Marquis Daniels to Sign Tomorrow?

By: Greg Payne

Steve Bulpett finally has the good news we've been waiting for regarding Marquis Daniels:

The long wait for Marquis Daniels is nearing its end. According to sources, the Celtics [team stats] expect to sign the 6-foot-6 swingman tomorrow to a contract for the biannual exception.

The delay in getting Daniels officially into Green was caused by the team trying to work out a sign-and-trade that would benefit both the Celts and Indiana, the club Daniels is leaving.

The Celtics were hoping to make such a move to clear some roster space while getting Daniels more than the nearly $2 million he will get for 2009-10. Had they been able to come up with something palatable for all sides -- a three-team trade was being sought -- the Pacers would have been able to get something for their departing free agent.

I'll confirm it when it happens tomorrow, but there's no denying this is the news we've been waiting for.

Stay Tuned.

Mikki Moore Signs With Warriors

By: Greg Payne

In case you were wondering what happened to Mikki Moore:

After a half-season stint with the Boston Celtics, Mikki Moore is going back to the West Coast.

Moore's agent, Mark Bartelstein, told ESPN.com on Monday that the free-agent center agreed to a one-year contract with the Golden State Warriors over the weekend.

Moore's deal is for the $1.3 million, the veteran minimum.

Maybe he'll be more productive out west.

Stay Tuned.

Will the Celtics' Bench Be Cohesive?

(Keith Allison)


By: Greg Payne

Allow me to briefly tip my hat to my good friend Matt for presenting me with the idea for the following article. It's amazing at the subject matter you don't think of until you finally have a very basic chat with your buddies about the state of your team.

Considering how anemic the Celtics' bench seemingly became last season, I think it's safe to say we were all essentially thrilled when we learned that we'd be adding Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels and that we were able to retain Glen Davis. Nothing but good news, right?

Well, a talented group of guys doesn't always equate to a successful group of guys. Just ask the 2003-2004 Los Angeles Lakers who brought in Gary Payton and Karl Malone. According to Phil Jackson's book regarding that season, it wasn't always sunshine and rainbows.

I suppose I should clarify who I believe will comprise our bench this season. I absolutely expect to see a second unit made up of Eddie House, Marquis Daniels, Glen Davis, Rasheed Wallace and Player X. But for the sake of the article, I'm going to stick with those four guys.

I think it's also fair to say that the above four players are coming off of very respectable seasons. Some of the guys even had career years in specific categories. For example, Marquis Daniels' 13.6 ppg mark was a career-high. The same goes for Eddie House's three-point field goal percentage (.444), which ended up setting a Celtics' single season record. And then there's Glen Davis, who's scintillating playoff performance was memorable in a multitude of ways.

Then, we come to Rasheed Wallace, whose 12.0 ppg mark was the second lowest of his career, behind only his rookie season mark of 10.1 ppg. But to me, Wallace is more like an old school movie series that's about to get rebooted with a 230 million dollar budget to get it off the ground. I honestly believe that things were so shaky in Detroit last season that his statistics were more of a direct result of the situation, as opposed to his own performances. I'm not saying coming to a game not fully ready to compete is acceptable, but I don't expect problems like that here, where we have a more stable situation compared to what Detroit faced last season.

Speaking of last season, let me throw some stats out:

Wallace: 66 games/32.2 mpg/ 720 FGA/ 10.9 FGA per game/ 12.0 ppg
Daniels: 54 games/ 31.5 mpg/ 689 FGA/ 12.7 FGA per game/ 13.6 ppg
House: 81 games/ 18.3 mpg/ 560 FGA/ 6.9 FGA per game/ 8.5 ppg
Davis: 76 games/ 21.5 mpg/ 450 FGA/ 5.9 FGA per game/ 7.0 ppg
* Davis playoff averages: 14 games/ 36.4 mpg/ 175 FGA/ 12.5 FGA per game/ 15.8 ppg

I included Davis's playoff numbers only because I feel it's safe to say we saw two different versions of Davis: Pre-Kevin Garnett injury and post-Kevin Garnett injury.

So, can we conclude anything from those stats? Well, one thing that immediately jumps out at me is that none of these players played in all 82 regular season games last year, but let's not dwell on that. Only the cynics bring up that stat.

I think one question we absolutely have to ask ourselves is: Will each guy want to get his? Will Davis, fresh off not securing the mid-level exception he so aggressively coveted, be looking to pad his stats for the next two seasons? Will he be inclined to fill a bench role? Or now that he's "arrived" will we see some flares of angst at a possible lack of playing time and field goal attempts?

And what about House? Isn't he at his best when he's seemingly free to shoot whenever the shot is there for him? Will he now have more restrictions in place with more talented players beside him who are capable of scoring for themselves? Will he be looking to eclipse that .444 mark from three-point nation from last season, and if so, how many shots will that require?

Then we come to Marquis Daniels - the man we still know so little about. Sure we can glance at the stats, but we might not yet understand the subtle nuances he plays with, which can actually have a profound impact on his performance. Realistically it's safe to say he will not be topping his career scoring average from last season, especially if the coaching staff aims for the bench to play as a unit, as opposed to running the offense through one or two specific players. But his ability to slash through the lane could realistically open things up on the perimeter for House or Wallace or even Davis, if he wishes to shoot that 15-footer of his.

As for Wallace, we know about his versatility and his basketball I.Q., but will he fit into our truly important second unit scheme? With Doc Rivers and co. looking to restrict Kevin Garnett's minutes this season in order to avoid any type of injury, Wallace could very well be looking at over 20 minutes of action every night. Whether he'll accept such a role is a whole other matter, and the ESPN guys aren't sure he can hack it:

The C's need big things from Sheed to contend for a title; many of our voters don't expect him to deliver. His production has plateaued during the past three seasons, and he continues to make a negative impact with his technicals. Playing alongside KG might help Sheed stay interested, but will Wallace embrace his role off the bench for 82 games?

The starting five that won the championship back in '08 remains in tact, and with a well full of championship experience, it's somewhat difficult to believe KG or Paul Pierce or Doc will let any of the newcomers jeopardize their overall goals. In my opinion, Ubuntu is too strong for any of that these days. And, as in recent years has been the trend, the new guys are here to win, not to complain. I for one think it will work. Even when KG went down last season, the team didn't come apart by the strings. They remained in tact, even as their body of talent took a straight shot to the ribs. I think we can expect the same team chemistry this season, just with some louder personalities leading the way. Let's just figure out this backup point guard business now.

Stay Tuned.

AHHHHH...No Internet.

By: Greg Payne

Well, if ever there was a time when I could afford not to have an internet connection, it would be at a time when the offseason has conveniently stalled and there's next to no news to break. Fortunately for me, that time is now.

I moved back into college yesterday, but alas, I'm lacking an internet connection. I'm sure you can see why this is a bit of a problem. I'm down in Endicott's cyber cafe right now, which also was without internet last night. But I suppose this is a good sign that I can at least post something. I just tried registering my computer on the school's network, so hopefully I'll be back up and running soon.

In the meantime, I'll check the headlines and post anything noteworthy over the next few days until the internet is back up and running full time. Hopefully that'll be by Monday at the latest.

This pretty much shows me how dependent I actually am on the world wide web. I will admit it's rather pathetic.

Stay Tuned.

Moving Back Into College Today

By: Greg Payne

Couple the fact that I'm moving back into Endicott today with the lack of news pouring out of the team and you shouldn't expect too much from me today. I run cross country at school so I'll pretty much be swamped with meetings and practice all day. Hopefully I'll get the chance to check in some time late in the afternoon.

