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.
Willis Reed?!?! Not From Where I Was Sitting
Posted by Mike Giardi June 6, 2008 at 11:30 am
The immortal Stuart Scott of ESPN intimated that Paul Pierce pulled a Willis Reed last night. If PP needs surgery on that injured right knee sometime in the near future, I’ll reconsider. But otherwise, can we stop with that?!? I say, in my best mocking Suzyn Waldman voices, “of all the dramatic things…Paul Pierce was in a wheelchair…and now he’s back on the Garden floor.” Sorry. I couldn’t resist.
Hey, I’m not heartless. No doubt there was a chill factor with Pierce’s return from the locker room during the third quarter of last night’s (this morning’s?) Game 1. And no doubt I’m really interest to see if “The Truth” practices today and tomorrow, and what kind of condition he’ll be in come Game 2 Sunday. The C’s obviously need him to be right, for 4 reasons.
1) He’s the team’s best scorer.
2) He did a terrific job defensively on Kobe, especially in the 4th Quarter (and how could he do that if he’s playing with a major injury? Adrenaline?).
3) He’s played on so many bad teams he deserves to play in this series as much as anyone on the floor.
4) Last, but certainly not least, so they powers that be can play that Jumbotron montage of some of PP’s big plays interspersed with clips of Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise, “You want the truth…You can’t handle the truth,” dialogue. Now that’s emotional (Hey, I’m a sucker for the big screen, especially last night when Randy Moss, Kevin Faulk and some old guy were hamming it up together. Beautiful).
But Willis Reed-esque? Come on. Pierce went from being in a wheelchair to playing a minute-and-a-half later! I think, upon further review, the chair was a bit excessive. Oh sure, he had the knee brace on, and spent much of the rest of the game flexing it and grimacing (great word, but it always makes me think of the “Hamburglar,” which in turns makes me hungry). But again, unless they have to cut on Pierce’s knee in the near future, its just another example of the media going overboard. I mean, folks in my business love to be definitive. There’s no room - apparently - for a gray area (except for those who sit on the fence or, as Cedric Maxwell suggested, “wipe the bleep of the common man), except life has a gray area. Let’s wait and see what the deal is with Pierce before we put his return last night into the same emotional and physical context as what Reed did. That’s all.
Pierce deserves as much credit for what he did at the start of the third as for what he did at the end of the third. He hit a couple of big shots to open the quarter and quickly erase that 5-point halftime deficit. The C’s desperately needed that energy and execution, or they probably fall back by double digits and then the road becomes much harder to run on. Instead, the Celts retook the lead, and even though it flip-flopped for the next 5 or 6 minutes, I felt better about where they were, and more importantly, so did they. Then you throw in those back-to-back 3’s by Pierce after returning from injury, and you have a star playing like one on the NBA’s biggest stage. Good for Pierce. Better for the C’s, who are now just three wins away from Banner 17.
Let me conclude not with more reflections on Pierce, but by saying “Ten Years Gone” by Led Zeppelin is a a great song (and I can say that DEFINITIVELY). I’m not even a Zep guy, but that song is tremendous, 33 years after it was first recorded. And let me also say that Adam Hart’s running blogs on this site are a worthy read, even after the game is long since over. Not bad for a kid who has an unhealthy love for Circus Peanuts (but not carnies).
June is busting out all over
Posted by Ted McEnroe June 6, 2008 at 10:34 am
I hate when there’s nothing to talk about.
The last evening in Boston may go down as one of the most exciting in city sports history - in that weird, can-you-believe-what-just-happened kind of way. It’s as though the Celtics and Red Sox are actively vying for attention, each trying to outdo the other.
At the Garden, you had the old rivalry: Celtics-Lakers. At Fenway, a new rivalry: Sox-Rays. What it lacked in big names last night (Shields, Gomes and Crisp sounds more like a low-end law firm), it made up for intensity.
In both places, you had a scary injury moment: Ellsbury with a bad thumb after a diving grab at Fenway, and Pierce - well, we know about Pierce.
And in both, there’s that little bit of intrigue. What the hell were Manny and Youk jawing about? And what if (as some national folks are floating out there) Paul Pierce was putting on some kind of a show for the crowd, and for his teammates? I don’t buy the latter idea for a second. But it does give each team a little something to get the talk show circuits heating up today.
Today maybe we’ll get some more info on Pierce’s knee, Jacoby’s thumb, and Manny, Coco and Youk’s respective heads.
Should be a fun one.
