Tuesday, July 19, 2005
The Cheapest of Cheap Fucks
Right now there’s a lot of talk around our team and a lot of action around everyone else’s. CelticsBlog claim in their eminently confrontation-adverse prose that “If the C's wait around just long enough (but not too long) they could find a bargain with the rest of their MLE money,” but I say “for what?” What’s left out there that we want that could be lured in for $2 million per? Brian Scalab(u)rine? Oh wait, that’s right…
The most pressing issue now is the fate of Antoine Walker, and his market value suddenly seems to have been obliterated. I’m hope Ainge is of the mind to reclaim that #1 we wasted to get him back in the first place, but frankly, I’m not going to be shedding any tears if he just goes away and we get nothing. For those who still cling to this idea that we should hold onto Antoine for mid-level money until “Al is ready,” please, wake the fuck up.
Antoine Walker is a complete and unmitigated basketball disaster. He is arguably the worst starting player in the NBA, and probably the worst player in the league in terms of disrupting his own team’s offensive flow (much like his fellow Pitino-pal Waltah McFucky). He will never accept a back-up role on this team, and why would we even want him for that?
This team as currently constituted is a cruddy shithole of overpaid veterans (PP, RL, MB) and a bunch of promising young dudes with one potential all-star (AJ). Keeping Antoine in this mix does nothing but clog up our cap situation and take time away from KP, AJ and even Gomes. Seriously, is there anyone here who would rather see Antoine on the court over these guys? For any price? Personally, I wouldn’t take Toine back if he paid us the mid-level. Just imagine how bad he’s going to be in three years.
We’re going to suck next season, that’s a given. We’re rebuilding around young dudes who need the chance to rise and sink to their own level in this league. Adding Toine only makes us commit even more deeply to the mediocrity that has plagued this team since the Pitino era. I’d rather invest my heart and free time to a team that’s slowly moving in the right direction, rather than one that’s content to tread water in the same stagnant pool year after year. Change is good! Fuck Antoine! Tear the house down!
Anyway, here’s some thoughts on today’s major events…
Rahim to the Nets – Whatever. The Nets will live and die with Kidd, and if he goes down during the season, the underachieving triumvirate of Carter/Jefferson/Rahim can be counted on to find many ways to lose. Rahim is a good guy, but not a winner, and Richard Jefferson is the biggest moron in the game. With Kidd in his prime and K-Mart still on board, this team was still never anything more than the best of the worst (in the L-Eastern conference) so I don’t see how this makes them anything more than just respectable (prediction - 5th playoff spot). Plus, remember, the Nets have been crippled by the sudden defection of Brian Scalab-urine…
Swift to the Rockets – I don’t think many saw this one coming, at least not without a sign and trade being involved. Great move by the Rockets, but I guess that’s what can happen when you have a legit superstar like McGrady that people actually want to play with. Funny how “superstar” Paul Pierce has never been able to convince anyone into coming to Boston for less money.
Marshall to the Cavs – Wow, when you think about it, instead of wasting a shitload of money on Michael Redd, the Cavs got their shooter for the mid level and were able to add Larry Hughes to boot. Granted, they overpaid for Hughes, but this team suddenly looks decent again. I’m sure this will make LeBron feel slightly bad when he leaves in two years for the Knicks.
The most pressing issue now is the fate of Antoine Walker, and his market value suddenly seems to have been obliterated. I’m hope Ainge is of the mind to reclaim that #1 we wasted to get him back in the first place, but frankly, I’m not going to be shedding any tears if he just goes away and we get nothing. For those who still cling to this idea that we should hold onto Antoine for mid-level money until “Al is ready,” please, wake the fuck up.
Antoine Walker is a complete and unmitigated basketball disaster. He is arguably the worst starting player in the NBA, and probably the worst player in the league in terms of disrupting his own team’s offensive flow (much like his fellow Pitino-pal Waltah McFucky). He will never accept a back-up role on this team, and why would we even want him for that?
This team as currently constituted is a cruddy shithole of overpaid veterans (PP, RL, MB) and a bunch of promising young dudes with one potential all-star (AJ). Keeping Antoine in this mix does nothing but clog up our cap situation and take time away from KP, AJ and even Gomes. Seriously, is there anyone here who would rather see Antoine on the court over these guys? For any price? Personally, I wouldn’t take Toine back if he paid us the mid-level. Just imagine how bad he’s going to be in three years.
