1 7
Share, C 2 1 5 Ramsey, F 2 2 6
Hagan, F 7 2 16 Nichols, F 0 0 0
Martin, G 9 5 23 Russell, C 3 1 7
McMahon, G 5 2 12 Cousy, G 8 10 26
Park, G 0 1 1 Sharman, G 12 10 34
Phillip, G 4 0 8
St. Louis 31 18 22 31 11 12 -- 125
Boston 21 26 27 28 11 10 -- 123
GAME 2, MARCH 31
CELTICS 119, HAWKS 99
Frank Ramsey, who could come up with 2-2--6 during the anthem, leads Celts to easy victory. He then flew back to Ft. Knox (Army Reserve duty) while awaiting Game 3 a week hence. Globe writer Clif Keane worries aloud that the plane fare will eat up the Celtics' playoff profits . . . Pettit shoots 3 for 16 in second half . . . Coach Hannum moans about Celtic roughness, and Red Auerbach unloads. "Who is he to talk?" inquires the Redhead. "I could have had Hannum from Rochester a couple of years ago almost for the asking, but I didn't want him then and still feel now that he is a hatchet man . . . and always was." This from the man who employed Bob Harris, Bob Brannum and Jim Loscutoff . . . The first-game loss must have scared Bostonians. Game 2 crowd is 13,909.
BOSTON (119) ST. LOUIS (99)
FG FT Pts. FG FT Pts.
Heinsohn, F 7 0 14 Martin, G 1 6 8
Loscutoff, F 5 1 11 Bemoras, G 3 3 9
Hemric, F 1 0 2 McMahon, G 5 4 14
Russell, C 5 1 11 Park, G 3 1 7
Risen, C 5 4 14 Share, C 5 3 13
Cousy, G 9 4 22 Pettit, F 3 5 11
Phillip, G 0 3 3 Coleman, F 4 2 10
Sharman, G 2 5 9 Macauley, F 7 5 19
Ramsey, G 8 6 22 Hagan, F 4 0 8
Nichols, F 5 1 11
Boston 31 31 32 25 -- 119
St. Louis 21 22 27 29 -- 99
GAME 3, APRIL 6
HAWKS 100, CELTICS 98
Fun starts before game even begins. Auerbach has maintenance people measure basket height. Hawks owner Kerner comes out screaming at him, saying Red's only doing this to show him up and that he's a "bush blankety-blank." Auerbach pops him with a left, drawing blood.
Heinsohn says it was Sharman who instigated it. "He said, 'Red, the basket's an inch low.' He was the kind of guy you could believe would know."
Cousy says he was responsible. "We went through the layup line once and I knew immediately the basket was not 10 feet high," says Cousy. "I called it to Arnold's attention. He called for the measuring pole, and when Kerner saw this, he came running out and Arnold cold-cocked him."
Auerbach says both Sharman and Cousy were responsible. "Cousy and Sharman came over and said, 'We can touch the rim. We never can touch the rim, and we're not that hopped up.' "
At any rate, it was a festive touch to the occasion, but the Hawks win the game by two as Sharman (28) fouls out with 2:09 left. Celtics have last shot, but can't connect on four tries. Doesn't matter, anyway, because when game is over, all anybody can talk about is Auerbach nailing Kerner.
ST. LOUIS (100) BOSTON (98)
FG FT Pts. FG FT Pts.
Martin, G 6 4 16 Heinsohn, F 6 9 21
Bemoras, G 0 0 0 Loscutoff, F 4 1 9
McMahon, G 2 1 5 Nichols, F 0 0 0
Park, G 1 0 2 Russell, C 4 0 8
Share, C 3 6 12 Risen, C 1 1 3
Pettit, F 9 8 26 Cousy, G 4 8 16
Coleman, F 6 2 14 Phillip, G 0 0 0
Macauley, F 6 4 16 Sharman, G 9 10 28
Hagan, F 3 3 9 Ramsey, G 1 11 13
Boston 19 25 28 26 -- 98
St. Louis 19 21 29 31 -- 100
GAME 4, APRIL 7
CELTICS 123, HAWKS 118
Cousy (31) and Russell (20 rebounds) enable Celtics to tie the series . . . Russell says he has found the secret to playing against the Hawks . . . Andy Phillip comes off the bench and spells Cousy when needed . . . Pettit throws in 33 for St. Louis.
BOSTON (123) ST. LOUIS (118)
FG FT Pts. FG FT Pts.
Heinsohn, F 6 7 19 Macauley, F 6 10 22
Nichols, F 1 0 2 Hagan, F 7 11 25
Loscutoff, F 3 3 9 Pettit, F 12 9 33
Russell, C 7 3 17 Coleman, F 5 1 11
Risen, C 2 1 5 Share, C 1 1 3
Cousy, G 11 9 31 McMahon, G 2 0 4
Sharman, G 9 6 24 Park, G 1 1 3
Ramsey, G 4 5 9 Martin, G 4 7 15
Phillip, G 1 1 3 Bemoras, G 0 0 0
Boston 31 35 30 27 -- 123
St. Louis 36 17 37 28 -- 118
GAME 5, APRIL 9
CELTICS 124, HAWKS 109
Game belongs to Cousy (21 points, record-breaking 19 assists) and Sharman (32). "They are the finest backcourt I have ever seen -- or hope to see," lauds Martin. Pettit (33) and Heinsohn (23) continue their great battle in the corner . . . Russell hauls in 23 rebounds.
BOSTON (124) ST. LOUIS (109)
FG FT Pts. FG FT Pts.
