Bleacher Report - Articles by Thomas Halzack

Nocioni To The Celtics? 3 Way Trade Talks Rumored

Thomas Halzack — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:23:31 -0500

There is a trade rumor coming from Marc Stein of ESPN’s True Hoop Blog that the Kings and 76ers are trying to get the Celtics interested in a three–way trade.

It would send Andres Nocioni to the Celtics with Tony Allen and Brian Scalabrine heading to Philly, while the hard-to-trade Samuel Dalembert and J.R Giddens to the Sacramento Kings. The 76ers would receive Kenny Thomas from the Kings.

According to Stein, the Celtics have been interested in Nocioni since he was traded to the Kings last season.

Over on Celticsblog.com a survey of fans suggests it is a no brainer, with those in favor at 77% as I write this.

Talent-wise, it appears to be an immediate upgrade for the Celtics. Nocioni is kind of like Ryan Gomes . Versatile offensive small forward that can play some power forward, but not as proficient on the defensive end. He also has a much bigger salary than Gomes was able to obtain.

Nocioni will get $7.5 mil this year , then $6.85 mil., then $6.6 mil., then a team option for $7.5 mil.

Here are the pluses for the Celtics

1) Andres is a solid veteran with playoff experience.

2) Slightly taller and with a stronger body than Marquis Daniels. He has only missed significant time in one year – 06-07 he missed 29 games. 80 game player for the rest of his career.

3) More outside offense (37% career three point shooter) to spread the floor.

4) That could help send Rasheed Wallace back inside more, where he really should be spending more time when the two are on the court together.

5) The Cs have been seeking offers for Tony Allen and J.R. Giddens since training camp. It allows them to move both of them for a player they can use.

6) Nocioni fits a piece they are missing…a solid back up at small forward.

7) Though not strong defensively, he is a hard nosed player. He could possibly fit the Celtics defensive schemes.

8 ) Andres is 29 years old as we speak, so he is an in-betweener that way. He’s a Goldilocks-er....not too young, not too old.

The negatives for the Cs:
1) His contract.

Now…in the aftermath of letting Posey go and Tony Allen’ s disappointing year, I said that the Celtics should have signed Posey and worried about the later years… later. The same can be said here, and Nocioni is younger than Posey. If Danny has been interested in him since last season, I wonder if that has changed at all in light of the salary commitments they added since then.

2) His defense is questionable.
82games.com has him as –4.2 in individual production (14.1 vs 18.2) . But that can be misleading. James Posey who absolutely helped the Celtics defensively in the Championship season, while better, still had a negative production number –3.0 (13.9 vs 16.8). But Posey is well known as a defensive specialist. Nocioni is not.

The Kings are slightly better defensively when Nocioni is off the court in points per possession (112.2 vs 109.1)

One message board poster suggested that Andre was responsible for shutting down Kevin Durant the last time the Kings and Thunder played. Granted Kevin shot just nine for 23 in that game, but Durant scored 37 points, his second highest total of the year. He also was 18-18 from the free throw line, though Nocioni only had three fouls. That suggests that others were guarding KD and were fouling him to stop him.

Two things
a) Nocioni gives the team 6 more fouls to use
b) Can he become a better defender in the Celtic system? Even if he doesn’t, he still has fouls to give.

A couple of questions

1) Would a chance to play for a true contender reinvigorate Andres’ game? That question was also asked with Rasheed Wallace, BTW. It should.

2) What other possibilities might be out there, say a solid defensive small forward, something the Celtics really could use?

With the cap going down and as teams drop out of playoff races, will there be an even better opportunity with a bit more patience? Dec 15th is the first date certain players can be moved.

My developing opinion…

If Danny doesn’t have his eye on any other players that might fit better and could become available later, then I would pull the trigger on this.

But understand… Nocioni is not James Posey, Bruce Bowen, Dahntay Jones, Trevor Ariza, nor any other defensive stopper.

I am of the opinion that the Celtics roster is in need of help. I suggested that, and that Danny knows that as well, in this preseason prediction article here.

The recent play of the Celtics has done nothing to change my mind. In fact, it feeds that opinion. I would prefer a younger player, as I think the Cs need some youthful athleticism.

Nocioni will 30 years old in a few weeks on November 30th.

But I also understand the desire to go "all in" to win this season. Championship opportunities are just too hard to come by – if that is your goal. Garnett will probably never quite return to pre-injury jumping ability. None of three stars are getting younger.

The only thing that changes that is if Danny Ainge already has an eye toward the longer term and realizes that he needs to bring in another top tier player this coming summer to continue to compete for multiple years beyond.

Another outlet is reporting that ESPN is incorrect and nothing is going down with Dalembert.

I like Andres Nocioni’s game. I understand his limitations. While not perfect for what the Celtics need, he does help. They give up some guaranteed 2010 flexibility ($7.5 mil) for help now.

We’ll have to see how this all plays out.

Edit - the latest from Gary Washburn of The Globe's Boston.com denies interest by the Celtics....

"According to two sources, there has been no discussion from the Celtics' side on this deal, and one of those two sources said the Celtics have not reached out to Sacramento about inquiring about Nocioni. The issue for Boston is the length of Nocioni's contract."

That makes sense and is the same reason why James Posey was allowed to leave.

To be fair, ESPN's Marc Stein's article said they were trying to interest the Celtics in joining the deal - not that they had accomplished that objective.

Tom Halzack is the author/creator of Celtics Central on the CTnews.com website. This article first appeared there. Tom also writes weekly for Celticsblog.com

Technical Fouls: Kendrick Perkins and Rasheed Wallace Check In

Thomas Halzack — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:43:55 -0400

Can you get a technical foul for just giving a look?

Apparently, that answer is yes.

I figured that something was eventually coming. Perkins and Chandler were getting a bit chippy from time to time and some words were passed here and there.

I didn’t see it go down, but Kendrick Perkins apparently got a tech for taunting Tyson Chandler ‘with a look’, relates Rasheed Wallace, known for collecting a few technicals himself over the years.

What went through your mind when Perkins got his technical?

Rasheed…

It was… to me…the first I said, ‘It was BS.’

For the simple fact that the ref said “he (Perkins) taunted him by looking at him (Tyson Chandler). And so, when I got in the game, I commented to that ref. I said, ‘Well I want to see if you (are) gonna call that throughout the year.’

Because there’s certain ‘stuper stars’ that they (the refs) like, that get dunks and all that, and they look at people, and it’s all fine. So I want to see if he’s going to be consistent with that through out the year.

Rasheed Wallace. You have to like him. I always have. He has a loud ‘game time’ persona that I always believed to be his ‘front’. In person, my intuition wasn’t disappointed. Intelligent and personable—when he wants to be. He is one of those guys that seem like a great guy to hang with. He tells you what he thinks. And now that he’s a Celtic, I get to hear it first hand. God is good.

Always a subject of some interest, technical fouls with the Celtics could be factored into this season’s ‘things to watch’.

Rasheed Wallace, last season’s technical fouls co-leader has been added to the Celtics’ ‘library zone quiet’ team of introverts, led by Kendrick Perkins, Kevin Garnett, and even Paul Pierce.

Like all top stars, this is not a group you will see attending seminars for self esteem issues. That they are among the more vocal is a given. It is a part of their personalities. They have made it work as they attained unique success in one of the most hyper competitive environments in the world—the NBA.

Personally, I completely understand referees using technical fouls to control players and games. But consistency has been an ongoing issue of debate with regard to NBA officiating for years now.

The article isn’t about any technicals that Sheed got. Celtics’ big man Kendrick Perkins and Bobcats’ center Tyson Chandler kept an ongoing dialogue for much of the game. Eventually they both got T’ed up. So did Gerald Wallace and Paul Pierce.

Perkins got mixed up with both Chandler and Wallace He was philosophical about the whole thing. It’s about cause and effect. The first one causes it. The second gets the effect. Instigators and retaliators. It’s all that simple.

Kendrick….

(Regarding Gerald Wallace)…
I don’t know. I was just trying to go for the offensive rebound. He said I just threw him out of the way or whatever, and he pushed me but …you see… You (are) wrong when you like the retaliator. But you (are) right when you (are) the instigator. So I instigated the situation (with Gerald Wallace) and I ended up getting him a tech.

Tyson Chandler instigated the situation with me and I ended up getting the tech, because I retaliated. So it works both ways .

On the ongoing dialogue during the game with Chandler..

Seems like he was kind of mad at me for whatever reason. But I (wasn’t) doing nothing. I’m just playing hard. You know, he got in foul trouble early. He was frustrated, you know. But I was just trying to play basketball. It wasn’t nothing personal.….big difference between playing Shaq last night, so I just wanted to be extra physical.

I had actually talked to Perkins first. So I wasn’t able to confirm whether he was T’ed up for ‘just looking’ or not.

I think that would set a bit of a new standard for qualifications for getting T’ed up. I’d have to research it more to know for sure.

But I guess, as Rasheed suggests, it’s about consistency as much as anything. You have to know the boundaries for what behavior is considered a ‘technical’ offense.

A new book called Blowing the Whistle by de-frocked, ex-communicated and feloniously convicted former NBA referee, Tim Donaghy just adds fuel to the fire. Donaghy is back in prison for breaking parole. But hold your fire until you finish the article.

Here are a few excerpts that give credence to the idea that technical fouls (and regular fouls) are not always fairly and equitably dispensed…

Donaghy …

To have a little fun at the expense of the worst troublemakers, the referees working the game would sometimes make a modest friendly wager amongst themselves: first ref to give one of the bad boys a technical foul wouldn’t have to tip the ball boy that night.

It even occurred with regular fouls to regain control of a physical game…

Similarly, when games got physically rough, we would huddle up and agree to tighten the game up. So we started calling fouls on guys who didn’t really matter — “ticky-tack” or “touch” fouls where one player just touched another but didn’t really impede his progress. Under regular circumstances these wouldn’t be fouls, but after a skirmish we wanted to regain control. We would never call these types of fouls on superstars, just on the average players who didn’t have star status. It was important to keep the stars on the floor.

The book has been pulled from publication at this time, but the material is up on at least one website and Yahoo Sports Dan Wetzel has written a solid article dealing with the book’s content .

Wetzel even mentions Rasheed Wallace….

Consider Rasheed Wallace, who has recorded a record number of technical fouls during his career-long battles with refs. He earned many of them, but he also claimed the refs had it in for him.

“Some of them cats are felonious, man,” ’Sheed famously declared, even before Donaghy became a felon.

But Wetzel makes an interesting observation…

Ask around the NBA this week and you won’t find too many people outside the league office dismissing Donaghy’s claims.

“I read it last night and was laughing, and said, ‘Yep, that’s about right,” one team executive said. “I don’t think anyone is going to dispute the possibility.”

If the NBA’s own front-office people believe this, then how can fans simply dismiss it?

Great point. That it fuels all kinds of refereeing conspiracy theories and paranoia is a given.

But I digress.

That Perkins was given a tech for taunting with a look, and that certain stars won’t get a T for the exact same thing is what bothers Sheed.

To Perkins, it is simply instigating and retaliating…technically speaking. It works both ways.

I agree with Rasheed that it unevenly distributed. I also agree with Wetzel that there is not a top down and league wide conspiracy. At times, individual bias—yes.

But we all knew that.

Stop looking at me that way. I’m calling a referee.

Tom Halzack is the co-creator/author of Celtics Central at the Connecticut News site CTNews.com. This article first appeared there. Tom also writes for regularly for Celticsblog.com.

Celtics Rebound to Defeat Knicks: 96-82

Thomas Halzack — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:42:10 -0400

Fifty-four times to be exact...rebound that is.

The Celtics’ defense looked better than their offense tonight as you can tell that they are still getting comfortable with each other on the scoring end of the court.

They held the Knicks to eight first quarter points on 3-of-22 shooting and never relinquished the lead.

Kendrick Perkins was supposed to be the defensive force, which he was, but he also came out offensive minded, scoring seven first quarter points, mostly against David Lee, to lead the team. Putting that little jump shot to good use, KP finished 5-of-7 overall for 14 points and game honors.

Perkins was so good that an alley oop meant for Garnett went right in. It was a good thing, as I don’t think KG would have converted it otherwise.

The Rasheed Wallace show debuted as a Celtic. He rained three pointers, unpacked a few post moves, led the game in rebounding with 12, played with starters and the second unit., and finished with 13 points to tie with Ray Allen for second honors on the team.

How did Rasheed described his game?

It was okay. Mediocre. You know just trying to do things defensively. I’m not worried about no offense, you know, because shots will fall. Even though I missed my first few, that’s alright.

Kevin Garnett

The Kevin Garnett watch will be on for a while. He looked okay tonight, except he got kicked in the calf at one point. He finished with 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting, and 8 rebounds. His 18-foot jumper is still there. He looks okay but not very smooth on the court yet.

Yeah, he (Jared Jeffries, I think) kicked me in the calf. That didn’t help things. A little hot pack and some ice. I thought I finished the game pretty well.

The Knee

“No, I’m not back to where I want to be. But I don’t have any worries when I go out and play. You know, I’m putting in the time. I’m putting in the work, and I’m doing everything they ask me to do, and then some.And on top of things, I’m just getting stronger. It’s about time and duration at this point. I’m not even thinking about (my knee). “

This should be a headline...Ray Allen missed three foul shots...in the first quarter. I don’t know when that last happened. Maybe high school.

Ray was active all night, and handled bringing the ball up court at times. He had six first quarter points to go with two steals and two rebounds.

Rajon Rondo had trouble with fouls all night. Doc kept him in there with 5 fouls at one point, but put Lester Hudson in with him and Paul Pierce brought the ball up. Rondo finished with 6 points, 3 assists and 2 steals.

He looked for his jump shot early and missed a wide open "dare" three pointer. Over all, he was active defensively, and the team was +16 when he was in the game.

Paul Pierce’s shooting rhythm was off early, starting 1-7, but he finished 4 of 12 for 9 points including an emphatic, crowd pleasing reverse dunk off a pass from Garnett .

Pierce...

Oh man. I don’t know where that came from.You know, I’m good for one of those like every 20 games. So about four times a year. My legs feel fresh right now, feel pretty good. Trying to get the fans into it.

Thanks to Brian Scalabrine’s 3-for-4 from downtown, the Celtics shot as well from the arc (42.9% on 9 of 21) as from the field generally (43.9%).

Playing more around the middle with Rasheed on the team, Glen Davis had a productive game in 16 minutes, scoring 7 points to go with 8 rebounds, and a block.

Marquis Daniels was quiet offensively shooting just 1-of-5 but looked comfortable out there for the most part. There were times when he and Rasheed weren’t quite sure what to do with ball and ended up with difficult last second shot clock attempts. That will improve with time.

Both teams ended up with 9 steals and 18 turnovers. The Celtics held the Knicks to 37.7 percent shooting and the Knicks shot just 5 for 31 from the three point line, some of them were wide open looks. David Lee played center and was in foul trouble from early on, but finished with 13 points and 6 rebounds in 27 minutes.

So the Celtics generally looked pretty good, especially defensively. Brian Scalabrine was not used at the three tonight and he was more effective filling the same role he did last season, drilling the open three and playing the power forward.

But until Bill Walker returns, Scal may be asked to slide over to the small forward position from time to time, he said, especially in practice.

Dov Rivers on the value of Rasheed Wallace...

He just spreads the floor and he has a post game. And he’s a terrific passer, too, so he does a lot for us, obviously.g Gives great spacing for our team.

Overall...

I did get a lot out of…the starters got a lot of minutes and good rhythm and they handled it very well.

Summary

So far things are looking good getting Wallace and Daniels folded into the team. Doc said they are going with a greatly simplified playbook right now and are just letting the veterans play fundamental basketball with about five different offensive sets (which each have variations). The starting five will come together soon enough.

Tom Halzack writes for Celtics Central at CTNews.com and Celticsblog.com, the premiere internet site for Celtic news.

This article first appeared at Celtics Central. Agree or disagree, let Tom know how you feel.

Rasheed: Doc Rivers a "Mad Scientist"

Thomas Halzack — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:31:29 -0400

Depending on which Celtic player you listen to, Doc Rivers is either the NBA’s version of the President of the United States, Barack Obama or….a mad scientist.

Some players like Ray Allen, view Doc’s skills at dealing with the media, superstar egos and just about everyone else, as the NBA’s version of Obama. President Obama’s winning of the Nobel Peace Prize yesterday elicited a strong endorsement from Ray Allen. Doc River’s ability to diplomatically keep the peace around another group of power hungry elites with their own agendas—his players—earns him the Obama tag, NBA style.

Rasheed Wallace has a different take on Doc, when asked about his taking so many threes (9)…

"Hey, if Doc wants me to shoot the three, I’m not going to argue with the coach. We definitely did a lot of positive things tonight," he said.

"Offensively, like I said, Doc is the Mad Scientist. It’s who he wants to put in there at different situations of the game ... if we need the three, need the two, whatever."

Previously, Wallace referred to the more clearly defined defense roles as "coming together." Offense? Well, Doc is letting the veterans wing it a bit with just a few offensive sets in play right now. Instead, Doc is looking at the offense and the defense being played against it, before deciding what new "element" he wants to throw into the formula. Even the bench is more versatile now.

Wallace…

"We are deep. We have guys that can do it all. Guys that can shoot on the perimeter. Guys that can post up., that can rebound. We can give the first unit a helluva run in practice."

I know you’ve played center for the last three years. Do you consider your self more of a power forward that plays center (when he has to)?

"Yeah, Pretty much. For the majority of my career I was a power forward, so I see myself as a power forward playing center. You know, it’s a little different here on the east coast. You know, you can’t be a thin center so obviously over the last 5-6 years I had to boost my weight up, you know, as much as I could, to try to defend some of the bigger fives out there and so far it worked."

And that might be why some fans are seeing a slightly bigger Sheed than they expected in the preseason.

Your appraisal of the team’s effort tonight?

"Defensively, I think we (are) okay. But we definitely have the talent and energy to get better."

Don’t tell the Knicks that. They scored just 33 first-half points on 27.9 percent shooting and had just 82 points on the game, including a dismal 16 percent from the three-point line.

Doc Rivers on a new stronger post game by the Men In Green ...

"Right now with him, Perk, and Kevin down low – forget the jump shots – just the post game it gives us. It’s just fantastic for us. You know, having three bigs who can post. And then Rasheed’s dimension. We scored a couple of buckets that he literally had nothing to do with the play, except for standing behind the three, but he took a five (center) out there with him, and our guards are driving down the lane, and there’s nobody there."

But if some guy in a white lab coat mixes this test tube with that test tube and pours it into the game beaker and it says Wallace should be hoisting up "three bombs," Rasheed’s not going to argue.

That mad scientist is coach Doc Rivers talking. Rasheed argues with referees. He argues with opposing players. But Rasheed’s not arguing with his coach.

Celtics-Knicks Preseason Preview: What To Expect in Boston

Thomas Halzack — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:07:29 -0400

I’ll be there when the Knicks travel to Boston for the Celtics’ second preseason game tonight at 7:30 p.m.

The Knicks are coming off a win over the New Jersey Nets, 115-107. Not that that means anything in an early preseason game.

The Green Machine

The Celtics are coming off a loss to the Houston Rockets, 96-90, after a fourth-quarter collapse in which they were outscored by a 26-15 margin.

Kevin Garnett looked good limited minutes, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce likewise. Rasheed Wallace blocked three shots, got his first technical, and had his moments. Marquis Daniels impressed in his Celtic debut. Glen Davis was productive with nine points and four boards, Rajon Rondo was a bit sluggish, while Kendrick Perkins made his presence felt with five fouls.

Rookie guard Lester Hudson took it to the hole for nine foul shot attempts and nine points total. Eddie House put in nine more, and the entire roster (save Tony Allen—sore ankle) got substantial minutes. I expect that those minutes will sift down to potentially meaningful players going forward. Newcomer and former lottery pick from Duke Shelden Williams was solid defensively and grabbed five boards.

The Celtics are stronger than last season and some say are stronger up and down the lineup than even their 2008 championship team. Expectations and spirits are high as they get ready for another championship run.

Tryin’ Brian

One area to watch is 6′9″ Brian Scalabrine being tried as a backup small forward, behind Pierce. He is being watched as he guards opposing threes. It is one area that wasn’t remedied in offseason acquisitions. With Bill Walker out for six to eight weeks and no real replacement added to fill that James Posey role, it will come down to Scalabrine or Daniels.

My guess is that Daniels will get the bulk of those assignments and help will be looked for during the season. Scal's strength is as a mobile power forward. He did a great job of stretching defenses with his three-point shooting from the 4 last season. He also played some effective defense against power forwards and even centers occasionally in what was his best year as a Celtic. But keeping up with the quickness of NBA’s ultra-athletic small forwards might be asking a bit too much of the ultimate team player.

But ask Scalabrine to run through a wall for you and he’ll give it his best shot. Even if he ends up with a concussion...or three, as he did last season.

I think that any success Scal has with defending threes will be to back off a little to play the drive and use his length to contest the jumper. If he gets up in somebody’s grill, they will probably draw the foul or blow by him a bit too often for it to work. That’s my guess, anyway. Wouldn’t be great if he rises to the occasion, though?

The Knicks

Expect a similar team to last season from the Knicks. They are trying to keep things open for the big free agent bonanza next summer, so they didn’t make any dramatic moves. They were expected to loose either David Lee or Nate Robinson to free agency this past summer but ended up re-signing both to one-year contracts. That was a pleasant bonus for Knick fans.

Coach Mike D’Antoni says he’ll go with a veteran lineup right now. That means point guard Chris Duhon, shooting guard Larry Hughes, small forward Al Harrington, power forward Lee, and center Darko Milicic—unless Wilson Chandler goes at small forward and moves Harrington to power forward, Darko to the bench, and Lee to center. Either way, that actually makes sense.