We’re going to suck next season, that’s a given. We’re rebuilding around young dudes who need the chance to rise and sink to their own level in this league. Adding Toine only makes us commit even more deeply to the mediocrity that has plagued this team since the Pitino era. I’d rather invest my heart and free time to a team that’s slowly moving in the right direction, rather than one that’s content to tread water in the same stagnant pool year after year. Change is good! Fuck Antoine! Tear the house down!
Anyway, here’s some thoughts on today’s major events…
Rahim to the Nets – Whatever. The Nets will live and die with Kidd, and if he goes down during the season, the underachieving triumvirate of Carter/Jefferson/Rahim can be counted on to find many ways to lose. Rahim is a good guy, but not a winner, and Richard Jefferson is the biggest moron in the game. With Kidd in his prime and K-Mart still on board, this team was still never anything more than the best of the worst (in the L-Eastern conference) so I don’t see how this makes them anything more than just respectable (prediction - 5th playoff spot). Plus, remember, the Nets have been crippled by the sudden defection of Brian Scalab-urine…
Swift to the Rockets – I don’t think many saw this one coming, at least not without a sign and trade being involved. Great move by the Rockets, but I guess that’s what can happen when you have a legit superstar like McGrady that people actually want to play with. Funny how “superstar” Paul Pierce has never been able to convince anyone into coming to Boston for less money.
Marshall to the Cavs – Wow, when you think about it, instead of wasting a shitload of money on Michael Redd, the Cavs got their shooter for the mid level and were able to add Larry Hughes to boot. Granted, they overpaid for Hughes, but this team suddenly looks decent again. I’m sure this will make LeBron feel slightly bad when he leaves in two years for the Knicks.
Friday, July 15, 2005
How to Win Back Boston
In a city obsessed with baseball, and a relative newfound devotion to football, how can the Celtics compete for fan affection? The Celtics currently battle with the locked-out Bruins as the third and fourth most popular teams in the city. Celtic coverage in the papers is adequate, and FSN does a great job (NESN is putrid), but the real measure of fan passion, sports talk radio, rarely mentions the green. And when they do, it is usually in a derisive and sarcastic way. Perhaps it is a medium I should consider.
The lack of Celtic popularity in the region really hit home earlier this year. Game 5 of the Celtic/Pacer playoffs did a 4.7 rating on FSN, while a competing regular season Red Sox-Tigers game on NESN did an 8.4. If you recall, this was after a big 110-79 Game 4 victory by the locals, after everyone wrote them off.
Given the last few years, a 4.7 rating is not bad for the Celtics, but to get beat that bad by a regular season baseball game against a perennial loser is pathetic. Did the fans of Boston really need to see the Halama/Maroth pitching match-up that bad? Much of the diminishing interest can be attributed to the state of the NBA today, a game that is losing middle-class, white suburbia at an alarming rate. And perhaps the rating disparity says more about Red Sox passion than it does Celtic apathy, but the fact that almost double the amount of viewers preferred a crappy regular season Sox game over a Celtic playoff game is disheartening.
Over twenty years ago (I forget the exact year), I recall walking out of Fenway after a late April afternoon game. There was a white Oldsmobile parked on Van Ness Street with its passenger side door open. The radio was turned up to the sound of Johnny Most, and the game was in the fourth. Those leaving the park congregated at and around the car, eventually resulting in a very large crowd. You could barely hear the call of the game over the cheers from those listening. I can’t remember if the C’s won, but I remember the passion.
Over the past few days, I’ve argued with some kool-aid drinkers at Celtic-Nation.com about the overall Celtic fan support in Boston and the region. Some expressed surprise that 40% of those surveyed on the EEI website want Pierce traded. I am not.
The only way to grow the Celtic market is to build a true contender. The fans of Boston, now spoiled from the success from other sports, need a reason to invest their time and money in the Celtics. The only way to accomplish this is, get this, trade Pierce. Build and market around the exciting youngsters, which is something that ownership have already started to do. Turn it over to those who are currently competing in Vegas. Even if it means a step back, those fans currently not paying attention will notice yearly improvements of a young team. Young, fast, athletic, exciting. After four years and gradual yet consistent improvement, the Cs will be ready to truly compete, and the fans will be there to back them up.
