And the Winner Is…

Posted by Mike Giardi July 14, 2008 at 12:47 pm

So James Posey’s suppose to be in Boston this afternoon/evening for the Celtics Champion ship DVD party at the TD BankNorth Garden . I think this is a private event. Or semi-private. What I’m wondering is, will Posey show up if he signs elsewhere, which may happen sometime today, according to his agent.

Now according to the article by the Globe’s Marc Spears, it appears the C’s don’t want to go beyond two years with their super-sub. I’d be stunned if that’s enough. Heck, if you’re Posey why would you accept that? This is likely your last chance at a bigger payday, and if the Wizards or Hornets step up with 3 or 4 years, doesn’t he have to walk? Posey’s already got two rings, and both the aforementioned teams are on the rise (one would think). I could totally see him fitting in in either locale, and being an important player these next couple of seasons.

Me personally, if giving the choice, I’d be in New Orleans in a heartbeat. The chance to play with Chris Paul, the second-coming of Isiah Thomas (the player, not the bungling GM), would be one heck of an allure. Plus David West is blossoming, and Tyson Chandler is very solid inside. That’s a team that could win the West next year. Heck, they could win a title with Posey healthy and contributing. Am I wrong? I guess we may find out in a few hours. I’m not one who usually looks forwards to the DVD/red carpet things. It’s not my style. But I’m anxiously awaiting this evening, and the chance to speak with Posey. Again, that is, if he’s here.

KG Needs to Settle the Score

Posted by Mike Giardi June 10, 2008 at 10:29 pm

I’m not one of those media guys or basketball analysts who will demand that Kevin Garnett live down on the block. That would be stupid. As we’ve learned KG’s game this season, its pretty evident that he’s not your classic back to the basket post scorer. I mean, he can score from down there, and his quickness in the paint makes him a hard guard. But Garnett’s big ticket is that 18-to-20 foot jumper. He is usually deadly from that range. In fact, one of those great stats that we are privy to has KG’s percentage on jumpers from outside the key but inside the 3-point line 9th in the NBA. 9th!! For a 7-footer (minus an inch or two)!

That said, Garnett’s shot selection in the first half of Game 3 in LA has been brutal. One fadeaway jumper after another. And then when he did get inside, he was too strong on a couple of layups. I don’t get it. I mean, do we give LA’s defense credit? I’m not sure I can do that. I think KG is just settling, and I suspect he’s going to hear about that at the break. The good news is, I feel pretty good he’ll rebound in half number two. With the C’s down just 6…this just might be doable…despite the lopsided free throw total. Of course, you just knew was going to happen the moment Phil Jackson got all critical in the postseason press conference Sunday night. Tonight, it’s 22-7 in LA’s favor after one half.

Mo Money

Posted by Mike Giardi June 7, 2008 at 9:58 am

It has been as subject that has been worn out for months now, but the NFL and its players union really need a way to figure out how to cap these rookie salaries. Take the Raiders, for example. They draft Darren McFadden, the Arkansas running back, 4th overall. Six weeks later, a player who’s never touched the ball once in an NFL game, gets a 60-million dollar deal over six seasons. This, for a player who’s not considered durable enough to be a 25-carry per game guy!

If McFadden stinks on wheat, and never does a single thing in the league, his guaranteed dollars are anywhere between 19 and 26 million, depending on who you believe. That’s so out-of-whack with what the veterans are getting paid, I can see why the owners want out of the CBA. Of course, they signed off on the deal a few seasons ago, so I guess they asked for it. But regardless of how we got here, its something that needs to be changed, for the benefit of the league, and for the benefit of proven 5 and 6-year vets who don’t deserve to be making chump change as compared to some fresh-faced rookie.

Anyway, on to the local stuff. We will have more on Celtics star Paul Pierce’s knee later today, so be sure and check us out during at least one of the 10 or so sportscasts we’ll have this afternoon and evening. And of course, do check out Sports Late Night, our signature show. We’ll break out a newcomer as a guest, Scott Souza, who’s as smart a writer as there is covering the C’s.

Key to Game 3

Posted by Mike Giardi May 24, 2008 at 7:00 pm

I don’t know if you’ve heard this, but the Celtics have yet to earn a postseason road victory. We in the media obsessed about it during the Atlanta series, then even more so during Round 2 against Cleveland. But it didn’t matter. Seriously. As long as the C’s took care of business at home, they could still win an NBA title. Now, that premise has changed. The Celts no longer have the aura of a invincibility at home, losing Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals Thursday night. That means - in order to win this series and get to the NBA Finals - Pierce, Garnett, Allen and company must win at the Palace in Auburn Hills. Is it possible? Without question.

If you’re a C’s fan, you gotta remember January 5th of this year. And I’m not talking about just looking at the box score. That was the night the Green team had a score to settle, and that’s exactly what they did. A 7-point win, which is probably best remembered as the coming out party for Glen “Big Baby” Davis.

