Short and Sweet

   This won't be long because the Celtics don't deserve it after that game. They lost big to a shitty New Orleans team. Is it because it was their 3rd game in 4 nights? Maybe, but still no excuse. The Celtics are missing Pierce out there and it is showing. A complete lack of offense and production from the starters..cough cough KG cough needs to change starting at the home opener on Friday against Detroit.
    The one positive from the game tonight, before I turned it off, was big Greg Stiemsma and his 6 block 4 rebound performance. He was a big presence when he was in and I think that you may see him more in the next few games. Especially if the refs keep putting J O'Neal in foul trouble.
     The refs were just as bad tonight and that's all I'm going to say. They all need to get their shit together. The NBA has a serious problem on their hands. Oh yeah and Doc said wel looked old tonight! He was right folks don't flip out at the screen or at me. They were sluggish and were not running the floor. KG only had  8 points and 7 rebounds!
      Going off of that I'm worried about KG. He isn't putting up solid numbers and he truly is playing "old" basketball. He isn't a low post threat and he has been leveled down to his 15 foot jump shot (not that it doesn't work). If the Celtics look to stay relevant this season I believe KG needs to look for his shot and be more aggressive again. He needs to re-kindle some Minnesota swag and get back to being the big ticket. KG needs to step it up quickly!


Rondo: 13pts, 6 assists, and 1 steal

P.S. Pierce is looking like he is going to play against Detroit. May not play his normal minutes, but some is better than no Pierce at all.

Well...Not That Bad For A Loss

      So, that was a joke. The refs have now screwed the Celtics from two wins now (Agreed with by Jesse Bannister). Look, the Celtics didn't lose that badly considering what they were playing through: NO Pierce, TERRIBLE refs, and Sasha Pavlovic playing. Ray Allen had a spectacular game going 28-4 and 3. (Assists then rebounds) He went 8-12 while being 6-8 from downtown. Ray is what kept the celtics in the game until the 4th quarter when the C's made a run.

Yeah KG, I think it's become a laughing matter too!

    This was probably the best loss I have ever seen. I don't think I could be more proud of a loss. If it wasn't for Rookie Norris Cole with 20 HUGE points off the bench..especially three big jumpers at the end...the C's probably could've finished the comeback. (Sorry for the lacking of flow, I'm just kind of annoyed with the refs)
     Most people will say the refs shouldn't matter and that the players lost the game. That may be true but the NBA has a pretty good case against that tonight in Miami. Look, the Celtics played terrible in the beginning. BUT, when the free throw difference is 15 attempts to 3 after one quarter, where both teams were driving and getting hacked at, there is something wrong. I'm not going to sit here and rant (more than I already have) but clearly the lockout fixed nothing! ANDDDD, we all no Lebron wand Wade will never foul out of a game....ever! David Stern would never allow it.
     Anyway, I think I've said enough, and well the Heat don't deserve me to talk about them except for Cole stepping it up big time. So overall picture from the game. This shows that it's there for the C's, they just need more time with the bench (Fucking Lockout). They have the team that can pull it together and the first two games, even tough losses, show this a lot to me. They are going to surprise people. I expect the Celtics to make a decent push with this team (Pietrus included). Even if it takes time and they get in the playoffs as a 4 or 5 seed. They still avoid the Heat and Bulls for the first round and can go make a run with the momentum they will have. They are not favorites by any means, but just don't count them out yet. STAY TUNED!

P.S. Rondo's stat line: 22 points 12 assists and 8 rebounds. Another RONDOGASM type game! Oh and to Jesse...Rondo will stay aggressive when Paul comes back...thats a sure thing. He knows better now that he is the engine and needs to run and get to the line.

Can the Celtics Splash the Simmering Heat?

"Now, Celtics-Heat? Yeah, that's got the "R" word written all over it." (RedsArmy.com)


The Celtics and Heat are Rivals...no matter the argument.

 The celtics take on their rivals Miami Heat tonight in a playoff rematch from last season. They look for a little payback since being knocked out of the postseason in embarrassing fashion by the Heat. I believe that the Celtics can win tonight (unlike most media), but it's going to be hard. There are three things that the C's need to do in order to win this game tonight. If they don't, they are going to get run off the floor.
    First, they need to keep the Heat from making this a track meet. The Heat have the best full court break in the league with Lebron James and Dwayne Wade. If they start running, this game will be over quick. The C's need to get into a half court rhythm and slow the tempo of the game down. Yes, they need the fast break, but if they start running back and forth all game, their old legs will eventually be left in the back court. So key number one is play a good half court style game, and make it a defensive battle.
    Second, Rondo needs to stay agressive like on Christmas Day. With the big 3 aging, and Pierce out, Rondo is now the engine of this team. He needs to take his shot when it's there and keep his team involved at the same time. He can be a one man fast break, and he'll need to do that sometimes when the older guys are on the floor with him.
    The third thing is turn LeBitch (Lebron) into a jump shooter. He can get to the hole better than anyone in the league, and once he beats you, there is no stopping him. The C's are going to need to play a team defense to stay in front of him and force him into awkward shots. Same thing goes for Wade. He is the best slasher in the game (Wade) and with Lebron by his side, he can be nearly unstoppable. I'd be happy if Bosh does some scoring that means the other 2 aren't; and let's face it, Bosh just isn't a superstar. He looks like an alien and has a decent post game. Bosh is a role player and a supporting act for the two real stars of South Beach.