Big Papi and Big Hoops
Posted by Mike Giardi June 3, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Before I get on to the Celtics, let me just say that the David Ortiz injury worries me, but I won’t get panicky unless the wrist won’t get right. Right away you worry about Manny. Unless J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell and Chris Carter (no, not that one. He spells it Cris…and he’’s an idiot) rake, there is absolutely no reason to ever throw Manny a strike again. And the Sox slugger is such a patient hitter, he’ll take walks. I say if Ortiz misses a month, Manny will take between 35 and 40 base on balls during this stretch. Its great for the OBP, but dudes below him better swing big bats or you might be talking about a couple of walks per game.
The only reason I don’t get crazy is because the Sox are better built to manufacture runs then they’ve ever been in my lifetime, even more so if Coco could get on base every once in a blue moon. Jacoby Elllsbury has a chance to be a very special player, and I wasn’t convinced that would be the case 7 or 8 months ago.
As for the Celtics, another busy day at the team’s practice facility in Waltham. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce held court for a second day, basically repeating their takes from a day ago. I get the feeling that Ray may have a good series now that his confidence has been restored. Of course, I reserve the right to change my mind if Kobe tortures him for 40. Hey, I may be dumb, but I’m not stupid.
Other bits and pieces…Kendrick Perkins thinks that Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess got him well prepared for Pau Gasol. In fact, I think Perk thinks this will be an easier task. You know what? I think he’s right.
Sam Cassell thinks there’s very little pressure on Rajon Rondo. He said it was similar to his situation in his rookie season with Houston, when he didn’t have any plays designed for him, and didn’t need to carry the offense. Cassell noted he had Hakeem and Clyde Drexler - 2 Hall of Famers - and Rondo plays with 3 future HOf’ers. The late-season acquisition also noted that nothing prepares you for the NBA Finals. The atmosphere is “crazy.”
James Posey wouldn’t reveal just how much time he’ll get matching up with Kobe (see my one-on-one interview with him on NECN.com), but says that its all about “team defense,” again a theme that has been very prevalent these last couple days (and all season, of course). It will be crucial for the C’s to make sure Kobe has to work defensively as well, something they did a nice job with in the two regular season meetings.
Doc Rivers is a huge fan of Derek Fisher, citing his character and basketball smarts. The C’s tried to get Fish this offseason, but he was no dummy, sticking to his West Coast roots and Kobe. Can’t blame a guy for that.
Paul Pierce thinks Kobe has great trust not just in Gasol, but all his teammates, and Doc feels like Phil Jackson has loaded up on shooters when those two are on the floor, making life easier for both, and Lamar Odom.
More tomorrow….
Adjust the Bass and let the Alpine Blast…
Posted by Mike Giardi May 25, 2008 at 11:37 am
23 points from the Celtics bench. Another 12 and 10 from Kendrick. My call to the bench boys was answered last night and, not surprisingly, the Celts are now at the wheel of that shiny Cadillac Escalade with the $50,000 rims. Or if you prefer, a big ole Benz. Me, I’ll take the family truckster, but that’s how I roll.
Anyway, hard to believe that was the same team we saw get abused by the Pistons on the previously pristine Garden floor, but I checked the tape, and the faces were the same. It was just the performances that changed. The C’s supporting cast has been a question mark in the second season, alternately shying away from, then embracing key moments. Last night, Posey, Cassell, P.J. and Big Baby hugged it out, and now the Green team has recaptured home court advantage.
You knew it was going to be different in the opening quarter. Both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen got hit with two quick fouls, and Doc had no choice but to rely on these guys. But unlike in Game 2, the bench responded quickly and productively. They helped answer a 13-0 run by Detroit with a 10-0 whitewashing themselves. Posey dropped in a big 3 from the corner, then Cassell got an open look at the top of the key and softly coaxed it in. That didn’t happen Thursday, especially for Cassell, who was rooted to the floor with that awkward looking wrap engulfing his back and logged yet another DNP-CD.
Perkins deserves credit as well. “Molasses” may not be the most fluid athlete we’ve ever laid eyes on, but he’s a decent shooter, and we know he can rebound and supply a defensive presence in the paint. At least, we’ve seen him do those things for stretches during the regular season and even in the playoffs.
Last night was arguably his best performance in May. Perk went 6-of-7 from the floor, had 10 boards and made life difficult for anyone who dared venture into the paint. I’d like to see him do it again Monday, but I have to remind myself that the big fella is still young in experience, despite having several seasons of NBA life under his belt.
So now what lies ahead? A chance to stagger Detroit by taking another one at the Palace. As Paul Pierce and Garnett said following last night’s victory - and I’m paraphrasing - why come here for just one win? That’s the right sentiment, now let’s see if the Green team and its bench boys deliver the same kind of 1-2 punch.
