If you're a Knicks fan, you're happy for Mr. Robinson. It's like seeing your kid grow up and graduate college. Actually, it's more like seeing your kid grow up, graduate college, flip you off and drive away in an expensive car with another, cooler family.
--Wall Street Journal
Doc's playoff rotation has been tight . . . and successful. The starters plus Sheed, Baby, and TA. Throw in Michael Finley for a minute here and two minutes there, and call it a day. Except when you let Nate Robinson escape from the dungeon and he responds with one of those classic Celtic bench performances provided by little used scrubs at critical junctures in the post-season. In other words, it's a good bet Nate Robinson is now part of Celtics lore, especially if the Celtics win banner 18 against the purple and especially if he makes a meaningful contribution in the Finals.
But will he?
Nate has been a little Sam Cassellish to me. Don't get me wrong. I'm not Hatin' on Nate. If you've read this blog for any time, you know that I still defend Sam Cassell's end-of-season performance for the green. In his first game with the Celtics, he dropped the game-winning three on the Spurs (on the road, no less), and played pretty well at home in the first round. Cassell had his share of disappointing performances, too. And that's what makes Nate's tenure with Boston "Cassellish." He's up and down and a bit unpredictable.
This is not what you need in the NBA Finals, particularly when the Finals start on the road, where a 3-point deficit can become 18 in the blink of an eye, aided by point-guard boneheadedness. It's no secret that most players play better at home in the playoffs. Often it's a difference of night and day. It says here that Doc didn't just wait for the right playoff game to insert Nate, he waited for the right home playoff game to do so. Now with the Finals starting in LA, Doc has a bit of dilemma, made more difficult by the fact that Tony Allen, the back-up point guard Doc employed for most of the post-season, will likely be spending a few tours of duty guarding Kobe.
Who plays the point then? Nate? On the road? Did his game 6 performance in Boston constitute a moment that the Celtics' bench rides into the Finals? Or did his forgettable second-half performance in game 6 represent his return to earth from the rarefied air of quarter number 2?
I'm gonna say Doc plays Nate in the first half of game 1, but keeps him on a short leash.
What say you?
Showing posts with label Rasheed Wallace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rasheed Wallace. Show all posts
3.25.2010
Heart
The fact that Doc Rivers played a perfectly healthy Marquis Daniels a mere six minutes against the Denver Nuggets is perhaps more interesting than the line-up Doc brandished late in the game, using P-squared at the four and TA at the 3. TA, of course, was the beneficiary of the Daniels' decision, and he more than capitalized.
Don't get me wrong. I like Marquis. Marquis finds more creative ways to knife through opposing defenses and score from inside than anyone on the Celtics, save Rajon Rondo, especially if you exclude Celtic players whose drives result in charge calls. I also realize that's it dangerous to interpret the sometimes placid look on his face as a lack of intensity. After all, I was a big fan of double-zero. Still, S'quisy doesn't always seem to play with a fire in his belly.
Nor does TA. But at this point in his career, I think we all know when Tony Allen is most likely to provide a high-intensity performance: after he's been sitting on the bench for a long stretch, getting DNPs while someone else gets his PT.
In the end, the Celtics are gonna need to "bring it" to get very far in the playoffs. Doc Rivers is all about fire and intensity. He's the anti-Zen Mistress. Accordingly, Doc will play those guys who play the game this way. Going to TA over MD may just be the first example. Could a preference for Shelden over Sheed be in the offing?
Don't get me wrong. I like Marquis. Marquis finds more creative ways to knife through opposing defenses and score from inside than anyone on the Celtics, save Rajon Rondo, especially if you exclude Celtic players whose drives result in charge calls. I also realize that's it dangerous to interpret the sometimes placid look on his face as a lack of intensity. After all, I was a big fan of double-zero. Still, S'quisy doesn't always seem to play with a fire in his belly.
Nor does TA. But at this point in his career, I think we all know when Tony Allen is most likely to provide a high-intensity performance: after he's been sitting on the bench for a long stretch, getting DNPs while someone else gets his PT.
In the end, the Celtics are gonna need to "bring it" to get very far in the playoffs. Doc Rivers is all about fire and intensity. He's the anti-Zen Mistress. Accordingly, Doc will play those guys who play the game this way. Going to TA over MD may just be the first example. Could a preference for Shelden over Sheed be in the offing?
3.14.2010
LaDainian Tomlinson Signs with Jets
LINK
On the one hand, LT is getting on in years. He turns 31 in June. On the other hand, he rushed for only 730 yards last year. Sounding a bit like a Danny Ainge signing from last summer. Still, this isn't quite as bad as the Celtics going after Rasheed Wallace. In fact, as a third back on a team that is starting to show signs of being more than the usual one-and-done New York Jets, Tomlinson may actually make an important contribution.
On the one hand, LT is getting on in years. He turns 31 in June. On the other hand, he rushed for only 730 yards last year. Sounding a bit like a Danny Ainge signing from last summer. Still, this isn't quite as bad as the Celtics going after Rasheed Wallace. In fact, as a third back on a team that is starting to show signs of being more than the usual one-and-done New York Jets, Tomlinson may actually make an important contribution.