     So overall, I actually do have the Heat winning this game. I hope I'm wrong, but unless the Celtics play a flawless game, it's not going to happen. The Heat are practically the same team from last year and already have chemistry. They started out strong on Christmas and looked untouchable. Where as the Celtics have a lot of new faces and with the short pre-season, are now still trying to find that gel-like chemistry (Also Pierce being out does not help). I think the Heat win 108-95, and the Celtics are winded after what is looking to become a track meet sprint to the finish.

RONDOGASM!...But Still Came Up Short

Rondo just resting up
(From when he was elbowed in the head by Chandler)

So the lockout didn't fix anything....including Joey Crawford's damn ego. He's still all about making everyone focus on him.

      Regardless of the terrible officiating, the reality is the celtics did lose today by two to the Knicks. According to most "experts" this game proves that the Knicks are better and will win the Atlantic Division.  I say that's crap. I think that there were a lot of positives to take from this game: Rondo and his aggression, the second half defense, and the play of Brandon Bass is my main focus.
      Rondo's stat line was 31 points, 13 assists and 5 steals. Rondo had his normal high assist game, including a mind-blowing pass left from half court. My big plus for him today, however, is the fact that he was aggressive and took his shot when it was open; and made it. Yes, most of his points were lay-ups and free-throws, but his jump shot looked smooth and clean when he took it (Rondo was 11-19 from the field). In the entire first half, he was a one man team as he was doing everything from stealing to scoring.
       Besides Rondo making us all RONDOGASM (yes new word), the C's truly stepped up their defense to another level in the second half. The Knicks scored 62 points in the first half, then only to score 44 in the second (only 17 in the third quarter). I consider this to be because of KG and O'Neal. Yes, Jermaine actually made an impact. He was swatting the ball everywhere and getting the right spot in transition. Unlike his usual lard self, he moved well and looked healthy.
       Now, the Celtics went fishin' in the shortened training camp, and did they score a big one. Bass finished today's game with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Bass did it all and his hustle was tremendous. In the third quarter run that the C's had, Bass was a big part of the scoring and defensive push. I feel that Bass is going to include this type of performance throughout the season and that trade is going to pay off (Big Baby didn't even start today!).
       Another thing I wanted to touch on was the Paul Pierce situation. In my opinion, if Pierce plays, then the C's win this game no problem. Think about it. If Pierce plays, he's playing Defense on Melo, not Marquis (who did have a solid day). That would put more pressure on Melo and probably take some points off the stat sheet. If he plays, he takes that shot at the end from the corner for the win, not Marquis.        
I have no disrespect for Daniels, but he is not a pressure situation player. He doesn't have the experience late in games like Pierce. Pierce has ice in his veins, all he does is knock down those shots. He buit a complete career around it. Having this all thought and said, Doc still puts it on the players on the floor, and quietly on the refs:


“Fourth-quarter technicals on our team are not allowed,’’ Rivers said. “That being said, the game has to be about the players. All right? I mean, c’mon. I thought both teams were complaining just the same, and we got the two techs. The game has to be about the players on the floor. That’s it.” 


This just speaks it all, Doc was not happy with the game...and the refs? Also SHAQ had a few things to say via twitter about Joey Crawford's "performance."

Right? THIS IS WHY I LOVE SHAQ!

Oh here is Rondo's pass I was talking about....RONDOGASM!

Another Chance

Jeff Green has re-signed with the Celtics for a one year deal! No it's not that multi-year deal that everyone expected...considering he has pressure to replace Paul. For now, he's in green...let's see what happens.

On a side note, the C's only watched film today because they only had nine players (including Tyronn Lue).

Lay Down The LAW David Stern

Just saw this today and thought I'd post this!

UPDATE: Chris Paul could still end up in LA...working out the deal so the league won't reject it.
Possibly could include Bynum so Lakers couldn't go after Howard...WHO could be going to NJ/Brooklyn anyway...updates on both to come!

The C's Went Fishin'

This excitement will intensify playing with KG

The Celtics went fishing and came back with a 6' 8'', 250 pound Bass..

Big Baby has been traded to Orlando FOR.....BRANDON BASS...not very exciting but still good.

I like this trade because, even though it's pretty much identical players, both will benefit from new scenes. Bass has not played to his potential and things have not worked out for him in Orlando. However, under the right system, aka DOC, he will re flourish and become the player he can be.