The Knicks spent a lot of prime time playing time developing the versatile 6′8″ Chandler last season. I really like him, but I think he had a bit too much freedom last year, especially shooting. He has a lot of tools and his potential is intriguing. A bit more discipline this season should help his game.

D’Antoni and Walsh failed to land a starting point guard to send Duhon to the bench, though he tried with overtures to both Ramon Sessions and Jason Kidd. So Duhon, one of Donnie Walsh’s earliest decisions as Knick head man, will be it again...for right now.

The 7′0″ Milicic was their only offseason addition, besides their draft picks. He actually fills a hole on this team. They had no shot-blocking interior defenders on this squad last year. Darko will bring that to the table. Though Milicic has had a spotty and largely disappointing NBA career, this may be his best opportunity of all. He wants to be able to spot up for his outside shot, a strength, al a European big man style, and he may get permission to do so here.

Al Harrington is supposed to be in great shape and with an "I want to retire here," good guy attitude. Danilo Gallinari is looking like a solid pickup as a skilled big man and Euro draft choice from last season. But coming off the bench for now is a good thing. He is only 21 and has a lot of time to learn the game.

Nate Robinson, the man without a defined position, meaning a point guard who isn’t really, returns after being unable to draw a contract out of another NBA team. Still, Robinson brings one-man offense, lots of energy, some added defensive disruption to his game, and entertainment value to a team that is treading water this season.

The rookie additions for the Knicks are 6′10″ Jordan Hill out of Arizona and 6′2″ Toney Douglas from Florida State. Hill, a lottery pick, should see some regular minutes this season.

Note of disappointment: No more Quentin Richardson to talk big and play small while trying to aggravate Paul Pierce. After what seemed like a 30-team, 50-state tour, Q ended up in Miami...for now.

I’ll give you the sights and sounds after the game. Have a great weekend!

Tom Halzack writes the Celtics Central blog for CTnews.com, a Web site for eight Connecticut newspapers. He also writes weekly for Celticsblog.com, the premier Celtic fan site on the net.

This article first appeared at Celtics Central on CTnews.com.

Agree or disagree, let Tom know how you feel.

Top Contenders: A Look at the Orlando Magic

Thomas Halzack — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:43:29 -0400

Were the Magic an illusion last season?

After seeing what many people think about this team after last season, illusion seems to fit. But that was the problem last year, too. Few believed they would accomplish what they did.

Some say the Orlando Magic are absolutely for real. But there is a strong core of doubters. Legit title contender or not? They were over matched against the Lakers for the title. Would a healthy Jameer Nelson have made a difference? With added role players this year, can they get there again?

Overachievers or disrepected? Van Gundy’s team last season certainly cast a spell on every opponent, save their last one, and made a number of new fans. Were the new fans hypnotized into imagining that a team was there…that wasn’t?

Stan Van Gundy, the "master of panic," according to a large center that now plays for Cleveland, had a team that didn’t panic throughout a strong playoff run.

After losing to L.A. four games to one, the Magic are suffering a bit of the same skepticism that the Cavaliers did the year they were ousted 4-0 by the Spurs. Is this really a potential title team? In keeping with my contenders theme…what are the team weaknesses?

Two competing theories…

1) They are absolutely legit. They just rose to unexpected heady heights and couldn’t quite finish against a team that was more determined. That was even with Rafer Alston—not Jameer Nelson—running the show. This year, they will be more prepared mentally to go all the way. They have a stronger overall roster this season.

2) They are pretenders to the throne. Paul Pierce tweeted that they were poodles in the Finals. The Celtics being without Leon Powe and Kevin Garnett are the only reason they made it that far. Vince Carter is not better for this team than Hedo Turkoglu.

Defense

Basketball-Reference rated them No. 1 with their defensive rating (101.9). That defensive rating was the team’s best since the '99-'00 season when some guy who supposedly doesn’t know anything about defense was the team's coach (Doc Rivers). It was the third-best in team history.

Comparatively, they finished sixth in points allowed (94.4), a big leap from the '99 points per game of the year before.

For a team that boasts the league’s best rebounder, they were only the ninth-best (+1.2) rebounding team in differential (how much they out rebounded their opponent). They moved up a bit to seventh-best on the critical defensive rebound list (+1.7).

Their inside-outside offense has been criticized by a few. Their lack of a strong, rebounding, classic power forward was noted.

Changes

Gone: Hedo Turkoglu, Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston, Tony Battie, and Tyronn Lue.

Added: Vince Carter, Ryan Anderson, Brandon Bass, Matt Barnes, Jason Williams, Linton Johnson, and Morris Almond.

Analysis

They lost two of their starting five with "Mr. Versatile," Hedo Turkoglu, and a young, talented guard in Courtney Lee departing.

But they have strengthened their role players. This team should be a team to reckon with again. Others may wonder, but it looks to me like they got stronger.

Thirty-two-year-old, 6’6” Vince Carter is the key acquisition. They gave up the future for the present. He can create his own shot at any time, will draw double teams, and isn’t afraid to take the big fourth quarter shots.

He gives them a dangerous offensive player they didn’t have before, and I don’t even like VC. How they use him in the fourth quarter will help determine how much better this team got. He will get teammates open. Will he pass to them? Can they make big shots?

Brandon Bass (6'8") helps Howard with rebounding and around the hoop and gives the team a more physical dimension.

Ryan Anderson (6'10") is a sleeper throw in. He has talent and had some solid moments, though I have to see how they handle him here. I'm not sure where he gets his minutes with Lewis and Bass playing the same position. Anderson is more offensively inclined than defensively so, but is another defense stretcher with the long ball.

Matt Barnes (6'7") gets thrown into the mix with Mickael Pietrus for SF minutes. In addition to being a nice hustle player, the Magic have doubled the fouls to throw at Kobe, LeBron, and Paul Pierce. Little known fact about Barnes: He led the Suns in technical fouls last season with 10.

Jason Williams, at 6'1" (34 years old in November and retired for a year) is a question mark at this point, while 35-year-old Anthony Johnson is the backup for Jameer Nelson. Backup point guard is a concern for the Magic if Nelson goes down.

Otherwise, this team has solid depth at every other position. Even Marcin Gortat can do well for a short period if Howard goes out.

Weaknesses/Questions

It's funny to say this, but Dwight Howard’s weaknesses got exposed in the playoffs. His lack of a go-to move and fairly raw offensive game hurt the team and his growth.

Push him a few feet out and he is rendered rather ineffective. Whatever Clifford Ray did for him hasn’t progressed as much since Ray left for "greener" pastures.

Howard is a force of nature on defense, but he is more athleticism than smarts. Defensively, certain teams like the Lakers (and Celtics) have figured out to neutralize him just enough to minimize his fantastic natural ability.

Carter will replace Hedo’s shot making, but what about ball movement, defense, and chemistry? Will Van Gundy get a "Vinsanity" that has bought in to his system?

Can a team have too many good-but-not-great players? Will everyone be kept happy with their minutes?

While Jameer Nelson finally looked like the leader he had been saying he was, his injury kept him out too long. We still don’t know how he will respond to leading his team in the playoffs (though he did come back to attempt to play in the Finals).

Summary

Though Dwight Howard will only be 24 in December and Jameer Nelson is only 27, they went for VC and experience to go all in now after coming so close last season.

Other teams' power forwards will still hate to guard Rashard Lewis at the three-point line, and they have other long ballers. Carter can penetrate or drill it long. As Ray Allen did, he will have to learn to dribble less and make quicker decisions with the ball.

They still have a bevy of shooters. Pietrus proved to be remarkably clutch as well as a good defender, and Howard is starting to hit free throws. If Nelson and Lewis can become cold blooded shot makers in the fourth quarter and Vince Carter will pass to them, this team is right there.

My feeling is that they are not quite there, but…

If Van Gundy can get the additions to fit in a smart way, the difference will be measured in inches, not feet. We will certainly see how much or little Turkoglu is missed.

Tom Halzack writes for CelticsBlog.com and Celtics Central at the ctnews.com site. A slightly revised version of this article first appeared at Celtics Central.

Stephon Marbury: Modern Art—or Modern Artist?

Thomas Halzack — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 23:16:52 -0400

A semi-surreal event is about to end as I write this.

Aernout Mik would be giving it a standing ovation, asking for an encore.

Salvador Dali would have dripped with loved over it.

Jackson Pollack would have splattered applause.

Picasso would have pirouetted with glee.

Rembrandt? Not so much. He might have laughed and shook his head, saying, ‘They call that art now?’

One of the NBA’s current immigrant population, the free agents, Stephon Marbury is finishing a 24 hour all live video stream in his home, courtesy of a company called ustream. All Stephon…all the time….24 straight hours.

Massive ego-ism? Possibly. Candid Stephon? In a way. Uncut and straight at you? Yes.

Understand, this is a modern form of artistic expression.

The NBA’s version of Mik?

Aernout Mik’s work is appearing right now at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC, that strange and wonderful place affectionately referred to as MoMA. It’s a multiple video experience weaved into various locations throughout the building.

You walk in seeing life and art one way. You walk out with a slightly different understanding of life…and art.

Inside Hoops explains the Marbury 24 hour event and has the deal here.

It’s early Saturday morning. The screen says there are 789 viewers of the Marbury show. I feel very…special. I’m part of an elite group of…. ….spectators? No, voyeurs.

Pass the popcorn. Turn off your cell phones, please. I don’t want to be interrupted. Get me the big box of Goobers. And an extra large coffee. I’ll dump the Goobers in and drink it all together.

Some early Saturday morning pronouncements from a shirtless Marbury (note: some paraphrasing)?

After a song played with Stephon dancing up a storm, he sits down sweating and panting. After recovering from the Soul Train work out and calming down, the Marbury bursts of wisdom and emotional outpourings start to flow…

I’m going to Boston and back up Rondo. I’ll play for nothing!

I’ll be the sixth, seventh, or eighth man off the bench! I don’t care. I want to get a championship!

My mother told me to forgive everyone! Start fresh! My mother knows what’s best for me in life and basketball. I’ll listen to her. I’m doing just that. I’m going to forgive everyone (he alludes to the New York media somewhere around this point)!

You have to forgive every single person to the last one. My mother and the Spirit tells me to do that. That’s the only way you can be free. I’m starting fresh.

Apparently you can send Stephon live messages, as he appears to be reading and responding to comments sent to him. He asks viewers multiple times to "show me your hood."

He explains that he wants viewers to send him their area codes so he can know their neighbor-"hoods."

Apparently, someone asks him about New York

Marbury: I love New York!

Then there is a message to the Knicks….

They need a point guard? Well, I’m right here. I’m available.

It’s 9 o’clock now. It has ended. After a long time of Marbury just staring into the camera without saying anything and a period of him deeply sobbing, and more staring without comment, Marbury says a word of thanks. The end.

In Aernout Mik’s video art experience, you move about the museum and according to the NYTimes review…

You watch “documented chaotic, emotionally charged, newsworthy situations involving scores of people. As you watch, you keep hoping to discover the cause of the commotion, but no clarification arrives. They are, by turns, mesmerizing, tantalizing, and frustrating.”

Stephon’s art experience was from the west coast, but it seems like he will be playing ball in Boston. Welcome back.

I’d make a joke about Marbury: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. But Marbs is 32. Young for life, but middle aged for NBA basketball.

NBA players are performers, as are all athletes.

Marbury looked to be in excellent physical shape and he mentioned that, as well. But he never did get into ‘NBA shape’ in his short time with the Celtics last season. If he returns, and it seems he will, he’ll have a full training camp to get ready.

So is Marbury the artist...or the art? In this case, he was both. Like Mik, the Dutch artist, he can be, by turns, mesmerizing, tantalizing, and frustrating.

I read in a book somewhere that “the measure you give, is the measure you will receive.”

If Marbury is forgiving everyone, and he says he is, he is deserving of the same from us. Boston can do much worse than Stephon Marbury coming off their bench this season.

Life imitates art…or is it the other way around? I get that confused sometimes.

He can be abstract. He’s made some bad impressionisms in the past. It’s time for a new canvas. I hope Marbury will paint a beautiful picture in Boston.

Now...tell us your "hood."

I’m going to go play an old fashion video game. They still make Atari, right?

Tom Halzack is the creator and author of Celtics Central at the Connecticut News site. This article first appeared there. Responses, 'for and against' are welcome.

Grading NBA Free Agent Signings, Pt. 2

Thomas Halzack — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:28:34 -0400

Taking up where I left off in gauging whether a team overpaid, fairly paid, or received a bargain, I move to...

...a free agent who put an ankle-breaking move on the Trail Blazers, spun, and headed for the dunk with the team that best appreciates Euro-style play and players...the Raptors.

The free agent of misdirection, Hedo Turkoglu, verbally accepted terms from Portland, only to get an 11th-hour call from Toronto and changed course, heading to Canada, where there will be a Turkish enclave in his newly adopted city.

Riddle me this...

Will that keep Chris Bosh in the Northern Country? Or will it be the beginning of the Bargnani reign, post-Bosh? That’s to be determined, but Bosh made a call directly to Hedo to try to convince him to come to north. No one knows if the Raptors can convince Bosh to stay beyond next season. Maybe Hedo will be making a return call for the same reason.

Hedo Turkoglu - Toronto

Fairly Compensated: Five years at $50 million. With two teams willing to pay about the same amount, I’ll say that his value is in this ballpark. I’d feel better if it were for about $40 million. I’d feel better if it were a three-year deal.

Turkoglu is 30 years old and has a unique set of skills and some clutch abilities to boot. He can play point forward to give Calderon a breather. The way this league works, you are often underpaid, and then overpaid. It all works itself out.

Toronto moves closer to Euro ball. They thought they had that elusive inside presence with Jermaine O’Neal. Hedo gives them some versatile skills. Playing in the post isn’t one of them. Finding a good fit for the mid-range game of Bosh appears to be harder than it looks.

That the new salary cap and luxury tax numbers are heading south might be the most likely reason Bosh doesn’t look stateside himself next season.

Charlie Villanueva - Detroit

To Be Determined: Five years at $37.5 million. Like former and new teammate Ben Gordon, Joe Dumars is both giving the opportunity and expecting a lot from that generosity, from two players who are expected to play significant roles in the rebuilding of Detroit.

Villanueva is a capable offensive player (47 starts, 29 MPG, 17.7 PPG in ‘09) with modest defensive abilities so far. The fact that defensive-minded Scott Skiles’ team decided to not offer the qualifying offer to retain him says something about their finances...and the player.

Charlie, who will only be 25 next month, will get every opportunity to grow into everything he can be. You can’t ask for more than that. Not an alpha dog in his career so far. I doubt that changes, but you never know.

I remember his final games at UConn. Sometimes he would try to be that crunch time guy and had some success doing it...but not quite enough to change opinions. His NBA career reflects that.

He has pretty much fit my pre-draft prediction, lo those many years ago. He has talent. He needs more confidence and a bit of a nasty streak to move to the next level. Maybe Dumars sees it different or thinks he can get that out of him.

With Rip and Ben as his new teammates, we know who will be taking the big shots anyway.

Trevor Ariza - Houston

Fairly Compensated: Five years at $33.5 million. His value is very high right now. Whether that will translate into more improvement remains to be seen. He is young enough at only 24. I have really liked Ariza as a sleeper-type for a few years. He is no longer under any radar.

He is an excellent defensive player and disrupter. He’s added the three-point shot, just as Bruce Bowen did. But Kelly Dywer made have said it best here. Artest and Ariza traded places...and probably shouldn’t have. But he is proving to be worth that kind of money.

Shawn Marion - Dallas

Fairly Compensated: Five years at $40 million is about right for this versatile, but limited (how can you be both versatile and limited?) player. Taking a beating on the message boards for his erratic play and career since leaving Phoenix, Marion is still a big talent, no what matter what fans think.

That Steve Nash was his "raison d’etre" is incorrect. He was putting up big numbers pre-Nash. He can do it again. I lost respect for him when he wanted to leave such a successful team (Suns) for more personal glory. The funny thing is that he was getting lots of attention in Phoenix. He is sobered now, I hope, and has a more realistic appraisal of himself. Dallas will get a very good player.

Anthony Parker - Cleveland

Bargain: Two years at $6 million after a reasonable contract of $4 million/yr makes Parker a bit of a bargain.

He’s a very capable three point shooter, double-digit scorer, and three-year starter. He also demonstrated some solid, if not flashy, passing skills last season, racking up 21 games with five assists or more. He had multiple games with more than seven assists. His defense is passable to good, depending on his assignment. Primarily a jump shooter who doesn’t go to the hoop much, that will fit in with the Cavs’ LeBron and now Shaq, who will occupy that area.

The word is that he makes Delonte West expendable, and the Cavs may try to move West by the trading deadline in February, if not sooner. At 6′6″ Parker has height and girth that West does not and should be a solid perimeter defender. His game is kind of plain vanilla, but everybody likes vanilla.

Marcin Gortat - Orlando

Overpaid: Five years at $34 million is overpaid for a guy who has only played 12 minutes a game for a single year. But you overpay for size (7′0″) with potential in the NBA. Gortat has both. After their public utterances, I’m just surprised that the Magic are that team.

He played well in Howard’s absence a few times last season, including a winning playoff game against the Sixers. The “Polish Hammer” not only drives the fastest car in the NBA, he is an active big who gave teams trouble throughout the playoffs. What has he proven? Not much more than that, at this point.

While I could see Dallas paying that amount to find out if Marcin is for real, that the Magic matched is eye-opening...and telling. Dallas could offer a chance to start. That won’t happen in Orlando. So you are now looking at a rarity—a guy who just made $34 million dollars who is unhappy. Why? He will continue to be Dwight Howard’s caddy. Well paid, but a caddy nonetheless.

Yet another team goes into luxury tax territory for a chance at winning it all. Keep in mind, though, that the Magic keep an asset and he will be tradable in the future.

Brandon Bass - Orlando

To Be Determined: Four years at $18 million. Hard to call this one. Another undersized power forward. He looks overpaid to me right now. He is an active defender, fair rebounder, and had to play significant minutes at center. That probably explains why his closer shots were blocked at a rate of almost 30 percent.

I like what I've seen of Bass. Has a toughness that Dallas needed. He impacted the game positively with a +2.4 vs. +1.7 when he was off the floor. Yet they let him go for that amount of money. Makes you wonder why.

Those are the biggies and then a few more.

Right or wrong?

There are still a lot of players that have to find a home. We'll (meaning me) report when that happens. (Don’t you love when someone refers to himself in the plural?)

Tom writes the Celtics Central blog on the Connecticut News site, home to four news dailies and 4 weeklies. A variation of this article first appeared there.

Grading the NBA Free Agent Signings

Thomas Halzack — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:17:59 -0400

We’ve all heard about a tight market for free agents this offseason.

But a look at the actual signings so far gives mixed signals, IMO. By grading, I mean, "Were the dollars spent overpaid, fairly compensated, or a bargain?"

Let’s take a look:

Rasheed Wallace—Boston

Bargain: At $5.8 mil per year with up to an eight percent raise in following years, Wallace has to be considered a bargain. He said that he wouldn’t play for less than $8 million, and I thought that was a reasonable value for him at this point in his career.

But he knew the state of the league’s teams and realized that playing for Memphis or OKC for more wouldn’t be a serious option if you want to contend.

At 34, Sheed was ninth in NBA Defensive Rebounding percentage at 24 percent last season. He makes a very good rebounding team even better, besides everything else.

He was 20th in Defensive Rating, and fourth best in turnover pct. And that is in a year that people said he stopped playing hard after a point in the season. He plays inside and out and does both very well.

Smart, emotional, and still a game changer when he wants to be.

Understanding that he and Antonio McDyess are signing for that amount puts Glen Davis’ market value more in perspective.

Mike Bibby—Atlanta

Fairly Compensated: 31-year-old Bibby re-signed with Atlanta for three years at $18 mil. Coming down from being vastly overpaid at $15 mil last year, it is a credit to Bibby and the Hawks that they got this done.

The Hawks aren’t known for being lavish, and this amount keeps consistency at PG for the ever improving Hawk team. They didn’t jump forward until Bibby came over from Sacramento.

He is a vital cog.

Looking at the other PG options available, staying here makes sense for both parties.

Five assists a game would seem only marginally acceptable, but the Hawks' players do a fair amount of dribbling on their own.

Perhaps too much.

And Joe Johnson has more assists than Bibby, because he also is directing the offense… a lot. Whatever deficiencies the overall offense has are really under the purview of the coach.

Defensively challenged, Bibby can run an offense and hit the three (Eighth in the NBA in total makes in ‘09, at 39 percent). The Hawks didn’t take the next step until he arrived two years ago.

Can they do better?

Yes, but not at that money right now.

Ben Gordon—Detroit

To be determined: Five years at $58 mil. Right now I want to say Detroit overpaid by a few mil a year. His offensive performance in the playoffs this season was eye opening for me.

He averaged 24 points against Boston. Granted the Cs were undermanned, especially at that spot, but Ben can make shots with a high degree of difficulty and under strong defensive pressure.

That performance drove his price right back up to where he thought it should be. I can’t see the Pistons getting the most for that money. There seem to be other players who would be better choices next year. Defensively he will always be challenged, but I could be wrong.

Another other question is, who was Detroit bidding against?

I think a lesser deal might have worked.

Anderson Verajeo—Cleveland

Fairly compensated: Six years at $42.5 mil. That is a lot of money for a guy who can’t create, shoot, handle, or dominate the middle. Still, I think other teams would overpay near that amount for the physicality, defensive presence, and flopping extraordinaire that Andy gives you.

He is the kind of guy you hate, unless he is on your team.

Again, who were the Cavs bidding against?

