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Post by DERRENMATTS on Sept 15, 2009 3:23:29 GMT -5
And now, your starting PG for the Boston Celtics ......... [glow=red,2,300]RAJON RONDO!!! [/glow] 6 feet 1 inches, 171 pounds Attended Oak Hill Academy (high school) 4th Year PG out of Kentucky University Drafted 21st by the Phoenix Suns, draft rights traded to Boston for a future 1st Round pick. Stats: Points2007: 6.4 2008: 10.5 2009: 11.9 Assists2007: 3.8 2008: 5.1 2009: 8.2 Rebounds2007: 3.7 2008: 4.2 2009: 5.2 Steals2007: 1.6 2008: 1.7 2009: 1.9 As you can see from the stats posted, Rajon has made yearly progress in each of his 3 years in the NBA. What I'd also point out is Rajon's progression in his role with the team. In his first year, he split time with Sebastian Telfair as the starter. In Year 2, Rajon was the shy starter who immediately deferred the ball to the Big 3. In his 3rd year, he arguably made the leap into the Big 3, making it the Big 3 + Rondo. What can we expect to happen in Year 4? One word: "consistency". Rondo, from his first year in the league, has been inconsistent. He showed glimpses of spectacular play, but it was mixed in with pedestrian games and spurts of invisibility. Last year's playoffs was Rajon's young career in a nutshell. Against the Chicago Bulls in Round 1, Rondo proved up to the challenge presented by future All-Star Derrick Rose. It was an epic battle between the two young PG's, as one amazing play after another kept fans on the edge of their seat, wanting more. Rondo prevailed against Rose, and we moved passed the Bulls into Round 2 against the Magic. Looking forward to seeing more of the surging Rajon Rondo, fans were disappointed as Rondo was outplayed by the lesser talented Rafer Alston. Granted, his ankles were sprained, but this again was the routine in Rondo's game. At times he's unbelievable. Other times, he's anything but. But this year, expect a consistently terrific Rajon Rondo. The games of invisibility will be fewer and further between. Spectacular games will be bunched together more often. And the biggest reason for the consistency in his game will be something he's been missing his entire life--a jumper. Once, Rondo's jumper was so erratic that he'd avoid shooting at all costs. Even if he was open and no other option was available, he'd force the ball somewhere else. Last season, with a summer dedicated towards improving his jumper, his shooting form began to smooth out and his release point became more consistent. At times he looked both comfortable and confident shooting the ball (albeit from certain areas on the court--like the baseline from about 12-15 feet away and the elbows extended) But by year's end, the consistency on his form, and his confidence, had pretty much faded away and once again, he became a liability from the perimeter. There is no doubt in my mind that Rajon has dedicated himself again towards finding consistency with his mechanics, and I'm confident that his hard work will payoff. He doesn't need Ray Allen type consistency--in all actuality, his true shooting percentage (jumpers only, not counting layups and points in the paint) might be in the low 40%. But if he's consistently hitting in the low 40%, that is still a weapon he's never had before--and this will expand Rajon's game and make him a more dangerous offensive player. The other reason Rajon's game will become consistent is "confidence". Every year, Rajon begins to see more and more that he IS an impact player, and quite honestly, one of the best players on the court at any given day. In the Chicago playoff series, Rondo saw (as we did) that he's a major factor in determining the outcome of the game. These kind of moments continue to feed Rondo's confidence, and the more confident he gets, the more aggressive and assertive he becomes. This is good news for us, but bad news for opposing teams. What I'd like to see Rajon improve onRondo is still ironing out his game, and has areas to improve. The top 3 things I'd like to see him get better at are: 1) learn the art of the pull up jumper. This is the single most important offensive move a PG should have down pat. Without it, pick and rolls lose half its effectiveness. With it, defenses are at your mercy (if Stockton didn't have a pull up jumper, he would not be the all-time leader in assists today). 2) perfect the tear drop floater. Rondo is already an effective penetrator, and perfecting the tear drop floater will allow him to exploit soft spots in the defense. As we have seen from other great PG's (Isaiah Thomas, Stephon Marbury, Chris Paul), the floater is a crippling move that stifles interior defenses. Done right, it can't be stopped. 3) stay in front of his man defensively. Though Rondo is among the NBA's top steals men, he often gets his steals by allowing his man to get passed him so that he can swipe at the ball from the behind. Its a hit and miss technique, and quite frankly, I'd rather he just stay in front of his man and prevent him from getting to where he wants to go. Rondo's certainly quick enough to stay in front, but his problem is he's just thinking about getting the steal. Prediction: 14.5 ppg, 10.3 apg, 3.6 rpg, 2.2 spg and 1st year voted onto the All-Star team. Along with Devin Harris of the New Jersey Nets and Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, Rajon Rondo will be vying for the top PG spot in the Eastern Conference.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Sept 16, 2009 23:11:12 GMT -5
