The NBA wants to sweep Rasheed Wallace's comments under the rug

You've got to love Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald for his article today about Rasheed Wallace. Just when the league thought it could get away without shining any more publicity on the Tim Donaghy scandal, Bulpett shined a light on their willingness to do whatever they can to let the scandal slide away:

When Rasheed Wallace said three weeks ago that the NBA was headed for a crash to rival the college basketball betting scandal of the 1950s, it seemed fairly certain the league’s lords of discipline would be hitting him with another fine.

But there was silence from the big offices, and now it appears that was quite by plan. According to sources, the NBA did contact the Celtics about comments from Wallace and Ray Allen regarding allegations by convicted former referee Tim Donaghy, but it preferred to lend no further publicity to the matter.

I really love bringing publicity to the fact that the NBA didn't want publicity, thereby generating the publicity they never wanted... or something like that.

I hope every NBA blog in the world links to Bulpett's article. Putting as much publicity as possible on the Donaghy scandal is a good thing, so that the NBA will be forced to take protective measurements to ensure that nothing like that ever happens again. 

Could I possibly have said publicity any more times within this post?  Yup.  Publicity.

The Morning Walkthrough: Losing Paul Pierce

The Celtics have gotten rid of their morning walkthrough, but that doesn't mean we have to. Here are a few Celtics links, and maybe even an NBA link or two, to help wake you up and get you focused for the day.

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald - "To compensate for the loss, the Celtics recalled Bill Walker from the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League. When the second-year forward got the call, he was in the middle of a practice in Portland. He may now be part of the patching coach Doc Rivers will have to do to fill in the significant lineup gap left by Pierce. 'Positionally, this is going to fall on people like Billy, Tony (Allen), J.R. (Giddens) and Scal (Brian Scalabrine), but how else we make up for it I really don’t know,' Ainge said. 'We really like the progress (Walker’s) been making in Portland.'"

Joel Brigham, Hoops World - After watching 57 players get selected before him in June's draft, Hudson thought for a while that he might not get selected at all. 'I know I'm fortunate to be here because a lot of the other players were on big high school teams and AAU and had gotten that recognition,' Hudson explained. 'I didn't get that recognition until junior year in college. Before that, they didn't know nothing about me. I just played one year of high school, and then I went to junior college. The difference between me and them is that they've gotten the credit all their life. I haven't. That's why I'm just so very happy to be here.' Where many rookies expect to make the NBA their whole lives, Hudson has had to work for it, and his humble demeanor and grateful personality certainly shows the strength of his character. He's working as hard as anyone, and at 25 years old he's also got the maturity and life experience to know what this opportunity to means. 'He's one of the better rookies that I've had,' Ray Allen said, 'just from the standpoint of talent and the ability to want to get better.'"

Jeff Clark, CelticsBlog - "I'm sure Ainge will continue to monitor the trade market, but once again, he likely won't feel pressured into making any sort of deal that he wouldn't have made in the offseason. If a good deal presents itself, great. Otherwise, they'll go with what they've got. So what have they got left? Well, the most logical guy to step up into the starting lineup is Tony Allen. Pause for a moment and reflect on how insane that statement would have sounded 3 weeks ago. But give Tony credit. He's played solid defense, he's attacked the rim, and he's added needed hustle and athleticism to our bench. He's always played better when he was on the court for longer stretches, and he'll get that opportunity now. Perhaps being surrounded by the starters will limit the mistakes and miscues that he's become famous for."

Frank Dell'Apa. Boston Globe - "'That’s what you have to do - it’s a different preparation,' Wallace said. 'When you’re coming off the bench you’re looking more at the guys that they have coming off the bench. At first, I was more focused on [Tyler] Hansbrough and the guys they have, then I focused on [Roy] Hibbert and [Troy] Murphy and try and do what I can with them. That first half, I’m not going to lie, they were kicking our [butts]. They was beating us to loose balls, getting any shot they wanted, getting layups, fast-break points. They were able to pass it without no pressure, going to any spot on the floor. Doc [Rivers] came in here and chewed us out and we knew what we had to do - go out in the second half and apply pressure. We couldn’t give them easy passes and easy buckets.' Wallace’s technical foul count this season was reduced to nine after he successfully appealed one from a game at Miami Nov. 29. 'No, I’m not happy,' Wallace said of the favorable decision. 'Because there are still some more that, hopefully, they can look at. That was the only one we were talking about and that one got rescinded that fast because of the referee [Bennett Salvatore]. As for the outcome of the others, I know it won’t be no time soon because of the simple fact it’s on the backburner because of the [collective bargaining agreement] meetings and all that stuff. So I’m not worried about it, yet.'"

Brian Robb, CelticsHub - Brian Robb: 'Talk a little bit about Tony Allen. No one in Boston was expecting much out of the guy after an inconsistent past 2 seasons as he seemed to have lost his confidence. I had been a defender of TA up until last year when he forced me to jump off the wagon. This year however, he has been a nice sparkplug off the bench. What have you seen from Tony? Do you think he can keep this up on a consistent basis and still be an asset, even when Marquis Daniels returns from injury?' Mike Gorman: 'Doc has told me, and told Tony that if you defend, and don’t turn the ball over, you will get minutes. I think that’s where Tony is right now. He is the most aggressive defender on the floor when he is in the game. Even though he does find himself sometimes being the psuedo point guard here and there on the floor, he has played through those stretches well thus far, not turning the ball over and making good places. So to go back to your original question, I think it’s an embarrassment of riches for the C’s when Marquis comes back, but I think Marquis is going to take a little bit longer to come back than anyone is expecting. Tony is going to have a lot of time and Big Baby is going to have a lot of time to establish some minutes. Doc is just in a great situation since the team is so deep. There are going to be a lot of guys fighting for playing time.'

Paul Flannery, WEEI - "'[Rajon Rondo] just kills your whole gameplan because you don’t know where he’s going to be,' Murphy said. 'He’s all over the place. He’s taking chances. He just creates havoc out there. He’s tough.' Rondo leads the league in steals, which is part of taking chances and creating havoc, yet he’s doing it while playing 'more solid' as Doc Rivers has pointed out several times. There are no metrics for staying under control both offensively and defensively, but that’s what Rondo is doing this year, while still maintaining his creativity offensively and his gameplan destroying nature defensively. In other words, he’s putting it all together. People will start to notice soon off. Even the other players."

Have a link I might want to look at? Send it my way by email (jayking@celticstown.com) or Twitter.

KG to miss tonight's game

Uh-oh.  This is something we've all been fearing, all year long...  Kevin Garnett will miss tonight's game.

Via Chris Forsberg's Twitter account:

No KG for the Celtics tonight, according to those outside the building, Ainge said on Comcast TV that it's "strategic rest."

Rasheed Wallace will start in KG's place.

"Strategic rest" sounds more to me like "KG's hurting."  If it was really only strategic rest, don't you think we would have known about it after the last game, rather than a few minutes before tonight's tip-off?

Remember last season, when KG was out for a few games at first, then it was a few more, then suddenly he was out for the whole season?

I hope this isn't the beginning of a horrendous deja vu.

Update (via Mike Petraglia's Twitter account):

Kevin Garnett will miss tonight's game with a right thigh bruise. He is not dressing.