Sadly, it will never be like it was that day outside Fenway in the height of the Bird-era, but it has to get better than this.
The lack of Celtic popularity in the region really hit home earlier this year. Game 5 of the Celtic/Pacer playoffs did a 4.7 rating on FSN, while a competing regular season Red Sox-Tigers game on NESN did an 8.4. If you recall, this was after a big 110-79 Game 4 victory by the locals, after everyone wrote them off.
Given the last few years, a 4.7 rating is not bad for the Celtics, but to get beat that bad by a regular season baseball game against a perennial loser is pathetic. Did the fans of Boston really need to see the Halama/Maroth pitching match-up that bad? Much of the diminishing interest can be attributed to the state of the NBA today, a game that is losing middle-class, white suburbia at an alarming rate. And perhaps the rating disparity says more about Red Sox passion than it does Celtic apathy, but the fact that almost double the amount of viewers preferred a crappy regular season Sox game over a Celtic playoff game is disheartening.
Over twenty years ago (I forget the exact year), I recall walking out of Fenway after a late April afternoon game. There was a white Oldsmobile parked on Van Ness Street with its passenger side door open. The radio was turned up to the sound of Johnny Most, and the game was in the fourth. Those leaving the park congregated at and around the car, eventually resulting in a very large crowd. You could barely hear the call of the game over the cheers from those listening. I can’t remember if the C’s won, but I remember the passion.
Over the past few days, I’ve argued with some kool-aid drinkers at Celtic-Nation.com about the overall Celtic fan support in Boston and the region. Some expressed surprise that 40% of those surveyed on the EEI website want Pierce traded. I am not.
The only way to grow the Celtic market is to build a true contender. The fans of Boston, now spoiled from the success from other sports, need a reason to invest their time and money in the Celtics. The only way to accomplish this is, get this, trade Pierce. Build and market around the exciting youngsters, which is something that ownership have already started to do. Turn it over to those who are currently competing in Vegas. Even if it means a step back, those fans currently not paying attention will notice yearly improvements of a young team. Young, fast, athletic, exciting. After four years and gradual yet consistent improvement, the Cs will be ready to truly compete, and the fans will be there to back them up.
Sadly, it will never be like it was that day outside Fenway in the height of the Bird-era, but it has to get better than this.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Reed All About It
Provided a team consisting of Dr. Chestnutt (with his bad knee/back), RD fan, willie, wassup and myself could compete in Vegas this week; it is still very encouraging to see how well the Young-Cs are doing. Dominating - in fact.
You can bet that Pierce, while in town, isn’t hanging out with our future. The team looks rested and not hung-over. They haven’t been stabbed as far as I can tell. You can also tell that he’s not talking to them about basketball. They have started fast and haven’t been in any fights. Ace bandages are being used for ankles, not props.
By all accounts I have read, West is leading the team admirably and in control; his low assist totals notwithstanding. Gomes is everything that he was at Providence, a solid contributor who goes after every ball, hits the boards and has a soft touch around the rim. Green’s flare has been well documented, but I’m more excited about his outside shot. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a 2/3 who can shoot? Our starting SG last year shot 37% from three. Who was that again? Allen has had two good games and one disappearance. Perk and AJ have had trouble it seems, but I’ll attribute that to young officials feeling their way in what is their "rookie" league.
The Celtic story of the summer league, though, is last year’s find from the second round, Justin Reed. We heard he had some game, we read that he was a great defender (and saw it in small doses, like the block on Kobe in LA), and Danny insisted throughout the year that he would eventually contribute. Given the time, and teammates who actually pass him the ball, Reed has been the model of consistency in just three games in Sin City. In little over 24 minutes a game, the small forward is averaging over 12 points while shooting 54%. He’s helping out on the glass and, according to the articles I have read, played stifling defense. Reed is the perfect type of role player the Celtics need in the future, and another example of Danny’s draft philosophy.