And now, the starting Power Forward for you Boston Celtics... KEVIN GARNETT !!! (by FreshInThe House) Kevin Garnett first year in Boston was filled with a mixture of emotions. It started with the shock of his arrival. This was soon followed with the trepidation that came with the huge expectations that were mounted on a team that hadn't played one game together. And at the end the season, moments after Boston won their first championship in over twenty years, KG encapsulated the feelings of Celtics fans coast to coast with his euphoric meltdown during the postgame interview. Season two started with Celtics players in fans in a position they weren't familiar with--defending champions. KG bore this title with pride, becoming more intemidating on the court than ever, leading some NBA talking heads to call him a bully. Beside a small hiccup at mid-season, the Celtics were in fine form, and look to be in prime shape to defend there title. This all changed on February 19th when KG injured his right knee while playing against the Utah Jazz. While the Celtics' management tried to maintain an optimistic view, besides a few games towards the end of the season, KG's season--and the Celtics' title hopes--were over. We are now entering Kevin Garnett's third season as a Boston Celtic. The new car smell is gone, replaced with the comfort that comes with reliability. We know that KG can be counted on to score a very efficient 15+ points a game, gobble up 8 to 10 rebounds a game, hand out 3 to 4 assists a game, and fill up the steal and block columns in a way that few 30-somethings have ever done. But if the last two years have shown Celtics' fans anything, it's that you can't guage KG's importance to this team by his stat line. KG is not just a premier defensive player, he is the face of this team's commitment to D. KG molded this team's defensive image into his own image, and his intensity on the defensive end spread throughout the team, making average defenders good (Ray Allen), and good defenders great (Paul Pierce). WIth KG leading the way, the 07-08 Celtics became on of the best defensive teams in NBA history. If 07-08 showed everyone what the Celtics were capable without KG, the 08-09 play-offs displayed what the Celtics are without KG: an above average team that may make some noise in the play-offs, but is not a serious threat to win it all. This season, the core of the 07-08 team returns with a healthy Garnett, plus newly-signed Rasheed Wallace. This group has proven it has what it takes to win a title. But for most of the key components of this team, time is not on there side. KG is no exception to this. While his age (33) is not too much of worry, his minutesare. Going into this season, KG ranks 23rd all time in minutes played. He only has a handful of seasons left to play at this high of level. That is why the 09-10 Celtics have to do everything they can to win it all this year. And with KG leading the way, dedication and intensity shouldn't be a problem.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Sept 16, 2009 23:13:13 GMT -5
Next up will be Paul Pierce, written by RunRondo. Check back on 9/19.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Sept 19, 2009 2:25:59 GMT -5
And now, standing 6'7", from the university of Kansas, playing in his 12th season, the starting Small Forward for your Boston Celtics.... PAAAAAAUUUUUL PIIIIIERCE!!!!!! Pop quiz--what do Michael Olowakandi, Mike Bibby, Raef LaFrentz, Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter, Robert Traylor, Jason Williams, Larry Hughes, and Dirk Nowitzki all have in common? Answer: In 1998, Paul Pierce thought he was better than all of them. Yet he was drafted 10th overall, in back of those guys. It was a slap in the face for him, and he vowed to prove those 9 GM's wrong for passing him up. 12 years later and tons of accomplishments later, he's the only one who has a sparkling championship ring on his finger. Sure Vince has had a more colorful career, and has a slightly higher career scoring average, but Pierce also has had a tremendous career, and has always been recognized as the more versatile scorer. Dirk Nowitzki gets a lot of respect for his scoring ability, but Pierce edges him out. Really, taking any one of these three players in the '98 draft would have been a blessing, but for us to end up with Pierce with the 10th pick was truly a steal. But to appreciate Pierce, you have to look at what he's been able to accomplish in spite of not having a lot of natural physical tools. As a bigger wing player, Pierce doesn't have much spring in his legs to out jump his defender. So to find ways to score from the perimeter, he's had to learn the art of the "step back jumper", which has become his bread and butter signature move over the years. Pierce also isn't blessed with foot speed and quickness to blow by his man to get into the driving lanes. So Pierce worked hard one summer and developed a lethal spin move, and it remains a move that defenders struggle with. Pierce also isn't blessed with a lot of athleticism which would allow him to contour his body and execute acrobatic layups in traffic like Jordan used to. Here, Pierce has learned how to use his strong body to absorb contact and get to the free throw line or finish layups with either hand. But what may be Pierce's most valuable asset is his toughness. Its his toughness that braves him to drive into the heart of defenses and take the beatings and come back for more. Its his toughness that makes him stand tall and face all challenges (like proving that he's better than all the players who were drafted in front of him). And its his toughness that has made him play through pain throughout his career, and still perform to his high standards. He may get shot at, but he'll come right back and not skip a beat. He may get his teeth knocked out, and have surgery to put them back in, but he's not going to miss a game. And his shooting elbow may be swollen like a huge water balloon, and it may hurt even to lift his arm up, but he's going to take