Heinsohn, F 9 5 23 Martin, G 5 2 12
Loscutoff, F 5 1 11 McMahon, G 7 2 16
Nichols, F 2 0 4 Park, G 2 6 10
Russell, C 5 4 14 Share, C 1 4 6
Risen, C 5 3 13 Pettit, F 12 9 33
Cousy, G 8 5 21 Coleman, G 2 0 4
Philip, G 1 1 3 Macauley, F 4 3 11
Sharman, G 12 8 32 Hagan, F 4 9 17
Ramsey, G 1 1 3
St. Louis 30 30 25 34 -- 109
Boston 21 38 35 30 -- 124
GAME 6, APRIL 11
HAWKS 96, CELTICS 94
Hagan eludes block-out of Heinsohn for tap-in with two seconds left to win it and keep Hawks alive . . . Tough game, as six points biggest margin either way. Writes Globe's venerable Jack Barry, "This game was the most spectacular and hardest-fought of the greatest NBA final playoff series ever held." . . . Russell comes up with 23 more rebounds . . . Heinsohn collects 28 points, 11 rebounds . . . It is the fifth consecutive two-point win over Boston for the Hawks . . . Celtics complain about referee Sid Borgia, asking, "Where's Mendy Rudolph?"
ST. LOUIS (96) BOSTON (94)
FG FT Pts. FG FT Pts.
Pettit, F 8 16 32 Heinsohn, F 12 4 28
Coleman, F 5 6 16 Russell, C 5 7 17
Macauley, F 2 0 4 Risen, C 2 1 5
Share, C 2 0 4 Loscutoff, F 1 0 2
Hagan, F 7 2 16 Nichols, F 1 0 2
Martin, F 2 2 6 Cousy, G 6 5 17
McMahon, G 7 3 17 Phillip, G 0 0 0
Park, G 0 1 1 Sharman, G 5 5 15
Ramsey, G 3 2 8
Boston 23 28 27 16 -- 94
St. Louis 22 27 28 19 -- 96
GAME 7, APRIL 13
CELTICS 125, HAWKS 123 (2 OTS)
Professional basketball comes of age in epic Garden event . . . On day when the "greatest backcourt ever" combines to shoot an abominable 5 for 40 (Sharman 3 for 20, Cousy 2 for 20), the Celtics hang in behind Russell (19 points, 32 rebounds), veteran Arnie Risen (16 points, 10 rebounds in 20 minutes) and, most of all, Heinsohn (37 points, 23 rebounds to close out a fabulous final series) to win in two overtimes . . . Ramsey makes key jumper and Loscutoff sinks important foul shot, but the Celtics must sweat out a length-of-the-court heave by Hannum to Pettit, who misses a 12-footer at the buzzer after taking a pass off the backboard.
Many, many meorable plays in this game, but here are three:
1. Russell blocks Jack Coleman shot with Celtics leading by one with 39 seconds left in regulation.
Heinsohn: "This was the greatest play I ever saw in basketball. Russell had been ahead of the pack trying to take a Cousy pass. He couldn't get full control and his dunk attempt went off the back rim as his momentum carried him off the court into the basket support. The rebound came out to the foul line, and with one pass, Coleman was way ahead of everybody for what would have been the go-ahead basket. I was at the other foul line with no chance to catch him, when all of a sudden Russell blew by me like I was standing still. He caught up to Coleman and blocked the shot. That saved the championship."
2. Cousy throws air ball from the foul line.
Cousy: "It was the first time I remember choking in a game. To that point, I had never felt pressure. I swished the first one, and then Hannum called time. I got back to the huddle and everybody was saying, 'One more, Cooz, and we've got it!' I immediately went to the line and threw a Walton air ball." To this day, I get letters from people asking me what the strategy was in throwing the air ball."
3. Hannum's amazing pass.
Heinsohn: "We were leading by two points with three seconds to go in the second overtime. Hannum just took the ball and threw it the length of the court off the glass, and it went right to Pettit. It was a designed play. It came off so hard that Pettit picked it up almost at the foul line. It was a great pass."
Cousy: "The ball hit right smack in the middle of the backboard and came off to Pettit right in front of the hoop. He choked even worse than I did. When he missed, I think his rebound came out halfway to midcourt."
BOSTON (125) ST. LOUIS (123)
FG FT Pts. FG FT Pts.
Heinsohn, F 17 3 37 Coleman, F 4 2 10
Loscutoff, F 0 3 3 Hagan, F 7 10 24
Ramsey, F 6 4 16 Share, C 0 5 5
Risen, F 6 4 16 Macauley, F 2 5 9
Nichols, F 4 0 8 Hannum, F 0 0 0
Russell, C 7 5 19 Pettit, C 14 11 39
Sharman, G 3 3 9 McMahon, G 3 0 6
Cousy, G 2 8 12 Martin, G 6 11 23
Phillip, G 2 1 5 Park, G 3 1 7
Boston 26 25 32 20 10 12 -- 125
St. Louis 28 25 24 26 10 10 -- 123
The Celtics were NBA champions, earning approximately $1,200 apiece. The money was nice, but the feeling was what mattered.
"My biggest thrill as a player," contends Heinsohn. "Another big thing was that Walter Brown was a guy you just loved to win for. The older guys, Cousy and Sharman, had played their tails off for years without really coming close. They were thrilled."
Agrees Cousy, "Absolutely, the first one is the best. And it was even more important because we knew what it would mean to Walter. He wanted a championship for the Celtics that would establish the Celtics' identity."
They'll surely get no argument from The Boss. "That first one was special," says Auerbach. "All of a sudden, you could walk down the street and say, 'Gee, I am affiliated with -- I'm coaching -- the best basketball team in the world.' "
It's a 29-year feeling Auerbach has never outgrown, and never intends to.
