Throwing some dimes: Rick Pitino's shining moment as a Celtic

Once in a while, someone else's article catches my eye. Sometimes, it's because the article is so spot-on I wish I'd written it myself. Other times, it's because the article enlightens me with something I never knew. Still other times, it's because I disagree with whatever's written. No matter what the reason, I dish it off to another writer to make his/her point. You know, throwing some dimes.

• Red's Army runs through the ten worst Celtics moments of the decade.  My favorite?  Number nine, Rick Pitino.  It's not often a top ten worst moment of the decade can make me laugh for full minutes at a time:

"Larry Bird is not walking through that door, fans. Kevin McHale is not walking through that door, and Robert Parish is not walking through that door. And if you expect them to walk through that door, they're going to be gray and old. What we are is young, exciting, hard-working, and we're going to improve. People don't realize that, and as soon as they realize those three guys are not coming through that door, the better this town will be for all of us because there are young guys in that (locker) room playing their asses off. I wish we had $90 million under the salary cap, I wish we could buy the world. We can't; the only thing we can do is work hard, and all the negativity that's in this town sucks. I've been around when Jim Rice was booed. I've been around when Yaz was booed. And it stinks. It makes the greatest town, greatest city in the world, lousy. The only thing that will turn this around is being upbeat and positive like we are in that locker room... and if you think I'm going to succumb to negativity, you're wrong. You've got the wrong guy leading this team."

• Celtics Stuff Live runs down the Celtics Team of the Decade, and if you don't want to see who they picked for the team, at least check out the picture...  It's priceless.
• According to Jon Duke, "Now is the time to dust off Messrs. Walker and Giddens and have them play with the type of reckless abandon that might make even Tony Allen say, 'hey, simmer down fellas.'"
• Don't look now, but Rajon Rondo is on pace to set the franchise record for assists.

Wanna throw your own dime, and get someone's article recognized? Email me at jayking@celticstown.com or follow me on Twitter.

Throwing some dimes: Rajon Rondo impressing teammates with leadership

Once in a while, someone else's article catches my eye. Sometimes, it's because the article is so spot-on I wish I'd written it myself. Other times, it's because the article enlightens me with something I never knew. Still other times, it's because I disagree with whatever's written. No matter what the reason, I dish it off to another writer to make his/her point. You know, throwing some dimes.

• Steve Bulpett has a great article about Rajon Rondo developing from a starter into a leader and possibly the best point guard in the Eastern Conference.  Here are some quotes from the story:

Doc Rivers: "He’s a leader.  He’s obtained that this year, and that’s all off-the-court stuff. His on-the-court (performance) alone has made him an All-Star in my opinion, but we’ll see."

Ray Allen: "What’s different is that what he’s doing now is in the confines of the offense. It’s all part of what we’re doing as a team. He’s making the plays that are there. He’s getting guys the ball, but he’s also making his move when the other team gives him that opportunity. He’s taking it."

Eddie House: "He has a lot more confidence in himself. You know, when he steps on the court he feels like that guy. When you have that confidence in yourself and you go out and prove it night in and night out, people have to take notice. That’s what he’s doing. He’s proving it.

That comes with his confidence. He’s been given the reins. For a time you’re not sure, but now it’s like, OK, go. He has that green light. He’s playing freely. He’s getting guys the ball and he’s making the plays. He does what he wants. He’s just playing basketball at an extremely high level."

You should read the rest of the story. It's a nice look at Rondo's progression, mostly through the eyes of his teammates.

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Celtics defense?
• Sam Young's blind younger brother plays the piano... and so does Mike Conley.
• Glen Davis has provided the Celtics with a spark.

Wanna throw your own dime, and get someone's article recognized? Email me at jayking@celticstown.com or follow me on Twitter.

Throwing some dimes: Krypto-Nate wants to be a Celtic

Once in a while, someone else's article catches my eye. Sometimes, it's because the article is so spot-on I wish I'd written it myself. Other times, it's because the article enlightens me with something I never knew. Still other times, it's because I disagree with whatever's written. No matter what the reason, I dish it off to another writer to make his/her point. You know, throwing some dimes.

• Chris Sheridan reports Nate Robinson has one destination in mind as he demands a trade... Boston:

Robinson does want out, and a source close to the Robinson camp tells ESPN.com there's one place the former slam-dunk champion would truly like to land if a trade can be worked out: Boston.