But have no fear. I will return very soon.

Stay Tuned.

Would You Make This Trade?

(Keith Allison)


By: Greg Payne

The following trade is impossible: Rajon Rondo for Chris Paul. The salaries of the respective players don't match up and in the NBA, that means a deal isn't getting done.

But let's throw on our hypothetical hats and say this trade could happen. Let's use our imaginations. If you were Danny Ainge, would you execute this trade if the offer was on the table? If it could be done, and New Orleans called you and said, "We'll give you Chris Paul for Rajon Rondo", would you do it?

Stay Tuned.

Happy Birthday Tommy Heinsohn

Tommy turns 75 today! Give him a Tommy Point. In fact, give him 75.

'Sheed Tied For Second Worst Newcomer

(Keith Allison)


By: Greg Payne

Yesterday, ESPN had Rasheed Wallace in a fifth place tie for best newcomer. Today, the tables are turned and he's tied for second in terms of worst newcomer. As Steve Z appropriately pointed out to me in the comments section, the ESPN guys certainly have the right to their own opinions. Maybe it's easier to see through objective eyes. Here's the supposed reasoning:

The C's need big things from Sheed to contend for a title; many of our voters don't expect him to deliver. His production has plateaued during the past three seasons, and he continues to make a negative impact with his technicals. Playing alongside KG might help Sheed stay interested, but will Wallace embrace his role off the bench for 82 games?

Stay Tuned.

Individual Game Tickets Go On Sale Tomorrow

Individual game tickets for the 2009-2010 season go on sale tomorrow at 11:00am eastern standard time.

For more details, check out Celtics.com ticket information.

The Other Side of the Professional Athlete

(Keith Allison)


By: Greg Payne

If we should all take away one thing from Michael Beasley's reported check-in at a rehabilitation facility in Houston, it's that, just like the rest of us, professional athletes are still only people.

Sure, the majority of them make a hell of a lot more money than the rest of us and sure we look up to them for their on the court/field/track heroics, but in the end, we all breathe the same air and walk on the same earth.

No matter how valiant or glorified any athlete might become when their respective sport is in session, it's important to remember that no matter how much we might envy or respect any athlete, we're ultimately admiring a flawed individual. And why? Because no matter what, nobody's perfect.

Thinking more closely along those lines, it's fair to say that we all admire the athlete when he or she is competing. When we were children and we told our parents which sports star we coveted most, we only knew that star when he or she was smashing the winning home run out of the park or swishing the buzzer beating basket or rushing the length of the football field for the game winning touchdown.

But off the court? It rarely occurs to us that these athletes are still in fact human beings. Blood courses through their veins, air passes through their lungs and everyday thoughts stroll through their heads. As children, did we ever once consider them off the court? Wasn't Paul Pierce simply a basketball player? Surely all he did was play basketball, right? Surely he doesn't worry about being married and having children or any other adult responsibilities the way our parents do, right?

Furthermore, what happens if we sincerely end up disliking who the athlete is when the game isn't being played? How do the children who were hypnotized by Michael Vick's dynamic ability recover after they hear he fought dogs? What does a young Ron Artest fan think when he sees his hero leaping into the stands to punch out random fans?

Now, not ever situation is this extreme, but ultimately these are the consequences for taking the risk of admiring people who are bound to be flawed to some extent. I'm not saying they're bad people. I'm simply repeating that nobody's perfect and that idolizing such people can sometimes spawn disappointment.

The difference comes when we bring up the attention they're bound to receive when they're not competing. Like Mr. Beasley, I'm sure a heavy number of people have checked into rehab this year, but why is Beasley's case the only one to make the nightly news headlines? Why isn't Ted next door receiving the same press? And there in lies the difference.

I don't think we should ever forget this, either. Like the average person, athletes are allowed the same emotions, hardships and trials that you and I might face on a daily basis. They still get stuck in traffic and shout out some choice swear words. They still experience pain and heartache and possibly even depression. They could disagree with their spouses on which color to paint the living room. Their child could be bullied at school.

But, unlike the professional athlete, the average person isn't constantly viewed under a microscope. I'm sure a significant number of people have fought dogs, as barbaric as it is, and a steady number of people have been involved in night club shootings. But the second an athlete becomes involved, the news cameras are rolling and the entire situation is analyzed down to the very second.

Think of what LeBron James must go through every single time he speaks publicly. His words are taken and stripped apart, being obsessively searched for any hidden signs of what his plans might be regarding next summer.

And who's to say an off the court issue might not affect their performance on the court? If a person working in an office or anywhere else can have his work effected by a gut wrenching divorce or unfortunate death in the family, why can't a professional athlete suffer from the same scenarios?

I suppose it's different because that office worker might not have 18,000 to 20,000 people in the same building, hanging on his every move while he tries to effectively do his job, all while another umpteenth thousand are watching him from the comforts of their own homes.

When we want to take our significant others out to a nice dinner at a local bistro we simply call in a reservation, show up and hopefully enjoy the evening. There's not too much thought involved. But what if Paul Pierce or Ray Allen wished to do such an every day task? Would a security detail be needed? What about a private room? And if a private room is needed, wouldn't that take away from actually being in the atmosphere of a restaurant, thus defeating the purpose of going out?

It sure seems like a difficult side of life. Especially when it appears that a guy like Mr. Beasley just needs help and he's met with a steady stream of animosity for publicly displaying his emotions on Twitter. I'm not saying it was the smartest course of action, but it was clearly a public cry for help and instead of attacking a guy like that, maybe we should extend ourselves, while recognizing that, if it were you or I, the national media probably wouldn't care a whole bunch.

I wish you the best, Mr. Beasley. While I'm sure a number of people share similar issues, you're bound to have to deal with yours in an entirely different manner.

Stay Tuned.

No Love for Rasheed from ESPN

By: Greg Payne

I just logged onto ESPN and was somewhat disappointed to see that Rasheed tied for fifth when it came time to vote for "Best newcomer".

Richard Jefferson took the top spot by joining San Antonio, followed by Shaq going to Cleveland and Ron Artest and Vince Carter locked up the third spot together. Also tying for fifth with Wallace are Shawn Marion (?), Andre Miller and Hedo Turkoglu.

See for yourself.

Oh well, just because an ESPN guy says it doesn't make it true.

Stay Tuned.

Rank Your Centers!

(Keith Allison)


By: Greg Payne

Back on January 25, 2004 I was 14 years old and my father had just secured floor seats to a Nets-Celtics game down in New Jersey. One of his brokers at work apparently owned him a favor. The game tipped off at 1:00pm and we left the house roughly around 8:00am to make the three hour commute. I specifically remember listening to Blink 182 for nearly the entire ride down.

Anyway, we made it down fine and I came equipped, wearing my white Paul Pierce jersey and my black retro Celtics shorts (my mom wasn't too pleased considering it was January). I also made four signs. One read, "I just drove three hours for my very first Tommy Point" (it turns out Mike and Tommy didn't have the broadcast on that day. Figures.). The second read, "I Want To Be On SportsCenter! (hey, I was 14. I did.). The third said, "The Nets Can't Handle the Truth" (they could on this day...) and the final one had a very strict message for head coach Jim O'Brien: "PUT IN PERKINS!"

Yes, please, put in the exceptionally raw, 6'10 man-boy from Clifton J. Ozen high school. Do you all remember Perk when he first entered the league? He was like the 17th man on a 15 man squad. He was overweight and subsequently sluggish. He didn't run but rather bounded up the court, arms barely swinging. And as a result he'd be terribly out of breath by his third trip up and down. Add in an exceptionally poor offensive game and a foul prone defensive joust and clearly this rookie was a work in progress. But that didn't matter to me. And he did get in the game! With about five minutes left and the Celtics losing by about 15 points.