Over the past three years, for every flashy athlete Danny has drafted, he has also added an equally un-flashy basketball player. For every Banks there is a West. By my count, DA has drafted three great athletes (MB, TA, GG), three solid basketball players (DW, JR, RG), one who is both (AJ) and one who was neither (KP). I love this mix of talent and b-ball IQ. Allowed to properly grow together, this young core could provide us with some great years ahead.
Back to Reed for a second. I recall reading last year that our loner captain and Reed were real tight off the court. Dr. Chestnutt theorized that, as a defensive specialist, Pierce did not view Reed as a threat to his minutes, or number of shots.
If Justin keeps this up the next few games, look for a Pierce/Reed falling out.
You can bet that Pierce, while in town, isn’t hanging out with our future. The team looks rested and not hung-over. They haven’t been stabbed as far as I can tell. You can also tell that he’s not talking to them about basketball. They have started fast and haven’t been in any fights. Ace bandages are being used for ankles, not props.
By all accounts I have read, West is leading the team admirably and in control; his low assist totals notwithstanding. Gomes is everything that he was at Providence, a solid contributor who goes after every ball, hits the boards and has a soft touch around the rim. Green’s flare has been well documented, but I’m more excited about his outside shot. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a 2/3 who can shoot? Our starting SG last year shot 37% from three. Who was that again? Allen has had two good games and one disappearance. Perk and AJ have had trouble it seems, but I’ll attribute that to young officials feeling their way in what is their "rookie" league.
The Celtic story of the summer league, though, is last year’s find from the second round, Justin Reed. We heard he had some game, we read that he was a great defender (and saw it in small doses, like the block on Kobe in LA), and Danny insisted throughout the year that he would eventually contribute. Given the time, and teammates who actually pass him the ball, Reed has been the model of consistency in just three games in Sin City. In little over 24 minutes a game, the small forward is averaging over 12 points while shooting 54%. He’s helping out on the glass and, according to the articles I have read, played stifling defense. Reed is the perfect type of role player the Celtics need in the future, and another example of Danny’s draft philosophy.
Over the past three years, for every flashy athlete Danny has drafted, he has also added an equally un-flashy basketball player. For every Banks there is a West. By my count, DA has drafted three great athletes (MB, TA, GG), three solid basketball players (DW, JR, RG), one who is both (AJ) and one who was neither (KP). I love this mix of talent and b-ball IQ. Allowed to properly grow together, this young core could provide us with some great years ahead.
Back to Reed for a second. I recall reading last year that our loner captain and Reed were real tight off the court. Dr. Chestnutt theorized that, as a defensive specialist, Pierce did not view Reed as a threat to his minutes, or number of shots.
If Justin keeps this up the next few games, look for a Pierce/Reed falling out.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Scalab(u)rine
Nothing gets my morning started like hearing that Danny’s first foray into the FA market was to hand $15 million over to a honky stiff with fewer skills then Mark Blount. I’m not loving this pick-up, and I can’t imagine there was that much interest in Brian Scalabrine in the league to warrant a five year deal. This is like when Pitino gifted 4yr/$13.5 to Walter McWorthless when literally no one else in the league was going to sign him. Danny, goddammit, you have me and then you lose me.
Granted, this isn’t a big deal (literally) one way or the other, but I’d rather save the entire MLE instead of locking up another $3 million a year on a PF/C who joins the team already at the bottom of the depth chart. Even if those tantalizing Toine/Blount to Chi-town rumors are true, Scalabrine basically fills the Tom Gugliotta role from last year, and that ain’t worth forking over 5 years for. Good lord, just sign Taylor Coppenrath to a one-year deal and take your chances.
Ahhhhhhhhh, the joy of overpaying in the NBA.
This also makes the Dickau pick-up seem more likely, as it would seem that the man with the funniest name in the league probably falls into the $2-2.5 a year range.
Speaking of shitty point guards, the Herald spent 350 words french-kissing Marcus Banks for showing up at a summer league practice, even though he’s not on the team. WOW! – a basketball player playing basketball in the off-season in his hometown. Why is this considered surprising or noteworthy? Is the league really that full of fuckheads who do as little as possible that a guy showing up at a practice is considered “maturity”?
PS – The highest percentage, 33% , of all Celticsblog voters think that Antoine Walker will end up back in Boston. That’s from like 360 people voting. Looks like the Kool-Aid has turned into a hot cup of shit.
