Preaching Panic or Patience with Aging Boston Celtics

 Boston  No Responses »
Dec 042012
 

The Boston Celtics‘ sluggish start has resulted in a 9-8 start, but the coaching staff does not appear concerned. In a report by Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com, assistant coach Armond Hill declares that the team is “looking good” after performing well in two games without star point guard Rajon Rondo, and the team’s seemingly bright future is discussed.

Even though the season is just a month old, the Celtics can do anything but coast and expect to make the playoffs as they have in years past. The Eastern Conference landscape has changed, and aging Boston is far from the championship-winning squad they were in 2008. Still, the coaching staff remains patient even as the team prepares to play most of December on the road.

Boston can agree to be patient in certain regards, particularly the slow start of star scorer Paul Pierce, but must show more urgency in addressing the team’s weak interior defense. No matter how optimistic the coaching staff is, there are some issues that are not going to go away simply because team management wishes it so. The fact is that the Boston Celtics have real flaws this year, and they must be addressed one by one.

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Doc Rivers Must Use Rajon Rondo vs. Kris Humphries Fight to Motivate Celtics

 Boston  No Responses »
Nov 292012
 

Through 15 games of the 2012-13 season, the Boston Celtics are just 8-7 and barely floating above .500. To make matters worse, the team’s best player—Rajon Rondo—was involved in an on-court altercation that may keep him out of the lineup for some time.

On Wednesday night, the C’s point guard confronted Kris Humphries of the Brooklyn Nets, after the former reality star delivered an unnecessary foul to teammate Kevin Garnett.

It quickly escalated into a shoving match that winded up in the crowd behind the basket support. Rondo, Humphries and Brooklyn’s Gerald Wallace (who had a previous technical in the game and was tussling with KG, but neither threw any punches) were all ejected as a result and the Nets went on to win 95-83.

When ESPN Boston’s Chris Forsberg caught up with the Big Ticket, he didn’t seem overly concerned about any suspensions and seemed glad that Rondo had his back.

“Obviously, we are (worried about a possible suspension),” Garnett said. “But it’s what it is. You have to protect each other, and we consider ourselves family around here, and that’s just the way it is.” 

It’s the second time in as many weeks that these two Atlantic Division foes have met, and the C’s have yet to figure out a way to beat their newly relocated rival.

The Nets have been outmuscling Boston in the paint, cleaning the glass and generally playing a tougher brand of basketball that has been the Celt’s specialty in the “Big Three” era.

Coach Doc Rivers recognizes that this is a great learning opportunity for his club, and began by openly calling out his players following the game—as per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN).

“All that stuff, that’s not toughness,” Rivers told reporters, calling his team soft. “That foul was a hard foul. It was an unnecessary foul. The play was over and then he pushed him down in the air. But I think that’s what they think of us: They think they can push you around.”

The Nets definitely pushed Boston around, and more teams are lining up to as well. With a 36-year-old KG representing the only big on the roster with a fearsome defensive presence, the Celtics need to toughen up.

They are a proud, veteran group that knows how to win basketball games, but they aren’t going to be in many if their best players are facing suspension or the team continues to allow its opponents to physically dominate.

Fortunately, Rivers is one of the best motivators in the game and knows how to capitalize on an opportunity. He’s going to use this Humphries-Rondo bout as a way to inspire his squad and get them to stop being—in his words—so soft. 

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Rajon Rondo Is Poised to Be the Next Captain of the Boston Celtics

 Boston  No Responses »
Oct 162012
 

It has been five years since Kevin Garnett joined the Boston Celtics in a blockbuster trade that put the franchise in the upper echelon of the league. The Celtics’s Big Three of Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen have always dominated the team’s headlines, but now with Allen joining the rival Miami Heat, the team’s leadership has lost a key voice. Paul Pierce is still the captain of the team, but this may be the year when a new voice needs to emerge. 

Enter Rajon Rondo.

But wait, isn’t Rondo too brash and cocky to be considered to be a leader? This is the guy who just recently explained in the cover story for Boston Common Magazine why he is the best point guard in the NBA:

“In some areas some guys might be better than me, but overall, if you lay it all out, I think I am the best.”