Five seasons later, in this writer's eyes, he's one of the top centers in the game, proving just how far hard work can take you.

I'm not about to chronicle Perk's career path, but I do want to note that between Al Jefferson and his all natural, whole goods game rubbing off on Perk and big man coach Clifford Ray (one of the very underrated pickups of this team) tutoring him at every turn, Perk now possesses a drop step, a jump hook, an up and under and even a 13-14 foot jump shot, which he's beginning to use more and more.

He's also the team's second best rebounder and arguably its best big man defender, one on one. He certainly made his case against Dwight Howard in last year's Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. That matchup opened many peoples' eyes to the talent Perk now puts on display on a game by game basis and thus threw him into the conversation of top centers in the league.

Now, as long as Howard roams the paint in the NBA, Perk will never see the very top of that list, but with Yao Ming now substantially and regrettably injury prone and Shaquille O'Neal having his best days behind him, the 24-year old Perkins has a legitimate shot of rising higher and higher up the list.

In my eyes you can judge centers more than any other position players in the NBA both ways: Offensively and defensively. You have your big men who naturally have a feel for putting the ball in the basket. I'm going to call Al Jefferson a center and use him as my prime example. He might be a natural power forward, but will see a distinct amount of time at the center spot in Minnesota. In my eyes, right now, Jefferson is the most prolific offensive center in the NBA. Period.

This argument can get sketchy though, when you start to label players a certain way. I labeled Jefferson a center. Does that mean I have to label Amare Stoudemire and Tim Duncan centers as well? Considering Shaq played center for Phoenix last season on such a regular basis, I'm going to keep Stoudemire in the power forward category. However, I will give Duncan center status.

My top five offensive centers list looks like this:

1) Al Jefferson
2) Yao Ming (when healthy)
3) Tim Duncan
4) Andris Biedrins
5) Andrew Bynum

All of these guys can bang inside and possess a nice enough touch to step outside. My defensive list looks a tad bit different, but repeats are allowed.

1) Dwight Howard
2) Kendrick Perkins
3) Emeka Okafor
4) Tim Duncan
5) Tyson Chandler

I give Perk the nod at number two because he blocked over two shots per game throughout the entire regular season and post season, but Okafor is a very close third because of his superior rebounding numbers throughout the regular season. One could attribute that to Perk having Kevin Garnett snatch a few away from him every game.

But to me, Perk has arrived. And I'll argue that with anyone.

Stay Tuned.

Jordan Carter Receives a Quality Celtics Makeover

By: Greg Payne

Jordan Carter has a legitimate story behind him, which I encourage everyone to read about. But hey, I know I'm pretty jealous of him right now:

Maxwell, House and Re/Max New England took part in the makeover, which involved creating a basketball court and installing a new backboard and hoop, a scoreboard, a ball rack, and other Celtics-themed accoutrements.

They also gave Jordan Carter's bedroom a makeover, putting Celtics pillows and blankets on his bed, an enormous green Celtics banner in front of his window and a giant Celtics rug in the middle of his room. They painted the team's logo on the walls.

When it was all set, House and Maxwell signed Jordan's bedroom wall and the massive Celtics logo on his new basketball court.

Enjoy it Jordan.

Stay Tuned.

Bill Walker's Grabbing More Headlines Than J.R. Giddens

(Catastrophy)


By: Greg Payne

I suppose this is still a reasonable argument, since the scale hasn't been tipped either way, even to the slightest degree. Some of us love Bill Walker and some of us adore J.R. Giddens. Resembling a classic political race, each side has its fair share of supporters who will proudly proclaim their man as the favorite.

Only, instead of vying for a high end job on Capitol Hill, these two players are more likely fighting to be the 11th or 12th man on a championship-caliber professional basketball team. That's how good these Celtics have gotten. But, hey, for either one of these guys, it's a job. And even the professional athletes who rest somewhat uncomfortably on that teetering slope -- Will they be bought out? Released? Traded and shipped out of town? Become expendable? -- need to find work in a difficult economy.

But, much like the state of Rajon Rondo's offseason workout plan, the seemingly endless Marquis Daniels affair or why Leon Powe chose to accept the Cavaliers' offer as opposed to the Celtics', we have next to no idea who the front runner is in this campaign. Walker or Giddens?

If this contest came down strictly to whose name was heard more often in a positive light, Walker would be running away with this race. His name has graced a vast number of Celtics press releases and newspaper articles, telling the various tales of his uplifting and refreshing charity work. Whether it's working directly with children, speaking with them about the positives of sports and hard work, or accompanying them on trips to places like Washington D.C., Walker has essentially done it all this offseason.

But, unfortunately, the NBA Championship isn't determined by which team has the most community service hours at season's end (They should do something about this. Why not award the team with the most hours some type of bonus? Maybe a mid to late second round draft pick? Or, if it's a team facing the luxury tax they receive a little cash back?). While Walker's efforts are sincere, appreciated and inspiring and other NBA players should want to duplicate his actions, it doesn't necessarily guarantee him a spot on this year's squad.

But Walker understands the NBA is a business. And despite the commitment he’s made to the community, he’s aware that he might not be in Green next year.

But the fact that Walker's working so hard-- and I believe it's safe to assume he's working as hard on the court as he is off the court-- can only help his chances. And as his name continues to pop up in these various news reports, it only allows us to become more familiar with him. And we Boston people appreciate guys like Walker. I personally like to proclaim guys with the following types of attitudes as keepers:

“If you want something, you’re going to have to go through hell to get it,” Walker said. “It’s going to be tough. Stuff happens and you have to adapt, and that’s what I plan on doing. No matter what’s thrown at me, I’m going to make the best out of the situation and surprise a lot of people.”

If he stays in Boston, I don't think much of his improvement will come as a surprise. At this point, we can expect the rigorous work ethic it takes to make it in the NBA from Bill Walker.

Stay Tuned.

Speculation Ray May Stay in Boston

By: Greg Payne

This is just speculation (like it says in the title), but Peter May has a take on it:

File this under the “Hot Rumor’’ category. Ray Allen’s contract is up at the end of the season and Celtics president Danny Ainge reports that no serious talks have taken place regarding an extension. But there is considerable chatter in Wellesley, where Allen lives, that his teenage daughter may move in with him. Tierra Allen has lived with her mother in South Carolina and plays volleyball and basketball in high school. She would be a junior at Wellesley High (and why would she come if dad wasn’t planning on playing beyond this year? Just an observation). Needless to say, the Wellesley basketball community is watching all this with great interest. With volleyball starting this week, one would think something has to break pretty soon.

I'd love to see Ray come back after this season. Wouldn't you?

Stay Tuned.

What are you MOST Excited for This Season?

(DGA Productions)


By: Greg Payne

The season is still roughly nine weeks away. Give or take a few days because my math is, well, my math. Of course, the offseason has sustained us thus far, and we don't want to run the risk of getting too far ahead of ourselves, but the steady stream of story lines staring us in the face is truly palpable.

I think we're all excited for the season in general. And rightly so. But what are you MOST excited for? When your eyes begin to glaze over at work or your daydreams begin in class and the 2009-2010 Boston Celtics enter your mind, what's the very first thing you think of? I mean, the very first thing.