Maybe less would have been enough, and in some ways it was. The final season in the deal is a team option with a reduced buyout.

Jason Kidd—Dallas

Overpaid: $25 mil over three years. Kidd will be 39 when he finishes this one. Rick Carlisle helped resuscitate Kidd’s career; Kidd improved his three point shooting, and the Mavs did about as well I expected—50 wins.

Offensively, Kidd is still quite a player, and defensively he’s lost quite a bit. A two year deal would have been better, IMO. Cuban has the money, so it’s not as big a deal as it would be with other teams.

Chris Anderson—Denver

Overpaid: $25 mil over five years. Anderson was a killer shot blocker, leading the league with fully 9.3 percent of all shots blocks. Dwight Howard was at 5.9.

I haven’t watched Anderson enough to appreciate him getting that kind of money for one major skill, no matter how good he is at it. He also rebounds well, and the team’s defense is better overall on FG percentage and offensive rebounding.

Add in that he plays with the second unit for much of that, improves his value, IMO. If your second unit is positively impacting the game when you’re in—winner.

But consider this…Anderson was not only a shot blocker, he was the blockee on fully 19 percent of his own inside shots. To put that in perspective, Glen Davis—criticized by hoards of b-ball minions for getting his shot blocked far too much on the post—was only at 13 percent.

You would have to go to rookie Bill Walker (22 percent) and Mikki Moore (21 percent) to find low post players on the Cs that got blocked more. And they both scored at a higher FG percentage inside than Anderson.

Chris Anderson will be 36 when that contract ends. Considering that he probably doesn’t improve much, I figure Birdman slightly over paid.

Maybe I’m wrong on this one.

We’ll see.

Antonio McDyess—San Antonio

Bargain: Three years at $15 mil. When everyone else on Detroit seemed to give up in the playoffs, only McDyess kept his intensity up to the end. He played more minutes than expected with Rasheed out, and filled up the stat sheet when he did.

As a starter for 30 games, he averaged 12 points and 11 rebounds in 34 minutes at age 34, and he could have scored more than that. He plays hard at both ends of the floor, is a character guy, and deserves every penny…and more.

Dahntay Jones—Indiana

Overpaid: Four years at $11 mil looks like a lot for a defensive stopper that has trouble stopping the big time players (Kobe) in the playoffs. I do like him and his toughness, but his plus/minus differential was at -9.9 overall.

His plus/minus was terrible with the starters (-18), but was a positive when playing with J.R. Smith instead of Carmelo (+13), and even more so when playing with Billups/Balkman/Anthony and Nene (+64).

Maybe not overpaid by a lot, but too long a contract. Two years would have been better to see how he fits with O’Brien and Indy.

Ron Artest—Los Angeles Lakers

Bargain: With his numbers and defense, he could have gotten more elsewhere, I believe. His baggage and super-ego is well known, and that works against him.

Still, even with his shooting going south, he is a game changer and one of the top defenders in the game. I wouldn’t want him on my team, but he’s worth the money to someone.

Whether he has matured and will accept secondary (tertiary with Gasol?) status all season is another story.

I’ll have a few more for the next installment.

Right or wrong?

Tom writes the Celtics Central blog for the Connecticut News site, the home site for four daily and four weekly Connecticut papers. This article first appeared there.

Celtics Over the Hill, Reaching for the Moon

Thomas Halzack — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:09:46 -0400

The Celtics have moved on from their attempt to sign Grant Hill and are now said to be interested in Jamario Moon.

Mark Murphy reports in the Boston Herald:

“A league source said yesterday the Celtics have investigated sign-and-trade possibilities with other teams—a scenario that could theoretically work in a move for Moon, who finished last season with Miami. The Celts also have expiring contracts of varying sizes to offer.”

Here is what I originally said about Hill:

A Few Words About Grant Hill

He played (or should I say "not played") for Doc Rivers in Orlando. He is versatile offensively and could come cheaply (BAE). The problem is that he will be 37 by the time the season starts.

He hasn’t been asked to play great defense, and I don’t know if he can anymore. Though I am enamored of his career, recent healthfulness (82 games), and productivity, I will let Danny decide that one and move on to other options.

Here is what I said about the highly athletic, former Harlem Globetrotter, Jamario Moon here already:

SF: Jamario Moon—An active, long defender. He needs more discipline and would get that with the Celtics. He always defended Pierce pretty well in Toronto and shoots the three-ball.

Not nearly as clever or tough as Posey, but Posey-light? Has the length Danny likes. I like him.

After liking what I’ve seen of him in actual play against the Celtics and delving into his stats a bit, I was in favor of going for him ahead of Matt Barnes (though I’d be happy with Barnes, too).

Little did I know that Danny was feeling the same thing at that time.

But I was deflated a bit by a follow up article I did with someone’s else’s view of Mr. Moon.

I talked with an NBA media veteran for some insights from someone who had seen him play a bit more than I did. He wished to remain anonymous.

Here are some of the more balanced comments from the highly cautious (even harsh) opinion of Moon from that source from article:

What if he came to a strong team like Boston?

If he is not going to be a starter, and he is going to be a 17 minutes a game guy…just like James Posey can guard 3/4s for example…he can guard 2/3s. Just like James (Posey) can hit the corner three when you need it, you know, Jamario…not as high a percentage, he doesn’t have the big game experience…could hit three also.

But he’s not even a sixth man. He’s more like a seventh, eighth, or ninth man. He’s not the guy that is going to come off the bench who will energize your guys either way. He’s not a big steals guy. He’s not a pure shot blocker defensively.

He’s a guy who’ll come off the bench and buy time for you.

And this…

In some ways that is all the team needs, if they can get him for short money. But it sounds like he would not be that good on defense on LeBron or Kobe.

Would Kobe or LeBron eat him up?

They would eat him up, but what he would do is, he would keep Paul out of foul trouble. You could throw him on LeBron for 15 minutes a game, and he would get some fouls. But he would make LeBron exert energy, which is what you want.

So there might be times when the Celtics can go small, let’s say when Cleveland goes small, where you could have him and Pierce on the court at the same time, and use Jamario against LeBron.

If he gets fouls, so what, at least Paul’s not getting the fouls, and you still have Paul’s offense out there. That’s what he is. He’s not the kind of guy you’re going to worry if he gets two quick fouls or three quick fouls. It doesn’t matter.

He’s not the kind of guy…the difference between him and Posey is that he’s not an end-of-game guy…Even if the fouls aren’t bad, I think Doc would put Paul on him (LeBron) anyway, the way that Paul’s upgraded his defense…as long as Paul’s not in foul trouble and in danger of getting his fifth or sixth foul.

I must say those thoughts took me aback a bit.

With Danny re-visiting Moon post-Grant Hill, I have to say that I’m feeling more confident in my own opinion of Jamario Moon.

As the expression goes, Who do you want to believe? Me or your own lying eyes?

I think I’ll trust my own eyes a bit more now that Danny is feeling the same way.

This has to play out, but Grant Hill rejecting the Celtics could be the best thing that could happen to the Celtics.

Why?

One main factor sticks out.

He’s old.

Make that two factors.

Defense.

I had huge doubts that he could defend Kobe or LeBron.

Moon is much younger and much more active on defense. The Celtics could use another young energy guy at that position who can hit the three. Jamario Moon fits that description.

If the Celtics could get Moon to sign for a market discount to gain a chance at a championship, I’d be pretty happy with that.

I see potential in Moon.

I see young legs.

I see defensive energy.

I see a long defender that the Celtics need at that position.

Thoughts on Grant Hill

With Grant Hill rejecting overtures from the Celtics and Knicks to re-sign with the Suns, it’s viewed by some as a loyalty move for Grant. There was no such loyalty when he barely played over multiple years for the Magic, got paid well, and moved on.

Many may defend his decision.

I’m neither here nor there with it, but I don’t cut him any special slack either.

My own feeling is that he might have moved to the Celtics if the offer was better than the Bi-Annual Exception (a humble $2 mil.), and obvious second choice status and more limited role with the Celtics.

Starting and minutes played were said to be significant contributing factors as well. Rasheed Wallace was the prime target, the Celtics sent a six man delegation to persuade, and the Celtics scored big on that one. Hill got Doc Rivers and a Ray Allen phone call.

He also received a better financial option (one year at mid level $5.8 million or three years at $10 million) from the Knicks. In the end, the Suns increased their own meager offer, and I guess Hill has a chance for a bigger role with the indecipherable Suns.

Egos do matter, even for supposed nice guys like Hill, but don’t consider it a "loyalty" move.

Time to reach for the Moon.

Is a full Moon better than an aging Grant Hill?

I'll roll with Danny on that.

Tom writes a Celtics blog called Celtics Central on the Connecticut News site, which is the home site for four news dailies and four weekly papers in Connecticut. This article first appeared there.

What Teams Might Make Glen Davis an Offer?

Thomas Halzack — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:24:43 -0400

Who can offer Davis a decent contract?

Technically, any team can. But I’m ruling out any team at or over the luxury tax threshold. I doubt any team will want to pay double for most players, including Glen Davis.

That leaves an amazing 16 teams (I threw one more in). These teams are below the estimated luxury tax threshold (projected around $70 mil) going into this next season.

That is as important as being under the cap in this case, because Davis can’t be offered more than the average player salary, which is the same as the MLE, and all will have the MLE available.

The question remains whether he will get an offer for the full mid level amount. It would not be a complete surprise if he does, but he most certainly will get offers of value leading up to that amount, even in a bad economy.

I’m surprised at how many teams have started to get their financial house in order for bigger game in 2010. The current economy has tanked the investments and wreaked havoc on the net worth of many current NBA franchise owners. Offers will be far more prudent in general, I believe.

Just who might make Glen Davis an offer? How much might that offer be? What would be a better situation for Davis, if any?

Here are the teams with a few comments. I don’t pretend to know any more about this than you do. The Celtics are non-committal at this point whether they will match any offer.

Have any thoughts yourself? feel free to chime in after seeing the probable teams.

Atlanta Hawks

They are at $40 million without re-signing Mike Bibby and Marvin Williams.

Assuming they resign Williams at close to his qualifying offer of $7.3 mil. They will have to determine what it will take to get Bibby back.

Even if they re-sign both, it appears that Zaza Pachulia may seek another destination.

The knock on the Hawks is that they don’t really have a team identity. Glen Davis would be an excellent role player on that team, and back up both the 4 and 5 positions. The Hawks would still need height with Horford/Davis manning the middle.

Charlotte Bobcats

$58.4 million right now.

They are below the luxury tax threshold. A question here is if owner Robert Johnson will spend the money. They are losing substantial money each season and he trying to sell the franchise.

It would make sense that they will make the qualifying offer to Raymond Felton ($5.5mil.), but not to Sean May ($3.7 mil)

Davis could be the power forward/back up center that Sean May never could.

Detroit Pistons

$39 mil using options.

They have plenty of money. But how much will they use before 2010? I’m not sure how Dumars plays this season.

Will they try to re-sign Wallace and/or McDyess? Signs point to no, unless they will re-sign at big discounts.

If they let both of those players walk, they will need some big bodies. An offer to Davis would help both parties. Davis would get solid playing time with some good players, and it wouldn’t cost Detroit that much.

Golden State Warriors

$61 mil.

Theoretically they could make an offer and stay under the penalty. It’s hard to figure out what goes on in the mind of Don Nelson these days. It is said that they are looking for a star to lead them. I don’t think that Davis is quite what they have in mind.

With many transition opportunities, Glen could thrive there, as could many offensive minded players.

Indiana Pacers

$55.2 mil

If Rasho Nesterovic leaves, it means that Roy Hibbert, and Jeff Foster will man the pivot. That’s not much offense from there, though O’Brien might not be looking for that from their center.

Still, Glen could possibly start at center for some match ups, and back up Troy Murphy and Foster at other times.

L.A. Clippers

$60.7 mil.

They expect to sign Blake Griffin with their number one draft choice. That would count Glen out, as they are stacked at the big positions.

Memphis Grizzlies

$35.9 mil.

Plenty of money. Depends on what they think of Darell Arthur (who largely disappointed, but is young) and what they think of Davis. With Mayo and Gay, not enough basketballs to go around either. One if the league’s youngest nuclei. It would be entertaining, that is for sure.

Milwaukee Bucks

$65.2

If Charlie V. gets a better offer and they him walk, they would have a slot and enough to offer Davis something less than it would take to resign Charlie.

Minnesota Timberwolves

$50 mil.

While they have a core of talent, they are another undersized team. Glen would not change that. Glen could be a contributing force as a back up to Al Jefferson and Kevin Love.

Would compete with Ryan Gomes and Craig Smith for minutes. Seems too redundant for Wolves to be interested.

New Jersey Nets

$59 mil.

Their needs are defense and rebounding. They have Ryan Anderson and Yi Jianlian.

Oklahoma City Thunder

$42.5 mil.

This is an interesting one because the player who played a lot of power forward for them, 6’ 9" Jeff Green, had stats much like Glen might have as a starter. 16 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2 assists in almost 37 minutes of play.

Glen is a better offensive rebounder and can guard most centers. Jeff is a solid three point shooter.

For all the talk about what a poor rebounder Davis is, there is no such criticism about Green playing the same slot. Hmm…..

To be sure, they are very different players. My question is, ‘Does your power forward always have to be one of the team’s best rebounders?’ The normal answer is yes. . Same thing for Rashard Lewis. He is a 4 who is not a big time rebounder.

I believe that Davis can and will rebound better. But if you can do other things well and the team has other board men, it can be less of an issue.

Anyway, I don’t see the Thunder offering Davis a contract with solid, perhaps under rated Nick Collison there.

Orlando Magic

$71.2 mil

I only put the Magic here for a couple of very fanciful reasons. If they lose Marcin Gortat, and Hedo Turkoglu opts out ($7.3 mil) and signs elsewhere, then Davis could be an option.

They could move Rashard Lewis to small forward when Davis is in the game, and Glen could back up Dwight Howard.

That Davis is not a three point shooter makes this scenario even less likely, but hey, not completely impossible.

Philadelphia 76ers

$ 58.5 mil.

With Elton Brand, Thaddeus Young, Sam Dalembert, Marreese Speights, and Reggie Evans there is little chance of an offer.

Portland Trailblazers

$48.9 mil.

No chance to start here. But it’s rumored that they will not make the qualifying offer of $4.2 to Channing Frye. That would leave money and room for a back up power forward on a team that has two shot blockers (Oden, Pryzbilla) at center to mitigate Glen’s lack of length.

Nate McMillan is an excellent coach. It would be a good situation for Glen, and there is no love lost between Portland and Danny Ainge over Darius Miles. The minutes probably wouldn’t be there for Glen, though.

Sacramento Kings

$45 mil.

Davis would have to play back up to two young studs in Spencer Hawes (C), and Jason Thompson (PF), the team is not very good, and there is no head coach at the moment. Rumor is that the Kings would like to lure Hedo Turkoglu back.

If they don’t make the qualifying offer to Ike Diogu ($3.9 mil) that money could be used for a young player establishing himself, like Davis.

San Antonio Spurs

$69.6 mil

Before you laugh this one off, the Spurs need to get younger. If they sign Drew Gooden, then forget it.

What Popovich feels is a player that fits, is sometimes surprising (see Matt Bonner). Glen could take Kurt Thomas’ minutes. Fabricio Oberto’s contract is not fully guaranteed.

Maybe Gregg remembers the defensive job Glen did on Tim Duncan. Naw, you’re right. Never would happen.

Toronto Raptors

$47.9 mil

With Chris Bosh, Andre Bargnani, and possibly Shawn Marion, an offer is not likely. There are rumors now that Bosh could be moved. Too many unknowns, if true. Right now, they need a defensive stopper in the middle for back up to Bargnani. Yes, even with Patrick O’Bryant on the roster.

There you have it.

I’d like to see the Celtics re-sign Davis. If they let a well established James Posey go, they might let Davis go as well. But I think it would not be wise to do so.

That is a ton of teams with some money available. Your guess is as good as mine as to how many will wait until the following season to really spend for big game Free Agents.

It will be enlightening to see just what teams are interested in Glen.

His agent, John Hamilton, of Performance Sports Management, has some fertile fields to spread the Glen Davis love around to. Maybe it is a good thing that Glen is his only basketball client (according to information at Hoopshype.com and AthletePromotions.com). He might be fairly busy this summer determining where Glen Davis might play basketball next season.

Stay tuned.

(Team salary numbers are approximate and sifted from ShamSports, Hoopshype.com, and HoopsWorld combined.)

This article first appeared on CelticsStuffLive blogs at WickedGoodSports on Comcast Sports Net New England.

Tom Halzack is the creator of CelticsCentral at the Connecticut Post and is available for other freelance writing. (Shameful self promotion)

Celtics' Glen Davis' Search For Gold: Signing Options (Part One)

Thomas Halzack — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:04:32 -0400

This offseason Celtic forward Glen Davis will sign a new contract, possibly with a new team.

Glen Davis’ greatly improved play as the year wore on, his solid and fairly consistent performance throughout the playoffs, and the uncertainty surrounding Leon Powe makes this a question of interest for Celtic Nation.

But the Celtics are over the luxury tax threshold. Barring unforeseen moves to get below the tax threshold, signing Glen could cost the Celtics plenty. A $5 million dollar contract will cost them $10 million total with the tax.

What are the chances Glen will stay with the Celtics?

Because of the Gilbert Arenas Rule, the Celtics will get final say on whether they want to match any offers to Davis or not. After two years of grooming, the Celtics will most likely match any offers, and keep Glen, even if they then might consider sign-and-trade scenarios (less likely).

Let me first say that much, but not all, of the following information was authenticated by Boston Celtic management.

Here we go:

Because Glen Davis falls under two rules, the Early Bird Exception and the Gilbert Arenas Rule, here are the likely options for Glen.

1) The Celtics can tender a qualifying offer to Glen and wait to match any counter offers from new teams.That qualifying offer is for 125% of his last salary

2) The Celtics next offer can be for the average player salary (MLE value), approximately $5.585 million, though it is not an MLE offer. It is an Early Bird Exception offer.

3) Any new offers from new teams must be for no more than the MLE and can be for up to 5 years in length. So he might also get an offer for less than the MLE but, let’s say for 3, 4, or 5 years.
a) The first two years may not be more than the MLE amount. The third through fifth years can be more if the new team is under the cap and deems Glen worthy of such an offer. Neither scenario seems likely so…
b) Glen may receive an MLE offer from any new team for 1-5 years for up to $5.585 million per year (with 8 percent yearly raises allowed). That a new team would tender a three year contract (or more) seems quite possible.

At that point…

The Celtics can make a financially limited multi-year offer (MLE plus 10% yearly raises only) or stay with an MLE valued single year qualifying offer.

The significance is that a single year offer moves Glen to full Bird Rights next year, allowing the Celtics to make an unrestricted multi-year offer (up to player max) after that year.

Both Glen and the Celtics have to determine what Glen's long term value is and what is in their own best interests.

To summarize:

To retain their rights to Davis, Glen will get a qualifying offer of one year for 125% of his last salary by June 30.
Under Early Bird Exception rules, the Celtics next offer would be at $5.585 (or so) from the Celtics.
New teams can offer up to that same amount for up to 5 years, limited to 8 percent raises annually.
The Celtics can make their own multi-year offer starting at $5.585 mil. and limited to 10% raises annually.

If Glen accepts a one year offer (not likely) from the Celtics:
1) He qualifies for full Bird Rights the next season and no salary limits (except player max) for any new multi-year contract.

He would only do this if he thinks his value will escalate substantially next year. With a fully recovered Kevin Garnet expected to return, his role will be cut back from starting to role player. It is more likely that Glen accepts some sort of multi-year deal this season to gain much sought financial security that a multi-year deal would guarantee him.

I’ll cover Glen’s performance this season and a projected value in part two.

This article first appeared at Tom Halzack's Celtics Central at the Connecticut Post

Will Dwight Howard's "Call Out" Work in the Celtics' Favor?

Thomas Halzack — Thu, 14 May 2009 10:42:46 -0400

Dwight Howard's post-game frustration has apparently been building for a while. But will it end up working in favor of the Celtics?

The comments he made are plastered everywhere after the Magic lost a game to the Celtics they were winning by 14 with nine minutes left. It was the second game in a row that the Celtics stole out from under them.

He was directly critical of his own coach and his staff...

"The coaches have to recognize what's working on the floor and stick with it."

The Magic bench players, led by Tony Battie (six points), were playing well and had even pushed an eight-point lead up to 14. They were still leading 83-74 when Rashard Lewis and Rafer Alston subbed in for Anthony Johnson and Battie. Lewis and Alston each went 0-3 to finish the game as the lead dwindled and the Magic were overtaken.

Not playing Alston might appear to have some merit, but he was actually having one of his best games up until that quarter, with 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting with his best defense of the series on Rajon Rondo. His replacement, Johnson, was 0-2 and scoreless in the game.

Keeping Battie in the game instead of Lewis? Hmm...interesting move. Battie was actually making shots (3-4) and a main reason for a bump in the lead. Not many coaches, including Doc Rivers, Phil Jackson, or anyone else I can think of, would keep their top players on the bench at end of game situations, especially in the playoffs.

Lewis is making $17 million and was hired to help lead this team to the Promised Land. But more importantly, Rashard was playing very well up to that point. He was shooting a solid 8-13 while leading the team in scoring with 17.

Battie instead of Lewis? I think not.

Dwight is wrong on this accusation, in my estimation.

But his biggest beef is another story.

"I'm not gonna get up here and bash or say anything about what should happen, you know, but I will say it's tough to win when all season you play inside out, and you trust one of the people that got you off to a good season. I think I'm capable of scoring in the post so you know, I just don't think 10 shots...I don't wanna say it's all about the offense.