the last shot and win the game for his team. Pierce has proved his critics wrong at every turn, and so they came up with new criticisms to keep him at bay. They said that Pierce will have some trouble sharing the ball with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen (implying that Pierce cares more about his daunting scoring stats than winning a championship). But it turned out to be a foolish assessment, as Pierce instantly bonded with his new teammates, and found the right balance of deferring and asserting himself in the offense. His 19.6 scoring average was the lowest total since his sophomore year in the league, but he wasn't phased by that because he was now a champion. I'm not going to pretend that I've been a big Paul Pierce fan his entire career. But I will acknowledge that I have seen Pierce's game blossom and I've seen him mature as a player, and I will say that I've looked much more favorably at Paul Pierce these past two years than over the 10 years prior to this. He's grown on me and gained my approval. At this moment, I can honestly say that if Pierce chose to retire today, he will go down as one of the greatest Celtic to ever play the game, and one of the best wing players of his generation. So what is left for Pierce to improve?From a team standpoint, he just needs to continue to be an excellent team player. But from an individual standpoint, here are some things I'd like to see Pierce improve: Cut down turnovers. Paul has always been an excellent passing wing player. His career 4 apg average is higher than most of his peers at the same position. But because he does a lot of passing, there's a greater risk of him turning the ball over. As a team, we are among the worst in the league in turnovers, and Pierce is one of the culprits. Cut down turnovers, and we'll be an even better team (just ask Doc). Increase his defensive stats. Early in his career, Pierce was nearly a 2 steals per game--1 block per game guy (which put him in some real select company). Last year, he averaged a steal per game, and posted a 0.3 bpg average--both tying his career lows. I would like to see him bring up his defensive level a notch higher and get more recognition for his defense. Thirdly, I'd like to see Pierce reinforce his presence in the post. I'd like to see Pierce back his man down closer to the basket more and use fadeaways and drop steps and open up a whole new world of offensive possibilities, which will help reinvent his career and allow him to prolong his playing days. **If this is all I can nitpick about Pierce's game, it speaks volume of how good he really is. Pop Quiz: How many of those 9 teams would draft Pierce if given the chance to do the draft over again? Answer: Probably every team aside from Dallas and Toronto would take Pierce. You want to bet that Milwaukee regrets taking Tractor Traylor with the 6th pick when Pierce was there for the taking? The luck of the Irish was clearly with us on that fateful day
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Sept 19, 2009 2:27:28 GMT -5
Next up is RoadRunner, who will write up an article on Ray Allen. Check back on Monday.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Sept 21, 2009 2:31:33 GMT -5
And now, the starting Shooting guard for your Boston Celtics....
RAY ALLEN !!!!!
(by RoadRunner )
When you listen to the following lyrics, who do you think of?
I got game. She's got game. We got game. They got game. He got game.
Answer: Ray Allen
Ray Allen is the starting SG on the Boston Celtics. Allen was acquired (via trade) from the Seattle Super Sonics, with Glen Davis for Delonte West, Wally Szerbiak, and the 5th selection in the '07 NBA draft (Jeff Green).
Allen, by the numbers (NBA career): Seasons: 14 (7-Milwaukee, 5-Seattle, 2-Boston)
TOTAL: BOS(07-08): BOS(08-09): Games: 942 73 79 MPG: 37.3 35:53 36:23 PPG: 20.9 17.4 18.2 RBG: 4.4 3.7 3.5 APG: 3.8 3.1 2.8 FG%: 44.8 44.5 48.0 3P%: 39.8 39.8 41.0 FT: 89.3 90.7 95.2
Allen, by his strengths: 1.Team Player No player on Boston's roster has been asked to sacrifice his game for the good of the team than Ray Allen. Even before he played a single game for Boston, Allen changed his number to accommodate another teammate, which he had worn throughout his collegiate, and professional career from #34 to #20 (and #34 is not a retired BOS number). Allen's role has changed from the team's leading scorer with the ball in his hands, to the team's second or even third option. Though his scoring average is down, his FG%, 3P%, and FT% have been up. 2. Accurate Shooter Ray Allen has shot (career) 44.8% from the field, 39.8% from 3-point range, and 90.3% from the free throw line. Allen's shooting mechanics are the prototype for the SG position. Allen has a great work ethic, which has translated into consistency throughout his NBA career. 3.Prolific scorer Ray Allen has averaged 20.9 points per game(PPG) throughout his 14-year NBA career. Allen has the ability to create his own shot, as well as move without the ball. Boston's offense uses Allen more to take advantage of his accuracy, and efficiency by catching and shooting, versus having him create his own shot by going one on one with the defender. 4.Effective defender Ray Allen's defensive statistics, 0.9-STL, 0.2-BLK , do not measure how effective a defender he really is. Allen has a high basketball IQ, and makes his opponent work every possession. Its possible that if Allen were not as effective on the offense, his defense would receive more credit.
Allen, his opportunities: 1. Age Like his old number, Ray Allen turned #34 this summer, and has accumulated 942 regular season games (excluding playoff games) @37.3 MPG. However, Allen's shooting mechanics, and work ethic has translated into consistency throughout a 14-year NBA career.