3.13.2010
3.05.2010
Celtics Return to Scene of the Crime
Anyone remember this game?
I sure do.
It was the first game I really thought the green had a chance to live up to their pre-season hype ('85 Bears defense, 70-win season, etc). To refresh, the Boston Celtics dismantled the Philadelphia 76ers 105-74 in Philadelphia, making the Celtics 5-0 for the season. While Paul Pierce scored a team-high 21 points, it was the Celtics bench that left fans with mouths agape.
Led by Rasheed Wallace, who scored 20 points on 6-8 shooting from 3, the bench poured in 62 points, helping turn an 8-point halftime lead into a runaway blow out. Shelden Williams, 5-8 from the field with 7 rebounds in 23 minutes, was +28 for the game. SHEL-DEN. SHEL-DEN.
Alas, it was just a tease, and a criminal one at that. Not long thereafter, various Celtics started getting injured, the team chemistry went into the crapper, and the team's heart was lost on a flight somewhere during a long road trip in January. Indeed, the same team that trashed Philly on the road in game #5 lost to Philly at home in game #25 and almost lost to them at home on another occasion, escaping with a 3-point victory.
But just as Celtics fans were filing out of the stadium, ready to call it quits on their championship aspirations in 2010, what Mike Gorman likes to call the Bench Brigade showed signs of life earlier this week, scoring 38 points against Detroit, almost single-handedly resuscitating the season in nine minutes of play over the course of quarter numbers three and four. For an encore, the bench tallied 46 points the following night against Charlotte, again looking more like a unit with an identity than the first team has for most of the season.
So it's only fitting that tonight Boston returns to Philadelphia, the place where it all began earlier this season. Can the Celtics continue their climb back to championship-level basketball or will their improved play this week prove to be just another tease in a season that ultimately leaves us disappointed?
I sure do.
It was the first game I really thought the green had a chance to live up to their pre-season hype ('85 Bears defense, 70-win season, etc). To refresh, the Boston Celtics dismantled the Philadelphia 76ers 105-74 in Philadelphia, making the Celtics 5-0 for the season. While Paul Pierce scored a team-high 21 points, it was the Celtics bench that left fans with mouths agape.
Led by Rasheed Wallace, who scored 20 points on 6-8 shooting from 3, the bench poured in 62 points, helping turn an 8-point halftime lead into a runaway blow out. Shelden Williams, 5-8 from the field with 7 rebounds in 23 minutes, was +28 for the game. SHEL-DEN. SHEL-DEN.
Alas, it was just a tease, and a criminal one at that. Not long thereafter, various Celtics started getting injured, the team chemistry went into the crapper, and the team's heart was lost on a flight somewhere during a long road trip in January. Indeed, the same team that trashed Philly on the road in game #5 lost to Philly at home in game #25 and almost lost to them at home on another occasion, escaping with a 3-point victory.
But just as Celtics fans were filing out of the stadium, ready to call it quits on their championship aspirations in 2010, what Mike Gorman likes to call the Bench Brigade showed signs of life earlier this week, scoring 38 points against Detroit, almost single-handedly resuscitating the season in nine minutes of play over the course of quarter numbers three and four. For an encore, the bench tallied 46 points the following night against Charlotte, again looking more like a unit with an identity than the first team has for most of the season.
So it's only fitting that tonight Boston returns to Philadelphia, the place where it all began earlier this season. Can the Celtics continue their climb back to championship-level basketball or will their improved play this week prove to be just another tease in a season that ultimately leaves us disappointed?
3.04.2010
Pay No Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain
Clearly, the 2009-10 Boston Celtics have my full attention for the first time in some time. Should they have your's, too? If you're like me, getting excited about the Celtics when the snow starts to melt is nothing new. I remember getting excited about the Celtics signing Artis Gilmore in 1988, and then adding Jim Paxson not long thereafter. 1988 was also the year that Bill Walton was supposed to return to health, and that really cranked up the noise in Celtic Nation.
Then there was the 1989 trade for Joe Kleine and Eddie Pinckney, the 1991 acquisition of Derek Smith, and the 2002 Joe Johnson trade for Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers. Boy was I excited. So excited, in fact, I remember going on long runs after both the Pinckney and Kleine deal and the Delk and Rogers deal and returning home still feeling like I could run another ten miles. The key question, of course, was how did all those deals turn out? Some better than others, but none yielded a championship. In hindsight, everything is so clear.
But right now, we don't know a damn thing. Will Rondo become Boston's D.Wade in the fourth quarter as the regular season comes to a close? Will KG and Sheed become the Twin Tower combination we contemplated in August? Will Shelden Williams earn more and more PT, and eventually play a key role in a playoff series against the Hawks, rebounding and blocking shots in a big time payback against his former team? What can we expect from Mighty Mouse? Can the Celtics defeat either Orlando or Cleveland in a 7-game series? Will the Nuggets oust the favored Lakers from the Western Conference playoffs?
