SB Nation - Brian Scalabrine

Glen Davis eyes early January return

Jimmy Toscano — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:52:10 -0000

More photos » by Charles Krupa - AP

The bandage seen in this picture is now off, and a smaller one is now covering part of Davis' right hand, enabling him to partake in full contact drills with the team.

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Prior to Sunday night's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Glen Davis was on the parquet floor putting up shots alongside Rajon Rondo, Lester Hudson, Brian Scalabrine, and JR Giddens. While Rajon Rondo was teaching Lester Hudson a thing or two during their one on one battle, Davis, Scalabrine, and Giddens began to rotate in a one on one battle of their own.

Davis and Giddens then began a lengthy one on one battle in which Davis was sporting a bandage on his right wrist and around his thumb. The bandage didn't seem to affect Davis' game much, as he was able make numerous low-post moves and drive to the basket. Davis has been practicing with it on for about a week now, and isn't where he wants to be yet, especially defensively. Asked whether the injury affects his offense or defense more, Davis said it affects his defense moreso than his offense, and actually it seems to be helping his shot a bit. Also, he noted that it did hurt a little from time to time especially when he got hit hard in that area. He did look a little hesitant to challenge Giddens on a couple of dunks, but was quick to point out that he did block two of them. In his defense, Giddens is pretty explosive to the basket and throws down very hard.

Davis said he was hoping to be able to return on the road trip after New Years. A quick look at the schedule points toward a possible return for the game in Miami on January 6th, or the game in Atlanta on January 8th. The Celtics play six games between January 6th and January 14th, including a pair of back-to-backs with a day off in the middle. Obviously it would be great for the Celtics if they could add Davis back to the lineup by that time and take some minutes off other players' hands.

Recap: Celtics 98, Bucks 89

Frank Madden — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:16:20 -0000

Box Score

Let's not kid ourselves. When your team has dropped eight of its last nine, there's no such thing as a moral victory, even if it's a hard-fought game on the Celtics' home floor. But let's at least say this: the Bucks' rather predictable loss in Boston at least had more to do with the Celtics being damn good than the Bucks simply being bad.

Unlike Sunday, the Bucks were playing catch-up early but this time held their composure for about 44 minutes. A big reason was Andrew Bogut, who settled the Bucks early on by dropping a series of hooks with both hands en route to 12 first quarter points. Brandon Jennings again had a slow start, missing three shots before heading to the bench midway through the first, but came back in time to toss a tough runner high off the glass going to his left for a three point play to end the first. Improbably, the Bucks not only were in it, but had a one-point lead.

The second quarter was largely the same story from a flow perspective. Both teams rested their starters for longer stretches, and Bogut was held shotless with two turnovers, though he also notched three assists. But as much as the Celtics made short spurts, they couldn't put together the consistency needed to put the Bucks away. The Bucks again finished respectably, as Delfino buried a late three and Jennings dropped in a floater near the buzzer to bring the Bucks within a point at the half.

Third quarter? Same story. Kevin Garnett (25 points, 9/13 fg) started to get on a roll in the third, burying four open jumpers as Rajon Rondo (11 pts, nine boards, 13 ast) used P&R to get in the lane and kick to open teammates seemingly everytime down the court. But Bogut answered with eight of his own and the Celtics' role players had less luck--Eddie House and Brian Scalabrine among those missing open looks that had the Garden crowd ready to explode.

Unfortunately, in crunch time the Celtics simply played like the Celtics. And the Bucks, well, they played like you'd expect the Bucks to play on the road against the league's best defense. After Delfino found Ilyasova surprisingly open for a layup to tie it at 86, Rondo (40% ft shooting coming in) hit a pair of freebies and stuck a mid-range jumper shortly thereafter. It was the capper on a big quarter for Rondo, who scored all 11 of his points in the decisive period, including 5/7 from the stripe. Bogut then turned it over on consecutive possessions, and Garnett dumped a righty hook over Ilyasova to extend the Boston to lead to 93-86. Ballgame.

Three Bucks

Andrew Bogut. Bogut finished the game with an unsightly seven turnovers, but that shouldn't overshadow the fact that he was miles better than he's been the past three games (25 points, 11/17 fg, 14 rebs, five assists, two blocks). It was mostly what we expect of Bogut at his best: when he posted deep he finished with both hands, and when further out he was able to put the ball on the deck and get equally good looks. He even had one improbable turnaround fadeaway with the clock running down and made each of his three free throws--one of those nights apparently.

Ersan Ilyasova. Garnett was able to take it to Ilyasova on the rare occasions he got the ball on the block, and Ilyasova's shot generally wasn't falling from outside. But otherwise the Turkish Delight held his own about as well as could be expected against Boston's best, scoring 19 (6/17 fg, 2/6 threes, 5/6 ft) to go with eight boards, and three steals in 43 minutes.

Carlos Delfino. Jennings (7/19 fg, 17 pts) had a flashier night, but Delfino provided both some shooting (12 points on 5/10 fg, 2/4 threes) and passing (team-high five assists). I'm not sure I like Delfino orchestrating the offense too much, but it's tough to complain when Delfino plays Ray Allen (13 pts on nine shots) to a draw.

Three Numbers

52.2%. Though the Celtics couldn't crack the century mark, it's not to say the Bucks defended particularly well--Boston ended the game right around their averages with 108.9 pts scored/100 possessions and 98.9 pts/100 allowed. They came out looking to pound the Bucks inside, and eventually found their mid-range groove as well.

The Bucks certainly worked hard, but Rondo was seemingly able to draw the extra defender at will, forcing the Bucks to leave either Perkins open under the basket or Garnett open on the perimeter. And even though Rondo was basically no threat to score himself most of the night, he made almost no mistakes finding his talented teammates (13 dimes, one turnover). Whether it was the screener or someone setting up shop in the corner, Rondo's vision was tremendous and he's got the teammates to make him look good.