Video: It’s home court advantage, but no guarantees
Posted by Laura Behnke May 22, 2008 at 6:31 pm
The Celtics are enjoying quite a run at home this postseason. They’re 9-0 at the Garden heading into tonight’s Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals. But the Celtics don’t seem to think that amounts to all that much heading into tonight’s game.
Personality Plus, Volume 2
Posted by Mike Giardi May 21, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Time for a new edition of Personality Plus. Today’s subject, Chad Finn. If you haven’t bookmarked Chad’s “Touching All Bases” blog, you are missing some quality observations and some quality writing. The link can be found on Boston.com (http://www.boston.com/sports/touching_all_the_bases/). Do check it out. In the meantime, here’s Chad response to some hard-hitting questions from yours truly.
1) Do you agree with Bob Ryan? Is Paul Pierce the greatest scorer in Celtics history? I’m not sure he’s the GREATEST scorer in a literal sense - his single-season high is 26.8 ppg, set in ‘05-’06, and some guy named Larry topped that three times in his career - but understand where Bob is coming from. Pierce probably has more different ways of scoring than any Celtic I’ve seen in my 30 years as a fan. When he’s on, he can knock down the 3, slash as well as anyone not named Kobe or LeBron, has that step-back 18-footer than he terrorized the Cavs with in Game 7, and as Bob said, he’s the best fast-break finisher they’ve ever had. It’s all the more impressive when you realize he’s not particularly quick and really doesn’t jump all that well anymore. So I’d say he’s the most complete scorer in Celts’ history, but I’ll still take Bird when I absolutely need two points.
2) Do the C’s try to move Ray Allen at season’s end? I tend to think not right now - heck, it would be tough to move him if only because his contract doesn’t expire until 2010 - but if his shooting slump from the Cavs series carries over to the Eastern finals, all bets are off on Danny Ainge at least putting feelers out. It’s hard to tell if Allen has really slowed down because everything always looks effortless with him even when he’s at his best, but he is 32, and shooting guards not named Reggie Miller or Michael Jordan tend to lose it rapidly. I do tend to give him the benefit of the doubt because of the Big 3 (or whatever we’re supposed to call this version), he sacrificed his game the most this season; remember this, is a guy who averaged over 26 ppg last season and is used to having the ball in his hands on virtually every possession. He comes to Boston and is relegated basically to playing the role of a rich man’s Steve Kerr, and his coach never really found a way to integrate him into the offense to the greatest of his capabilities. I have a lot of respect for him, even if it hasn’t been much fun to watch him lately.
3) Who would take right now: LeBron, Kobe or Chris Paul? LeBron, without a second thought. Kobe is the most complete player in league right now, and he’s got a killer instinct that you can’t teach, to the point that it sometimes makes him a bad teammate. And Paul is the second coming of Isiah Thomas, though it was somewhat alarming that he shriveled down the stretch in Game 7 against the Spurs. But LeBron has a chance to be the greatest player of all time, and anyone who watched the Celts-Cavs series knows that’s not hyperbole. He’s 6-8, passes like Magic, slashes at will like a young MJ, is built like Antonio Gates, plays the game correctly and completely unselfishly despite sub-mediocre teammates . . . and did I mention he’s 23? If he ever adds a consistent midrange game - and if Danny Ferry ever finds him a legitimate Robin to his Batman - he could average a triple-double for a season. The next five years are going to be something.
4) Better take: Red Sox at Fenway or Portland Sea Dogs at Hadlock Field? Let’s put it this way: I took my daughter to her first Fenway game during the Devil Rays series a few weeks back. Because she’s only 4 and we were the typical paranoid parents about bringing her into the big city, we parked as close to Fenway as possible, which meant sucking it up for $35. That’s more than it cost to take her to her first Sea Dogs game last year, including tickets, parking, ice cream helmet, and everything else. And she really didn’t know the difference, other than that Wally was at one field while the Slugger the Sea Dog lives at the other. So if you have young kids, the minor league deal is definitely the better take, and Portland is a fantastic little city. But if the goal is to see baseball played at its highest level, or to see Papi or Manny in person, there’s still no place better than Fenway. Provided you have an endless supply of cash.
5) Worst Coach or Manager in Boston sports history? Probably one of the racists and drunks who worked for Tom Yawkey in his early days as owner. But among those I’ve seen, the worst was Joe Kerrigan, a back-stabbing, condescending weasel who was the perfect manager for the most reprehensible Sox team of my lifetime. His two worst transgressions: having the gall to suggest Manny alter his hitting approach - think about the ridiculousness of that for a moment - and sending Pedro to the mound in a meaningless late season game when his shoulder was so sore that he was practically throwing sidearm.