Is it the return of Kevin Garnett? The addition of Rasheed Wallace? A more improved Rajon Rondo? A more savvy Paul Pierce? A revamped bench? Is it Brian Scalabrine?

It could realistically be anything. And everyone's different. My idea of this season could be entirely different from yours.

For me, it's gotta be KG. I'm sorry if that seems obvious, but his impact on this team is so profound, we're almost an entirely different organization when he's not around. The fate of this team seriously rests in his hands and that's not belittling the efforts of Rondo, Pierce, Ray Allen or anyone else. But Kevin is Kevin and we need our Big Ticket back. Watching Garnett is a legitimate reason to tune in each and every night. Maybe you don't even like basketball, but you love watching Garnett just do his thing. Because his thing resonates far beyond the basketball court. And we sorely missed that during the playoffs last year. The demeanor, the swagger, the intensity. That's what we ask for most as fans. That our teams always battle, no matter the scenario. And we can count on KG for that. So that's what I'm looking forward to seeing once again.

How about you? Let me know.

Stay Tuned.

The Remaining Backup Small Forwards...Just In Case

(BG)


By: Greg Payne

Let me preface this by saying I fully anticipate Marquis Daniels joining the ranks sometime soon (see post below this one). I'm extremely confident that he will be a Celtic any week now.

In other Celtics news, the long-awaited Marquis Daniels trade still isn’t official, as the C’s and Pacers search for a third team to facilitate the process.


Danny Ainge expects things to be resolved by next week, when Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace gets back from vacation.

BUT, you should always have a backup plan. In work. In school. In sports. In life. Always have a backup plan. So, basketball gods forbidding, let's hypothetically say the Daniels deal just does not work out. Here are the remaining backup small forwards still available on the market:

Wally Szczerbiak
Gerald Green
Rob Kurz
Stephen Graham
Joey Graham
Steve Novak
Rodney Carney
Desmond Mason
Jeremy Richardson
Kareem Rush (Could be considered more of a two guard, but he's 6'6 just like Daniels)
Bruce Bowen

A note on Bowen: Don't expect him to be here.

Earlier this week, former Celtic Bruce Bowen reportedly turned down an offer to come back to Boston. Instead, Bowen will now likely sit until February.

Again, there's no reason to believe Daniels won't be here. I only even write this because it seems to have taken much longer than when it was first reported he had verbally committed to joining the team. And then we essentially hear nothing for weeks on end. Again, simply a backup plan.

Stay Tuned.

Ray Allen Has a Very Nice Car

Check it out, here.

Five Questions I Have for Danny Ainge Right Now

(DGA Productions)


By: Greg Payne

Sure, it's been a heck of an offseason. Rasheed Wallace is now here. Marquis Daniels is apparently stuck in limbo, but supposedly will be joining us shortly. Our Big Baby is back on board. So is Shelden Williams. We're built to compete with the best of 'em. Hoo-rah, right?

Well, it is a fact of life that a utopia cannot exist, so therefore our team is not perfect. We still have a hole or two that needs to be addressed, but apparently has been left empty for an undisclosed reason. There appears to be no hurry by management to fill our holes. Maybe this isn't the Titanic and the holes we've sustained are not enough to sink our ship. It might make for a bumpy ride at times, but we'll still arrive at our destination.

So, if I bumped into Danny Ainge on the street and intentionally smacked the newspaper from under his arm in order to converse with him for a minute, here are the five questions I would blurt out:

1) Where exactly is Marquis Daniels? Is he in Indiana? Is he in Boston? Is he in these continental United States? Clearly we're not going to find that "third team" in this trade scenario, so can we just pay him the biannual exception and be done with it?

2) What's the deal with Bill Walker and J.R. Giddens? Are they still fighting for just one place or are they both guaranteed roster spots at this point in time? Is one clearly ahead of the other? Does position come into play at all? With Daniels supposedly coming here, does that knock one of them out of contention for serious minutes?

3) Would you ever consider buying out Tony Allen's contract? Is Tony Allen our backup point guard in your eyes and are you in fact using the 2007 Laker game in which we won by 19 points as your proof that he can actually effectively play that position? How's Lester Hudson? When will he be back participating in full basketball related drills? If the backup job does come down to Allen or Hudson, who would you say is the front runner right now?

4) Tell me all about Kevin Garnett. Details, details, details. Is he ahead of schedule? On schedule? Behind (slight wince)? Does he still exude primal fury? In an effort to keep him healthy, will you and the coaching staff make a concerted effort to keep him in the paint more this season, where he's proven to be an effective scorer, defender and rebounder, thus limiting his roaming around the perimeter searching for jump shots? If not for health's sake, would you consider doing it simply because he's an absolute monster when he plays less than five feet from the rim. Seriously, the word "unstoppable" comes to mind.

He can do that move where his back is to the basket and he turns to shoot, but actually only shoots with one hand, while fading backward. It's essentially a three-foot fade away jumper, but with his length and leaping ability, it's practically impossible to block. Shaq doesn't have the lift to stop it, Yao's gone for the year, Dwight should be occupied with Perk and Bosh always looks less All-Star-ish when he's up against KG. Can we please see that move more this season?

5) What's the exact plan for Rasheed Wallace? Are we talking Bill Walton circa 1986 here? Outstanding backup for arguably our best big guy? Or are we talking flat out sixth man all the time? As in, he'll be contending for the award by season's end? Are we ever going to see Perk, KG and 'Sheed in the game at the same time, thus creating the coolest/baddest/most intense/technical foul prone trio in the NBA? Is there even a 'plan' for him? Or are we just going to wing it and hope for the best?

Yes, I would manage to ask all of those questions in the time it would take me to apologize for bumping into him and bending down to retrieve the fallen paper. Just some more food for thought. Some are obvious and have been discussed over and over and over and over. But I'm still interested in this Rasheed Wallace business. I mean, guys, we have Rasheed Wallace. I said that to my dad at dinner earlier. Think of how good this guy is. And think of how good we were before we even obtained him. Think about that merger.

Stay Tuned.

Ray Allen's In Shape

(Steve Neimand)


By: Greg Payne

For those of you worried about the age of Ray Allen, don't be fooled into thinking he's taking it easy this offseason. Via his own personal twitter:

good morning..have you guys ever tried p90x..its a great workout..im gonna do it this morning

I just finished plyometrics on the p90x. It was great. It's not difficult. It just works your small muscles. The plyos ands abs r my fav

Goung for a run now I'm gonna be in the best shape of my life. Who cares to join me

P90X? Woah. Who says old guys can't work out?

Stay Tuned.

A Quick Paul Pierce Blurb

Paul Pierce attends his fair share of red carpet events. Nice sunglasses, too:



Stay Tuned.

Kendrick Perkins Needs to Start over Rasheed Wallace

(DGA Productions)


By: Greg Payne

I love talking Celtics with my buddies from school. The conversations are intelligent, passionate and sometimes respectfully heated. A lot of these guys will appear on my on-campus Celtics radio talk show (appropriately re-titled "Celtics Circuit" for this coming year) where we aren't shy about voicing our opinions in front of the entire campus.

But yesterday, I was discussing the state of our second unit via text with a friend who will remain nameless, when he said: Rasheed Wallace should start over Kendrick Perkins!

I exploded. Resentment and anger coursed through my veins and shot down my arms, through my hands and into my thumbs and my texting barrage was savage and fierce, like a barbaric blitzkrieg. Where do I even begin?

I'm going to write the rest of this piece with the angle that I'm right about this one: Kendrick Perkins should start over Rasheed Wallace. If you agree with my buddy, please, let me know about it in the comments section. This could spawn some serious debate, but I only ask that you keep it clean.

