SB Nation User Blog: Wilbert

Boston Drama

Wilbert — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:38:47 -0000

Being a fan can be a hazardous preoccupation. You are required a certain level of commitment that sometimes you can't even extend to your friends or family. Worse, it could affect you in a way that is difficult to comprehend. I for instance, has this peculiar tendency to stick to certain "fannish superstitions" like holding my breath when the opponent attempts a free throw which, in my theory, should force the opponent to miss the shot (and I have the temerity to tell my daughter that ghosts are not real).

I've been a Celtics fan since the early 90's when the team was on the decline. And being a fan in the Philippines of an NBA team during that time was difficult for several reasons: cable was either non existent then or we just we didn't have the money to get one; i'm not sure which is the most accurate reason that time in our lives. The only channel where I was able to see US shows and sports games was from a channel being fed from the US Base in our area (we called it FEN but I don't know why but I did saw MASH there every afternoon or so) and the US Bases left in the early 90's at about the same time I had this fixation. The internet, where a wealth of information can be gathered, also wasn't created yet. So mostly I was left with the newspaper which was a luxury in relation to the school allowance I was getting which forced me sometimes to miss game results or any news about them.

When Reggie Lewis "disappeared" from the Celtics line-up I didn't know why. I thought that he was traded although I can't find a replacement on the team roster. It was only when I was in college that I read that Lewis died. Or when Bird retired I wondered how come they didn't made the effort to find someone who can replace Bird. Years later I learned that they drafted a talented college player in Len Bias but unfortunately he overdosed. And not being able to actually see the games gave me false representations of players. In reading the papers I saw Dino Radja as Larry Bird or Dee Brown as Dennis Johnson not in the same context of skills or talent but on their impact on the team or their effect on the opponents (Bird's mere physical presence was intimidating enough and I'm sure now that Radja was never in that level).

They say that "love is a state of mind" and I reckoned that my love for the Celtics can easily be diminished by changing my state of mind while using the Celtics' disappointing NBA season after NBA season coupled by a man named Jordan leading the Bulls in the 90's as motivational tools to abandon ship and join the Bulls bandwagon but it wasn't happening. I guess there is also some truth to the saying that, "first love never dies."

When PP and Antoine began their short-lived "Dynamic Duo" era I thought it would jump start another renaissance of the Celtics' glory days but it never happened as they mostly settled on being first round playoffs fodder. After fiddling with their roster for a couple of seasons with players like Ricky Davis and Gary Payton and then shifted gears again with their youth movement I thought the hurting would never stopped. Then Ainge pulled a magic trick bringing in Ray Allen and KG and the rest, as they say, is history. And I think it's a fitting reward to see the Celtics back as one of the best in the league at the age of 30, gainfully employed and having the resources to read and watch Celtics games.

Years from now the cycle of mediocrity or plain rubbish would catch up with the team and I would go back to being upset and brokenhearted but I have accepted the fact that whatever happens to the Boston Celtics I will never be able to abandon them. Just like other Celtics fans I also bleed green and oh also my pee, snot and when I spit it's all green. I think I need to see a Doc.

Celtic Pride

Wilbert — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:11:36 -0000

I just watched the Celtics' Championship DVD again and it doesn't change one bit how I felt the first time I saw the video. Having picked a bad time to be a Celtics fan in the early 90's, when Larry Bird was on his way out, then Reggie Lewis died and Dino Radja became our best player, their championship season was like in Paul Pierce's words, "a breath of fresh air." I managed to get by our sufferings in the 90's and then became hopeful when PP and Antoine played together; only to see the team crumbling down yet again when they started focusing on rebuilding the team with a slew of young players.

Not that Al Jefferson or Ryan Gomes were awful players but it wasn't just working. And when a frustrated PP lamented his sentiments, I thought he's going to be traded, I feared it'll be the 90's all over again. So when news broke out that Ray Allen and later on, Kevin Garnett were acquired by the Celtics I was stunned, I couldn't believe the good fortune that we stumbled upon.

This off-season has been wonderful again with Rasheed coming over, KG back, BBD signing a new contract and hopefully, the transfer of Marquis Daniels will finally be consummated (I'm actually fearing that Daniels' signing might be jinxed with all the anticipation going on. So please, please let's get that deal over with).