14. The Bucks got after it on the offensive glass and it helped keep them in the game--14 offensive and 45 total boards helped offset the Bucks' 43% shooting.

17. Turnover differential has generally been one of the Bucks' saving graces the past two seasons, but not tonight. The Bucks coughed it up 20 times--a whopping 17 on Boston steals--as the Celtics simply gave them no margin for error. The Celtics are just impressive all the way around on defense: they defend one-on-one, they take away passing lanes, they hedge/recover on P&R, they close out on shooters when you move the ball. The Bucks might not have seen the Celtics at their best tonight, but they probably saw enough to know why they're once again one of the league's toughest teams.

Three Good

The Anchor. Technically Bogut's been back for over a week, but it's been three games since we saw the Bogut we want to see. As is so often the case, Bogut's ability to finish around the hoop was closely correlated with everything else about his game, and it was nice feeling like the Bucks had someone they could count on to create scoring opportunities whenever the crowd was starting to get into it. Turnovers not withstanding, this is the Bogut that we need to see every night.

The Prince. If practice made perfect, then Luc Mbah a Moute's development as a jump-shooter wouldn't be progressing so miserably. But as much as the Prince has struggled with his shot, his work-rate and footwork on defense is still a sight to behold. Paul Pierce didn't have a terrible line tonight (15 pts on nine shots, five turnovers), but thanks to Luc, he was among the least of the Bucks' problems.

Bouncing back. Unlike most of their recent losses, the Bucks at least didn't have anything to be ashamed of tonight. It was a road game, the Celtics are good, they were in it until late, blah blah. And tomorrow night the Bucks get a chance to bounce back quickly against a Calderon-less Raptors team in Milwaukee. No excuses.

Three Bad

Closing time. It's no secret that the Bucks don't have proven scorers they can rely on in crunch time--a void that was all the more obvious when you watch the Celtics with KG, Pierce and Allen all ready to drop daggers when the Celtics need a hoop.

Sure, Jennings has made some big shots, but he's had even more misses and turnovers--a theme that continued tonight as he misfired on a pair of late threes. Tonight Bogut fell victim to the turnover bug as well, coughing it up twice in the last four minutes as the Celtics made their surge. So while we used to always complain about Mike Redd's one-track mind late in games, I wouldn't mind having an 04/05 or 05/06 Redd around to make life easier at this point. Sadly, I'm not counting on it.

Bench. Luke Ridnour and Hakim Warrick have typically been reliable bench scorers of late; maybe not both at the same time, but typically one of them has provided a shot of energy to the second unit. Not tonight. Ridnour didn't make a field goal before going down with an elbow injury in the third quarter, and Warrick was a complete non-factor in 13 minutes. All told, the Bucks got just nine points on 2/11 shooting from the short bench of Ridnour, Warrick, and Bell.

Rondo'ed. It was a matchup of contrasting roles and styles for Jennings and Rondo. While the more trigger-happy Jennings is already carrying the burden of an entire franchise 20 games into his career, Rondo has steadily developed into one of the league's best all-around PGs while sharing the stage with three all-stars. I doubt either team would want to trade their guy for the other one--the Bucks need to roll the dice with a potential superstar and the Celtics need their more experienced jack-of-all-trades. On the positive side, Jennings showed some creative shot-making around the hoop...but he also missed all eight of his jumpers outside 15 feet. Live and learn.

Superlatives for This Season's Celtics

Greg Payne — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:08:17 -0000

More photos » by Brian Babineau - NBAE/Getty Images

Doc would get my vote.

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In light of the Celtics' recent struggles, I figured we could all use a light-hearted post so we can have a few laughs.

Superlatives are always fun, whether you are a freshman in high school, a soon-to-be-college graduate or a professional basketball player. Gathering up in a large group and waiting for your unofficial award which sometimes says nothing about you as a person whatsoever is like waiting for those 'Secret Santa' gifts back in pre-school. You weren't exactly sure what you were gonna get get, but no matter what, you were gonna get something.

This current Celtics squad is loaded with personalities, but with only eight awards up for grabs, the competition was fierce. Players, coaches and major management personnel qualified for the awards. So, without further ado:

Best Reality TV Star: Glen Davis: He's a used-to-be overweight, recently engaged, professional basketball playing Muay Thai kickboxer who also wants to play in the NFL. I bet if you break up all of the previous attributes into individual categories, you can find at least two reality shows based on each. The fact that you have all of them rolled into one? You'd get the drama with the tears, the action with the fights and the comedy because he's Glen Davis. Isn't this a TV executive's dream? Or better yet, a struggling TV exec waiting for his or her next big break? It'd be like one of those outrageous movie spoofs where they try to encompass thirty different movies into a 90-minute film.

The good news for Glen? Nothing he could do could top Lamar-Khloe, who will eventually win the seemingly inevitable ESPY Award for "Best Pro Athlete Reality Show".

Best President: Doc Rivers: He's a player's coach, meaning he'd be a people's president. His outgoing personality would be key for foreign relations, especially with some of the countries who aren't including the United States on their Christmas lists. But the good thing about Doc is just because he's a good guy doesn't mean he's a pushover. He's tenacious when he needs to be and the United States would not be bullied under his watch.

The best part of all of this? The first ever All-NBA Cabinet of course. Vice President: Larry Brown. Secretary of Defense: Tom Thibodeau. Secretary of the Treasury: Wyc Grousbeck. Secretary of State: Danny Ainge.