Nobody knows. But right now I like our chances a helluva lot better than I did last year. Last year the writing was on the wall once KG went down, just like with all the injuries in 1987. I hate those kind of springs. All I want is a chance, and a chance is what we have right now.
So it's OK to put your toe back in the water. This is where the fun starts. The 61-game exhibition schedule is O-V-E-R.
Then there was the 1989 trade for Joe Kleine and Eddie Pinckney, the 1991 acquisition of Derek Smith, and the 2002 Joe Johnson trade for Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers. Boy was I excited. So excited, in fact, I remember going on long runs after both the Pinckney and Kleine deal and the Delk and Rogers deal and returning home still feeling like I could run another ten miles. The key question, of course, was how did all those deals turn out? Some better than others, but none yielded a championship. In hindsight, everything is so clear.
But right now, we don't know a damn thing. Will Rondo become Boston's D.Wade in the fourth quarter as the regular season comes to a close? Will KG and Sheed become the Twin Tower combination we contemplated in August? Will Shelden Williams earn more and more PT, and eventually play a key role in a playoff series against the Hawks, rebounding and blocking shots in a big time payback against his former team? What can we expect from Mighty Mouse? Can the Celtics defeat either Orlando or Cleveland in a 7-game series? Will the Nuggets oust the favored Lakers from the Western Conference playoffs?
Nobody knows. But right now I like our chances a helluva lot better than I did last year. Last year the writing was on the wall once KG went down, just like with all the injuries in 1987. I hate those kind of springs. All I want is a chance, and a chance is what we have right now.
So it's OK to put your toe back in the water. This is where the fun starts. The 61-game exhibition schedule is O-V-E-R.
3.02.2010
Psst. Hey Doc, There's a Lot More to Worry about than our Home Record
"We're a defensive team first, we've got to be better defensively. And how we play on defense affects how we play on offense. When it's not going on defense it's not on offense and vice-versa. Second and third efforts really hurt. First effort is there every time. But second and third effort, that's where you get loose balls and rebounds
"We've played better on the road than at home for some reason. It's 48 minutes of concentration, you have to play through the game. You've got to finish the race. Hopefully things will get back on track." The Celtics began appearing vulnerable at home in the playoffs last year, eliminated by Orlando in the second round despite having home-court advantage. This season, the
Celtics (36-21) have a 16-11 home record "The most troubling of all things to me is how we've performed at home," coach Doc Rivers said. "I don't care if you have injuries, or whatever, you should win at home." But Rivers has seen plenty of other bothersome behavior by the Celtics, who are 13-16 since Dec. 25
"We had a good practice [yesterday] and we needed it," Rivers said. "And we need a couple more of them. We know the issues and we've got to keep working on them - nothing wrong, we've just got to do it right.
LINK
I've been using variations of the word "sickened" lately, as in the Celtics make me sick to my stomach. Pierce calls this team a defensive team first, and, indeed, I believe we are ranked in the top five in terms of fewest points allowed per game.
But come on, people. Let's get real.
Is this team a defensive juggernaut? We know what defensive juggernauts look like. We watched one play more than 100 games two years ago. They won just about every defensive battle there was to win (except we usually turned the ball over more than the opponent), garnering flabbergasted praise from just about every team in the league. We outrebounded, outblocked, out-stole, out-rotated, out-helped, and out-hustled the opposition better than 90% of the time. Our defense made the opponent feel bad about themselves, made them feel hopeless. That's why LA gave up on 12/31/07 at Staples and again on June 17, 2008. We made them cry uncle because we were suffocating the life out of them.
So I disagree with Doc. F our home record. F our road record. The problem is that we don't play defense, or at least not championship-level defense. Even back when our record was 23-5, we weren't playing 2007-08 defense. The other night 92-year-old James Posey pulled down 9 rebounds in 25 minutes. Garnett can occasionally come close to posting numbers like that, but he's also 5 inches taller than Posey. Nobody on this team rebounds. We are second-to-last in the league. Pathetic, and uequivocally so.
On Thursday I'm going to post an article written by Bob Ryan in March of 1988. It's entitled "The 61-Game Exhibition Schedule." Bill Walton's return was thought to be imminent at the time, and, Ryan felt, his return rendered the first 61 games of the regular season meaningless. Never happened. Even if it had, Walton's return was no guarantee that the team would turn around it's fortunes.
And that's where I am today. The Celtics don't play defense and they don't rebound. Nobody's gonna wave a magic wand and make KG and Sheed 25 again. Nobody's gonna change Kendrick Perkins into Dennis Rodman. I'm not saying our goose is cooked. But the team needs to start showing some signs of improvement, some signs of life in the next five games or I say the season is kaput.
Think about how well we played during the regular season in 2007-08. That consistent, high-level of play made the jump to playoff-level basketball much easier. Right now the chasm separating the current state of Celtics basketball from playoff basketball is the size of the Grand Canyon. That's not a gap you close over night via a flip of the switch.
