My Thoughts on Camp So Far

(Keith Allison)


By: Greg Payne

I feel like rambling...

"These first two days have been the best first days of camp that I can remember."

Paul Pierce said that yesterday. Can you ask for more? Here we are, in the midst of what is apparently a closing window, and time is of the essence. All we can ask for in such a scenario is for our players to come in ready to compete and execute, and it seems like our wishes are being granted.

The second unit appears to be not only competitive, but polished as well.

“The biggest thing that stood out to me today was the second unit,’’ Rivers said. “I bet Marquis played point 75 percent of the time, Eddie 25 percent, and they’ve already figured out the rhythm of whoever has the ball, that’s the point guard in our offense.

Doc said that yesterday. Based on that report, it looks as if the second unit consisted of House, Daniels, Glen Davis, Brian Scalabrine and Rasheed Wallace. My first question is who played small forward? Did they stick Scal at that spot, keep Baby at the four and place Rasheed in the middle? Did Scal and Davis flip spots? Was Davis actually at center, leaving Wallace to deal with Garnett? I can actually see Doc flipping those three around. Although, I will say that out of the three of them, Scalabrine is probably the best candidate for guarding opposing small forwards.

I'm excited to see Daniels play, especially after KG likened his game to Pierce's in the sense that they both play a slow methodical game before slashing through the paint. Daniels's jumper leaves something to be desired from what I've read, but if the second unit does indeed consist of House, Davis, Daniels, Scal and 'Sheed, then we have more than enough outside firepower, so Daniels should be free to worry about penetrating.

I'm pretty bummed about Bill Walker, though. It sounds like he really put in the work this summer and it must be very dispiriting for him to hear he might have an issue with that surgically repaired right knee of his. I guess this means Tony Allen gets another chance (aw, shucks). If this were a Mac vs. PC commercial, Walker would be the Mac. Seriously, we keep Allen around for five years after what seems like a record number of injuries sustained by a single NBA player, yet we weren't willing to wait half a season for Leon Powe to return. Grrrr. (So I'm still bitter. Sue me).

KG appears to be fine. We've received his take on the surgery, we know he's been playing 5-on-5, and he went through the entire practice today, after managing 75 percent of yesterday's session.

Not too much going on with some of the other young guys like Lester Hudson and J.R. Giddens. Not yet anyway. It sounds like they're making up the third string group as of right now. I'm excited for preseason, only because we'll probably see the young guys for the majority of the games. We might as well soak it all in, because once the season starts, it's difficult seeing them finding time off the bench with so many quality players ahead of them. I'll actually be willing to bet that Tony Allen has a fairly productive preseason if he plays, only to have those signs of promise drift away once the real games get under way.

I definitely agree with the general consensus that we're more talented than when we won the championship. What's more? It seems as if we're really beginning to gel as a group on top of that. Talent, cohesion and defense. Is there a better combination in the NBA? I doubt it. What more can you ask for than a team that can post 115 points on a given night, all while holding an opponent under 85?

Bring on the season!

Walker Leaves Camp for MRI on Right Knee

By: Greg Payne

Some unfortunate news from the Globe:

Swingman Bill Walker left practice Wednesday and is headed for Boston to get an MRI on his surgically repaired right knee. Walker tore his left ACL while at Kansas State and then hurt the right knee in a workout with the Golden State Warriors in July 2008 and then had surgery a few weeks later.

Obviously, we hope this is nothing serious and based on that report it doesn't appear as if he injured it today (and by that I mean it doesn't sound like he jumped up for a rebound, came down and heard a pop or a crack). We all love Bill Walker and we're hopeful he can contribute this season. Keep your fingers crossed that this is strictly precautionary and that he'll be back in camp ASAP.

There Might Actually Be Hope for Rajon Rondo's Jump Shot

(DGA Productions)


By: Greg Payne

Via RealGM:

Former Providence coach Tim Welsh said on CSN that Rondo went to Atlanta and worked with Mark Price on his shooting all summer. Welsh said before Rondo was a bad shooter and now he is an average shooter. Apparently Rondo has corrected the flaw in his shooting form.

Let's hope this helped. I'll believe it when I see it. BUT, if Price did indeed solve Rondo's problems, we should size him up for a championship ring.

Tony Allen okay with reduced role?

“It doesn’t matter to me who they bring in,” Allen said. “My whole goal is getting healthy and making a contribution to another ring. Maybe that means passing out Gatorade to my teammates, or handing out towels. But I’m getting there. I’m confident now in what I’ll be able to do.”

Wow. 2.5 million dollars to hand out Gatorade. Last time I checked, there's either a trainer's assistant, or assistant coach who plucks himself behind the Boston bench and hands the players their cups. 2.5 million to hand out Gatorade? Sometimes life just isn't fair.

Second Unit Impresses Doc Rivers

(CBTC)


By: Greg Payne

It sure is nice having a bench again. It's even nicer having a bench capable of occasionally taking down a starting five consisting of Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins. From the Globe:

“The biggest thing that stood out to me today was the second unit,’’ Rivers said. “I bet Marquis played point 75 percent of the time, Eddie 25 percent, and they’ve already figured out the rhythm of whoever has the ball, that’s the point guard in our offense.

“They just know how to play. And I thought for the first time in two years - last year I didn’t think we had that - the first unit had to play today, because the second unit was capable. The second unit beat them a couple of times, which was great.’’

The first-unit players were still trying to jell with Garnett back in the mix, but they couldn’t help but be impressed.

“They looked really good,’’ said Pierce. “You’ve got guys who understand the game. You have such a high IQ on the second unit, and that’s something we haven’t had here in a while.

“Our second unit could be a starting unit for a lot of teams around the league.’’

I've been saying it for a little while now, but I believe the second unit will actually make our season this year. I think in the end, as talented as our starters are, our bench will have been the difference maker.

Media Day Video

Celtics.com's official YouTube page has a steady array of videos from yesterday's Media Day.

Garnett Opens Up About Knee Injury

(DGA Productions)


By: Greg Payne

Finally, he speaks. After many months of speculation, questions and assumptions, Kevin Garnett, the one man we wanted to hear from, finally opened up about his knee injury:

"No surprises other than the severeness of it -- I didn't know it was that bad," Garnett said. "They evaluate you from A to Z, but until they actually get in there and see what the problem really is, then you know a 1-to-10 on how severe it was. It was pretty severe, but the best thing about is that I got it out of the way, and my leg is almost 100 percent going forward. Better than anything I'm playing without any pain, which is something I really haven't had for some time now."

Asked to elaborate on what he meant by "severeness," Garnett looked down at the interview table in front of him and drew an analogy, saying the bone spurs were expected to be the size of a tape recorder but ended up being more like a microphone.

While the severity of the injury appeared to be real, Garnett is finally back scrimmaging with his teammates. The best news of all? He was going full bore:

"It's up and down, man. There ain't no standing around in 5-on-5," Garnett said.