Allen, season outlook: Though Ray Allen is in a contract year, I expect Allen to perform at the same all-star level as in previous seasons. With the addition of Marquis Daniels, and the steady play of Eddie House, I expect Allen to average a few less minutes, though I expect his FG%, and 3P% to increase a few percentage points. Ray Allen is a professional, on and off the court, and expect him to “be game” when Boston begins its quest for banner #18.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Sept 21, 2009 2:33:20 GMT -5
Next up is FLCeltsFan, who will be putting out a write up on Kendrick Perkins. Check back on Wednesday.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Sept 22, 2009 21:56:40 GMT -5
And now.... the starting Center for your Boston Celtics..... Kendrick Perkins!! It is no secret that I really love this kid. His attitude and work ethic won me over right from his first year as a Celtic. And I am an even bigger fan of his now than when he first joined the team. The tough times he has been through in his life have made him tougher and more determined to succeed. Kendrick Perkins was born on November 10, 1984 in Nederland, Texas. His mother was killed in a shooting incident at the beauty salon where she worked when Perk was only 5 years old. His dad, former Lamar University star Kenneth Perkins, left the family when Perkins was 18 months old and played professional basketball in New Zealand. Perk never got to know his dad until recently. His grandparents raised him and were there to give advice, direction and comfort. But his grandparents didn't know much about basketball except that Kendrick seemed to have an aptitude for the game. Perk is now a dad himself to Kendrick Perkins II and is determined to be the kind of father to his son that his dad never was to him. His high school coach at Ozen High School, Andre Bouette, became his mentor as far as making basketball decisions and became the father figure he didn't have in his life. At first, Kendrick wanted to play football but Bouette wisely pointed him toward basketball instead. During his high school career at Clifton J. Ozen High School in Beaumont, Texas, Perkins led his team to four consecutive district championships and one state championship. He averaged 27.5 points, 16.4 rebounds and 7.8 blocked shots as a Senior in the 2002-2003 season. He helped Ozen to a 33-1 record, with the only loss being a 66-54 setback to Fort Worth Dunbar in the state 4A championship game. He was selected to the McDonald's All-American game for high-school players. It was in this game that he first injured his shoulder. In spite of the dislocated shoulder, he still wanted to finish the game. He chose to forego college and enter the NBA draft right out of high school after leading his team to a 96 and 3 record over his final 3 years in high school. He was named All State in all three seasons. He was the 27th pick in the 2003 draft, chosen by the Memphis Grizzlies and subsequently traded to the Celtics along with Marcus Banks in a deal that sent Dahntay Jones and Troy Bell to the Grizzlies. His profile on NBAdraft.net says this about him: In Perk's first year, he played very little, averaging only 3 minutes per game and racking up 72 DNP's. In spite of this, he worked very hard that year to remake his body and build his conditioning. His work ethic was evident in the change in the way he rebuilt his body over the first season in the league. Here are two pictures of Perk - one from December 13, 2003 and the second from a November 25, 2005. You can see how he worked to become the beast that he is today. It has been his work ethic that has set him apart right from the beginning. His second year wasn't much better than his first as far as getting playing time. He averaged 9 minutes per game in 60 games. But he continued to work on his body and conditioning and when he got a chance to play, he showed a lot of potential. In his third season in the league, he still was given very little playing time and had several DNP's until the Mark Blount trade midway through the season. He finally was given more minutes and averaged 19 mpg. But he still took a back seat to Raef LaFrenz as far as playing time. He was coming on strong and was reaching double figures in rebounds almost every game when he dislocated his shoulder once again and had to sit out while it healed. Over the summer he dislocated his shoulder a third time while working out with Celtics' assistant coach, Clifford Ray and underwent surgery to avoid further problems with it. The shoulder healed well and he showed no problems from it the following season. His desire to play was so great that he was sneaking on the court to play before he was cleared to resume basketball activities. In his 4th season, he got off to a good start but then was slowed by plantar fasciitis in his left foot. In spite of being in pain the entire season, he only missed 10 games. He wasn't able to practice because he had to rest his foot as much as possible. The pain in his foot kept him from being able to jump and also affected his lateral movement. Most players who have had plantar fasciitis miss months to allow it to heal but Perk toughed it out knowing that his team needed him. Toward the end of the season he started feeling a little better and was rebounding very well but still was not in shape because of the injury. After that painful season, Perk took 2 days off after it was over and then was right back in the gym working on his conditioning and his game. He worked with Tom Thibodeau and Clifford Ray in the off season as he was completely healthy for the first time since his rookie season and he pushed himself to the limit to improve his game and his conditioning for the coming season. He also spent time learning from his new teammate, Kevin Garnett. All that work paid off because Perk had a great season as the starting center on what was to become the Celtics' 17th championship team. He averaged 6.9 points on 62% shooting from the field along with 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. But, his stats do not show the whole story as far as Perk's importance. Perk does so much on the court that does not show up on the stat sheet. He may not get the rebound, but he boxes out so that his teammate can get the