His argument was essentially that with Wallace in the starting lineup we easily have the best first five in the NBA, and arguably one of the most talented starting fives in NBA history.

I shot back with, yes, you would be correct in both instances, but the same facts hold true even with Perkins there in place of Wallace. This is the same starting five that won a championship together two seasons ago. The chemistry between these five guys flows so serenely, it's like they were all magically placed together on E-Harmony.

Okay, he said, but imagine KG and 'Sheed on the court together at the same time. Imagine what that will be like!

And I said, yes, it's going to be something to watch for sure, but you're still going to see that scenario in a number of circumstances. But KG and Perk patrolling the paint is arguably even more effective. When it comes to stopping the top centers/paint roaming big men in the NBA, Perkins is sitting pretty around the top of the list. I understand Wallace is an excellent defender in his own right, but KG and Perk have come to form such a formidable presence in the paint. And what's more is that Perk rarely, if ever, strays to the perimeter, which means when KG is fifteen feet out shooting jump shots, we'll still have a burly 7-footer (okay, 6'11), banging inside grabbing rebounds.

My main concern with KG and 'Sheed together is what's going to happen when they both extend themselves to the perimeter? Who's going to battle for offensive rebounds and putbacks? What if, on the defensive end, they're both dragged out, with KG covering a pick-and-roll and 'Sheed keeping tabs on another big capable of stretching out our defense?

I then kept my foot on the gas pedal. In my eyes, it's very simple: Rasheed Wallace can do much more for the second unit than Kendrick Perkins can. I'm not bashing Perk in any way, but he's simply a much better fit with the first unit. What works so well for the Rondo-Allen-Pierce-Garnett-Perkins starting five is that each player's respective game plays a dynamic role in the overall state of the unit itself.

But, with Wallace's diversity on the offensive side of the ball (he can shoot outside, bang inside, hit a mid-range jumper...he can basically do it all), his prominent skills defensively, his leadership, his ability to stretch the defense and his high basketball I.Q., it all adds up to him being the perfect candidate to be the floor general of the second unit. I'm not sure what plays the C's will run yet this season, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if the ball runs through Wallace when the second unit is in the game.

If you stuck Perk in there, would it work? Sure, it could work. Especially with the other improvements we made to the bench (retaining Eddie House and Glen Davis, bringing in Marquis Daniels (where is he?) and Shelden Williams) this offseason. But that scoring punch, that All-Star presence that is Wallace - it will earnestly help carry the second five and make it one of the best the NBA has to offer. With 'Sheed, the configuration seems much more complete. And thorough. And effective.

In my eyes, I won the argument with my buddy, but I'm sure he'll have some gleeful retort for me later on today.

Stay Tuned.

Learn to Shoot With Ray Allen

(DGA Productions)


By: Greg Payne

Struggling to make your CYO or independent league All-Star team? Tired of throwing up those bricks? Tired of your teammates shaking their heads? Well, you can turn that all around. And on top of that, you can donate to the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation:

Spend 30 minutes with NBA Champion Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics and learn shooting rituals from one of the purest shooters in the history of the NBA.

Shoot some hoops with one of the Boston Celtic's most integral and successful players, Ray Allen. Considered to be one of the most accurate 3-point shooters in the history of the NBA, Ray Allen is an extremely accomplished and skilled player, being a nine-time NBA all-star and an Olympic gold medal winner as a member of the 2000 USA team. Don't miss you chance to improve your game while playing with and learning from one of the NBA's greatest shooting guards.

Donated by: Ray Allen

Terms: Includes: a private basketball shooting lessons from Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics. Valid for 30 minutes for 2 people in Boston. Winner must be patient and flexible in scheduling due to Ray's very busy schedule.

Cue the Rajon Rondo jokes.

Stay Tuned.

The Lakers Are Still the Favorites

(DGA Productions)


By: Greg Payne

Let me start off by saying it physically pained me to type that title. My fingers are bleeding right now.

Alas, I cannot ignore what I did in fact write. Because, unfortunately, it is the truth. The Los Angeles Lakers are the defending NBA Champions. And they will remain so until someone knocks them off, FOR GOOD. And that most likely won't happen until late May, at the very earliest.

You see, last year I used that ploy until the very end. I said it over and over and over for the Celtics. I could have been nicknamed after it.

"The Celtics are still the champions until someone beats them in the playoffs."

I used it at an even heavier rate once Kevin Garnett went down with his injury in late February. It became my trademark slogan, joining the likes of, "I'll be back" and "You had me at hello". Only, my line wasn't even that memorable and wasn't muttered by a dreamy actor in his prime. I just became known for it. Especially in college, where a Pistons fan lives three doors down to the left, a Lakers fan is directly across the hall and a Spurs fan sits idly and passively down the end of the floor, sort of like the Spurs themselves (I wonder which fan base closest resembles its own team?).

But the fact remains, I stuck with that quote until the Magic finally ousted us. We were champions no more. But the Lakers? Well, they're still the champions until someone beats them in the playoffs. Regardless of what team you do in fact support.

Now, do I think the Celtics are going to win this year? Of course I do. I am by no means choosing the Lakers to win everything. Not with the additions we made. But the Lakers deserve my respect and they have it. Especially considering they just added Ron Artest. That will serve dividends throughout this entire upcoming season.

The ice cream man who shows up at the camp I work at each and every day is a die hard Lakers fan. Die hard. I could write a book about the verbal wars he and I have engaged in over this Celtics/Lakers rivalry over the course of the past four summers. Just yesterday, I walk up with 75 cents, just enough for the smallest size of slush he's got. I tell him so, and he says, "Well, I'll upgrade you."

I say, "No, no, you don't have to do that."

"Oh, but I want to." Was that the slightest sense of maliciousness in his voice? He casually places the one dollar size slush in front of me, and then, very slyly, sticks two straws into it. Hmm...two straws? Then, I notice the colors. My face contorts in protest. I glance up into his steely eyes.

"Purple and gold, baby," he says.

The Lakers are still the favorites. I'm reminded each and every day. But you know what? We're ready. We're back. And we're poised to defeat them when it matters most.

Stay Tuned.

FanHouse Deems Celtics Offseason Champs

By: Greg Payne

A quick blurb from the page:

There are certainly teams that have been busier than the Boston Celtics this offseason. But nobody's had a better one.

Stay Tuned.

Don't Expect to See Bruce Bowen in Boston

By: Greg Payne

I probably should have posted this Sunday or yesterday, but better late than never I suppose. I know the roster is essentially jam packed at this point, and once Marquis Daniels finds a way to get here, that'll realistically be it. But Bruce Bowen's name was mentioned off and on for a while. Peter May of the Globe spoke with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and has the latest:

“I’ve given him no such indication,’’ Popovich said. “He might come back with the right team in the right situation, but it’s probably not going to be San Antonio.’’

Then, this came from Sam Amico of Pro Basketball News:

There have been reports Boston was interested in Bowen, but he did not feel the same. Washington is said to be another possibility, as is Atlanta.

So I guess the point is we shouldn't expect to see Bowen in Boston anytime soon. Do you guys think we need Bruce Bowen?

I will say he'd continue to help sure up our defense, which has improved with the steady string of offseason moves we have already made. However, I think I'd feel better with a proven backup point guard added to the second unit, as opposed to Bowen. It would be nice to have him to cover the Kobe's and Wade's of the world, that way a guy like Pierce could dedicate his energy and focus to the offensive side of the ball, sort of like the way Kobe will do now that Ron Artest is a Laker.