My all-time favorite example of Doc being ruthless when it counts: Whenever an opposing player suffers some freak injury and collapses in the paint while the ball is still in play. No one's ever really sure what to do, but everyone's really worried. The refs never stop play and the players never want to touch the guy. Again, everyone's really worried. Except Doc. The crowd is silent, the announcers are silent and all you can hear in the background is Doc on the sideline screaming, "THREE SECONDS!"

Best Family Guy Guest Appearance: Kevin Garnett: I can just picture it now. Chris Griffin is talking to one of his friends at school and says, "Man, this is almost as bad as that time Kevin Garnett made me want to quit little league." Then, we flash back to a sunny spring day and Chris is up at bat and Garnett's son is the pitcher. Garnett is the overly aggressive father/manager firing off an expletive-laced tirade at Chris: "Hey! Hey, tubby! Yeah, you tubby! You're a fat mother(expletive)! You can't hit (expletive)! Strike him out Tommy!"

(Here's the pitch)

"Oh yeah, strike three mother(expletive)! Get that weak (expletive) out of here! Yeah, Tommy! Anything is possiblllllllllllle!"

Seth MacFarlane, I await your call.

Best Late Night Talk Show Host Once His Career is Over: Brian Scalabrine: Come on, if a show actually came out called "Late Night with Brian Scalabrine", I'd watch it. Wouldn't you? Besides, it wouldn't receive the nod for "Worst idea for a late night television show" as long as Lopez Tonight was still on.

Most Likely to Have a Freak Athlete for a Kid: Shelden Williams. He and Candace Parker have to quietly be the most excited not-yet parents on this planet. If it's a girl, she'll be dunking by age ten, shatter Cheryl Miller's 105-point high school game as a seventh grader (they're definitely going to call her up), lead Pat Summit and the Tennessee Lady Vols to four-straight National Championships then skip the WNBA to become the first woman to be drafted by an NBA franchise. I'm thinking the Knicks will trade up to get her services that way they can call LeBron up and say, "Hey, we just drafted Cheryl Williams-Parker. Do you want in on this now?" Then, the messy divorce will take place once Cheryl eliminates LeBron from the dunk contest at All-Star weekend, which of course will be held...in Cleveland.

Most Likely to Win the World Series of Poker: Marquis Daniels. Is there any other player in the NBA who refuses to show emotion like Marquis? He always plays his hardest, but you'd never guess it because he honestly looks half asleep at all times. He wouldn't need the shades or the hat or the headphones. He's literally impossible to read, except for the fact that he always looks nonplussed, kind of like the little boy from "The Omen". He'd be tearing you down slowly, brick by brick and when you call him on a bluff he'd serve up a straight flush on you...

...And then continue to not smile even when the blocks of cash are pushed in front of him.

Most Likely to Go Out, Try to Find the Real Gino, and Bring Him Back to Boston: Rasheed Wallace. Rasheed apparently didn't understand the concept of Gino when he was first on display on the Garden jumbotron. I suppose we can't really blame him. How many teams are as infatuated with a former '70s dance idol like the Celtics are with the man with the mop of curly black hair? Kevin Garnett told Rasheed he'd understand Gino by the end of the year, but that just was not good enough for Rasheed. So, over the All-Star break, he will embark on an all-out manhunt to find the real Gino so he can bring him back to Boston in order to sing the national anthem.

Now, I don't want this to make Garnett jealous because Garnett's already been on a "Quest for G" once before, but we're pretty sure that one failed miserably. Heck, we're not even sure what Garnett and Derek Jeter were actually looking for. So, with all due respect to Garnett's campaign, I'm going to nullify it and call Rasheed's much more important venture, "The Real Quest for G"

Most Likely to Win Survivor: Rajon Rondo. He's just too competitive. He would do whatever it takes to win a game like that. Plus, he probably wouldn't have to eat a lot (this is where the big guys would suffer most), he's a physical freak so he'd have a leg up in all the challenges (which he would win and subsequently not go off the deep end like the rest of his teammates) and he probably wouldn't hesitate to stab anyone in the back, as long as he benefited from it.

He and tribe-mate Kendrick Perkins would form a nearly unstoppable alliance, only to see it broken apart by Rondo himself who votes Perk off in episode six. When it's revealed that Rondo voted for Perk, Perk busts out the "I didn't foul that guy!" face, followed by Jeff Probst asking, "Rondo, do you think your tribe likes living with you?"

The Latest Nocioni Rumor

Jeff Clark — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:26:45 -0000

More photos » by Rich Pedroncelli - AP

Will Noc be a Celtic?

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Marc Stein give us the following scoop on TrueHoop.

There is some hope, according to NBA front-office sources, for a three-way deal that is currently in the exploratory-discussion phase.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings, in considering the feasibility of a Samuel Dalembert-for-Kenny Thomas swap, have discussed expanding that concept with Boston by trying to draw in the Celtics on a potential three-way deal that would land Andres Nocioni with the Celts.

Sources further stressed over the past 48 hours that this should be classified as an ongoing conversation as the teams involved decide how much they like what's on the table.

But the full deal as it stands, if it eventually gets that far, would send Nocioni to Boston, Kenny Thomas, Tony Allen and Brian Scalabrine to Philadelphia and Dalembert and J.R. Giddens to Sacramento.

Taking the teams one by one:

*Boston has had interest in Nocioni from the minute Sacramento acquired him in February in the deal that dispatched Brad Miller and John Salmons to Chicago. That said, Boston has also been hesitant since February about acting upon that interest because Nocioni has three years and more than $20 years left on his contract after this season. That's a lot of long-term cash for the Celts to take on -- even if Nocioni turned out to be a James Posey-style Mr. Versatile for them -- after they just signed Rajon Rondo to a lucrative extension and with decisions about the futures of Paul Pierce and Ray Allen looming. So Boston pulling out because of financial concerns likely ranks as the biggest impediment to this deal.