rebound. He may not score the points, but he sets the pick so that his teammate can score. He also plays very tough defense around the basket, forcing opponents to change their games. If you question Perk's importance to the team, look no farther than game 5 of the 2008 NBA Finals. In games 1-4 and 6, the Lakers' Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol were virtually invisible most of the time. With Perk out of game 5 with yet another shoulder injury, however, the two Laker big men took over the game. But with Perk back for game 6, even limited by the injury, they went back to being intimidated by him and were ineffective around the basket. Perk once again had surgery after the Celtics' championship season and had a screw put into his troublesome shoulder that was supposed to prevent the injury from happening again. This past season, Perk once again tweaked the shoulder but opted for rest this past off season instead of another surgery. Perk has made himself into one of the toughest players in the league. His work ethic is second to none and each year he has been in the league, he has improved his game. Center is one of the toughest positions to fill and the Celtics have filled this position with a very tough rebounder, shot blocker, and defender. He gives the Celtics something they haven't had in many years, and that is an enforcer. He took a leap forward in his development in the Celtics' championship season and then again, last season, when KG was out, Perk again upped his game, averaging a double double in the playoffs. Perk also showed his toughness on defense as he frustrated Dwight Howard and held him to just 16 ppg in their playoff series. In Perk's first few seasons, there were only a few of us on the Perk bandwagon. As he has improved his game from year to year, and as people see Perk's importance to the team, the Perk bandwagon has gotten quite crowded. I expect Perk to improve yet again this season. He is still only 24 years old, in spite of already playing 6 years in the league. The only question mark about Perk these days is whether his shoulder will make it through another season without any problems. I truly believe that Perk will establish himself as one of the premier centers in the league before his career is over.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Sept 22, 2009 21:58:21 GMT -5
Next up is Eddie House written by Eja. Be sure to check back on 9/25 to read his excellent article.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Sept 24, 2009 23:46:44 GMT -5
And now, we'll introduce the bench players for your Boston Celtics: Eddie House !!! (by Eja117) You MUST protect this HOUSE! no no no. Wait wait wait. This House is a very very very fine House, fine House, with 3 pointers in the yard. This guy is never a star. Continuing the lyrical theme started by RoadRunner, these lyrics apply to Eddie House. (There is a rumor he is related to Eddietours, but he probably isn't.) Eddie House is older than myself by 24 hours (depending on when our moms gave birth) and we have a lot in common. We are both considered short compared to the people around us. Eddie House is 6ft 1, so naturally he only averages about 2 rebs a game. But he does everything else reasonably well and he has good looks just like me. He is also humble, just like me, and fits into the team first atmosphere of Boston. He was born in Berkeley CA, very close to where the TV show Full House took place. Apparently it was full enough for Eddie to attend Arizona State. He was drafted in the 2nd round by Miami in the 2000 draft. For years Eddie wasn't much in this league, shooting consistently below 40%. The only thing he did well was shoot threes. In 2004-05 he played for Sacramento and his career took a bit of a jump. He has consistently shot over 40% from the field since then. Last year, was virtually a career year for Eddie. He played in 81 games averaging 44.5% from the field and 44% from three point land, which is consistent with Ray Allen's career averages. However he dipped down to 79.2% free throws. Eddie still didn't have much fantasy value however. His 8.5 points were helpful, but he won't be a 6th man candidate any time soon. Espn.com has him listed as the backup pg to Rondo, and it is likely he will lose minutes to him and possibly others this season. There is a perception that House has poor ball handling skills. He won't win any ball handling contests, but he won't lose the ball doing anything stupid either, and it's worth noting he averages about as many steals as to's over the course of his career. Last year was .8 steals to .7 tos. So basically whenever he loses the ball he steals it back. How a guy who has less than a turnover a game and has a positive assist to to ratio has such a bad rep as a ball handler is beyond me. When you go to the espn stats page and use the overall option House is 24th in stls/tos. That's a lot of players worse. He was actually the highest Celtic followed by Pruitt, followed by Rondo. To be fair assists to tos leaves a lot to be desired. While he ranked ahead of Ray and Kg he was behind both Pruitt and Marbury and ranked 132 in the league, which makes him one of the lowest pgs in the league in this regard. He's just not a huge passer. He's a spot up shooter who plays D and isn't overpaid at under 3mill. But he doesn't have the two left hands people say he has. When you watch him little jumps out about him if he's not on fire with his three pointers, but nothing jumps out negatively either. He's a solid solid backup guard. However he and I are on the back 9 of our careers. We're both old men at 31 and we now are reduced to attracting tremendous amounts of chicks with our stately gray hairs and old stories. But we can still teach the wippersnappers a thing or two and he will this year.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Sept 27, 2009 4:49:49 GMT -5
