Four straight west coast games, four straight losses. Celtics lose once again to the hot Jazz 87-105, in a game which the Celtics never had any control. West and Pierce had a fairly decent game, while Telfair did absolutely nothing in 6 minutes with Perkins not doing much better. I’m not sure why I even write a post game thread anymore since the outcome is the same every game. With one west coast game left Monday against the Rockets, the outcome once again looks the same.
Not much news going around today as expected, other then the usual “Celtics Lose or the “Celtics one step Closer to Durant or Oden sweepstakes”. Well their is some injury news to report today. Wally will be out for atleast a week as he will see three doctors about his ankles, which has be sprained 5 time, three to the left and two to the right ankle.
Boston Herald….
After getting examined here (LA), Szczerbiak was sent back east. He’ll be re-examined in New York and then again in Boston by Dr. Brian McKeon, the Celtics’ team physician.
With the season pretty well over why even play Wally anymore, it doesn’t make sence. Just give more minutes the Gerald Green, which is not a bad thing and is who we want to watch.
I really don’t like to get off topic from the Celtics, but to let you guys know that Celticsnorespect my partner on the blog has joined the army. As of right now he is some wear at boot camp, which from their he will try to emeal me articles time to time.
Another embarrassing loss tonight in a game I honestly thought we should of won. The good news is the Grizzles lost tonight so we are another game closer to end the season with the worst record. I never win the lottery so maybe the Celtics can win one for me.
The rivalry game of them all, Celtics vs Lakers, doesn’t seem to exciting anymore though does it. But with playoff birth chances gone I have actually been hoping for the Celtics to lose. But not today, out of all the games this season just this once I want them to win. But more then that the Celtics have win tonight’s game, if not for themselves, then they should do it for Dennis Johnson who played so great against the Lakers. Also for the first time this season I’m actually planning on the Celtics win tonight’s game, I expect Pierce and G-money to step up big, but unlike the game early this season somebody has to play some D on Bryant. However, it has been a very long and sad season for Celtics fans, and this is the last game this season I am looking forward to, which is very sad for me to say.
Another Celtic Great Gone
Published February 22, 2007 By Celticsnorespect/Celtics General Leave a Comment
Sad news today with the death of Celtics Great Dennis Johnson at the age of 52. Johnson won three championships and was a five time All Star. He died after collapsing at the end of his developmental teams practice in Auston, TX.
From ESPN….
“He was one of the most underrated players in the history of the game, in my opinion, and one of the greatest Celtic acquisitions of all time,” said former Boston teammate Danny Ainge, now the Celtics’ executive director of basketball operations.
Another loss, are we going back onto another long losing streak? True, we are on a tough 5 game west coast road trip, which we aren’t expected nor probably will we win any and two of the games are already down. But then we come back home on the 28th to face the Knicks which I don’t see us winning that game either since the Knicks aren’t doing all that bad this month, I don’t see us winning a game until March. Honestly, I just cant wait till this season ends, and I’m sure many other Celtics fans feel the same way. Bring on the lottery!
The Trade Deadline….
Published February 21, 2007 By Celticsnorespect/Celtics General Leave a CommentFor the first time since Ainge has been a general manager of the Boston we will not make a trade in the regular season. Since his being brought here in 2003 he has traded any combination o Antoine Walker, Tony Delk, Eric Williams, Tony Battie, Kedrick Brown Mark Blount, Walter McCarty, Ricky Davis, Chucky Atkins, Mike James, Jiri Welsch and has received any combination of Antoine Walker, Ricky Davis, Wally Szczerbiak, Chucky Atkins, Jiri Welsch and Gary Payton.
In that time he has used the various low end picks he has acquired in these trades and our own picks to draft the likes of Delonte West, Tony Allen, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Rajon Rondo and Al Jefferson. All but one of these picks are averaging at least 10 PPG, and Gerlad Green is averagingjust under 10 PPG, and is a sharp shooter from the 3 point line. Al Jefferson is averaging a double double, Rajon Rondo is an emerging stellar playmaker. This is a nice core of players who are beginning to compliment the likes of Paul Pierce the All-Star very well. The unique thing about these players is that none of them were lottery choices, all of them picks by teams that were in the playoffs, including our own. It appears we have a core of players that can function well.
So it should come as no surprise that Doc Rivers recently told the media that he isn’t expecting any trades during the season, and that Danny Ainge is happy to see what the lottery offers him. With that group of players I just mentioned he accomplished the two goals he set out to accomplish: to make the team younger and more athletic. With the likes of a potentially very young draft choice he can do the same thing in this draft as well.