"You got a dominant player, let him dominate."

Dwight has a legitimate beef here.

Kendrick Perkins has quietly put his hard hat on and constructed a great series keeping Howard down, or at least from dominating most of the time. He plays him just tight enough to be a real problem for all his inside moves. He also pushes him out just far enough to be slightly outside his normal range for his moves.

Magic Senior Vice President (and co-founder) Pat Williams was on the radio the day of the game talking about his team and mentioned that Dwight Howard doesn't have a go-to move yet. His inference was that he is working on it, but it's not there yet. His frame of reference was to indicate that Howard will get even better than he is now.

But it is quite telling when your own executive management makes that statement publicly.

Make no mistake, Dwight Howard should absolutely get more touches and get more shot attempts. Of that I am certain. The Magic have not explored that option enough in my opinion.

They should also be going to Rashard Lewis more. One would think a coach would emphasize his most advantageous matchups. Dwight is correct in challenging the coaches on offensive emphasis.

But here is a fact to ponder...

Dwight Howard has had two 30+ point games in this year's playoffs. The Magic lost both games...against Philly. Granted, each loss was by two points each, and that might not have played a part in it.

One 76er player said that the Magic were a better team with Howard out. That player (Andre Miller) also said that an Orlando player said the same thing.

What that says to me is that it is a good thing that some players aren't GMs.

That observation is generally nonsense and oversimplifies the problem. But there is something to the idea that the Magic half court sets and schemes might need work.

But what exactly can Howard be counted on to do offensively? It also speaks to pace, ball movement, and other offensive players standing around while one dominant player sets up for his shot of choice. His one on one post moves are surprisingly ineffective.

Shot of choice? Just what shot is that?

Complaints surface regarding Paul Pierce anytime the Celtics lose, and Paul does something similar. Of course, when he does that and the team wins, dissenters are mute. But Pierce has more than a few "go-to" shots in his lunch pail and can hit foul shots.

Even Dwight addresses that...

"It's not about what guys are on the floor, it is about what works. To beat a Boston team, you can't let them get their defense set in the half court. They're a great half court defensive team. You have to run them, you have to move them."

Again, true.

So, let's review...

1. Dwight Howard thinks Stan Van Gundy doesn't keep the best player rotations on the floor and inexplicably makes changes at the wrong times.

2. Dwight Howard needs more touches, though it is safe to say that pundits generally agree that he doesn't have a go-to shot.

3. Dwight Howard's game is a half court game, but he thinks the team should be running more.

Are you confused? Don't be. That is part of why the Magic aren't as good as their record might indicate. Seemingly contradictory things are true with them.

Dwight is apparently solvable at both ends of the floor, it seems. He is averaging 16 points (four points less than his season average) and 16.4 rebounds (2.6 more than the season average), shooting 54 percent against the Celtics, and playing very well, but hasn't dominated.

He had just six games (the team went 3-3) without a block during the regular season. In this series, he has two games with no blocks, and the Magic lost both.

So, his very public comments may get him more touches and maybe more shots, and more points. But doesn't it telegraph to Doc Rivers what to expect from Orlando in the next game? Perkins had handled Howard a lot in single coverage. The Celtics could change things up.

The most important thing is neither complaint, from where I sit. Dwight actually mentioned it:

"...those guys (Celtics) wanted it more than we did. ... As a team we have to stop hanging our heads and stop getting frustrated when things don't go our way. ... We tend to get frustrated."

Another word can be used there: choke. This team doesn't play well under pressure.

Maybe Shaquille O'Neal was right after all. Maybe Stan Van Gundy is a carrier of panic attacks with his personality and coaching style. It is often said that a team takes on the personality of its coach.

But it is the players who play, and Rashard Lewis missed three shots in the fourth, including a couple of open ones that he is paid large sums to make.

The other problem with this team is that they don't really have a go-to guy in the fourth quarter or in tough times.

You can talk team play all you want, and I love team play.

But you need main guys and secondary guys that can bring it home for you. The Magic doesn't have those main guys. Hedo Turkoglu, in the past, and this year, Jameer Nelson, would come the closest to filling that need.

But that simply highlights the weakness and why the Magic aren't thought of as among the very top tier of the league's teams. Jameer Nelson and Hedo Turkoglu are your go-to guys?

Unless Dwight or Rashard morph into a true go-to guy before the next game, Howard's complaints could play right into the Celtics hands.

On the other hand, the Celtics don't seem to play well with the lead themselves. A six-game close out would be wonderful, but I'll believe it when I see it.

A slightly different version of this article appears in Tom's CelticsCentral blog in The Connecticut Post.

Pierce Seared Salmons and Ate Bulls In OT: 106-104

Thomas Halzack — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:15:46 -0400

Call it the "Heart Attack Series." Danny Ainge's was an omen. These two teams are setting off EKG machine alarms everywhere. Hospital cardiac units will surely ban watching the next game.

None of these games are ever really over. It is just 'to be continued.'

I don't remember when I've seen more clutch plays by both teams in a series long playoff match up. That might be because there has never been a series like this before. An NBA playoff record was set with the third overtime (one double OT) contest of this series.

With Paul Pierce leading the way, the undermanned (Garnett and Powe out) Celtics shot 5-of-6 in OT while holding the Bulls to 2-of-8 to gain yet another hard fought win. The C's went 4-6 in free throws while the Bulls went 7-7 in OT. Three of those might have been a gift. More on that later.

Rondo, Perkins, Davis Come Up Big

The Celtics got huge games from Rajon Rondo, who continues to carry the Celtics on his back, a monster game from Kendrick Perkins with 19 rebounds, seven blocks, including a big one on Derrick Rose in OT, and 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Glen 'Big Baby' Davis came through with a large game and an efficient one with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting, six rebounds, three assists, and zero turnovers.

Pierce Orders Surf 'N Turf

The final course was Pierce-seared Salmons as he carved up the Bulls for dessert.

Paul put on an incredible, yet methodically controlled show as he went 5-for-5 down the stretch and in overtime to deliver the win for the defending champions. He hit jumper, after jumper, after jumper, mostly over the Bulls' John Salmons. Incredibly, rookie coach Vinny Del Negro let Salmons continue to guard Pierce one-on-one.

From Steve Bulpett's article with the Boston Herald:

“Yeah, I thought about doubling him a lot,” said Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro.

“But the problem is that the Celtics do such a good job and he fades away, and he’s 6'8" and it’s his spot. We talked about coming with different players, but they’ve picked us apart a little bit with that on the glass. And he hits some tough fade away shots with hands in his face."

“That’s what great players do. They make big plays. He’s an All-Star player for a reason."

The idea would be to double him before he gets to his spot. Garnett is out. Ray Allen is out. Pierce is the one guy on the court you don't want shooting. The only other guy who was willing to shoot is Rondo.

Paul is better from the floor with a defender on him than he is shooting free throws, missing another one in the extra period. After missing two big free throws earlier in the series that could have tied or won games, Pierce made sure this miss wasn't needed.

Miller Misses Twice

After Pierce's last dagger, and the Celtics up two. the Celtics heavily defended the three point line on the inbound. Brad Miller took the inbound pass just inside the arc and headed for the basket and the tie.

The Celtics closed quickly and as Rondo swept at him, Miller took a hard wrap to the mouth from a Rajon Rondo hand from behind, drawing blood and possibly knocking a tooth loose with two seconds left on the clock. After going to the sidelines to clear the blood, Brad Miller stepped up and missed his first foul shot.

He then tried to miss the second, to get the rebound, but created a turnover when it didn't even hit the rim. Coach Del Negro is claiming that it was a flagrant foul, and is hoping that the league reviews it. Miller received stitches after the game.

The Bulls fouled Pierce on the Celtics inbounds and Paul missed his first free throw, setting up a similar situation. He did manage to intentionally hit the rim on his next attempt. The rebound came to Glen Davis as he went to the floor. Celtic ball. Game over. Finally.

NBA players have voted saying that Kobe Bryant is the one they most want taking the last shot. Honestly, I'll take Paul Pierce or Ray Allen every time. Allen fouled out with about five minutes left in regulation with just 10 points in 26-plus minutes.

What makes these Celtics special is that they still have one of the clutchest players in the league with Paul Pierce.

Exhausted? After 50-plus minutes, not Paul Pierce. After he delivered the consecutive knock out blows, he was interviewed walking off the court and asked if he and his mates were exhausted after three overtime games. Reminiscent of baseball's Chicago Cubs' Ernie Banks saying, "Let's play two today." Pierce answered with a big smile, "No way. This is fun, This is what the playoffs are all about. We could play seven overtime games. But we want to end it in six."

It is a good thing, as the Celtic bench scoring drought continues with just five points from the (no) relief team.

Rondo Rampage Continues

Rajon Rondo continues his spectacular play. Johnny Rondo almost delivered his third triple double of the series, leading both teams in scoring with 28 points, 11 assists, adding eight rebounds, with two steals.

Perhaps more importantly, he held Derrick Rose to 14 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three steals, but six turnovers, including a critical one on a misfired alley-oop pass meant for Joakim Noah as regulation was winding down.

Controversial Three Point Attempt

The Celtics battled back from 11 down, 77-66 with 9:28 left in the fourth period and again from 89-84 with 3:45 left with a 9-4 run to tie on a Perkins put back, Rondo lay-up, Pierce lay-up, and a Paul Pierce jumper with 10.5 seconds left in regulation.

Ben Gordon, who continues to show a knack for clutch shooting, was just 6-for-21. But, in Ray Allen-like fashion, hit two big shots near the end and managed to get a foul called on Tony Allen on a controversial three-point shot in OT.

Two replay angles clearly show that Gordon stepped on the out of bounds line with one heel. That would negate any foul after that. The refs reviewed the play and decided to allow the free throws. Gordon hit all three free throws, tying the game at 104 with 28 seconds left in OT.

OT Scoring

In the overtime, Perkins scored the first three Celtic points on a free throw and a lay-up. Rondo scored the next four Celtic points on a quick jump, lean back in, right handed driving lay-up, and two foul shots. The table was then set for Pierce's clinic on "how-to-make-pressure-jumpshots", as he calmly hit three in a row in the last 1:17, just like it was pregame practice time.

Normally the fifth game is the pivotal game. Right now, these teams look so evenly matched, I don't know that anything was concluded in this game except the Celtics are now up 3-2 heading back to Chicago for game six on Thursday.

The Celtics only consolation is that Philadelphia is giving Orlando the same kind of trouble. Orlando won Tuesday's game to go up 3-2 as well.

Numbers

With Garnett out, this was the Celtics second best defensive game of the series. They held the Bulls to .395 shooting and 93 points in regulation. They also matched the Bulls in fast break points with 14 apiece. The C's destroyed the Bulls inside 54 points to 32.

Also, highly important, the Celtics had only 10 turnovers to the Bulls 13. That, as much as any play, was a key to the win.

Leon Powe Hurt: Too Bad, Secret's Out: He Has a Jumpshot

Thomas Halzack — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:25:22 -0400

(Leon Powe just got hurt (ACL tear) and will miss the remainder of the playoffs. The following happened before he got hurt. Still, there is next year.)

(Looks both ways) Psssst…….(whispers) Don’t look now, but I’m going to let a secret out.

I tug on my sleeve, do a nervous head twitch, square right up to you, look you right in the eye and say…..

“Leon Powe has a mid range jump shot.” I wait. (Give it time to sink in.)

“And I’ve got it on very good sources that it’s reliable.”

I’m not exactly Firestarter, or the arsonist in Backdraft, but I’m not exactly Smoky the Bear, either. The embers of the Powe/Davis debates continue to smolder without any help from me. There is a slight wind blowing over those embers.

Baby’s three rebound, questionable offense/defense continues to take heat from the Powe Party Movement after the recent loss to the Bulls. They want to be “seein’ more Leon”. Like all great political movements, they want it their way.

Without getting into the knockdown, drag out, point-by-point debates, I uncovered a well kept secret to a rumor about Leon Powe. He has a jump shot. Yep, it’s true.

Like the Abominable Snowman, some claimed it existed. Like the Loch Ness Monster, its existence has been questioned. Like Sasquatch, some claim to have grainy old film footage of it. Like most urban myths, it had to get started somewhere.

As a card-carrying member of the Baby Liberation Movement, this information makes a case for Leon Powe. Names like Benedict Arnold, Vidkun Quisling, and Philippe Petain raced through my head.

I envisioned a scarlet T permanently tattooed on my forehead. Hey, my name begins with T. I’ll explain it away that way. Nah. My fellow Baby Liberationists are nice people. They won’t do that to me...will they?

How did I track down this bit of vital information “to the cause” of the Powe Movement? Simple. Leon’s college roommate told me. Then Leon confirmed it to me.

Leon’s college roommate (first year) was Dominic McGuire, currently in his second year (and an excellent year at that) with the Washington Wizards. McGuire transferred from U of Cal. after his first year to Fresno State where he went to star, before becoming a second round find for the Wizards.

In truth, I had noticed in research that Powe had gotten a number of top California players to go to Cal with him. McGuire was one of them. I sought him out before the last regular season game.

McGuire…

"We were actually roommates, freshman year, We stayed in the same dorm room for a while."

Tell me a little bit about Leon.

"Leon, he’s a strong individual. He’s had to deal with a lot in his life. He kept it going the whole time, staying positive. He’s really showing now, he’s done a great job out there for Boston this year. You know he’s continuing to get better."

How is his game different now than when you saw him play?

"He’s always been a power player, a great rebounder. Before his injury, he jumped out (of) the gym. It was crazy. You used to see him, he’d be jumping out of the gym."

So, he’s lost some of that?

"Uhmmm…not really, he’s still very athletic. Catch them (opponents) off course, he’ll be dunking on a lot of people, so he obviously hasn’t lost it."

Most of what he does is around the hoop. Doc doesn’t really let him use a mid range. Does he have a mid-range shot that’s reliable?

"I believe so. I’ve seen him use it before. It’s there. [He has to] develop that confidence to get it going in the gym, working on it. Got that mostly ‘in the bag.’"

Was he able to do that at Cal?

"Yes, he was."

It would translate to the Celtics if they needed that, right?

"If that was his role. I don’t see that as his role right now."

How high is up with Leon, as far as his future?

"You know, the sky’s the limit. That’s for their management, but he’s a great player."

Leon had a terrific game, scoring 18 points with 13 rebounds to finish the regular season.

After the Wizards’ game, talking with Leon….

How are you feeling?

"Just getting back in the flow of things. Increasing my minutes a little bit. Just trying to get my rhythm back and it’s been coming."

Do you feel the timing’s there?

"Yeah, it’s back. I’m working on reaction time, it’s better, seeing the ball, getting back on defense."

Dominic McGuire said this and I had read this before, You have a mid-range game.

"Oh yeah, I can shoot. I can shoot. But on this team, what I have to do, I’ve got be kind of an enforcer. I got to go down low. We (have) a lot of guys that step out and shoot it so I’ll probably save that for later on. Maybe next year. (Smiles) Maybe."

Will they (Celtics) start introducing that next year?

"I will. If they’re smart, they’ll start cutting off the paint, or doubling or something to not let me get in the paint. But they keep letting me get there. So, if they don’t stop me, I’ll keep going."

There you have it. The Powe Show has a “lotta mo” in his bag of tricks. It’s a little late to dust the cobwebs off that jumper this season, but next season, maybe Boston fans will get to see the Powe Show from about 12-15 feet farther out.

How devastating would that be?

So Powe will work on his jumper and Davis will work on his rebounding. Sounds perfect to me. Let’s keep them both.

Let’s start a new party. The Davis-Powe Party. If we’re lucky, it starts right now.

(This article first appeared on CelticsStuffLiveblog on WickedGoodsports on Comcast Sports Net.)

The Curious Case of Mike Woodson

Thomas Halzack — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:04:13 -0400

I don't really understand it all. The Atlanta Hawks just clinched the fourth seed in the play-offs.

Yet, Mike Woodson continues to receive very little respect in the media.

After last year, how important is home court?

Coach Mike Woodson: "It's very important. I mean, it's tough. I've been in this league a long time. It's tough to steal a series.

"For us to push Boston to seven, that was a tough task last year, to do that. But they were the best team, clearly, in the league last year. And they proved it throughout the play-offs...I don't want to have to go through that again...if we can stay away from it.

Coming into the stretch run, that was the goal for these Hawks, secure home court in the first round of the play-offs. Mission accomplished.

Yet, there is a murmur that Mike Woodson could be a "one and done" coach. If he doesn't make it out of the first round again, he's gone, they suggest.

And some seem to think that is a good idea and a fair decision.

But I'm not sure why. I'm confused. Why? Conflicting facts, I guess you could say.

Coach Woodson was asked recently, (before they clinched the fourth seed) if he thought his performance might be judged by the team's playoff performance.

His response was: "Well, it shouldn't be. I don't look at it like that. The bottom line is...this team hadn't been in the playoffs in.... I don't know how many years.

"Look it up. It's been a long time since this team has been in the playoffs. Last year, we made the run to get in the playoffs (12-6 high kick sprint to end the year).

"This year we're in a position to secure first round at home. So I think there's been progress. So this is not about me and my job. It's about me having an opportunity to build a team. and...when I look at our team, we're heading in the right direction. That, to me, is a positive.

Well said and fair enough.

Should Mike Woodson's job be judged by the team's playoff performance? It all depends on how good you think this Atlanta Hawk team should be. But this is what gets me.

I Called Them Woodson's Wonders

After shocking the Celtics and pushing last season's NBA Champs to seven games, expectations were high for this team, right? Wrong. There were zero pre-season believers among the pundits.

I get the feeling that many of those who think Woodson should be fired if he doesn't get the Hawks to the second round are the same pre-season pundits who said that this Hawks team would not improve on last year, with a tougher Eastern Conference this season. You can't have it both ways.

The Hawks were consensus picked by 25 ESPN writers for the same amount of wins as last season, which is 37.

They influenced my own thinking, and I moved my own prediction downward to just a minor improvement, when I really thought they would reach about 45 wins. I let the crowd influence me.

The Hawks are 46-34 with two games left. A nine game improvement is solid progress by anyone's standards.

How many here think Woodson should get Coach of the Year?......... crickets.

You won't hear a single voice raised in support of Woodson for Coach of the Year. Not a single one. But you will hear rumors of his impending doom. And you will get head nods. Why?

In all honesty, I'm not suggesting that Woodson be considered for COTY either. But his team has done well.

Maybe it is the 0-4 record against the Celtics this season. Maybe it is the team's continuing road ineptitude—they are 16-24, a passable four game improvement from last season. That is hardly COTY credentials, one would agree.

Curious Case of the (Highly Regarded) Jazz

"Highly regarded" Jerry Sloan's "highly regarded" Jazz, at 15-25 away from Utah, are road "worriers" and no better in that important category for judging a contending team.

Yet, Sloan's team, with two more wins, is considered a highly dangerous playoff match up. I find that to be a curious defect of the "highly talented" Jazz. Sloan's "highly regarded" career credentials will shield criticism.

Please understand, I'm not putting Woodson in Sloan's category. The resumes, styles, and career accomplishments simply don't compare. But neither can get their team to play well on the road.

New Executive Vice President and GM Rick Sund came in to replace the departed Billy King last season (King quit, it is said because the Hawks wouldn't fire Woodson).

Sund looked the situation over and decided that Woodson deserved a little more time, despite reputed friction with both Josh's.

Sund re-signed Mike Woodson to a two year renewal, hardly a ringing endorsement. The Sword of Damacles, you might say.

When queried, one Woodson skeptic, fellow CelticsStuffLive host Jon Duke, said it is Woodson's inability to get the most out of Josh Smith that lowers the grade on the Atlanta coach's report card.

My guess is that besides Woodson's professional, but humble persona (his pre and post game press conferences are the most unpretentious and casual I've experienced), his ongoing drama with Josh Smith does have something to do with it. It throws a negative spin Woodson's way. Shouldn't that spin go the other way, as well?

I have spoken with both player and coach and both come across as articulate and respectful people. But I don't have to coach or be coached by either. Smith missed 12 games with a sprained left ankle, and has played hurt this season.

But there was a public blow up between Smith and Woodson this season. Friction has existed between them for five years, as has been reported. Again, is that Woodson's fault?

The same people who find fault with Woodson have to agree that Josh Smith's game lacks discipline. Josh could be more team oriented and could play smarter.

Smith is an athletic freak and a very talented player. But, why is he still shooting three point shots with a 26.9% career average (29% this year)?

When Smith first signed that contract with Memphis, the Hawks' fan boards were completely mixed on Smith. I was surprised how many thought it was good riddance to a not very smart, selfish player.

If Woodson is to be faulted, it is for not being tough enough on Smith.

Smith has a bit of Zach Randolph, or perhaps Rasheed Wallace in him and thinks he is a distance shooter. End that experiment. Get him playing around the blocks more.

He is averaging 7.4 rebounds and could easily be around nine or more boards a game. Horford needs the help. The injuries may be affecting his numbers this season, in fairness to Smith.

Other Injuries and Obstacles

Out-of-position center Al Horford missed 14 games to injury (bone bruise/right knee).

SF Marvin Williams missed 16 straight games (lower back) and 20 overall. Point guard Mike Bibby has no true backup to spell him.

Woodson: "It's been tough, but hey, everybody's banged up this time of year, so its not a reason for us to sit here and complain. I mean, it's what it is and we just got to continue to play.

"You know guys have stepped up this year. We've had injuries all year. Al was out. Josh was out. We just had guys step up and play to help us win. That's what we have to do these last games."

The Hawks bolted out of the gate with six straight wins only to get their first loss at the hands of the Celtics. Then they went into a bit of a funk and lost four in a row. They pulled out of it and are closing in on a solid season by anyone's standards.