But here’s the key. It could have been anyone. Leon Powe. P.J. Brown. Even Kendrick Perkins, who once got 10 and 20 against Detroit this season. That was sorely lacking Thursday night. The bench scored just 8 points total in 57 minutes. I mean, I realize the C’s are built around the ”Big 2″ and Ray Allen, but 8 points?! Just 11 shots?!? That crew has to be more aggressive. Heck, put Sam Cassell out there. At least he won’t be shy about hoisting it up. I’m not kidding, despite my earlier critiques of that noted gunslinger. Someone from the second “5″ has to be willing to step up, or the Celts will find themselves stepping out, a round earlier than they should.

Pierce Has His Moment

Posted by Mike Giardi May 18, 2008 at 9:52 pm

LeBron James got the points. He had 45 in today’s Game 7 showdown at the Garden, the most any player has ever gotten in NBA history of Game 7’s. But Paul Pierce was better, and consequently, it his team that moves on to the Eastern Conference finals.

Pierce did everything short of sweeping the floors during timeouts. He willed the C’s through a difficult first-half offensively by scoring 26 of the team’s 50. Then, in the 4th Quarter, with LeBron on his way to Dictatorship, the C’s captain hit some crucial buckets with LeBron draped all over him. Oh, that’s step-back J’s were money. Pierce finished with 41 points, hitting 13-of-23 from the floor. That’s the best I’ve ever seen him play at the offensive end. He must feel like a King tonight.

I won’t call this is a defining moment for PP. We love to do that in media - find the turning point or call something a “Statement Game,” but this is, after all, only Round 2. Of course, if the C’s end up as the last team standing come mid-June, I reserve the right to change my mind.

The Truth Will Set You Free…

Posted by Mike Giardi May 18, 2008 at 5:10 pm

What more needs to be said? Paul Pierce has been tremendous in the first half, by far and away the best player on the floor. Pierce with 26 of the Celtics 50 points, including a big 3 after the Cavs had creeped to within 8. He’s been aggressive, taking the ball to the hole consistently. He’s also mastered that little step back jumper, and when its flowing like it is now, the C’s just need to keep feeding their captain the ball.

Pierce did take a solid hit just before the break, and appeared to have injured his hip. That will certainly bear watching come the 2nd Half.

I’d also like to point out that the bench did a nice job, especially Eddie House. Mark Jackson was praising House for his professionalism, saying that there were some guys he played with back in the day who would have mentally checked out after not playing for much of the first two rounds. Not House, who’s shooting is a little off today (1-for-4) but he did take care of the ball in that half, committing just one turnover. Also of note, his hustle play on a loose ball that led to a pair of James Posey free throws. House’s effort didnt go unnoticed by Posey or the Garden crowd, who got geeked up. Now that’s what I’m talking about…

1st Quarter Thoughts…

Posted by Mike Giardi May 18, 2008 at 4:20 pm

Love how aggressive Paul Pierce was in that opening quarter. He needs to be the guy today. So far, he has, with 9 points. At its not just at one end. PP really hounding LeBron defensively. Quite frankly, he’s done a damn good job at it all season.

- Doc Rivers harped on rebounding before the series started. He’s harped on it before and after every game of this series. When the C’s do it, they win. When they don’t, they lose. Simple as that. Today, great work in the first 12 minutes, especially a) limiting the Cavs work on the offensive glass while b) conversely, doing a terrific job on second-chance opportunities themselves. Nice to see Leon Powe get a chance to play today. Thought Doc made a mistake in Game 6 keeping Powe rooted to the bench. Doesn’t seem to be the case this afternoon.

- Lastly, the Cavs supporting cast is not in the flow. Big Z is throwing up an oh-fer, Wally hasn’t been strong enough looking for his shot and, quite frankly, Damon Jones is no Boobie Gibson, and that’s scary for the Cavs.

Ray Ray is M.I.A.

Posted by Mike Giardi May 17, 2008 at 9:19 am

At what point do we stop calling the Celtics stars the “Big 3,” or “New 3,” or “Three Amigos,” or what have you, and just call it like it is: the C’s have two very good/great players and one shell of his former self. The latter, of course, being Ray Allen. He has been a non-factor in this series, much like he was a non-factor versus Atlanta. Oh sure, there’s been a game here, or a moment there, but Allen has mostly been invisible. If that trend continues, the Celts won’t beat Detroit in the Eastern Conference finals.

No preamble here. No “Ray’s a good guy.” I’m not going to cut him slack because he’s had to make the biggest adjustment of any player on the team; at least, any player acquired before Sam Cassell. That was allowed during the regular season. Allen’s now had 82 of those and another 13 games in the playoffs to adjust. Unless that adjustment consists of the C’s shooting guard becoming a wallflower, I’d say he’s failed at the most critical time, during the NBA’s second season.

