Celtics Circuit

Just Checking In

2010-01-28T16:06:00.002-05:00

By: Greg Payne

Here's my challenge: I like to do a lot of different things. I'm a sophomore in college right now, I'm the editor of my school newspaper, I host one of my school's television network's shows, I have my own Celtics live radio talk show, I run cross country and I'm working on maintaing a 4.0 GPA. And that's all on top of catching every single Celtics game and writing full time for CelticsBlog. I love it all.

But, in the midst of all of that, I haven't been able to update Celtics Circuit. Believe it or not, I have not given up on it. I really haven't. I think about it all the time. This blog was my starting point. It was my first semi-professional gig writing about the Boston Celtics. That was a big deal for me. I always hoped to move up to one of the larger, more established blogs, like CelticsBlog, but I didn't expect the move to come as quickly as it did. Celtics Circuit didn't even reach its one-year anniversary before I was off writing for another outlet.

But, with this being my brainchild, and me having learned so much in the past...oh...five or six months, I'd love to come back to Celtics Circuit at some point and see if I can establish my own audience. Maybe. It's a big maybe at this point. I love writing for CelticsBlog, I love the loyal readership and I love working with the people I get to work with on an everyday basis. Having a large audience both critique and support my work has really helped to transform my writing, and I'm grateful for that.

So, I'm still here. I really am. As always, go Celtics. And, once again, I plan on returning to Celtics Circuit.

Paul Pierce Sidelined with Knee Issue

2009-12-23T16:07:00.001-05:00

By: Greg Payne

Comcast SportsNet just broke the following news:

Paul Pierce will miss the Celtics' upcoming four-game road trip, and may be sidelined for as many as two weeks, because of a knee problem that required a medical procedure on Wednesday.

Team owner Wyc Grousbeck said Pierce began feeling discomfort in the knee after Tuesday night's victory over Indiana. He described the problem as an infection that required drainage, but said he wouldn't describe the procedure as surgery.

2009-12-10T10:00:00.001-05:00

Latest Celticsblog Post

2009-11-30T09:57:00.002-05:00

By: Greg Payne

Check out my latest article over at Celticsblog.

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving.

Celticsblog Superlatives

2009-11-23T19:30:00.002-05:00

By: Greg Payne

I handed out some superlatives to the guys on this year's roster. Check them out over at Celticsblog.

Everyone Take a Deep Breath

2009-11-16T11:44:00.002-05:00

I just tweeted the following:

We're 8-3...I'm cool with that right now. Scrap the record talk in all regards...Let's improve now to be our best come playoff time.

I mean it, too. We're in a good spot right now. Let's not jump ship. Sure, the losses are frustrating, because we're expected to win, but if mistakes are to be made, let them be made now so we can address them and be our best when the playoffs roll around. After all, the postseason is what counts. Regular season records don't mean a damned thing if a championship isn't the end result. Just ask Patrick Ewing.

The Celtics Just Didn't Have it Against the Hawks

2009-11-14T17:54:00.005-05:00

(DGA Productions)

By: Greg Payne

The Celtics fell to the Atlanta Hawks last night in what I deem as the first "blah" game of the season. The Celtics simply didn't have it last night. It was painful to watch in some instances and I specifically remember groaning in frustration on at least five occasions. They weren't caught up in any tough stretches of the schedule this time and they hadn't suffered a long period without significant practice time. They simply did not play well against a young, athletic and hungry Hawks team that wanted it more.

"Blah" games happen every once in a while, so I suppose we shouldn't panic (quick note: This is not the paragraph I originally wrote), but it is frustrating when the team's capable of winning a game and they simply appear "not to have it" that night. But such is sports and such is life, I suppose. I "didn't have it" on a test I took yesterday. The washer in my dorm "didn't have it" last night when it failed to complete the "drain" cycle, leaving my clothes waterlogged. It happens.

The complacent play began with the starters, who failed to establish a defensive tone early on in the contest and as a result trailed heading into the second frame, despite shooting 10-16 (62.5 percent) as a team in the opening quarter.

"I just think we have to get off to better starts," said Paul Pierce after the game. "I think we're setting a trend to really not getting off to good starts and it's been about four of five games where we've been down in the first quarter. It's up to the starters just to really come out and set the tone. It (doesn't) matter if we have three days of practice and any kind of rest, we've gotta do a better job coming out at the start of ballgames."

The most glaring stat that jumped out from the box score was obviously the rebounds as the Hawks snagged 47 boards to the Celtics' 29. Worse than that was the difference in offensive rebounds, as the Hawks tallied 16, while the Celtics recorded only six. That large disparity in offensive rebounds always helped give way to a noticeable difference in total team shots, as the Hawks put up 84 field goal attempts, while the Celtics managed 73.

"Some nights (the ball) bounces your way and you get 'em and tonight they was the ones to all the balls and they got easy second chance points and when you get outrebounded 47-29, it makes it pretty difficult to win," said Kevin Garnett.

Pierce left the game with 3:15 left in the third due to a left knee injury and I give him credit for returning in the fourth, but in the wake of his absence, no one really stepped up to try and get some sort of momentum going. I was disappointed with Rondo only taking four shots in this game, especially since he was up against Mike Bibby, who I thought he had a distinct advantage over. Rondo did dish out nine assists, but we've seen him control games with his assists before, like the way we see Pierce control a game with his scoring, and last night Rondo's assists just didn't jump out the way they usually do.

Granted, he suffered some sort of hand injury in the first half, which might have derailed him for the rest of his time on the court, but when Pierce went down, I was surprised he didn't make more of an effort to try and either drive to the hoop himself or at least penetrate more to try and free things up for someone else. People always say this team plays very well when he's aggressive and I don't think it's a coincidence that a lack of aggression on his part last night translated to a lack of aggression for the rest of the team.

Then of course, with the exception of Marquis Daniels, the C's didn't receive too much of a spark from their bench. Daniels was arguably the most aggressive player for the Celtics last night and it translated into a 4-6 performance for for nine points in 19 minutes. But beyond that, Wallace continued his noticeable struggles from three-point nation (1-5 last night), which included missing what would have been a game-changing three from the right corner with 1:35 left that would have made it a four-point game. As a team, Boston was a mere 1-15 from deep, good for 6.7 percent. I'm not sure what hurts a team more: shooting six percent from three or grabbing 18 less rebounds than its opponent.

Eddie House, who we typically rely on for some sort of offensive spark, continued his recent shooting slump, going just 1-5 from the field last night (0-2 from deep) in 13 minutes. He also had trouble with Jamal Crawford on the defensive end, who came off Atlanta's bench to put in 18 points. House's numbers last night bring his most recent four-game total to a whopping nine points on 3-18 shooting, including 1-6 from three-point nation.

Now I'm concerned with tonight's game against the Pacers, which I'll deem as a "trap" game. The C's are fresh off last night's tough loss in which they didn't play well, they had to hop on a plane right after and arrived in Indiana very early in the morning and have to gear up for a seven o'clock game against a young and scrappy team who will probably be up to play against one of the league's best, especially with Jim O'Brien at the helm.

Realistically the Celtics will be fine. It was one game over the course of a grueling 82-game season, but seeing as they have another three day stretch between games after tonight's bout with Indiana, they'd do well to secure a win and right the ship, so they can take some positives into Monday's practice.

Suns Set on Celtics

2009-11-06T22:13:00.001-05:00

By: Greg Payne

The Celtics lost their first game of the season, 110-103, to the Phoenix Suns earlier tonight. The Celtics are now 6-1 on the season.

Boxscore

Rondo Agrees to Extension

2009-11-02T08:17:00.001-05:00

From Yahoo! Sports:

The Boston Celtics and Rajon Rondo (notes) have reached an agreement in principle on a contract extension, Rondo’s agent, Bill Duffy, said early Monday.

League sources said the extension is for five years and guarantees Rondo at least $55 million. With the two sides facing a Monday deadline to get a deal done, Duffy said he called Celtics president Danny Ainge on Sunday to inform him Rondo was prepared to play out his contract and become a restricted free agent next summer because they weren’t satisfied with the team’s previous offers. Ainge, however, surprised Duffy by responding that Rondo’s contract hopes would be met.

Davis May Need Surgery

2009-10-27T09:43:00.001-04:00

From the Globe:

Celtic president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said he "would not confirm or deny" circumstances surrounding the injury sustained by forward Glen "Big Baby" Davis, who will miss the first part of the regular season with a hand injury.