Stay Tuned.

Toronto Can't Compete With Us, Right?

(Jose Garcia)


By: Greg Payne

When I heard Toronto stole Hedo Turkoglu away from Portland, I immediately thought: 'Hey, maybe we'll actually have some competition in the division this season'. I mean, you take a guy like Turkoglu, put him in place next to your All-Star in Chris Bosh and suddenly you have a very formidable inside - outside punch. Factor Jose Calderon at point guard into the equation and the Raptors finally have something of a head turning nucleus. And we can't forget about Andrea Bargnani, who's finally transforming into a real NBA player. We at least have to take them seriously, right?

I was looking over their roster though, and I still can't decide how I feel about it.

On the one hand, you have steady role players in Jarrett Jack, Rasho Nesterovic and Antoine Wright - guys you can actually rely on.

But mixed in with those players is a steady crop of guys who simply haven't lived up to the hype yet: Marco Belinelli (king of summer league), Quincy Douby (Rutgers' college scoring machine) and Patrick O'Bryant (need I say more?) - guys you can't actually rely on.

Will the Raptors' downfall sit in the arms of those three players just mentioned? Will they even see the court? Sports Illustrated chooses to focus on another addition the Raptors made this offseason:

The Raptors spent to get Hedo Turkoglu and Jarrett Jack and traded for Antoine Wright and Reggie Evans, moves that should put them back in the playoffs. That step forward, with Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon still in house, makes it a productive offseason. But the real payoff probably won't be known for a couple of years. If DeMar DeRozan makes it big, the way some executives think he might, the No. 9 pick in the draft will be the critical transaction, not Turkoglu. It's just the consensus is that DeRozan, an elite athlete lacking experience and a jump shot after one season at USC, will need time. The other summer moves, as well as speculation about Bosh's future, will shift the spotlight away from the rookie.

So will the Raptors actually give us a fight? The simple answer is no. In my eyes, it would take a truly complete team to try and tackle us in the Atlantic. The Raptors might have some nice pieces, but they're still a far cry from being one of the true elite.

The Celtics won the Atlantic by 25 games back in the '08 season, and by 21 games last season. So I guess if the Raptors can be within 20 games this year, they'll consider that a victory?

Stay Tuned.

Kevin Garnett's 40,000 Minute Plateau

(DGA Productions)


By: Greg Payne

Here's one more exclusive club KG will soon be a part of:

If all goes according to Hoyle, a returned-to-full-health Kevin Garnett will join the 40,000-minutes club just before Thanksgiving. Garnett enters the season with 39,635. With three years left on his contract, he has already logged more time than Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Isiah Thomas, and Dominique Wilkins. Garnett would have reached 40,000 a while ago if he had (a) stayed in Minnesota, where he played major minutes or (b) not been injured in each of his two seasons with the Celtics. Doc Rivers continues to be an unflagging supporter of the KGPS (Kevin Garnett Preservation Society) in that Garnett has averaged just 32.8 and 31.1 minutes per game in his Boston years. Those are the fewest since his rookie year. (Coincidentally, Garnett’s two best shooting seasons have been the last two.)

Peter May wrote this piece for the Globe. I encourage you to read the entire thing. There's some terrific information on the Spurs, as May got in touch with head coach Gregg Popovich. And May is simply one of the best writers out there, making this piece a great read in general.

Stay Tuned.

Can the Pro Sports Writers Please Give Us Some Information?

(Steve Neimand)


By: Greg Payne

You know what I don't understand? I don't understand why the major newspapers (The Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, etc.) don't run more basic and simple stories about the Celtics during the offseason. I know it's their job to report any trades or free agent signings or injuries or anything like that, and I respect and appreciate that.

But at the same time, I feel like there are a multitude of stories they could be writing about, but simply aren't. And then, to be honest, I was somewhat infuriated when I saw that Frank Dell'Apa of the Globe dedicated a lengthy piece to Ricky Rubio last Sunday and his very complicated and confusing situation regarding his future in the NBA.

Sure, it was a nice piece, and Dell'Apa is the Globe's NBA guy (as opposed to being the lead Celtics writer), but you mean to tell me someone from the Globe or the Herald can't find out how Kevin Garnett's rehabilitation is going? Or better determine where Tony Allen stands with the current makeup of the club? Or what Rajon Rondo is focusing on most this offseason in an attempt to become one of the league's elite point guards?

Surely, if Dell'Apa can dedicate an entire story to Rubio and can find people to talk to in an attempt to better clarify the situation, these writers can find out what Rondo's working on this offseason and can find sources to explain in what areas they feel Rondo has improved in most.

And what about Rasheed Wallace? We know he's a Celtic. But we haven' t heard jack about him since he was introduced at that press conference. Has he moved to Boston with his family yet? Is he working out in Waltham with his teammates? How do the teammates no one spoke to feel about the addition of Wallace? Does Kendrick Perkins feel he could lose his starting job?

These writers are intelligent people. It doesn't take a person with considerable cleverness to realize that the Celtics still need a backup point guard. Maybe these guys could try and get in touch with some free agent veteran point guards and see if they have any preference as to where they'd like to play.

And if direct contact with players is difficult, which I can understand, SURELY they can at least get in touch with the players' agents. That, I know for a fact, is possible. And sure, maybe the agents will milk all of the above scenarios, but so what? At least it's SOME information.

I don't want to know where Paul Pierce had dinner last night. Or where Rondo buys his sneakers. But I do care if he's shooting 10,000 jump shots every day, or if he's running dribble suicides while wearing 20-pound weight vest. And I do want to know that Garnett is participating in full speed drills and is doing single legged squats and is still howling like a caged animal.

And I need the guys who are capable of getting this information to actually get it. And report it. Not for the sake of my blog or your blog or any other website. But simply for the sake of better understanding the state of my team. They're the professionals for a reason. Let's see what they've got.

Stay Tuned.

Anthony Carter Re-Signs with Nuggets

By: Greg Payne

For those of you who saw Anthony Carter as a potential backup to Rondo, I give you this, from ESPN:

The Denver Nuggets, who lost Dahntay Jones and Linas Kleiza to free agency, have fulfilled one of coach George Karl's offseason wishes with the re-signing of backup point guard Anthony Carter.

Oh well. Apparently he turns it over a lot. But don't worry, Tyronn Lue is STILL available.

Stay Tuned.

Who's the Celtics' Best Golfer?

By: Greg Payne

Happy Friday to you! There's really not much going on today and we've pretty much worn out any story that involves Leon Powe or some type of backup point guard. So, with that in mind I present a very simple question to you all today. Who is the Celtics' best golfer? It can be anyone in the organization and I might even let media members have a stake in this.

I can't really find any stats to back much of anything up, but feel free to throw out a name.

Enjoy the day and let's hope this Marquis Daniels business is resolved by the end of the weekend. We've been waiting long enough and verbal commitments become less and less reassuring as the weeks go by.

Stay Tuned.

The Celtics and Cavaliers Made Leon Powe the Same Offer

By: Greg Payne

Mark Murphy of the Herald has the whole scoop:

Ainge said today that there was considerable discussion within the front office about whether to make Powe a qualifying offer. The executive director of basketball operations also said that he raised the possibility of signing Powe to a veteran’s minimum two-year contract with a team option in the second year - the very deal Powe just signed with Cleveland - but that the forward rejected the idea.

“Unfortunately, the way things turned out, Leon took it to mean that we didn’t want him back, and that wasn’t necessarily the case,” said Ainge. “Though we didn’t extend him the qualifying offer, we did talk to him about coming back. I told Leon from the beginning that what happened is what I thought would happen - that he’d get a two-year contract with a team option.