However, Gary Tanguay did post this on his Twitter page:

KG told me knee still gets sore.

While Tanguay's comment puts a slight cloud over this, the rest of it is fantastic news. This is basically what we all wanted to hear. Sure, the knee clearly was an issue and it might have been more serious than most of us thought, but the fact that he's seemingly back is pretty much all we can ask for. And as long as KG's in the hands of Ed Lacerte and Brian McKeon, I can rest easy.

All signs point to this NBA season coming down to the health of Kevin Garnett's knee. Sure, the Lakers, Cavaliers, Magic and Spurs all made additions, but so did the Celtics. On top of Rasheed Wallace, Marquis Daniels, Shelden Williams and Glen Davis, Garnett is something of an acquisition in himself, seeing as he hasn't suited up for the team for so long.

But if this knee can stay healthy, then the Celtics have the talent, the poise and the veterans needed to make a substantial run at another championship. Doc Rivers aims to keep these guys fresh, as he's only hosting one-a-day practices throughout training camp. In the end, KG's knee might very well be the most important part of this entire team.

Hudson and Sweetney Get Deals

By: Greg Payne

It appears as if Lester Hudson's hard work has paid off. From Mark Murphy:

Rookie Lester Hudson, who has worked out patiently all summer without a contract, walked onto the floor with a new one-year deal in hand.

“I was very anxious about it,” he said. “But it’s a great feeling. I got to work out with all of the guys on this team.”

Well, not so fast. According to telegram.com, Mike Sweetney received a deal as well.

The Celtics begin training camp with 16 players, one over the maximum, after the signings of second-round pick Lester Hudson and free agent forward Michael Sweetney. Still recovering from offseason foot surgery, Tony Allen isn’t ready to go full tilt yet.

According to both reports, neither deal is guaranteed, which means, while Hudson has obviously made a nice impression, he still has to play his way onto this roster throughout training camp. But it's certainly a nice step for the rookie, especially given the talent he has to compete against on this roster.

10 More Years of Rondo Would Be Ideal

(DGA Productions)


By: Greg Payne

Maybe it was because it was Media Day and the two were under a very heavy spotlight. Or maybe, just maybe, Danny Ainge and Rajon Rondo are finally seeing eye to eye and have a mutual understanding about the point guard's future in Boston. Either way, all signs pointed to both parties wanting Rondo to stick in Boston for the next decade.

“I don’t really think about that, I just try to focus on camp,’’ (Rondo) said. “If it’s going to happen it’s going to happen. If not, I’ll play it out. I want to be wherever I’m wanted the next 10 years. If Danny wants me, I’ll be here the next 10 years.’’

Meanwhile, Ainge's intentions are clear:

“Our intention is to have Rondo as our franchise point guard for a decade,’’ he said. “And I think Rondo wants to be here for a long time as well. So these things are just about dollar amounts. But it has no bearing on where we are with him, how we feel about him, or our intentions. It’s just, we may do something in October and we may do something next summer - we’ll have the ability to match. Just play that by ear.’’

Blah. Dollar amounts. Come on. Can't we all just get along? It would be very, very, very disappointing to see Rondo walk because of money issues. We have a very rare and intricate player on our hands here. Let's not let him slip away.

Recapping Media Day

(DGA Productions)


By: Greg Payne

Media Day was a success. Kevin Garnett is supposedly healthy, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen aren't worried about minutes and Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels look impressive in the green and white. Since this Celtics blog is still growing, I was unable to attend, but check out these links from various outlets who were able to be there:

CelticsBlog Media Day Coverage

Boston Globe Photo Session

Rasheed Wallace video from the Globe

CelticsHub Media Day Quick Hits

Boston Herald Media Day Wrap Up

Training camp tips off tomorrow in Newport. Here. We. Go.

Tony Allen Questionable for Preseason

From Greg Dickerson's blog:

Allen, entering his 6th season with Boston, was out of commission for 13 weeks this summer with a torn tendon in his ankle. His status for the preseason is questionable. Allen only appeared in 42 games for the Celtics in the 2008/09 season.

Perfect. Bill Walker, here's your chance.

Check out Celticsblog.com for its live blog from Media Day. Constant updates. Apparently KG has no restrictions...

Five Questions (more like 15) for Media Day

(DGA Productions)


By: Greg Payne

Oh, media day. A day for poses and snapshots. A day where our most pressing questions are addressed. It's officially the beginning of the season. The first steps will be taken today. Here are five questions I'd love our professional guys to tackle today:

1) (Isn't it obvious?) Is Kevin Garnett healthy? Can he go and dunk this here ball for us in that hoop over there while we snap a million pictures and record a hundred videos of it?

2) Is Lester Hudson sporting a jersey of his own? Will he be held back because he's not officially signed yet? Is a deal indeed in the works?

3) How much does Glen Davis weigh? Is he under 300lbs? Would such a weight help or hurt his overall game?

4) How does Rajon Rondo look around his teammates, his coaches and Danny Ainge? Does there appear to be any animosity? Are they laughing together? Are those laughs forced?

5) Can we get a picture of the ten guys who aren't starters (including Hudson)? We know how great our starting lineup is, but let's get the bench guys huddled around one another, because you know what? They mean business this year. These aren't your grandfather's backups.

Speaking of backups, Ainge and Doc have sorta, kinda addressed the backup point guard spot, but once and for all, let's clarify that today. Is Eddie House indeed the backup? Will Marquis Daniels assist him? Will we go after a guy like Bobby Jackson or Antonio Daniels?

I'm excited. Are you excited? I'm excited. Heck, I'm downright giddy.

Bulpett Examines Some Key Issues as We Enter Camp

By: Greg Payne

Steve Bulpett is terrific at explaining the ins and outs of the game of basketball, especially when the Boston Celtics are involved. Take a look at some key issues facing the team as training camp looms.

Training Camp Tips Off Tomorrow

(DGA Productions)


By: Greg Payne

Yes, at long last, the preliminary happenings of the 2009-2010 NBA season kick off tomorrow in Newport, Rhode Island. We have questions we want answered, expectations we want met and hopes we want to see fulfilled. So without further ado, here's where we currently stand:

• Is Kevin Garnett healthy? That's really anyone's guess at this point.

• Paul Pierce believes the Celtics will win if they stay healthy and plans to play for at least four more years.
  

• Ray Allen is a true professional. He spent the last few weeks of summer leaving various pairs of basketball shoes around Massachusetts for people to find. Right now, he's focused on another championship and not a contract extension.

• Speaking of contract extensions, if Rajon Rondo and the Celtics can't agree to terms on one before October 31, he'll become a restricted free agent at the end of the season. In the meantime, for Rondo's latest thoughts, check out this Sports Illustrated interview, if you haven't already.