According to a league source, Davis has a broken thumb and will require surgery.

With Brian Scalabrine also out for tonight's game with a sprained ankle, let the Shelden Williams era begin!

It's Getting a Little Too Loud for Rivers' Liking

2009-10-25T07:33:00.003-04:00

(Keith Allison)

By: Greg Payne

With the addition of Rasheed Wallace, it's obvious the Celtics will be one of the loudest teams in the league this season. That thought was compounded in a recent practice. From the Globe:

Yesterday, with the decibel levels getting out of control, Rivers decided to dial it down a bit, declaring a 30-minute window of silence.
“There was too much of it,’’ Rivers said. “I just told everybody today that they were too loud. So I said we’re going to have a non-talk practice for a half-hour."

I love the intensity, BUT, Wallace did acknowledge after that louder is not always better.

“Doc feels as though once we get to talking smack to each other here in practice that we lose our focus,’’ Wallace said. “The intensity’s there, but we lose the focus. Which on some plays he’s right, but I think that’s just the character of some of the guys here in the gym."

I can only hope the focus is there when the games are being played.

TODAY: CELTICS AT RAPTORS

2009-10-18T10:10:00.002-04:00

By: Greg Payne

The Boston Celtics (4-1) visit the Toronto Raptors (2-4) at 3:00pm today, marking the second consecutive preseason meeting between the two teams. The Celtics bested the Raptors, 106-90 on Wednesday in Hartford, Connecticut. Tune into Comcast SportsNet or 850 AM WEEI for full coverage.

KEEP IT IN MIND: The Raptors have allowed at least 90 points in five of their first six preseason games. In three of those games, Toronto allowed over 100 points.

WHO'S HOT: For the Celtics, Kevin Garnett scored a preseason high 16 points on 8-13 shooting against Toronto on Wednesday.

WHO'S NOT: For the Celtics, Ray Allen scored just eight points on 1-7 shooting on Wednesday.

KEY MATCHUP: Kevin Garnett vs. Chris Bosh

SKINNY: After leading by five at halftime on Wednesday, the Celtics opened things up in the third period by scoring 32 points, while hitting eight straight baskets at one point. If such execution can be replicated in the first half today, the Celtics should have no trouble finishing off Toronto once again. Look for Boston to utilize its physical style of play to disrupt Toronto's finesse game.

The Efforts of Celtics Circuit are Transitioning to Celticsblog

2009-10-13T21:45:00.005-04:00

(DGA Productions)

By: Greg Payne

I wanted to take this opportunity to let everyone know that I've accepted a writing position over at Celticsblog. With an extended role with that website, I will have to severely cut back on posts and content on Celtics Circuit. I'll explain everything in much more detail tomorrow morning. C's won tonight. That's what's important.

Update this morning:

So here's the situation. I've been writing for Celticsblog.com for about four or five weeks now. I've been producing about one article per week. Last weekend though, the guys at Celticsblog asked me if I would like an extended role with the site. While I LOVE managing and writing for Celtics Circuit, I felt like this was an opportunity I just couldn't pass up.

I'm a sophomore in college right now and as much as I hate to admit it, I have to start thinking about the future and the "real world". I need to garner as much "real world" experience as I possibly can. Despite my efforts, Celticsblog receives many, many, many more viewers than Celtics Circuit every day. They probably drive more traffic in a day than I would over the course of a year. This opportunity will hopefully help me establish myself as a writer on a much larger scale and will hopefully help me earn the respect of my various colleagues.

This opportunity presents a unique challenge, as there's much more pressure, the expectations are raised and I will be subjected to much more criticism, both of the constructive kind and the harsh, relentless kind. People are not always going to like what I write and I don't expect everyone to always agree with my opinions on whatever it is I am writing about. All I'm hoping to do is help Celticsblog continue to grow as a site and to hopefully add a new dimension to its coverage.

My time at Celtics Circuit has been remarkable and invaluable. I learned so much, developed and honed my skills as a writer and established some close ties with some very pleasant people (Celtics 2000, I'm talking to you. Thank you). I thoroughly enjoyed waking up each and every day and reporting on the various news surrounding the team. I enjoyed sharing my opinions with all of you and I appreciate all of the comments and feedback I received. It's truly been a privilege and my pleasure to have ran this site for the past 10 months. I've learned that hard work and dedication do pay off and I encourage anyone walking down any path to continue pursuing whatever it is they seek to obtain. I'm confident in saying that if you work hard and stay dedicated to what it is you're aiming to achieve, you will find success.

I'm not entirely sure what the future holds for Celtics Circuit. I don't see the site just abruptly ending completely and I'm going to check with the guys over at C'sblog to see if I can perhaps occasionally post the box score from a game or a stray thought or two along the way. Maybe even some breaking news like a (knock on wood) injury or a significant trade, etc. So I don't see the site dying completely. At least I hope it won't, anyway. I'll keep you posted on that.

So it is with excitement, a slight sense of nervousness and a hope for bigger and better things that I make the permanent transition over to Celticsblog. I'll post links to all of my Celticsblog articles on Celtics Circuit, but feel free to check out C'sblog on a daily basis. The coverage truly is incredible. The guys over there are extremely hard working and dedicated and produce some of the best content on the entire internet.

So with this I say thank you again and farewell for now. This isn't good bye. This is more..."I'll see you later." And as always...Let's go Celtics.

Recapping Celtics- Nets ... Again

2009-10-13T21:18:00.003-04:00

By: Greg Payne

Celtics 91 - Nets 88

Same opponent, different players, same result. Devin Harris was back for New Jersey, while Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen sat for the C's.

Rondo FINALLY was assertive tonight. Very assertive. He took control of the game in the fourth quarter and led a ferocious comeback. His final numbers: 18 points, 13 assists, nine rebounds and two steals. Rondo really showed poise, maturity and leadership tonight.

Rasheed Wallace, starting in place of Garnett, poured in 20 points and grabbed nine boards before leaving the game with 3:03 left due to what looked like a mild right ankle sprain.

After playing 15 unproductive minutes in the first half, Marquis Daniels sat out the second half with some sort of stomach bug.

Glen Davis was extremely aggressive all night on defense and on offense. He interrupted passing lanes, banged inside and even showed some extended range late in the third period. He finished the night with 18 points and three steals. He helped seal the win with a rejection of a Courtney Lee floater attempt with 26 seconds to go. Then, with 13 seconds to go he grabbed his most important rebound off of a missed Rondo free throw.

Eddie House was crisp tonight with 14 points on 6-11 shooting, including a go-ahead jumper with 32 seconds left.

J.R. Giddens played 34 minutes and finished with seven points and a very impressive 13 rebounds. My only concern with Giddens is that he's unable to get his shot off quick enough. I feel like he has to bring the ball down and settle himself before he's able to release it.

TONIGHT: CELTICS AT NETS

2009-10-13T07:52:00.003-04:00

(Keith Allison)

By: Greg Payne

The Boston Celtics and New Jersey Nets square off for the second consecutive game tonight in Newark, New Jersey. Tune into Comcast SportsNet and 850 AM WEEI at 7:00pm for full coverage.

Keep it in mind: Devin Harris did not play in Sunday's game, but is expected to start in tonight's contest.

Who's Hot: For the Celtics, Paul Pierce scored 25 points on 8-12 shooting on Sunday.

Who's Not: Rajon Rondo has shot just 7-20 in the Celtics' first three preseason games, good for just 35 percent.

Key Matchup: Rajon Rondo vs. Devin Harris

Skinny: The Celtics' second unit played a critical role in vanquishing the Nets on Sunday. Using a 9-0 run midway through the fourth quarter, the reserves propelled the Celtics' lead to 87-74, enough of a gap to endure a late Nets run in the final minutes of the frame. With Harris in the fold tonight, look for more pressure to fall on Rondo, who has yet to show too much this preseason. Perhaps some steadier competition opposite him is what he needs right now.

Marquis Daniels Will Make a Difference

2009-10-12T07:23:00.002-04:00

(Keith Allison)

By: Greg Payne

Too many people are liking Marquis Daniels and how he fits in with the Celtics for it not to work. Here's what former Mavericks teammate Devin Harris had to say (from the Herald:)

“He’s going to be great for them,” Harris said before Daniels had nine points in the Celts’ 100-93 exhibition win over New Jersey yesterday. “He’s an experienced player, very versatile, and a guy who’s got a high basketball IQ. He can play different positions, whether it be point guard or two or three or whatever they need him to play. He’s got a lot of skills.”