Dutt acknowledges that replacing Davis won't be easy. But Bass, he says, is more than up to the challenge


Bass says that he is embracing being a celtic and can't wait for the opportunity. He knows that Davis had a big role here and that he has to live up to expectations. He is excited to come in and learn from the big 3...especially KG.


Baby signed for $26 million to average about double what he was making here. Hope a change of scenery makes him earn that. Davis had a good run in Boston, but his time had drawn to an end. The baby era is over...it's time to do some fishin'!

Well Now this is Awkward...

Lamar Odam when he thought he was going to be traded

     

      First, CP3 was going to the Lakers, Pau to Houston and Lamar to New Orleans. It was even texted out by ESPN..Yeah that official. Then about an hour later...right after I witnessed the crushing Bruins loss, the league pulled back the trade for "basketball reasons." Again, ESPN texted it out. Confused yet? It's okay so is the rest of the damn country. It all happened so fast some of you probably slept through Paul's career as a laker.
        But, now what? If the trade doesn't get re-worked or anything, then all three players go back to their respective teams. Lamar was upset the most over this, even tweeting "Wow! Talk 2 me people. I couldn't even get the phone call." and "When a team trades u and it doesn't go down? Now what?" He is right, now what? It's going to be an awkward situation.
       Anyway, do why did the league back off the trade? I have two theories:


1. Since the league owns the Hornets, they pulled the plug because they didn't want people to see that they were trying to make LA better. (More conspiracy than anything)


2. They pulled the plug because they were pressured by the owners to not let it go through...this is my personal favorite.


According to sources, the deal fell through because the owners didn't hear about the deal:


NBA spokesman Mike Bass says: "It's not true that the owners killed the deal, the deal was never discussed at the Board of Governors meeting and the league office declined to make the trade for basketball reasons."


I highly doubt that this is the whole truth because it could've been brought out before the official free agency opening tomorrow. I feel that there is another reason why this trade got snipped, but who knows if it'll ever come out. All I can say is, Rondo isn't off the hook yet.
     

AWKWARRRRRRD

So basically, Bobby V and Francona switched jobs....so that's a bit awkward

Still On Chris Paul?

Supposedly, now We are signing and trading Jeff Green, Rajon Rondo and two first round picks for Paul. Also Avery Bradley is also in the mix. (This would be a four team trade.)

This is crazy!..it may be crazy enough to work. Being a homer, I don't want to see Rondo go, but it would be great if Danny could pull this off. Think about it. Bring in CP3 to play with the BIG 3 and hopefully win a title. If all goes well, we raise 18. Then, clear up cap room because KG and Ray's contracts will be up. Who do you give that money too? With the help of Paul, Dwight Howard. He will enrich himself here in the culture and the tradition. If he likes it, he'll convince Dwight to come and then the C'S build around them two and Pierce until he retires. (Possibly KG and Ray if they sign extensions for less) With the right bench this year they can win if they get help..CP3 could be that help. But do you really want to see this happen?

My take on it is still the same. It's not going to work. Rondo will be in green this season!

Where Johnny Damon Needs to Keep His Mouth Shut

Once known as the face of the franchise, Johnny Damon is now corrupting it. Johnny was seen playing in David Ortiz's golf tourney down in la'dominicano (Tried to be Fancy) Republic. He was also caught telling David Ortiz that he should go to the Bronx and take advantage of the short porch:

"Sign with the Yankees and take advantage of that right-field porch at Yankee Stadium."

Then, he decided to say this:


“Shoot, I was trying to tell him if he went to New York his 30 home runs turns into 40,’’ Damon said. “He still has a great chance to win. I’m happy I got to experience both sides [of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry]. Both sides were very incredible for me."

Johnny...please shut up. Just because you were a greedy ass who wanted the money, doesn't mean that's David Ortiz. So, telling him that the short porch is the reason he should go his horse-shit. He goes where he wants and he has already stated he would love to return to the city of champs. Just because you were as ass and left, doesn't mean you can rub off on anybody else. 


(quotes courtesy of Ted's Army) 


PS. FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER JSCAL18

UPDATE! ONLY A SCENARIO!: Chris Paul and Trevor Ariza to Boston; Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley and Emeka Okafor to Indiana; Brandon Rush, Darren Collison, Paul George, Roy Hibbert, Glen Davis and Boston's first-round pick in 2012 to New Orleans. (courtesy Reds Army and John Hollinger)

There has been talks about trading Rondo, not trading Rondo, and I still say don't do it. Rondo is still young and his shot will develop more. Yes, I'm being a fan, but I do believe Rondo is still the better option. He has proven himself in the playoffs and has a ring. I'd take that any day of the week. And besides, Paul already said he would NOT sign the extension if traded here. We'd have him for this shortened season and that's it. Not really worth losing Rondo for good in my opinion.