• We haven't heard too much out of Kendrick Perkins lately. But, Perk is Perk, so we know he'll come into camp with a better mid-range jump shot, a better jumphook and drop step, a better pair of shoulders and, most importantly, a better, "What!? I didn't touch him!" scowl, which should come in very handy with the new replacement refs the NBA will be implementing this season.
  

• My dad really wanted the Celtics to pursue Rasheed Wallace over the summer. I wasn't so thrilled with the idea. As of now, I stand corrected. I'm excited about everything Wallace does indeed bring to the table, including a certain championship hunger. I was also thrilled to see him speak so professionally to a slew of reporters after this NBA 'Read to Achieve' event.

• Eddie House elected to exercise his player option to remain in Boston. He could have tried to pry more money out of the team, but he sacrificed for a shot at another championship. Expect House to play a vital role off the bench for the third consecutive year. Is he our backup point guard right now? Some would say so. Others would argue Marquis Daniels will handle the rock with the second unit. Let the experiments begin.

• As for Daniels himself, he could very well take on two roles by bringing the ball up and backing up Pierce at the same time. I believe the term I'm looking for is "point forward". Either way, he can slash to the hoop, he sacrificed money to be here, he wants to win a championship and I'm told by people who watched him throughout his seasons in Indiana that he'll effectively gel with the rest of the team.
  

• Glen Davis could kick your butt right now. Young kids in white shirts with floor seats beware. Just kidding. Kind of. Davis spent time this summer practicing Muay Thai kickboxing with his girlfriend. Davis has shed some lbs. as a result, but supposedly he's stretched his range all the way out to three-point nation. Are we expecting a more versatile Big Baby this season?

• No one's entirely sure what we'll be seeing out of Shelden Williams. According to him, the C's expect him to bring energy and enthusiasm off the bench. Should we assume he'll make the active roster?

• Tony Allen continues to be a mystery we just can't seem to solve. If he's healthy, will he even garner enough court time to contribute? Right now it seems as if the best part about him is his expiring contract.
  

• Brian Scalabrine didn't play basketball this summer. In the wake of three concussions last season, Scal stuck to a strict workout courtesy of Bryan Doo and didn't play organized basketball until about three weeks ago. I'm curious to see if a private battle between him and Williams will ensue for the right to grace the court. Keep in mind, like T. Allen, Scal's contract is also up at the end of the year.
  

• It seems like we all want Bill Walker to do well. We want to win and have him develop at the same time. Is such a scenario likely? I suppose it depends on what he worked on this offseason and how he incorporates that into the grand scheme of things. I'm excited to see what the kid's going to bring to the table.

• With the exception of some community service work, we didn't hear much out of J.R. Giddens this summer and after rarely seeing him play last year, it's difficult to gauge where he stands in the overall picture. It's unlikely he'll see too much of the court, with Ray Allen, House, Daniels and possibly even Tony Allen in front of him on the depth chart.
  

• Lester Hudson has yet to sign a contract with the team. He's optimistic he'll make the roster. No matter what happens, I'm confident Hudson will give this team everything he has over the course of training camp. I'm rooting for him, but if a veteran can help us more, I've got to side with the older guy.

It all starts tomorrow. Who's actually on our training camp roster? Unless the information has eluded me, the names haven't officially been released yet. Will we see a guy like Tyronn Lue? We've lasted an entire offseason. We can wait one more day to find out. Here's to a brilliant offseason. I'm still not sure how I managed to write every day, but I hope I helped fill a void for some people. Now, we have a whole season to look forward to.

Raja Bell Being Shopped

(Keith Allison)


From Woj's Twitter:

The Bobcats Raja Bell continues to be shopped around the league, GM's say. No doubt he'd love to get back to a contender.

There have been no rumors that Danny Ainge is pursuing Bell, but all I'll say is this would be a fantastic move, especially if in some way we could dump Tony Allen in the process. It's unlikely we can get rid of Allen in this scenario and it's probably unlikely we'll land Bell at all, but seeing as he's a lock down defender and defense is our staple, such a move would seemingly make perfect sense.

If such a move were to be made and we held off on signing a backup point guard, we could throw Eddie House at the point, Bell at the off guard spot and Marquis Daniels at the small forward position. That way Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce all have reliable backup. Throw in Glen Davis and Rasheed Wallace and you've got yourself a jaw dropping second unit.

Okay, I need to stop. I'm getting too excited and I don't want to put ideas into anyone's heads. Except maybe Ainge's...

Bobby Jackson on His Way Here?

By: Greg Payne

From the Sacramento Bee:

Depending on which source you read, Jackson has been mentioned to be headed to the Celtics or the Suns. Whichever route he takes, he will probably have to earn a job with a non-guaranteed contract. He will have to prove he still has flashes of brilliance.

What do you guys think about Bobby Jackson? Is he too much of a scoring point guard? Is he a good enough decision maker, especially in terms of realizing when we need to slow the pace down or push it even faster? I will say that if we do add him, offensively, our second unit will probably be the best in the league.

Pierce Talks Bill Clinton, KG and About Being a General Manager

(DGA Productions)



By: Greg Payne

CBS Sports.com caught up with Paul Pierce and got his take on a variety of topics. Here's an excerpt:

CBS: How much longer do you see yourself playing?

Pierce: My goal right now is four years. If I can continue and be productive in this league, who knows? Maybe longer.

Pierce: [Laughing] Coaching is hard. I don't know how Doc [Rivers] deals with me. GM would be ideal. I like putting together the talent. I'm always up in Danny [Ainge's] office, "This guy can help us. Let's go get P.J. Brown." I think I have a knack for that. This is a true story. I told [Ainge] that if we got get Kevin Garnett or Pau Gasol, we'll win a championship.

Pierce was of course asked about the state of Kevin Garnett. If you'll recall, the following observations of Garnett by Pierce were reported yesterday:

“It wasn’t like he was out there [screaming] and dunking,” Pierce said. “No, none of that. But he was out there on the court.”

And here's what he said to CBS:

He's good. He'll be ready for training camp. I know he's been working hard this summer. Getting back in shape, getting his leg strong. I know he's been on the court working out. We're happy he's coming back.

The only thing that's slightly unsettling here is that training camp starts Monday. Right now it appears as if he's on his way back, but he's still not the Garnett we want to see. How will that drastically change in the two days we have left before training camp kicks off on Monday? Or, does 'ready' mean Garnett's just going to be there, partaking in some shooting drills and things like that? I wrote earlier this week about how KG doesn't have to be healthy right now, but if he's not 100 percent, and it appears he isn't, why doesn't anyone just say it?

If training camp was still weeks or even months away and Garnett was this far along in his rehab, then I'd probably be optimistic. But the fact that we're just two days away from kicking off camp and he's still not going full bore has me believing we might not be seeing him for a little while. That's not necessarily a bad thing, because the playoffs are all that matter. I just wish we were being told we aren't going to see him for a little while.