High Profile Offseason

The Hawks had a "media rich" offseason, losing consummate role player Josh Childress to a generous contract ($20 million over three years—tax free) from Greece (Olympiacos), no less.

Contrary to every agent's greed-induced raving that this will change negotiating permanently, no other American born player followed.

The Hawks recovered nicely by signing Maurice Evans, and Flip Murray to try to replace what Childress brought to the table.

Some said that Atlanta couldn't draw free agents. But frankly, those two players do not replace Josh Childress, who was one of the best sixth men in the league.

So, doesn't that mean that Mike Woodson has done a solid job of improving a team that has theoretically lost important, make that critical, talent? And hasn't he done it with three somewhat lengthy injuries to three different starters?

With negotiations at a standstill between Josh Smith and the Hawks, Memphis signed Smith to a $58 million, five year contract.

The Hawks learned their lesson from Childress and immediately matched, sending what they thought was a strong message that they wanted Smith to stay.

It seemed to confuse Josh, as it was reported that he wondered why they didn't make that offer right away, if they really wanted him. It was said he wanted to play for another coach.

Does Josh does need another coach? One who is tougher on him? How about listening to the one he has.

After spending valuable time as an assistant coach with Larry Brown's NBA champion Pistons, this is Mike Woodson's first head coaching job. His team has improved its record for the fourth straight year.

As he would say, they are "heading in the right direction. That's a positive." So why is he not getting more respect and praise?

Unfairly or not, in the end, the media will judge Mike Woodson by the team's playoff performance. A first round exit will further convince many that another coach might be in order.

The bigger question is; will Atlanta GM Rick Sund feel that way? And is his ability or inability to elevate $58 million dollar man Josh Smith's game viewed as a key piece in that decision?

Tom's article first appeared at CelticsCentral at the Connecticut Post. Tom also writes for CelticStufflive at Comcast Sports Net New England.

Boston Celtics: A Few Good Men

Thomas Halzack — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:16:39 -0400

The depleted Boston Celtics outlasted the Wade-less Miami Heat in overtime by 112-108.

The injury-riddled Celtics needed a few good men to come forward.

Paul Pierce answered the call. It is one call he actually doesn't relish anymore. Wasn't it just a short time ago when he said those big scoring days are over?

Sorry Paul. Your country, I mean...your team...and Celtic fans need you. Paul Pierce had a vintage Paul Pierce game for the second game in a row. This time the Celtics managed to come out on top.

Pierce Big, Turnovers Low

Pierce finished with 36 points, including a 21-point barrage in the fourth quarter and overtime. On top of that, Pierce had just two turnovers and the team had just 10. Yeah, I know.

This was against the same team they had 25 turnovers against a week ago. The parade starts at two. Dwyane Wade gets to sit up front with Paul due to his absence from this game.

Rajon Rondo also answered the call with 27 points on 11 of 20 shooting and 10 assists. He also reduced his turnovers to just two.

Kendrick Perkins stepped up with another solid, if unspectacular game. He had four blocks for the second game in a row, nine rebounds and 13 points as he stabilized the defense as much as he could under the circumstances.

He had a huge block of a Beasley lay-up attempt to start the overtime. It was a game turner, IMO. It sparked an 8-0 Celtic run from there.

Michael Beasley's clutch shooting (eight pts.) to start the fourth, followed by Mario Chalmers, Fred Jones and Jermaine O'Neal kept this from being over in regulation. If rookie Chalmers, a 77 percent free-throw shooter, hit both free throws (1-2) with 20 seconds left, Miami wins.

Pierce Wills Team to Win

Pierce hit seven straight Celtic points in just over a minute on three straight jumpers around the top of the key with about a minute left, but just misses one at the buzzer. He then hit a big three pointer after House started OT with a three.

House hits a jumper to make it eight straight points to start the OT. The Heat would never recover. Pierce added five points total in OT to clinch the win.

Eddie House is Clutch

Eddie House was Eddie House. There is talk in some corners that Eddie House isn't a clutch shooter. He is best when the team is up 8-10 points or down the same amount, it is said.

He pours gas on a started fire, but isn't the guy to make the big shots to climb back into a game, or tie, or take the lead. That may have been true last season.

I don't have the exact stats, but this year he has been 'shooting' holes in that story. There are at least 3-4 games that I can recall that he was making important shots at important times in the games.

He won a few games almost single-handedly. He is not just a 'pile-on' guy. E-House is not A-Rod.

He made the three point shot that tied the game at 93 with 3:42 left in regulation, while adding a three pointer to take the lead in overtime, 103-100, and then poured gas on with a jump shot to pump the lead to 108-100.

Once you get familiar with a niche player and his pluses and minuses, the tendency is to start to dwell on the minuses, instead of what he can do. Eddie House can shoot. This season, he is making more big shots that he did last season.

Of this I'm confident, though I don't have the specifics to prove it.

The Celtics were again without Kevin Garnett, the heart of the defense. Missing also was Ray Allen, the Celtic's other hand in the Celtic's devastating one-two combo. Ray is listed day-to-day with a hyperextended elbow.

Big Baby Returns

Glen Davis returned and not a day too soon. With Leon Powe and Brian Scalabrine out, the team needs every big of height and weight it can get. Glen contributes both and believe it or not—stability.

Did I read that right? The Celtics were a ridiculous +27 in Glen Davis' 41 minutes? That must be a typo. That means the Celtics were -23 in the 13 minutes he was off the floor? Way to go Glen. A recount may be in order.

He played solid, but not flashy with seven rebounds and eight points. He had a few big rebounds and got his points in the flow of the offense. The play (a supposed moving pick) he fouled out on was just a terrible call.

The Celtics needed Paul Pierce on that wall tonight. Why? Like Colonel Jessup said...You can't handle the Truth.

(This article first appeared in Tom's blog, 'CelticsCentral' at the Connecticut Post. Tom also writes for Celtics Stuff Live at Comcast Sports Net New England.)

Feedback/hatemail accepted with a fairly open mind.

Stephon Marbury Will Be a Celtic: Earth's Axis Shifts

Thomas Halzack — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:30:28 -0500

Seismic readings are coming in from all over.

If Richter's scale was around when the Cretaceous Period flipped over (That's how it works, right?) it would have sounded like this.

Massive hits from tremors are being recorded from as far away as Timbuktu. A slight crack has appeared in George Washington's head in Mount Rushmore, and at the same time the Washington Monument has produced a noticeable lean. Engineers are checking the George Washington bridge for cracks.

Psychics everywhere are prophesying the significance.

Klaatu has landed. Please contact your local emergency channel for further information.

Sightings of Big Foot have gone through the roof, while UFO watch gatherings are springing up everywhere. Babies in Boston and New York are crying for...no apparent reason. Hospitals are being put on alert.

It has just been reported that Putin and Obama sent urgent Code One red phone messages that they will both stand down until this can be sorted out.

Nuclear submarine captains from Russia and the U.S. are breaking open sealed top secret classified orders, checking for validation by exchanged passwords and then reading the encrypted message: Stephon Marbury Will Be a Celtic. Take No Hostile Actions. Stay Calm.

The Russian captain is skeptical. An American trick?

What......... is going on?

Call it: Escape from New York.

For writers, it doesn't get any better than this.

Welcome to an orgasmic outpouring of expatiations on the rapacious, narcissistic insolence and ever-changing saga of the chief narcissist in a narcissist's league.

The event horizon is engorging tomes on the volatile chemistry issues and potential consequences of adding a flammable (Why do "flammable" and "inflammable" mean the same thing?) chemical to an existing stable, but fragile compound solution.

I couldn't have imagined a much more potentially conflict-ridden plot. Really. This is brilliance. Thank you, Danny Ainge. I'm glad that you believe that Doc Rivers walks on water. But.... my goodness.

Paul, Kevin, and Ray.....what are you hiding behind your backs? Are those...... sticks?..... imprinted with the word Ubuntu?

The ink wasn't even dry on the anti-Marbury signing of journeyman, nice guy Mikki Moore when the news broke.

The Knicks finally waived Marbury after Stephon gave up about $2 million of $6 million left on his current contract in arbitration hearings on his other financial assessments. It's over. And it has just begun. (Cue the Carpenters.)

From Steve Bulpett in the Boston Herald:

"Like Moore, Marbury would receive from the C’s a prorated portion of the veteran minimum of around $1.3 million. The league picks up almost one-third of the tab for such contracts."

I thought the Celtics were going in over their head for a moment.

No bail out needed here. No cheaper deal for any better talent could be imagined. Love the CBA.

Marbury brings a needed set of skills and an unneeded attitude to one of the tightest, most disciplined teams in the NBA. Ubuntu and Marbury? Wow. The drama unfolds.

A championship team trying to repeat with a player whose most successful days were back when he was with that team's glue guy, Kevin Garnett, when they both were very young players with the Timberwolves. Life's a circle.

Or is it a Starbury side-of-head tattoo?

I'll spare you the details of Marbury's well-documented career. More ink has been spilled in New York over the last five years on this cat than water over Niagara Falls. Scientists have determined that he is personally responsible for 5.4 percent of global warming due to deforestation for paper to write articles on him.

Stephon Marbury says he is born again. Indeed he is. Life starts anew for him. The Celtics' main players, starting with Garnett, all spoke publicly that they would accept him in their "band of brothers" if he came to the team.

Another irony: Back in preseason this year (it seems so long ago now), a playing Stephon Marbury and a seated Eddie House were keeping up an intense and ongoing verbal duel for a long period of the game when the Knicks played the Celtics.

Here is how Howard Beck of the New York Times recorded part of it:

"When play returned to the Celtics’ side of the court, House chirped, 'Don’t worry about me. You better worry about Ray Allen,' whom Marbury was guarding. Marbury shot back, 'You’re nothing!” then added, “You’re caught up in basketball. Get caught up in life.'"

Eighty percent of Celtics fans are welcoming Marbury's arrival by many Celtic Nation polls. He will get a fresh start and will be welcome in the Celtics locker room as well, to help them win a second consecutive championship.

He can be a perfect fit for some of what the Celtics need. In shorter minutes, especially with the bench players, he will be a plus. He can handle pressure defenses, hit foul shots in the fourth quarter, and has made big plays down the stretch before.

Not too long after the exchange above, Marbury was banished from the Knicks and...caught up in life. It is now time that he follows Eddie House's lead and gets...caught up in basketball.

The Stephon Marbury story continues. He is a Celtic now.

Tom writes the CelticsCentral blog for the Connecticut Post and for CelticsStuffLive on Comcast SportsNet.

Sixers, Bobcats, Grizzlies Rising, Suns Set, Rockets Fizzle

Thomas Halzack — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:43:01 -0500

There were three interesting blowouts and a close game with a league star sitting out in yesterday’s play.

Philadelphia’s Heavenly Fixers – Marreese Speights and Thaddeus Young

The 6’ 10" rookie from Florida, Marreese Speights, put on quite a show, with an assortment of put-backs, dunks, alley-oops, and even jumpshots for a career high 24 points on 11-14 shooting. While other rookies are getting the attention, Speights has been a solid addition with a bright future for the Sixers. His performance in this game overshadowed teammate Thaddeus Young’s 25-point performance.

The Sixers ran past the Suns for a 108-91 win. Not too long ago, this would have been a track meet for both teams.

Meet the future of the 76ers. In fact, with Elton Brand out for the year, the future is now. Speights and Young are growing by the month. Andre Miller remains the constant through everything. 6’ 1" scoring point guard Louis Williams adds punch, move Andre Iguodala back to option one, and bring Reggie Evans’ energy off the bench and you have a playoff team on the rise.

Underachieving Samuel Dalembert is an overpriced version of Kendrick Perkins, but like Perkins, plays a vital role.

Celtics and Lakers Successfully Adding Stars Made It Look Easy

It wasn’t supposed to be this way…with either team. I can’t remember when so many top NBA players changed teams in the offseason. Adding high profile players Elton Brand and Shaquille O’Neal hasn’t worked for either the Sixers or the Suns.

One team is making progress. The other team is making…. other plans.

Philly on the Rise

Surprise. This Philadelphia 76er team (26-24) is again looking to make the playoffs. They are currently seventh in the east and gaining ground. They are 13–4 recently and have won three-straight after destroying the erratic Phoenix Suns (28-22). They are two games over .500 for the first time this season.

They were expected to be a dominant, rising team in the Eastern Conference with free agent Monsieur Elton Brand. Maurice Cheeks (fired) was unable to blend in Brand (out with injury for the season) and both are gone. Replacement Coach Tony DiLeo took awhile, but the team has taken off again, playing its signature fast breaking style that was so successful last season.

What hasn’t been fixed is the problem that Brand was signed for. The Sixers are a poor halfcourt team with weak outside shooting and that hurts them in the playoffs. At least now, the playoffs are back in the picture.

It’s been a strange road for this franchise since they jettisoned Allen Iverson, and Chris Webber. But it has been interesting to say the least. Maurice Cheeks directed a post Iverson resurgence, led by Andre Iguodala. That resurgence stumbled when Cheeks was unable to incorporate highly sought free agent Elton Brand. Many thought he was fired too soon. But give interim coach DiLeo some credit. While the original playoff problems remain, he has the team playing well again.

Iguodala hasn’t proved he can be go-to guy in playoff pressure. At least now, the team is together for another year and he has a few more options to help him out.

The Suns drafted Robin Lopez, instead of Marreese Speights at No. 15, and the 76ers took Speights at No. 16. While Lopez may someday be a good player. Speights is making his presence known now.

The Shaq-adelic Experiment in Phoenix has been a bad fit. As expected by many, the plodding O’Neal doesn’t fit with the rest of a high octane D’Antoni team. A further attempt to re-structure the team by trade, sending unhappy Raja Bell and underused Boris Diaw to the Bobcats for Jason Richardson hasn’t helped.

Kerr-rageous or Kerr-razy trade?

Correct or Kerr-wrecked? It seemed a bad idea from the beginning, but I was willing to give it a chance. Hey, maybe they knew something I didn’t. Shaq’s All Star year and illusionary renaissance notwithstanding, (he is not very good defensively anymore), GM Steve Kerr says he takes full responsibility and he should. It was Steve’s decision that Kerr-tailed this team. (OK. I’ll stop now.)

The Suns still have the league’s thirdbest offense (104.9 pts) and the best shooting percentage (49.6) in the league, due partly to Shaq’s .585 shooting, but they have the sixth worst defense (103.2 pts) and are currently in the eighth playoff slot with a 28-22 (.560) record.

They won’t finish as well as last season 55-27 (.671) last year. Ironies of ironies, if they hold off Utah and stay at the eighth spot, it will be an emotionally charged playoff series against the Lakers and Kobe Bryant for the Big Aristotle.

Shaq’s performance on the second nights of back-to-back games has been so sloth-like, that Coach Terry Porter was keeping him out of those games completely for a while. Last night’s game against one the league best running teams showed why. The game was over early as they blew by Shaq and the Suns. O’Neal played only 21 minutes with 10 rebounds and seven points

Porter was given was a difficult assignment to blend an aging Shaq with the team he had inherited. The team is doing some soul searching, and is now openly entertaining trade possibilities for their prized possession, young stud Amar’e Stoudemire. The Suns appear to want to reduce costs and want expiring contracts, young players and/or draft picks for Amar’e.

I’d guess it is Shaq they would rather move, but who would take him at $20 mil. for this year and next? He can only play in a halfcourt offense. The idea was that all he had to do was rebound to get the break going.

Halfway Pregnant

Now the team is trying to rebound from that move and is stuck halfway between two worlds. The Suns are halfway pregnant. The future direction of the franchise is a bit unclear at the moment and will remain so, as long as Shaq remains. Any short term changes should consider emphasizing the league’s iconic big man’s remaining strengths. Shaq would most likely revolt at reduced minutes. But you can count him gone after next year.

Blowout No. 2

Could the Charlotte Bobcats actually make the playoffs this year?

The Brown Bobcats

Charlotte Bobcats (20-31) pummeled the Los Angeles Clippers (12-40) by 94-73 last night behind a newly constructed Larry Brown team with a more balanced scoring attack (five players in double figures, led by Emeka Okafor with 19 points). They play solid defense and are already a pesky team. They are only 3.5 games behind New Jersey and Milwaukee as we speak.

I think that may be expecting too much this season, but for the first time, they are finally getting something out of the talent that is here. These Bobcats are definitely Brown in color. With Larry doing the teaching, Raymond Felton is playing better ball and Brown’s personal draft selection D.J. Augustin has a bright future.

The rumor is that the Bobcats were all set to take center Brook Lopez, until guard centric Brown stepped in. Okafor could use the help. That one looks like a good debate for years to come.

Michael Jordan apparently picks coaches better than he does draft picks. (Remember Kwame Brown?) He sent Adam Morrison to the Lakers for Vladimir Radmanovic, who scored 13 points in his Bobcat debut.

The Clippers are finally getting healthy with Marcus Camby, Baron Davis, and Zach Randolph all back. This team has an excellent talent base, but Davis is the key and he is a difficult player to handle. He didn’t get along with Paul Silas, Mike Montgomery, Byron Scott, and now Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy and he have a tenuous working relationship. Davis simply takes too many ill-advised shots and doesn’t show enough court discipline with this team.

Blowout No. 3

The Milwaukee Bucks Dismantle the Houston Rockets: 124-112

It was not that close. The Rockets made up 10 points in a meaningless fourth quarter. It looks like all the preseason worries about these Rockets are coming true. Artest can’t shut up. The three stars can’t stay healthy.

Locker room bickering is starting to affect the team’s play.

Once a solid defensive team, they gave up an insane 124 points to a Buck team without Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut, and Luke Ridnour.

From the Bucks’ point of view, you have to like what Scott Skiles has been able to do with this team. Richard Jefferson had 25 points and is matched by Charlie Villanueva, who proves he can fill it up big time since becoming a starter. Ramon Sessions led with 26 points (44 the other night) and is a natural scorer. Charlie Bell adds 21 off the bench. What’s not to like?

So they learn to play defense next year, okay?

Memphis Grizzlies outlast the New Orleans Hornets: 85-80

In the only close contest of the night, but in some ways, the least interesting, the Grizzlies took down the Hornets who played without suspended forward David West, injured guard Chris Paul, and injured center Tyson Chandler. That they almost won is a testament to the team.

Or maybe it says something about how far the Memphis team still needs to go. They were without Rudy Gay as well.

All Eyes on Mike Conley

Since Lionel Hollins has taken over the Memphis team, he is attempting to move to a more balanced scoring attack. He is also giving Mike Conley room and minutes to grow. The experiment is still early, but there are finally signs of improvement from Greg Oden’s college point guard friend. Fantasy players can safely add Mike to their team.

Can he direct an NBA team? We will know more about that in April. Signs are encouraging. The Grizz have won four of their last five after a 12-game losing streak. Conley is averaging 6.7 assists over his last seven games and now the team is winning.

The Hornets have disappointed a bit this year. They are the worst rebounding team in the league (38.4 per game) and they have to get healthy. They are 14-14 without Chris Paul.

That is it for this week. Same time, same channel next week.

NBA Game of the Night: Spurs Outlast Warriors in OT

Thomas Halzack — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:04:51 -0500

While everyone is singing the praises of Kobe's 61-point, ZERO-rebound, three-assist performance to set a Madison Square Garden record, I'd rather talk about two teams that played a great game with a number of excellent performances.

Spurs Fight Back, Take Feisty Warriors in OT: 110-105

Clearly the game of the night, unless you prefer individual performances. The Spurs (33-14) are quietly putting together their best run of the season. They have won four straight, are 8-2 over the last 10, and are on an 18-4 run.

I was going to go to my east coast bed, but this game was just too good to turn off.

Warriors and Spurs in a great game? You bet.

Great performances all around and Oracle Arena was rocking as the Warriors (15-34) were close to beating the Spurs three straight times in their own building. They had them down twelve in the fourth quarter. If Monta Ellis didn’t leave with a sprained ankle, they might have held on.

I’ve never seen Ronny Turiaf play so well. His individual defense on Duncan was outstanding, generating four blocks (two on Duncan), two steals, seven points, and seven rebounds in 22 minutes.

Stephen Jackson had a season-high 33 points and got the Warriors the lead in the third period with 16 of his points. Monta Ellis has 17 points and was making big shots and looked ready to lead Golden State to a W, until he got injured in the fourth quarter.

In the end, the Greg Popovich Spurs did what they do—absorb your best shot, and slowly take over the game.

They stopped giving Jackson open looks, with Kurt Thomas and Tim Duncan clamping down on D and grabbing all the rebounds. Manu Ginobili took over the period with 17 points of his own.

Finishing with a season high of 32, Manu was assaulting the basket, generating 2 three-point plays among four driving layups that got the Spurs back in, and a number of huge foul shots, including 4-4 in the final seconds of regulation.

Jackson Complains

After Ginobili got the foul called on a drive in the final seconds and made the foul shots to tie the game, Stephen Jackson’s leaning jumper missed at the buzzer, and he complained about contact on his elbow. Later he complained that he isn’t esteemed high enough to get that call.

I agree.

Refs aren’t going to let Stephen Jackson win the game on incidental contact. That is all it was, incidental.

The Spurs are perfect in overtime games this year, and showed why in this game, outscoring Golden State 15-10 to pull a win from defeat.

Tim Duncan scored 17 in the first quarter, before the Warriors put Turiaf on the case. But Tim finished 32 including the first five points in overtime before fouling out. Tony Parker completed the three pronged Spurs assault with 23 points.

For most of the game, I was wondering how far the Spurs have fallen. They were down 12 in the third and Stephen Jackson was getting far too open, scoring 16 points in the period.

After going up twelve at 64-52 and maintaining it at 89-77 with a C.J. Watson jumper at 8:39, the Warriors went six minutes without scoring. The Spurs clamped down and regained the lead after three, 79-75.