#30
![[cornbread.bmp]](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_j0pK3fr7dtc/SphoTQtY0YI/AAAAAAAACyM/5CACzKSv6a0/s1600/cornbread.bmp)
Cedric Maxwell changed to No. 31 in 1979-80 after wearing No. 30 two seasons. That's the number M.L. Carr wanted when he joined the Celtics - not only having worn No. 30 with the Detroit Pistons, but having jewelry and other mementos inscribed with it. "We negotiated a little," the happy Carr explained after prying Jersey 30 from Maxwell.
Red Outfoxes Knicks on McHale
June 1983
1983-84 Boston Celtics
It would appear that the Celtics have succeeded in their effort to prevent the New York Knicks from signing free agent Kevin McHale to a multimillion- dollar offer sheet.
The Knicks yesterday matched Boston's offers to forward Sly Williams and backup center Marvin Webster and appear to have bowed out of the McHale sweepstakes for now.
New York dealt Williams and his annual $450,000 salary to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for guard Rudy Macklin ($100,000 salary), but the Knicks have been unable to swap Webster and until they do, they're stuck with his $450,000, three-year contract.
"That knocks 'em out of the box," said a chuckling Red Auerbach. "We would have taken the players, but we knew they were gonna match, and if they keep one guy, they're out of the box. They can't even bid on him (McHale) at all, which is OK."
According to terms of the current collective bargaining agreement, the Knicks must stay within a $4.6-million salary cap this season. Two weeks ago, the Celtics acted to inflate New York's payroll by signing Knick free agents Rory Sparrow, Williams and Webster to whopping offer sheets. The Knicks ended up matching all three offers and are saddled with an extra $950,000 in salaries to Sparrow and Webster.
"No one's laughing at us now," said Auerbach.
John Sandquist, McHale's agent, said, "If they keep Webster, I would think that would make it different. I'm still waiting to talk to the Knicks. I haven't talked to them since last week. But I'm not worried . . ."
Three days ago, Sandquist said he was coming to New York this week and "either we'll do it or we won't."
"We aren't actively pursuing him anymore," said a Knick official. "I don't think we can make an offer with the cap being what it is. Hey, they were waiting around and we had to move forward. There is such a thing as painting yourself into a corner."
Sandquist's last contact with the Celtics was Sunday, when he rejected Boston's new offer. Auerbach blasted Sandquist Monday, saying, "We've been used." He added that any further negotiations will have to be initiated by Sandquist.
Sandquist said he has no plans to go back to the Celtics. "We know their plans," he said. "If the Knicks are no longer interested, we'll have to find out who has any interest."
The Celtics have offered McHale close to $1 million per year, but hewants a no-trade clause and the Celtics have thus far been unwilling to include such a provision.
"Money has never been the issue with Boston," said Sandquist. "The whole problem with the Celtics is that they've never assured us that Kevin would not be traded. They've not even come close to satisfying us on that."
Would the Celtics be willing to offer McHale a no-trade pact?
"I can't discuss that," said Auerbach. "It's a good question, but I can't discuss it."
1983-84 Boston Celtics
It would appear that the Celtics have succeeded in their effort to prevent the New York Knicks from signing free agent Kevin McHale to a multimillion- dollar offer sheet.
The Knicks yesterday matched Boston's offers to forward Sly Williams and backup center Marvin Webster and appear to have bowed out of the McHale sweepstakes for now.
New York dealt Williams and his annual $450,000 salary to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for guard Rudy Macklin ($100,000 salary), but the Knicks have been unable to swap Webster and until they do, they're stuck with his $450,000, three-year contract.
"That knocks 'em out of the box," said a chuckling Red Auerbach. "We would have taken the players, but we knew they were gonna match, and if they keep one guy, they're out of the box. They can't even bid on him (McHale) at all, which is OK."
According to terms of the current collective bargaining agreement, the Knicks must stay within a $4.6-million salary cap this season. Two weeks ago, the Celtics acted to inflate New York's payroll by signing Knick free agents Rory Sparrow, Williams and Webster to whopping offer sheets. The Knicks ended up matching all three offers and are saddled with an extra $950,000 in salaries to Sparrow and Webster.
"No one's laughing at us now," said Auerbach.
John Sandquist, McHale's agent, said, "If they keep Webster, I would think that would make it different. I'm still waiting to talk to the Knicks. I haven't talked to them since last week. But I'm not worried . . ."
Three days ago, Sandquist said he was coming to New York this week and "either we'll do it or we won't."
"We aren't actively pursuing him anymore," said a Knick official. "I don't think we can make an offer with the cap being what it is. Hey, they were waiting around and we had to move forward. There is such a thing as painting yourself into a corner."
Sandquist's last contact with the Celtics was Sunday, when he rejected Boston's new offer. Auerbach blasted Sandquist Monday, saying, "We've been used." He added that any further negotiations will have to be initiated by Sandquist.
Sandquist said he has no plans to go back to the Celtics. "We know their plans," he said. "If the Knicks are no longer interested, we'll have to find out who has any interest."
The Celtics have offered McHale close to $1 million per year, but hewants a no-trade clause and the Celtics have thus far been unwilling to include such a provision.
"Money has never been the issue with Boston," said Sandquist. "The whole problem with the Celtics is that they've never assured us that Kevin would not be traded. They've not even come close to satisfying us on that."
Would the Celtics be willing to offer McHale a no-trade pact?
"I can't discuss that," said Auerbach. "It's a good question, but I can't discuss it."