And now, the human wrecking ball....... Glen "Big Baby" Davis I remember the first time I saw the player they call, the Big Baby. It was 5 years ago in the 2004 McDonald's All-American game. He wasn't a starter for either side, and he wasn't getting much hype from the announcers (Dwight Howard, Josh Smith, and Sebastian Telfair were the marquee names that night). I have to admit, when I first got a glimpse of Glen Davis, I rolled my eyes. Here's a big heavy set, wide bodied kid trying to handle the ball as if he was a lead guard, and bowling over people in the paint trying to do a cute layup. It wasn't pretty, and it reminded me of Antoine Walker--another big man infatuated with ball handling. I thought to myself, "nope, not interested in getting this guy." For the next few years, Big Baby began to make a name for himself at Louisiana State University--earning high honors (like SEC Player of the Year in '06, and making the SEC 1st team). I watched him a few times during his days at LSU, and did note his improvement as a player (began to play more like a big man in the trenches and not dance around the court with the ball). But I still did not give him my endorsement. So it was to my disappointment that we drafted him in the 2nd round of the '07 draft. First of all, a month earlier, we were devastated when we found out that we did not win the 1st pick of the draft (which would have netted us Greg Oden or Kevin Durant). Secondly, Ainge pulled off a huge draft day trade that sent our 5th overall pick (along with Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak) for Ray Allen--I wasn't aware that this would later turn out to be a stepping stone towards landing Kevin Garnett, so initially, I was quite puzzled. And now, thinking we could still pull out a gem in the second round, I wasn't happy when we picked Glen Davis with the 35th pick. Danny Ainge clearly was not following the draft plans I had in mind. It was nothing personal that I had against Big Baby. He's a friendly guy with a cheerful attitude, he plays with passion and hustle, he's strong as an ox and he's quite mobile. But he's undersized, doesn't have long arms, and has a very limited vertical. To me, his negative attributes outweighed his positives. But I trusted Ainge's eye for talent, so I gave Baby the benefit of the doubt. Fast forward a couple of years to this present time I'm writing this article, and I'm here to tell you that I'm happy to have Big Baby on our team. When he entered free agency this summer, I hoped we would retain him (for the right price, of course), and I'm glad we were able to do so. Over the course of two years, he became valuable in my eyes. So what caused the change in my outlook? For one, he's found himself a nice niche off the bench. He's not a starter who struggles against taller Power Forwards, but an important bench player who provides offensive sparks in limted minutes. When he's on the floor, he's knocking down midrange jumpers, and using his boulder~ish body to plow his way for rebounds. His production off the bench has been one of the keys to our success the past 2 years. Secondly, he's ditched trying to act like a Point Guard. That's what irked me about him initially--I don't like seeing big Power Forwards dancing with the ball. Nowadays, the only time Baby puts the ball on the floor is when he's power dribbling to the basket. This I encourage because in spite of his hefty frame, Baby is still very nimble on his feet and can take most big men off the dribble. And lastly, he energizes the crowd and pumps up his teammates. He plays with such passion that it boils over onto the court. I remember his rookie year, he scored an And 1, and KG popped in his face to congratulate him, and Baby, still pumped up after the score, excitedly yelled back in KG's face. And who can forget the tears that flowed from his face after KG singled out the bench players for not pulling their weight in that game? With such emotion on display, he grew on me and I found it easy to root for him. 5 years ago, I wanted no part of Glen Big Baby Davis. Now, I'm hoping he can have a long career here in Boston. Baby's Stats so far in his young career2007(on the left) -- 2008 (on the right) Minutes per game: 13:35 -- 21:30 Points per game: 4.5 -- 7.0 ~FG%: 48.4 -- 44.2 ~FT% 66.0 -- 73.0 Rebounds per game: 3.0 -- 4.0 Pre-Season prediction for Baby:This is a tough one because now we have Rasheed Wallace in the mix. If Sheed wasn't here, and Baby was the first big man off the bench, I'd predict Baby to put up 9 ppg and 5 rpg (very respectable numbers for a bench player). But with Sheed taking precedence over Baby, and most likely taking up some of his minutes, I would not be surprised to see Baby's numbers remain similar to the ones he put up last year (7 and 4). But nonetheless, his contributions will be very important. Baby has been working on extending his range and losing weight to use his dribble penetrations more effectively, and these will add to his value as a bench scorer. And at 3 million per year, Big Baby gives us a lot of bang for the buck--especially when you consider he's capable of filling in as an emergency starter. With Rasheed and Baby being locked down for the next 2 years, Ainge can rest comfortably knowing he doesn't have to go out and find quality big men for his bench.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Sept 29, 2009 6:32:56 GMT -5
And now, Celtics' around good guy Brian Scalabrine By Freshnthehouse Brian Scalabrine is now entering the final year of the 5 year/15 million dollar contract he signed with the Celtics prior to the 2005-06 season. During his time with the Celtics, Scalabrine (or as the kids say, Veal) has had a complex relationship with the fans. During his first two years, he was a symbol of the eneptness the team displayed on the court, and to some a symbol of Danny Ainge's eneptness as a GM. Each of Scalabrine's mistakes were another example of how far removed we were from the playoff teams of the early 2000s. Eventually some of the knucklehead contingent in Celtics Nation started mocking Scalabrine whenever he received the ball during home games. But things changed during the 2007-08 season. With the Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen leading the way, the Celtics became one of the elite teams in the league. Ainge was now considered a genius, and Scalabrine went from an incompetent oaf to a valued teammate, joining M.L. Carr, Greg Kite, and Walter MCCarthy in the panthenon of beloved backups on winning Celtics teams. His best run during this time was when he admirabll filled in for an injured Kevin Garnett during a two week run late in the middle of the 07-08 season. But