“I don’t think people are going to realize how important Marquis will be until they see him out on the floor (in the regular season),” he said. “I think he kind of got lost in the shuffle a little bit in Indiana and kind of flourished in Dallas for a couple of years and then got lost in the shuffle there. But people are going to be able to see more of what he can do now that he’s back on a winning franchise.”

It sounds like Doc Rivers plans on resting the starters during one of the back-to-back games coming up tomorrow and Wednesday.

“Yeah, I’m sure I will,” Rivers said. “When we play the back-to-back games, a lot of the guys are going to miss one of the two games. I may split the starters up and not play two of them in one game and not play three of them in the next game. We’re not sure what we’re doing there, but I know the older players, for the most part, won’t play in both games of the back to backs.”

I'm excited to see Daniels in an extended role in one of these two games or maybe even both, along with Glen Davis. I think Daniels and Davis are capable of much more than what they've both shown so far. That's not to say I'm disappointed with their performances. On the contrary, I'm thrilled with what the second unit has produced and I just believe individual performances will be pushed to the side in favor of the unit as a whole.

But maybe in the next two games some individuals will be able to shine by themselves. I'm looking for a healthy helping of "tweener" shots from Daniels these next few games. These next two games could also be crucial for guys like Mike Sweetney, J.R. Giddens, Shelden Williams and Lester Hudson to really show what they can do.

Recapping Celtics - Nets

2009-10-11T15:19:00.004-04:00

(DGA Productions)

By: Greg Payne

Celtics 100 - Nets 93

The C's keep rolling through the preseason and appear to be getting better and better with each game.

Thoughts after today's game:

I'm not allowed to say Kevin Garnett is "back", but he is looking very, very good. 12 points and six rebounds in 21 minutes today. He dealt with some interesting situations this afternoon, such as catching a Rajon Rondo pass on the very edge of the baseline, turning, leaping and tossing it back into Pierce. He didn't appear to have any side effects from a demanding play like that, which was great to see.

Please save it for the regular season, Paul Pierce. The Captain poured in 25 points today on 8-12 shooting.

Rondo's two bright spots today came on a dunk in the paint off of a Pierce feed and then on a skying block on Chris Douglas-Roberts on the other end. Despite those highlights, we still haven't seen much out of Rondo yet. Is it just preseason syndrome?

It's a good thing Eddie House stayed this season. He further cemented his reputation with 13 points today, knocking down three three-pointers in the process.

The Nets hung around in this game. We only led by a point after the first quarter and two points at the end of the third. Did the bench finish them off? You bet they did. About halfway through the five man squad of Rasheed Wallace, House, Marquis Daniels, Glen Davis and Lester Hudson went on a 9-0 run, capped off by 'Sheed finding a cutting Daniels for a reverse layup, to make it 87-74 Boston.

Then, though, Mike Sweetney, Shelden Williams and J.R. Giddens entered the game and the Nets clawed back to within three points (96-93). But Sweetney buried two free throws to help cement the win.

TODAY: CELTICS VS. NETS

2009-10-11T07:46:00.006-04:00

(Steve Neimand)

By: Greg Payne

Devis Harris leads a young New Jersey Nets (0-2) squad into the TD Garden today for an afternoon showdown with the Boston Celtics (1-1). Tune into Comcast SportsNet or 850 AM WEEI at 1:00pm for full coverage.

Keep It In Mind: Despite losing Vince Carter in a trade to Orlando, the Nets' offense hasn't taken much of a hit, as its averaged an eye opening 99.5 points per game so far this preseason.

Who's Hot: For the Celtics, Kendrick Perkins shot 5-7 from the floor and 4-5 from the free throw line en route to 14 points in Friday's win over the Knicks.

For the Nets, Chris Douglas-Roberts totaled 20 points and five boards in a one-point loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

Who's Not: For the Celtics, Marquis Daniels made only one of his five field goal attempts on Friday night, finishing with three points in just under 20 minutes of play.

For the Nets, Harris missed all five of his field goal attempts against the 76ers, finishing with just five points.

Key Matchup: Rajon Rondo vs. Devis Harris

Skinny: The Nets have the youth and the speed to be an uptempo team this season, similar to the Knicks in a way. However, the Celtics did a fantastic job on the defensive end against New York on Friday, subduing Mike D'Antoni's prolific offense to just 29-77 shooting (37.7 percent) and 82 points. If the Celtics can produce a similar defensive scheme today and slow the Nets' tempo, while limiting Harris's ability to initiate the offense in the half court, they should have no trouble taking care of New Jersey.

Marquis Daniels and the "Tweener" Shot

2009-10-10T07:45:00.006-04:00

(CBTC)

By: Greg Payne

Marquis Daniels impressed me Wednesday night against Houston. He effectively handled and distributed the ball for the second unit and finished with seven points and five assists in 18 minutes of action.

When I finally switched the television off to head to bed Wednesday night, my thoughts weren't on Kevin Garnett's knee or Rasheed Wallace's technical (last night hopefully was evidence that the techs won't be a game by game trend), but rather, on Daniels' jump shot.

Daniels is not a shooter, per se. Shooting mid-range or three-point jump shots doesn't fuel his game the way it might drive Eddie House's or Ray Allen's. Daniels actually air-balled his first three-point attempt against Houston. It happens. It happened to House last night at one point. So, while I don't expect Daniels to be pulling up and draining three-pointers in transition, or to park himself in the corner and go bombs away like Brian Scalabrine, I am very, very confident that he can single handily disrupt a team's defense by continually slashing into the middle and taking a variety of short pull up jumpers, which I like to call "tweener" shots.

Sometimes he'll fade to the left and sometimes he'll fall to the right. Sometimes he'll lean in and sometimes he'll fall back as he shoots. He might be five feet out or ten feet out. However, at 6'6, he has a seemingly perfect balance of quickness and strength, which often will put the defense on the ropes. But no matter how they're taken, they'll almost always be taken somewhere in or just around the paint.

I made a point to keep track of Daniels' "tweener" shots last night (I think "tweener" is a good word to describe these attempts) and I counted him going 1-3. His impact wasn't felt as greatly in general last night, despite playing 19 minutes. He finished with a modest three points, three rebounds and no assists, while shooting 1-5 from the field overall.

But, perhaps credit those numbers to Wallace netting three threes on his way to 13 points, or Scalabrine lighting up the net from the corner, nailing a trifecta of shots from three-point nation as well, en route to nine points.

There will be plenty of nights when the offense is spread throughout the second unit, meaning Glen Davis will score a few points, House will knock down a three or two and 'Sheed, Scal and Daniels will all contribute as well. It will be a group effort.

Then there will be the nights when the heavy hitters take over. Wallace will get hot from deep and the bench will ride his three-point prowess into the night. The same can be said for House on occasion, as he's not one to shy up if he's feeling good coming off of a screen. Davis is also capable of posting up big points with a steady concoction of inside reverse layups and mid-range jump shots.

Then, on some nights it'll be Daniels' turn to take over. He'll cut through the defense like a butcher, freeing himself up to knock down the tweener shots. Or, when the defense finally decides to adjust, he'll be able to dump the ball down to Davis, or find House, Scal or Wallace spotting up alongside the perimeter. Plenty of nights this season we'll remark afterwards about how Daniels took control of the game, but not just by scoring. I wouldn't be surprised in the least if we routinely see Daniels put together 8-10 point and 8-10 assist lines, all while recording a block and a steal or two on the defensive end.

But I believe it starts with those tweener shots. Those shots will be the basis of his offensive game and we'll be remarking on a consistent stream of those as the season progresses. While I was hoping to see more last night, I'm not discouraged, partly because of Wallace and Scal taking over. Before the preseason ends, we'll see Daniels take over a game, which will only reinforce our appreciation of Danny Ainge bringing him to Boston.

Rondo: "I think I'm just an average defender"

2009-10-10T07:37:00.001-04:00

From the Herald:

“I think so. I think I have a lot of upside,” Rondo said. “I still think I can get better on defense. A lot of people think I’m a great defender, but I think I’m just an average defender right now. I can get a lot better. And defending is not about steals; it’s about locking your man up and being there for your teammates. I think I can improve, as far as keeping my man out of the paint. Just being solid, trying to be more solid this year, not gambling.”