"We've played better on the road than at home for some reason. It's 48 minutes of concentration, you have to play through the game. You've got to finish the race. Hopefully things will get back on track." The Celtics began appearing vulnerable at home in the playoffs last year, eliminated by Orlando in the second round despite having home-court advantage. This season, the
Celtics (36-21) have a 16-11 home record "The most troubling of all things to me is how we've performed at home," coach Doc Rivers said. "I don't care if you have injuries, or whatever, you should win at home." But Rivers has seen plenty of other bothersome behavior by the Celtics, who are 13-16 since Dec. 25
"We had a good practice [yesterday] and we needed it," Rivers said. "And we need a couple more of them. We know the issues and we've got to keep working on them - nothing wrong, we've just got to do it right.
LINK
I've been using variations of the word "sickened" lately, as in the Celtics make me sick to my stomach. Pierce calls this team a defensive team first, and, indeed, I believe we are ranked in the top five in terms of fewest points allowed per game.
But come on, people. Let's get real.
Is this team a defensive juggernaut? We know what defensive juggernauts look like. We watched one play more than 100 games two years ago. They won just about every defensive battle there was to win (except we usually turned the ball over more than the opponent), garnering flabbergasted praise from just about every team in the league. We outrebounded, outblocked, out-stole, out-rotated, out-helped, and out-hustled the opposition better than 90% of the time. Our defense made the opponent feel bad about themselves, made them feel hopeless. That's why LA gave up on 12/31/07 at Staples and again on June 17, 2008. We made them cry uncle because we were suffocating the life out of them.
So I disagree with Doc. F our home record. F our road record. The problem is that we don't play defense, or at least not championship-level defense. Even back when our record was 23-5, we weren't playing 2007-08 defense. The other night 92-year-old James Posey pulled down 9 rebounds in 25 minutes. Garnett can occasionally come close to posting numbers like that, but he's also 5 inches taller than Posey. Nobody on this team rebounds. We are second-to-last in the league. Pathetic, and uequivocally so.
On Thursday I'm going to post an article written by Bob Ryan in March of 1988. It's entitled "The 61-Game Exhibition Schedule." Bill Walton's return was thought to be imminent at the time, and, Ryan felt, his return rendered the first 61 games of the regular season meaningless. Never happened. Even if it had, Walton's return was no guarantee that the team would turn around it's fortunes.
And that's where I am today. The Celtics don't play defense and they don't rebound. Nobody's gonna wave a magic wand and make KG and Sheed 25 again. Nobody's gonna change Kendrick Perkins into Dennis Rodman. I'm not saying our goose is cooked. But the team needs to start showing some signs of improvement, some signs of life in the next five games or I say the season is kaput.
Think about how well we played during the regular season in 2007-08. That consistent, high-level of play made the jump to playoff-level basketball much easier. Right now the chasm separating the current state of Celtics basketball from playoff basketball is the size of the Grand Canyon. That's not a gap you close over night via a flip of the switch.
3.01.2010
The Celtics Have Too Much Heart
“It’s all about fight and pride,’’ center Kendrick Perkins said after the Celtics fell to the Nets, 104-96. “We’ve got to play hard on both ends, not when we get down and the crowd’s got to get us into it. Sometimes you’ve got to provide your own energy.’’
LINK
I realize the man said and "not" rely on the crowd to get us into it. But the mere suggestion that this is in fact what the team is doing is enough to make me gag. Funnier still is Rasheed Wallace's suggestion that he's shooting threes only because that's the way the plays are called, that the current Celtics have "too much heart and drive," and that he, Rasheed Wallace, is about to become a different player, meaning a prime-time, go-to guy.
The only thing funnier would be if "one of the greatest shooters of all time" got outgunned by an equipment manager:
Paul Pierce arrived early to practice Wednesday at UCLA, well ahead of the main bus transporting the rest of the Boston Celtics from their team hotel in advance of tonight's matchup with the Lakers at Staples Center.To pass some time, Pierce challenged Celtics equipment manager John Connor to a 3-point shooting contest. Connor, middle-aged with thinning gray hair, accepted the invite with no hesitation.
He then proceeded to easily take the first two games from Pierce, who had to rally just to get a tie in the third game. That's not good. "Yo, Paul," Connor howled after the resounding victory. "I'm gonna go unpack the bags now."
LINK
LINK
I realize the man said and "not" rely on the crowd to get us into it. But the mere suggestion that this is in fact what the team is doing is enough to make me gag. Funnier still is Rasheed Wallace's suggestion that he's shooting threes only because that's the way the plays are called, that the current Celtics have "too much heart and drive," and that he, Rasheed Wallace, is about to become a different player, meaning a prime-time, go-to guy.