Ed Lacerte Service Award Established

From the Globe:

The NBA Athletic Trainers Association has established the Ed Lacerte Service Award, named for the Celtics’ trainer. Lacerte, who has been with the Celtics for 22 years, received the inaugural award.

Lacerte, a Lowell native, is the longest-service trainer in Celtics’ history, and has also been the team’s physical therapist and condidtioning coach for eight seasons.

I've had the distinct pleasure of meeting Mr. Lacerte before and he honestly is one of the kindest men I've ever met. And of course, his work with the Celtics speaks for itself. This couldn't have happened to a better person. Congratulations, Mr. Lacerte.

Pierce Not Happy with Replacement Refs

From Marc Spears:

“I think it’s terrible that they don’t have a deal in place,” Pierce said. “The league needs to step up and get it in place. Last [season] they talked about difficulties with the refs … and I’m like, ‘These guys have been around all these years and now you’re throwing out replacement refs?’

If Healthy, Pierce Likes C's

(DGA Productions)


By: Greg Payne

Paul Pierce has never lacked confidence and according to an interview with Marc Spears, if the Celtics stay healthy this season, he's confident they're the team to beat:

“Before the season even started last year, I was asked, ‘What is going to stop ya’ll from winning it all?’ ” Pierce said in a phone interview on Thursday. “The first thing I said was, ‘If we’re healthy, we’re going to win it all.’ And I’m going to say it again: ‘If we are healthy, we are going to win it all.’

“I honestly believe that. I think we’re the best team in the NBA, healthy.”

And as for the state of Kevin Garnett:

Garnett has resumed practicing with the Celtics. He played “a couple days” last week, Pierce said, but is still working his way back from the injury.

“It wasn’t like he was out there [screaming] and dunking,” Pierce said. “No, none of that. But he was out there on the court.”

Uhhhhhhh.....(Let's move on REAL quick)

“We’re more talented now,” Pierce said. “It’s hard to say if we’re better. We’re definitely more talented and we had more depth than when we won it all.”


The 2008 squad had a very distinct chemistry and I'm interested to see if this team can come close to replicating that.

Also, check out an interview with rookie combo guard Lester Hudson, who has yet to officially sign with the team.

Mike Sweetney Joining Celtics for Camp?

By: Greg Payne

The following popped up on Adrian Wojnarowski's Twitter:

The Celtics continue intrigue with vet forward Mike Sweetney's comeback and will likely bring him to camp, sources tell Y! Sports.

Sweetney has fought weight issues and still needs to shed more pounds. Minny and Indiana also have interest.

I wouldn't actually expect Sweetney to make the team. Nothing's set in stone, but we have enough big men as of right now.

The Top 10 C's Moments This Decade

Chris Sheridan takes a look at 10 Celtic moments that have stuck out this decade.

Whose Season Depends More on Age and Health?

(DGA Productions)


By: Greg Payne

Training camp starts Monday and one would assume the news and stories would be pouring out of the blogs and websites and newspapers at this point, but alas, we've seemingly exhausted our offseason reserves. Collectively, we've honestly tackled just about every realistic angle possible, without barging in on the completely unimaginable scenarios like, "Have we considered starting Eddie House at center?"

I plan on recapping the majority of the offseason on Sunday, but until then, unless some truly interesting news breaks (such as filling the 15th roster spot or some sort of trade or other transaction), it could be pretty thin for the next few days. We're under the assumption that the vast majority of this year's roster, if not all of it, is now working out routinely at the practice facility in Waltham. Other than that, with only four days (including today) left before camp, I don't expect any players to be involved in anything too radical.

Paul Pierce however, has not stopped his community service work, and recently launched the "Truth on Health Campaign", which aims "to bring health and fitness to America's youth".

Speaking of health, I do want to raise a question to everyone. A blog associated with the Cleveland Plain Dealer recently scoffed at Pierce for proclaiming the C's as the favorites this season, stating age and health as the reasons the Celtics will fall.

I argued on this Celtics blog that Cleveland should keep in mind that the player it brought in to take LeBron James to that next level, Shaquille O'Neal, is 37 years old.

While no argument or war ensued, I do want to consider this question: Who should be more concerned with age and health this season? The Boston Celtics or the Cleveland Cavaliers?

Should it be Boston, whose season some say depends on the 33-year old Kevin Garnett, who's returning from knee surgery? While reports have indicated that KG's back participating in basketball-related drills, he has yet to prove he's completely back to full strength (to the worried fans, at least).

Or should it be Cleveland, who's main asset is the 37-year old Shaq, who has never played a full 82-game NBA season in his entire career? Sure, Shaq played 75 games last year for Phoenix, but the year before that he totaled only 61 games, which followed a 40-game season back in 2006-2007.

No one watches any sporting event (except maybe agents), thinking the entire time, "Wow, Kevin Garnett could get hurt any second". You just don't do it. Such thinking would completely ruin sports.

I suppose I write this because so many Celtic critics harp on the fact that we are indeed getting older, yet those same critics never mention that Cleveland's most meaningful asset is older than any player on our roster. Both teams should consider the San Antonio approach to these things: Rest the aging guys once in a while throughout the regular season to better preserve them for the only time of the year that actually matters.

Dickau Chooses Suns

By: Greg Payne

From the Globe:

Free agent guard Dan Dickau decided to pass on an invitation to the Celtics training camp, choosing to attend Phoenix's instead. The decision could bode well for Lester Hudson, the point guard taken by the Celtics with the 58th pick in this summer's draft.

Rasheed Talks Boston

By: Greg Payne

Here's a great Rasheed Wallace interview with the general media after a 'Read to Achieve' event:



I'll be totally honest. I did not think 'Sheed was this personable. I really didn't. It's fantastic to see though. He was open to every question, friendly, outgoing. Seeing something like this honestly gives me that much more confidence heading into the season.

Rondo Interview with Sports Illustrated

Check out what Rondo has to say on a variety of topics.

Blame Ron Artest if the Lakers Don't Repeat

(Keith Allison)


By: Greg Payne

From ESPN:

Pardon Ron Artest if he's a bit geographically challenged and had no idea that San Diego has a big league baseball team, even though he was wearing a Padres cap.

This much he's sure of -- if his Los Angeles Lakers don't repeat as NBA champions, fans can point their fingers at him.

"They should. That's exactly what should happen if we don't repeat," the star forward said during a visit to promote the Lakers' exhibition game against the Denver Nuggets at the San Diego Sports Arena on Oct. 23.

"They won last year, and I'm the new addition. The fans expect to repeat. Everybody in L.A. expects a second ring. And if we don't then yeah, they should point it right at me, throwing tomatoes and everything."

I'm getting my pointing finger ready.

Kevin Garnett Doesn't Have to Be Healthy Right Now

(CBTC)


By: Greg Payne

I have three Kevin Garnett posters hanging in my dorm room right now (I have 12 Celtic posters in all). I was looking up at the one that hangs above my desk and, as is customary these days, I thought about the state of his health.