Very interesting.

As Stein stresses, this sounds like an ongoing discussion rather than something imminent, but it is good food for discussion on a non-game day.

I've detailed the pros and cons of such a deal in the past. It only makes sense to discuss it and we know a similar deal was discussed last year.

Personally I think I'd roll the dice. He's a hard nosed competitor that needs a winning environment to really shine his brightest. His deal is rather large, but the cap number actually decreases each year and the price of picking him up is dirt cheap (expiring deals). He's even on the south side of 30, so he'll be a good piece for the present and near future.

Still, that's a big check to cut, so I wouldn't be shocked or dismayed to see the team pass.

What do you think?

Update: Via the Herald

On another front, a team source denied that the Celtics are in discussions to join a three-team deal that would land them Sacramento swingman Andres Nocioni. The team simply doesn’t have the flexibility to absorb Nocioni’s contract, which pays him $20.5 million over the next three seasons.

Poll

Would you make the rumored trade?

Yes

1583 votes

No

510 votes

2093 votes | Poll has closed

Daily Links 11/13

FLCeltsFan — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:53:36 -0000

Herald Sheldon Williams gets shot at ex-team
Scouting report: Hawks at Celtics
Kobe Bryant scores 29, Lakers stop Suns’ quick start
Hornets fire coach Byron Scott, GM to take over
Timberwolves’ Al Jefferson to miss 2 games for personal reasons
LeBron James leads Cavaliers past Heat, 111-104
Globe Why Marquis Daniels is so important
Scal makes impression on Pierce
Hawks thumbnails
Williams: Onward, upward

CelticsBlog   WEEI Interviews
Paul Pierce Raffle
Loy's Place   Hawks Visit Garden Looking to Renew Rivalry
Celtics Have Some Rough Practices
Motown Sports Revival     I Injured Myself Just Writing About the NBA
Red's Army   The Morning Dump... Where Shelden Williams Lies about the Hawks
"He's been wonderful"
Your KG Face of the Day
Scal Knocks Around Pierce, Giddens at Practice
North Station Sports    How Do the Best Teams in Celtics Past Rate Against the 2009-10 Squad
NSS flix: LeBron James-- No More Free Agent Talk Until After Season
Slam Online LeBron Wants NBA to Retire the Number 23
It’s Now Don Nelson vs. Monta Ellis
Celtics 17   Byron Scott has been fired
Wicked Local   Thursday practice update: Scal’s back; Pierce bandaged
Comcast SportsNet     Allen: Man of many (scoring) talents
Celts notes: Williams wants win, not revenge
Celtics Hub    Doc talks about Sheed taking 3’s, turnovers & what he looks for in box scores
The King’s New Clothes?
Loscy   Get KG, Rondo, Perk, Pierce, and Ray On Your Desktop
Lex Nihil Novi   Larry v. Magic: NBA Still Struggling for a National Audience
Larry v. Magic: Celtics Dominate the So-Called Great 8
CelticsLife   And the 1st coach to get canned is...
"Welcome to your Kodak Moment Anderson Varejao"
Gino's Jungle    KG Creates A Whole Nother Atmosphere At The Garden
Craftiness Works for Rondo and Celtics
Celtics and Hawks Rivalry Revisited, Soon To Be Renewed
Scores Report    The Top 10 NBA Free Agents of 2010
ESPN   Boston Celtics' past three starts have been historic
Lakers dismantle red-hot Suns for sixth straight win
Byron Scott exits stage left
Minnesota Timberwolves center Al Jefferson to miss two games
Dallas Mavericks coach calls out players
LeBron James should join Dwyane Wade on the Miami Heat
Antoine Walker's lawyer: Former All-Star trying to resolve Las Vegas gambling debts
Orlando Sentinel    Callie Rivers inducted into Winter Park Hall of Fame
WEEI   For Williams and Daniels, The Present Is All That Matters
Hoop Doctors   The Celtics Made the Right Decision Resigning Rondo
Enterprise News    Former lottery pick Williams making court contribution for Celtics
Daily Thunder    Peace, Love and Thunderstanding: Random Thoughts
Dimemag Super Smash Brothers
The surprise contender in the West (and it’s not Phoenix)
10 Players Who Are About To Crash The Party
Breaking News: New Orleans Hornets Fire Byron Scott
My Random Observations- Magic/Cavs Game
Patriot Ledger     Shelden Williams fitting in with Celtics
MetroWest Daily News    Celtics: Dancing to a different beat
Cleveland.com    Cavaliers seem to be preparing for life without Delonte West
Green Street    Rasheed Wallace on D&H 11/12
Scal strikes again
Doc on Scott firing: ‘That’s our league’
KG: ‘Rondo and I have a connection’ KG: ‘Rondo and I have a connection’
Boston Sports Pulse    Petey’s Corner: Celtics Need More Conditioning?
Why Do Cleveland Fans Even Root For This Guy?
NESN     Celtics’ Balanced Attack Will Be Tough to Beat
Brian Scalabrine Elbows Paul Pierce at Practice
CBS Sports    Hawks-Celtics Preview
Dueling Couches   Scal Not A Happy Ginger
Sun Sentinel   Miami Heat: Is Cleveland's supporting cast that much better?
SI.com    Young Timberwolves learning the hard way
Hawks' Joe Johnson an NBA�free-agent prize few are mentioning
Ball Don't Lie    Rasheed Wallace explains his 'prosthetic leg' story
AJC    For the ever-improved Hawks, it's time to win in Boston
ITVT   NBA Launches Two-Screen Interactive TV Application, "NBA TV Companion"
USA Today    Halftime: Is Delonte West afraid to fly?
NY Times    For Some N.B.A. Players, There’s No Such Thing as a Slam Dunk
Dwight Howard.com   Don’t worry, we’ll bounce back!!!
Examiner     Scouting the Eastern Conference: Cavs show why it’s a two-horse race