“But I want everyone to know that I love Leon and wish him the best,” said Ainge. “I hope he does well. We’re all better for having known Leon.”

Now Leon's take on the matter:

“I talked to him for 45 minutes,” said Powe. “But he said they weren’t going to do nothing. It was quite a shock to me, but he said they didn’t have the extra money to sign me, and (Pagliuca) said that he would have to pay out of his own pocket for them to wait on me.

“I understood what he was saying, because it was the same thing I heard from Danny. I told Danny that I would take the one-year deal. But that was it. After (talking to Pagliuca), I didn’t call them no more.”

"I was a little surprised at what happened, because I thought he would take care of me, but Danny was pretty clear about what they were going to do.”

Stay Tuned.

The Best Frontcourt in Celtics History?

(DGA Productions)


By: Greg Payne

I was perusing through some news websites earlier, when I stumbled upon two very interesting quotes from Danny Ainge in the Providence Journal.

The first one deals with the quality of the frontcourt we'll be fielding this season:

“It’s the best frontcourt that we’ve had maybe ever in this franchise – since [Larry] Bird, [Kevin] McHale and [Robert] Parish probably. … Since that era, it’s the best frontcourt we’ve had,” Ainge said. “We think we have good depth and with Scalabrine and Shelden and Glen Davis playing behind the three guys, we have rebounding and we have defense. Big Baby is a very versatile player. Rasheed spreads the floor and we obviously know about Perk and KG. They’ve done a great job for us the last few years.”

And this one addresses the backup point guard position:

“I’m not feeling a great urgency, because I think that both Eddie [House] and Marquis can play there, and even Tony [Allen],” Ainge said. “We won a game [in December 2007] by 20 points against the Lakers with Tony starting at point guard, so it’s not an urgent thing that we are trying to do right now.”

Not gonna lie. I was not excited to read about the Tony Allen backup point guard business. I can live with Eddie House and Marquis Daniels assuming the role for the time being, but my main concern is that whenever Allen dribbles the ball, it bounces off the floor and accelerates back up before reaching it's peak AT THE HEIGHT OF THE NUMBER 42 ON HIS JERSEY.

You know what I'm talking about.

Stay Tuned.

Lester Hudson? Not Right Now.

By: Greg Payne

Seeing as the backup point guard spot is essentially all the Celtics have left to address this offseason (unless we magically ship out a player or two to formerly acquire Marquis Daniels), I think it's time to take another look at Lester Hudson.

To an extent, I still feel like he's something of a man of mystery to all of us. We really don't know THAT much about him, and seeing as his summer league time was cut short by his broken ring finger on his left hand, all we have to go by is what we can find in the press. It's difficult for us to make any opinionated decisions about his game.

However, I feel like for the most part we can all agree that it is not time for Hudson to be our backup point guard. Not yet, anyway. Not with what we aim to do this coming season.

This season, arguably more than ever before, we'll be relying heavily on our bench. We supposedly are looking to cut the minutes of our three key stars and Danny Ainge has slowly but steadily put together a very strong core for the second unit.

My main concern is whether or not Hudson, a rookie, can withstand the pressures of being an NBA point guard right now, particularly when the postseason rolls around. Now that doesn't mean I don't have faith in him for the future. I just believe the timing isn't right in this case. How confident would we feel knowing Hudson was our second option at point guard in a crucial Game 5, 6 or 7 scenario? Can a single season prepare a player for the mental rigors he will endure once the postseason hits?

Now, if this were three seasons ago and we were dealing with the Sebastian Telfair-Gerald Green-Al Jefferson Celtics, then I would immediately say, yes, throw this guy into the fire and let's see what he's got. But this season's carrying too much weight. And the rest of the league is frankly too good to take any chances. We need proven support at the backup point guard position, preferably someone with a substantial amount of playoff experience.

Hey, if Hudson ends up being capable of doing the job, then, like the rest of you, I'd be thrilled. Problem solved, right? But it's unlikely for us to turn to the 58th overall selection in this most recent draft when we're not exactly facing a crisis (I won't get into specifics about what qualifies as a crisis, but let me just say it involves injuries to certain players at a certain position).

Could 57 other teams have made a mistake by not drafting Hudson? Absolutely. Time will further tell, but that possibility always remains. But then you can argue, why haven't the Celtics signed this guy yet? If he's THAT good and THAT valuable, surely they would lock him up quick, regardless of the financial or roster situation. And then of course, even if we sign him, there are no guarantees he'd even make the active roster. He could easily find himself in street clothes all season, competing mostly in D-League affairs.

The most we can do right now is interpret people's perspectives who are close to the situation, such as his agent:

“There are so many free agents available at the minimum they can get,’’ said Lance Young, Hudson’s agent. “It depends on what direction they want to go - with someone more experienced as a mentor for Rondo, or go with Lester, who can do more things but is learning."

And we can listen when Hudson himself speaks:

"I just want to compete every day, work hard in practice and show Danny [Ainge] that I'm the right guy for the pick," Hudson told NBA.com earlier this month.

And then of course, we'll pry apart anything Ainge says:

"Every year there's players picked at No. 58 and they rarely make it. Lester has an opportunity of a lifetime," Ainge told NBA.com. "It really is on him to prove to Coach Rivers that we need him."

“We still have to . . . really decide what we’re going to do with that third point guard position, which I’m not feeling great urgency because I think that both Eddie (House) and Marquis can play there,” Ainge said.

Does that mean House and Daniels are ahead of Hudson on the point guard depth chart? You could argue that it sure sounds that way.

Hey, we all just want to win and it just doesn't seem like Hudson can be a key cog in that plan just yet. But, as always, we'll see what happens.

Stay Tuned.

Leon Signs With Cavs

Leon is a Cavalier, according to ESPN:

Powe traveled to Cleveland on Tuesday to have his knee examined by Cavaliers team medical personnel, with the expectation that he will sign a two-year, $1.77 million deal Wednesday.

A source told ESPN.com that Powe will sign for the league minimum for players with three years of service -- $855,189. Cleveland will hold a team option for a second season at $915,852.

Best of luck, Leon.

Stay Tuned.

Gary Tanguay catches up with Glen Davis and Danny Ainge.

Some More Quotes From Glen Davis

By: Greg Payne

Just a few quick hits on some of the things Glen Davis touched on at the press conference yesterday, courtesy of the Herald (speaking of the Herald, what happened to Steve Bulpett?) :

“It’s been tough,” the power forward said at a press conference yesterday at the Celtics’ practice facility. “I think the most important thing that I got out of it is that it’s about becoming the best player you can be. . . . I feel like I’ve grown up so much this whole summer - just being a professional and just being an adult.”






“I feel like my role hasn’t changed a lot,” Davis said. “I feel like I just have to be ready to go out there and play. If my role is to do whatever I have to do, I’m going to do it. That’s the kind of attitude you have to have in order to be on a team like this.”

And one from GM Danny Ainge, who finally looks his age. It seems as if this offseason has begun to catch up with him:

“I tried to talk with Glen and tried to explain to him a bigger picture, but it’s tough,” Ainge said. “He’s living in the moment and from one day to the next it can be a roller coaster. . . . A lot of teams liked Glen in free agency, but we came through. We like Glen more than anybody else likes Glen out there, and that’s ultimately what it boils down to.”

Stay Tuned.