Right thigh bruise doesn't sound too bad, but you never know. 

The Morning Walkthrough: Paul Pierce, more efficient basketball player and more efficient person

The Celtics have gotten rid of their morning walkthrough, but that doesn't mean we have to. Here are a few Celtics links, and maybe even an NBA link or two, to help wake you up and get you focused for the day.

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald - "'I agree with a lot of what [Doc Rivers] said {about playing with instincts],” Pierce said. “Just go out there and continue to play with my instincts. When I do that I’m a better player.' That’s the new Pierce. Rivers can’t recall the player he first met. 'Oh no, I don’t even know who that is,' Rivers said. 'The one here is amazing, an amazing player. He’s older, he’s more mature, he’s solid - just a solid player. His percentages, everything is better. He’s just a more efficient basketball player. And he’s a more efficient person. I just think you grow up. Early on, I think, he was trying to establish himself, and now he’s just trying to establish his legacy. That’s different. I thought he actually bought in going into the second year. In the middle of that second year it clicked. The problem was that he didn’t have a lot of help around him, and that made it a difficult sell. I remember him even saying, ‘This is good.’ But we needed to take the next step because his frustration level was very high,' Rivers continued. 'So when Kevin and Ray (Allen) came in, it made how he had changed really stand forward.'"

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald - "But six games into [Tony] Allen’s return from ankle surgery, Rivers rarely has felt better about the oft-injured guard’s focus. 'It’s really been every game minus the Chicago game,' Rivers said. 'He’s been terrific. He’s getting into the flow of the offense and taking what they give him, making simple plays, and I think this is his best stretch of simple defense - not the gamble defense - since I’ve had him. (He has) better focus now, accepts his role. He realizes he’s not going to be a 30-point-a-night scorer like every other young guy believes. He just has to stay in that spot. It happened to (Kendrick Perkins) when he was younger. You have a 25-point game and you think, You know what? I am an offensive player, even if those 25 points came off a great pick and roll or another pass.'"

Frank Dell'Apa, Boston Globe - "Tony Allen’s 24 1/2-minute stint against Minnesota was his longest since last season. He had 15 points and no turnovers in his most impressive performance since suffering a thumb injury Feb. 11. Allen missed 22 games because of the thumb injury, then underwent offseason ankle surgery. Allen said he is planning to play against Indiana tonight. 'I didn’t think it was going to take this long,' Allen said of his recovery. 'But I’ll fight through it, I ain’t looking back. [My confidence] was definitely affected last year. I would say, if you look before that injury, I was getting money, I was doing the things that I was supposed to be doing. I think I had 11 [points] against San Antonio, we lost that game, but I did some good things. The next day, in practice, I hurt my thumb and I was out 6-8 weeks. Just look at my track sheet, when I’m out there playing big minutes, I produce. When I’m injured it’s kind of hard for Doc to say I’m going to put this guy out there and he just missed 20-some games, his conditioning is not there, the injury is still lingering. I just have to show Doc I’m healthy and I’m a force out there.'"

A. Sherrod Blakely, CSNNE - "For a guy who has had a number of run-ins with the NBA and its rules, Rasheed Wallace is sure getting a lot of love from the league lately. After the NBA decided to impose no additional fines or suspension following his outburst ( and ejection) from Friday's loss to Philadelphia, CSNNE.com has learned that one of Wallace's technical fouls has been rescinded. The one in question came on Nov. 29 at Miami."

Zach Lowe, Celtics Hub - "Nate Robinson made a tremendous hustle play, sprinting the length of the court and pinning Rondo’s lay-in attempt on the glass. Nate turned toward the crowd, celebrating. A nice moment for Nate, only the ball was still in play right behind him. With Nate distracted, Marquis Daniels picked the ball up and laid it in. And that, to me, summed up Nate Robinson’s NBA career: Tons of talent, little understanding of what it means to be a successful NBA player on a successful NBA team. And so I reacted with a combination of anger and nausea when ESPN’s Chris Sheridan reported earlier today that Robinson, who has requested a trade and has veto power over any deal, would accept a trade to Boston. Of course, this doesn’t mean Boston would accept Nate Robinson. But they have the sort of cheap, expiring contracts (such as Tony Allen’s $2.5M expiring deal or the combination of J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker) that could work on the other side of a deal for Robinson. Were that anger and out-of-hand rejection really warranted? I decided to check the numbers and see. What I found surprised me a bit."

Jessica Camerato, WEEI - "Pierce grew up in California as a Lakers fan. No one, however, in purple and gold could top what he learned at home. '[It was] definitely mom. She was always there when I needed something. Not as an athlete but period. I get it from her… I definitely [carry part of her on the court]. Of course she [knows it]. I just got my never-quit attitude from her. My mom didn’t grow up in the best situations, raising three boys by herself, maintaining three jobs just to put food on the table. She didn’t look at adversity as something that would bring her down. She always tried to find a way.'"

Shawn McGrath, North Station Sports - "Ultimately, what matters here is that there’s a line between calling a guy for foul-worthy behavior and going looking for an excuse. [Referee Bill] Kennedy basically as much as said to ‘Sheed, 'go ahead, make my day,' and Wallace did. The prophecy is fulfilled, amor fati, and Rasheed’s Kenobi has now completed NBA Vader’s circle (or vice versa). In an ideal world, Kennedy would have looked the other way on Sheed’s second technical, as his actions (trash talking in the huddle) didn’t have an impact on the game. But in the same ideal world, Sheed wouldn’t have said anything worth Kennedy’s attention to begin with. As fans, we need to accept that Rasheed Wallace and the NBA officials are inextricably linked in an antagonistic relationship with no benefit to either party, and that’s not changing. We can only hope that the next time it costs the Celtics, it’s not enough to sway the momentum of a game, as it was Friday night."

Me, Celtics Town - "But Tony [Allen] is playing well. He's inspiring confidence and, for the first time in a long time, I don't mind it when he's in the game. Am I completely sold on him, yet? No, not at all. He's like the girlfriend who always cheats on you, then goes on her best behavior for a couple weeks. You really like the new her, but you can't trust that she's going to stay faithful to you... you just can't. Really, no matter how long she stays loyal, you'll never completely trust her. You'll always fear a relapse. So that's where I am with Tony Allen right now. I love his recent play and I can't believe the quality of his recent minutes, but I will always, always fear a relapse. My brain is telling me that Tony Allen is still Tony Allen, still likely to make a mistake at the worst possible time. But my heart? It's saying Tony might have finally turned the corner."

Have a link I might want to look at? Send it my way by email (jayking@celticstown.com) or Twitter.

The Morning Walkthrough: Swagger isn't always a good thing

The Celtics have gotten rid of their morning walkthrough, but that doesn't mean we have to. Here are a few Celtics links, and maybe even an NBA link or two, to help wake you up and get you focused for the day.