Rondo is Not an Elite Point Guard
LINK
After the first round of the playoffs last year, I thought the pundits universally preferred Rajon Rondo to Derrick Rose. Apparently, I was smoking something, because the above link says otherwise. Yes, Devin Harris made the All-Star team last year. Would I take him over Rondo? Sure, if Rondo were out with an ankle injury. Steve Nash? Come on. I mean, all you would have to do is watch one Celtics-Suns game from the last couple of years and its clear that Nash and Rondo aren't even in the same league. Nash is repeatedly embarrassed on defense and often ineffectual on offense.
Give me a fewking break.
One thing I do agree with:
Derek Fisher didn't break the top 20. Since he's not as good as Eddie House, Rondo's back-up, he doesn't belong in the top 20.
After the first round of the playoffs last year, I thought the pundits universally preferred Rajon Rondo to Derrick Rose. Apparently, I was smoking something, because the above link says otherwise. Yes, Devin Harris made the All-Star team last year. Would I take him over Rondo? Sure, if Rondo were out with an ankle injury. Steve Nash? Come on. I mean, all you would have to do is watch one Celtics-Suns game from the last couple of years and its clear that Nash and Rondo aren't even in the same league. Nash is repeatedly embarrassed on defense and often ineffectual on offense.
Give me a fewking break.
One thing I do agree with:
Derek Fisher didn't break the top 20. Since he's not as good as Eddie House, Rondo's back-up, he doesn't belong in the top 20.
1972-73 Player Stats
Name G Min Pts PPG FGM FGA FGP FTM FTA FTP RPG APG
John Havlicek 80 3367 1902 23.8 766 1,704 .45 370 431 .858 7.1 6.6
Dave Cowens 82 3425 1684 20.5 740 1,637 .452 204 262 .779 16.2 4.1
Jojo White 82 3250 1612 19.7 717 1,665 .431 178 228 .781 5.0 6.1
Paul Silas 80 2618 1066 13.3 400 851 .47 266 380 .710 13.0 3.1
Don Chaney 79 2488 1038 13.1 414 859 .482 210 267 .787 5.7 2.8
Don Nelson 72 1425 777 10.8 309 649 .476 159 188 .846 4.4 1.4
Steve Kuberski 78 762 345 4.4 140 347 .403 65 84 .774 2.5 0.3
Paul Westphal 60 482 245 4.1 89 212 .42 67 86 .779 1.1 1.2
Art Williams 81 974 263 3.2 110 261 .421 43 56 .768 2.2 2.9
Hank Finkel 76 496 184 2.4 78 173 .451 28 52 .538 2.0 0.3
Thomas Sanders 59 423 117 2.0 47 149 .315 23 35 .657 1.5 0.5
Mark Minor 4 20 5 1.3 1 4 .25 3 4 .75 1.0 0.5
I Apologize, Dave Cowens
Six jerseys hang on the wall in my basement, only one of which is from the 1970s Celtics. It belongs to John Havlicek. This is strange, because when I started playing basketball, I patterned my game after Dave Cowens. The first sports book I bought was a biography of Dave Cowens. If a magazine had Cowens on the cover, I bought it. So it is strange that in my older age, I no longer view Cowens with as much esteem.
After watching the first quarter of game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals, I remembered what happened. Five months after winning the NBA title against the Phoenix Suns, Cowens took a "Leave of Absence," turning his back on my beloved Boston Celtics.During the 1978-79 season, Cowens coached the Celtics, and then quit that job, too, after posting a 27-41 record. Before the 1980-81 season began, Cowens announced his retirement, turning his back on a team that this time was on the cusp of a championship. Finally, when Cowens decided to come out of retirement, he chose to play for the Milwaukee Bucks instead of the Celtics.
As it turns out, Cowens' had reasons to do what he did, good reasons. But as a kid, I didn't care about those reasons, all I cared about was the fact that he quit. No hero of mine was a quitter or a flake.Reflecting on his reasons for quitting today, I can hardly blame him. When the 1976-77 season began, his partner in the pivot, Paul Silas, had been replaced by yahoos Sidney Wicks and Curtis Rowe. When Cowens retired as a coach, he just couldn't take losing with such a sorry bunch of players on the roster. When he retired as a player the first time, he only had one good leg. And when he came out of retirement, after his injured leg started feeling better, the Celtics needed someone to guard Andrew Toney, and Quinn Buckner was the guy. As a result, Red Auerbach convinced Dave he'd be better off playing for Nellie in Wisconsin.
So, Dave Cowens, I apologize for holding a grudge against you over the last 30 years.
My bad.
What you did makes sense to grown-ups confronted by grown-up problems.
It just didn't make sense to a kid in his early teens.
Does the Truth have an Understudy not Named Marquis?
Y'all are gonna start thinkin' I'm gettin' kickbacks from The Army (two hat tips in one day), but tonight The Army cites a source (Hollinger) who is of the opinion that Marquis Daniels is our back-up point guard and E.House our back-up 2. On defense, they'll switch assignments. I can live with this. I was watching some of game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals, and no matter how long I watched, I wasn't sure who was playing point, Jo Jo White or Charlie Scott. When they came out, Hondo moved back to the 2, and did most of the ball handling.
So it seems the Celtics have won LOTS-0-BANNERS with no conventional point guards on the roster (Did we have one in the 1960s after the Cooz retired?).
But the real news as far as I'm concerned is Hollinger's hint that Billy Boy Walker might get the nod at the back-up 3. Yeah, I'd like to see Giddens get a chance, but what I really want is an impact player. Hell, I'd even settle for TA, if somehow this happened to be the one year in his NBA career we could rely on him.
Since that won't happen, here's some love for Sky:
So it seems the Celtics have won LOTS-0-BANNERS with no conventional point guards on the roster (Did we have one in the 1960s after the Cooz retired?).