Perhaps I was naive when he went in for surgery this past summer. I suppose I was under the impression (mostly because I wanted him back so badly) that he would have his surgery and, just like that, be back again. I didn't properly anticipate or calculate the rehabilitation time he would have to undergo in order to reach full strength again.

Now, with various reports indicating that Garnett is back working out, partaking in basketball-related drills such as running and shooting, there appears to be hope on the horizon. It appears as if KG could be cleared for full-court scrimmaging by the start of training camp (less than a week away!!!).

However, as much as I want to see Garnett back in action (it's what I'm looking forward to most this season), I specifically want to see him back in action in the postseason. We all want him to be healthy, but realistically, he doesn't have to be healthy right now. Danny Ainge brought in/retained enough talent this offseason to prepare for a worst case scenario (another Garnett injury). We now have considerable depth at the 4 and 5 spots, with Rasheed Wallace, Glen Davis, Shelden Williams and Brian Scalabrine all capable of filling in. With that said, if Garnett needs to take another week or two or even three, would anyone argue?

In years past, the regular season might have been all we had to look forward to. In years past, the playoffs were a destination we weren't always guaranteed to reach. But now, while we still enjoy the regular season, we've been conditioned to believe that the playoffs are all that matter. Slowly but surely, as the basketball culture around here changed, the only months that held value were April, May and June.

So, with that in mind, one of our primary goals this season should be to sustain Kevin Garnett's health (as well as the health of everyone else) throughout the regular season so that there is no doubt he's 100 percent when the playoffs arrive. He could miss the first month, or the first two months - it doesn't really matter at this point. Even without Garnett bolstering the defense, we're still looking at one of the five best teams in the entire league and regardless of Garnett's status throughout the regular season, we'll waltz into the playoffs.

Wallace is arguably more versatile than Garnett, is probably the one player in the league who can compete with KG's fire and, while most other players are a step back on defense, Wallace is one of the best replacements you can find. And, if for whatever reason you have no faith in Wallace, Davis is back on board and we all know what he did during the playoffs last year.

Let me throw a hypothetical situation at you. Let's say that come March, the Celtics are fourth in the East and Garnett has not played a single game (I said hypothetical). The moment he comes back fully healthy, the Celtics immediately take that "leap" and can once again be pronounced a perennial favorite. It's that simple.

Last season was so heart rendering because when Garnett was healthy in the regular season, we saw how great that team actually was. Our hopes were high and our optimism was through the roof. But then tragedy struck in Utah and we realized in our very first playoff game against the Bulls, that the regular season didn't even matter. So we lost arguably our best player (who some would say shouldn't have even been playing) during a stretch of the season that was not vital to our championship hopes in even the most finite of ways.

Do I want to see Garnett screaming in training camp next week? Of course. Do I want to see him obliterate opponent's shot attempts in preseason? Obviously. Do I want to see him connect with Rondo on one of those alley-oops that'll make me do a double-take? You bet.

But will I fret if I don't see any of those things? No. And neither should you. Because our goal is a championship and not the best regular season record in the league or home court for the postseason or anything else that is associated with the first 82 games. Our goal is the playoffs. And that's the only time we'll need a healthy Kevin Garnett.

Brian Scalabrine Did Not Play Basketball This Summer

(Keith Allison)

By: Greg Payne

An interesting piece from WEEI's Green Street Blog. Apparently, Scal played it safe this summer in the wake of some serious concussion issues:

After suffering three concussions in less than a month last season, Brian Scalabrine wants to play it safe. That’s why he chose not to play at all this summer.

“I didn’t play any basketball,” Scalabrine told WEEI.com last week at the USI Shamrock Classic. “I didn’t want to risk getting a concussion in that environment. So I just didn’t play any basketball and then I’ve been playing since I got back here.”

The Celtics forward began playing basketball nearly three weeks ago when he returned from Washington to Boston for the upcoming season. Up until that point he had been following the training routine outlined by the team’s strength and conditioning coach, Bryan Doo.

You certainly can't fault Scal on this one. Every once in a while we come across these situations where a player needs to think about himself as a person as opposed to himself as a basketball player. I'm assuming Doo's workout plan kept him in shape at least, so let's hope it's safe for Scal to play this season. That comes first.

And did anyone else not here about the following? (from NESN):

WEEI.com reported Friday that the Celtics held a workout on Thursday at their training facility in Waltham, reportedly to get a closer look at a few of the late stragglers on the free agent market. Tyronn Lue, Dan Dickau and Mike Taylor were among the names present.

I knew Dickau was invited to camp and that Lue and Taylor's names were being mentioned as possibilities, but I was unaware the C's were already holding workouts for these guys. Should a guy like Lester Hudson be concerned? Does this mean we are indeed intending to use that 15th roster spot for a backup point guard? Or maybe we're just narrowing the field a little bit before training camp starts.

Steve Pagliuca Senate Commercial

By: Greg Payne

Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca is running for Senate and the other night I saw his first commercial pop up on my television. Unfortunately, my headphones were on and I was listening to this really good song, so I missed all of it with the exception of: "I'm Steve Pagliuca and I approve this message". So, I went looking for it. I don't want to get political on this Celtics blog, but I feel it's worth mentioning:

Cleveland Plain Dealer's Blog Laughs at Paul Pierce

(Keith Allison)


By: Greg Payne

The Cleveland Plain Dealer's sports blog, "starting blocks", was quite critical of Paul Pierce's comments to Celtics.com concerning his team's chances this coming season:

Despite the Cleveland Cavaliers' acquisition of Shaquille O'Neal, and despite Ron Artest joining the Los Angeles Lakers, Paul Pierce says the Boston Celtics are the team to beat.

Insert laugh track.

Confidence is paramount in every sport and for every athlete but Pierce, apparently, is delirious or whistling in the dark.

They then went on to state why they believe the Celtics won't win this season:

Age will determine how far they will go. At 34, Ray Allen is the oldest starting shooting guard in the league. Kevin Garnett, 33, is coming off the worst injury of his career.

Ray's 34, yet, with the exception of LeBron, he still trumps every single perimeter player the Cavaliers have on their roster.

And I believe they just signed a guy named Shaquille O'Neal, who they seem to be putting a lot of stock in this season, who happens to be...uh...hmm...54? Oh no, sorry...he's 37. 37! And we're supposed to be concerned with age. I'm not taking shots at Shaq. He can't help his age. But it seems to me like this blog needs to take a long hard look in the mirror. Just saying.

Don't even bother looking at the comments section. They're even more foolish.

Can we print this out for some locker room material?

Delonte West Arrested

By: Greg Payne

From the AP:

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West was arrested Thursday after officers pulled him over for speeding on a motorcycle while carrying two loaded handguns and a loaded shotgun in a guitar case.