Julian Benbow, Boston Globe - "The Celtics went up as many as 15 in the first half. Kendrick Perkins nearly had a double-double in the first quarter. Tony Allen seemed like he was everywhere at once. But once the lead got comfortable, so did the Celtics. 'You almost hate to go up [big],' said Ray Allen, “because your human nature has you settling and getting comfortable.' There’s a swagger that comes with a winning streak. And having done so and then come out and run up a large lead, Celtics coach Doc Rivers, said his team had a false sense of it. 'We played with this swagger - the losing swagger,' Rivers said. 'It’s one thing to have the winning swagger and you go out and you feel great about your team, and you go out and play. And then there’s another thing when you just show up and you think the other team’s going to lay over and fall because you’re the Celtics.'"

Ron Borges, Boston Herald - "To lose to the Sixers took maximum disinterest by the Celtics and a bit of a hostile whistle by the referees, although the latter were far from co-conspirators in the Celtics demise. When you blow a 15-point lead to a team that is 6-19, well, you’re doing it to yourself. Last night, the Celtics got what they deserved, which was coal in their Nikes a week before Christmas. 'We’re our own worst enemy,' growled a disgusted Paul Pierce before returning to the locker room and pasting up a 'No Media Loitering Here' sign around his locker. Too bad he didn’t have a 'No Sixers Loitering In the Paint' sign up when Elton Brand put back a miss by Marreese Speights a foot from the basket with 7.7 seconds to play for the game-winner, because no one in green and white did anything to prevent it."

Chris Forsberg, ESPNBoston - "Elton Brand's putback with 7.7 seconds remaining lifted the 76ers to a stunning 98-97 triumph over the Celtics, ending Boston's 11-game winning streak Friday at the TD Garden. 'We were like, 'Aww, here we go again,'' said Brand, who came off the bench to score a game-high 23 points. 'We’ve been here in the Cleveland game, the Detroit game... Charlotte with two minutes left. You know we’re much better than our record indicates. We should have closed out some of these games. We closed out a game with a team winning 11 in a row, the best in the league, it bodes well for our confidence.' Echoed 76ers coach Eddie Jordan: 'We made some great plays down the end, big plays. And for a long time, we’ve lost these types of games. We just kept saying we couldn’t get a break and we came to the conclusion that we have to make our breaks. We said that before and we made some breaks tonight.'"

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald - "The Celtics might as well be spending their Friday night home games in their actual homes - out in the suburbs, next to a warm, drowsy fire. It’s a nice prescription for sleep, if not winning basketball. The Celtics, caught in this increasingly bizarre spell all season, fell to 2-4 in Friday home games with last night’s 98-97 loss to Philadelphia."

Frank Dell'Apa, Boston Globe - "Asked if he was disappointed in the ejection, Rivers replied: 'Yeah, I am. I’m disappointed when anybody gets thrown out of a game. You know, whether he’s right or wrong doesn’t matter - you’ve got to control yourself to stay in the game. But he didn’t. And I didn’t - I wasn’t going to try to stand there and talk him out of it. He’s a grown man. And, you know, at some point, it’s him - he understands his value to this team, and his teammates understand his value to the team, and I think, at some point, that’ll get to him. Listen, I can [talk to Wallace]. And I will a little bit. But, I’m not going to have a summit, I can tell you that. It’s too early. He’s been doing it a long time. He’s an expert at it. But we knew that when we got him, and I still love him. I think he’s great, he’s been great for our team, but he’s going to have some of these days.'"

Chris Forsberg, ESPNBoston - "'I sliced it at the top, got the hand off and I was just trying to get some space to get a shot,' said Pierce. 'I thought I got a good look at the rim, it felt good coming off my hands, but sometimes the ball bounces off that way, you know? Tough one to swallow.' The Celtics, who led by 15 in the third quarter, know it shouldn't have come down to a final possession. 'I think our energy sucked all night,' said Celtics forward Kevin Garnett. 'I think we could have done a better job of having energy out there. Philly's a team that's going to scrap for 48 minutes and we didn't put them away when we were supposed to.'"

Celtics-76ers preview: How will Iverson react to not starting tonight?

I would say "Home, sweet home," but, well, the Celtics seem to be better away from the confines of the Boston Gah-den.  Philly will be without Allen Iverson tonight (who I wish would play), and his spot in the starting lineup will likely be taken by Willie Green.  The same Willie Green who somehow, miraculously and unexpectedly, torched the Celts in the two teams' last meeting.

Here are three things to look out for during tonight's game: 

1. Allen Iverson's reaction to not starting - I know he's hurt and all, and not even cleared to play but, well, it's Allen Iverson we're talking about.  We're not talking about practice, we're talking about a game... and Allen Iverson likes to start games on the floor, not on the bench.  Can't you just see a postgame explosion from Iverson, ripping into a bewildered Eddie Jordan for not starting him while Jordan thinks to himself, But you weren't even healthy enough to play...?
2. Celtics big men - Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins and Rasheed Wallace will be going against a thin, injury-riddled front line lacking much punch.  The Celtics should look inside early and often tonight.
3. Philly's athleticism - Philly doesn't have much going for them so far this season, but one thing they do have is athleticism.  With wings like Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young, Philly can get up and down the court in a hurry, and could cause problems for Boston... that is, if Boston plays like they're in a coma.  If Boston exerts even minimal effort in this one, they'll win.  They're just far more talented than Philly.  Period. 

Rasheed Wallace's role is a-changing

WEEI's Jessica Camerato has a great piece about how well Rasheed Wallace has fit in with the Boston Celtics.  But me, I'm not surprised at all that Rasheed has fit in:  He's always been considered by his coaches and teammates as the ultimate team player, even when the media proclaims him a jerk and acts like he's a team cancer.

Since I already figured 'Sheed was fitting in just swell, another part of the piece stood out to me; Kendrick Perkins talks about what 'Sheed thought his role would be:

“The first day I realized it, how he socialized with everybody, his approach,” Perkins said. “He was loud and joking around. He was saying what his role is, ‘My role is to come in, give a few hard fouls, and shoot some 3's.’ That’s what he was saying, so I think he’s the perfect fit for our team.”

Notice how Rasheed didn't say his role was to rebound the basketball, or to provide low-post offense.  Nope, he considered his role -- even as a 6'11" center -- to stand on the perimeter and launch threes.  (Note: And he didn't even say make them -- how did he know?)

For the first dozen or so games, Rasheed played just like he said he would; he camped out at the three-point line and shot enough times to make Tony Montana jealous.  Then, all of a sudden, you could see the lightbulb go off inside his head:  Either Rasheed thought to himself, "Man, I'm missing all my threes, I'd better take my ass down low," or Doc Rivers prodded him, "'Sheed you're missing all your threes, you'd better take your ass down low."

Whatever it was, I can remember the first time I saw 'Sheed's full post repertoire on display for the Celtics.  Here's what I said, all the way back on November 28, when the Celtics played the Toronto Raptors:

Why, oh why, does Rasheed Wallace not go into the post more often? Especially when he's mired in a seemingly oh-fer-the-season slump, wouldn't you think he would at least try his post game out a little? Well, he did in this game. First post touch: Drop step towards the baseline around Bargnani for an easy bucket. Second post touch (on the very next play), an unblockable fadeaway turning towards his left shoulder for another bucket. Please, Rasheed, don't be allergic to the paint. You are far too talented on the blocks.

