Boston Celtics Limiting Kevin Garnett’s Minutes Crucial to Sustained Success

 Boston  No Responses »
Nov 072012
 

Kevin Garnett is averaging just 28.7 minutes per game this season. If you’re a Celtics fan that is hoping to see that number go up, you’re going to be disappointed—although you shouldn’t be. 

According to Frank Dell’Apa of the Boston Globe, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said, 

But if we can’t win with [Garnett] off the floor, we just won’t win. And I told our bench that. We’re going to play the minutes that I’m giving them, and the bench is going to play the minutes they should get. And they’ve got to do something or we won’t win — it will be that simple.

That’s not the tone of someone who is open to discussion, and in this matter, he shouldn’t be. If we’ve learned anything about the Celtics in the last few years, it’s that it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. Last year, they started awful and finished in the Eastern Conference Finals, coming just a game away from the NBA Finals. 

Over the last five years, the Celtics have won more games than any team in the East. Only the Spurs and Lakers have more wins in the NBA. So you’ll have to forgive Rivers if he’s not rushing to beat on the proverbial panic button after a mediocre start. 

The team has thrown in a lot of new cogs into the machinery, and it’s handing the on-court reigns to Rajon Rondo to continue his gradual ascent from role player, to star, to being a part of the “Big Four” and a leader of the team, to being the leader of the team. 

The Celtics added Courtney Lee, Jason Terry and Leandro Barbosa through free agency. They’ve added Jared Sullinger and Kris Joseph (as well as Fab Melo, who is playing in the D-League right now) through the draft. It takes a bit of time for a team to work all of that out. 

It also takes some sense to figure out why they made all those moves, namely to get younger. They were getting so old, the Knicks were making jokes about them. 

That youth is going to take time to develop and coalesce and not just time in terms of days and weeks passing; they need time in terms of actual minutes playing on the court. 

Certainly, the team would be better now if Kevin Garnett were on the court more. The Celtics outscore their opponents by 7.7 points per 100 possessions while he’s on the court as opposed to being outscored by 26 while he’s on the bench. 

But now is not the goal for the Celtics. Their top concern is later, in the postseason.

The Celtics’ success then isn’t going to be determined just by how Garnett and Paul Pierce do, but also by how all of the new players do.  

There’s also the fact that Garnett still isn’t getting younger. In fact, he’s even older, 36, than he was last year, when he was only 35. A career-low in minutes is a good thing for a player who is a career-high in age. Sorry for the repetition, but some points need to be belabored. 

No matter how big of a Celtics fan you are, you can’t ignore that Old Man Time is undefeated. Even Bill Russell got too old to play. 

Garnett’s not there yet, but you’d rather get the best of his minutes in the postseason than right now.

The C’s might not be rolling yet, but history shows they will eventually, and they’ll be better off for it. 

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Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen No Longer on Speaking Terms

 Boston  No Responses »
Sep 282012
 

Two-thirds of Boston Celtics former “Big 3″ are no longer on speaking terms, and Kevin Garnett is willing to make it known.

After former teammate Ray Allen left this season to join the Miami Heat, Garnett was less than pleased. That might actually be putting it lightly.

At Boston Celtics Media Day, Garnett told the Boston Globe: “I don’t have Ray’s number anymore. I’m not trying to communicate. I’m just being honest.”

Whew. Those are some pretty harsh words from a guy that won his first NBA title in 2008 with Allen as one of his wing men.

The other third of the “Big 3,” Paul Pierce, was not nearly as direct in his question-and-answer session at Media Day, but he did admit to being extremely surprised that Allen chose to leave Boston.

Via USAToday.com, ”I was very surprised by Ray’s decision,” Pierce told The Globe. “I thought we would finish our careers together. He’s a grownup, he has to make a decision that’s best for his family.”

Allen may not have had a definite role on the Celtics this season, especially after Jason Terry was brought in as the team’s primary sharpshooter.

Rajon Rondo’s emergence as a top-performer in the NBA was likely another factor in Allen’s decision, as his role with the team would likely continue to diminish.

It’ll be interesting to see if Allen and Garnett exchange pleasantries when the teams meet this season. When do they play, you ask? 

Well, they play each other October 30, January 27, March 18 and April 12. Mark your calendars, folks.

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Maybe Paul Pierce Won’t Retire as a Celtic After All: Fan Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

 Miami  No Responses »
Aug 092012
 

Paul Pierce’s recent interview with the Boston Globe offered fans a chance for some candid insight into the Truth’s future. With the Boston Celtics undoubtedly at a crossroads in the history of the franchise, it seems that for the first time in years, the fate of Paul Pierce is arguably as murky as it’s ever been. Ray Allen’s departure brought the Big Three era to a close even as Kevin Garnett stays on and Rajon Rondo solidifies his role as the Cs’ long-term solution at PG. …

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NBA Rumors: Celtics Forward Paul Pierce Could Test Free Agency in 2 Years

 Boston  No Responses »
Aug 042012
 

Paul Pierce is one of the greatest Celtics of all time. Once he decides to ride off into the sunset and end his NBA career, he will most definitely have his number hanging in the rafters of the Boston Garden.