the one thing that did not change during this transformation is Scalabrine's game. His is a skill set like few others. On the negative side, he is a shockingly bad rebounder for someone that is 6'9". As a Celtic his rebounds per 36 minutes average is under five per game. That's disgusting. And on the offensive end, it doesn't get any less gruesome. Scalabrine's field goal percentage as a Celtics sits at .379, which brings to mind another 6'9" power forward that played for the Celtics (but to Scal's credit, he doesn't dance each time he makes a three pointer). After all that, one wonders how Scal has managed to stay in the league nine years. But Scal does do some things well. Field goal percentage aside, the guy can shoot (three pointers, at least). Over the last four seasons his three point field goal percentage sits at .375, which is solid for any player, let alone a power forward. And while he is not going to make anyone forget about Sidney Moncrief, Scalabrine is a pretty good defender. His forte is tweeners, whether they are perimeter-focused power forwards, or bruising small forwards. Scalabrine has done a good job defending the likes of AL Harrington in the past, and in the playoffs this year versus Orlando, he had a couple of inspired defensive showings against Rashard Lewis. But Scal's biggest contributions may be off the court. His teammates seem to love him. He has also shown that he has no problem leaving his ego at the door for the good of the team, which was evident when he didn't say a peep after being taken off the active roster during the 2007-08 playoffs. In 2009, Scal's biggest asset to the team may be his contract. He is in the last year of his deal (which wasn't nearly as onerous as some hand-wringers made it out to be), paying him roughly 3.5 million this season. And even those unfamiliar with the CBA know that expiring contracts are worth their weight in gold come trading time. Could he be sent packing at the trade deadline for a backup point guard? Will he finish out the year and ride quietly into the sunset, perhaps take up a room at Jack Haley's Home for Retired Towel Wavers? Perhaps. Or will he come back next year at a reduced price, reprising his role as Boston's favorite redhead? I hope so.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Oct 1, 2009 3:31:47 GMT -5
And now, Mr. Technical himself, Rasheed Wallace !!! (by RunRondo) Rasheed Wallace 6ft 11in 230lbs 35 years old I was reading some blogs the other day in ponderous thought, and I read that Rasheed Wallace won’t have much of an effect on the Boston Celtics. The first thing that popped to my mind was, “That’s Felonious”. Sheed averaged 12ppg 7.4rpg and 1.3bpg last year for a Pistons team that didn’t have much effort or heart compared to previous installments. Don’t expect to see the same kind of Sheed when he’s playing for the championship contending Boston Celtics with their intimidating starters that are sure to make opponents quiver now that they have an even stronger bench. Sheed doesn’t add one specific trait or identity to this team. Don’t make the assumption that The Sheed is a one-dimensional player, and most certainly not a one-dimensional person. He’ll have tremendous effect on the team and the lineups that Doc Rivers can utilize. He’s versatile in the fact that he can effectively guard the 4 and 5 spot, something even fellow Celtic Kevin Garnett prefers not to do. He’s a nightmare on both sides of the courts and will make sure the Celtic’s brand of defense never lets up, which will certainly make opponent’s blood turn over. Defense wins championships, and Sheed knows a little something about winning championships too, adding some extra experience to a team with already a surplus of playoff battles. Sheed brings lots of questions and negatives with him which are the attitude, effort, and technicals. Looking at the Celtics team and its foundation of players like Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and the wizard of all these stars Doc Rivers; I think it is safe to say that won’t be a problem with Sheed. When Rasheed is trying hard, playing tough defense, and grooving with his shot he is basically a menacing monster. It’s chilling to think of the possibilities Rasheedilicious will bring to this already proven team. The Boston Celtics almost beat the defending Eastern Conference champions without Kevin Garnett and an effective or solid bench. Imagine what will happen with a healthy Kevin, a motivated Sheed, a stronger bench, and improved Perkins and Rondo. Not to mention, a Paul Pierce without bone spurs, and a Ray Allen who is in the best shape of his life. There doesn’t seem to be a good reason to bet against the Celtics barring any injury, and even with injuries they still are deadly because of Sheed. On paper, and in basketball talk, the Celtics are daunting and are looking to take the Championship back from the fakers. Sheed isn’t that simple of a man though to only talk about his basketball skills. He’s talented, and certainly an all-star caliber player who will almost mimic the influence to the bench that KG had to the whole Celtics’ organization in his first year. Aside from that, he’s a complex individual with an interesting personality. He’s not crazy like Marbury doing live feeds, but he’s a very outspoken and entertaining person who will certainly liven up a locker room already filled with great influences. You could spend countless nights laughing at Sheed interviews on youtube, seriously go do it. Anyway, KG and Sheed already have a great friendship that allowed them to always show love and respect before a heated playoff battle. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce have played countless times against Sheed and will know what kind of player and person he is. Sheed won’t have trouble fitting into this locker room, and all the dynamic personalities. You have a lunatic in KG who would die with his effort, the classy role model in Ray Allen, the warrior and leader by example in Paul Pierce, the forbidding Perkins with the endearing smiling that shows once a month, and the mysterious Rondo who keeps to himself mostly. On the bench, you have the loony Big Baby, the hyper active House, the redhead comedian in Scal, and the great player coach and motivator in Doc Rivers. Not only will the Celtics have one of the most dynamic teams in the league, they will also have one of the liveliest locker room filled with vigorous energy to fulfill the goal you undertake when you put on that Celtics’ jersey. Sheed, my fellow Celtic fans, is ready to put on that jersey and shut up all the fe-lo-ni-ous predictions and misconceptions.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Oct 3, 2009 4:38:35 GMT -5