Even after that game, I wondered if he only went down low because he was playing the softer-than-marshmallow tandem of Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani.  I thought he might immediately migrate back to the land of trifectas once he played a big man who had -- to be appropriate -- heart.

And he has... but only occasionally.  Rasheed still likes to chuck jumpers, and I assume he always will, but he's started to sprinkle in his very polished post game with his affinity for the outside shot.  He's added another dimension to his game, a dimension he's always had in his back pocket but didn't always display.

Rasheed's role is a-changing.  And it's for the better.

Rasheed Wallace: Not cocky, but Celtics will be playing in June

Boy, that Rasheed Wallace sure is confident (cocky?).  Just when you think he might shut his mouth and just play basketball for a little while, Wallace comes with another "Guaran-Sheed" statement.

Via the Globe:

Asked about the team’s championship prospects, he [Wallace] said, “Our chances are great. We know we’re a good team and we know we’re one of the teams going to be playing in June, that’s how confident we are. It’s not being cocky. There’s a difference between being confident and cocky. We’re just confident, we know what we can do, we know our skills, and we know that our skills can take us to June. I’m real hungry, I’m out the door, my old [rear], and it’s always good to go out on top instead of saying coulda, shoulda, woulda.’’

I love Wallace's confidence, but I'd rather he wait until after (if?) the Celtics beat the Magic on Christmas day before making such a proclamation.

Maybe it's just me, but close road wins against the Grizzlies just don't make me think of June.  (Yeah, yeah, okay.  You got me.  11-game winning streaks and 8-game road winning streaks might make me think of June just a little.)

The Morning Walkthrough: What if the Celtics missed 220 straight shots?

The Celtics have gotten rid of their morning walkthrough, but that doesn't mean we have to.  Here are a few Celtics links, and maybe even an NBA link or two, to help wake you up and get you focused for the day. 

Jack Jemsek, Celtics Stuff Live - "It is true - the Celtics are shooting so damn well that the Field Goal % differential is a whopping 5.3% and leading the NBA no less.  Consider this – the Celtics could shoot 220 shots and miss them all, while maintaining their defensive rating, and still be leading the league in field goal % differential."

Frank Dell'Apa, Boston Globe -"'When we try to outjump teams, if they’re pushing us under the basket, they’ve got a great chance of getting the ball,' said Ray Allen, whose late 3-pointer clinched the victory.  'We just started carving our space. And the guards, we’ve got to do a better job of getting rebounds.'

The Celtics lead the league in field goal percentage, their offense based on tactical efficiency. But the second unit is expected to reenergize things, and that is what it did against the Grizzlies."

Jeff Clark, CelticsBlog - "And all this coming after the offseason that Rondo had is all the more impressive.  Between trade rumors, questions about his character, and uncertainty about his contract, he must have been pretty distracted.  Yet he remained focused.  Maybe all that even sharpened his focus.  He seems to have a "I'll show you" mentality that fuels him better than Red Bull ever will.  So by all means, let the critics keep the criticisms coming.  Harp on his outside shot.  Question his attitude.  Do your best to tear him down.  As for me, I'll sit back and watch him tear you apart.  Little by little.  Game by game.  Assist by assist.  Steal by steal.  Win by win.  Rondo will be an All Star this year and a star for years to come because he's learned how to be consistent."

Greg Payne, CelticsBlog - "Throughout this revitalizing 11-game win streak, the C's have secured some steep performances from a variety of players not belonging to the very exclusive "Big Three" club. Sure, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen have been tremendous over this stretch, but so has Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins, and now, joining that list over the past two games, is Rasheed Wallace, whose play in the paint has opened my eyes and introduced a whole new weapon for this Celtics team to utilize."

Zach Lowe, Celtics Hub - "For now, TA is going to play double-figure minutes for this team while Marquis Daniels is hurt. His success would help the second unit, reduce the burden on Ray Allen and Paul Pierce and give the C’s a player who could diversify their offensive arsenal by getting to the foul line. It would also be a nice coda to a career until now defined by bizarre injuries, shady off the court connections, sloppy dribbling and maddening brain cramps. It was in this spirit that I introduced the Official Tony Allen Dos and Donts List after Monday night’s game. Right now, it only has six items."

Me, Celtics Town - "While most players bring their 'A' game on certain nights and are sure to bring a full effort for big games, Garnett has been bringing maniacal effort every game, every practice for 15 years. Some players treat the playoffs like college finals, but Garnett acts like he's got a final every time he laces up his shoes. He's like that one overachieving girl (I don't know why, but it's always a girl) who is really smart, but still gets straight A's mostly because of her work ethic. She puts more work in during her homework than a normal person ever would even for a test, writes pages and pages of notes during lectures, and pisses everyone off because she's so over-the-top about her desire to be the best student.  Sound familiar? Maybe like a 6'11" power forward who headbutts the basket support before every single game, even exhibition games? Who, at one of his very first practices with the Celtics, screamed at captain and long-time Celtics leader Paul Pierce for dogging it during suicides?"

Joakim Noah: Celtics completely different team than last year

Via ESPNChicago:

As they did back in May, the Celtics overwhelmed Vinny Del Negro's team in the end with more talent. But it is the way that Boston handled the Bulls this time around that has to be so disconcerting to the team's head honchos.

"I think right now we're not even close to being as good as they are right now," Bulls center Joakim Noah admitted after the game. "When you see the way they run their offense, the way they run their defense [and] the weapons that they have on the court, I think that it's a completely different team than it is last year."

I guess Kevin Garnett makes a little bit of a difference...  But it isn't only that, or the additions of Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels.  The C's offensive execution has been absolutely exquisite, their defensive intensity has improved, and they are playing with a better sense of purpose.

Boston Celtics discuss Tim Donaghy's allegations

Tim Donaghy is coming at the NBA hard with allegations of a crooked referree corps that throws games, influences otucomes, and holds grudges against certain players and coaches.  He's trying to take the league down with him, all so he can get a little bit of money through selling his tell-all book. 

Should he be trusted?  I don't think so.  How can you trust a man with his back against the wall, who has proven to be a snake, a thief and a liar, who is clearly trying to gain whatever monetary profits he can off his immoral decision to bet NBA games?  I just don't think he holds any credibility at all, or that we can trust a single word that come out of his mouth.

At the same time, I'm positive some of the things he will say, has said, are true.  Just like in any other profession, I'm sure there are some unethical NBA referrees, and I'm sure some guys do hold grudges, and other guys have probably bet on games.  The only problem is, we don't know which parts of Donaghy's stories are bullshit and which parts are real.  We can't trust a single word coming out of his mouth, but some of it has to be true, right?

Rasheed Wallace thinks so (via the Herald):

Rasheed Wallace said tonight he believes the Tim Donaghy scandal will eventually get deeper. He predicted a major problem for the NBA when all the facts come to light.

“I always said to myself and had the thing that there’s no way that the things that he did he could do them by himself,” Wallace said. “I always said that. It’s virtually impossible. The things that he’s been accused of, there’s no way, to me, in my opinion, he could have done those things by himself.”

I'm with 'Sheed.  How could he do these things by himself?  And, if he did do it by himself, don't you think there's some other scummy ref out there who did the same things?