Recapping Celtics-Knicks

2009-10-09T20:36:00.005-04:00

(Keith Allison)

By: Greg Payne

96-82 Celtics.

First half thoughts:

Well the offensive is rather stagnant for both teams...27.9 percent shooting for New York...35.7 percent shooting for Boston.

Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Kendrick Perkins are all looking good. Paul Pierce is struggling a little bit right now along with Rajon Rondo. KG's sporting six points and five rebounds at the half.

Technically the defense is lights out, based on New York's shooting percentage. However, I'm beginning to think it's more the Knicks just missing shots than it is us forcing them to miss shots.

I'm disappointed with the overall execution on both ends of the floor right now. With the team we have and the veterans we have, I'm expecting some pretty consistent execution throughout the season. Granted, it's only the second preseason game, but if the coaches and players are going to state how they're focused on getting better as a team, they can start by following through all on their sets.

I was hoping to see a few more "tweener" jump shots out of Marquis Daniels, but so far he's missed both of his attempts. I think those shots will be his most effective this season, but so far, nothing's dropping for him tonight.

No signs of Lester Hudson, J.R. Giddens, Mike Sweetney, Shelden Williams or Brian Scalabrine yet. We'll probably see these guys in the fourth quarter.

Tony Allen's back. I think I've shaken my head five times already, most prominently with 9:41 left in the second quarter. TA went up and under the rim and seemed undecided between shooting a reverse layup and dishing the ball to Daniels. He decided to shoot and the ball bounced off the underside of the backboard. He's making me regret writing my "I believe in Tony Allen" piece.

9 turnovers so far? We should probably try and cut those down...

Second half thoughts:

The second unit looked very, very good late in the third quarter and into the fourth. Rasheed got hot from deep and finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Awesome night from 'Sheed. The second unit definitely seems to have a lot of pride and can't be taken lightly by any opponent.

KG finished strong with 10 points and eight rebounds. He played 22 minutes tonight...about 10 more than Wednesday night. He looked fluid and strong, especially on the boards. All good signs.

Paul Pierce ignited the crowd with a reverse slam off a Wallace outlet pass with 3:02 left in the third. Pierce rarely dunks, so that was exciting to see. He finished with nine points tonight.

You can't stop Brian Scalabrine, you can only hope to contain him!

Kendrick Perkins looked great tonight with 14 points and seven rebounds. Realistically, we could see a double-double out of Perk every night this season.

I'm still not seeing all I want to out of Rondo. Granted, it's the second game of preseason, but after the reports came out that he had the best camp out of anyone, I expected him to really show me something from the get go.

Lester Hudson looked solid again in the few minutes he played.

Unfortunately J.R. Giddens didn't do much again. His minutes were cut and his only bright spot was an assist to Scal with 3:44 left.

TONIGHT: CELTICS VS. KNICKS

2009-10-09T06:46:00.005-04:00

(Steve Neimand)

By: Greg Payne

The Boston Celtics (0-1) take on the New York Knicks (1-0) tonight in their preseason home debut. Tune into Comcast SportsNet at 7:30 for full coverage.

Keep it in Mind: The Knicks won their preseason opener on Sunday: a 115-107 decision over the New Jersey Nets. Based on that score it looks as if Mike D'Antoni's run and gun system is in full effect.

Who's Hot: For the Celtics, Mike Sweetney scored 10 points in just nine minutes against the Rockets on Wednesday.

Who's Not: J.R. Giddens scored a mere point in 14 minutes of action against the Rockets.

Key Matchup: Rajon Rondo vs. Chris Duhon

Skinny: All eyes will once again be on Kevin Garnett as he continues his rehabilitation from right knee surgery. Doc Rivers acknowledged after Wednesday's loss that the team hasn't implemented any plays for Paul Pierce yet, so don't expect a huge night offensively from him. Expect Doc to employ system regarding minutes similar to Wednesday's. Garnett, Pierce and Allen most likely won't play over 18 minutes apiece.

Mikki Moore Just Can't Catch a Break Can He?

2009-10-08T13:19:00.002-04:00

By: Greg Payne

Oh, Mikki Moore...

Scroll to the 3o second mark of this video:

Better them than us I suppose.

Recapping Celtics-Rockets From Last Night

2009-10-08T10:16:00.003-04:00

(Steve Neimand)

By: Greg Payne

I'm back up and running. I apologize again for the long delay. This one was out of my hands.

Anyway, as you are all well aware by now, the Celtics lost their first preseason game of the year last night to the Houston Rockets, 96-90.

My thoughts:

If I was born yesterday and already had the ability to comprehend things, I never would have guessed Kevin Garnett had surgery over the summer. He looked fluid in his 14 minutes of action, scoring six points, grabbing five rebounds and recording two steals. My only question now: Do we still want KG swatting shots away after the whistle has been blown? I love him doing it as much as the next guy, but is that extra unnecessary jump risking too much, or am I just reading too much into it?

Paul Pierce and Ray Allen were steady as always. Doc Rivers acknowledged after the game that they haven't implemented any plays for Pierce yet.

Marquis Daniels made a great first impression last night. Sure his outside shot leaves something to be desired, but here's a 6'6 guy who moves like a 6'2 point guard. His ability to get in the paint was impressive, as was his ability to finish when he got there. Add five assists to his seven points and there's hope that him bringing the ball up could actually work out this season.

Rasheed Wallace didn't waste any time, as he picked up a technical foul with 6:14 left in the third quarter. He was tenacious on the defensive end last night though, with three blocks. Can't argue with that. It'll be interesting watching him play as we haven't had a seven-footer capable of knocking down three-pointers for quite a while.

Mike Sweetney is a very big dude. He really fills out those shorts. Seriously, we can leave Glen Davis alone now. Apparently bigger is better, however, as Sweetney led the C's with 10 points last night.

Was it bad I was more impressed with Shelden Williams than Glen Davis? And that's not because Davis tried heading back to the locker room after the first quarter, under the impression that it was halftime. In his defense, last night's game just went on and on and on. 75 personal fouls were called, resulting in 102 total free throws. Jeeze.

Speaking of free throws, we missed 20 of our 55 attempts. That needs to change.

Lester Hudson was impressive in his Celtics debut. Nine points, three rebounds and an assist? Not bad at all. It's still way too early to have a legitimate opinion on this, but when he ran the point for the second unit last night, I was okay with it. Like I said, it's still way too early, but he got his career off to a solid start.

I wish I had similar praise for J.R. Giddens, but unfortunately, I wasn't enthralled with what I saw from him. He looked very rushed last night. He looked like he was getting too far ahead of himself, even when he was just sprinting up the court on the offensive end. He looked out of control last night and I was hoping for some steady signs of maturity from him.

I miss Bill Walker.

We have a little bit to clean up before we take on the Knicks tomorrow night. Let's see what adjustments Doc and co. make between now and tipoff tomorrow night.

I Don't Have Internet!

2009-10-08T09:07:00.001-04:00

So here's my dilemma:

My entire campus was without internet last night from roughly 9:00pm until basically now. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, I can now only access Endicott College-related web pages, and I'm only able to post this because I wrote it through my school e-mail.

Now I have class 9:30 to 10:45, but I'm going to try to sneak in some posts through my e-mail if I can. If I cannot, I'll be sure to post a recap and my thoughts on last night's 96-90 preseason loss to the Houston Rockets as soon as I'm out of class.

Sorry again for any inconvenience, but stay tuned. Hopefully everything will be back up and running by the time I'm out of class.

TONIGHT: CELTICS AT ROCKETS

2009-10-07T11:03:00.003-04:00

(DGA Productions)

By: Greg Payne

The Boston Celtics find themselves in Hidalgo, Texas tonight, as they kick off their preseason schedule against the Houston Rockets. Tune into Comcast SportsNet at 8:30pm for full coverage.

Uhhh...I haven't really previewed a game in quite a while now. It's tough to believe that the time is upon me once again. Seeing as it's the first preseason game of the year and I have zero stats to go along with this preview, how about we just discuss some simple thoughts regarding tonight's contest:

First and foremost, how does Kevin Garnett look? How much will he play? KG will be under the microscope more than any other player tonight and tomorrow we'll all over-analyze everything we saw. You know, we'll all be saying things like, "I swear, with four minutes left in the first quarter I saw him limp!", or "He could have blocked that shot. He just didn't have enough lift." So, personally, I'm not going to have expectations for Garnett tonight. We don't need him right now and he has the entire regular season to get ready for the playoffs. I'll have the same reaction if he drops 20 points and grabs 15 boards or if he scores two points and grabs four rebounds.