If that can't happen, Robinson wants a buyout, believing he will be able to sign with one of the top contending teams in the league, including the Lakers, Cleveland and Orlando -- the thinking being that he can provide the instant offensive boost for any of those teams that he once provided for the Knicks.

Sunday night's 98-94 victory against Charlotte marked the ninth consecutive DNP-CD for Robinson, whose tension-filled relationship with D'Antoni has reached a tipping point. The Knicks have gone 6-3 since D'Antoni removed Robinson from the rotation -- a point D'Antoni repeatedly used in his own defense in addressing the matter prior to the game -- and Robinson's camp has made the decision to go public with its displeasure, formally requesting a trade while letting the media know it was doing so.

But a couple of problems exist in regard to Robinson's demanding a trade:

• Robinson has the right to veto any trade (because he would be forfeiting his Larry Bird rights by accepting a trade), and as unhappy as he is, at the end of the day he'd rather sulk at the end of the bench in New York than battle Wayne Ellington for spot minutes in Minnesota. One source close to the Knicks said the list of teams that Robinson would accept a trade to could be described as "slim and/or none."

I wouldn't mind Nate if the Celtics didn't have to give up much to get him.  He's super-athletic, he can score, and by the looks of it he wants to win (or at least be traded to a very cushy situation). 

But, it'd be very tough to pair Eddie House in the backcourt with Nate; they wouldn't be able to guard a soul.  Also, Nate must be some type of behavioral problem for such a talented player to go through such a long string of DNP's.  So if the Celtics give up next to nothing for Nate, I'm all for it.  But if they have to give up Marquis Daniels, as Sheridan later hypothesizes, my answer would be, "No.  Absolutely not."

• Red's Army is up for best individual blog in the NBA.  Vote for them.
• Red's Army is also trying to give away tickets.  It's your last chance... try to win them.
• Zach Lowe takes a look at just how prevalent film sessions are in Boston:

Is it possible that group film study, NFL style, is not as big a part of NBA culture as some of us (myself included) think it is? It must vary from coach to coach, right?


Whatever the case, my favorite tidbit from the Globe’s rightfully sunny recap of the C’s-Wolves beat down is this:

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he also told Pierce, who scored only nine points in Friday night’s loss to the Sixers, to get back to his instincts instead of trying to figure out ways to get everyone involved. The team watched film after the loss — a rarity during the regular season — and Rivers put together a sequence of all the uncontested shots.

“There were a lot of them,” Rivers said. “It was good for them to see.”

It’s unclear from the context if Rivers was showing uncontested shots that Pierce passed up or uncontested shots the C’s defense yielded to Philly. Either way, the line that caught my eye was “a rarity during the regular season.”

Wanna throw your own dime, and get someone's article recognized? Email me at jayking@celticstown.com or follow me on Twitter.

Throwing a dime: Rajon Rondo is 'not your typical jock'

Once in a while, someone else's article catches my eye. Sometimes, it's because the article is so spot-on I wish I'd written it myself. Other times, it's because the article enlightens me with something I never knew. Still other times, it's because I disagree with whatever's written. No matter what the reason, I dish it off to another writer to make his/her point. You know, throwing some dimes.
 

• Gary Washburn of the Globe had a very interesting chat yesterday where he answered questions from Celtics fans, throwing out a bunch of  interesting tidbits.  Here are a few:
  

First, Washburn talks about Rondo's behavior:

2:10	[Comment From Chuck: ] We read subtle references to Rondo's off the court persona. Is he a difficult personality? just quiet? are we gonna start saying "It's Rondo being Rondo" soon?

2:13

Gary Washburn: Rajon Rondo is an interesting dude because he is not your typical jock or player who went to college just to play ball but wouldn't know about the world around him. He is very intelligent, rather moody and quite comical. He is not the "young guy who keeps quite around the old dudes" type of guy. If he has something to say, he will say it. Now perhaps a few years ago, that didn't go over well. But he is picking and choosing his moments better when to say certain things.

It's pretty out of the blue to hear about Rondo being an intellectual.  When I heard all types of stories this summer about Rondo being harder to deal with than Elin Nordegren with a golf club in her hand, I never figured he was the next Good Will Hunting.