I hope to see a powerhouse Celtics team for a very long time, way beyond the playing years of the current Big 3. I'd like to see them win more Championships and live up to the reputation the team had built through the years. Despite the frustrations of those losing seasons before and the unfortunate things that happened along the way which contributed to their fall from greatness I will forever be a Celtics fan.

BBD's Dilemma

Wilbert — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:50:12 -0000

I understand that Boston, just like the other teams who've shown interest on BBD, are reluctant to shell out a huge amount of money to sign him: his strong showing in the playoffs in a team that has a depleted frontline is simply not enough to gauge his basketball skills.

It was definitely great to see how BBD played in the last playoffs but whether he like it or not teams are not going to go crazy over him in 14 games. Some might argue that he was never really given enough playing time to show his worth. True. But then if I think of Powe and the reputation that he built as a reliable bench player with limited playing time as well, I feel that BBD should've also seized whatever opportunity he had before to really prove his worth.

The only solution for this will be for BBD to sign a one year contract with the Celtics and play like a man possessed the next season. The problem with this of course is that with the Celtics' overhauled frontline that could be a big challenge for BBD. A sizable playing time will play a big part for him to duplicate his playoff performance. If Doc is willing to rest Garnett and Wallace in long stretches especially against lowly teams then BBD will have a shot at this but if not ,then he needs to be very aggressive everytime he enters the court however brief his playing time would be. He also needs to be consistent. He needs to show the Celtics and the other teams that he's worth the $5 million he is asking for by having, not just a playoff performance to be remembered, but a soild regular season as well. Then hopefully for him, once the next summer comes around he wouldn't need to feel upset about what the Celtics or the other teams will be offering him.

The BBD Project

Wilbert — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:59:26 -0000

Boston and Indiana might need a third team to make the S & T for Daniels work and New Jersey can possibly be the third team after they showed their interest in BBD. But what can Boston possibly get from New Jersey?

According to rumors Yi was offered to Boston in exchange for BBD but Boston balked at the offer. I would too. Yi has a lot of upside (he's more of a Euro type big man) but I rather prefer that Boston gets a legitimate big man who'll thrive at the low post. Brook Lopez will be a great replacement but with him being NJ's best big man I doubt that they will release him. Josh Boone and Sean Williams are the two other options with Boone holding an edge over Williams based on statistics and off-court antics (Williams has been into some trouble since college) but both are known for their passable defensive skills that Boston might be able to harness further.

But I would still prefer to see BBD in green. If BBD goes in exchange for a ho-hum replacement, Boston will be left with Perkins as it's only remaining big man of the future. The experience that BBD has and will continue to get as long as the Big 3 are playing is immeasurable and he can utilize this to further hone his skills and be a better player than he is at now. A core of young guys in Rondo, Perkins and BBD will also be helpful for the team if they intend to be a long time contender in the league.

If the deal pushes through though this will be a big disappointment for BBD's career: NJ is no playoff contender even if BBD drops 20 and 10 a night the next season. NJ's salary cap space can be a consideration for BBD to play for this team as it give's them a chance to grab one of the big names on next summer's free agency but it's no guarantee plus NJ is known to have some serious financial issues right now.

I would agree that basketball is also a business and BBD deserves to get paid what he and his agent believes his worthy of after he's strong showing in last season's playoffs but to earn more than $5 million a year for a losing team is bad business BBD.

The Celtics is still the Best in the East

Wilbert — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 18:01:13 -0000

The smoke that was the free agency is starting to set and so far Boston, Cleveland and Orlando are still the top three favorites in the East.

Orlando has been the busiest among the three acquiring key players : Vince Carter, Matt Barnes, Ryan Anderson and Brandon Bass. Forget about losing Hedo Turkuglo these new look team that they've assembled is I think much, much better. While their previous line up that went to the Finals relied heavily on three pointers these team is more flexible offense wise and tougher defensively.

Vince Carter alone drastically changes how the Magic offense runs and will give Dwight Howard more options to operate inside the way Carter can breakdown an opponent's defensive scheme with his one on one plays. The addition of the other three gives them a very solid depth in terms of size which will prove handy against Cleveland and Boston's big men.