How much time will Marquis Daniels spend playing point guard? I don't know much about his game, so I'm interested to see how he moves around the court. I'm expecting some nice work from him on the defensive end.

How does Rajon Rondo's jump shot look? Does it appear as if he put enough work into it this summer?

I'm just excited to see Rasheed Wallace in green and white. I'm not really sure what to expect from him in preseason. I see all of the veterans taking a serious, yet slightly reserved approach to preseason. I'm not expecting monster numbers out of anyone tonight. It will be exciting to see Wallace roll to the corner and knock down his first three-point bucket though.

Are the players showing any animosity towards the officials? Are they saving it for the regular season?

I assume we'll be seeing much of Lester Hudson and J.R. Giddens, along with Shelden Williams. Let's see what they've got.

I'm looking forward to the first camera close up of Glen Davis.

Mike and Tommy are back. Can't beat that.

Do I have a prediction for tonight's game? Not really. Wins and losses in preseason don't mean much of anything, so I'm simply looking for the guys to execute the offensive and defensive sets. If they do so the way they're capable of, then we should be flying out of Texas with a win.

Doc Rivers: "Everybody Will Play"

2009-10-07T08:09:00.004-04:00

(Keith Allison)

By: Greg Payne

We've been speculating on and off as to whether or not Kevin Garnett would play in the opening games of the preseason, as he continues his rehab from right knee surgery. However, according to Doc Rivers in the Boston Herald today, Garnett will go and so will everybody else:

“Everybody will play. We don’t know how many minutes yet. We haven’t even gotten into that as a staff. The first quarter we’ll play almost traditional minutes. The tough thing about preseason games is you don’t know who the other team is going to play, so you have to be careful with who they have on the floor, as well.”

Update: Scratch that. Tony Allen will not play tonight.

KG appears to be battling shin splints and minor calf issues, but all reports indicate that the knee itself is fine. Rivers addressed that issue as well:

“I just think it’s from not playing. You take the time off that he took off and then you get on the floor and then you go through a camp that’s live and hard, I think your injury is OK, but the stuff around the injury probably starts to affect you. And that’s what’s happened.”

It's Already Preseason?!

2009-10-07T07:32:00.005-04:00

(DGA Productions)

By: Greg Payne

Finally, at long last, preseason kicks off tonight on Comcast SportsNet when the Celtics take on the Houston Rockets at 8:30pm.

I realize it's been an entire offseason since we last saw the Celtics in action, but for whatever reason, I feel like last season just ended yesterday. Suddenly, I feel as if the offseason wasn't actually that long after all. I actually came to this conclusion this morning when I flipped on SportsCenter in the gym and saw the highlights from the Cavaliers' preseason game last night. It seemed to me like we were just hearing about LeBron James not shaking hands or speaking to the media after the Magic eliminated the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals.

I was thinking back to last year as well and as a freshman everything seemed to take its time in arriving. I remember almost worrying that the Celtics would take up too much of my time and I wouldn't be able to focus as well on school and running and everything else I do on campus. Then, the season actually began and it soon dawned on me that I would easily be able to balance all of it. In fact, the Celtics actually gave me more discipline, as I knew I had to complete my work in a timely manner before tipoff every night.

This year, however, I feel as if the year itself is in a rush to meet its own end. Labor Day came earlier, Columbus Day is right around the corner, Halloween is hot on its heels and professors are already beginning to drop the 'M' word (midterm). Last week I was in near shock when I realized that the Celtics would tipoff their preseason tonight. So soon? I checked back to last year's schedule and preseason last year merely began a day later than this year. So in reality, there's not that much of a difference - it just feels like there is one.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm so excited to get this season going. I think this season has the potential to be the greatest one I've ever witnessed, both in terms of the Celtics specifically and the league as a whole. I just want to make sure I'll actually be able to stop and enjoy it. I don't want this season to rush by me as fast as the year has. I want to savor and appreciate each game.

And that process begins tonight.

Doc Rivers Says Marquis Daniels is Team's Best Defender

2009-10-06T10:21:00.004-04:00

(Steve Neimand)

By: Greg Payne

Both Mark Murphy and Doc Rivers have high praise for Marquis Daniels. From the Herald:

Rivers’ wish didn’t bear fruit until this summer, and after a week of training camp, the C’s coach hasn’t been disappointed. Defensively, the Celts haven’t had a player like Daniels since James Posey.

Offensively, not even Posey was this versatile.
“Of all the guys who guarded Paul, I thought he did one of the best jobs,” said Rivers.
But there’s more.

“High basketball IQ, multidimensional,” Rivers said. “I mean, he can do so many different things. He can play the 2 and 3 for us. And he may be our best defender at the 1, 2 and 3. Rondo is the best (guarding point guards), but he’s right behind him.

“I didn’t like coaching against him. And when you don’t like coaching against a guy, you try to get him.”

Follow Gary Tanguay on Twitter for Your Chance to Win Celtics Tickets

2009-10-06T10:03:00.002-04:00

By: Greg Payne

Gary Tanguay is locked in a Twitter War with radio co-host Rich Toucher, with both aiming to be the first to reach 3,000 followers. Head over to www.twitter.com/Gary_Tanguay for your chance to win.

Doc Not Cutting Minutes; Likes Williams' Role

2009-10-06T07:20:00.002-04:00

(Steve Neimand)

By: Greg Payne

I'm in a mad rush this morning and can't elaborate too much on either of the following stories right now, but hopefully I'll get a chance to sit down later and go a little more in depth on both:

On the prospect of Doc Rivers limiting the starters' minutes this season:

While Rivers said it sounds good in theory to limit his starters to less than 30 minutes a night to prevent injury and excess fatigue before the postseason, he believes that holding them back would do more harm than good.
“You have to play your starters for a certain amount of minutes,” Rivers said. “People think that if you can play them 28 minutes a night that’s good, but that’s awful. If you look historically, Michael Jordan never played under 37 minutes a night. There is a reason for that — rhythm. You have to keep your rhythm during the season. [Playing fewer minutes] sounds like a great idea, but if you play them 28 minutes to conserve them, then you throw them out of their rhythm.”

And on Shelden Williams:

“I think this is a good situation for Shelden,’’ Rivers said. “Everywhere he’s gone, he’s been like the high draft pick people were expecting to carry the team and he doesn’t have to do that here - he can just play, and I think that will be good for him. When you go in the top 15 everyone projects you to do that and, usually, of the top 15, one of those guys has the actual ability to do that. The problem is, everyone expects you to do that and it’s a lot of pressure and I’m sure he felt that, as well.’’

Let's Just Stay Healthy During Preseason

2009-10-05T07:21:00.003-04:00

(DGA Productions)

By: Greg Payne

The past two seasons I've looked at preseason with the attitude of a man who sees a fire truck or ambulance whiz by his house in a suburban neighborhood. At first, curiosity and a sense of excitement mount, followed by a return to reality and a sense of foreboding.

Preseason kicks off Wednesday night against Houston down in Texas. Am I excited? Of course. It goes without saying. But this year, more than any other, I just want to get through preseason. This year, with the team we have, I'm anxious to see how everyone fits together, but more importantly, I want everyone to be able to fit together. And that means we can't have any injuries this preseason to anyone who will play a more than significant role in this year's championship run.

Am I worried about Kevin Garnett's knee? No, I'm not. He put my anxiety to rest the other day in an interview with the Globe. But the fact remains that on the very first play of preseason, KG could sprint up the court and sustain an injury completely unrelated to the knee he had surgery on a few months back. Do I think this will happen? No, probably not. Based on my history of watching the game, such injuries don't happen at a frequent enough clip for me to think twice about it. Besides, we can't watch sports with a sense of apprehension. It would ruin everything.

Anyway, back to the point. I know what KG, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace, Marquis Daniels, Eddie House and Glen Davis are capable of. I know what to expect from these guys. So, while I'm anxious to see them back on the court, to see KG block a shot, to see a slimmed down Big Baby and a buffed up Rondo, I'll gladly wait until October 27 to see it all in full form. But, more importantly, I want them to be in full form come October 27.