Granted, this isn’t a big deal (literally) one way or the other, but I’d rather save the entire MLE instead of locking up another $3 million a year on a PF/C who joins the team already at the bottom of the depth chart. Even if those tantalizing Toine/Blount to Chi-town rumors are true, Scalabrine basically fills the Tom Gugliotta role from last year, and that ain’t worth forking over 5 years for. Good lord, just sign Taylor Coppenrath to a one-year deal and take your chances.
Ahhhhhhhhh, the joy of overpaying in the NBA.
This also makes the Dickau pick-up seem more likely, as it would seem that the man with the funniest name in the league probably falls into the $2-2.5 a year range.
Speaking of shitty point guards, the Herald spent 350 words french-kissing Marcus Banks for showing up at a summer league practice, even though he’s not on the team. WOW! – a basketball player playing basketball in the off-season in his hometown. Why is this considered surprising or noteworthy? Is the league really that full of fuckheads who do as little as possible that a guy showing up at a practice is considered “maturity”?
PS – The highest percentage, 33% , of all Celticsblog voters think that Antoine Walker will end up back in Boston. That’s from like 360 people voting. Looks like the Kool-Aid has turned into a hot cup of shit.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Slow Summer notes
A few observations based on rumors we’re all hearing…
Why the fuck is Isiah shopping Mike Sweetney? He’s the one guy on the Knicks who doesn’t have an unspeakable contract and a shameful history of underperforming. At very least he’ll be a fully serviceable back-up PF for years to come. If we didn’t have Big Al, Danny would be all over this.
The Cavs are looking to spend a shitload of money on Z and Michael Redd, probably the most one-dimensional All-Stars in the league. These guys are complementary parts, but Ferry’s going to lock them up long and kill any flexibility just so LeBron can feel less embarrassed for the next (and last) two years he plays in a Cav’s uniform.
Pierce in a trade for Magloire? I’d pull the trigger, but New Orleans has like 5 guys under contract, I don’t think they could do it even if they wanted. NO is a perfect town for Paul Party-er to completely implode in, but I can’t imagine this has a grain of truth. Sadly.
Why the fuck is Isiah shopping Mike Sweetney? He’s the one guy on the Knicks who doesn’t have an unspeakable contract and a shameful history of underperforming. At very least he’ll be a fully serviceable back-up PF for years to come. If we didn’t have Big Al, Danny would be all over this.
The Cavs are looking to spend a shitload of money on Z and Michael Redd, probably the most one-dimensional All-Stars in the league. These guys are complementary parts, but Ferry’s going to lock them up long and kill any flexibility just so LeBron can feel less embarrassed for the next (and last) two years he plays in a Cav’s uniform.
Pierce in a trade for Magloire? I’d pull the trigger, but New Orleans has like 5 guys under contract, I don’t think they could do it even if they wanted. NO is a perfect town for Paul Party-er to completely implode in, but I can’t imagine this has a grain of truth. Sadly.
Monday, July 04, 2005
Get off my Dickau
If it's true that we're about to sign Dan Dickau with part/all of our MLE, this can only mean that either Marcus/Allen/RickyD are toast. My guess is it's Allen, and they'll have Delonte playing the "you get 25 minutes if you're good 6 if you're bad" game with Doc all season. Marcus will have yet another season to serve as the frustratingly inconsistent backup point guard and CelticsDoom criticism-magnet he is destined to forever be. Tony Allen will be packaged with his crack-baby attention span and Mark Cunt to some kind team with a sense of humor and a slightly less obscene contract to offer.
These are all baseless predictions, but feel free to diseminate them at will. My hope is that we keep TA and shitcan Pierce, but whatever. Also, just to be clear, I like Dickau and I think if we're only giving him half the MLE, this is a pretty good move. Unclear to me, however, if he can be a true floor general with someone like PartyBoy Paul on the floor.
One final observation - if Dickau is indeed on board, how long can it be until we acquire the rights to Ben Dover, Dick Hertz and Mick Hunt? My God, Danny will have Tittyfuck under contract soon...
These are banner days for Celtics(Doom) Nation.