Police said a handgun was found in his pocket, another in his pant leg and a shotgun in a guitar case strapped to his back.

Reedy said West "was very cooperative, there were no issues" during the incident.

Marquis Daniels and Rasheed Wallace Will Impact Celtics

(Keith Allison)


By: Greg Payne

With training camp set to take off in less than 10 days, I perused the morning papers in an attempt to answer some of the questions we've been asking each other all summer. First up? Will we sign a veteran backup point guard, seeing as we have one available roster spot?

“I don’t know if we need to fill that spot, really,” Rivers said. “There’s no rush. We’re not going to play 15 guys. We’re not going to play 12 guys. So I don’t think that’s a big a deal for us at all.”

Does that also mean Lester Hudson's future as a Celtic is in jeopardy? That obviously wasn't Doc's overall message with that quote, but if you read between the lines, it's not always difficult to see what else is happening. That last part about not even playing 12 guys doesn't bode well for guys like Tony Allen, J.R. Giddens and even Bill Walker. If they want to see significant time on the court, they're probably going to have to outplay a guy like Marquis Daniels.

Now, speaking of Daniels, he could kill to birds with one stone for the C's, as Rivers apparently sees him backing up Pierce and/or Ray Allen, while also handling the ball for the second unit:

“Marquis, that’s the guy no one talks about,’’ Rivers said. “I’m really looking forward to coaching him. I didn’t like coaching against him; I thought he was very difficult to match up to. He can play 2 or 3 and he has the ability to handle the ball. We’ll use him at point forward."

“I cherish having Marquis as a part of the squad because the one thing that Paul and I talked about was our inability to get the rest during the game,” Allen said. “We love to play and we want to be on the floor every moment we can if that were the case. But, for the most part, it’s greater for us as a team for us to get more rest, especially playing a long season.”

I'm really curious to see Daniels play the point forward position, only because I'm interested as to how the matchups will play out when he assumes that role with the second unit. Will another forward guard him? Will a point guard try to play him? Will he have to try and guard a point guard on the other end? If the opposing team is putting a more traditional unit on the floor (a 1, a 2, a 3, etc.), and we're putting out a lineup that will probably consist of Daniels, Eddie House, Rasheed Wallace and Glen Davis, along with Player X, it'll be interesting to see who covers which opposing player.

And finally, I was hoping to read something resembling the following concerning Rasheed Wallace:

“Rasheed is a leader, he’s an amazing guy. So far, just watching him, he’s so verbal on the floor. Having him and Kevin on the floor, verbally, defensively, will be amazing for Paul, Ray, Rajon, and everyone else."

“Two years ago and this year, two different teams. P.J. Brown, Posey, Sam Cassell; we had just different type of players as well. Rasheed has the ability to spread the court at the end of the game. His presence will probably affect Rondo the most, in a positive way. At the end of games, it will be difficult to come off of [Rondo] when you have four guys standing behind the 3-point line, or three guys [at the 3-point line] and Kevin on the floor. I think it will make Rondo a lot more dangerous.’’

Does this mean we won't see Kendrick Perkins as much late in close games?

The most important thing is that training camp is almost here and we're that much closer to putting all of this together to try and reclaim the championship.

Ainge and Rondo to Talk Contract Extension

(DGA Productions)

From the Globe:

President of basketball operations Danny Ainge confirmed today the Celtics will begin contract negotiations with Rondo, who has one year remaining on his contract and is seeking an extension, and agent Bill Duffy.

"We'll have an opportunity to sit down with Rajon and get something done," Ainge said before the Shamrock golf tournament at Nashawtuc Country Club in Concord. "Those conversations won't take a long time, I don't think. Rajon is in a situation where we certainly want him and consider him a big part of our future. This time of year, it's one of those circumstances where we would want a deal that's good for us and gives us security and he wants a deal that's good for him. I think we'll know after a few conversations if we are close and whether we can get a deal done or not. I haven't had a conversation with him. I don't think they know where I stand and I don't know where they stand, so, at some point we'll get together and have that discussion."

Celtics Circuit Today at 2:00pm

By: Greg Payne

If you're on Endicott's campus today at 2:00pm, be sure to tune into Channel 73 for the semester's first episode of 'Celtics Circuit', your on-campus source for everything Celtics basketball.

Joining me in studio today will be seasoned vet Matt Gronlund, who served as a regular guest towards the end of last semester. Today we're talking the offseason and we'll cover as much of it as we can in the hour we are indeed allowed. There's certainly much to cover, but whatever we don't get to today, we'll tackle next week.

So, to any readers on campus: Tune in to Channel 73 at 2:00pm for the first edition of 'Celtics Circuit'.

Rondo Mute on Contract Extension Talks

(DGA Productions)


By: Greg Payne

From the Herald:

Though he was tight-lipped on the issue, Rondo said he wasn’t optimistic about signing a contract extension in the near future. If the sides don’t agree to an extension by Oct. 31, Rondo will become a restricted free agent next summer.

The best way for Rondo to ensure a big payday is by continuing to improve.

“Of course, I’m trying to work on improving my outside shot, ballhandling and my court awareness,” Rondo said. “The biggest thing for me probably is defense - getting over the pick-and-rolls on defense. You just have to play ball to get better at that.”

Danny Ainge did admit that he didn't think Rondo was a max contract player earlier this summer. Maybe this season will serve as an opportunity for Rondo to prove him wrong.

Rondo's Extension and Kevin Garnett's Health

By: Greg Payne

Two important updates from the Globe:

Asked if he was optimistic about an upcoming contract negotiation, Rondo replied: "Not really. I'm just playing it out, trying to get better every day."

A league source said the Celtics plan to hold talks with Rondo before the start of training camp later this month. Rondo has one year and an option remaining on his contract.

"Kevin looks good, he's in here working out every day," Ainge said today from the team's practice facility in Waltham. "He's doing his training but he's not playing fullcourt basketball, yet. We're taking it as slow and as cautious as we can with him. He's anxious and he has a ton of energy, but I think he gets it. We don't have bodyguards on him to keep him from working too hard. He's on the program with the staff. We don't have timetables on this. We are going week to week and we'll make a decision on where he is."

HAX Gym Honors Paul Pierce

(Keith Allison)


By: Greg Payne

Courtesy of FanHouse:

NBA All-Star Paul Pierce and legendary basketball coach John Wooden are two names every basketball fan knows -- each have made their mark on the game in their own way. The two greats recently received high honors from the HAX Gym in Hawthorne during a fund-raising dinner, which helped generate much needed funds for programs that help inner-city kids with academic and athletic scholarships.

Pierce is being honored for his community service work, Rajon Rondo just received recognition for his work in the community and Bill Walker's been a staple in this department all summer. This is how professional athletes should conduct themselves.

Are You Guys Superstitious?

(Keith Allison)


By: Greg Payne

When the offseason is in full swing and there's not much to to talk about, I often love discussing the smaller, intricate details that make us Celtics fans. What's your favorite finish of all time? What's your favorite game of all time? Do you watch games alone or with friends? Things like that.