Daily Links 11/12

FLCeltsFan — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:00:00 -0000

Herald Celtics leave Deron Williams searching for answers
Kevin Garnett fine after scare
LeBron James has answers for Magic
Glen Davis digs up treasure
Brian Scalabrine’s miffed
A big test for Heat
Dwyane Wade shoe-in for Air Jordan
Suns use 40-point first quarter to rout Hornets
Slimmer, healthier Eddy Curry back for desperate Knicks
Value of practice time shows for the Celtics
Celtics tune out Jazz
Globe Final: Celtics 105, Jazz 86
Final: Celtics 105, Jazz 86
Deron Williams: We're soft
Washburn: Celtics bounce back after rough stretch
Analysis of Celtics win over Utah Jazz
Garnett talks about locking down the Jazz
KG on his big dunk
Celtics vs. Jazz Photos
Davis thinks inside the box
Celtics take full advantage of break time
Doing a number

CelticsBlog    Harmonizing Win
Celtics rock the Jazz
A Rested Team is an Offensively Efficient Team
Green Street    NBA Power Rankings 11/12
Doc Rivers on D+C
Fast Break: Celtics - Jazz
Danny Ainge on the Big Show, 11/11
Celtics generous in win over Jazz
Walker makes unexpected return
Turn up the volume: C’s practice makes perfect
Boston SportsPulse   Do The Celtics Have What It Takes To Go All The Way?
WEEI    Rivers on D&C: Shoot it, Sheed
Danny Ainge on WEEI
Bulls.com   NBA says refs made correct call on Miller shot
NESN     What Life Could Have Been Without Kevin Garnett
Live Blog: Jazz at Celtics
Celtics' Brian Scalabrine Likely to be Sidelined Until Saturday Celtics Rock Jazz, Roll to Balanced 105-86 Victory
Rest, Practice Do Re-Energized Celtics Good in Win Over Jazz
SL Trib    Utah Jazz: Boston gets no fight vs. Utah
Utah Jazz notes: Back, psyche hurt
Jazz thrashed by Celtics
Loy's Place    Random Thoughts on a Fun Win Over the Jazz Comments from the Other Side - Jazz 11/11
Cleveland.com    Which team is the Cleveland Cavaliers' true rival?
Muze Clothing   Muze Clothing Blog -Ray's Shirt for Charity
ESPN     Eastern Conference rematch -
Utah's Williams ready to go
Garnett has fun in laugher
Rondo, Perkins share duties
Walker makes season debut
Once again this season, point guard matchup is key to Celtics-Jazz game
Celtics.com     Celtics Host Reading Event Featuring Educational Animal Show
Ford Keys to the Game: Jazz at Celtics
Celtics 17    Rajon Rondo Will Become the Best Point Guard in the NBA
Cocking the Gun: Celtics Three-Point Shooting Will Take Them to the Top or to the Grave
Red's Army    Lay Up
Your KG Face of the Day
Your Morning Dump... Where Practice Happens
Comcast SportsNet    Well-rested C's easily defeat Utah
Well-rested Celts play a tune on Jazz
Celtics Thrive Off Revamped D
Celtics Hub     When Shots Fall, Blowouts Happen: C’s 105, Jazz 86
‘Toine vs. Sheed and the Importance of Context
North Station Sports    Celtics Silence the Jazz, 105-86
Celtics Town    The Boston Celtics' go-to guy
Running Diary: Jazz no match for rejuvenated Celtics
Lex Nihil Novi    Rondo Needs to be Boston's D.Wade
McHale Thriving in 6th Man Role (83-84)
Boston -12
Celtics Keep Rolling
Larry v. Magic: Celtics have a Date with the So-Called "Great 8"
CelticsLife    That's More Like It, Celts win handily
Celtics 105, Jazz 86 Highlights
Celtics/Jazz Post Game Videos
Gino's Jungle     Celtics Rock and Roll the Jazz
Rondo Wins Another Heavyweight Battle
Spreadin the Wealth
Fan Huddle   The Utah Jazz not in tune as they lose to the Boston Celtics
Yahoo    Cavs' Delonte West misses team plane
Waiting for Next Year    Cavs 102, Magic 93: The LeBron and Mo Show
Wilbon: Iverson and Cavs a Perfect Match
MetroWest Daily    Celtics 105, Jazz 86: C's no fans of Jazz
Thoughts from the Jock Strap     A Celtics Fan in Jazzland
NBA Talks    The Celtics are Back!
ProJo    Rondo, Celts drum Jazz out of town, 105-86
Celtics-Jazz pregame: Utah coach impressed with Wallace/Rivers
Celtics Journal: Garnett doing fine so far, and Rivers expects improvement
Welcome to the TD Garden
Bleacher Report    Perfect Situation: Allen Iverson Is "The Answer" For The Cavaliers
Inside Source Says He Knows Where LeBron is Going
Slam Dunk Central    Celtics Have The "TOUCH"; Bombard Jazz 105-86!
Sports of Boston    Celtics Earn Extra Rest in Blowout of Jazz
Inside Hoops     Brian Scalabrine angry at injury-causing cameraman
NBA Rumors - Thursday, Nov. 12
Dimemag    Superman Too
CT News     Celtics Overwhelm Jazz: 105-86 -
Patriot Ledger    Celtics show what they can do
Telegram   KG’s numbers not big worry
Rest Stop
Celtics Stuff Live     Some Unemployed Ghosts of Celtics’ Past
Gold Rarities Postgame Show: Celtics vs. Jazz
Ohio.com    LeBron to stay silent on free agency
NBA FanHouse     Delonte West Speaks but Doesn't Make Much Sense
Athlete News Wire   The Truth Strikes Again
Cleveland.com   Delonte West sitting out Wednesday in Orlando after reportedly missing team flight
Hoopsworld     NBA Power Rankings Week 2
Social Media     How the Boston Celtics are using Social Media
NECN     Grousbeck a fan's kind of owner
USA Today    20-second timeout: Celtics guard Rajon Rondo
Boston Score    Grousbeck a fan’s best friend
Sporting News   Deron Williams Q&A: Jazz Searching for Consistency in Early Season
Hoop Doctors   Who Should (And Probably Won’t) Be Getting All Star Fan Votes