But the Warriors weren’t done; as they regained a 12-point lead in the fourth behind Monta Ellis’s shooting.

Don Nelson—Psychologist or Psychiatrist

Say whatever you want about Don Nelson. He is a master at getting the most out of some the league’s most cantankerous personalities.

After embracing and getting Baron Davis to turn the Warriors into something from nothing, he is attempting to repeat the performance with league bad boy Stephen Jackson. To be sure, Jackson is no Baron Davis, but Baron Davis isn’t always Baron either.

Any team that would have Stephen Jackson as its leader might seem doomed. Yet the Warriors are 5-6 recently and have beaten New Orleans and Atlanta, while losing to the powerhouse Cavaliers by one. Unfortunately they also lost to OKC by one the night before, and lost to the lowly Kings shortly before that.

Whatever the rumors about Don Nelson and Chris Mullin are, his teams are trying to win games. Yet, you don’t push on the "Don", as 6’10" rookie Anthony Randolph is finding out.

Don't push on the "Don"

Don Nelson casts a big shadow and is clear about who decides how minutes are used. Remember Al Harrington?

After firing B.J. Armstrong as his agent because Randolph’s handlers feel he deserves more time than what he is getting from Don Nelson, Randolph is looking to find someone who will put a full court press on Nelson and the Warriors for more playing time. Nelson’s response? A Did Not Play-Coach’s Decision in this game for Randolph.

Notoriously tough on rookies, don’t step on the Dapper Don’s toes. We will see how this one turns out.

The San Antonio Outlook

San Antonio is a definite long-shot as a title contender, but they have a proven system with defined role players. And it always amazes me how Popovich finds people who fit well and prosper.

Roger Mason is a highly touted success story, but the Matt Bonner/Kurt Thomas platoon is a surprisingly good fit. Bonner for offense and spacing, Thomas for rebounds and defense. Veteran Michael Finley can still rise to the occasion, and rookie George Hill has surprised.

Yet, I can’t help thinking that they are a player away from regaining the crown, though Popovich keeps this unit performing at a high level. If Manu, Tony, and Tim are healthy come playoff time, don’t be surprised if they get to the Western Finals.

A trip the NBA Finals might be just a little too much to ask. They lost soundly to the Lakers in LA (99-85). But the loss of Bynum makes the Lakers more beatable. San Antonio’s chances just got better. Their games with the Lakers are wars and they beat LA in San Antonio by one. That still counts as a win. I looked it up.

We will have to see how each team is performing come playoff time. But don't expect the Spurs to lay down for anyone.

Heat Continue To Rise, Lawrence Frank Benches Nets Stars Again, Wolves Stay Hot

Thomas Halzack — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:46:04 -0500

Who wants to be a coach? These guys do. Spoelstra, Skiles, Adelman, Frank, Porter, McHale, DiLeo, Brooks are having varying success with their teams. Let's see how well they are doing.

Miami Heat (24-19) Take Down Atlanta Hawks (26-18): 95-79

The Hawks experienced a first half beat down that was the worst in Hawk history. In a 15 turnover first half, the Hawks scored just 27 points – a new all time low. Even the Antoine Walker 13 win team of 2004-5 didn’t do that.

The surprise is that they got up off the canvas and closed to within 7 at 64-57, before the Heat took off on an 8-2 run that included a Dwyane Wade block of Josh Smith in the lane to pull away for good.

Both these teams are ahead of pre-season predictions, including mine. The Hawks are intriguing to watch while the Erik Spoelstra coached Heat continue to surprise. Kudos to Erik with a what appears to be a fine coaching job in his first gig as head coach.

Dwyane Wade’s play is catapulting this team forward. That and a surprisingly cohesive team defense. The Hawks continue to grow from last year’s effort, while having mediocre success winning without key players.

Without center Al Horford for the last nine games, they haven’t been able to beat a team over .500. But they are beating all of them under .500. Unheralded 6’ 10" Solomon Jones is 12 of 15 shooting over the last 4 games in limited minutes.

Atlanta is holding onto the lucky 4^th seed in the east, which means they would avoid Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando in the first round.

Former Celtic malcontent center Mark Blount made a rare appearance for Miami. Maybe they are showcasing him for Boston. I hear Danny needs a big man.

If the Celtics added Blount, Antoine Walker and Stephon Marbury, could Doc Rivers could sue Danny Ainge for mental cruelty?

Would it come under President Obama's new stricter definition of torture?

Minnesota Timberwolves (16-27) Step On Redd-less Milwaukee Bucks (22-26)

With these two teams, it is about the coaching.

Now a league best 10-2 in 2009, the lowly Timberwolves won’t have the top teams shaking in their boots, but they are playing pretty good ball. We all point to the weak record of their opponents, but they are 2-2 against teams over .500 in that stretch. The ball is moving in the offense, and players are looking for each other. Kevin McHale, the reluctant head coach, is doing well enough to be re-hired if this keeps up. That is not something he really wants. The ironies of life.

Intense, scrappy Bucks Coach Scott Skiles would hear of no excuse making, though they were without Andrew Bogut and now, scoring leader Michael Redd for the season. After being down by 15 points in the 4^th, they closed to within 5 (81-76) on a 13-3 spurt, before Al Jefferson righted the ship for Minny. Ryan Gomes made a big three pointer with 1:46 left on a kick out from Jefferson. An area of improvement for Al is reading double teams and seeing the floor better this season. His assist numbers should start to go up.

Taking over a 25-56 team from last season, ‘Spike’ Skiles has the Bucks record up to 22-26. It will be interesting to watch how much he can get out of this unit with Redd out for the rest of the year. Whatever it is, it will be more than most coaches could.

Scott, don’t hit me for calling you ‘Spike’, okay?

Phoenix Suns (25-18) Pick on Washington Wizards (9-35): 103-87

Call him the center of attention. The Suns are a team torn between two playing styles. With Shaq making a case for playing slow down, half court ball, some say the Suns are setting in the west. Is Amare Stoudamire ungrateful for getting the chance to deal from power forward, his natural position? As it was in Dallas, Steve Nash looks far more human and underutilized when the game slows down.

It is Terry Porter’s dilemma. While I was open to seeing how this could work out when Shaq arrived, the question of vastly differing styles was obvious. It is still an Unsolved Mystery.

Shaq bullied up on Andre Blatchely for 29 points, and says he is in his best shape in two years. The Suns went 3-3 on a long road trip. Nash was classic Nash in this game with 15 assists. Amare added 22 points. Leandro Barbosa drained 23 points off the bench

It is the Butler (28 pts.) and Jamison Show (27 pts.) for Washington fans. In fairness, Blatchely is learning to be more consistent and the Wiz were actually up by one point when he was in the game.

The Wizards just can’t wait for this season to end. Caron Butler finally learned how to pass the ball again recently. He had a spell around mid January with two assists total in three games.

Even an Obama stimulus package might not help this team. If he wasn’t busy already, Barack might be able to make this team as a guard.

New York Knickerbockers (19-25) Outwork the Houston Rockets (28-18): 104-98

The Yao Ming-less Rockets (sore right knee) started Luis Scola at center, who provided a double double (16 pts./14 boards). But the Rockets could not keep the Knicks out of the middle where they scored 48 points to Houston’s 34. The Knicks had 14 fast break points to the Rockets’ 5.

Versatile Knick forward Wilson Chandler was demoted from the starting line-up and responded with a solid game. He made a big three pointer with about two minutes left gave the Knicks the lead for good at 97-96. He contributed 18 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists in 28 minutes. Knick reserve guard Nate Robinson has found the range recently and led the Knicks with 19 points. Chris Duhon has proved himself to a credible starting point guard this year and added 12 points and 11 assists.

M.A.S.H. brothers Tracy McGrady and Ron Artest both played, but not very well, as they shot a combined 11 of 39 from the field for 31 points. Coach Rick Adelman has done as well as can be expected with this team considering the ever present injuries to his three stars. Visions of competing for a championship seem remote at this time.

New Orleans Hornets (27-14) Drub Philadelphia 76ers (21-22): 101-86

Sixer coach Tony Dileo's dilemma is the same as the Suns' Terry Porter's.

Even without David West and Tyson Chandler, the Hornets had enough to take down the visiting Sixers. Philly has Elton Brand back and are trying to figure out how to incorporate him into its offense. It is a similar problem to the Suns. Half court big man on a running team. What is a coach to do? Many, including myself, thought this would be a good fit. Time will tell.

The league’s best point guard, Chris Paul, had a triple double while three Hornet starters (Butler, Armstrong, Stojakovic) had zero assists. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that before.

Philadelphia was led by Thaddeus Young with 22 points, and Andre Miller with 19.

Oklahoma City (10-35) Beats Slumping New Jersey Nets (20-25): 94-85

OKC Coach Scott Brooks is getting results. Net Coach Larry Frank is not, and is right.

The Nets have lost 7 of 9, and once again the team’s two main players didn’t bring it. Coach Larry Frank has been highly criticized by some for his benching of Vince Carter and Devin Harris for the entire second half in a putrid showing against the Celtics on January 15. This time they made it through 3 quarters.

It was déjà vu all over again, as Harris and Carter brought little, shot 6 of 29 and finished on the pine. The Nets bench players made a 4^th quarter run to close an unforgivable 30 point deficit to a 9 win team to seven points in the final minute. The Nets role players caused the Thunder to put Kevin Durant back on the floor with a 31-12 pounding in the last period.

I don’t know what is wrong in the swampland, but if it’s a Vince Carter let down, many expected that from the start. He has been quite the team leader for much of the season from what I read. Closer evaluation required.

Nenad Krystic has keyed the Thunder’s turnaround. They are a remarkable 7-6 since the deft shooting 7’ Yugoslavian center joined the team.

Second year star-in-the-making Kevin Durant led a balanced Thunder attack with 18 points, while rookie 7’ center Brook Lopez led the Nets with 18 points.

This article appeared on Foxsports.com.

Lakers Rock Cleveland's World; Celtics Crush Suns

Thomas Halzack — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:11:36 -0500

NBA basketball hits the midway point to its season. That means report cards are due.

Here are some quick notes and the grades of many teams so far:

Lakers (32-8) outplay Cleveland (31-8): 105-88

After losing two straight games, including one against the Orlando Magic, the Lakers beat the other top team from the East, the Cavaliers, giving L.A. a 2-1 record against the East’s top three teams this season.

Since stopping the Celtics’ 19-game winning streak on Christmas Day, the Lakers are 8-3. This is only the second time they have held a team under 100 points in that stretch.

Consequently, this is the third time that the tough defending Cavs have allowed over 100 points in the same period—all losses. They are 6-4 since Christmas Day.

Mid Term Report Cards: Lakers A- , Cavaliers A

Boston (34-9) destroys Phoenix: 104-87

The slump is officially over. Going up by 30 points at halftime, the Kendrick Perkins-less Celtics coasted to victory over a stunned Suns team. The Celtics have won five straight games, the last three as blowouts.

In a weighty matchup of Shaq and Glen “Big Baby” Davis, the LSU connection favored the Celtics as Glen Davis stepped up “big” when the Celtics needed him to. Davis finished with nine points and nine rebounds, but it was his defense on Shaq that was stellar.

Rajon Rondo has been terrific. He has now outplayed Steve Nash and Devin Harris in three consecutive games.

The Suns have lost three of four and Nash misses the run-and-gun Suns. As I predicted in preseason, they play two different ways with and without Shaq on the floor.

Mid Terms: Boston A- , Phoenix B (A team with an identity crisis. But I never expected them to play better than this anyway.)

Houston (26-16) outlasts Denver (27-15): 115-113

It was not a defensive gem for two teams that pride themselves on defense. Kenyon Martin tried to miss his second foul shot, after missing the first of a two shot foul. But Yao Ming corralled the rebound, ending the game. Ming finished with 31 points on 13-19 shooting, as they won without Ron Artest and Tracy McGrady.

Denver almost pulled out a closely contested game, as J.R. Smith, K-Mart, and Nene all scored over 20 points.

Mid Terms: Houston B (Adelman gets an A for keeping the Band Aid Rockets playing at a high level)

Denver A (Since the Chauncey Billups acquisition, this team is playing about as well as can be expected. Few even predicted this success.)

San Antonio (27-13) blocks Charlotte (16-25): 86-84

Maybe this is why Larry Brown wants to trade Felton. In the final seconds, Raymond drove the lane and got his shot blocked by Tim Duncan, instead of drawing Duncan and passing the ball to Emeka Okafor at the hoop, which Duncan had left to challenge Felton. There was plenty of time left on the clock to do it.

After getting his shot blocked at the other end just seconds before, Duncan saved the win with that play. The scrappy Charlotte Bobcats are 5-3 in their last eight games after this tough loss. They are doing it with defense. Larry Brown’s club averaged giving up just 92.4 points in those five wins.

After beating the Lakers 112-111, then dropping an embarrassing game to the 76ers (109-87), the Spurs are back to playing tough defense.

Mid Terms: San Antonio B (No Manu for a while hurt)

Charlotte C (Larry finally has this team playing up to capabilities)

New Orleans (25-13) squeaks by Indiana (15-26): 103-100

After Danny Granger made a huge three-point shot to tie, Chris Paul drained a fadeaway three at the buzzer to beat the Pacers. Granger led both teams with 30 points while Paul finished with 27.

The Pacers seem to get up for the league’s best teams. They have beaten Boston, Detroit, Phoenix Atlanta, Houston, and the Lakers. They have also lost a number of close games.

The Hornets lost Tyson Chandler to injury during the game and played without David West. Peja Stojakovic chipped in 26 points including 5-9 from the arc.

Mid Terms: New Orleans C+ (They can do better, but this is pretty good.)

Indiana B+ (I couldn’t expect much more than this.)

There were lots of other great games, but these are the top teams of the league.

A special More Love Koming note to honor MLK Day:

The McHale-led Timberwolves beat the L.A. Clippers by 94-86 and are 7–1 over their last eight games. They have won 8-10. While the Suns are the only team over .500 that they beat, it is still good progress for a team that was lifeless and clueless under Wittman.

Randy Foye has become a fourth quarter go-to guy and Kevin Love has stepped things up by McHale playing to his strengths more. Al Jefferson finally gets some help.

NBA Monday Roundup: Celtics Back on Track; Knicks Slip by Hornets

Thomas Halzack — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:52:08 -0500

NBA Monday Night Round Up 1.12.09

Welcome to a career high Okur-rence, two overtimes, and a few Oh mans.

Mr. Boston Beats Canadian club

Boston (31-9) Has More Truth Than Toronto (16-23) Can Handle: 115-109 in OT

‘Mr. Boston’ Paul Pierce connected for 39 points (nine in overtime) to down the Toronto Raptors in a tightly contested game. Paul was 13-26, with nine rebounds, and four assists—all while playing with a very sore leg.

Both teams drained shot after shot. And they wouldn’t stop at normal closing time. After Paul Pierce made one of two free throws, an Andrea Bargnani three-point shot tied it at 93 when the last call was made.

Overtime found both teams over-tired as they did not defend very well.

The TDBanknorth Garden was like The Dew Drop Inn, the way they were hitting shots.

Both teams finished over 40 percent from the three-point line and near 50 percent (48 percent) for the game. Both teams scored in triple digits, though it took two final calls for both teams to get there.

What’s a Roko Ukic?

He is the Raptors 6' 5" twenty-four-year old point guard from Croatia. He scored 16 points, including nine-straight Toronto points in the last two and a half minutes of overtime to nearly ruin the Celtics strong finish.

Rajon Rondo might want to find out. He was supposed to be guarding Ukic when he drove to the basket three straight times sandwiched around a made three-point shot. Rondo must have been tired or hurt or…tired.

Back-to-back, away-and-home series are rare. But that is what the scheduling gods had the Celtics and Raptors play.

The Celtics headed home to make it a double shot of winning. The Celtics designated drivers scored 52 points in the paint to 30 for the jumpshooting Toronto team.

Boston’s Three Stars—it is Still About Them

Ray Allen’s 36 points led Boston on Sunday. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce keyed the win in Boston on Monday night.

In addition to scoring 20 points with 12 rebounds, Garnett was the Celtics’ defense. He played Raptors’ leading scorer Chris Bosh very tough, including a block on Bosh with the Raptors down two and trying to tie with four minutes left. He had an even bigger block on Joey Graham with Toronto down two (88-90) with 48 seconds left in regulation.

Pierce stepped up with a very sore leg to drop 39 points (Celtics’ season-high) in a game where a pesky Raptors’ team that would not quit. Paul was 3-8 from three-point land. He did have five turnovers, but made 10-11 foul shots, including some high-pressure ones.

With Kendrick Perkins and Jermaine O’Neal both injured, both teams were without their starting centers. The Celtics started 6’9" Brian Scalabrine as they did two days ago, while 7’0” Andre Bargnani has been starting for Jermaine O’Neal for about two weeks. Scalabrine scored 11 points, while Bargnani led Toronto with 23 points.

Jose Calderon, the Raptors’ starting point guard, was also kept out of this game with an injury. 6’1" Will Solomon started in his place, scoring 11 points with five assists.

Though they trailed for three quarters, the Celtics finished strong enough to win two in row for the first time since their winning streak ended on Christmas Day. Even without Perkins, they looked pretty good, though their defense seemed to disappear in overtime.

Jamario Moon plays an effective, disruptive defense most of the time. If he can start to hit shots more consistently he will become a staple in this league.

Big Minutes

The Celtics need to rebuild their winning ways, so Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo all played about 40 minutes or more in this one. The Celtics’ bench is still unsteady.

Danny Ainge is expected to make a deal (trade or free-agent signing) for roster help within the next month. The word from Doc Rivers is that something other than a traditional trade is more likely. No one wants their bench players, he said. Doc most wants a legitimate center to back up Perkins.

The Celtics brought back Bill Walker and J.R. Giddens from the D-league. I’m hoping that 6’6" Walker will get a chance to play with Gabe Pruitt and Eddie House on the second unit, while Tony Allen recovers from his sprained ankle. He was among the D-league stars while he was there. The Celtics need more from their bench for the long regular season. Stay tuned.

Utah’s (23-15) Devastating Okur-rence Beats Indiana (13-25): 120-113

One team’s disappointment or flawed player is another team’s core player. Jerry Sloan has solidified a perennial playoff team with a few vaguely wanted players. Gordon Giricek was one. He was traded for another named Kyle Korver that has also done well in Utah. Matt Harpring seemed like the guy with acne at the teen dance who was running out of dates, after being passed around three teams in his first four years. He came to Utah and had a solid career.

Mehmet Okur was showing flashes of what he could do at Detroit with Larry “I-don’t-like-Euro-style-players-and-Rookies” Brown. But he was moved around from starter to bench to starter to whatever. Brown wanted to change him into a post player, if I recall correctly.

I just watched him drain jumpshots on the heads of the defenseless Indiana Pacers for 43 points, his career high. Three for four from the three-point line, Okur finished 13-19 from the floor, but more amazing, was 14-15 from the foul line. He was unstoppable. It was something to see, unless you were Jim O’Brien.

Mehmet Okur scored 43 points. Not impressed you say? Look who he did it against, right? Then how about this—he did it in 28 minutes, and grabbed nine rebounds and managed to pass for three assists along the way. I wonder if Larry Brown wants him back. I heard he is looking for a center for Charlotte.

Ever think that a Jim O’Brien team would be second to last in defense? (Andy Rooney voice) Me neither. Either the talent is really that bad, (probably), or they have started to tune Jim out, (improbably). I opt for the first option. One more thing—did you expect to hear that Danny Granger is fourth in the league in scoring this season? Me neither. The technical term for him is…‘really good.’ Now, if they can get some better players around him.

New Jersey (19-19) Outlasts Oklahoma City (6-33): 103-99 OT

The night’s second overtime game puts the Nets even at .500 …again.

Brook Lopez gave the best answer why the Nets didn’t match the Thunder’s offer for former Net Nenad Krstic. He scored 31 points for his very young career-high, grabbed 13 rebounds, and blocked two shots. (Lopez is among the league leaders in blocks). Lopez will only get better and brings a true big man presence, something Krstic could not.

But if Krstic can take the losing, he should be able to flourish in OKC.

After losing 9-12 games, the Nets have won their last 4-6, but almost didn’t.

Oops!

Coach Frank almost lost the game for the Nets by running on the court and calling a timeout as Vince Carter sank a jump shot that would have won the game in regulation. The shot went in, but was called off because of Frank’s timeout. Coach Frank apologized to his players in the timeout and asked them to go out and get the game back in overtime. Luckily they did that, starting the OT with a 7-0 run. Whew.

New York (14-22) Out Passes New Orleans (22-12): 101-95

The chameleon Knicks are at it again. Can you figure them out?

Remember when they beat the Celtics…by playing incredible team defense?

They beat another top team. This time they decided they should be a passing team. Not one or two passes. Not three, four, five, six, or seven passes, but 30 assists on 39 baskets. You can’t make this up.

The Hornets were stunned.

After beating the Celtics with defense they will never play again this season (unless they play the Celtics) they lost to the Thunder, Mavericks, and Rockets.

The last road game before going home in New Orleans when you’re 5–14 on the road and the Hornets are 12-4 at home, should mean an easy win for the Hornets. Of course not, Quigley. So it looks like one in every four games, this Knick team will play hard and smart enough to beat anyone. I guess that’s improvement.

What is next? D’Antoni’s Knicks play slow down, deliberate basketball and beat the Spurs?

Seriously, I think D’Antoni is doing some serious motivation experimentation in the Knicks’ heads. He must be writing a book. That’s it. He’s writing a book. The Puppet Master.