But I'm also with Doc, who doesn't think he can trust Donaghy at all (via ESPNBoston):

"My buddy," Rivers joked when Donaghy's name was brought up by reporters before Tuesday's game against the Bucks. Asked if he had heard Donaghy's comments about Rivers trying to persuade refs, Rivers challenged the credibility of someone who admitted to betting on NBA games.

"I've been trying to get on younger players for a long time and persuade them to do things as well," said Rivers. "I don't know, I'm so sick of that guy right now, I really am, for our league. I love our league, and I hate what's going on, that we're giving a guy like him credibility."

It's a tough line to straddle.  Clearly, what Donaghy says probably has some merit but, at this point, I probably wouldn't even trust him if he told me Tony Allen has a low basketball IQ.  That's how much credibility he's lost.

Ray Allen has a more balanced view on things, saying that while Donaghy makes some points that might be valid, it's hard to trust a man in his position, a man with his reputation (via the Globe):

In the wake of the Tim Donaghy scandal and its recent fallout, Ray Allen said NBA referees need to be held accountable for their actions, but he stopped short of saying he believed everything Donaghy had to say to the media in recent days.

"He made a very strong case," said Allen. "I can't say that he would do anything to jeopardize -- he went to prison, it's hard to say whether or not he would lie or make something up of that nature. "

So what is the real deal?  What is true about Donaghy's allegations, and what isn't? 

I just don't know, and I don't know if we'll ever really find out.  I still find it hard to give weight to his words, but it's also tough to discount them.

Tim Donaghy blames Rasheed Wallace's technicals on his intelligence

We've all seen Rasheed Wallace blow up at a ref, earning a technical, and loudly screaming "Ball don't lie!" if the technical free throw is missed.  But did you ever think he might get all those technicals because he was just too smart?

From a Tim Donaghy interview with WEEI, via WEEI's Green Street:

Which NBA star is most loathed by NBA officiating crews? This A.I. story comes to mind. Is he the one?
I don’t know if he’s the one because there were both positive and negative relationships associated with A.I. There was one referee that actually kissed him at a captain’s meeting before each game. I would say, unfortunately, I know he’s on your team right now, but Rasheed Wallace was someone I don’t believe anyone cared for. Looking back, it’s probably because he’s one of the smartest players in the league. He was outspoken about how there were biases and how relationships affected the refereeing.

So they got mad at him because he was telling the truth about their biases?
Exactly.

So it's Rasheed's intelligence that gets him all these technicals, not the fact that he animatedly argues almost every call against him?  Right, Donaghy.

Wouldn't it make more sense that if Rasheed was going to talk about the referee's biases every time he received a technical, and they didn't want their biases unearthed, that they'd be even more lenient with Rasheed?  That they wouldn't want to give him technicals, for fear that he might rat them out in his rants to the press?

If you ask me, this is just one more Donaghy story that screams, "Liar, Liar!"  At the same time, I'm sure Rasheed probably doesn't mind the explanation.

Throwing a couple dimes

I was going to write about these two things, but some of my fellow Celtics bloggers beat me to it.  So instead of beating a dead horse and writing my own commentary, I'll just let you hear their opinions:

CelticsHub's Brendan Jackson, on who should get the brunt of Marquis Daniels' minutes:

While I’m not a psychologist (although I have been known to enjoy a good armchair), I believe his stints in the D-League, the fact that he was a first round pick, the attempts to resurrect his image after his incidents at Kansas and subsequent exodus, and him playing on a team that flat out didn’t need him for two years has really hurt J.R. psyche.


This stretch the C’s will have play without Daniels, however, could be what J.R. needs to become an actual player in the league. There is no chance that J.R. can become a star, starter, or even seventh man off the bench, but could he develop into a guy that plays six minutes a game? I think so.

Just like me and, probably, everyone else who's ever watched Tony Allen play basketball, Jackson doesn't believe TA should get Daniels' minutes.  He thinks they should go to the inexperienced Giddens, a guy who has never seen extended time in his career. 

But who do I think should get those minutes?  Doc Rivers, as a player-coach, of course.  Seriously though, there isn't a viable option off the bench at small forward besides 'Quisy.  My top option to be the recipient of those minutes would probably be Scal, but the thought of Scal having to guard opposing small forwards is already giving me nightmares.  Still, I think he's the best option.  At the very least, he'll play good team defense, hit open shots, and not to anything too destructive to the team.  (TA, I'm looking at you.) 

If not Scal, bring Billy Walker up from the D-League.  He's been far more productive than Giddens to this point in his career.  Plus, he's likely to at least produce a highlight, if nothing else. 

Now, here's CelticsHub quoting Ric Bucher from an NBA Podcast on ESPN:

As for Sheed, I’ve got to tell you. The most startling thing–this is a guy who has always played his way into shape. But I went into the locker room after the game, and he took off his shirt, and I mean, I could not believe what I saw. I mean, he looked like a guy who is on the couch watching games with a bowl of potato chips and a six pack and not a guy who is playing a game. The roll I saw hanging off of his shorts—I’ve never seen it on him before and I can’t tell you the last guy I saw that had a body like that. He’s not Popeye Jones-esque, but it was a very, very bad look.

I've actually been wanting to write about Rasheed's unsightly shape for awhile.  I've never seen him without his shirt on, but he sure seems pretty damn pudgy underneath that jersey of his.  On top of that, he's a touch slow, he's front-rimmed countless jumpers, and he looks fat, damn it! 

Now, I don't care what he looks like if he plays well, but Rasheed would help the C's even more than he already has if he were in shape.  Maybe he'll be able to play himself into shape, maybe not.  But as long as he's canning jumpers, snatching rebounds, and contesting shots come playoff time, I don't care if he looks like Free Willy.

The Morning Walkthrough: Rebounding is the 'tear in C's fabric'

The Celtics have gotten rid of their morning walkthrough, but that doesn't mean we have to.  Here are a few Celtics links, and maybe even an NBA link or two, to help wake you up and get you focused for the day.

Jeff Clark, CelticsBlog - Lets just say that [rebounding] is a tear in the fabric.  We can sew it up, patch it up, or ignore the problem.  Ignoring it isn't an option because the tear will just keep getting bigger and leave a big hole in our attack.  Patching it with an outside person might help, but might end up causing more problems than it is worth.  I think we have players that can rebound but they need to make if more of a priority.  Perk, Sheed, and KG should be able to board with anyone.  Sheed and KG spend a lot of time on the perimeter on offense, but if they emphasized it, they could pull down more boards.  I think.

Frank Dell'Apa, Boston Globe - Daniels’s role likely will be filled by Tony Allen, who is expected to return for the first time this season after ankle surgery, and Brian Scalabrine.  Allen practiced at full speed yesterday and will be evaluated today.  “I’m just taking it one step at a time and building my energy and strength, getting the rhythm of these plays and defensive schemes and just get back in gear,’’ he said. “This was a good day, but I want to see how my ankle responds.  “If it doesn’t swell and ache, I know I’m building.

Red's Army - It's hard not to feel bad for Greg Oden.  Just when he was playing up to some of the hype that preceded him a few years ago, he went down with a fractured kneecap that will probably end his season.  Add it to the list.  Oden's getting hurt like a guy who got drafted by the Clippers.  I was a believer.  I thought this was the year he stepped into his own and helped the Trailblazers move into the next level out West.  I still think he's got the tools to be a good player in the NBA.  He might never be the franchise player people thought he would be, but he can still be good.