But the real news as far as I'm concerned is Hollinger's hint that Billy Boy Walker might get the nod at the back-up 3. Yeah, I'd like to see Giddens get a chance, but what I really want is an impact player. Hell, I'd even settle for TA, if somehow this happened to be the one year in his NBA career we could rely on him.
Since that won't happen, here's some love for Sky:
Why Didn't Doc use Ray Allen at the Point in the 2008 Playoffs?
On the few occasions when the Boston Celtics got down big during the 2007-08 NBA season, Doc Rivers deployed what I like to call the KG and the Four Guns lineup. It consisted of KG at the 5, James Posey at the 4, Pierce at the 3, Jesus at the 2, and E.House at the point. That lineup rescued us from a couple of memorable deficits, one of them being against the Lakers in game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals.
This year I'm excited to see whether Doc uses a modified version of this lineup, with Rasheed Wallace replacing James Posey at the 4. As I peruse Celtics' message boards, I see a few fans are anticipating a slightly different variation, with Perk at the 5, Sheed at the 4, KG at the 3, Pierce at the 2, and Ray Allen at the point. This is an interesting idea, and one I really like in certain situations (when we're down big or in a dog fight at the end of a game).
But if this is such a great idea, one might ask, why didn't Doc use Ray Allen at the point during the championship season?
It is a fair question, because like the championship season, the Celtics still only have five dependable jump shooters: Pierce, Jesus, KG, Sheed, and E.House. The reason that deploying a back court of Pierce and Allen this year might be more tempting is because Perk has established himself as one of the premier post defenders in the NBA, whereas in 2008 he was still a question mark. When a game is on the line, getting stops is no less important than scoring the ball. In fact, it might be more important in terms of grabbing control of the final minutes.
So keeping Perk in despite not being a jump shooter has its merits.
One objection is that you don't have the destructive one on the floor, Rajon Rondo. I agree that this is a problem. But if his jumper is still iffy this year, I'm not sure we can risk having him get the ball at the end of the game and being forced to shoot it because his defender is doubling someone else. Another objection is that Ray Allen isn't a point guard. No, he is not. But is he any worse a point guard than Danny, DJ, and Jerry Sichting in 1986? Is he a worse ball handler than Derek Fisher?
Bottom line is that this lineup will be a lineup Doc is tempted to use, and here's to hoping he succumbs to the temptation a few times.
This year I'm excited to see whether Doc uses a modified version of this lineup, with Rasheed Wallace replacing James Posey at the 4. As I peruse Celtics' message boards, I see a few fans are anticipating a slightly different variation, with Perk at the 5, Sheed at the 4, KG at the 3, Pierce at the 2, and Ray Allen at the point. This is an interesting idea, and one I really like in certain situations (when we're down big or in a dog fight at the end of a game).
But if this is such a great idea, one might ask, why didn't Doc use Ray Allen at the point during the championship season?
It is a fair question, because like the championship season, the Celtics still only have five dependable jump shooters: Pierce, Jesus, KG, Sheed, and E.House. The reason that deploying a back court of Pierce and Allen this year might be more tempting is because Perk has established himself as one of the premier post defenders in the NBA, whereas in 2008 he was still a question mark. When a game is on the line, getting stops is no less important than scoring the ball. In fact, it might be more important in terms of grabbing control of the final minutes.
So keeping Perk in despite not being a jump shooter has its merits.
One objection is that you don't have the destructive one on the floor, Rajon Rondo. I agree that this is a problem. But if his jumper is still iffy this year, I'm not sure we can risk having him get the ball at the end of the game and being forced to shoot it because his defender is doubling someone else. Another objection is that Ray Allen isn't a point guard. No, he is not. But is he any worse a point guard than Danny, DJ, and Jerry Sichting in 1986? Is he a worse ball handler than Derek Fisher?
Bottom line is that this lineup will be a lineup Doc is tempted to use, and here's to hoping he succumbs to the temptation a few times.
Best Series Ever? Puhleeease
Game 7. Eastern Conference Finals. 5:23 left in the game. A majority of the starters on both teams have been on the bench for the last three minutes. . . resting . . . knowing they'd need it cuz the last five minutes were gonna be like the rest of the series--hellacious. The two teams have been going hammer and tong all season long. They split the regular season series, 3-3. Now they are knotted at 3-3 in the playoffs.
The winner gets an invitation to the 1981 NBA Finals, and will be the prohibitive favorite against the surprising Houston Rockets. The Celtics trailed most of this game by a margin of 5-11 points, and currently trail by 7, 89-82. The starters return for both teams. Every possession the rest of the way is like a round of a heavyweight bout, Ali-Norton. The Celtics' offense scores 9 of the games' final 10 points, the defense preventing the opponent from scoring a single field goal in more than five minutes of play. The green goes on to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 3, after once trailing in the series 3-1. Boston then plunders Houston in 6 games, hoisting banner 14 in the process.
There you have it. My submission for the best series ever. We won't even talk about the 1982 ECFs, where the Celtics again returned from the dead to tie a series at 3-3 after trailing 3-1, only to lose the 7th game at home. Nor will we talk about the 1974 NBA Finals, where the road team won five of the seven games, including the last four in a row. And of course we won't talk about any series not involving Boston.
Bob Ryan had this to say the 1981 ECFs:
As has been written approximately 173,464 times in the past week, only three other teams in NBA history had successfully extricated themselves from a 1-3 hole in a seven-game series. But in none of the other cases did the comebacking team win the three games it needed by margins of two, two and one points. In none of the other cases did the comebacking team continually rebound from serious deficits the way this Celtic team did in the past three games. It is neither a hyperbolic, nor an ethnocentric statement to contend that this was, without question, the gutsiest series comeback in the 35-year history of the world's foremost basketball league.