The only thing funnier would be if "one of the greatest shooters of all time" got outgunned by an equipment manager:
Paul Pierce arrived early to practice Wednesday at UCLA, well ahead of the main bus transporting the rest of the Boston Celtics from their team hotel in advance of tonight's matchup with the Lakers at Staples Center.To pass some time, Pierce challenged Celtics equipment manager John Connor to a 3-point shooting contest. Connor, middle-aged with thinning gray hair, accepted the invite with no hesitation.
He then proceeded to easily take the first two games from Pierce, who had to rally just to get a tie in the third game. That's not good. "Yo, Paul," Connor howled after the resounding victory. "I'm gonna go unpack the bags now."
LINK
2.19.2010
Short-handed Celtics Travel to Portland
Even at full-strength, the Celtics roster stands at a mere 13 players, and that includes Marcus Landry, who is now being called a practice player. However, Landry and fellow former Knick Nate Robinson are unlikely to be eligible to play tonight because of the logistics and timing of the trade. That leaves 11 Celtics to compete . . . except that Tony Allen hurt his leg last night, and Doc (see video below) pronounced him doubtful for tonight.
Which brings us down to 10 players.
That means extra PT for Marquis, right? Probably, but he was kinda, sorta AWOL last night, and, I thought, looked way skinnier than usual. Perhaps he's sick? In any event, look for some creative coaching to get around these hurdles.
I had a good feeling about last night's game, and do again for tonight's game. But we'll need everyone to contribute. NO 2-11s from Sheed, and no gooseggs from Squisy.
Which brings us down to 10 players.
That means extra PT for Marquis, right? Probably, but he was kinda, sorta AWOL last night, and, I thought, looked way skinnier than usual. Perhaps he's sick? In any event, look for some creative coaching to get around these hurdles.
I had a good feeling about last night's game, and do again for tonight's game. But we'll need everyone to contribute. NO 2-11s from Sheed, and no gooseggs from Squisy.
Rivers to Celtics Doubters: If you Jumped Off the Bandwagon, Stay Off
“We have not played with a great rhythm over the last 20 games. I get that, and that’s fine. Whoever’s jumped off the bandwagon, stay off. But I like this team. I’ve said it over and over again. I didn’t think we needed to make a lot of changes and we didn’t. We’ll see if that was the right decision or not.”
LINK
The challenge is clearly in the players' laps.
Can they rebound better as a team (we got beat 50-43 last night)? Can they execute better in crunch time (they went scoreless for long stretches of the 4th quarter last night)? Can they win a big game in a dominating fashion? Can Rasheed shut his trap and find ways to help when his shot isn't falling? Can KG work around his physical limitations?
LINK
The challenge is clearly in the players' laps.
Can they rebound better as a team (we got beat 50-43 last night)? Can they execute better in crunch time (they went scoreless for long stretches of the 4th quarter last night)? Can they win a big game in a dominating fashion? Can Rasheed shut his trap and find ways to help when his shot isn't falling? Can KG work around his physical limitations?
2.17.2010
Not Fade Away
84-82, Celtics. 4:18 to go in the game. The Kings just closed to within two after being down 7 earlier in the quarter. Sheed bricks up a three, and some guy in a white jersey makes a three. Kings lead. Wait. I think I've seen this movie before.
The teams then proceed to trade baskets after which Ray Allen rims out a jumper. Kings have the ball and the lead. Now I'm certain I've seen this movie before. I know the ending! The Kings go on a binge of three-pointers and uncontested lay-ups, while the Celtics struggle to even get a decent shot off before the clock expires.
Only that's not what happened.
This time.
Instead, the Celtics, after giving up what could have been a crucial offensive rebound, get the ball back, and give it to one of the greatest shooters of all time (by the way, the link is interesting. But Bob McAdoo was not a better shooter than Paul Pierce), who drains a three. The Celts don't relinquish the lead again. Game over.
Not a game that makes you feel great about the green. Not a particularly heartening win. On the other hand, you have to start somewhere. We'll call it a building block. Oh, Rasheed "This is my Time of Year" Wallace played well off the bench: 5-9 from the field (three of the misses from three, where he was 1-4), 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 steal, and 17 points in 24 minutes.
The teams then proceed to trade baskets after which Ray Allen rims out a jumper. Kings have the ball and the lead. Now I'm certain I've seen this movie before. I know the ending! The Kings go on a binge of three-pointers and uncontested lay-ups, while the Celtics struggle to even get a decent shot off before the clock expires.
Only that's not what happened.
This time.
Instead, the Celtics, after giving up what could have been a crucial offensive rebound, get the ball back, and give it to one of the greatest shooters of all time (by the way, the link is interesting. But Bob McAdoo was not a better shooter than Paul Pierce), who drains a three. The Celts don't relinquish the lead again. Game over.
Not a game that makes you feel great about the green. Not a particularly heartening win. On the other hand, you have to start somewhere. We'll call it a building block. Oh, Rasheed "This is my Time of Year" Wallace played well off the bench: 5-9 from the field (three of the misses from three, where he was 1-4), 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 steal, and 17 points in 24 minutes.