“The Truth” will enter his fifteenth season as a member of the C’s this year and is under contract through the 2012-13 season, with a team option for 2013-14.

Celtics management will most likely pick up the option if Pierce remains healthy, just because he is still an elite player offensively.

He averaged 19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists last season and has been one of the veteran leaders of this roster.

However, Pierce is not open to signing a contract extension, even with Kevin Garnett, Brandon Bass, Jason Terry and Rajon Rondo signed long term.

He told the Boston Globe this when asked about his contract situation:

“I think I am going to play this one out. I want to see what it feels like to be a free agent for once in my life. I think I am going to play this one out. A lot can change in two years. My body [may not] be where I want it to be, I could retire, a lot of things could happen. I love the game. I made as much money as I possibly can. It’s about winning a championship and if I feel like it’s the right thing to do, maybe so [come back]. If I solidify my third year, maybe they opt out, so it’s about keeping your options open.”

The words that will likely stick out for an Celtics fans are “I want to see what it feels like to be a free agent for once in my life.”

While this quote doesn’t say that Pierce will leave Boston, it does give some credence to the fact that he might leave.

All along, I have thought that “The Truth” would finish out his NBA career in Boston, no matter the direction the team was heading in.

Considering that he did not demand a trade after the horrendous 2006-07 season, I felt like he was a lock no matter what.

However, there are some troubling signs of a possible Pierce departure. Anytime a player hints at free agency, it is worrisome—especially if he is the leading scorer on the team.

The other possibility is that he might retire after his contract ends—which is a realistic scenario, considering he would be 37 at the beginning of the 2014-15 season.

As Pierce did say, he has made a lot of money and it is about winning a championship, both of which I agree with. If Boston is not a contender, will Pierce stay?

It’s an intriguing question, and one worth thinking about over the next year. If this team flounders this season, falling in the first or second round of the playoffs, maybe it is time to let go of the last of the “Big 3.”

Unfortunately for Boston, they might be forced into rebuilding if Pierce decides to leave town. 

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Celtics Rumors: Loss of Underrated Greg Stiemsma Would Hurt Boston

 Boston  No Responses »
Jul 192012
 

Greg Stiemsma may have gone undrafted out of Wisconsin, but he showed he belonged in the NBA last season with the Boston Celtics.

Now it appears the Celtics could lose the valuable post defender.

The Minnesota Timberwolves appear to be in a good position to steal the 26-year-old center from the Celtics, but they were waiting to see if the Portland Trail Blazers would match their offer to Nicolas Batum first.

Stiemsma reportedly hasn’t received an offer sheet yet from the Timberwolves, per the Boston Globe, but now that the Trail Blazers matched the offer to Batum, Minnesota should quickly turn its attention to Stiemsma.

Stiemsma has an intriguing story. After graduating from Wisconsin in 2008, he played in South Korea, moved on to the NBA Development League, had brief stints with the Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers, signed with Turkey and then went back to the Development League before landing with the Celtics. To say he’s a journeyman would be an understatement.

But Stiemsma proved his worth in the NBA last season. He’s not going to be an offensive force by any means, and he’s not the greatest rebounder, but he emerged as a defensive stopper in Boston.

Stiemsma averaged 1.5 blocks in just 14 minutes per game last season. He also averaged 2.35 defensive plays (blocks + steals + charges), per Hoopdata.com (the NBA average was 1.38).

If Stiemsma had played enough minutes to qualify, he would have actually beaten out league leader and teammate Kevin Garnett in defensive rating (93 to Garnett’s 94.2), per Basketball-Reference.com. That is, he personally allowed approximately 93 points per 100 possessions.

And you can forget about the untested Stiemsma crumbling under the pressure in the playoffs. His defense rating was actually better (90) in the postseason.

Stiemsma is a restricted free agent this summer, meaning the Celtics have the right to match any offer that comes his way. Unfortunately for them, the Timberwolves have much more money to offer Stiemsma. The Celtics are currently over the salary cap.

Boston, of course, drafted former Syracuse center Fab Melo this year, but he’s a rookie and will need time to develop. Asking too much from him from the start may not be a good idea.

Stiemsma is just the kind of defensive presence the Celtics love, and he’s proven he can make an impact in the NBA. Losing him would hurt more than it appears on the surface.

 

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Celtics Rumors: Courtney Lee Now Best Free Agent Option Left for Boston

 Rumors  No Responses »
Jul 172012
 

The Boston Celtics have targeted shooting guards throughout the free agency period, and Courtney Lee is the best option still available.

Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe quoted Lee on July 9 recapping a discussion he had with Doc Rivers. 

There’s interest there but there was no verbal agreement or anything, just hearing each other out. He expressed his interest. I expressed my interest. It’s not basketball-wise that needs to be discussed, it’s the front office and my agent that needs to communicate and go from there.

The Celtics were unable to bring back Ray Allen this offseason, and he signed with the Miami Heat.

Their woes at shooting guard continued as Avery Bradley had his second shoulder surgery in recent months on July 10, and there is currently no set schedule for his return.

The team was able to add new talent to their perimeter attack by signing Jason Terry to a three-year deal shortly after free agency started. 

But with Allen gone and Bradley starting the rehabilitation process, Boston looks poised to add one more scorer. 

In addition to Lee, Boston had been looking at O.J. Mayo, as noted by CSN New England’s A. Sherrod Blakely. But Mayo reported via his Twitter that he would be joining the Dallas Mavericks.

I will be signing with dallas! #Mavsnation

— OJ Mayo (@JuiceMayo32) July 17, 2012

This leaves Lee as the Celtics best option to add depth on the wing, and if the team can sign him, the shooting guard will improve the team. 

Lee averaged 11.4 points per game for the Houston Rockets this past season. He is an efficient shooter and has hit more than 40 percent of his three-point attempts in three of his four seasons as a pro. 

He has spent significant time during his career coming off the bench, and knows how to play this role well. In addition to being a reliable shooter, he hustles relentlessly on defense and is effective on that end of the floor. 

He has a well-rounded game and is willing to come off the bench in order to help his team win. Lee is the right man for the Celtics both on the court and in the locker room.

While Lee is really the only option left for Boston, they are still getting a solid player who fits well with their roster.

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Celtics Rumors: Boston Should Avoid Inconsistent Courtney Lee

 Rumors  No Responses »
Jul 132012
 

The Boston Celtics may be licking their wounds over the loss of Ray Allen to their arch-rival Miami Heat, but that doesn’t mean they should overreact and add unnecessary payroll while surrendering draft picks in the process.

According to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, free agent guard Courtney Lee has spoken with coach Doc Rivers about heading to Beantown.

Rivers and Lee both have mutual interest, according to the report.

The problem is, the Celtics couldn’t afford Lee under the new salary cap rules, which means they’d have to conduct a sign-and-trade with Lee’s team last year: the Houston Rockets.

Considering how much Rockets general manager Daryl Morey loves acquiring draft picks, that would likely be the asking price as they continue to push for Dwight Howard. With Lee telling The Globe that eight teams are interested in his services, a bidding war may be on the horizon.

Lee isn’t worth draft picks.

Lee is coming off a disappointing season in which he averaged 11.4 points and only 1.5 assists while shooting a career-low 43.3 percent from the field.

He is a volume shooter that doesn’t create opportunities for others, and lacks the hunger to become a decent defender. Lee is still living off his outstanding performance in the 2009 playoffs as a member of the Orlando Magic, and has shown little improvement since then.

Statistically, his best regular season was two years ago as a member of the New Jersey Nets. He has regressed ever since.

After four years in the league, it has become clear that Lee is nothing more than a jump shooter.

While his 38.6 career mark from three-point territory is a plus, he isn’t needed on this particular Celtics team.

Jason Terry is essentially a better version of Lee (and a superior shooter), Avery Bradley is poised for his breakout season next year and Keyon Dooling (if they bring him back) is a terrific backup that works well for the team while Rajon Rondo is getting a breather.

Lee is a below-average player who will cost far too much. Boston needs to pass on Lee and trust the team they already have.

 

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Courtney Lee Sign-and-Trade Deal Unlikely for Boston Celtics

 Rumors  No Responses »
Jul 122012
 

It’s no secret that the Boston Celtics are kicking the tires on newly unrestricted free-agent Courtney Lee. It’s also no secret that the Celtics won’t be able to realistically complete a deal for the former Houston Rockets guard without initiating a sign-and-trade with Houston.

The Rockets are game for such a deal, and Lee has made it known that he would like to play for Boston.

Lee is even a close friend of Celtics head coach Doc Rivers. In fact, the two met in Orlando this past weekend to discuss Lee’s possible future with the Celtics, according to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.

Rivers undoubtedly put the hard sell on Lee, and there’s no question that the two would like to work together.

Houston is even content if they do not acquire equal value for Lee in a sign-and-trade, as the team was willing to let him walk away for nothing. The Rockets rescinded Lee’s qualifying offer of $4.4 million, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Everything seems to be falling into place, right? Well, not exactly. Things are a bit more complicated.

Lee has reportedly drawn interest from at least eight other teams. He likely will command, at the very least, a salary equal to Houston’s rescinded qualifying offer.