Here’s what should have Celts fans ticked: Ray’s getting his lunch money taken by Wallly Szczerbiak (I spelled it right on the first try!). We saw Wally’s World up close and personal. He was mediocre. But somehow, a slow, deliberate player at both ends has locked up a more fluid athlete with superior foot speed. Maybe I need to change my thinking. Maybe the words I just used to describe Wally fit Allen as well. All I know is that even on an off-night for Wally, he still hit a big shot last night. Ray, on the other hand, had a typical postseason outing for himself - 9 points and a big doughnut hole on 3 attempts from 3-point land. Rich and compelling? I think not.

Doc is on record as saying he thinks the C’s can win without Ray. Against Atlanta? Sure. Versus LeBron and the Cavs? I’ll buy it. But in the Eastern Conference finals over Detroit? No way. That team is playing its best basketball at the right time. The Celts aren’t. All the blame doesn’t fall on Ray, but he’s got to shoulder the load, good guy or not.

Hey Doc…Rondo’s the Right One!

Posted by Mike Giardi May 14, 2008 at 1:36 pm

Heading into Game 4, Rajon Rondo said he would take more offensive responsibility, pushing the ball in transition, being aggressive in half-court sets. I guess, in taking 14 shots and scoring 15 points, you could argue that the C’s point guard did just that. But I would argue the exact opposite. I would argue that the Rondo we saw on the floor Monday night is the same shell-of-his-former-self we’ve watched since halftime of the opener against Cleveland, and that should have fans of this team saying, “uh oh,” over and over again.

Where did the Rondo, who emerged as one of the brightest young point guard in the league, go? The defensive menace who held his own against the likes of Chris Paul, Tony Parker and Jason Kidd (I’m omitting Jazz frontman Deron Williams, who absolutely crushed the smaller Rondo). The explosive offensive threat who scorched Jameer Nelson of Orlando and Denver’s Allen Iverson, and shamed poor Raymond Felton into retirement (I’m making that up, but Felton should have called it quits after Rondo torched him)?

That Rondo has been jerked around by a Head Coach who should know better. He should know - after 82 regular season games and 11 in the postseason - that his best chance to win is to let Rondo have the ball in his hands. He’s smarter than just about any Celtic on the floor, and whatever he lacks in experience, Rondo makes up for with his freakish speed and arms of a 7-footer. At this point in the year, Rondo has earned his playing time.

Sam Cassell, on the other hand, has earned an 8-minute cameo at PG (end of opening quarter into the second and again at the end of the 3rd), and maybe, in light of Ray Allen’s disappearance, another 15 at the two. But I am so sick of him jacking up shots with double digits on the shot clock. I’m sick of the offense coming to a standstill when he’s pounding the ball into the floor. That’s not how the C’s won 66 games in the regular season. Yes, you’ll need Cassell at a later time in these playoffs. But there may not be a later time in the playoffs unless order is restored and Rondo gets the keys to this offense again. Its the right thing to do, and a former point guard named Doc should understand that better than anyone.

4th Quarter Flameout

Posted by Mike Giardi May 13, 2008 at 10:41 am

Boy, this is aggravating. The Celtics continue to have opportunities to win on the road, and continue to let them slip away. Down 3 going into the final quarter last night, the C’s score just 12 points. That’s not a misprint. 12! You should get 12 by accident, with weapons like Allen, Garnett and Pierce littering the roster. But not these guys, not in these playoffs. Perhaps that why C’s Coach Doc Rivers said that his team needed to play better “under stress.”

When I heard that, I said “uh oh.” You knew that quote would be presented to the Celts stars. It was, and the results were predictable. According to the Boston Globe, they didn’t like.  Garnett refused to acknowledge that the team was lacking poise, and then turned around and put some of the struggles on his coach.

“In a situation like ours, we are trying to do everything that Doc wants us to do. He makes all the calls. He gives us direction. For the most part, we pretty much try to do what he wants.”

Call me crazy, KG, but I don’t think Doc is designing play for you to take 20-foot jumpers with the game on the line. How about you park you butt on the block, and the offense runs through you from there? That’s what your Coach has wanted all season, and it worked to the tune of 66 regular season wins. During the second half last night, the “Big Ticket” peeled out of the post because of pressure from Anderson Varejao. Yeah, Sideshow Bob did a nice job working over the C’s MVP. That’s scary. The two men aren’t even close in talent, and Varejao was actually questionable coming in with a knee injury.

Paul Pierce also had issues with Doc’s quote, saying, “I don’t know what he means. I’m stressed every game. Stressed to get a win.” Hmmm, then shouldn’t it be incumbent on Pierce to get to the rack, and get to the line? Yes, PP took 17 shots (hitting a paltry 6), but he earned just two free throws. This went on during the Atlanta series as well, and you have to wonder if the light will go on the next time the C’s are in Cleveland.

Mercifully, the Celts are back at home tomorrow night, and I fully expect them to play better and to win. Of course, LeBron might have something to say about that. He went 7-for-20, his 4th straight subpar shooting night. I keep saying “The King” is due to bust out. The C’s better hope that doesn’t happen in Game 5, because I wouldn’t bet a cent on them winning away from the Garden a couple of nights later.

 

 

 

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