Sherman Alexie, via Truehoop -In this poem, I also liken it to the every day death of the Sonics. I feel their loss constantly. And then, seeing that Oden is down for the season (and likely done as an everyday player for good), I first thought, "Well, I'm glad I don't have to feel the kind of pain that Blazers fans are feeling today. I don't have to feel the pain of every Sonics loss or injury anymore."  But then, I thought, no, I miss the losses as much as the victories. I miss the pain as much as the joy. I miss the losing streaks as much as I miss the wins. Hell, I miss Luke Ridnour. And so, I think, my grief for my father -- my ever-present grief -- is so important because he never goes away. I don't forget him. I keep him alive that way.

Boston Celtics defeat San Antonio Spurs

The Boston Celtics have defeated the San Antonio Spurs 90-83 to move to 3-0 on the current road trip, and 15-4 overall.

The first-quarter malaise that has plagued the Celtics so far this season is only a memory now. For the third straight game, Boston has jumped out of the gates with a great first-quarter on their way to an impressive victory.

Once again, Kevin Garnett lead the attack with 20 pts, 7 rebs 5 asts, while Rajon Rondo chipped in 12 pts and 12 asts on a rare off night from Paul Pierce, who shot 2-9 on his way to only 8 pts.

Rasheed Wallace was huge off the bench, contributing 13 pts and adding 4 blocks.

Most impressive, however, was the defensive effort against Richard Jefferson and Manu Ginobli, who combined to shoot 7-25 for a measly 17 pts.

For the Spurs, Tim Duncan (16 pts, 15 rebs) and Tony Parker (17 pts, 7 asts) were steady as always and rookie forward Dejuan Blair was a spark off the bench, adding 18 pts and 11 rebs.

Stay tuned for more to come from Celtics Town on perhaps the biggest win of the season.

Rasheed Wallace surprised Antonio McDyess by signing with Boston

Via the San Antonio Express-News:

The things (the Pistons) had going with Boston the last couple years, I was surprised he signed there, and not only me,” McDyess said. “A lot of the other guys on our team in Detroit were surprised.

“It wasn’t genuine dislike between us and the Celtics, but when you compete so hard against a team, well, it would have been like Reggie Miller going to New York from the Pacers. You know the guys on his team would have been saying, ‘Oh, you want to go to New York?’

Umm, Antonio, for most of Rasheed's time in Detroit, the Celtics were bottom-feeders.  The Pistons played the C's in one playoff series during Rasheed's time, two years ago during Boston's championship run.  This wasn't exactly an epic rivalry by any sorts.  They weren't trading blow for blow like the Pacers and the Knicks in the 1990's.  Where'd you expect Rasheed to go, anyways?  Milwaukee?  Minnesota?

Still, McDyess considers Wallace to a nice person to play with:

“He’s a great, great teammate, with a lot of enthusiasm on the court,” McDyess said. “I played with him so many years, and now having an opportunity to play against him is going to be weird. At this point, we’re just trying to get a win. I have to put all that friendship behind me.”

So what does Rasheed think about the Spurs?

“Not taking anything away from San Antonio,” he said then, “but I would have to say a few of the changes that they made on their bench and on their roster didn’t quite sit with me too well.”

I'm not quite sure exactly what in the world 'Sheed meant by that. Maybe he doesn't like that they traded for Richard Jefferson. Or maybe he wishes they would have signed him. Maybe he just misses dear, sweet Bruce Bowen.

(h/t TrueHoop)

Don't expect Rasheed Wallace to shoot a good percentage from the field

I watched a classic Portland Trail Blazers–Los Angeles Lakers game over the summer, before Rasheed Wallace signed with the Celtics. Watching the game, a playoff game versus the Lakers in 2002, I was struck by two things. First, the Lakers were a great collection of talent. They had two guys, Shaq and Kobe (obviously), who were probably the very best players in the game, and they had role players galore surrounding the two super-duper-stars. Derek Fisher, Robert Horry, Rick Fox, Brian Shaw, Lindsey Hunter, Devean George. Those guys knew their roles and played them well.

The second thing I noticed was Rasheed Wallace. Watching him recently, you forget how good Wallace once was. Don't get me wrong, I think Wallace is a great fit for the Celtics. I've written plenty of times about how he'll spread the floor on offense and provide stellar, versatile defense. But this guy used to be SO talented. He would post you up, and could turn either way and finish with both hands. He could take it strong to the hoop or he could fade away for a pretty much unblockable jumper. He could take you outside or he could punish you on the blocks.

On that night in 2002, guarded mostly by Horry, Rasheed scored 31 points and corralled 11 rebounds. But it wasn't just the stats that were so impressive; it was the way he got them. Whenever the Blazers needed a bucket, they went to Wallace down low. He took five three-pointers that game, but the longer the game progressed, the more 'Sheed took the ball down low. And he was so tough to guard on the blocks. He had a full repertoire of moves, and was a lot stronger than his 225-lb. frame would seem to suggest. Wallace punished Horry that night, demanding the ball and scoring at will. His team lost, but Rasheed did everything he could to keep the Blazers in the game.

Sadly, Rasheed's game had already begun to change. Those five threes he took that night weren't just a sign of a player taking what the offense gave him; they were the signs of a player whose game was evolving. Whereas Rasheed was once almost strictly a post player, he quickly became more and more perimeter-oriented. 'Sheed took 0.6 three-pointers per game in 1999-2000, 2.1 the following year, and 4.0 in 2001-2002. He was still capable of dominating in the post, but Rasheed was floating to the arc more and more.

As his game became more centered on outside shots, Rasheed's shooting percentages plummeted. From 1996-1997 to 2000-2001, 'Sheed never failed to shoot above 50% from the field. Not coincidentally, he never took more than 2.1 three-pointers per game over that span, and took less than 1.0 threes per game during every other year in that time frame. In 2001-2002, Wallace shot 46.9% from the field while shooting 4.0 threes per game. He has not come close to the 50% plateau since, and has never again shot less than three three-pointers per game. His past four years, Wallace's shooting percentages have been brutally low: 43.0%, 42.3%, 43.2%, and 41.9%.

In Doc Rivers' offense, Doc expects and even encourages Wallace to stay near the three-point arc. I see where Doc is coming from; he wants to spread the floor and leave more space for slashers like Paul Pierce and Marquis Daniels. Hell, I've even been an advocate of the advice. It makes sense to keep Rasheed on the perimeter and, especially against a team like Cleveland that has Shaq and Zydrunas Ilgauskas playing center, Rasheed's bombing tendencies can even be an advantage.

But if 'Sheed stays almost strictly to the perimeter, he could be in for a pretty miserable year shooting the basketball. I'm talking about Allen Iverson-on-an-off-day type numbers. I know you can't put too much stock into preseason stats, but Rasheed took 39 threes in 7 preseason games, despite playing only 25 minutes per game. He shot only 35.8% from the field, and didn't even shoot 50% from the field in a single game. Not one game. For a 6'11" center, that's almost unheard of.