The Celtics, even via sign-and-trade, cannot offer him that figure after committing their available cap space to Kevin Garnett, Jeff Green and Brandon Bass. They also used the $5 million midlevel exception on Jason Terry.

However, they could come close.

If the Celtics packaged JaJuan Johnson with a future first-round pick and guaranteed next year’s deals for E’Twaun Moore and Sean Williams, they would have enough to swap those players for Lee at a price of just under $4.2 million.

Johnson, Moore and Williams will make a combined $2.8 million in 2012-2013. Because the Celtics are over the salary cap, the amount they take back from Houston must be less than 150 percent of the $2.8 million they trade away, hence $4.2 million (ESPN.com).

The logistics of the trade work out, but there’s no guarantee that Houston would be willing to take on Moore and Williams. It’s also unclear if Danny Ainge would be willing to part with a future first-round pick to acquire Lee.

As for the $4.2 million, that would be a fair and reasonable salary for Lee, but he could net much more than that number on the open market.

Given the need for swingmen who can shoot from the outside and lock down the perimeter, it comes as no surprise that Lee is a coveted player in free agency—a player teams would be willing to pay upwards of $6 million per year.

The bottom line is unless Doc Rivers can convince Lee to take less money than what market value dictates, this deal is a no-go.

There’s no question Lee would be a great fit for the Celtics, who could definitely use the depth, but, at the end of the day, this is a business. You can’t blame young players for taking the most lucrative offer available to them.

Lee, who just completed his rookie contract, has the opportunity to earn his first big payday. He’s only 26 years old, so don’t expect him to leave a hefty offer on the table to join the Celtics, despite his respect for Doc Rivers and his interest in the organization.

However, if the Celtics do somehow acquire Lee, you won’t hear any complaints from me.

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Courtney Lee Is a Prize Well Worth Boston’s Effort

 Rumors  No Responses »
Jul 112012
 

Doc Rivers and the Boston Celtics have their eye trained on free-agent wing Courtney Lee, but there’s a tiny problem: Without having even the slightest amount of cap space with which to absorb a potential deal for Lee, the C’s are at the mercy of the Houston Rockets.

The only avenue that Boston can use to acquire Lee is through sign-and-trade, meaning that not only will it cost the Celtics an asset of some kind to pull off a potential trade, but one sweet enough for the Rockets to play along. 

Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe fleshes out the situation in greater context:

When asked his most important priority, Lee said: “I want to win. I got a taste of the playoffs and going all the way to the Finals my rookie year (with Orlando in 2009). I want to get back there.

“Boston, everybody knows their record and what they’ve accomplished over the years, especially with Doc and having KG (Kevin Garnett) and Paul (Pierce), (Rajon) Rondo’s still there. So that’s a team I feel will win and continue to win. That’s one factor in the decision.”

Lee, 26, has played four NBA seasons after a storied career at Western Kentucky. He was dealt after his rookie season in Orlando to New Jersey in the Vince Carter trade and then sent to Houston in a four-team deal two years ago. He’s a career 38.6 percent three-point shooter and has come off the bench in 152 of his 287 career games.

He said he’s aware the best way to get to Boston is by trade. “You know Houston and (general manager) Daryl Morey, he loves draft picks, that’s one thing that you can do, a sign-and-trade,” Lee said. “With having Houston loving draft picks and Boston not having money to be able to pay a player, that could be an option for both teams.”

Considering how little Boston can afford to offer in a potential deal for Lee, draft picks do indeed seem to be the way to go. A first-rounder would likely be enough to sweeten the pot, though the Celtics do also have their second-round selection in 2013, in addition to those of the Bobcats and the Timberwolves. For an asset collector like Rockets GM Daryl Morey, those could be interesting trade pieces.

But all of this effort makes a ton of sense, given the Celtics’ current situation.

Boston clearly trusts Jeff Green to fill in some of the minutes on the wing, but Green’s impending deal is almost certain to disappoint, given his track record for inefficiency.

Whether Rivers and Danny Ainge know that now or not, Lee is a primer candidate to hedge against Boston’s initial bet with Green. He can fill the void for the injured Avery Bradley, supply some of what Boston will miss in Ray Allen‘s absence, and can complement Rajon Rondo, Jason Terry, Paul Pierce, Bradley and Green wonderfully.

He’s the bit of glue that would fortify Boston’s rotation of perimeter players, and his skill set is versatile enough that he could thrive while being amorphous.

Boston could use his shooting, his playmaking, his off-the-ball movement and his on-ball defense. Lee is firmly entrenched as a jack of all trades, and in that manner is exactly what Green is supposed to be.

Picking up Lee can’t undo the reported four years and $36 million offered to Green, but at the very least, he can functionally replace the player Boston thought they were getting in the first place. 

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