6) More likely to revert to form: the surprising Devil Rays or the scuffling Yankees? Neither. Tampa won’t make the playoffs this season, but you don’t need to be Gammons to recognize that this is going to be a very good team for a long time. I think they’re going to wind up taking second place in the AL East, then become a legit contender next year. It’s easy to be impressed with the core bats - Longoria, Upton, and Crawford, who seems like he’s been around forever but is still only 26. And they’ve finally got some pitchers on the way - a lot of them, actually - and the days of Tanyon Sturtze and Ryan Rupe finally will seem like a long time ago. As for the Yankees, I write them off every year when they start horribly, and they’ve had an uncanny knack for coming back from the seemingly dead. But this year is different. Too many old players, not enough pitching, the tense Girardi instead of the calming Torre, and the reckless blather of Hank the Tank. They’re done, and the resulting mess is going to be fun to watch.
7) Last good movie Al Pacino made? You know how on baseballreference.com they show a player’s annual salary on his individual page? They should do something like that on IMDB.com, telling us how much loot an actor got for each movie. The point, obviously, is that Pacino has been doing it solely for a paycheck for, oh, about a decade now. The last good movie he was in? Well, I enjoyed Any Given Sunday, but it wouldn’t call it good, and he was horribly miscast as a Parcells-type. And he’s had some real stinkers: 88 Minutes, Two For the Money, and Gigli, which almost ended Ben Affleck’s career. So I’ve got to go with The Insider, which came out in ‘99. He’s probably paid for a couple of yachts with the money he’s made from all the lousy movies since then.
Most embarrasing song on your IPod? There are so many. I wish I could be a music snob, but the sad truth is that I tend to listen to stuff that reminds me of certain times and moments in my life, and for the most part that is the stuff I was hearing on the radio at that particular time. Like, say, “Oh What A Night” by Frankie Valli reminds of a bar I spent three nights a week at in college. “Off The Wall” by Michael Jackson reminds me of when I was in fifth grade… and I was just starting to get into music. And “Dancing Queen” by Abba reminds me of . . . well, it reminds me of nothing, but it’s on there, and my daughter loves dancing to it. And I like it. So there. I already regret admitting all of this.
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.
Classic
Posted by Randolph Charlotin May 18, 2008 at 9:37 pm
While game seven wasn’t easy on the hearts of Celtics fans, you have to admit that you were glad to witness a duel between Paul Pierce and LeBron James that will go down in history. Give ESPN a week and the game will be re-run on their Classic network.
That was what a game seven is supposed to be: Competitive from beginning to end with superstar performances. King James vs. The Truth. Already it is being compared to the Larry Bird-Dominique Wilkins showdown and Pierce-James belongs in that class of unforgettable duels.
Everyone knew LeBron was due for a dominant offensive performance and boy did he bring it. After having trouble getting to the rim all series, he bullied his way to the rim, either finishing or getting the foul. And his unreliable jumper became money in the bank from all locations. It couldn’t be more evident than the two 3-pointers he nailed in the fourth quarter as he carried his Cavs team, preventing Cleveland from falling too far behind.
Not to be out-done was Pierce, nearly matching James point for point. From the very beginning Pierce set the pace, taking James one-on-one with spins, drives, fadeaways, and off repeated screens. As the teams played into crunch time, the ball was in Pierce’s hands to either take his defender or create for a teammate.
Despite a 45-point performance, King James’ efforts came up short for two reasons.
1. It wasn’t the King’s court. The home team never lost a game during this series. Thanks to home court advantage, the Celtics had the deciding game played on the parquet with Red Auerbach’s name on it.
2. The King’s loyal subjects were nowhere to be found. Only Delonte West, the other Cavalier in double figures with 15 points, showed up to play alongside James. 7-3 Zydrunas Ilgauskaus’ performance shrunk the deeper the series went. And old friend Wally Szczerbiak turned in a 0-3 for zero points performance.
While Pierce was used to carrying a team, other stepped up for Boston, unlike the past few years for The Truth. P.J. Brown came off the bench with 10 points and two key baskets down the stretch: a put-back of a Rajon Rondo air ball with 2:45 left and calmly hitting a jumper with 1:21 remaining. Eddie House and Ray Allen sunk their free throws during foul time. And, of course, Kevin Garnett was present during the whole game with 13 points and 13 rebounds. But a late turnaround jumper helped the Celts maintain a lead they never relinquished.
Isn’t it kind of funny looking back at how the focus had been on Garnett throughout the playoffs? In everyone’s mind the fate of Boston was placed in his hands. Ultimately Garnett played Antoine Walker for Pierce, stepping aside for the team’s best offensive machine to carry the team to victory. Remember, it is Pierce, and not Garnett, that is the captain of the Celtics. And in game seven, Pierce showed why he still is.
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…
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