Now, I don't know if Rasheed is still capable of dominating down low. In fact, he almost certainly isn't. He's older, slower on his feet, and hasn't shown the ability to control the low post in years. But if Rasheed doesn't put more of an effort into getting shots closer to the bucket, he could be in for a miserable year shooting the basketball. Watching him now, it's easy to see 'Sheed can't get easy buckets. It's no longer easy for him to operate down low and get easy layups and dunks. Almost none of the shots he takes are high-percentage; they are mostly contested jumpers from the post or long three-point bombs. Old age has taken away Wallace's ability to create easy looks for himself.

Still, I like Rasheed in Green. He will solidify the defense and spread the court, and he simply knows how to play the game.

Just don't be surprised if his field goal percentage struggles to reach 40%.

'Sheed says the Celtics could challenge Bulls' record... could they?

In a recent interview with Tom Halzack of the CT News, Rasheed Wallace claimed the Celtics could make a run at the Chicago Bulls' hallowed record of 72 regular-season wins.

"Oh definitely. Definitely, playing with those three other guys, also combining that with the guys we have on the bench, I think we can definitely can. Me personally, I think we can get that Bulls record. You know we have the talent for it. We have the will for it and…I think we have the defense for it."

[Halzack:] Do you want me to use that?

"You can. Because honestly, I really do feel that. That was a good team. They had some HOFs on there, but we have a few on this team, too."

On the surface, comparing any team to the 1995-1996 Bulls squad would be sacreligious. They had Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and a recent Hall-of-Fame inductee who wore the number 23 (and 45, briefly). They had role players galore, the best player ever and possibly the best coach ever. They didn't only beat teams; they annihilated them. The Bulls won games by an average of 12.3 points, scoring 105.2 points per game while only giving up 92.9.

To say they were dominant is an understatement; the Bulls started the season with 41 wins in their first 44 games and ended it with a 15-3 record in the playoffs. They won their first 37 home games and became the only team in NBA history to win over 70 games. Their point differential was the second greatest in NBA history (behind only the 1972 Lakers), but if you adjust the differential for the pace of play the Bulls' point differential becomes the best in NBA history.

The Bulls nearly swept every major award. They had the MVP, Finals MVP and All-Star game MVP (Jordan), the Executive of the Year (Jerry Krause), the Coach of the Year (Jackson), and the Sixth Man of the Year (Toni Kukoc). The only major award the Bulls didn't win was the Defensive Player of the Year (Gary Payton won it, in case you were wondering), but they made up for it by becoming the only NBA team with three (that's right, three) players named to the All-Defensive First Team (Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman).

Could this year's Celtics possibly contend with that record, with such a storied team? They've gotten off to incredible starts the past two years, only to see stretches of poor play and injuries derail their quest of challenging the Bulls' mark. Now possessing a lot more depth than last year, could the Celtics rewrite the record books?

Why they probably won't

There are too many things that have to go right for a team to win that many games. For a team to reach 72 wins, it takes far more than outstanding talent. There has to be a bill of clean health. In '95-'96, Jordan didn't miss a single game. Neither did Steve Kerr. Pippen only missed five, Ron Harper two and Kukoc only one. Rodman was the only key player to miss significant time, with 18 games missed.

The Celtics had big injury issues last season and, with an aging roster, could face another injury-plagued season. Garnett missed a lot of time last season, and still isn't 100% heading into the season. Ray Allen has a history of ankle issues. Paul Pierce has been durable throughout his career, but he's getting older and seemed to visibly wear down by the end of last year. Kendrick Perkins has a long trail of shoulder difficulties, and Rajon Rondo's ankles have given him some problems in the past. The whole starting five is injury-prone, and an injury to any one of them could mean an end to the C's chances at cracking the Bull's record.

But even if they are healthy, the Celtics will face many other barriers to 72 wins. They aren't even necessarily the NBA's best team; the Cleveland Cavaliers, L.A. Lakers, San Antonio Spurs and Orlando Magic could all stake a claim to being better than the Celtics, at least at this point. The cream of the crop in the NBA might be as good as it's ever been, with the top teams heaped together closely, head and shoulders above every other team. The Celtics play those teams a combined 12 times, and all those games will be losable. Not to mention that the second tier of teams, headlined by Denver, Portland and maybe Dallas, will be tough to beat too.

But let's say the Celtics will be the best team in the league, like Rasheed seems to think, and let's say everyone on their roster remains healthy for all 82 games. Even then, 72 wins is incredibly difficult to attain. With an 82-game schedule, lulls are far too easy to come by. Teams don't always lose because the other team is better. Sometimes a team loses because they're tired on the second night of a back-to-back, or because they simply don't bring their "A" game. The Bulls had Michael Jordan and his unrivaled will to win to keep them in check and make sure they brought intensity every night. The Bulls lost back-to-back games only once the entire year, and were able to bring effort basically every night out. Even a team that's far more talented than its opponent can lose on any given night; for a team to win 72 games it has to be able to severely limit the amount of times it doesn't "bring it".

Why they could do it

Intensity shouldn't be a problem for the Celtics. Their own leader, Kevin Garnett, approaches every play with fury, desire and competitiveness. The C's are a veteran-laden team that knows their window of opportunity won't be open much longer. They know they need to bring effort every night, and have been known for their great defense and high effort level. The biggest criticism of Doc Rivers over the past two years has been that he has valued regular season wins too highly and played his starters too many minutes. The C's want to win, and they work to win every game they play.

Health, on the other hand, could be a problem. But Kevin Garnett doesn't have a past filled with injury issues. His injury last year was the biggest of his career, but he has been, for the most part, a healthy player. Paul Pierce, as noted earlier, has been durable his entire career. And Ray Allen has a history of ankle issues, but he only missed one game last year and reportedly returned to camp in the best shape of his life. Kendrick Perkins has repeatedly hurt his shoulder in the past, but returned to camp lighter, more limber and entirely healthy. And Rajon Rondo, despite small ankle problems from time to time, has only missed 11 games in his three years in the NBA.

Their improved depth should help them limit the starters' minutes and, in the case of an injury, provide insurance behind the starters. Rasheed Wallace has been a starter every other year he's been in the league and, despite reports of his demise last year, his numbers were almost identical to his previous two years (seriously, check it out). And he's 6'11" tall with the ability to guard any power forward or center in the league, spread the floor offensively and play selfless team basketball. Marquis Daniels was a starter last year and averaged over 13 points per game. He also has the versatility to play any perimeter position. Big Baby filled in admirably for the Celtics when KG and Leon Powe were hurt, and now he'll likely be the second big man off the bench. And Eddie House set the Celtics' single-season record for three-point shooting. Their second unit could compete with most teams in the league, and will be a huge factor in limiting the starters minutes and keeping them healthy or filling in for injured starters.

The Celtics won 66 games two years ago and 62 games last year, and now they have a team that, on paper, is better than either of those teams. It probably won't ever happen, but if everything falls right the Celtics could theoretically threaten the Bulls' record. Rasheed has "guaran-Sheed" a lot of things over his career and his latest prediction, while not exactly a guarantee, is likely the most far-fetched one yet. It could happen, and the Celtics have a chance to do it. But only if everything works out perfectly and the stars align for the C's.