Washburn makes a lot of great points, but also proves he's new in town:

2:25	[Comment From PennStateDad: ] The C's appear to be rounding into shape, but Tony Allen is still maddeningly inconsistent. He'll make a great hustle play, then make a real dumb one. It's not just his coming back from injury; he's always done this. Is there any hope he'll improve?

2:26

Gary Washburn: I know I will hear it from C's fans on this one, but I really like Tony Allen. He is athletic, chases loose balls, is tough and can score. He hit a big shot last night in Memphis and I think with more games, he will really help this team. He is already getting better, but I know he has made some questionable plays in his time here. I am fresh eyes, so I am seeing more positive than negative.

In time, I think Washburn will see the truth about Tony Allen: As good as he looks on certain trips down the court, the only thing he can be trusted for is being as trustworthy on a basketball court as Tiger Woods is away from home.  (That makes two zings at the Woods family in one post. A new career high... for now.)

Be sure to read the rest of the chat.  It's insightful and offers a lot of insider knowledge you probably wouldn't get elsewhere.

Throwing some dimes

Once in a while, someone else's article catches my eye. Sometimes, it's because the article is so spot-on I wish I'd written it myself. Other times, it's because the article enlightens me with something I never knew. Still other times, it's because I disagree with whatever's written. No matter what the reason, I dish it off to another writer to make his/her point. You know, throwing some dimes.

• Chris Forsberg writes a very nice and well-informed piece about the top ten reasons the Celtics are so good.  One of his reasons?  Winning in spite of themselves:

Quite possibly the most impressive aspect of the 10-game winning streak has been the Celtics' ability to win even when they don't play their best basketball. Try to find a game in which they put a complete and dominating 48-minute effort together. Save for maybe Charlotte or Chicago, it was rarely there.

Taken to overtime against a lowly Knicks squad, they needed Garnett's long-range jumper to escape with a win. … Philadelphia generated much of its offense on the fast break, and Boston's aging legs struggled to keep pace. … The Celtics played virtually no defense against Toronto until the second half. … Milwaukee dominated the offensive glass and hung around thanks solely to second-chance opportunities.

And yet the Celtics found a different way to win each night.

"The whole goal for us is to continue to play and get better," Pierce said. "We learn from wins, and we learn from losses. Throughout the course of the season, we're just trying to get better."

Read the rest of his story to find the other nine reasons.

• Zach Lowe of CelticsHub does an interesting and thorough statistical analysis of Boston's evolutionary Big Three (Rondo instead of Ray Allen), concluding the Celtics' MVP:

Deep breath. That’s a lot of stats. Probably too many, especially since some contradict the others. (Paul Pierce, for instance, has the highest offensive rating but the worst offensive plus/minus on 82games). Is there any way to digest all of this and come to a definitive conclusion?

Probably not. I mean, we can see some general trends. Rondo and KG “beat” Pierce in nearly every defensive category (save opponent PER), and we can probably conclude that they are slightly more valuable on defense than Pierce. But all three are really outstanding.

Offensively, the numbers are all over the board.

One conclusion you can make: Imagine someone who had access to these stats but no way of watching games. That person could very well conclude Rajon Rondo is the best player on the Celtics. Statistically, we are there. Based purely on numbers, you can make the case that—right now—Rajon Rondo is the team’s MVP.

So who would be Zach Lowe's MVP if he had a vote?  Read and find out.

• The Grizzlies blog Three Shades of Blue guarantees a win for tonight, quoting Ball Don't Lie's Kelly Dwyer while describing the "BEAUTIFUL" basketball Memphis has been playing lately:

The Grizzlies are playing downright BEAUTIFUL basketball -- the ball movement, the hustle, the defense, the highlight dunks -- it's fun to watch because it's BEAUTIFUL basketball. Dwyer:

"Lionel Hollins has this team passing the ball with an interest that could only be described with a sentence that features the word 'aplomb.' Lionel Hollins has turned a bunch of me-first misfits into a TEAM that loves playing the right way. One that comes out in an early evening contest in Miami after a Saturday night in South Beach and moves the ball, cuts off angles defensively, and thinks two passes ahead of the one it is about to throw.

Clearly, Lionel Hollins is a genius, or he practices in the stylings of what could be called 'the occult.'