Sesame Street Celtics

Jeff Clark — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:02:35 -0000

A colorful cast of characters indeed.

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Yesterday marked the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street (and also my daughter's first birthday). So I thought I'd honor the occasion with a fun post comparing current players to Sesame St. characters.

Big Bird - Paul Pierce: He's the leader and face of the show but he doesn't always have to be in charge. Sometimes indecisive but always bold and confident. (Note: I'm sticking with current C's, so Larry gets only a respectful nod here)

Snuffaluffagus - Kendrick Perkins: Obviously he's big as a tank and moves about like one sometimes. He can be intimidating but when you get to know him you see his softer side. He's also invisible to everyone but Big Bird, which speaks to Perk's just-now-growing reputation around the league (his teammates have known how good he is for years).

Grover - Kevin Garnett: He's always hyper, always talking, to the point where you can't even understand his ramblings. And when he gets real worked up, he runs around waving his long arms around yelling at everyone in sight. Basically a PG version of KG.

Oscar the Grouch - Rasheed Wallace: Goes without saying. He really likes his reputation of being mean and nasty but deep down you just know he's got a heart of gold.

The Count - Ray Allen: He's smooth, he's friendly, but there's just a hint of danger behind those eyes. And you can just picture him counting in his head "one, two, three, four, five 3-pointers! ah ah ahhhhhhh"

Cookie Monster - Glen Davis: Both love to eat (obviously) and both are kind of excitable at times but they always bring out a smile in everyone around them.

Elmo - Rajon Rondo: He's the new kid on the block but he's quickly taken the world by storm.

Bert & Ernie: Marquis Daniels & Eddie House: They are a duo now that Doc has paired them up in the backup PG & point forward roles. Daniels is more laid back while Eddie is more mischievous and gets everyone hyped up when he gets going.

Herry Monster - Shelden Williams: He's a minor character, but when he comes in, he does his job well. Also, he's a big monster but you can tell he's soft and cuddly.

Telly Monster - Brian Scalabrine: He's a big, kind hearted redhead that sometimes deals with insecurities but everyone loves him and tries to encourage him.

Gordon and Susan - Danny and Doc: They are the adult humans who let the kids (and monsters) be who they are without getting in the way, but they provide gentle instruction and guidance along the way. (hey, that rhymed)

Hope you have a sunny day today. Hug someone you love.

And a big thank you to all the vets who served this country - happy Veterans Day.

3QC Roundtable Discussion: Previewing the 2009-2010 Season for the Orlando Magic

erivera7 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:01:03 -0000

More photos » by John Raoux - AP

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"Runnin' mad games as if your name was Scott Skiles." - A Tribe Called Quest

After months of trading for players, signing free-agents, and playing pre-season games, the NBA is officially underway tonight for several teams. The Orlando Magic are not one of them, which is bad and good. Bad, because people have to wait one more day. Good, because it allows Third Quarter Collapse to fit in one more preview before the Magic begin its quest to return to the NBA Finals this year (and win it all).

As has been my custom in the past, I was able to corral some of the brightest minds around the internet and in the APBRmetrics community to provide their thoughts on Orlando this year. For regular 3QC readers, you'll recognize the names fairly quickly:

Bradford Doolitte, Basketball Prospectus

Neil Paine, Basketball-Reference

Ryan J. Parker, Basketball Geek

Kevin Pelton, Basketball Prospectus

Each individual provided his opinion on the Magic's busy off-season, ascertained which Eastern Conference rival matches up the best with Orlando, and more.

Recently, the NBA released it's annual GM survey and only 7.1% believe the Orlando Magic will win the Eastern Conference. Likewise, Ian Thomsen of Sports Illustrated polled a half-dozen scouts and all of them agreed that the Magic were the consensus #3 team in the East. Even Orlando was ranked #8 by Sporting News in a power ranking a couple weeks ago. In your time covering the NBA, have you ever seen a team receive less respect after reaching the Finals just a few months ago? To what you would attribute it to?

Neil Paine: I don't know, it seemed like the East's representative was constantly being slept on after losing the Finals at the beginning of the 2000s, too -- Philly, New Jersey, etc. I think the general feeling (and I can't say it's totally wrong, to be honest) is that Orlando caught lightning in a bottle last spring, and that the burden of proof is on them to show that it wasn't a one-year thing. Boston obviously has proven themselves two years ago, and they very nearly beat Orlando even without Garnett, so it's easy to see them ranking ahead of the Magic. Cleveland is better on paper and they have the best player in the game -- but that was true last year and Orlando still won, so their ranking above the Magic is harder to justify. Maybe it's the Shaq addition, maybe it's (undeserved) disrespect for Vince Carter, exactly why I can't say. The stats obviously say to go with Cleveland, but you'd think the sportswriters would go with the team that won last year.