These are all baseless predictions, but feel free to diseminate them at will. My hope is that we keep TA and shitcan Pierce, but whatever. Also, just to be clear, I like Dickau and I think if we're only giving him half the MLE, this is a pretty good move. Unclear to me, however, if he can be a true floor general with someone like PartyBoy Paul on the floor.
One final observation - if Dickau is indeed on board, how long can it be until we acquire the rights to Ben Dover, Dick Hertz and Mick Hunt? My God, Danny will have Tittyfuck under contract soon...
These are banner days for Celtics(Doom) Nation.
Friday, July 01, 2005
If I were Danny..
I would be a rich, classy, dedicated Mormon running a historically storied organization, rather than a middle class, crass, on-and-off Catholic helping to run a hack web-site with a poster named tittyfuck. But alas, if I were Danny, I would make the following moves PRIOR to the 2005-’06 season.
Trade -Hinrich/Davis for Pierce/Banks
Reasons: It would be hard for me to accept a trade of our best player (pause for sarcasm to sink in), but the Celts would get the point guard of the future along with an expiring contract who could actually help the team next year. Of all the trade rumors with Pierce’s name attached, I love this one the most because of roster flexibility. Don’t get me wrong; if this trade is a 10, the Maggette&Wilcox trade is a 9.9. Of course, any scenario involving Pierce going away for anything that doesn’t have a long-term contract is a 9.5 in my not so humble opinion.
Chestnutt will say that Chicago will never do this, but reality can’t stand in the way of my dreams. After all, if I can dream that my wife would be OK with me sleeping with half the office, why can’t I dream that the Bulls with take our pouting ‘star.’
Sign & Trade -Walker for Donyell Marshall
Reasons: Donyell is consistent and underrated. He can shot and board. He is a former high draft pick and no-miss prospect who, well, missed. He can teach the youngsters not to make the mistakes he made when he started with Minnesota and Golden State, namely, smoke a lot of pot and gain 50 pounds. Fortunately, ‘yell turned his career around in Utah to become a remarkably reliable veteran. He’s the type of presence we need.
2005-06 Celtic Roster, C LaFrentz, $10 million Perk, $780,000 Blount, $5.5; PF Jefferson, $1.5, Davis, $13.9; SF Marshall, $7 million, Gomes, $500,000, Reed, $700,000; SG Davis, $5.9 million, Green, $1 million; PG Hinrich, $2.4 million, West, $1 million, Greene, $500,000.
Starters - RL, AJ, DM, RD, KH
Have a great 4th everyone, I’m on vacation next week, and I expect all these moves to done before I get back.
Trade -Hinrich/Davis for Pierce/Banks
Reasons: It would be hard for me to accept a trade of our best player (pause for sarcasm to sink in), but the Celts would get the point guard of the future along with an expiring contract who could actually help the team next year. Of all the trade rumors with Pierce’s name attached, I love this one the most because of roster flexibility. Don’t get me wrong; if this trade is a 10, the Maggette&Wilcox trade is a 9.9. Of course, any scenario involving Pierce going away for anything that doesn’t have a long-term contract is a 9.5 in my not so humble opinion.
Chestnutt will say that Chicago will never do this, but reality can’t stand in the way of my dreams. After all, if I can dream that my wife would be OK with me sleeping with half the office, why can’t I dream that the Bulls with take our pouting ‘star.’
Sign & Trade -Walker for Donyell Marshall
Reasons: Donyell is consistent and underrated. He can shot and board. He is a former high draft pick and no-miss prospect who, well, missed. He can teach the youngsters not to make the mistakes he made when he started with Minnesota and Golden State, namely, smoke a lot of pot and gain 50 pounds. Fortunately, ‘yell turned his career around in Utah to become a remarkably reliable veteran. He’s the type of presence we need.
2005-06 Celtic Roster, C LaFrentz, $10 million Perk, $780,000 Blount, $5.5; PF Jefferson, $1.5, Davis, $13.9; SF Marshall, $7 million, Gomes, $500,000, Reed, $700,000; SG Davis, $5.9 million, Green, $1 million; PG Hinrich, $2.4 million, West, $1 million, Greene, $500,000.
Starters - RL, AJ, DM, RD, KH
Have a great 4th everyone, I’m on vacation next week, and I expect all these moves to done before I get back.