Now let's talk Bulls-Celtics. First round of the 2009 NBA playoffs. The winner goes on to lose in the very next round. The regular season Celtics-Bulls contests were a bunch of forgettable ho-hummers. The Celtics were playing the series without two of their top eight rotational players. And people thought this was the best series ever?
I just don't see it.
UPDATE
So that's where this post originally ended.
Now dig this:
The losing team won three games by two points.
One of the greatest players in the history of basketball shot a 14-foot free throw in the clutch.
A brash rookie waltzed in and took over the series.
An even brasher coach slugged the owner of the other team prior to one game.
A seven-game series came down to the final second of the second overtime when one of the most inventive and daring plays ever conceived failed because the best player on the team missed a shot he had made, and would subsequently make, umpty-ump zillion times in his career.
Welcome to the 1957 NBA finals, better known in Boston as World Championship No. 1.
We'll talk more about the 1957 Finals tomorrow.
The winner gets an invitation to the 1981 NBA Finals, and will be the prohibitive favorite against the surprising Houston Rockets. The Celtics trailed most of this game by a margin of 5-11 points, and currently trail by 7, 89-82. The starters return for both teams. Every possession the rest of the way is like a round of a heavyweight bout, Ali-Norton. The Celtics' offense scores 9 of the games' final 10 points, the defense preventing the opponent from scoring a single field goal in more than five minutes of play. The green goes on to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 3, after once trailing in the series 3-1. Boston then plunders Houston in 6 games, hoisting banner 14 in the process.
There you have it. My submission for the best series ever. We won't even talk about the 1982 ECFs, where the Celtics again returned from the dead to tie a series at 3-3 after trailing 3-1, only to lose the 7th game at home. Nor will we talk about the 1974 NBA Finals, where the road team won five of the seven games, including the last four in a row. And of course we won't talk about any series not involving Boston.
Bob Ryan had this to say the 1981 ECFs:
As has been written approximately 173,464 times in the past week, only three other teams in NBA history had successfully extricated themselves from a 1-3 hole in a seven-game series. But in none of the other cases did the comebacking team win the three games it needed by margins of two, two and one points. In none of the other cases did the comebacking team continually rebound from serious deficits the way this Celtic team did in the past three games. It is neither a hyperbolic, nor an ethnocentric statement to contend that this was, without question, the gutsiest series comeback in the 35-year history of the world's foremost basketball league.
Now let's talk Bulls-Celtics. First round of the 2009 NBA playoffs. The winner goes on to lose in the very next round. The regular season Celtics-Bulls contests were a bunch of forgettable ho-hummers. The Celtics were playing the series without two of their top eight rotational players. And people thought this was the best series ever?
I just don't see it.
UPDATE
So that's where this post originally ended.
Now dig this:
The losing team won three games by two points.
One of the greatest players in the history of basketball shot a 14-foot free throw in the clutch.
A brash rookie waltzed in and took over the series.
An even brasher coach slugged the owner of the other team prior to one game.
A seven-game series came down to the final second of the second overtime when one of the most inventive and daring plays ever conceived failed because the best player on the team missed a shot he had made, and would subsequently make, umpty-ump zillion times in his career.
Welcome to the 1957 NBA finals, better known in Boston as World Championship No. 1.
We'll talk more about the 1957 Finals tomorrow.
Sheed as Older Wilt
With apologies to L.A., Cleveland and Orlando, the Boston Celtics improved the most over the off-season by signing Rasheed Wallace away from the Detroit Pistons. ‘Sheed, a primarily defensive player, joins a primarily defensive team.
--D.S. Williamson via Red's Army
It really is tough not to picture these two beasts--Sheed and the Ticket--underneath, working together, swatting balls out of the paint. Having familiarized myself with the 1971-72 Lakers, I was struck by the fact that one reason they were so good was that Wilt converted himself into a defense-first post player, a la Bill Russell. As much as we like to picture Sheed hoisting up three-balls late in the fourth quarter against the Ls, there won't be any need for him to do that if the Ls can't get past him, KG, and Perk during the first three quarters.
We don't need Sheed to score more than 6-14 points a game for us. We do need him to assert himself on D. From what I understand, he's been looking for a team to utilize him in this manner since he came into the league. Apparently, Sheed never wanted to be "the man" on offense. But he's always enjoyed playing D.
He's also starting to sound a little bit like a 7-foot James Posey.
--D.S. Williamson via Red's Army
It really is tough not to picture these two beasts--Sheed and the Ticket--underneath, working together, swatting balls out of the paint. Having familiarized myself with the 1971-72 Lakers, I was struck by the fact that one reason they were so good was that Wilt converted himself into a defense-first post player, a la Bill Russell. As much as we like to picture Sheed hoisting up three-balls late in the fourth quarter against the Ls, there won't be any need for him to do that if the Ls can't get past him, KG, and Perk during the first three quarters.
We don't need Sheed to score more than 6-14 points a game for us. We do need him to assert himself on D. From what I understand, he's been looking for a team to utilize him in this manner since he came into the league. Apparently, Sheed never wanted to be "the man" on offense. But he's always enjoyed playing D.
He's also starting to sound a little bit like a 7-foot James Posey.
Three More Titles before Kobe Retires: Really?
When you dedicate a six-part series to telling a group of fans that their team's most storied season wouldn't have happened but for the role of two players from their hated nemesis, you're bound to get a few responses, none of them kind. And so it was with my series entitled "It Took Two Celtics for the Lakers to Win Their First Title in LA." Lakers' fans really enjoyed me telling them that their team's hallowed 33-game win streak actually ended at 30 with a loss to the Celtics, except for the fact that the NBA needed to keep the streak alive for the Lakers' rematch with the defending champions, Milwaukee Bucks.