One aspect I LOVE hearing about though, is whether or not people are superstitious, and if they are, what those superstitions entail. You see, these aren't like the wishes we make when we blow out our birthday candles. We can say them out loud without jeopardizing their impact or influence.

Oh, listen to me: 'We can say them out loud without jeopardizing their impact or influence'. I'm sure you can tell by now that I do in fact believe in superstitions and have a few of them myself. It will often differ season by season. I prefer to keep things fresh. What worked last year might not work this year.

I remember back in '07-'08, I wore a complete Celtics outfit. It was pretty bad, I will admit. I had the shorts underneath the warm-up pants and a C's t-shirt beneath a black and green sweatshirt. Sometimes I might go sweatshirtless, depending on my mood and the opponent.

I would (and still do) stand up until the Celtics scored their first basket. I would eat a bowl of ice cream after every first quarter (the flavor didn't matter. Damn. I should have kept that stat. What was the Celtics' record when I ate vanilla? What about coffee? Now that I have the blog I don't have much time for ice cream. One day I'll get back to that). At halftime I would get a quick workout in to pass the time and the rest would be smooth sailing from there. Hey, it worked. We won the championship didn't we?

Last year, the outfit of choice was a pair of retro black and green Celtics shorts, along with a Paul Pierce t-shirt jersey. Unfortunately, we were not as fortunate last year and I have since scrapped that choice of apparel.

Realistically, does my wearing a certain shirt have ANYTHING to do with the C's winning? Probably not. I'm not crazy. But, I believe for those of us who adhere to our own personal superstitions, it's a matter of comfort for ourselves as opposed for the C's. We won tonight by 20 points and I was wearing my green shirt. Surely that means something, right? Then, the next game rolls around and we could be down two points with 10 seconds left and I'll be saying to myself: 'Wait...I have my green shirt on. It'll be okay!'. And even when it's not, we keep that same sense of comfort intact.

I'll always remember November 24, 2007, when Ray Allen sank the Bobcats at the buzzer. You see, situations like these are how superstitions are either born or drastically reinforced. I was at my two best friends' birthday party (they're twins) and it was actually most of their parents' friends rather than our own (go figure. Oh well, adults are a nice change of pace once in a while).

Making a long story short, I went in normal, civilian clothes but promised myself that if we weren't winning at halftime I would run home and change and then return (I live like a mile away). Well, trailing by five at the half, I rushed home and threw on the shorts, t-shirt, warm up pants and sweatshirt.

And what happened?! Sure enough, in front of a room full of adults who were as good as strangers, with them all saying I was nuts for believing the Celtics would win considering we were down two, their was a shade over four seconds left and we didn't even have the ball.

And then, this happened: PASS DEFLECTED BY EDDIE HOUSE! PICKED OFF BY PIERCE! RAY ALLEN FOR THE GAME! GOT IT! AT THE BUZZER! OHHHHHHHH!

One of Mike Gorman's finer calls, if I do say so myself. We won at the buzzer, after I went home and changed. The tide of the game changed only after I changed. Now, a few things might have coincided with this. Bill from Boston could have gotten home late and only just took a seat in his "game chair" at halftime. Joe from Cambridge might have realized his lucky shoe was untied - at halftime. For me though, despite my knowing it's pretty ridiculous, I couldn't help but believe in my rituals just a little bit more.

So I raise the question: If you have superstitions, what are they and give us an example of when they have served you well.

P.S: I hope no girls ever discover this post.

P.P.S. (or is it P.S.S?): Why hasn't MTV done a True Life: I'm a diehard (insert team name here) fan? That'd be some powerful television people.

Steve Paglicua Interested in Senate Run

From the Globe:

Stephen G. Pagliuca, a wealthy private equity investor and co-owner of the Boston Celtics, is putting together a campaign staff as he plots a potential race for the Democratic nomination to fill Edward M. Kennedy's Senate seat, a contest for which he says he is prepared to draw heavily on his estimated $400 million fortune.

Pagliuca is assembling a lineup of policy experts, media advisers, and political organizers and is close to making a final decision to declare his candidacy, according to sources familiar with his deliberations. That announcement could come within the next few days.

Rondo Helping Out in the Community

(Keith Allison)


By: Greg Payne

It's good just to see Rajon Rondo's name in general. It's nice knowing he's around town. Hopefully that jump shot's coming along, but you certainly can't blame him for taking time out of his practice schedule for this:

Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics helps Boost Mobile open a new retail store on Blue Hill Avenue in Mattapan. He will accept a $5,000 donation to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Also: Check out Gary Washburn's piece in the Globe.

ESPN Boston?!

(DGA Productions)


By: Greg Payne

I'm sure the diehard SportsCenter fans already knew about this one, but in case you had yet to hear, ESPN launched a subsidiary of its website dedicated strictly to Boston sports, much the same way they did for Chicago.

I'm curious to see if there's any extra information regarding the Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox or Patriots on this specific site or if everything on ESPN's main page regarding Boston sports will simply be forwarded onto ESPN Boston.

Either way, it could act as another source to better inform all of us.

For more check out ESPN.com/Boston.

Why We Like Bill Walker

(Catastrophy)


By: Greg Payne

Bill Walker played in 29 regular season games last year, accumulating a grand total of 218 minutes. He scored just 88 points. When the playoffs rolled around he totaled 11 minutes of action, resulting in only two points.

His time on the floor was scattered and inconsistent, and his role, even once Kevin Garnett went down, was that of a slight one. Sure, he played some spot minutes at the four when the team was in a pinch, but that was about it.

Yet, despite the inconsistencies and lack of opportunities, Walker won the majority of us over and we're now rooting for him to develop into a steady role player who Doc Rivers can call upon to help sure up a much improved second unit. But, with so little playing time under his belt, what is it exactly that we like about Bill Walker?

We've only seen flashes, like the stray lightning bolts in the distant skies that indicate a severe storm could be on the way. Could is a funny word. It doesn't scream certainty, but it exudes possibility. Bill Walker could be a future star. He certainly has the athleticism for it, as his eye popping dunks were what hooked us on his game in the first place. But as for his other skills, we have yet to see them fully on display.

Perhaps the cloud of uncertainty over his jump shot and his free throws and his dribbling actually keeps us better entertained. We're not truly sure the extent of Walker's game, but there's hope and that's ultimately what we're looking for once this 'championship window' closes for good. While Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins and Glen Davis will most likely still be in the picture, Walker could be something of an X-Factor: that slashing wing player every team would love to have and someone who steadily reminds us somewhat of Paul Pierce. We could relish in the fact that, even if there is a considerable drop off in wins for a year or two while we rebuild, we'll have the privilege of watching Walker work the court night in and night out.