Ryan J. Parker: Historical preseason rankings aren't really relevant here. The reality is that there are other good teams in the East that are getting more respect. People like the Magic, they just like Cleveland and Boston more. I personally see Cleveland as the team to beat, with Boston and Orlando behind them. Simply getting to the Finals shouldn't give the Magic a sense of entitlement. It's probably better that way, since SVG doesn't have to worry about the guys getting big heads. They get to play the disrespect card, however useful that may be.

Kevin Pelton: Well, the 1998-99 Chicago Bulls (who were a little before my time actively covering the NBA) and the 2004-05 L.A. Lakers come to mind. Now, a team that brought back the majority of its roster and arguably improved its talent? No, certainly not. I think a lot of it is that people never completely bought into Orlando's playoff run. The win over the Celtics can be written off as due to Kevin Garnett's injury (never mind Jameer Nelson's injury), while the Cleveland series could be viewed as something of a fluke. The other factor, which you guys have discussed from all angles, is this surprising notion that going from Hedo Turkoglu to Vince Carter is a huge negative for the Magic.

Bradford Doolittle: A lot of it comes from the belief that the Celtics would have beaten them had Kevin Garnett would be healthy. Now Garnett is back the Celtics have added Rasheed Wallace. As for Cleveland -- the Cavaliers did win 66 games last season and it was an upset when the Magic knocked them out last spring. I wouldn't take it as a lack of respect. The league is really top heavy right now and I think everyone agrees the Magic are part of the upper crust. Also playing into this, I believe, is that Jameer Nelson's importance to the Magic is underrated. It's amazing that they made the Finals without him and were competitive in the Finals even with Nelson playing at about 60 percent of his capacity.

More after the jump.

Out of all the moves general manager Otis Smith and the Magic made in the off-season, which one did you like the most and why?

NP: I liked the headline move, the Vince Carter pickup. He gets a lot of flak from the press for not being what they wanted him to be (he isn't the next Michael Jordan, and he never was), and it's true that he quit on the Raps a few years ago, but I can see him being an important piece on a winning team like the Magic because of his ability to both create off the dribble and shoot from long-range. He's also an underrated defender, which will fit in very well with Van Gundy and the Magic. All in all, I think he's a terrific fit and hands down one of the off-season's best pickups.

RP: The addition of Vince will be interesting to see, but I believe that managing to keep Gortat and add Bass helps to give the team depth that any real championship contender needs.

KP: I think it is tough to pick out one specific move because they were all interconnected. For example, if the Magic would have lost Courtney Lee as part of the Carter trade and failed to replace him, that initial deal would have been much worse. Therefore, getting Matt Barnes is not only useful in and of itself but also as it fits in with the Carter trade. That said, if I'm picking just one move, it's not only getting Carter for expiring contracts and Lee but adding Ryan Anderson as something of a throw-in with that deal. Already, demanding Anderson is looking genius.

BD: It's awesome that he was able to pry Ryan Anderson away from New Jersey in the V.C. deal. I really like Anderson's game and he'll be able to replace many of the things that they got from Turkoglu. I saw where Dwight Howard is now referring to him as 'Pat Garrity' which is funny, but Anderson's a more well-rounded player than Garrity.

Isn't Stan Van Gundy due for a Coach of the Year award? Could this be the season when he finally gets recognition for the work he's been doing in Orlando?

NP: You definitely could make a case that he deserved it last year, even before outmatching Mike Brown as a tactician in the Conference Finals. The way he turned Orlando into a legitimately great defensive team, with that personnel -- I know Howard is a complete beast and would anchor any D to an above-average ranking, but think about the rest of his lineup: Rashard Lewis at the 4? Turkoglu manning up on the perimeter? On the best defensive team in the league? That, to me, has been one of the best coaching performances of the past few years.

RP: After taking a quick look at last year's voting, I see SVG placed 3rd. Only one coach can win the award, so it's not likely he gets it, but it seems like he is being recognized in some form, even if he doesn't have the hardware to show off.

KP: I definitely think Van Gundy should have won a year ago. Like his team as a whole, he seems to have a hard time convincing the national media that he is a world-class coach. If the Magic challenges for first place in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, it will be hard to deny Van Gundy this year.

BD: SVG deserves the award someday, but not until Jerry Sloan gets one.

Between the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers, which team presents more problems for the Magic when looking at possible playoff matchups?

NP: It's still Boston just in terms of individual matchups; if healthy, they've got more than enough talent at all the right places to take Orlando out. Cleveland's the wild card, though -- we know Orlando manhandled them inside w/ Howard and destroyed them on the pick-n-roll last year, and I'm not even close to being sold on this idea that Shaq cures the first problem. Moon and Parker, though, those guys were terrific additions because they can defend the wing as well as anybody Cleveland had. Besides, James is so good that he could have carried Cleveland to a win if his teammates had made just a few more shots.

RP: Cleveland.

KP: I would say the Celtics right now. I think both teams made moves that allow them to better match up with Rashard Lewis and his ability to stretch the floor. Boston can put a healthy Kevin Garnett at the four as well as Rasheed Wallace, which is a massive upgrade on the minutes Brian Scalabrine played in the series a year ago. The Cavaliers had the problem of trying to find a fifth guy to put on the floor because they had a hard time playing two bigs together against Lewis. Depending on the situation with Delonte West, Cleveland could have two strong options this year in Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker, as well as potentially a healthy Leon Powe by playing time. That said, I still think Dwight Howard can present more problems for the Cavaliers than the Celtics. While Shaquille O'Neal can handle Howard in the post in a way Anderson Varejao was unable to last spring, the Magic will be content to play pick-and-roll basketball against O'Neal. That should mean a steady stream of easy jumpers for Nelson, who is more than capable of knocking them down.

BD: If the Celtics are fully healthy, they have an answer for everything that the Magic can throw at them, especially now that Wallace is on board to help pound on Dwight.