There's a reason why Doc Rivers only hosted one-a-day practices throughout the team's time in Newport. He understands. First of all, such a veteran laden group doesn't need as much time being taught the offensive and defensive sets. But second, and arguably more importantly, an aging team doesn't need to pound itself into the ground and risk injury. Which is why I'm confident Doc will conserve these guys in the earlier stages of preseason.

More than anything, I'm ready for the regular season to kick off. I just don't want preseason to ruin anything in the meantime. I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm perfectly comfortable with the young guys taking practically all of the minutes this preseason. Obviously the last game or two are the exceptions to this rule, but otherwise, let's see what the young guys are made of. Sort of like a "kill two birds with one stone" scenario.

Free Larry Bird Autographed Plaque from North Station Sports

2009-10-04T08:25:00.002-04:00

By: Greg Payne

Nick Gelso and the guys at North Station Sports are running a contest with the grand prize being a free Larry Bird autographed plaque with career statistics.

Check out North Station Sports for your chance to win.

Players Can't Stand in Late Game Situations

2009-10-04T07:18:00.004-04:00

(DGA Productions)

By: Greg Payne

I couldn't believe this when I saw it in the Globe this morning:

The league also warned teams about players standing up in the bench area during games. Many times in tight, late-game situations, players at the end of the bench stand to watch the action. They tend to block the view of fans, many of whom are season ticket-holders paying premium prices for seats. In some NBA locales, fans have yelled at players on opposing teams to sit down.

To appease these fans and reduce banter between players and premium seat-holders, the league has warned players about standing. Fines will be levied if they stand too long.

Surely, the NBA can't be serious about this one, right? Players aren't allowed to stand up late in games anymore? Half of the excitement late in games is watching the reaction of the bench guys to every made or missed bucket or every call the officials make. The league can't seriously be expecting the players to just sit by the wayside when the game gets tight.

The NBA wouldn't even suggest such a scenario if it wasn't serious about upholding it. All I can say, the league should be ready to fine a lot of players.

I Think We Can Stop Worrying About Kevin Garnett

2009-10-03T22:59:00.003-04:00

(Keith Allison)

By: Greg Payne

I think we should cease to babble about Kevin Garnett's injury. In his latest interview with the Globe, he appears almost agitated at times when questioned about the state of his health:

"I don't have any knee problems. I don't have any knee problems. I'm not trying to get in depth with my injury and all that but the things are bothering me are secondary and not even primary. So I'm excited about that because it's nothing be strengthening the knee and playing again. You gotta remember, I have been out since what, March? I haven't done anything since then. I have just been rehabbing, strengthing. Nothing simulates basketball play."

"I feel really good, I wouldn't (BS) you guys if I was hurting I would tell you. I'm pretty straight up with everything that's going on with me. I feel good. I'm excited about how we are and I'm just trying to get my part together to make sure I'm ready for when we need to be like we need to be."

"I'm a little injured or coming off injury, I'm not dead. I'm not brain dead. I can still make plays. I can still play defense and still know how to play. So I'm still me now, you know what I mean? I ain't in my grave yet dog. They ain't shot Old Yeller yet dog. They ain't took him in the back yet. I can still make a couple of plays here and there. I know you haven't seen me in a while but I ain't go that much dust on me."

I think we need to lay this subject to rest. At least until he gives us reason to unearth it.

Training Camp Streamed Tonight

2009-10-03T16:22:00.001-04:00

Head over to Celtics.com tonight at 7pm for a live look-in at training camp. From what I understand, we should get an all access view of practice with a scrimmage to follow.

Ubuntu Broke Down Last Season

2009-10-03T06:13:00.002-04:00

(DGA Productions)

By: Greg Payne

It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows for the Celtics last season, particularly once Kevin Garnett went down. According to the Herald, Doc Rivers feels as if hidden agendas were affecting the overall state of the team.

“But I thought last year there were so many other things going on - you know, contracts, fanfare, all that. I tell you, I think especially with the young guys, admiration is a difficult beast to deal with. How you handle that on a day-to-day basis is very challenging. I think that was a distraction that as a group we didn’t handle nearly as well as I’d like and as well as we could have.

“I thought we had a lot of different agendas. Guys were looking out for their own situations more than the team situation. That came through all year. It was never anything really big, but it was there all year. You could see it in little things, and I think when you take it as a whole it really had an effect on our season.”

I find this news disappointing, only because I think the majority of us were under the impression that for the past two years, hidden agendas had been checked at the door. We (as fans) talked so much about the injuries and the fatigue seemingly ending our season, and I think we would have come down pretty hard on each other had we mentioned hidden agendas as a reason for why we lost.

Oh well, it's a new season and we have new players. Maybe we need to go back to Rome. Rome was great for us. Maybe the Bahamas? Yeah...training camp in the Bahamas...I can only imagine what would unfold...

Rondo Sits Down With Peter Stringer

2009-10-02T18:38:00.000-04:00

Celtics.com keeps pumping out the interviews:

Walker Surgery Successful

2009-10-02T13:42:00.000-04:00

From Celtics.com Twitter:

Bill Walker had successful right knee arthroscopy today at NEBH. Walker sustained meniscus tear on the first day of camp.

Daniels Accepting of New Role

2009-10-02T06:12:00.002-04:00

“We’re challenging each other, we’re pushing each other,’’ Daniels said yesterday. “The first team, they’re pushing us, and we’re pushing them. It’s just going to make us all better in the end."

-Globe

Bill Walker Deserves to Stay

2009-10-01T22:28:00.007-04:00

By: Greg Payne

When news broke of Bill Walker's torn meniscus in his right knee, here's what Gary Washburn of the Globe wrote:

An MRI on Bill Walker's right knee revealed a torn meniscus and he will miss six to eight weeks, meaning the Celtics would have to carry an injured Walker on their roster into the regular season.

Clearly that line is suggesting that Walker has officially become dead weight for the time being, meaning the Celtics could potentially release him to open up a roster spot. He's set to make less than a million dollars for the season, so it's not as if the team would be costing itself a ton of money (probably the only reason Tony Allen and his 2.5 million dollar salary are still around) by letting him go.

However, I'm here to say that Bill Walker deserves to stay. My main reason for this? Allen, who has suffered more injuries than Kenny in an entire season of 'South Park', has somehow managed to stick with this team. Whether it's because the Celtics vastly overpaid him and can't simply release him, or because no other team is interested in his services, we're essentially stuck with the guy. Danny Ainge and the team elected to pick up the guy's option, proving that even the most brilliant of basketball minds make mistakes once in a while.

But, my argument is this: If Danny Ainge is willing to stick with Tony Allen through five years of injuries, surely he can give the now injured Walker at least one more season. At the very minimum. In my opinion, Ainge already made a mistake in not waiting half a season for Leon Powe and should not make a similar mistake here. Powe obviously would have been a key cog of any Post-Big Three Celtics squad, and right now we're hopeful that Walker will walk down a similar path.

Now we'll be forced to watch Leon thrive in Cleveland, which will make us shudder even on our best days. We do not want to endure a similar feeling if we're forced to see Walker skying to the rim for another team.

Walker sure did put in the work this summer - both on and off the court. His dedication to community service speaks volumes of him as a person, while his commitment to workouts in Waltham show just how much he wants to improve and make an impact on this team. How can you just ship out a guy like that? Sure, basketball is a business. But have a heart, Danny. Keep Walker's dream alive and keep our hopes for his future in green alive as well. It's not fair to say we're expecting big things from the kid, but it is fair to say we're hopeful for big things from the kid. Don't sweep out our legs before we're able to stand properly.

I will say that preseason is effectively ruined for me now. Was it realistic to believe Walker would significantly contribute and crack the rotation this year? Eh...maybe not so much. However, preseason was going to be Walker's time. Eight games of anticipation at the thought of him launching from 10+ feet out, soaring through the air and jamming the ball with tenacious force through the hoop. Or better yet, eight games of slashing to the hoop, drawing fouls, finishing, or finding open mates. Or EVEN better yet, eight games of (hopefully) silky smooth jump shots.

Sure, I can still look forward to Lester Hudson, J.R. Giddens and Shelden Williams. But come on. Walker was my guy. He was our guy. He was the preseason's main event. We all know the starters will only play limited minutes along with Rasheed Wallace and possibly even Marquis Daniels and Eddie House. This isn't their first rodeo. And no offense to Brian Scalabrine, but he just can't capture my excitement the way a guy like Walker can. Headband and all, it just doesn't do it for me.