“It’s always the whole package,” he says. “Some fans look at a point guard and say he had 26 points, seven assists, and eight rebounds, and they’ll say he had a great game. But there is a lot of talent in the NBA, and eventually that talent catches up with you. The mental game is where it’s at. I would say the game is 80 percent mental and 20 percent physical, for me at least. What separates great players from good ones is performing consistently. I can dominate the game in any number of ways, not just with the numbers.”

“My definition of what a good point guard is might be different from what some others might think,” he says. “I’ll give you an example: If [head coach] Doc Rivers gets thrown out, I can run the team for the rest of the game. I know what plays to call, what sets to call, or when to call time outs. It’s more than keeping track of the score. There is so much more going on that you take for granted on any given night, and there are only so many guys who can run a team when you don’t have a coach. In that category I think I am the best at what I do.”

“The Celtics and their fans don’t just want X number of wins and playoffs. We all want championships … and the banners prove that. For me it’s a good thing. There is a lot more pressure in Boston to win than there is almost anywhere else. I love it. I feed off of it.”

Is this the guy Celtics fans want captaining their team? Someone so audacious and arrogant? Motivating and shaping their young players, like promising rookie Jared Sullinger?

The simple answer is, of course they do. Rondo has been with the Celtics for over six seasons now and the team, believe it or not, has been molded in his image. No longer Pierce’s or Garnett’s, Rondo is what makes the Celtics who they are.

While Pierce has yet to hand down his official captain title, Rondo has already assumed the unofficial duties before the start of training camp, taking it upon himself to organize offseason team workouts in Los Angeles. Even Garnett agrees that its Rondo’s time now, as he recently told Chris Forsberg of ESPN:

“I think you see a bit of a changing of the guard with Rondo becoming our leader. I think something that he’s earned.”

As the Celtics’ lone All-Star from last year, Rondo already has accomplished a number of individual accolades, but has never been seen as an individualistic player. He has shown time and time again that he puts the team first; the most notable instance was in Game 3 of the 2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Heat, where Rondo willed his team to victory after dislocating his left elbow.

You can’t fault Rondo for being so driven and confident, as his desire to win is infectious which the rest of the team feeds off of.

The literal title of captain is not necessary for Rondo at this juncture due to Paul Pierce’s veteran presence. But Pierce should know that whenever he retires, he will be leaving the team in the capable hands of Rajon Rondo, the natural choice for team captain.

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NBA Rumors: 3rd Team Enters Sweepstakes for Greg Stiemsma’s Services

 Boston  No Responses »
Jul 212012
 

It appears to be a long shot that the Celtics land Greg Stiemsma, after a new unknown team is now going after him.

Chris Forsberg concisely summarized the current situation (via ESPNBoston.com):

The Celtics extended a $1.05 million qualifying offer to Stiemsma before the free-agency period, while the Timberwolves have expressed consistent interest in the 6-foot-11 big man this offseason. But while Stiemsma’s camp awaits an offer sheet from Minnesota, it appears a third team has entered the fray. 

This offer, when formally delivered, will almost certainly price Boston out of the Stiemsma Sweepstakes.

Heading into the offseason, it appeared to be very unlikely that Stiemsma would have played anywhere other than Boston.

However, he has received more interest than the Celtics would have liked. While the biannual exception is certainly an option, it is unlikely that the offers that Stiemsma has on the table pay him less than 1.95 million.

The Celtics have a problem on their hands, because now recently-drafted Fab Melo is the backup center. While the young Brazilian has the potential to be be at least a solid backup in the future, he is very raw at this point.

With the free agent market drying up, the Celtics might have to settle for the recently-signed Chris Wilcox, who missed the tail end of last season because of heart surgery.

In this case, “Steamer” might be a bigger loss than one might think. While he is a liability on the offensive end of the floor, Stiemsma has shown that he can be an effective shot-blocker in the league.

Cheaper options like Nazr Mohammed and Hasheem Thabeet are off the market, meaning that the Celtics will just have to hope that the frontcourt will hold up.

Even so, Boston is still a formidable foe for the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder. 

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NBA Rumors: Is Nenad Krstic Considering a Return to the Boston Celtics?

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Jul 082012
 

The Boston Celtics have been active early in the free agency period, already getting verbal agreements from a handful of players that will help to fill out most of their roster. However, the C’s may end up needing extra help in the front court, as Chris Forsberg of ESPN reports that Greg Stiemsma is garnering a lot of interest from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Although the Celtics would like to hold on to the promising center, they can only match offers that fit into the salary cap restrictions, which means they will be unable to match any offer above the bi-annual exception. 