Really seriously, Coach D’Antoni has just gone up two levels to the fascinating category with me. He obviously sees that the quick three-point offense won’t get it done with this roster. So he goes back to the lab and shoots some bolts of electricity into the team that changes their brain patterns.

Players start to grunt "Uhmmm, passing… good. Yeessss, me pass now."

D’Antoni wrings his hands while muttering, "Muahaha."

"Okay men. Let’s go play New Orleans."

(If this gets printed, I guess I’ll never get a press pass to the Knicks locker room.)

Milwaukee (19-21) Overtakes Washington (7-30): 97-91

For the twelfth time this season, the Wizards blew a lead in the 4^th quarter. Before the year started, after looking at the stats for last season, I asked what was holding this team up. Their perimeter defense was terrible. They weren’t a good rebounding team. They didn’t do anything exceptionally well. But I thought "Hey. They must be doing something right."

The preseason and early season games showed that something was awry. There was literally no passing and very little energy in the players.

But I never expected this collapse. With Haywood, Arenas, and Stevenson injured, they should be bad. But this bad?

I know one thing. Caron Butler played 37 minutes and had no assists. Even if you’re hurt, you can pass the ball. Even if some shots are missed (Mike James 2-12), Nick Young made 12-19 shots for 30 points, a career high. Pass the ball to him. He’s got that herky-jerky kind of thing going on. But it seems like it works. Now if he will just rebound a little (none in 31 minutes). One guy has no assists in 30-plus minutes. One guy has no rebounds in 30-plus minutes. There is something wrong here.

On the other hand, Michael Redd had 29 points to lead the Bucks. This Scott Skiles team (300^thwin tonight) is doing as well as they can and better than I thought they would. Luke Ridnour has been fairly steady and taken control of the point guard spot. He’s got a talented understudy in D-league poster boy, Ramon (pronounced Ra-mahn) Sessions, watching and learning.

Skiles has his new team two games ahead of his old team (Chicago) in the division at the moment.

Portland (23-14) Over Chicago (16-22): 109-95

Speak of the Bulls….

Drew Gooden is back as well as Luol Deng, and Kirk Hinrich is playing for the first time all season. One of the Bulls’ problems is defense (102.9 points allowed) and they give up the second most (Warriors are first) offensive rebounds in the league. Bulls have lost 5-7 including an overtime loss to the Thunder recently.

Talent is there, but Vinny Del Negro has to figure out who is in and who is out. Rumors have them trying to trade Larry Hughes. Surprise.

With Derrick Rose entrenched at PG, will Hinrich be a useful off guard? Luol Deng hasn’t really gotten comfortable in this new season with the new point guard. Ben Gordon has been very consistent offensively as the starting two guard. What happens now with captain Kirk back?

They are still trying to figure things out. Tyrus Thomas has been more productive this season, as well. Too bad they can’t convince him to be a low post player.

Portland is the best offensive rebounding teams in the league (13 per game).

Portland prevails for its third straight win as bench player Outlaw scores 33 points (three less than his career high) with 4-5 from the arc, grabs seven boards, and blocks three shots for good measure.

Greg Oden has a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Steve Blake continues to be solid if not spectacular with 10 assists, 16 points, 3 three-pointers, and three steals. He is shooting a career best 43 percent from the arc this season.

Portland (and Olympic) Coach Jim McMillian were given credit by LeBron James recently for helping him be a better defensive player from the time with the Olympic team. I wonder how that makes Cavs coach Mike Brown feel? I thought that a bit odd.

That is everything for Monday. P.J. Brown…please call the Celtics.

NBA Monday Roundup: Spurs, Heat Getting by with Stingy Defense

Thomas Halzack — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:06:19 -0500

NBA Monday Round Up

San Antonio (23-11) Survive the Miami Heat (18-15): 91-84

Coaching Outrageously.

The rebuilding Miami Heat gave the Spurs everything they could handle. With the Spurs leading by just 84-81 with 1:33 left, Manu Ginobili made a game-changing block on a leaping Dwyane Wade drive to rim. Roger Mason then converted at the other end to seal the win

In a game far more competitive than it ought to have been, the rebuilding Heat stayed with the Spurs the entire game. Wade finished with 24 points and 12 assists, and four steals, one game after blocking four shots, including 7’0” Raul Lopez of the Nets.... twice.

Ever reliable Tim Duncan led a balanced Spurs’ attack with 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, while rookie George Hill added 15 points, including 3-3 from downtown, and Center Matt Bonner added 11 more, including 3-4 from the arc.

San Antonio started strong, holding the Heat to 15 first quarter points. But by fighting off repeated Heat surges, the Spurs could never really pull away, right until the very end of course.

Stat of the Night

The Miami Heat’s defensive efficiency (the number of points allowed per 100 possessions) is almost identical to the Spurs at 102.2 to 101.8.

That is incredible. The Spurs are considered one of the top defenses annually in the NBA, while the Heat have been a work in progress, incorporating two rookies, especially regarding point guard, center, and their weak bench.

Coaching Outrageously.

Erik who? Until this season, Miami Heat rookie head coach Erik Spoelstra was just Jon Spoelstra’s son, the author of Marketing Outrageously, (a book I read some years ago). Now forward to be known as "Erik’s father," Jon is a top sports marketing expert, and former president of the New Jersey Nets, with executive stops with the Portland Trailblazers, and Denver Nuggets.

It has been open season on NBA head coaches this year and it wouldn’t have surprised me if untried rookie Heat coach Erik Spoelstra wasn’t up to the task. The former Heat Asst. Coach/Director of Scouting inherited a team that hit rock bottom at 15-67, worst in the NBA.

With Dwyane Wade back from injury, and Wade’s endorsement of the rookie coach, he had a good base to begin from. Sensitive, unadjusted forward Shawn Marion, untried rookie Michael Beasley, and veteran holdover forward Udonis Haslem constituted the basic core. A talented core with little experience together, center and point guard were up in the air.

2nd round rookie Mario Chalmers has won the point guard position, with undrafted 2nd year man Joel Anthony earning time at center, Udonis Haslem recently moved back to power forward, and the Heat are 6-3 over their last nine games, including a win over the Lakers.

Erik’s challenge was to put a new team together to get back to the playoffs. At 18-15, the Heat are surpassing my expectations.

Father Jon Spoelstra wrote another book titled; Success is Just One Wish Away. While tonight success was one swish away, it looks like Erik is getting his wish for success for this season.

If this keeps up, the Heat will make the playoffs. They are currently 6th in the east. Outrageous indeed.

Denver (24-12) Destroys Indiana (12-22): 135-115

After calling out the Nuggets exactly one week ago for having no heart, after seeing zero pulse against Atlanta—they responded with a “players only” meeting and a four-game winning streak. So there’s mud in my eye for you.

I’ve said for too many years that there is enough talent on the Nuggets to be true contenders. I’d given up on them. The perennially disillusioning Denver Caramel Nuggets swore this season would be different. We’ll see.

The poor performance in Atlanta was more typical than not of their recent history (see last season’s playoffs). Since “The Arrival” (of Billups), they have become a team with more character than characters (Chris ‘Bird Man’ Andersen, Kenyon Martin, and J. R. Smith notwithstanding).

They are now 6-1 and 23-9 since they ejected Iverson and filled up with Billups. Will it last?

They blew a 20-point first half lead, and then blew the Pacers out in the 4th quarter, 38-23, as Kenyon Martin led the Nuggets with 25 points and Billups added 24 and 11 assists. Carmelo Anthony played with heart and a broken hand, adding 21 points and nine assists.

Thanks to Denver’s Nene Hilario, Kenyon and Carmelo (24-33 combined), Denver shot a highly efficient .581 percent on 50-86 shooting. Denver’s bench is one of the more productive in the league with a plus/minus of +104 (6th) and 32.7 points (8th) per game.

The Pacers were paced by hard working Danny Granger with 36 points and Troy Murphy with a double-double of 15 points and 12 boards. They played without T.J. Ford, Mike Dunleavy, and lost Marquis Daniels after one quarter.

The bad attitudes and bad behavior are gone. The hard working players are here. The wins are not. Talent still matters.

(17-19) Milwaukee Closes Out (14-21) Toronto: 107-97

The Andrew Bogut-less Bucks outplayed the Raptors, who were without point guard Jose Calderon and center Jermaine O’Neal. It’s hard to believe, but the East is back down to having teams under .500 qualify for the playoffs. That offseason optimism didn’t last long, did it?

The reason? Toronto and Philly have had extremely disappointing seasons after making big acquisitions. Both of these sub .500 teams are still in the hunt for a playoff spot.

At least Scott Skiles has the Bucks moving in the right direction. A “defense first” coach, the Bucks are 6-4 lately, and 5th in the league in defensive efficiency at 100.9. Their bench is the 5th most productive point-wise (34.1 per game). I never would have thought it with this roster.

The highly paid ($21.4 mil), oft-injured Jermaine O’Neal (knee) has been a bust so far for the defenseless Raptors.

Michael Redd took game honors with 35 points while Chris Bosh provided 31 for the Raptors, while shooting 12-14 from the floor. Sam Mitchell must be smiling somewhere. Bosh must be thinking about 2010. Colangelo must be wondering if there are any good Euro centers out there.

New Jersey (17-18) Rebounds Against Beleaguered Sacramento (8-27): 98-90

The Nets are another team that continue to exceed expectations and rebounds after losing to Miami by outrebounding the beaten down Kings 53-38, led by Yi Jianlian with 13 boards while scoring 22 points.

Vince Carter’s 29 points led the Nets. Vince added eight rebounds in the first quarter for his career high, and contributed seven assists while Devin Harris did not play the second half with a sore hip.

Though one of the worst home teams in the league (7-12), the Nets were able to overcome the Sacramento Wonders, as in “wonder what happened to them,” and “wonder where their fans went.”

The Kings’ fall has been a long and hard one. Sacramento’s starters are the second worst in the league (plus/minus). They have the second worst defensive efficiency in the league at 109.9. They have a promising player in Jason Thompson on the bench, and a veteran center, Brad Miller, who they would trade, if they can find a partner.

Sac savior, Kevin Martin scored 36 points off the bench to lead both teams. I don’t know where to begin with this team. Perhaps another sport? Bowling?

Utah (20-15) Outlasts Golden State (10-26): 119-114

As Golden State burns, Don Nelson fiddles with his roster, cutting rookie guard DeMarcus Nelson and bringing in free agent Charlotte castoff forward Jermareo Davidson on a 10-day sightseeing tour of the ruins. Lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf.

This is another sinking ship that is miles from rescue. Rumors are that Don Nelson has lost interest, while Golden State Worrier Chris Mullin has lost power. How could something that was going so right, go so wrong…so quick?

"I’m Just Not That Into Team Play" Corey Maggette is now coming off the bench, and scored 23 points in 30 minutes, while Knick castoff Jamal Crawford led with 28 points and six assists.

Deron Williams leads with 25 points, 15 assists, and Mehmet Okur and Paul Millsap supports with double-doubles. Andris Biedrins does likewise for the Warriors.

If this were the Dating Game, the blind date with Maggette would be over. The Warriors are ready to choose bachelor number two. But who wants Maggette, the 8-Million Dollar Man, with his brand new 5-year contract?

Even host Jim Lange would have a hard time finding a partner with this one. As talented as he is, I’m kind of glad the Celtics didn’t get Maggette now.

Time for a Brylcreem commercial. Cue the music. A little dab’ll do ya. Where is Pat Riley when you really need him?

See you next week. Same time, same station.

NBA Monday Round Up 12.29

Thomas Halzack — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:54:28 -0500

Monday NBA Round Up

This year, more than most, will have teams just working out their roster problems on the court. Some are just giving experience to young lineups. Others are trying to figure where to go from here. And a few have the hope of a true contender. Monday night had all but the very best of the NBA.

(20-10) Atlanta Laps (22-10) Denver: 109-91

A battle of two probable playoff teams made this an interesting matchup. Final Decision: Denver needs a heart transplant.

Joe Johnson continues another strong season with 25 points and seven assists. Mike Bibby went 4-5 from downtown, while adding nine assists. Kenyon Martin led Denver with 19 points.

It is hard to believe that Denver had just seven turnovers all game and led by one with 6:30 left in the third quarter. Showing the heart of a mouse, they caved in following a Hawks' push, and lost by 18. They were without center Nene Hilario. They were not without excuse. Bonafide contenders find ways to make up for missing players.

They must have had a strong pre-game talk about picking up the rebounding slack in Nene’s absence. That makes it surprising that they were out rebounded by 44-27, (team rebounds were in their favor 14-8).

In a rare start, Chris Anderson (3^rd in the league in blocks per game) led Denver with six—count ‘em—six rebounds. No one else had more than four. Playing with a sore wrist, power forward Kenyon Martin had just three boards.

This is one of the reasons the Nuggets have frustrated me for so long. The talent is there. Desire and motivation are not there nearly enough.

After all of the early season hoo-ha about how the Nuggets were going to play defense and show everyone how wrong they were about this team, their recent slide seems to indicate it was more talk than anything. They have allowed 100 plus points in seven of their last eight games and are 3-5 because of it.

Yes, Billups has given this team new life. Why he didn’t post up Bibby more, I’ll never know. They will be better than last year, but not by much. He will give them a more intelligent attack but he can’t play defense for everyone. The Marcus Camby giveaway will haunt them.

On the other hand, the Atlanta Hawks have also surprised everyone. Preseason predictors were unimpressed with their playoff performance against the Celtics. They are defying the predictions and are playing solid ball, winning their 5^thstraight and 7 of 8 in a long home stand. They are now 14-2 at home (4^th best) and improving on their road record with 6-8 this season.

It won’t be enough come play-off time, but at least they play like they care.

(18-11) Detroit Holds Off (24-7) Orlando: 88-82

Despite getting only 14 points in the paint, Detroit stopped Orlando’s 7 game winning streak, beating the league’s best road team (11-4) at the same time.

Rodney Stuckey’s 19 points paced the Pistons' win and his insertion into the starting lineup has proved to be the necessary counterpoint to Iverson’s shoot first, ball dominating style. Known for taking care of the ball, Detroit had an absurdly good three-turnover game. The Pistons are 7-3 in their last ten.

They have problems holding leads with their bench, though Antonio McDyess made sure that wasn’t the case in this game with 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in 24 minutes.

Rashard Lewis led the Magic with 23 points, while Dwight Howard powered an 18 point, 18 rebound game. It seems that Jameer Nelson is a key reason why they are a better team this season. Ending an 11-game run of double-digit scoring for the Magic point guard was less of a disappointment than zero assists from Jameer.

But have no fear, Hedo Turkoglu was there with a game high eight assists. Detroit takes another step forward.

(14-17) Chicago Steps On (15-16) New Jersey: 100-87

It was a match made in heaven. One of the worst road teams (4-14) played one of the worst home teams (5-12).

The Nets continue to defy NBA protocol by losing another home game while going 10-4 on the road. That just doesn’t happen in the NBA. Though the boxscore says 18,786 were in attendance, that is always an inflated figure, and due in part to highly discounted and giveaway seats. They have always had trouble drawing fans to the IZOD arena. Perhaps that is a reason for the poor home record.

That’s too bad, because they have some nice young players assembling in a rebuilding year, led by veteran shooting guard Vince Carter who led the scoring with 31 points, and point guard Devin Harris with 26 points.

Tonight that was it for scoring, as no one else made double digits.

The Bulls were led by Ben Gordon with 24 points and rookie phenom Derrick Rose with 21 points and 13 assists. Ben was 4^th in the league (72) in three-pointers before making five more in this contest.

Another anomaly, the Bulls are the only team in the NBA whose bench has a positive plus/minus (+100) while their starters (-535) do not, according to 82games.com.

True to form, the Bulls bench scored 44 points, led by Andres Nocioni and Larry Hughes with 17 points each.

Luol Deng and Drew Gooden were out with injuries and the Bulls won’t take a step forward until they are both incorporated more into the offense.

Larry Hughes continues to complain about needing more minutes to be effective, but played a solid game with seven rebounds and five assists to go with his 17 points in 31 minutes.

(17-10) Phoenix Beats (3-29) Oklahoma City: 110-102

Despite the record, OKC has a few solid young players on the roster in Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, and Russell Westbrook. Their own inexperience and totally unremarkable support are going to make this year a long one and there is little they can do about it.

Durant you know, Green is solid if unspectacular, but Westbrook shows signs of eye-opening play with his quickness. He just has to reduce the turnovers as he goes forward.

Adding center Nenad Krstic will help, if New Jersey doesn’t counter, but it’s not going to turn things around.

Joe Smith will have interest with most contending teams and a few non-contending teams whether he is bought out or traded, to make room for Krstic. A buy out is expected to send him back to Cleveland, which will definitely up the ante for the Celtics to get past them this year.

With Steve Nash out with back spasms, 35-year-old Shaq became the point center, scoring 28 points himself, with 12 rebounds, three blocks, and dishing off for two assists.

(6-24) Minnesota Surprises (10-21) Memphis: 108-98

Memphis ties Sacramento for second worst road team at 2-13, by losing to Minnesota in overtime for just it’s 6^th win this year.

Lone Timberwolf star Al Jefferson exploded for 38 points and 16 rebounds, while the Grizzlies were led by O.J. Mayo’s 23 points.

Minnesota scored a single field goal in the second quarter, and came back to win.

Make no mistake, Minnesota is not a good team. But I believe that a good coach could do much better with this squad. They absolutely need some height. But even as is, a more competitive team could be created, utilizing Mike Miller, Kevin Love, Kevin Ollie, Ryan Gomes, and Randy Foye around Al Jefferson better. I would give up the Foye at point guard experiment.

Adding interest was that O.J. Mayo was traded for Kevin Love and Mike Miller before the season started.

Memphis is young, talented and inexperienced. In a few years, their time will come.

(6-23) Washington Squeaks By (20-12) Houston: 89-87

A squeak is better than another loss, and Houston is a contender even. This Washington team is a few votes away from the D-league.

Another of the league’s bottomless pits, Washington actually has a two-game winning streak now, as they stop the Rockets seven-game streak. The old adage must true about, "on any given night." The Wizards were without Caron Butler, but managed to beat one of the league’s top teams.

Antawn Jamison led both team with 30 points while Ron Artest came off the bench for 20 for Houston.

Many think Eddie Jordan was unfairly dumped as coach of Washington. It is true that two-fifths of his starting five were out with injury, but there was little semblance of team play, defense, or effort from the remaining players.

But one bad turn deserved another by not having a solid replacement coach in the wings. It has been a league epidemic. This is what you get.

Houston continues to juggle its line up over injuries, and continues to play winning basketball anyway. Remarkably, Yao Ming has missed only two games so far.

(19-14) Utah beat (12-18) Philadelphia: 112-95

Yet another league surprise ‘coach firing’ continues to try to right their ship, but the Utah Jazz keep them losing. Tony Dileo, instant head coach of the 76ers after the firing of Maurice Cheeks loses his 5^th straight game.

They are trying to recreate last season’s success, now that Elton Brand is out long term with a separated shoulder. That means a return to fast break basketball (26 points), but it hasn’t meant a return to winning yet. Andre Iguodala should benefit from the changes, as he and Thaddeus Young both garnered 17 points for the 76ers.

Utah’s Deron Williams took up the scoring slack left by losing both Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap, by dropping 27 points. Mehmet Okur returned to add 19 points.

Even with all the injuries, the Jazz are just a game and a half in back of Denver in the Northwest Division.

(10-23) Golden State Outlasts (12-19) Toronto: 117-111

While machinations go on behind closed doors in Golden State in a power struggle between Chris Mullin and Don Nelson, the Warriors win yet another game in a battle of teams going nowhere.

They do it while showcasing a player that is rumored to be desired by Bryan Colangelo of the Raptors.

Marco Belinelli contributed 23 points and six assists while making five three-pointers for the victorious Warriors. Andris Biedrins added 15 rebounds, 13 points, and five blocked shots to the Golden State win. Colangelo favors Euro players, and it has been intimated that Belinelli might fit in well with the Raptors.

Jermaine O’Neal left the game with flu-like symptoms, leaving Chris Bosh and Jose Calderone to try to eek out a win in their final road game. Bosh tied Warrior Stephen Jackson for game honors with 30 points, while Calderon had 21 points and 16 assists.

Toronto was another team expected to be in the playoff picture with the acquisition of Jermaine O’Neal. Their season still could go either way. A resurgent O’Neal would be important to any turnaround this season.

NBA Monday Round-Up: Dec. 22, 2008

Thomas Halzack — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:38:41 -0500

Monday NBA Round Up Dec. 22, 2008

It has become a league of haves and have-nots.

Orlando tramples (22-6) Golden State (8-21): 113-81

In this version of Meet the Nelsons, Jameer gives Don a noogie.

Jameer Nelson set a new Amway Arena record with a perfect 9-9 shooting, while leading both teams in scoring with 22 points. In addition to coming off his first NBA Player of the Week Award ever, Jameer is averaging 26 points a game over his last four, all Magic wins.

I’ve said in the past that the enigmatic Nelson is a key to this team’s larger success. Van Gundy has him scoring more (16.8) and apparently finally finding a way to fit in to make the team better, while allowing him to put points on the board himself.

After knocking off Utah, San Antonio, and the Lakers, you (meaning I) can no longer say the Magic haven’t beaten anyone good. They are now in the discussion in the East with Boston and Cleveland. A solid shooting guard and a rebounder away from being part of the East’s Big Three, they are now the Big 2.8

The other enigmatic Nelson, named Don, coaches a team that moves him closer to being kicked upstairs with a 30-point loss. Assistant Keith Smart is a rumored replacement in the Year of The Quick Knives if that is a part of Don’s Machiavellian machinations.