Me? I just hope the Celtics win another championship. If they happen to win 72 games on the way, terrific. But anything other than a Larry O'Brien Trophy is just gravy.

Starbury Rumors, Rasheed, Tony Allen, And The NBA's Worst Haircuts Ever

After my Tony Allen column yesterday, I received a bunch of comments regarding the column and Tony and one thing was evident - Celtics fans are extremely split between either hating Tony and wanting to see him hit by oncoming traffic or remembering the Tony of a couple years ago when he seemed poised to become a very solid player and expecting Tony to regain that year's form with additional playing time.

It’s a good thing we have the Celtics Town Mailbag so I can set everybody’s mind straight.

I think your disgust with the play of Tony Allen is a bit misguided. I recall a very productive bench player/starter on some occasions prior to his most recent knee injury (a bone-headed play that doesn't support my argument by the way) several years ago. There were a couple games that season where Tony led the team in scoring and played a very well rounded floor game. His aggression and defense kept him in the rotation night after night. He had definitely turned the corner of mediocrity and was heading toward being a key part of the organization moving forward. I think that stats will also show that it takes at least two years to come back from a serious knee injury; if at all. Tony is about a 1 1/2 years into his return and I've noticed increased confidence, lateral movement, and athleticism. If he can return to the form of two years ago, coupled with the return of Big Baby, we have a very formidable bench. Getting any contribution from Bill and JR would surely go a very long way. So, before we completely write-off Tony, let's give him until December to see what he can provide. I think he'll surprise us all. – Sean King (Sacramento, CA)

I hope he does, Sean, but I think you’re wrong. And here’s why.

Tony was pretty productive a couple years ago, when the Celtics were mired in one of their worst seasons ever. During that season, he averaged 11.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. But - when Pierce was out with an injury - he was often the focal point of the offense, with the ball in his hands a whole lot. Tony needs the ball in his hands to thrive and, with so many stars on the Celtics’ roster, he will never – nor should he ever – have the ball that much. If Tony ever played for a down-and-out team, I am certain he could put up pretty big numbers. But for the Celtics? He hasn’t been a great fit.

You want to know another guy who averaged almost the same stats as Tony in ’06-’07? Gerald Green, with 10.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in slightly less minutes than Tony. And nobody would ever want him back on the C’s. A lot of guys in the NBA can thrive when they get more shots and opportunities.

But other guys can fit in with a contending team and really push them over the top. That’s what makes players like James Posey so valuable to contending teams. They know their role, take good shots, and play D. And knowing his role was something Tony Allen has never figured out, and I don’t think he ever will. Which makes him, in my eyes, completely expendable.

Do you think that the Celtics acquiring Rasheed will make them once again the most dominating team in the NBA? – Pete (MA)

In a word, yes.

A lot of the NBA’s top teams have gotten better this offseason. Cleveland with Shaq, Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon. Orlando with Vince Carter, Brandon Bass and Matt Barnes. The Lakers with Artest.

But the Celtics picked up exactly what they needed. Remember, this was a 62-win team last year even without KG for a big chunk of the season. Now, KG will be back, hopefully healthy, Rondo and Perk are a year older, Rasheed provides a backup center the C’s sorely lacked, and Marquis Daniels gives Paul Pierce and Ray Allen a dependable backup they desperately needed last year. Plus, the KG and Rasheed combination will shatter all previous records for most intensity during a sporting event. The Celtics are as good or better than they were last year at every position, with backup PG their only potential weak link.

Which takes us to…

What do you think about all these Starbury rumors? After 3.8 points and 3.3 assists per game, he’s not worth bringing back. – Bob (Lynn, MA)

Okay. I admit it. Marbury had a bad year last year - I could have shot a better percentage from the field, and I haven’t worked out once since I quit my college basketball team. Marbury was tentative, hesitant, and timid on the court – and I just used three words that mean the exact same thing to describe it because he played THAT cautious last year (and that’s a fourth).

What you can’t forget about Marbury is that he was out of basketball for an entire year before he joined the Celtics. He hadn’t played a game in that long. So for him to struggle last year should have been expected. With a full training camp to become acquainted with the offense and shake the rest of the rust off, Steph should be back to his normal self – even last year, when he struggled so mightily, he still had his trademark explosiveness and quickness.

Just a quick note about Steph – I was at Knicks training camp last year, and I got to see Steph play right before the Knicks told him to eat shit and wouldn’t let him play. At their training camp, he completely surprised me. I was expecting to see the guy who had been labeled a problem child but, instead, Marbury was the hardest worker at the camp and was the best player there for the Knicks. When they wouldn’t let him play, after I had just seen him murder Chris Duhon and Nate Robinson throughout training camp, I was shocked.

Another note about Steph from the Knicks’ training camp, and this is a true story. During one practice the sole of his Starbury shoe became completely detached from the rest of his shoe and flew across the court. The Knicks’ equipment manager went to find Starbury his backup pair of shoes, but the pair didn’t fit – how? I don’t know. So Steph asked me – yes, your's truly, a lowly ballboy at the camp – if he could wear my shoes for the rest of practice. I wear a size 13, though, and Steph is only a size 11.5, so he couldn't use mine, and Steph spent the rest of practice sitting on the bench, wearing his broken Starbury’s and watching his teammates play. Moral of the story? Don’t trust a ten dollar pair of shoes.

Anyways, back to Stephon’s situation with the Celtics, recent rumors have stated that Marbury is close to resigning with the C’s. However, Marbury has denied the rumors, and claims to have no idea where he will end up. Right now, it seems like it’s either Boston or Europe, and hopefully Boston will work out. Otherwise, the Celts’ backup point guard position will still be in limbo.

How do you think that the signing of Ron Artest will affect the Lakers and Artest himself? – Arnie (MA)

To be honest, I’m not sold on the Artest signing for the Lakers. Ariza fit in perfectly with the Lakers – he is an athletic defensive stopper who was opportunistic on offense and didn’t command a lot of touches. Artest, while an upgrade defensively and the first truly tough player the Lakers have added in a long time, isn’t nearly as good a fit on offense. He is more talented than Ariza, yeah, but I don’t know how Kobe will feel when Artest is firing fadeaway jumpers from all over the court.

I don’t see Artest as being willing to change to more team-centered play, but I could be wrong.

If the Lakers can resign Odom, and word is that they have resigned him for four years and $40 million, then I see them as taking a big step sideways this offseason. And, the way everyone else is improving, that may not cut it for next year.

Just wanted to ask one thing: Does Rasheed Wallace’s bald spot in his hair amount to the worst hair in NBA history? – Andrew (Cross, South Carolina)

Not even close. I can definitively say that Rasheed, though his hair may not be perfect, is certainly surpassed in the hair category by a former Celtic great, Dwayne Shintzius. Shintzius, who played 16 games for the C’s in the 1998-1999 season, has – far and away – the worst hair in NBA history. With that mullet, Shintzius looks more like Stifler in Old School than he does an NBA basketball player (look right).

If anyone is asking, honorable mention for the worst NBA hair ever goes to Chris Mullin, Chris Kaman, a younger Rony Turiaf, and Joakim Noah, and Rasheed isn't even close.