Leon Powe Mere Tests Away From Becoming a Cavalier

By: Greg Payne

BAD news being reported from Marc Spears:

If Leon Powe's rehabbing knee is OK with team doctors Tuesday in Cleve, he will sign a 2-year deal with the Cavs, a source told Y! Sports.

The deal for Powe would be for the minimum salary, with Cavs holding option for 2010-'11. Powe is expected to return by All-Star break.

I emphasize bad because I wanted the Celtics to re-sign Powe and I still believe letting him go will come back to haunt us at some point in time. It might even be a year or two down the road, but I firmly believe at some point letting Leon go will bite us.

Hey, if Danny Ainge is prepared to stick with Tony Allen through four years of injuries, he should have had the patience to wait a half of a season for Leon. Just my opinion.

Stay Tuned.

Glen Davis and Shelden Williams Officially On Board

By: Greg Payne

It's official. The Celtics held a press conference to introduce Glen Davis and Shelden Williams. Via Celtics.com:

The Boston Celtics announced today that the club has re-signed forward Glen Davis to a contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"Glen has been a big part of our success for the past two years and we are very excited to have him back," said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations.

The Boston Celtics announced today that the club has signed free agent center/forward Shelden Williams to a contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Some other quotes courtesy of the Boston Globe:

“Shelden has proven he can defend and rebound,” Ainge said. “Offensively, he hasn’t come around as well but it’s about getting the opportunity in this league.” “You have to realize, as much as the NBA is full of entertainment, it’s a business,” Davis said. “You've got to keep that in mind.”

Said Davis: “I’ll be ready to go out and play, do whatever it takes.”

Stay Tuned.

Which Vetern Point Guards Remain?

By: Greg Payne

Once Marquis Daniels and Glen Davis officially sign with the Celtics, our roster will suddenly be comprised of 14 players. While some teams prefer to keep that 15th spot open for flexibility and financial reasons, we still need to address our backup point guard situation. Will Lester Hudson get the call? Maybe. Will we make like most teams and try to trade away some players who could be deemed expendable to clear roster spots?

Of course, we could always look for outside help. A decent amount of veteran point guards are still available on the open market and Roto Evil has a nice list entitled: Savvy Veterans: Solid and Cheap. It's consisted of:

Anthony Carter (Please see Celtics Hub for more details), Bobby Jackson, Brevin Knight, Jacque Vaughn and Tyronn Lue (We've talked about him a lot, but apparently you and I are the only ones talking).

I mentioned Knight's name a while back and he's still enticing in my book. I've been talking about Lue for an even longer time and I wish to talk about him still.

Knight's quicker than Lue, which might make him a better fit as Eddie House's back court mate, in terms of driving the lane and kicking out. Say what you want about Stephon Marbury, but he was phenomenal in that regard during his stint here.

In terms of turnovers, Lue has a career average of 1.19 in 554 games, with a 22.7 minutes per game average. Knight isn't far off, turning the ball over at a 1.88 clip for his career in 729 games with a 24.9 minutes per game clip. The two are also similar in terms of field goal percentage. Lue shoots at a 43.7 percent clip for his career, while Knight has shot 41.2 percent.

The assist column is where the biggest disparity comes into play. Knight has averaged 6.1 assists for his career, with Lue only coming in with 3.1 for his time on the job. But, Knight has started nearly as many games as Lue has played, which partly explains his advantage there.

I'm still a Lue fan, but as I continue to look closer at Knight, I would be thrilled for him to join the team as well. Quality back ups are hard to find, but a few are still available. Let's see if we snatch any of them up.

Stay Tuned.

It's All Coming Together

(CBTC)


By: Greg Payne

With reports surfacing that Glen Davis is set to sign a new contract with the Celtics sometime early next week (hopefully it will be done by Tuesday at the latest) an already improved Celtics bench received a much anticipated shot in the arm yesterday.

Couple that with the Celtics prepared to use the biannual exception to sign Marquis Daniels, and suddenly our roster is taking shape, particularly the second unit.

It sure is something of a relief to have this Big Baby business coming to an end. It was clear that as negotiations with other teams were delayed more and more, the better chance we had of retaining him, so as August wore on, I was pretty confident he would return anyway. Nonetheless, it's nice knowing it's all about to come to a conclusion and we can turn the majority of our attention towards the season.

So, with the key cogs of the bench looking like this: Rasheed Wallace/Marquis Daniels/Eddie House/Glen Davis, we just need to find our fifth and final guy. Will Danny Ainge look to bring in a veteran point guard to back up Rondo (does he really need a "mentor" anymore? Aren't we officially past that stage? Unless that mentor can teach him how to shoot a consistent jump shot, I think we're good), or will rookie Lester Hudson get the call? House is always available to back up Rondo, meaning someone like J.R. Giddens or Bill Walker could find time in the rotation alongside a quality group of players in the second unit. Having a vet backing up Rondo wouldn't hurt come playoff time though...

The more I think about it, the more I believe the signing of Shelden Williams will go down as one of this season's most underrated, yet important moves. We saw how imperative depth at the four and five spots was last post season (only because we didn't have any), so with Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, Wallace, Davis and Williams in tow, and throw in Brian Scalabrine who proved in the playoffs he can fill in adequately when need be, and we're looking at a very secure rotation of big men.

I know Williams is undersized at 6'9, but we've seen what undersized yet bullish players can do (Leon Powe, anyone?) for us. And hey, anyone's better than Mikki Moore, right?

Speaking of a secure rotation, our options at the two-guard spot are almost too secure for our own good. Quite simply, it's looking like we have too many players for only one position. Right now, our options at the two consist of Ray Allen (who will receive the majority of the minutes), Marquis Daniels (he might see more time backing up Paul Pierce, but he can easily play at the two as well), Eddie House (if Daniels does play at the three, House will receive the majority of the minutes behind Allen at the two), Tony Allen and J.R. Giddens.

And, with the signings of Williams, Daniels and Davis bringing the roster to 14 players, it seems likely that something's gotta give. It's becoming very difficult to see where Tony Allen fits into the equation this year, and Giddens might lose out simply because of seniority to more experienced and productive players.

With T.Allen and Scal both carrying expiring contracts under their belts, it will be interesting to see if the Celtics look to shed those numbers off of their own books heading into next summer, or if they'll use either as trade bait at the deadline (I'm tempted to say Ainge will try and move Allen ahead of Scal, but you never know). If Allen won't receive many minutes this year, we're paying him a hefty amount of money ($2.5 million) to do nothing. But we'll have to see how that plays out.

At least we've bettered our team. I for one am convinced that this year's team trumps last year's and could even make a case to be better than the 2008 championship squad. But don't be fooled. While we as Celtics fans like to deem ourselves the favorite (check the poll on the right hand side), our competition stepped their game up as well. But at least we're ready to give everyone a war. It's going to be a hell of season and it's nice to see that it's all coming together at last.

Stay Tuned.

Lester Hudson Update and a Replacement for Spears at the Globe

By: Greg Payne

The Globe has the latest on Lester Hudson and the possibility he might stay with the Celtics:

The Celtics’ waiving of point guard Gabe Pruitt could open an opportunity for Lester Hudson, the team’s only draft choice this year. Hudson, recovering from a broken finger, is expected to return to full-speed workouts in two weeks. The Celtics are deciding whether to go for an experienced backup for Rajon Rondo, 23, or give Hudson, who is a year and a half older than Rondo, a chance.

And as for the Globe itself, Marc Spears tweeted that a replacement writer is on the way:

Congrats to ex-Sonics writer Gary Washburn, a former LA Daily News colleague of mine, for replacing me at The Boston Globe to cover the NBA.

Stay Tuned.