However, the Celtics may be in luck, as they still own the Bird Rights for center Nenad Krstic, who they received along with Jeff Green in the Kendrick Perkins trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Krstic didn’t stay with the team long—as he signed overseas during the lockout—but he did hold an option to terminate his contract with CSKA Moscow. Chris Forsberg highlighted that Carchia of Redazione Sportanda in Russia has reported that Krstic will not be returning to CSKA Moscow next year, and he plans to terminate his current contract. 

There hasn’t yet been much U.S. news about the possibility of Krstic returning to the NBA, but a translated report from Sportska Centrala titled “Krstic on the Verge of Returning to Boston” expresses that Krstic plans to return to the NBA and has interest in joining Milwaukee, Brooklyn, or Boston. However, the Celtics hold the exclusive Bird Rights for Krstic and therefore can sign him to a larger contract than most other teams by going over the salary cap to pay his salary. 

Although Krstic only played in 24 games with the Celtics, he actually put together solid performances by averaging 9.1 points on 53.7 percent shooting as well as 5.4 rebounds per game. Boston could still use depth in the frontcourt—especially if Stiemsma leaves—and Krstic would give the team another 7-footer that can make mid-range shots and is a capable defender in the paint.

The added depth at the center position that Krstic provides would allow Kevin Garnett the rest he needs to make it through the season, as well as provide another player that can provide the rebounding that the C’s were missing last season. 

It isn’t clear how interested Krstic is in returning to Boston, or if the team has even reached out to him and considered making an offer. Yet the move would make sense for both Krstic and the Celtics, especially now that Boston has room below the luxury tax cap due to the loss of Ray Allen.

Although it is not a perfect solution to the Celtics’ needs at center, it will greatly improve the overall performance of the team and help to provide the size Boston has been missing. 

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Ray Allen in Rare Company with Boston Celtics’ Offer of No-Trade Clause

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Jul 062012
 

The Boston Celtics have worked hard early in the free agency period to get agreements with the key players they felt could solidify their rotation. However, they have yet to bring back one of their top priorities in Ray Allen.

Chris Forsberg of ESPN reported that the Celtics have already offered Allen a two-year $12 million deal and are convinced that he is one of the most important players that they need to bring back this year. Allen has not seemed to be completely sold on the idea that the Celtics respect him and find him as important as they may say. 

In an interview, provided by the Boston Herald, Allen responded to a question about the possibility of the Celtics offering him another deal by saying this:

I wouldn’t be surprised, but I don’t want to go into this season, like I have in past seasons, worrying about whether I was going to be traded or not. At this point we want to ride it out, take this thing to the house, and not have the instability of knowing whether today or tomorrow something is going to happen.

It appears that Danny Ainge may hear Ray Allen loud and clear, as Chris Forsberg also reported that Boston has offered Ray Allen a no-trade clause that would keep Allen in Boston unless he agreed to be moved.

A no-trade clause is not something a team puts into a contract every day, especially because the NBA requires the player to have been in the league for at least eight season and have played for the team he is signing with for at least four seasons. 

In fact, no-trade clauses are extremely rare in the NBA, as Mike Prada of SB Nation reports that only two of the approximately 450 players on NBA rosters last year had these contract agreements. These two players were Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki, both players who have been the faces of their franchise for over a decade and have played at the most elite level for years. Not even Paul Pierce, the captain of the Celtics, currently holds a no-trade clause in his contract. 

Ray Allen should take this offer as a huge sign of respect and confidence in his ability, as it essentially guarantees Allen to remain with the Celtics for the entirety of his contract.

The Celtics are battling Miami to land the greatest three-point shooter of all time. And in order to sway Allen to Boston, the C’s may be willing to extend their current offer into a three-year deal for a little less money a year. The Celtics have already signed Garnett to a three-year deal, so offering Allen the same length contract may be something they consider. 

The Celtics will be in great position with an extremely deep bench if they are able to bring Allen back for the upcoming season. Allen is likely to make his final decision over the weekend or early next week, and the C’s are hoping Allen won’t have to move at all for the next few seasons. 

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Boston Celtics’ Most Successful Starting Lineup Returns with Brandon Bass Back

 Boston  No Responses »
Jul 062012
 

According to Chris Forsberg of ESPN, Brandon Bass has agreed to a three-year deal with the Boston Celtics which will reunite last year’s starting five for the upcoming season.