Ainge had a tough task ahead of the 2003 season. It had just been swept in the second round. Antoine Walker was the playoff dunce, while the team that made a good run in the Eastern Conference Finals the year before did not have Kenny Anderson, Erick Strickland, or Rodney Rogers. Solid contributors Tony Delk, Eric Williams, Tony Battie, and others clearly were not gonna take over the team and we weren’t getting any younger, and Walker just wasn’t cutting it as a franchise player. So he accomplished his roster overhaul, and got rid of players that were either at the end of the spiral down or were heading there.
Despite the record Ainge is sitting pretty, he has a core of young players that many GMs have acquired and has a high draft pick in a very deep draft. Next year is gonna be the do or die year for Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge. This is the roster they wanted. Big Al will be in his fourth year, Allen will be a more mature fourth year player, they have proven they are talented but can they win even just a little bit? This current roster and the draft pick will definitely go along way to show if no trades at the deadline will be worth it.
The Celtics are taking on the kings tonight for their second time this season. Tonights game is also the start of the five game west coast road trip, which the Kings are the only team below .500 record. Looks like this is another chance to get a even worse record, which may not be all that bad, and we all know why.
In other news RealGM is reporting that the Celtics sent Allan Ray down to the D-league…
“The Boston Celtics announced today that they have assigned rookie guard Allan Ray to their NBA Development League affiliate Austin Toros”
First Half Standouts and Disapointments
Published February 20, 2007 By Celticsnorespect/Celtics General Leave a CommentWell it’s half way through the season, this team in terms of record has been pretty disapointing, but our individual players have been up and down, there has been some good and some bad. So who was a standout and who was a disapointment?
Standouts:
Al Jefferson: In his first two years he showed so much potential, but never produced consistently. Now he is averaging a double double, shooting the ball a lot more, and has proven to be a defensive presence as well. It seems that he will have a long future with this team.
Tony Allen: Injuries and personal issues dogged him last year, and he started out very slow this year, nervous about his injury. After a slow start he turned out to be a superior pressure defender, wreaking havoc on wing players, and becoming a strong offensive presence, at one stretch before his injury averaging 20 points a night, became a good rebounder, and his vision was above average. Dare I say he was becoming as good as Dwayne Wade? Well he had some moments where he looked unbelievable. But he will be back next year, and I think he will be as good as he was this year.
Rajon Rondo: A speed demon, defensive stopper, and gamer in college when his role expanded with the Celtics he gave those same qualities to a team that really needed them. He fills up the stat sheet, and his leadership, playmaking, and defensive on the ball pressure doesn’t show up on the stat sheet. A point guard of his calibur seems to be the future of this team.
Paul Pierce: Future Hall of Famer, little else to say about him.
Disapointments:
Kendrick Perkins: For a man who was supposed to be the next defensive stopper he showed a lot of potential before, but his role has been limited due to injuries. He is locked up with us for some time. He could pan out but he hasn’t thus far. He could be a good packup in the future. He hasn’t been totally awful, just not what everyone was expecting him to be.
Wally Szczerbiak: Normally a very dependable clutch sharpshooter injuries have limited his role. When healthy he is a much better and underrated player, who is a guy who works every night. He may never be the same player, but at least he doens’t demand touches, unlike let’s say a current Timberwolf many Celtic fans are familiar with.
Sebastian Telfair: Everyone makes mistakes. Let’s call Sebastian Telfair Ainge’s folly. Telfair was a hot prospect out of high school, a flashy speedy point guard that could get a team moving. After a promising start he has leveled off completely, not showing any signs of life, and ceding playing time to Rondo and Delonte at the point guard position. Perkins and Wally have a role with this team even injured to make us win. At this point Telfair seems to be nothing more than a garbage man.
And one last category: Laterals:
Who has stood still this year? Who are guys that have been consistent, not gone up or down?
-Delonte West- This guy produces every night, he is a gamer, and a vety well-rounded player. He was drafted at 25 and He plays like a lottery pick. This guy is a very nice role player.
-Ryan Gomes- How many men drafted 50th average 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists a game? The answer is Ryan Gomes, and unbelievable he was drafted 50th. He is a quiet role player. When I see him in person he never does anything spectacular, just comes out and does his job. When I saw him in person I looked up at the scoreboard toward the end of the game mostly looking at Big Al and Tony Allen, and I saw he had 18 points, while completely shutting down his man Zach Randolph.
These two are role players, guys that could be the star, aren’t and just want to win. Guys like these are integral parts of championships. Let’s hope we keep them.