And now, a 6'5" wing man out of the University of New Mexico Jr Giddens !!! (by DerrenMatts) Unless you followed his college teams (Kansas and New Mexico) or caught the NBDL games in which he played in (for the Utah Flash), you probably don't know much about Justin Ray Giddens. I won't pretend I do either. So, what I will do, however, is give you my personal assessment of his game, his potential, and what I think his future role will be for the Boston Celtics, and in a few years, you can see how close or off the mark I was. How does that sound to you, Jr? (I'll take that as a Yes) So what are Giddens' strengths? From what I see, his main strength is his hustle. Now often times, the term "hustle" is used when a player isn't that good, but he tries hard and that's the nicest complement you can give him--but this isn't the case with Jr. His hustle, when combined with massive athleticism and basketball knowledge makes him quite a weapon. He's a player who can impact a game and make his presence felt without being the marquee name on the floor--the prototypical behind the scenes contributor. The kind of player you don't really notice until after the game, when you see the box score and it shows you all the ways in which he helped the team. His hustle makes him a solid rebounder, especially for his height (despite being only 6'5", he averaged 8.8 rpg in his final year at New Mexico). He'll also pick your pockets with his pressure defense, and with his jumping ability and long arms, he can also block a few shots. Of course, athleticism is also a big strength of his. He's a bit jerky with his action, but he's quick and explosive. He's an excellent leaper who looks like he glides on the air on his dunks. As a scorer, he may not be a go-to guy whom you give the ball in isolation to and ask him to carry the team. But as a complimentary scorer, Giddens is just fine. He'll get his fair share amount of points off of putbacks, as well as drain buckets off of switches and drives to the basket. He may not have a consistent jumper, but he can hit them in rhythm. From my perspective, Jr Giddens has the potential to play in the NBA for a long time. He's definitely athletic enough, and he's got enough basketball talent to keep himself employed. His ceiling is not that high, but you don't have to be an All-Star for teams to be interested in you. I think his future role is as a bench player who comes into the game and affects the tempo and excites the crowd with his energy. And his occasional breakaway dunk will bring the house down. That's pretty much what I can comment about Jr Giddens for now. Check out his YouTube video to get a better idea of his game.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Oct 4, 2009 22:32:15 GMT -5
And now, your second year Small Forward #12 Bill Walker !!! (by FLCeltsFan) Bill Walker is a 6'6", 235 lb small forward. He was a three-year starter at North College Hill High School in North College Hill, Ohio. After high school, Walker went on to Kansas State where he averaged 11.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in his first isx games. Unfortunately, in January of his freshman season, he ruptured the ACL in his left knee to abruptly end his season. He had ruptured the ACL in his right knee in 2003 and so surgery and rehab wasn't new to him. He was back for his sophomore season, averaging 16.1 Points and 6.3 rebounds in 31 games. On April 14, 2008, Walker announced along with teammate Michael Beasley, who was drafted by the Miami Heat, that he would enter the 2008 NBA Draft forgoing his last three years of college eligibility. Many considered Walker a lottery pick, but he suffered yet another knee injury while working out for the Golden State Warriors in preparation for the draft. He remained in the draft in spite of the injury. The Wizards picked Bill Walker out of Kansas with the 47th pick and traded him to Boston for cash considerations. As was the case with Leon Powe, Walker slipped to the late second round due questions about his surgically repaired knees. We haven't gotten to see much of Walker wIth the Celtics, but what we have seen makes us want more. Walker plays very tenacious defense and can GEt under the opposing players skin. He also is good for at least one electrifying dunk per game. Walker's Positives are that he is super athletic and is a versatile wing who is a beast when he puts the ball on the floor and gets to the rim. He can jump out of the gym and is also very quick. He has good handles and sees the floor well. He is a very good shooter with deep range. He is a hard worker and has a great attitude and is very teachable. His negatives are obvious: He has had 4 knee injuries: one to his right knee in 2003 and one to his left in 2007, one before the draft in 2008 and the fourth that he suffered at the start of training camp this year. Other than the problems with his knee, he doesn't have a lot of negatives. Last season, his first in the league, he split the Time between the Celtics parent team and their D-League affiliate, the Utah Flash. While with the Flash, he averaged 18.9 points, 5.30 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 15 games, in spite of battling a wrist injury while he was there. He shot 56% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. Walker spent the summer in Boston working on his game and also spending time giving back to the community. It seemed as though every week there was a new story about Bill Walker helping someone out. The latest knee injury really a tough break for a good kid who deserves a chance to show what he can do on the court. Recovery time from this latest injury is ESTimated to be 6-8 weeks. Hopefully, once he is given the go ahead to play again he will be given the chance to show the organization and fans what he can do.
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