Look, Danny, let's get real here. If you absolutely NEED to open up a roster spot, send out a mass text message to Celtics Nation, which approximately a third of us will answer while we're driving a car, asking for donations, with the goal being 2.5 million dollars so you can buy out Tony Allen. We will answer your call. We will respond. I mean, we have nothing against Tony Allen as a person, but he's simply unreliable. We need stability in this modern age (insert pardon for Bill Walker).

Keep Walker around. He deserves to be here.

Peter Stringer Interview with Kevin Garnett

2009-10-01T18:53:00.002-04:00

By: Greg Payne

Here's a link to the Celtics' official YouTube page, featuring a 10 minute interview with Kevin Garnett. Awesome interview. Make note of KG discussing his emotions before a game around the 5:30 mark.

Walker Out 6-8 Weeks

2009-10-01T15:15:00.002-04:00

By: Greg Payne

Horrible news from the Globe:

An MRI on Bill Walker's right knee revealed a torn meniscus and he will miss six to eight weeks, meaning the Celtics would have to carry an injured Walker on their roster into the regular season. Walker left Wednesday's practice with a sore knee and returned to Boston for further examination.

Walker has had major surgery on both knees and has yet to reach his vast potential. He spent most of his rookie season in the NBDL. He played in 29 games last season.

Update from Celtics.com Twitter:
Walker will have right knee arthroscopic surgery tomorrow morning at New England Baptist.

Holy Interviews!

2009-10-01T10:12:00.004-04:00

By: Greg Payne

The video brigade has officially arrived. Comcast SportsNet New England has posted interviews with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Take a look:

Kevin Garnett:

Paul Pierce:

Ray Allen:

Video from Day 2

2009-10-01T09:07:00.002-04:00

By: Greg Payne

Celtics.com has the latest video from yesterday's practice, including some footage of Kevin Garnett going through some shooting drills. Man, what I would give to be that kid rebounding for him...

My Thoughts on Camp So Far

2009-09-30T21:36:00.004-04:00

(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

2009-09-30T15:34:00.003-04:00

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

2009-09-30T07:39:00.002-04:00

(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

2009-09-30T07:34:00.003-04:00

(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

2009-09-29T07:57:00.001-04:00

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

Garnett Opens Up About Knee Injury

2009-09-29T07:42:00.003-04:00

(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

2009-09-29T07:36:00.002-04:00

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

2009-09-29T07:30:00.002-04:00

(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

2009-09-28T20:19:00.004-04:00

(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

2009-09-28T14:30:00.002-04:00

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

2009-09-28T07:29:00.005-04:00

(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

2009-09-28T07:25:00.002-04:00

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

2009-09-27T09:03:00.006-04:00

(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

2009-09-26T21:44:00.003-04:00

(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?

2009-09-26T06:59:00.002-04:00

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

2009-09-26T06:37:00.004-04:00

(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

2009-09-25T16:39:00.002-04:00

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

2009-09-25T11:05:00.000-04:00

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

2009-09-25T07:27:00.003-04:00

(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?

2009-09-25T07:24:00.002-04:00

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

2009-09-24T08:58:00.002-04:00

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

Whose Season Depends More on Age and Health?

2009-09-24T07:25:00.006-04:00

(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

2009-09-23T13:57:00.000-04:00

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

2009-09-23T07:37:00.002-04:00

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

2009-09-22T17:53:00.001-04:00

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

Blame Ron Artest if the Lakers Don't Repeat

2009-09-22T14:27:00.002-04:00

(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

2009-09-22T07:37:00.005-04:00

(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

2009-09-21T07:28:00.003-04:00

(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

2009-09-20T07:16:00.002-04:00

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

2009-09-19T06:39:00.002-04:00

(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

2009-09-18T18:10:00.001-04:00

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

2009-09-18T06:44:00.005-04:00

(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

2009-09-17T20:49:00.001-04:00

(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

2009-09-17T07:39:00.002-04:00

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

2009-09-17T07:31:00.004-04:00

(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

2009-09-16T23:15:00.001-04:00

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

2009-09-16T07:36:00.003-04:00

(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?

2009-09-14T22:03:00.008-04:00

(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

2009-09-14T19:15:00.001-04:00

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

2009-09-14T07:50:00.005-04:00

(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?!

2009-09-14T07:26:00.002-04:00

(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

2009-09-13T07:42:00.014-04:00

(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?

2009-09-12T06:25:00.008-04:00

(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

2009-09-12T06:20:00.001-04:00

(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.”

Knicks Sign Gabe Pruitt

2009-09-11T22:15:00.000-04:00

By: Greg Payne

From RealGM:

Donnie Walsh announced on Friday that the free agent guard Gabe Pruitt has been signed by the Knicks to a contract.
Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Your Daily Kevin Garnett Update

2009-09-11T08:17:00.003-04:00

(DGA Productions)

By: Greg Payne

Did the pros know I've been wanting to know more about Kevin Garnett's status? I've been asking for some Garnett-related news and not only do I receive a Paul Pierce interview courtesy of Celtics.com, in which he specifically mentions KG, but now Marc Spears has obliged with a more complete report on the Big Ticket's progress:

Kevin Garnett (notes) continues to make progress in his recovery from knee surgery, and the Boston Celtics hope their All-Star forward will be cleared for full-court scrimmaging by the start of training camp.

Garnett began working out at the Celtics’ practice facility on Monday. For now, he is limited to participating in court drills that include shooting and running. He could be cleared for contact as early as the week before camp.
Celtics general manager Danny Ainge said the team continues to be cautious with Garnett, who missed the playoffs with a right knee injury that eventually required surgery on May 26.

“We’re looking for him to be there at the end of the season, not just the start of the season,” Ainge said. “We’re getting him ready for training camp and looking forward to him being healthy in the playoffs. He looks good. Really good.”

Phew. Sure, he's not where we want him to be RIGHT now, but all signs appear to be pointing towards a full recovery.

Bring on the Backup Point Guards

2009-09-11T07:33:00.008-04:00

(Steve Neimand)

By: Greg Payne

If you're like me, you've patiently been waiting for news to drop concerning the backup point guard position. For the past few weeks we've been assuming many things: Will we sign Lester Hudson? Will we just go with Eddie House and Marquis Daniels? Will we wait until after training camp or even preseason to see if any quality vets don't make the rosters of other teams? Will we sign a vet before training camp?

Then, a report surfaced that guys like Tyronn Lue -the type of quality vet we could be looking for - would have to wait until Ramon Sessions and Allen Iverson were taken care of. Well sure enough, Sessions signed an offer sheet from Minnesota and Iverson agreed to terms with Memphis.

Mere hours after Iverson made it official with the Grizzlies, both Marc Spears and the Boston Globe reported that the Celtics were inviting former Celtic (and veteran point guard) Dan Dickau to training camp.

Then this popped up on Spears' Twitter last night:

Celtics considering, but not committed to, adding a third point guard. Possibles include rookie Hudson, vets Ty Lue, Mike Taylor and Dickau

Suddenly, it looks like we have legitimate options to choose from (if the above players are indeed interested. And seeing as Dickau's been invited, we drafted Hudson and Lue's one of Kevin Garnett's good friends, it's safe to say most of them are). Since NBA teams can only have a maximum of 15 players on their roster and the Celtics already have 14 spots filled, this could turn into something of a battle for that final spot. Or Danny Ainge could essentially say forget about it and start the season with 14 guys and possibly pick someone else up along the way.

Either way though, if Spears' report is indeed factual, I see it as a good thing that we have that many options. Rather than possibly resorting to a guy because he's the only one there (it's rare for Danny to do that anyway) this scenario gives us a better opportunity to find a player who fits into our system and meshes better with the second unit.

Update on the Peter Stringer Interview

2009-09-10T21:18:00.003-04:00

By: Greg Payne

I just received an e-mail from Peter Stringer, stating that the practice footage used in the Paul Pierce interview is actually old footage, as Lex pointed out in the comments section. So, while Pierce's quote regarding KG is accurate, my personal argument concerning the video is now invalid.

As of this point, if anything is to be interpreted, it should only be Pierce's quote and not the old practice footage. I owe a big thank you to Mr. Stringer for sending me the e-mail and for officially clearing up my confusion.