2.16.2010
Sheed: This is My Time of Year
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — If you see Rasheed Wallace with a little more pep in his step Tuesday night against Sacramento, it has everything to do with the Boston Celtics finally hitting the stretch of the season that seems to bring out the best of Wallace - and the team he plays for.
"You already know, this is my time," Wallace told CSNNE.com prior to Monday night's practice at Sacramento State. "The all-star game is over. We're here to do what we do, and that's hoop, go into the playoffs and do what we do."
LINK
You almost want to laugh harder than some did at Paul Pierce's remarks about being an all-time great shooter. But who knows. Maybe Paul Pierce is an all time great shooter and maybe RaSHEED and company will snap out of it sometime soon. Maybe tonight. Maybe this road trip.
"You already know, this is my time," Wallace told CSNNE.com prior to Monday night's practice at Sacramento State. "The all-star game is over. We're here to do what we do, and that's hoop, go into the playoffs and do what we do."
LINK
You almost want to laugh harder than some did at Paul Pierce's remarks about being an all-time great shooter. But who knows. Maybe Paul Pierce is an all time great shooter and maybe RaSHEED and company will snap out of it sometime soon. Maybe tonight. Maybe this road trip.
2.12.2010
2.10.2010
The Fog & The Predicament
We're gonna trade Glen Davis, a better than serviceable big with young legs and someone who isn't afraid to bang inside for a back-up point guard. We're gonna trade Ray Allen, an all-time great and still one of the seven, eight, or nine best two guards in the league for Kevin Martin and Andres Nociono, neither one of which qualifies as being better than good. Ray Allen, I might add, is probably our second best player right now. I'd entertain arguments about Paul Pierce, but any player, no matter how good, who tells me he has a foot sprain and "it ain't gonna get any better" heavily discounts his value to me.
Which is where the fog sets in.
This team is on the cusp.
The cusp of contending and the cusp of descending. It seems clear the Celtics could go one of two ways: struggle their way to banner 18 this year, or begin a precipitous decline into oblivion. Trading Big Baby wouldn't trigger the decline per se. Shelden Williams could probably cover. Trading Ray Allen, on the other hand, most definitely could return the club to the dark days of of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Other than Rondo Gordon Orr, Ray Allen is the only Celtic who brings it every night, not surprising since Jesus is a consummate professional. Assuming you got adequate talent in return (and that does NOT mean Kevin Martin and Andres Nocioni), there's still no way to plug the void of professionalism left by a departing Ray Allen. The guy is basically begging to finish his career here, and there's almost no way you get value in return. I say unless the Heat off D.Wade, you keep Ray Allen.
Which brings us to the Predicament. When you are a player, as was Danny Ainge in the late 1980s, it's easy to tell management, "Christ, you idiots, you need to trade Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish while you still can, as Danny Ainge told Red Auerbach at the infamous 1988 Christmas party. But once you've assumed the reins of power in the front office, and a fleeting last chance at another NBA championship is fluttering before your eyes, it's a little hard to push the button and blow the team up.
Rasheed Wallace provides the best example.
At this point in time, I'd say that less than half of Celtics Nation would be sorry to see him go, were Danny to send him packing before the trade deadline. But if Danny traded Sheed, are we better off? Sure, our energy level picks up. Our defense improves. But all of a sudden we're a bunch of short MoFos again, and I just can't watch this team get towered over by the rest of the league. Trust me, I'm not the only Celtics fan who feels this way.
And because we'd lack that extra seven footer, our chances of winning banner 18 are reduced to near -0-. Throw in the questionable health of KG's knee, and all of a sudden we're not talking about late 1980s Celtics basketball but late 1990s Celtics basketball. It seems like we get ourselves in this mess a lot. I hope Danny is smart enough to see us through the current state of affairs. But I'm beginning to have my doubts.
Which is where the fog sets in.
This team is on the cusp.
The cusp of contending and the cusp of descending. It seems clear the Celtics could go one of two ways: struggle their way to banner 18 this year, or begin a precipitous decline into oblivion. Trading Big Baby wouldn't trigger the decline per se. Shelden Williams could probably cover. Trading Ray Allen, on the other hand, most definitely could return the club to the dark days of of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Other than Rondo Gordon Orr, Ray Allen is the only Celtic who brings it every night, not surprising since Jesus is a consummate professional. Assuming you got adequate talent in return (and that does NOT mean Kevin Martin and Andres Nocioni), there's still no way to plug the void of professionalism left by a departing Ray Allen. The guy is basically begging to finish his career here, and there's almost no way you get value in return. I say unless the Heat off D.Wade, you keep Ray Allen.
Which brings us to the Predicament. When you are a player, as was Danny Ainge in the late 1980s, it's easy to tell management, "Christ, you idiots, you need to trade Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish while you still can, as Danny Ainge told Red Auerbach at the infamous 1988 Christmas party. But once you've assumed the reins of power in the front office, and a fleeting last chance at another NBA championship is fluttering before your eyes, it's a little hard to push the button and blow the team up.