The real point of this post, however, is to focus on a particular claim made by Lakers' fans in response to the series. Very few even chose to comment about the 1971-72 Lakers' season. Instead, most comments took a pseudo-psychological angle, arguing that my series was motivated out of fear that the Lakers would soon reach 18 NBA championships (one more than the Celtics), perhaps more, before Kobe retires.
Really?
That's a lot of titles.
It took all the luck in the world for the Lakers to win three in a row early in the 2000s, and that was with the best big man in the league on their team. The first win over the Kings in the WCFs could easily have been an L. They won the title last year, but one of the series went to 7 games, and another required two OT victories by the purple. That doesn't sound like a team that has so far separated itself from the pack that it can start banking on more titles in the immediate future.
This year all of their rivals have gotten stronger, and Kobe's not getting any younger. Meanwhile, their own fans have spent the summer making fun of a bench that consists of Adam Morrison, Sashy Vigatooth, and Luke Walton. Even Andrew Bynum, once thought by Laker Nation to be a combination of Wilt, Shaq, and Kareem, has been criticized by Laker fans as overrated and mediocre. Lamar Odom did return. But is he really that much more consistent and reliable than the player Phil Jackson described as "lost and confused" during the 2008 NBA Finals?
Yes, the Lakers are the favorites to win. But the Boston Celtics were favored to repeat last year. Come to think of it, the Lakers were favored to win the 2008 NBA Finals. Funny how often the pundits and oddsmakers get that Celtics-Lakers thing wrong, huh?
The real point of this post, however, is to focus on a particular claim made by Lakers' fans in response to the series. Very few even chose to comment about the 1971-72 Lakers' season. Instead, most comments took a pseudo-psychological angle, arguing that my series was motivated out of fear that the Lakers would soon reach 18 NBA championships (one more than the Celtics), perhaps more, before Kobe retires.
Really?
That's a lot of titles.
It took all the luck in the world for the Lakers to win three in a row early in the 2000s, and that was with the best big man in the league on their team. The first win over the Kings in the WCFs could easily have been an L. They won the title last year, but one of the series went to 7 games, and another required two OT victories by the purple. That doesn't sound like a team that has so far separated itself from the pack that it can start banking on more titles in the immediate future.
This year all of their rivals have gotten stronger, and Kobe's not getting any younger. Meanwhile, their own fans have spent the summer making fun of a bench that consists of Adam Morrison, Sashy Vigatooth, and Luke Walton. Even Andrew Bynum, once thought by Laker Nation to be a combination of Wilt, Shaq, and Kareem, has been criticized by Laker fans as overrated and mediocre. Lamar Odom did return. But is he really that much more consistent and reliable than the player Phil Jackson described as "lost and confused" during the 2008 NBA Finals?
Yes, the Lakers are the favorites to win. But the Boston Celtics were favored to repeat last year. Come to think of it, the Lakers were favored to win the 2008 NBA Finals. Funny how often the pundits and oddsmakers get that Celtics-Lakers thing wrong, huh?
Red Fumes as McHales Prepares to Sign Knicks' Offer Sheet
June 1983
1983-84 Boston Celtics
The Celtics and Kevin McHale's agent, John Sandquist, are through negotiating, and McHale is expected to sign a five-year, $6.25 million offer sheet with the New York Knicks before the end of the week.
McHale was in Minnesota yesterday and Sandquist was in Seattle, waiting to hear from the Knicks. Sandquist intends to fly to New York in a few days.
Meanwhile, Celtic owner Harry Mangurian and general manager Red Auerbach are through talking to Sandquist and expressed bitterness about the way the negotiations deteriorated.
"It's about time we stood up and told you what's going on," said Auerbach. "He has led us on. He's indicated that if we'd do a certain thing, they'd accept our offer. When we do those things, he says he'll discuss it with Kevin, then he calls back and says no. (Sunday) night we extended the term of the contract and I was optimistic, but he said he'd talk to Kevin, then he called back and said no.
"What happens is you get an agent who wants to get his name in the papers to enhance his position to get college players. If we had given Kevin a superhuman effort on our part, it never would have been accepted because (Sandquist) wouldn't have gotten the publicity.
"He's milked it, even though, in actuality, he's not interested. We feel he's used the newspapers to get us to increase the amounts and terms . . . and this stuff about getting back to us before they sign anything is bull."
Sandquist said, "That sounds like sour grapes to me. I don't see it that way at all. I've simply followed up as I said I would. Kevin's main concern is the potential of getting traded from there and we're not satisfied with their commitment on that."
Auerbach admitted that the Celtics have thus far refused to offer McHale a no-trade contract.
New York's offer sheet reportedly calls for McHale to receive an annual salary of $1,250,000 plus a $3 million, interest-free loan, plus a trade penalty clause which stipulates that McHale will get an additional $650,000 if he is traded.
Both Auerbach and Mangurian think such an offer sheet will be ruled illegal by the NBA. They believe that the interest McHale earns from the loan would have to be counted towards New York's $4.6 million salary cap. Assistant general manager Jan Volk predicted that the Celtics would seek an arbitration ruling if the league fails to rule such an offer illegal.
Offer-sheet trade clauses have already been upheld by an arbitrator. Last year, the Knicks signed Golden State's Bernard King to an offer sheet and included a provision which stipulated that King would receive an additional $90,000 for each year of the contract if he were traded anywhere other than New York or Golden State. The clause was ruled legal.