Dan Dickau Back in Green?

2009-09-10T19:18:00.002-04:00

From the Globe:

The Celtics have offered former guard Dan Dickau a training camp invitation, according to agent Mark Bartelstein.

Dickau, who turns 31 Sept. 16, played last season in Germany, averaging 17.6 points in just five games for the Brose Baskets.

Bartelstein said his client is ready for a chance at better fortunes in Boston. Dickau played 19 games for the Celtics in 2005-06 but tore his Achilles’ tendon Dec. 17, 2005, and eventually was included in the deal that netted Sebastian Telfair from Portland.

Dickau could serve as a third point guard behind Rajon Rondo and Marquis Daniels and is a favorite of general manager Danny Ainge.

Should We Be Worried About Kevin Garnett?

2009-09-09T19:21:00.005-04:00

(Keith Allison)

By: Greg Payne

If you haven't heard, Celtics.com released an exclusive interview with Paul Pierce on their Facebook page.

Peter Stringer had just finished asking Paul about the commitment of the team and Pierce rifled off the names of the players who have been in Waltham working out (Rajon Rondo, Glen Davis, Rasheed Wallace, Kevin Garnett. In the video you can also make out Kendrick Perkins, Ray Allen and Eddie House). Then, Stringer honed in on Garnett's situation and here's what Pierce had to say:

"He's looking pretty good. He didn't play, but he's out there doing slides, he's lifting the weights, he's on the treadmill, so we're excited to have him back. It's almost like having a new acquisition, but a guy who's already been here."

If you watch the video, when it hits the 50 second mark you'll see a clip of certain players going through what appears to be a defensive drill and the prominent player in the clip is none other than Garnett. He is in fact sliding back and forth on defense - as Pierce noted - with what looks like a heavy white sleeve covering the right knee. I'm sure you'll also notice that his mouth's moving a mile a minute, so it's nice to know that that portion of his game hasn't changed.

But should we be concerned that Garnett didn't play in what I'm assuming was either a scrimmage or a simple pick-up game? Should we be optimistic that he is in fact sliding around on the practice court with the energy we've become accustomed to seeing?

Clearly it appears to be progress, at the very least. And if he's on the treadmill hopefully that means he can at least run on the knee. I'm a "the glass is always half full" kind of guy, so I remain optimistic that Garnett will be ready in time for the season. But as always, we'll just have to wait and see.

BIG UPDATE: The practice footage used in the video is actually old footage, so any and all interpretations of that footage are now invalid. If we want to break down anything from here on out, it should only be Pierce's quote concerning Garnett.

Peter Stringer Interview with Paul Pierce

2009-09-09T18:32:00.001-04:00

By: Greg Payne

Celtics.com finally released its exclusive interview with C's captain Paul Pierce. You can find it on its Facebook page.

Iverson a Grizzly

2009-09-09T11:11:00.001-04:00

From ESPN:

After a drawn-out recruitment by the Memphis Grizzlies, Iverson finally confirmed Wednesday morning that he is indeed Memphis-bound, announcing via his Twitter feed: "God Chose Memphis as the place that I will continue my career."

Now, on to the rest of the backup point guards.

Let's Get Technical

2009-09-09T07:10:00.006-04:00

(Keith Allison)

By: Greg Payne

My alarm failed to go off today. Ugh. I cannot tell you how much it bothers me when this happens. Needless to say, if my waking up this morning was actually an NBA basketball game, I would have surely received a technical foul for my curse-filled outburst when I finally read the clock. It's one thing to sleep through your alarm as it's blaring in your ear, but it's an entirely different matter when your alarm seemingly shuts off on you. I hope this isn't like the beginning chapters of those 'Terminator' movies where the machines slowly start to try and take over...

ANYWAY.

Technical fouls. We love them. We hate them. Sometimes they make a game and sometimes they break a game. I'm sure we all have our own personal set of guidelines as to when they're acceptable and when they are not. For example, I'm more or less okay with my guy getting a tech, unless we're in the midst of a ferocious comeback during a critically important game and the last thing we need to be doing is handing the opposition points.

But for the most part, I don't mind my players showing a little bit of emotion. Instant replay sometimes squashes any argument the players might have, but when even the cameras say Kendrick Perkins didn't touch that guy, I'll essentially live with Perk walking over to Dick Bavetta and telling it like it is (scowl and all, of course).

Now, how many technicals is too many? Should we all collectively come up with some sacred number that the Celtics should not cross? According to NBAstuffer.com, the Celtics led the league in regular-season technical fouls with a whopping 113 (This number seems somewhat high to me, I will admit. But I'll roll with it for now) last year. Mind you, that's without Rasheed Wallace and with Kevin Garnett missing almost half the season.

Needless to say, Perk played a pivotal role in racking up those numbers. For those who forget, Perk had eight T's within the first 15 games of the season, but managed to tone it down as he finished with 12 for the entire year.

Now think about Wallace being involved, who racked up 19 of his own last year and Kevin Garnett,who is always sure to let his voice be heard, making a return. Factor in Pierce who tallied seven last year and it's safe to say that as Rajon Rondo continues to develop more of a voice out there in terms of referee reprimanding, he will improve on his respectable four from last season.

Since I still feel like 113 is far too high and did some basic math on NBA.com and was only at 38 through eight players on the roster, I'm going to set my own number at 80. Every player who sees significant minutes is almost guaranteed to pick up a tech at least once throughout the course of the season, while others are somewhat more adamant when it comes to vocalizing their personal opinions in the face of an official.

I'll leave my number at 80. What say you?

Oh yeah, I won't lie: I'm secretly stoked to see Rasheed Wallace tear apart a referee for the first time in a Celtics uniform. But...not so stoked for the 25th time...

Update: Randy from D.C. was kind enough to send me an e-mail and by his count, 12 players on last year's team were assessed technical fouls for a total of 48.

With that in mind, I think I'll drop my projected number to 58.

Celtics.com Interview with Paul Pierce

2009-09-08T14:24:00.002-04:00

By: Greg Payne

Finally, an in depth interview with the Celtics' captain appears to be on the way. Via Celtics.com Twitter:

Just interviewed The Truth for a wide ranging interview. Video coming to Celtics.com this afternoon.

I'll post it once they post it.

I Believe This Year's Team Will Help Tony Allen...and Vice Versa

2009-09-07T21:59:00.006-04:00

By: Greg Payne

It's my general understanding that a fair majority of Celtics Nation is fed up with Tony Allen at this point. Riddled by injuries for the majority of his career, the Oklahoma State product hasn't exactly lived up to expectations. It always seems to be something with Allen: A knee, a thumb, an ankle, a bar fight or a death threat.

But despite all the ailments and distractions and headaches, it cannot be denied that for one magical stretch of the 2006-2007 season, Tony Allen was a legitimate beast in the NBA. With Paul Pierce out nursing a stress reaction in his left foot, Allen morphed into the offensive force we knew he was capable of becoming. You all know the time frame I'm talking about. We all remember him relentlessly slashing to the hoop and scoring on seemingly every play he took control of.

But then of course came the Indiana game and he blew out his knee after the whistle. You felt absolutely terrible for the guy seeing as he was on such a tear, but at the same time it was impossible not to shake your head with an almost sick sense of shame. Did that seriously just happen? How does that happen?

But for that one stretch where he was injury free and his mind was apparently in the right spot, he was tenacious.

Now, I completely understand that people are sick of hearing about this and I'm not trying to sound like a broken record, but he'll be healthy coming into this season and with the additions this team made, we're looking at a very confident bunch from front to back. With the expectations raised once training camp starts, maybe Allen will once again find a mental groove and contribute to this team and another championship run. I for one believe the mental aspect of it all has been what's held this guy back for nearly his entire career. And I also believe that the swagger this team will play with could seriously reinforce Allen's mental state of mind and propel him in the right direction.

Put it this way: Can it actually get any worse? I mean, we all have legitimate reason to expect next to nothing from him, but at the same, why not sit back with a hidden sense of hope that he could actually help us out? Will it hurt anything to hope? I don't think so.

I always have a difficult time giving up on a player, practically to a fault. I don't want to give up on Tony Allen. I really don't. Call me loyal or biased or whatever else you want. But if he's on my team, I'm going to support him no matter what. So with that said, I'm cautiously optimistic at best, that a healthy and mentally rejuvenated Tony Allen could somehow have a hand in this year's season.