Rasheed Wallace provides the best example.
At this point in time, I'd say that less than half of Celtics Nation would be sorry to see him go, were Danny to send him packing before the trade deadline. But if Danny traded Sheed, are we better off? Sure, our energy level picks up. Our defense improves. But all of a sudden we're a bunch of short MoFos again, and I just can't watch this team get towered over by the rest of the league. Trust me, I'm not the only Celtics fan who feels this way.
And because we'd lack that extra seven footer, our chances of winning banner 18 are reduced to near -0-. Throw in the questionable health of KG's knee, and all of a sudden we're not talking about late 1980s Celtics basketball but late 1990s Celtics basketball. It seems like we get ourselves in this mess a lot. I hope Danny is smart enough to see us through the current state of affairs. But I'm beginning to have my doubts.
2.08.2010
The Difference between this Year and Two Years Ago
stop (st
p)
Other than Ubuntu, what was the word we most associated with the Boston Celtics during the 2007-08 NBA season? Answer: defense. We got stops when we needed them. The most memorable scene occurred during game 4 of the NBA Finals. During a time out, down 20, Doc told the troops that they weren't playing all that bad, but they had to start making plays. They needed to get stops.
That's what they proceeded to do. They put down the hammer. This squad doesn't do that. It isn't capable of doing it, at least not now. The key to the defense is former Defensive Player of the Year, Kevin Garnett. It's nice when he shoots 6-7 from the field. But that isn't what we need from him. What we need is the dominating presence on the glass and in the lane. We need the quarterback directing traffic, helping from the week side, and volunteering himself for the toughest assignments. He doesn't do much of this anymore, and, in fact, he's not up to the toughest assignments. He's a shadow of his former self on defense. Sheed, supposedly a mirror image of KG's good self, instead is just a mirror of KG's old and injured self.
It's too bad the Celtics still don't have James Posey on this roster. Not because he'd help. But because he'd fit in. He's old and beat up now, too.
p)
v. stopped, stop·ping, stops
1. To close by covering, filling in, or plugging up.
2. To constrict.
3. To obstruct or block passage on.
4. To prevent the flow or passage of: stop supplies from getting through.
5.
a. To halt the motion or progress of: stopped me and asked directions.
b. To block or deflect; parry or ward off.
c. To be or get in the way of (a bullet or other missile); be killed or wounded by.
6.
a. To cause to desist or to change a course of action: stopped us from continuing the argument.
b. To prevent or restrain: stopped him from going.
Other than Ubuntu, what was the word we most associated with the Boston Celtics during the 2007-08 NBA season? Answer: defense. We got stops when we needed them. The most memorable scene occurred during game 4 of the NBA Finals. During a time out, down 20, Doc told the troops that they weren't playing all that bad, but they had to start making plays. They needed to get stops.
That's what they proceeded to do. They put down the hammer. This squad doesn't do that. It isn't capable of doing it, at least not now. The key to the defense is former Defensive Player of the Year, Kevin Garnett. It's nice when he shoots 6-7 from the field. But that isn't what we need from him. What we need is the dominating presence on the glass and in the lane. We need the quarterback directing traffic, helping from the week side, and volunteering himself for the toughest assignments. He doesn't do much of this anymore, and, in fact, he's not up to the toughest assignments. He's a shadow of his former self on defense. Sheed, supposedly a mirror image of KG's good self, instead is just a mirror of KG's old and injured self.
It's too bad the Celtics still don't have James Posey on this roster. Not because he'd help. But because he'd fit in. He's old and beat up now, too.
8.06.2009
Is Shelden Williams Really the New Leon Powe?
A lot has been written on this subject over the last two days. One piece was simply entitled: “Meet the New Leon Powe.” I’m not so sure about that. Last year we had four bigs coming off our bench to start the season: Brian Scalabrine, Glen Davis, Leon Powe, and Patrick O’Bryant. Well, we still have Brian Scalabrine. We mostly likely will still have Glen Davis as well, and we just added Shelden Williams. Am I missing anyone? Oh yeah. Sheed.
Rasheed Wallace will be the first big off the bench. Glen Davis will be reserve big #2. So depending on whom you thought was the first big off the bench last year—Leon Powe or Glen Davis—Powe is being replaced by either Davis or Sheed. This makes Shelden Williams the new Patrick O’Bryant. So all of the time spent over the past couple of days bemoaning the fact that Leon Powe and Glen Davis are better than Shelden Williams seems like time misspent to me. Now if you want to compare Give it to me, Big Shelden to POB, have at it. POB’s main problem was his ticker. From what I’ve read, Shelden won’t have that problem.
And since Mikki Moore couldn't grab a rebound if Mark Blount's life depended on it . . .
Rasheed Wallace will be the first big off the bench. Glen Davis will be reserve big #2. So depending on whom you thought was the first big off the bench last year—Leon Powe or Glen Davis—Powe is being replaced by either Davis or Sheed. This makes Shelden Williams the new Patrick O’Bryant. So all of the time spent over the past couple of days bemoaning the fact that Leon Powe and Glen Davis are better than Shelden Williams seems like time misspent to me. Now if you want to compare Give it to me, Big Shelden to POB, have at it. POB’s main problem was his ticker. From what I’ve read, Shelden won’t have that problem.