Lebron James, on the other hand, is still the main reason why Cleveland is a contender. We all know what he can do plus he's desire to win and his competitiveness is extremely scary. Shaq is a nice complement to Z but at his age, I don't think he will be much of an impact compared to what Anthony Parker can bring to the table. Parker will be a solid contributor to their backcourt and can possibly bump Delonte West or Daniel Gibson off the team's rotation while Jamario Moon gives the Cavaliers another defender who's also a decent scorer.

For Boston, Rasheed is it's biggest (and so far only) prize catch this summer: a mobile big man who can defend, can score and brings a high level of intensity to a game. But much of the team's success will still rely on the health of the Big 3. Rasheed adds frontcourt depth but a fatal injury to any of the Big 3 especially in Ray Allen and Paul Pierce's position will be a huge setback which is why Marquis Daniels acquisition is well anticipated because it's brings depth in their G/F position.

The new season is still a few months away and already I am excited to see how these changes will turn out for these teams and for the league as well. But as things stand right now, I think Boston still has a slight edge over Orlando and Cleveland owing mainly to it's Hall of Fame veterans and playoff experienced young guns in Rondo, Perkins and BBD.

Defensive Hole

Wilbert — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:58:51 -0000

The Celtics have had some problems dealing with athletic teams, just like what Atlanta and Chicago has showed in their two previous successive first round match-ups. The brand of offense of teams like them has exposed Boston's weakness in transition defense in an open court type of basketball.

Fortunately for Boston, the other top teams in the East,as of now, in Cleveland, Orlando and Detorit plays a half court type of offense which Boston can defend much effectively. Boston's defensive style relies on all five players on the floor working together to stop plays and defend shots but against a high octane offensive team the defense seems to fall apart while Boston's dragged into a shootout. Not that there's a shortage of players who can shoot the lights out for the Celtics but these kind of match ups, especially in a playoffs series drains a lot of energy as they go along into the playoffs.

Boston should work on transition defense against fast and athletic teams. Their guards and wing players should be able to hold their ground to slow down or stop these teams while on the run. And I think these is where the value of such young players that they haven't use a lot like Walker , Tony Allen, Giddens or if they're able to get Daniels will show.

Fast ball movement and one on one plays by athletic players who can drive to the basket also typifies these teams and the addition of Rasheed, a very mobile big man, will definitely help but much still relies on Boston's first line of defense in their guards and forwards.

The downside of the East for Boston is that after the top four teams, other teams who may be seeded at the bottom when the playoffs starts plays these type of offense: the Hawks, the Bulls, Sixers, Heat, Pacers which make them possible early opponents for Boston come playoff time. Hopefully, they've learned their lesson now after these two previous first round match ups that went the distance without anyone, not taking anything from the Hawks and the Bulls, expecting so.

Offensive Firepower

Wilbert — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 23:59:21 -0000

The last two seasons, the Celtics' bench offensive reliability has been questioned. Most often one of the Big 3 stays on the court with the second stringers to prevent the offense from keeling over. But all that seem to have changed with the addition of Rasheed and the possible arrival of Marquis Daniels.

Now the first five can all take a rest without Doc worrying who will take the cudgels on offense. And if Big Baby stays, which I hope he does, then Boston has a very potent second unit who can also light up the scoreboard.

Defense will remain to be the centerpiece of the team's success but a consistent source of offense for the second stringers will be crucial in Boston's attempt to make another run at the title. These would hopefully result in a more proportioned game time for Boston's first five.

So bring out the second five and let's get this party started.

What's Wrong With Odom?

Wilbert — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:07:03 -0000

So Lamar Odom was offered $9 million and decided to act like he's not seeing it and talks to the Mavs and the Heat. Well thanks Lamar it will be a great joy to see you in a different NBA uniform next season.

Still I don't see the point of refusing that amount of money to play basketball 365 days a year while he sits with the "Machine" Sasha Vujacic which Ray Allen ran over in a deciding play in Game 5 of the Celtics' championship season and at the same time he also gets to annoy KB when the Lakers are losing.

LATimes also reported that Odom wanted to accept the deal but failed to convince his agent. HE FAILED TO CONVINCE HIS AGENT. Right. Well Odom should've just shouted at his agent, "Hey! Start practicing because next season you're playing for the Lakers!"