Tonight's game with Boston will be a TRUE test. Frankly, the Grizz have been playing with a level of confidence and cohesion that rivals the Celtics and Lakers. WHEN we steal this game, the whole league will notice!

The Grizzlies are 10-13, people.  Yes, they're on a 4-1 streak, but even Ben Wallace makes a free throw once in a while.  Let's not go overboard.

• SBNation ranks NBA teams on a "Watchability scale", and the Celtics come in fifth:

There's something unbelievably satisfying about watching a veteran team just take care of business no matter what, even if everyone guns for them. Boston is 11-1 on the road this year, and watching them, you know why. They never make a mistake. All their sets are precise, though it helps that they have two great scorers in Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, along with two of the league's best screeners in Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins. On defense, they shut down everything your team likes to do. You like pick-and-roll? No problem, we'll unleash the human pick-and-roll eraser, KG, on you. Like post play? Don't worry, we only have the two best low-post defenders in basketball. Good luck, guys. Thanks to Rajon Rondo, they also have the best secondary fast break in the league, meaning they do a great job of pushing the ball on missed shots and taking advantage of the confusion that results while players try to find their man on defense.

Here's the problem: Boston is so damn unlikeable. Garnett and Rondo are punks. Perkins has developed some ridiculous fake swagger, the kind that results from riding the coattails of your four all-star caliber teammates. Rasheed Wallace needs no introduction, and Pierce is a chronic whiner that got carried off the floor by his teammates in the 2008 Finals, only to magically come back a few minutes later and be just fine.

Everyone goes overboard with the "Boston is so unlikeable" comments.  They don't have a single person who has ever been in any significant trouble with the law and, off the court, the C's all seem like pretty decent guys.  Just because they play basketball with a chip on their shoulder and talk a lot of shit (just like Bird used to do back in the day), the C's have a bad reputation.  Well I, for one, am glad they play like that.  I'd rather have a team that overdoes it with passion than one that goes through the motions.

Throwing some dimes: Rajon Rondo both tough and great last night

Once in a while, someone else's article catches my eye. Sometimes, it's because the article is so spot-on I wish I'd written it myself. Other times, it's because the article enlightens me with something I never knew. Still other times, it's because I disagree with whatever's written. No matter what the reason, I dish it off to another writer to make his/her point. You know, throwing some dimes.
 

• The Globe's Frank Dell'Apa has a great quote from Rajon Rondo about last night's clothesline from Brad Miller:

“The hit was softer than I expected,’’ Rondo said. “I knew I was going to get hit, going back to last year. It wasn’t as hard as it seemed. I think he tried to go for my face but he hit me in my nose.

“But I’ve been hit harder. You just know, you’ve got a feeling. It didn’t hurt, I was just focusing on trying to make a free throw, honestly. I wasn’t mad or anything, that’s part of the game. I’ve been hit way harder. Next time we play them I’m still going to drive whether it’s him whether it’s [Joachim] Noah or anybody. It could be Shaq [O’Neal]. I’m still going to drive that’s what I do.’’

My first thoughts about reading the quote: Did Joakim Noah change the spelling of his name? Does he merely have an alternate spelling?

My second thoughts: Rondo is a tough, tough bastard who wants to let everyone in the world know he's not going to back down from anybody.  I'm glad he's on my team.

• The Globe's Gary Washburn with a quote from Paul Pierce, discussing Pierce's desire to remain a Celtic throughout his entire career:

“Like I said, I want to retire a Celtic, I kept that no secret and it will all play out, depending how many years I want to play,’’ he said. “I am sure that Danny [Ainge] and Doc [Rivers], as long as these guys are here, ownership, I am sure they want me to stay also.’’

The Celtics would be well served to sign Pierce to an extension for the purpose of setting their salary cap in coming years. Boston can re-sign Ray Allen using its Larry Bird exception rule, which allows teams to re-sign players who have been with the team three years or longer to contracts that don’t count against the salary cap.

Obviously, I would love to resign Pierce and wrap him up for the end of his career.  Even if he's old and hobbled, I don't want Pierce going anywhere else to retire.  He bleeds Green and White, and has done more for the franchise in my lifetime than any other man.

•  Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston writes about the bench's solid play in last night's win:

The Celtics' second unit often rescued the team early in the year. In fact, Boston's bench outscored opponents in 11 of the team's first 13 games of the 2009-10 campaign. Since then -- with Marquis Daniels battling a thumb injury and now sidelined for at least two months after surgery to repair a torn ligament -- the unit had been outscored in seven of the Celtics' previous nine games.