And since Mikki Moore couldn't grab a rebound if Mark Blount's life depended on it . . .
7.20.2009
The New Big Three
“Wow, that's the first thing that I said. Wow,” Ryan Gomes said. “Now they've got two guys, speaking of Garnett and Sheed, who on the court are so vocal defensively and offensively and they know the game so much that that's going to bring the level of intensity up. They have a lot of different lineups they can go with. Now Perk is in foul trouble, Sheed can play the five because he played the five in Detroit. And Sheed can hit threes so now, Garnett is on the block, Sheed is out there, it can cause a lot of match-up problems for a lot of people.”
LINK
I still think the biggest impression will be made when KG and Sheed are joined on the floor by Perk. At first I was thinking this unit would be used primarily against the other contenders, Orlando, Cleveland, and the Fakers. Now I'm thinking we'll see those three out there together at least once per game.
The New Big Three.
LINK
I still think the biggest impression will be made when KG and Sheed are joined on the floor by Perk. At first I was thinking this unit would be used primarily against the other contenders, Orlando, Cleveland, and the Fakers. Now I'm thinking we'll see those three out there together at least once per game.
The New Big Three.
7.16.2009
Walton and Sheed
Early in the fourth quarter of his first game, Walton holds the ball, his back to the basket. He spots Bird making a baseline cut. Pass. Two points. A minute later he outlets to Bird at midcourt. Two more. A few minutes later he blocks a shot, alters the follow, grabs the miss and starts a fast break. He plays 19 solid minutes, scores nine points, grabs 11 rebounds, leaves to another standing O, then claps his hands and smiles from the bench as Bird goes wild down the stretch in a 111-109 Celtic victory.
The expectations were high for Bill Walton. No, they were through the roof. The same can be said of KG teaming with Sheed. Will the result be the same?
The expectations were high for Bill Walton. No, they were through the roof. The same can be said of KG teaming with Sheed. Will the result be the same?
7.15.2009
More Fun with Sheed
"Both teams played hard."
In his days with the Portland Trailblazers, Sheed made plenty of headlines for the right reasons, leading the Blazers to back-to-back conference finals and being named to two All-Star teams. He made headlines for the wrong reasons too. He threatened a referee outside the arena on a loading dock (Tim Donaghy, go figure) and set an NBA record for technical fouls. And while this quote may fall into the latter category, it can't help but make you laugh. It's classic Sheed. After a frustrating game, Sheed sat down at the press table to answer questions, like he is required to do by the league. But no one said how he had to answer them, did they? His answer to every question, no matter the question? "Both teams played hard." Leave it to Sheed to take a cliché and make it a memorable quote.
"I'm guaranteeing Game 2. That's the bottom line and that's all I'm saying. They will not win Game 2 and you heard that from me. Put it front page, back page, middle of the page. They will not win Game 2."
The Pistons didn't play well in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers in 2004. Rasheed didn't either, scoring just four points on 1-for-7 shooting, including an airball from the corner that could have tied the game with ten seconds left. But that performance didn't affect his confidence, apparently. With a crowd of reporters around his locker after the game, Sheed gave them all the sound byte they were looking for. Channeling his inner Joe Namath, he guaranteed a Piston victory in Game 2. It took one of the most famous blocks in basketball history by Tayshaun Prince to seal the deal, but the Pistons helped Wallace come through on his promise and tied the series at one game apiece. And the "Guaran-Sheed" was born.
"All those (expletive) calls they had out there with Mike and Kenny, y'all seen that (expletive). Lot of them phantom calls, cats flopping and falling all over the floor and they're calling that (expletive). Y'all, (expletive), that ain't basketball out there. It's all (expletive) entertainment. Y'all (expletive) should know that (expletive). All (expletive) entertainment."
Sheed was fined $25,000 by the league for this little ditty. I'm assuming $12,500 for the profanity and $12,500 for criticizing the officials. Referees Mike Callahan and Kenny Mauer were the objects of his wrath following a 106-102 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals in 2008. It may be all (expletive) entertainment out there, but Sheed, you are all the (expletive) entertainment I need in my life.
"They're going to boo me; I love it. I wish little Napoleon didn't make that rule because I'd be carrying that belt back in there."
"Little Napoleon" would be commissioner David Stern. "That belt" would be the replica WWE championship belt he designed and purchased for all his Piston teammates following their championship run in 2004. The Pistons were presented with their belts (much cooler than rings if you ask me) before the 2005 season opener against the Houston Rockets. Sheed used his belt to inspire his team's title defense throughout the season, but commissioner Stern requested that Wallace and the Pistons not bring their belts into road arenas. In this particular instance, Sheed is speaking of a return to Portland.
Link to the rest.
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