What about right now, though? Forgetting about the future, let's think about this upcoming season. We think of Rondo and Perk and Davis as veterans at this point, leaving Walker as the primary young talent on an aging team. While our main goal is winning each and every game, we would love to somehow mold Walker's development into that same process.

Walker's competitiveness is another cardinal asset of his game that we've come to covet. When video was released of him attempting to stare down Kevin Garnett, or, last preseason when he had respective rifts with LeBron James and Tracy McGrady, we weren't thinking, 'Here's a rookie who doesn't know his place'. Rather, we were enamored at the fact that here was a young player not willing to back down from anyone. What's more is that whenever he was skying over the rim and slamming it home, it appeared as if he could back up such a sincere sense of confidence.

And then there's Walker's personality off the court. While some NBA players make the headlines for all the wrong reasons (the shootings, the club fights, the appalling incidents with women, etc.), here was Walker, gracing the newspaper nearly every other week with heartwarming stories of community service projects and meaningful work with underprivileged children. Despite his job not even being entirely secure, Walker relished in his role as a professional athlete to whom many children and teenagers could look up to. It's even more compelling hearing Walker say things like this:

"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."

And this:

"I don't worry about that. That's a part of the business. That's the beast side of the business. All I can control is that I'm going to work out every day and take every day for what it's worth. If I'm here, I'm here. If I'm not, oh well, but I still want to be who I am at the end of the day."

It's safe to assume that he's been working as hard on the court this offseason as he's been working off of it. Various reports have noted how Walker's been working out in Waltham nearly the entire summer and we're eager to see the progress he has made. How's that jump shot looking? Can he utilize his athleticism to rise up over defenders and shoot consistently, the way the Pierces, Wades and Kobes do? As excited as we were over the loud finishes at the rim he captivated us with, I explicitly remember when the Celtics played the Memphis Grizzlies in Memphis last season in which Walker threw down a ferocious tomahawk dunk on the right hand side and attempted a couple of jump shots as well.

After the game, fans were buzzing about the dunk, but a large portion was also saying how, as much as they appreciated his dunking ability, a consistent jump shot to compliment that athleticism would be a more ideal scenario.

Some considered Summer League an ideal chance for Walker to showcase his game, and he averaged a respectable 11.75 points per game over four contests, as the Celtics limped to a 2-3 overall record.

Those who failed to take an interest in Summer League might also not appreciate the coming preseason, especially with such a veteran laden team. But with Walker in the mix and many fans supporting the idea of him helping back up Pierce this season, we could realistically be seeing much of Walker over the course of the eight game stretch leading up to the season opener in Cleveland on October 27. While reports on Walker's status will likely surface throughout training camp, the eight-game preseason stretch will most likely be our best opportunity to gauge Walker's progress with our own eyes with the hopes that we'll be watching a player with a more well-rounded overall game.

There's certainly much to love when it comes to Bill Walker. We're all pulling for him and I'm confident in saying that if given an opportunity, he'll be sure to take advantage of it.

If Marquis Daniels is Backing Up Rajon Rondo, Who's Backing Up Paul Pierce?

(DGA Productions)


By: Greg Payne

Right now we have one open roster spot and no true backup point guard. Common sense says we fill that 15th spot with a guy who brings the ball over half court in an effort to backup Rajon Rondo and bolsters the cohesiveness of our second unit, right?

Well, the player we signed most recently - Marquis Daniels - is versatile enough to play up to three positions: the 1, the 2 or the 3. My first thought, and I'm sure many of us were thinking along these lines, was that Daniels was being brought in solely to backup Paul Pierce. Sure, he might bring the ball up occasionally, but he was here to relieve Pierce to better preserve our captain for the postseason run.

Then the reports and speculation surfaced that Daniels might actually be spending time backing up Rondo, as opposed to Pierce.

"He can handle the ball, score, defend multiple positions. I can see him playing with big lineups, being a backup point, and I could also see him playing small forward in small ball." -Danny Ainge

"I just want to come in and help. You want me to play the 1, 2, or 3, whatever it is. I'll just come in to help." - Marquis Daniels

Daniels and the recently re-signed Eddie House, according to the Celtics' brass, are the two options. The C's have tons of wing players, and these two backups supposedly have the flexibility to move to the point in a pinch.

The sky didn't fall and we're all still here, but it was still somewhat surprising and not because Daniels can't handle the job, but because it begs such an obvious question:

If Marquis Daniels is backing up Rondo, who's going to back up Paul Pierce?

Believe it or not, we do have other players on the team who could technically fill the role: Glen Davis, Brian Scalabrine, Tony Allen, Bill Walker and J.R. Giddens.

We saw flashes of promise in Walker last year and next to nothing from Giddens and we need stability and security with this job. Obviously we're assuming both improved their individual games over the course of the summer, but asking second year players to consistently back up a former Finals MVP isn't the easiest of tasks.

As for Allen, he'll probably have to prove he's both completely healthy and in the right state of mind to garner any minutes this season.

And the only issue I see with asking Davis or Scalabrine to take on the task is that both will most likely be a liability on the defensive end, as they'd find themselves up against smaller, quicker players whose games are more perimeter oriented.

With all of that in mind, the Celtics COULD go that route, but they don't necessarily have to. If they are indeed confident that Daniels and Eddie House can handle the backup point guard duties, management could focus its attention on adding one more wing player to relieve Pierce. Finding a quality backup this late in the offseason is unlikely, but with Tony Allen and Scalabrine both having expiring contracts, a potential trade could be worked out (probably closer to the deadline) to bring in some more support.

Finally, the last scenario I want to mention is the one we all thought would automatically occur when Daniels signed: He actually backs up Pierce and we sign a veteran backup point guard or Lester Hudson.

I'm a believer in this one simply because I feel that Pierce NEEDS to have legitimate support behind him. Kevin Garnett has support in Rasheed Wallace and Glen Davis, Ray Allen has relief in Eddie House, so shouldn't it be obvious that Daniels is meant to back up Pierce?

If the rumors are true that we have indeed been in touch with Dan Dickau, Tyronn Lue and Mike Taylor, those three, along with Hudson, should potentially be competing for the 15th and final spot on the roster, and if one of those backup guards makes it, Daniels should be spending the majority of his time behind Pierce and not Rondo. So for now, unless any signing occurs before training camp gets under way, we'll just have to wait for camp to answer our questions.

Ray Allen Wants Extension

(Steve Neimand)

From the Globe:

Ray Allen said Friday night that he would like to negotiate a contract extension with the Celtics beyond this season. Allen, who turned 34 in July, is entering the final year of a five-year, $85 million deal he signed with the team formally known as the Seattle SuperSonics. Allen will earn $19.7 million this season.

“Of course, but it will be dealt with in its time,” said Allen, when asked whether he would like to play more years in Boston. “My job doesn’t change. I gotta go out and do the same things. We get paid to play basketball. We’re all in a great situation so we can’t look past this year.”