The Celtics starting lineup will once again be anchored by point guard Rajon Rondo with Avery Bradley at shooting guard, Paul Pierce at small forward, Brandon Bass at power forward, and Kevin Garnett at center. 

The Celtics fell one game short of the NBA Finals last year with a team that was older than most in the playoffs, but their most successful starting line up was not in the game as Avery Bradley had season-ending shoulder surgery.

According to 82games.com, the Celtics starting lineup of Rondo, Bradley, Pierce, Bass, and Garnett, which was not formed until late in the season, had won 11 of the 14 games (78.5 percent) they started together. 

The reason for their success was a +82 total point differential which was the result of stifling defense, limiting their opponents to .94 points per possession, while scoring 1.13 points per possession on offense. This Celtics line up has yet to benefit from a full season together, and it is likely they will have tremendous success in a regular season format with more time between games for the veterans. 

Now that the starting lineup is set for the upcoming season with the group that the C’s have found great success with last season, Boston appears to be in even better shape as their bench is deeper than last season. Jeff Caplan and Marc Stein reported that the Celtics and Jason Terry have reached a three-year contract agreement that will help to provide much-needed scoring off the bench. 

In addition Sam Amick of SI.com reports that Jeff Green is close to accepting a four-year, $40 Million deal that would bring the promising forward back to the Celtics in order to provide the much-needed depth behind Pierce, and a promising player for the future.

According to Chris Forsberg of ESPN, the C’s are also hoping Greg Stiemsma will return to the team and that Ray Allen will return on a two-year deal to fill out the remainder of the rotation.

The Celtic’s starting lineup should be able to maintain the defensive performance that gave them the best defensive rating in the league at 98.2, while the bench will help to lock down opposing offenses.

Further, Boston will answer one of their biggest flaws of last season—bench scoring—with the reserve players they are hoping to have under contract by July 11th.

The Celtics should be able to greatly boost last year’s offensive rating of 101.0 (27th in the NBA) with the offensive talent they will have coming off the bench. 

Although the starting lineup will be a year older, the entire team is beginning to form into a serious threat in the upcoming season.

An entire season with the starting lineup playing together night in and night out with reserve players who can allow them ample time to rest will likely lead to a very dangerous and healthier team come playoff time.

The Celtics are hoping that these off season moves will lead to the raising of Banner 18 at the end of the season. 

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NBA: Boston Celtics Starting Line Up Returns with Brandon Bass Signing

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Jul 062012
 

According to Chris Forsberg of ESPN, Brandon Bass has agreed to a three-year deal with the Boston Celtics which will reunite last year’s starting five for the upcoming season.

The Celtics starting line up will once again be anchored by point guard Rajon Rondo with Avery Bradley at shooting guard, Paul Pierce at small forward, Brandon Bass at power forward, and Kevin Garnett at center. 

The Celtics fell one game short of the NBA Finals last year with a team that was older than most in the playoffs, but their most successful starting line up was not in the game as Avery Bradley had season-ending shoulder surgery.

According to http://www82games.com, the Celtics starting line up of Rondo, Bradley, Pierce, Bass, and Garnett, which was not formed until late in the season, had won 11 of the 14 games (78.5%) they started together. 

The reason for their success was a +82 total point differential which was the result of stifling defense, limiting their opponents to .94 points per possession, while scoring 1.13 points per possession on offense. This Celtics line up has yet to benefit from a full season together, and it is likely they will have tremendous success in a regular season format with more time between games for the veterans. 

Now that the starting line up is set for the upcoming season with the group that the C’s have found great success with last season, Boston appears to be in even better shape as their bench is deeper than last season. Jeff Caplan and Marc Stein reported that the Celtics and Jason Terry have reached a three-year contract agreement that will help to provide much-needed scoring off the bench. 

In addition Sam Amick of SI.com reports that Jeff Green is close to accepting a four-year, $40 Million deal that would bring the promising forward back to the Celtics in order to provide the much-needed depth behind Pierce, and a promising player for the future.

According to Chris Forsberg of ESPN, the C’s are also hoping Greg Stiemsma will return to the team and that Ray Allen will return on a two-year deal to fill out the remainder of the rotation.