What are the chances Orlando wins a title this year? What is your official prediction for the team?

NP: The Southeast is going to be a cakewalk again, so pencil them in for at least 50 wins, and I think they'll be right there in the end, playing a major role in the Conference Semis or even the Conference Finals again. That said, I don't know if they can take care of both Boston and Cleveland if those teams are at 100%. Barring some kind of injury problems, the Magic are going to be the 3 seed again, they're going to have to go through the Celtics and the Cavs, and I don't think they'll take care of both in the same postseason for a 2nd straight year. The East hasn't sent the same team to the Finals in back-to-back years since Detroit in '05, and I think when the dust settles, we'll see that streak continue in 2010.

KP: Our official preseason SCHOENE projections, released Monday, have Orlando as co-favorites in the East and in the entire league with Cleveland. They give the Magic a whopping 36-percent chance of finishing the regular season with the NBA's best record. That's not quite the same as winning the championship, so I'd put the odds at about one in four. Subjectively, I'm taking Orlando to win it all. West's status troubles me, and I think the Magic matches up better this year with the Lakers or whoever might come out of the other conference.

BD: Given the ultra-competitiveness of the top of the NBA right now, I'd put Orlando sixth the overall league pecking order, with maybe a seven to 10 percent shot at a title. My subjective pick is 52 wins and a six-game loss to Cleveland in the East semifinals.

I like to thank Mr. Doolittle, Mr. Paine, Mr. Parker, and Mr. Pelton for answering my questions.

Roster Articles Recap

Jeff Clark — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:03:00 -0000

More photos » by Steven Senne - AP

Ray Allen is just one piece of the puzzle.

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I set out during the offseason to write feature length articles about each player on the Celtics roster. It took a while and I had to enlist in the help of some of the other excellent writers on this site, but we got it done. Since we put a lot of work into them and there's a chance that some of them were missed because attention gets divided and diverted during the offseason. So I wanted to highlight them again. So here they are.

It All Comes Down To Kevin Garnett
Which Ray Allen Will Show Up?
Veritas Vincit (Paul Pierce)
Rondooooooooooooooooooo!
The Beauty of the Beast (Kendrick Perkins)
Love Hate Relationship (Rasheed Wallace)
Brian Scalabrine Is Whatever You Want Him To Be
Bill Walker Is The Next "Next"
I Hope I'm Wrong About Lester Hudson
Eddie House: Designated Shooter
Tony Allen: Seldom Unmasked Potential
Can You Say Landlord? (Shenden Williams)
Glen Davis - Then and Now: Less is More
Goodbye, J.R.? (J.R. Giddens)
Fat Chance? (Mike Sweetney)
That's Just Quisy Being Quisy (Marquis Daniels)

I hope you enjoyed them half as much as we enjoyed writing them. Looking forward to a great year in part because this is a great group of guys that collectively make up an even greater team.

That's Just Quisy Being Quisy

Jeff Clark — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:06:42 -0000

More photos » by Bizuayehu Tesfaye - AP

Epic shirt for a press conference. ...you too Marquis.

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I never paid too much attention to Marquis Daniels before this summer but I'm starting to become a big fan. He strikes me as kind of an oddball addition to this group. You've got Sheed and KG trying to out-intense each other. You've got the quiet storm duo of Perkins and Rondo. Then you've got all business Ray Allen. It seems like the only guy that cracks a smile on the court is Paul Pierce, and he's become more focused as the years go by. Somehow, Quisy just doesn't seem to fit the mold. And maybe that's a good thing.

I kind of picture the Celtics sitting in the locker room at halftime with their game faces on, struggling to figure out why they are struggling against an inferior team. Everyone is too tense to think. Then Quis walks up behind Rondo and rips a loud one, leaving everyone in stitches. Then the team, properly loosened up, goes out and rolls to an easy victory. But maybe that's just my overactive imagination.

Now, I'm not saying Marquis is not focused or intense or serious about winning. Far from it. I'm sure he works as hard as anyone on his game. But off the court, he just seems to have a very laid back, easy going, almost spacey personality. We're talking about a guy that has a tattoo that supposedly spell out his initials "M.A.D." except that they don't. They actually stand for the words "healthy, woman, roof." We're talking about a guy that tweets several times a day, but it would take a masters degree in ebonics and text-ology to figure out what he's talking about. Look at the tshirt he wore to the press conference. The guy is just a little different than what we're used to.

None of these things are bad in any way. I'm not even sure they point to any kind of pattern of behavior or if they are just interesting things about him. But to me, he just seems a little quirky. Hard to put a finger on. Hard to define. Which, as it turns out, is a pretty good description of his game as well.

He's pretty much your stereotypical "jack of all trades, master of none." He can handle the ball and pass, but he's not really a point guard. He's probably best suited to play shooting guard, except that he can't really shoot. He's capable of playing the 3, but he's not really big enough to guard the larger small forwards in the league. But still, he has a place in this league. Doc and Danny see him as a kind of utility infielder and they appear to be using him that way.

He'll be used as a point forward, which helps us with ball pressure. He'll be tied to the hip to either Eddie House or Ray Allen, so teams won't be able to stack the lane. In short, Doc is planning to minimize whatever deficiencies he has in his game in order to emphasize the matchup problems he creates for other teams.

His game isn't always pretty. Where Paul Pierce's game is a kind of waltz, Marquis Daniels' game is more pop n lock. He slashes into the lane, stops on a dime, and knuckleballs a floater off the back of the rim that bounces around a bit before (hopefully) falling in. Kind of like the guy at the local courts that people don't take too seriously because his game isn't smooth, but at the end of the game he's scored half the baskets and the other team is wondering how they lost.

Yeah, it is pretty safe to say that I'm going to like this guy.