Sandquist said, "We're going to be as careful as we can. If we need to go to arbitration, we will go to arbitration, but if there is an offer sheet, we're going to make it as clean as we can."
Mangurian said, "As far as a New York offer is concerned, when and if it comes, unless there is something completely out of line with what we voted on (the new basic agreement), I plan to match it."
Mangurian also fired a couple of salvos. "The Knicks had as much to do with what emerged (in the form of the basic agreement) as any team in the NBA and now we have a situation where they'll do anything to circumvent it . . . They're going to flex their muscles. I'm just thankful we've got a cap, because if they want to spend their millions there isn't any team that could compete . . . They think they're going to get him, but I can tell you they're not going to get him."
McHale has repeatedly stated that he would accept less money to stay in Boston. When Auerbach was asked if he still believed the statement, he replied, "No, I don't anymore."
He continued, "It comes to a point where you're being used. We've been around too long to have any agent use us the way this guy has used us. Last night I gave him what I thought he wanted and I was kind of surprised when he turned it down."
Mangurian added, "I think we met what they asked for a couple of weeks ago."
In a related matter, the Knicks are still trying to move backup center Marvin Webster and forward Sly Williams. The Celtics signed both to three- year, $450,000-per-year contracts two weeks ago and New York has until Thursday to either match the offers or let those players become property of the Celtics. The Knicks would like to trade Webster to Dallas in exchange for a draft pick and hope to do that before today's draft.
With Rick Robey traded to Phoenix, the Celtics might have room for Webster. Due to their $4.6 million salary cap, the Knicks can't keep Webster and Williams (at $900,000 per year) if they hope to pay McHale more than $1 million per year.
1983-84 Boston Celtics
The Celtics and Kevin McHale's agent, John Sandquist, are through negotiating, and McHale is expected to sign a five-year, $6.25 million offer sheet with the New York Knicks before the end of the week.
McHale was in Minnesota yesterday and Sandquist was in Seattle, waiting to hear from the Knicks. Sandquist intends to fly to New York in a few days.
Meanwhile, Celtic owner Harry Mangurian and general manager Red Auerbach are through talking to Sandquist and expressed bitterness about the way the negotiations deteriorated.
"It's about time we stood up and told you what's going on," said Auerbach. "He has led us on. He's indicated that if we'd do a certain thing, they'd accept our offer. When we do those things, he says he'll discuss it with Kevin, then he calls back and says no. (Sunday) night we extended the term of the contract and I was optimistic, but he said he'd talk to Kevin, then he called back and said no.
"What happens is you get an agent who wants to get his name in the papers to enhance his position to get college players. If we had given Kevin a superhuman effort on our part, it never would have been accepted because (Sandquist) wouldn't have gotten the publicity.
"He's milked it, even though, in actuality, he's not interested. We feel he's used the newspapers to get us to increase the amounts and terms . . . and this stuff about getting back to us before they sign anything is bull."
Sandquist said, "That sounds like sour grapes to me. I don't see it that way at all. I've simply followed up as I said I would. Kevin's main concern is the potential of getting traded from there and we're not satisfied with their commitment on that."
Auerbach admitted that the Celtics have thus far refused to offer McHale a no-trade contract.
New York's offer sheet reportedly calls for McHale to receive an annual salary of $1,250,000 plus a $3 million, interest-free loan, plus a trade penalty clause which stipulates that McHale will get an additional $650,000 if he is traded.
Both Auerbach and Mangurian think such an offer sheet will be ruled illegal by the NBA. They believe that the interest McHale earns from the loan would have to be counted towards New York's $4.6 million salary cap. Assistant general manager Jan Volk predicted that the Celtics would seek an arbitration ruling if the league fails to rule such an offer illegal.
Offer-sheet trade clauses have already been upheld by an arbitrator. Last year, the Knicks signed Golden State's Bernard King to an offer sheet and included a provision which stipulated that King would receive an additional $90,000 for each year of the contract if he were traded anywhere other than New York or Golden State. The clause was ruled legal.
Sandquist said, "We're going to be as careful as we can. If we need to go to arbitration, we will go to arbitration, but if there is an offer sheet, we're going to make it as clean as we can."
Mangurian said, "As far as a New York offer is concerned, when and if it comes, unless there is something completely out of line with what we voted on (the new basic agreement), I plan to match it."
Mangurian also fired a couple of salvos. "The Knicks had as much to do with what emerged (in the form of the basic agreement) as any team in the NBA and now we have a situation where they'll do anything to circumvent it . . . They're going to flex their muscles. I'm just thankful we've got a cap, because if they want to spend their millions there isn't any team that could compete . . . They think they're going to get him, but I can tell you they're not going to get him."
McHale has repeatedly stated that he would accept less money to stay in Boston. When Auerbach was asked if he still believed the statement, he replied, "No, I don't anymore."
He continued, "It comes to a point where you're being used. We've been around too long to have any agent use us the way this guy has used us. Last night I gave him what I thought he wanted and I was kind of surprised when he turned it down."
Mangurian added, "I think we met what they asked for a couple of weeks ago."
In a related matter, the Knicks are still trying to move backup center Marvin Webster and forward Sly Williams. The Celtics signed both to three- year, $450,000-per-year contracts two weeks ago and New York has until Thursday to either match the offers or let those players become property of the Celtics. The Knicks would like to trade Webster to Dallas in exchange for a draft pick and hope to do that before today's draft.
With Rick Robey traded to Phoenix, the Celtics might have room for Webster. Due to their $4.6 million salary cap, the Knicks can't keep Webster and Williams (at $900,000 per year) if they hope to pay McHale more than $1 million per year.
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