The Celtic’s starting line up should be able to maintain the defensive performance that gave them the best defensive rating in the league at 98.2, while the bench will help to lock down opposing offenses.

Further, Boston will answer one of their biggest flaws of last season—bench scoring—with the reserve players they are hoping to have under contract by July 11th.

The Celtics should be able to greatly boost last year’s offensive rating of 101.0 (27th in the NBA) with the offensive talent they will have coming off the bench. 

Although the starting line up will be a year older, the entire team is beginning to form into a serious threat in the upcoming season.

An entire season with the starting line up playing together night in and night out with reserve players who can allow them ample time to rest will likely lead to a very dangerous and healthier team come playoff time.

The Celtics are hoping that these off season moves will lead to the raising of Banner 18 at the end of the season. 

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Celtics vs. 76ers Game 3: What Boston Must Do to Gain Advantage and Advance

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May 162012
 

The Boston Celtics will travel to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers at 7:00 p.m. ET tonight — Wednesday, May 16.

Boston absolutely needs to win this game to reclaim home-court advantage and get a lead in the series, as Philly was able to steal Game 2 at the Garden.

Should they fail to do that, they might find themselves on a slippery slope that will end with the team going home at the end of this round.

Let’s take a look at what the C’s must do to succeed and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

 

 

Close Strong

The Sixers have been dominant in close games this postseason. They are able to take care of the ball and be efficient while limiting mental mistakes.

If the Celtics build a late lead, they can’t afford to take their foot off the gas. They are up against a dangerous group that has nothing to lose as an underdog No. 8 seed.

 

 

Play Celtics Defense

Both of the teams in this series have been excellent all year long on the defensive end. Boston has a slight edge and that can be attributed to their veteran leadership, competitive fire and knowledge that their championship window will shut once they are eliminated.

Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley need to hound the ball-handlers, Paul Pierce needs to lock down the wings and Kevin Garnett has to protect the paint.

It will not be easy, but if anyone can do it, it is this cagey bunch.

 

 

Limit Turnovers

According to ESPN’s Chris Forsberg, coach Doc Rivers made it quite clear to the Celtics before the second round started that they cannot turn the ball over.

“They want to get into transition, and when they are in transition, they score,” said Rivers. “When they are in half court, it’s a little more difficult, so that’s going to be our task. … Listen, we’re not going to outrun them, they are faster than us, they are going to win the track meet, no doubt about that. We have to find a way to get them to play in the half court.”

They had 13 TO’s in a narrow Game 1 win and 17 in a Game 2 defeat. Those just aren’t acceptable numbers and the team has got to try even harder to hold onto the ball.

If they can keep the passes on point and the dribbling steady, Boston will emerge victorious.

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Paul Pierce Injury: Celtics Will Eliminate Hawks in Game 5 If Captain Plays

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May 082012
 

The Atlanta Hawks are on the ropes. They are beat up, worn down and ready to quit. All the Boston Celtics have to do is unleash their heaviest hitter and they will surely secure a knock out.

Of course, this all hinges on the health of Paul Pierce, the Celtics’ captain and best offensive player.

If he is active for Game 5 of the first-round playoff series between these two teams, there is little doubt the C’s will be advancing to play either the Chicago Bulls or Philadelphia 76ers.

According to Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston, Pierce isn’t exactly a sure thing to suit up tonight for what could be the deciding contest.

The star injured his left knee during shootaround before Game 4 and re-aggravated it before halftime guarding a screen from Atlanta forward Josh Smith.

Somehow, he was still the leading scorer in the game and had a ridiculous 24 points, four rebounds and two blocks in just 16 minutes, 37 seconds of play. He buried 10 of his 13 shot attempts, including four of six from downtown.

There wasn’t a person in the Garden who could have stopped PP that night and it took his own knee failing—which is wearing down on the 34-year-old after countless NBA games—to eventually force the captain to his bench.

Boston is no stranger to winning without its veterans, which was evidenced by a solid Game 2 performance in which it stole a game in Atlanta without Rajon Rondo or Ray Allen in the backcourt.

However, the Hawks are a proud team and will not roll over easily in a deciding game on their home floor. It’s going to take a solid all-around performance from the C’s and nothing is guaranteed, especially if Pierce does not suit up.

If the swingman is cleared to go, look for Boston to come out inspired and ready to advance to Round 2 by ending the series tonight. 

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