On Saturday, Boston finished with a 44-27 advantage over the Bulls in bench points.

Forsberg is right; the bench was supposed to be a big strength this season, but it hasn't come to fruition.  Whether it's because of 'Sheed's cold streak, Daniels' injury, or whatever else, the C's bench has often been outplayed by opposing benches with inferior talent. 

Throwing a few more dimes: Ray Allen doesn't want J.R. Giddens to hit the rim

Once in a while, someone else's article catches my eye. Sometimes, it's because the article is so spot-on I wish I'd written it myself. Other times, it's because the article enlightens me with something I never knew. Still other times, it's because I disagree with whatever's written. No matter what the reason, I dish it off to another writer to make his/her point. You know, throwing some dimes.

Just read a couple good pieces, so I wanted to let you guys know about them:

• First, from TrueHoop, a story of Ray Allen teasing J.R. Giddens for hitting the rim on a made jump shot:

As Giddens took long-range shooting practice this morning at the United Center in Chicago, Ray Allen sat observing, just inches away on the bench. Giddens isn't not a congenital shooter -- he falls away a bit on his shot -- but this morning, he was doing alright. He hit three consecutive shots in front of Allen from the right side.

But that wasn't sufficient for Allen.

"You touched the rim!" Allen said after Giddens' third make.

Giddens turned around to face Allen. He wasn't despondent, but appeared more like an eager child trying to please a father-coach.

Stories like that are always cool.  It's interesting to get a peek at what goes on behind the scenes, the relationships between players.

• Chris Forsberg from ESPNBoston, asking the question, "Do you want Ray to stay?":

The best general managers in sports have to make tough decisions like this on a regular basis. While now is probably not the opportune time to point it out, the New England Patriots were the NFL's team of the decade in large part because of the shrewd personnel decisions the team made in order to remain a top competitor over the long haul.

Put yourself in Danny Ainge's shoes and suppose the Celtics win another NBA title in June, what should management do? Bring back Allen, committing quality money over what would likely be at least a two-year period? Or recognize that you squeezed two championships out of a three-year window with this new Big 3 and start the turnover process, potentially using the savings to try to lure a quality young player out of a bountiful 2010 free-agent class?

I would love for him to stay, but only at a reasonable price.  From what Ray said about the Allen Iverson saga earlier this season, he understands veteran players have to take a discount and accept a smaller role to continue to play for a contender.  It's a nice attitude, and one I hope brings Ray back to Boston after a sizeable pay cut.

Throwing a dime: Scott Souza joins Celtics Stuff Live

Once in a while, someone else's article catches my eye.  Sometimes, it's because the article is so spot-on I wish I'd written it myself.  Other times, it's because the article enlightens me with something I never knew.  Still other times, it's because I disagree with whatever's written.  No matter what the reason, I dish it off to another writer to make his/her point.  You know, throwing some dimes.

Long one of the best Celtics writers around, Scott Souza has now taken his work into the Celtics blogosphere, where he will contribute a column to Celtics Stuff Live.  I would describe his first column, about Tony Allen's last chance to make it in Boston, but I wouldn't do it justice.  With that said, I'll just let you read a short excerpt of it:

There is no denying Allen is an NBA talent. But the league’s fringes are littered with players who have the skills, but were never able to put them together in a way to justify real value. Allen came close, oh so close, during the nadir of Boston’s 2006-07 flop when Paul Pierce, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West were all hurt, Rajon Rondo had yet to emerge, and Allen was a 20-point-a-game scorer for a month.

Then came a torn ACL on a meaningless dunk attempt after the whistle, and a series of setbacks that have come to define Allen as a person and a player. For a few minutes – the second quarter Thursday night, for instance – he looks like a legitimate piece of a championship puzzle. Then almost as quickly – the end of the third quarter Thursday night, for instance – he is a glaring square peg firing up wild shots and tossing away passes around a round hole in the rotation.

I couldn't have said it better myself: "A glaring square peg firing up wild shots and tossing away passes around a round hole in the rotation."

So congratulations to Celtics Stuff Live for the newest addition to their crew, and to Souza for extending his influence and joining the Celtics blogosphere.