Worse they're saying that if Lamar and his agent decides to talk again they will offer him a lower amount. If only he did what Jason Kidd and Grant Hill had done: talk to the Knicks, use them as a bargaining chip and later on gets signed to a contract favorable to them. But there's still some time Lamar so call the Knicks now and you might get a better deal from the Lakers. Or better yet we might see you next season receiving a pass from Darko Milicic. Nice.

Posey Or Someone Like Him

Wilbert — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:33:47 -0000

With the recent addition of Rasheed Wallace, Boston is almost close to duplicating a tough line up reminiscent of the team that won banner 17 (althought definitely Rasheed is a big upgrade compared to what PJ Brown, with all due respect to PJ, was able to bring to the team before). The only missing piece is a player with the caliber of James Posey. Or we could bring Posey back.

The question is: What would it take to bring Posey back? The Hornets has a depth problem in it's guard rotation. When Pargo went unsigned and transferred to Europe he left a big hole that contributed to the team's struggles. Will they accept a trade that will bring Giddens and Tony Allen for Posey? Giddens of course is not yet within the caliber of Pargo but his impressive showing in D League and the Summer League could help persuade the Hornets to give it a thought.

Tony Allen on the other hand has still a lot of upside that they can harness under Coach Scott plus he's still young which can work further to their advantage since they do have a core of young players in West and Paul. We can further sweeten the deal by adding a big man in Scalabrine which the Hornets can benefit from since Marks' getting a new contract is still questionable.

This might seem lopsided since the team is giving up 3 players for Posey but this will give the Celtics just enough salary cap space to absorb Posey's. It will also give Walker a chance to have more playing time and hopefully help him realize his true potential. No need to mention of course what Posey brings to the team.

But if the Hornets is not willing to give up Posey which is most likely then Matt Barnes I think is the most likely candidate to play the role of Posey. Barnes is reliable offensively and a hussle player. Add to that the age factor which is an advantage for a player who is willing to do the dirty work for a team.

The downside of getting Posey is his age. Posey adds further to the team's aging but unquestionably great players. If the team is also building for the future, harnessing players like Giddens and Allen will be important to ensure the continuation of the Celtics into being a long time contender. But personally I would like Posey to be back.

Poll

What will it be Celtics Fans:

a. Bring Posey back

106 votes

b. Get a Posey clone

57 votes

163 votes | Poll has closed

Committed to Winning

Wilbert — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:35:57 -0000

Today Rasheed, tomorrow the world. And to conquer the world let's load one more big guy or a wingman like Grant Hill to our roster.

A look on the free agent list shows a lot of available big men: Drew Gooden, Joe Smith, Johan Petro, Chris Wilcox, Brian Skinner, the list goes on. Leon Powe as rumors have gone around will not be coming back (although personally I like Leon's work ethic and raw skills and I like him to be back) and Mikki Moore apparently is not going to be offered another contract. So there's two slots available. Of course, with the signing of Rasheed and the on-going negotiations for Big Baby the cost will be a major consideration to acquire a quality big man.

Last season when Garnett and Powe went down to an injury, only Perkins and Davis were left to man the post. Moore was sparingly used and while Scal continued to provide quality minutes off the bench he's not expected to defend well against the league's big men. We need someone to provide some respite for Perkins and Garnett especially during the regular season to keep them fresh when the playoffs comes. Also, if Garnett's and Wallace's age are to be considered rest will be a factor for them to be more effective.

Now Grant Hill. We need all the luck we can get to acquire Hill: a player who can score inside and outside, has great work ethic (I remember when the Suns fate for the playoffs last season have been decided Hill's effort was applauded by his coach for playing hard even when his other teammates where just coasting around) and a proven leader.

If Hill's not available there are some other players that can move to the Celtics: James Singleton, Marquis Daniels, Keith Bogans, Ime Udoka. We need someone who can come off the bench; can be a threat offensively and a decent defender. James Posey did all that and more. Although I'm still betting my money on Tony Allen to take over the void left by Posey.

And even if we don't acquire Hill, the effort not only of the management but also by the players to continue chasing the next banner is worth hoping for. The team's commitment to winning is again shown this off season and I hope to see that happening even after the era of the Big 3. Right now it's just easier to entice marquee players to come and play for a team that has future Hall of Famers as cornerstones but if they continue do things right we could see a Boston team that will be a beast in the NBA for a very long time.