With leading scorers Stephen Jackson and Corey Maggette sidelined, Nelson finally unwrapped his other Euro toy, Marco Belinelli, and changed the offense to enhance his abilities. Belinelli has responded with scoring (18.5 over the last five games), assists (five) and steals. Trade anyone?

68-year-old Don took over a moribund team that hadn’t done anything in years, and revamped the entire atmosphere.

Nelson masterfully challenged and motivated team leader Baron Davis enough to create a 42-win season, and a playoff appearance knocking off his former team Dallas in the first round in a shocking upset. He followed up with a 48-win season where they did not make the playoffs. Baron left. Don was bereft. The gild is off the lily.

Houston Mings (19-9) New Jersey (13-14): 114-91

Yao beats Yi in the meeting of China, NBA style.

With new rumors that Yi is 24 years old, not 21, New Jersey says "so what" and Yi continues to deny it. However old Yi is, he will never be old or young enough to be 7’6" like Houston’s Yao Ming.

The Nets, whom I called a NBA surprise only a few weeks ago, have returned to earth and lost six of their last eight games. As with most NBA teams, they had no one among their talented young bigs to contend with Ming’s 24 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks.

The Rockets won for a season high fourth time, as they are just trying to get through the season and get their main three players healthy in McGrady, Ming, and Artest for the playoffs.

Aaron Brooks replaces injured Rafer Alston and scores a career-high 22 points in the blowout win.

The defensive-minded Rockets held Devin Harris and Vince Carter, the highest-scoring guard tandem in the league to ten points each, 27 below their combined averages. That alone will kill any chance of winning for the guard-oriented Nets.

Lakers (22-5) escape with win against Memphis (9-18): 105-96

Close to losing for the third straight game, Kobe says uhmmm...no, as he drops 36 on the Griz with 10 of LA’s last 17 points in a three minute barrage to finish off the game, and the Grizzlies.

The young and talented Grizzlies have been showing signs of life lately, but are a few years away from executing down the stretch like a team like the Lakers, who are not the dominant team they began the year as.

Some say teams have caught on to their corner-trapping defense. Others say they have stopped playing defense with the same intensity. Either way, the Boston Celtics now have an important three-game edge in the loss column for home court advantage all the way through the playoffs.

Andrew Bynum hasn’t been playing as well lately (-1 in the plus/minus while he was in the game) and Jordan Farmer will have surgery, keeping him out for up to eight weeks.

Get used to hearing this...Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo led the Memphis scoring with 23 and 22 points respectively, while Hakeem Warrick keeps producing off the bench with 14 points last night.

The trade of draft choice Kevin Love to Minnesota for O.J. Mayo looks like a good one right now.

San Antonio (17-10) whacks Sacramento (7-22): 101-85

If you thought the talent on the floor was unequal, then it made sense that Greg Popovich took the night off from coaching (almost). Greg called few time outs and let his team call plays and defenses in the huddle against rookie King Coach Calvin Natt—a member of the second round of coaches 2008-09.

Tony Parker overcame five first quarter turnovers to lead the Spurs with 18 points. John Salmons proves that timing is everything as he is averaging 19 points and producing on a consistent basis, as he has done a few times before when Ron Artest was out and even before that, with Philadelphia, when he was given the chance when Iguodala was out.

But that is unlike Kings' point guard Beno Udrih, who was playing against his old team, the Spurs. After a solid season with the Kings last year, and getting his first big contract, Udrih has been a major disappointment this season. His play and stats are down, and he turns the ball over way too much for someone of his talent level.

Sac studs are young big men Steve Hawes and Jason Thompson, as they try to trade veteran Brad Miller to make more playing time for them both.

The Spurs have the league’s fourth best defense (points allowed) are still getting things together with the recent return of Manu Ginobili. Their roster never looks good enough to me, but Popovich is a master of developing role players to make his system work, and should be counted on to get better as the season progresses.

Matt Bonner is now patrolling the middle and hitting three point-bombs. Go figure.

Denver (18-10) beats Portland (17-11): 97-89

In a battle of two likely playoff teams, the Nuggets prevailed, even with team leader Carmelo Anthony out with injury and ended a three-game losing streak. Chauncey Billups and Nene led the Nuggets with 19 each, while Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge took game honors with 20 points.

Brandon Roy finished with just eight points, one game after scoring 52. He was in foul trouble for most of the night and played just 24 minutes.

Denver out-rebounded Portland by 43-32 and Chris Andersen went block crazy with six in just 21 minutes.

Denver has the fifth best offense (points scored) but their early season commitment to defense has already faded, as they end a three-game losing streak, though Anthony played hurt in two of those three games.

Soft spoken 7’0" Greg Oden fouled out with 10 points, three rebounds, and two blocks.

Joel Prizbilla might become part of the nation’s lexicon as he continues his Pryzbillian shooting percentage at 78 percent with 2-3 from the field, and from Pryzbillian range (one foot or less from the hoop), while contributing eight rebounds in 21 minutes.

He probably won’t qualify with enough attempts but he is on his way to shattering the NBA field goal percentage record.

Toronto (11-17) clubs depleted Clippers (8-20): 97-75

In the final game of have-nots….

With Los Angeles centers' Marcus Camby (personal reasons) and Chris Kaman out, and Zach Randolph leaving with injury early in the fourth quarter, the Raptors' Chris Bosh took advantage by scoring 18 of his 31 points in the fourth.

Jermaine O’Neal score 23 points and added nine rebounds, in another worthless game that is indicative of what is happening this year. So many teams are already out of the playoff race, it is ridiculous.

Toronto has a fighting chance talent-wise to recover and make the playoffs, but it’s rumored that Bryan Colangelo is panicking and would be ready to give up on the O’Neal Experiment, which isn’t working so far, if he could find a taker for O’Neal's $23 million contract—not likely.

The Clippers, when healthy, have good talent as well with Baron Davis, Chris Kaman, Marcus Camby, Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, and Zach Randolph. It’s just an odd mix of it and Davis and Mike Dunleavy don’t see eye to eye, though things are supposed to be better lately.

That ends a night of mostly lopsided wins and losses between the haves and the have-nots. Expect more of these as the year wears on. It’s been a funny season when it comes to that.

The league is unbalanced for the near future, as many teams made moves that mostly haven’t paid off as of yet.

See you next week. Same Time. Same Channel.

Halzack's Monday NBA Round Up

Thomas Halzack — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:41:02 -0500

Monday Monday

was double-double day for Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins of the Boston Celtics, and Paul Millsap of the Jazz had a career day with 32 points and 10 rebounds.

But it was Rajon Rondo, coming close to a triple-double, who took over in the 4th quarter, outdueling with Deron Williams for control of the game.

Repaying the Jazz for their biggest loss of the regular season last year, the Boston Celtics downed the Utah Jazz by a score of 100-91. It was Boston's 15^th straight win, improving the Celtic franchise record for fastest start to 23-2. The NBA's best start with two losses is 26-2.

This 2008-09 Celtic team’s intended march towards a second straight title also has this storied franchise’s all time best 18-game winning streak under assault.

Just like last year, no one saw it coming.

Rajon Rondo continues to elevate his play and status in the league. Rajon flirted with a triple-double while outplaying league stud Deron Williams who, albeit, is still not 100% from a sprained ankle.

The starters produced 86 of 100 points, as their second unit was missing Eddie House who was attending a funeral. Little used second-year man, Gabe Pruitt, scored eight points in nine minutes and played very good defense against Williams.

Rajon scored a season-high 25 points, to go with nine rebounds, eight assists, three steals, and six turnovers. Kevin Garnett added 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Kendrick Perkins contributed 15 points and 14 rebounds. Pierce added 15 points and Ray Allen 12.

Tied 43 all at halftime, Boston scored seven straight points, then managed to stay in front of a tenacious Utah team for the rest of the night. Even without Carlos Boozer, the Jazz played a competitive game. Deron Williams had nine of his 15 points in a Jazz comeback attempt in the fourth quarter.

Boozer’s replacement, Paul Millsap, slipped open all night to score a career-high 32 points. He also grabbed 10 rebounds with 2 blocks, and 2 steals.

While questions about Boston’s bench filled the air (and still do), the continued emergence of point guard Rajon Rondo, and center Kendrick Perkins are providing a type of relief for Boston’s three stars that few expected.

Running the offense is now in the hands of Rondo. Scoring is up and no longer lodged completely on the shoulders of the Boston Big Three for every game.

Rondo’s more aggressive assault on the rim often makes it even easier for Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett to score. Rondo’s recent increased scoring comes from blowing by his defender, thus requiring the post defender’s attention.

Defenses can no longer ignore Rondo and Perkins, and collapse on the Big Three. Rondo’s assists are up. The Big Three’s are down. They are receiving the passes more from Rondo, instead of delivering them.

Since the New York game on Nov. 18, Rondo is averaging 12.9 points and 7.9 assists, while taking more foul shots and making a higher percentage of them. That is 2.5 points and almost three assists more than last year.

So, rock steady defense is now buoyed by a stronger offense, as the Celtics are averaging 105.7 in this winning streak versus just 93.5 points per game before the streak. Their defense is still an excellent 91.4 points allowed, versus 89 points before the streak started.

If you suggested a second year letdown for a fat and happy Celtic team, please line up right behind those who chose cassettes over CDs, Betamax over VHS, Atari over Apple, Commodore Computers over IBM, and Kmart over WalMart.

Just when you thought this team couldn’t possibly get any better…they did.

Questions about the Big Three’s minutes over the course of a season are a legitimate concern.

The bench could use length and recent rumors have 42 year old, 7’2" Dikembe Mutombo considering playing for Boston. PJ Brown is still a remote possibility as well.

New Jersey (11-10) 94, Toronto (10-14) 87

The Lawrence Frank-ly surprising Nets broke a three-game losing streak by pounding the floundering Raptors on the boards 54-38. Suddenly high scoring Devin Harris makes a solid one-two punch with Vince Carter. Rookie Net Brook Lopez continues to improve, while veteran Raptor Jermaine O’Neal continues to disappoint.

Indiana (8-16) 118, Washington (4-18) 98

Old habits die hard as the defense-allergic Wizards let the Pacers go off for 118. Danny Granger had five steals, the same amount Washington had total. The only thing the Wizards are stealing is money from the owner.

Atlanta (15-9) 83, Charlotte (7-18) 79

At least it is entertaining watching Larry Brown shuffle around a zillion lineup changes, and alternately like and dislike the same players depending on the day. Brown said they just "can’t get the ball in the basket." Even less, now that you traded your only true scorer Jason Richardson. Newcomer Boris Diaw scored 25 points.

Atlanta struggled at home beating this crew? What does that say about Atlanta? And the Celtics are up next.

Milwaukee (11-15) 98, Miami (12-12) 83

As Dwyane Wade goes, so goes Miami. Wade scored just 15 points. Michael Redd thinks it was his defense. The Heat lost to Memphis the game before. These are two teams stuck in the middle, perhaps the worse place to be.

Denver (17-70) 98, Dallas (13-10) 88

What a difference Billups has made for Denver. I read Karl is looking for another big. Too bad they didn’t still have Camby. What a difference Kidd hasn’t made for Dallas. Are we done with the Gerald Green thing yet? With all of Dirk’s size and talent, why hasn’t anyone asked him to learn a few go-to solid post moves?

Truthfully, both teams are moving in the right direction. Billups makes Denver dangerous.

Phoenix (15-10) 111, New York (11-13) 103

Terry Porter bests Mike D’Antoni. But it seems like Porter’s changes are not pleasing his players. Stoudemire and Shaq both want to be the man. Go figure. Nash misses the system that made him an MVP. Surprise. You have to use a different measure when evaluating players from systems like D’Antoni’s or Don Nelson’s.

Phoenix is about where I thought they would be. New York is ahead of my expectations right now.

Sacramento (7-18) 118, Minnesota (4-20) 103

What? I watched the beginning of this game. Minny was up 15-3 and Sac couldn’t put it in the ocean. Looks like Minny has the bigger problems. Two bad teams with new coaches. Promising young bigs in Jefferson, Love, Hawes and Thompson. Point guards needed.

Orlando (19-6) 109, Golden State (7-18) 98

Magic are without Dwight Howard and still win and score 109 points. Jameer Nelson lights it up for 32. Marco Belinelli is showcased for trade and goes for 19 points off the bench. Do you think Chris Mullin regrets pursuing Nelson for that multi-year coaching contract now?

New Jersey Nets; NBA Surprise

Thomas Halzack — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:21:21 -0500

Anyone... raise your hand if you thought Devin Harris would average 24 points a game this season.

Me neither.

This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Nets. The New Jersey Nets brought in a lot of solid young talent, especially in the bigs department.

But I thought it was going to be a long year of teaching for the team. I'm apparently quite wrong.

For all of his experience, frank-ly.... Lawrence is good. The second youngest coach in the league to neophyte Erik Spoelstra, is also a veteran coach at this point.

Frank took over in 2003-4, the year of the Byron Scott ousting, and led them to a 25-15 finish. His Net teams played at least .500 ball and went to the play-offs the next 4 straight years. After missing last year, Frank has a new roster of mixed experience players on track much earlier than most pundits expected, including me.

Some even thought that Frank was part of the problem with New Jersey's decline. Honestly, I wasn't sure. I knew him to be a pretty good coach in the past. That doesn't mean there isn't a time when even pretty good coaches might need to move on.

In any event, I thought this year would be all about teaching and very little winning. It seems that it didn't take long for coach Frank to separate the chaff from the wheat and get the New Age Nets in gear.

Wheat - Brook Lopez. Wheat - Josh Boone. Chaff -Sean Williams.

An athletic shot blocker who apparently does not show the necessary tools for improvement, Sean had this to say in Fred Kerber's New York Post article...

Until Josh Boone (ankle) plays, Stromile Swift is the backup center, knocking Sean Williams out. "Obviously, I'm not one of the young players they want to develop," Williams said . . .

Another big in trade play? Time for Celtic internet rumor machines to get oiled up? I don't think so. Too raw, I would say. He is a 'live' big, listed as 6' 10". He plays tall and blocks shots to justify his existence in the NBA.

In a situation like that, why would the Celtics want him if he can't make the grade in New Jersey? Does the discipline of the Power of Three create a successful environment for Sean? All that would be requested of him in Boston is fundamental defense with his length. Hmm....Just asking.

The emergence of Devin Harris into a top flight NBA scorer was beyond my concept of reality. I viewed Devin Harris as an adequate scorer but nothing more. He was an open court slasher, disher, and could defend, but wasn't going to be a consistent 24 point scorer. Wrong.

Devin is 10 points (24.4 per game) over his best previous season. Only Caron Butler in recent memory comes to mind for elevating his game so much so late in his career. I'm sure there are others, but it is rare.

Would that have happened in Dallas? Mmm....It could have.... but never would, in my opinion. It is interesting how differently see each team sees its own personnel.

The early development of Brook Lopez, the number 10 pick this past draft, has been a pleasant surprise. Nineteen games into his pro career, he is close to being a double double machine already. And the kid can block shots.

I've usually been on the "Lawrence Frank is a very good coach" side of things. But I was worried about the attitude and the unmotivated game of team star Vince Carter in what was to be a rebuilding year after dumping Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson last season.

I've also thought that Net President Rod Thorn is one of the better league executives. Net GM Kiki Wandeweghe built his reputation in turning around a poor Denver operation.

One curious point of reference between the these two people is that Rod Thorn traded Kenyon Martin to Kiki's Nuggets in a sign-and-trade after Rod decided he couldn't afford to keep him at the money he was seeking and continue to sign quality players around him.

I felt Kenyon wasn't worth his asking price then and still do. Thorn was right to trade him, though he incurred a lot of criticism from fans and possibly even some players (Mourning?) for pulling the trigger on that move.

My point is that Kiki was on the receiving end of that 'pass.' Now he and Thorn are the architects of the "No Kidds Allowed", Net Modern Age. Hey, no executive is perfect.

Even the 5th face on Mount Rushmore, wunderkind Danny Ainge has had his moments of sheer uninspiration. Raef Lefrenz, Dan Dickau, or Tom Gugliotta anyone?

Anyway, the Nets are currently 11-8, 7-3 over their last ten games, and in second place in the Atlantic Division.

Harris and Carter do the driving (in both respects) and they have Yi Jianlian, Bobby Simmons, and Ryan Anderson keeping things honest from long range. It is a simple plan that usually works when players are willing to do the other things that help a team win and you have two tough pointmakers in the top ten in scoring.

The Nets are the foulingest team in the league versus their opponents (+3.6 - a whole point higher than the #2 team) and need work defensively, coming in 25th in the league at 102 points allowed per game.

They are in a three way tie for the 5th seed in the play-offs, ahead of regrouping Toronto and Philadelphia. Who would have thunk it?

Apparently Lawrence Frank would. In a league of relatively high predictability from year to year, that's why you play the games. The Nets are playing indeed.

Tom Halzack writes the CelticsCentral blog at the Connecticut Post. This article first appeared there.

NBA Round Up 12/8

Thomas Halzack — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:33:29 -0500

Orlando (16-5) Rolls Over Clippers (4-17): 95-88

20 rebounds uncommon? Not for Superman. The NBA's Superman may not have x-ray vision, but he's got 20/20 eyesight.

Dwight Howard celebrated his 23^rd birthday by coming within a single rebound of matching his age in points and rebounds, finishing with 22 boards and 23 points.

It was his second 20/20 game in a row, 3^rd game in 6, and 17^th of his career. He was within a rebound of doing it two other times this year. He also swatted 6 Clipper shots as the Magic improved their record to 16-3 since opening the year with two losses.

But magic is sleight of hand, deceptive and an illusion. So it may be with Orlando’s record. They have only played 4 teams that currently are over .500 and are 0-4 against them. They are just 3-4 against teams that were over .500 when they played them.

It was a game of runs. The Magic started out 11-2, but were losing by half time, 48-42. Leading by 75-66 after three, the hapless Clippers were done in by an Orlando 22-2 run to start the 4^th quarter.

Both benches could be arrested for vagrancy – no visible means of support. They are the two worst in the NBA in point production according to 82games.com. Yet, Courtney Lee (8 pts.) and Brian Cook (5 pts.) contributed to the run that won the game.

In this season’s coaching carousel, if Mike "Elton-Don’t-Leave-Me" Dunleavy’s job isn’t in jeopardy, it is because his GM likes him (He is the GM). He is left barren with Baron.

Chris Kaman is out, but Marcus Camby is playing very well now, and Dunleavy has Zach Randolph, who was no match for Howard. The team is talented beyond its record, but the rumors are that Dunleavy doesn’t have control of the team.

Baron Davis, talented, but difficult to manage, has too much free reign and missed a large number of shots in this game. The Clippers chucked up 96 shots but made only .385% of them, indicating too many unwise, quick shots. When Camby grabs 17 rebounds, but shoots only 2-4 for 6 points, while Baron throws up 11 for 29, it suggests that things need tweaking.

Ironically, the Magic are not a great rebounding team, board eating Howard notwithstanding. They lost the board war against the Kaman-less Clippers 51-43 and have a minus 1.4 in rebounding for the season.

In another irony, the Clippers score 48 points in the paint to Orlando’s 32.

One of college’s best shooters, but an NA bust so far, JJ Redick, lost his brief starting job back to Keith Bogans. Bogans was once described by a scribe as one of the NBA’s worst shooters. Keith has improved his jump shot, hitting 3 of 5 from Redick land and actually plays defense.

They may be the Paperclips, but the Magic record, 3^rd best in the Eastern Conference, may be a house of cards. In spite of Dwight Howard, they could upgrade at both guard positions, the bench, and rebounding in order to challenge the top teams, I believe.

Rumors abound that Chucky Atkins will soon be traded from Denver to Orlando, and he will help run the offense. Chucky is a liability defensively, (Jameer isn’t?) but is a capable offensive point guard, who isn’t afraid to take the big shot. Stay tuned.

Miami (12-9) beats Charlotte (7-14): 100-96

The Heat continue to surprise (me) with their 4^thstraight win. Dwyane Wade scored 41 points and is averaging 34.75 points through the mini-streak. The do-it-all guard is playing well enough to carry this team forward on his back.

Even without a true center, (Udonis Haslem), the Heat are a top shot blocking team (6^th in the league at 6.1) thanks to Wade (1.8) , Marion (1.5) , and second year man, 6’9" Joel Anthony (1.6). Go figure.

Dwyane posterized Emeka Okafor (see picture), and had ten points in the decisive 4^th quarter when the Heat took the lead.

Charlotte’s Gerald Wallace was absent for personal reasons, and Jason Richardson scored 24 to lead the Cats. ‘Everybody doesn’t like Raymond’ Felton scored just 8 points on 2 of 11, with 8 assists as Larry Brown continues to get erratic point guard play.

Emeka is playing solid ball (12 boards, 19 points on 9 of 11 shooting) after a slow start this year, but Sean May (Not) is not the answer at power forward with his health issues. Emeka is averaging 19.2 points and 10.2 boards over the last five games, but is another player who could use some help down in the blocks.

Rookie DJ Augustin (14 pts.) has a bright future, but will need time to develop. Adam Morrison (13 points, remember him?) hit a big three point shot with 6.7 seconds left to draw within two at 98-96.

Memphis (6-15) drops Houston (13-8): 109-97

The Houston Ricketts are without Tracy McGrady for a while, Brent Barry and Ron Artest for the evening with minor injuries. That gave Memphis confidence enough to take down the Ricketts, who got a quiet night from Yao Ming, 14 points and 4 rebounds.

Former Spur, power forward Luis Scola started and had 16 points and 15 rebounds for the depleted Rockets. Rafer Alston has been picking up some of the scoring slack lately and tied for team honors with 16 points while adding 8 assists.

Memphis’ young roster can’t seem to get a point guard to play well enough on a consistent basis to stabilize the team’s offense . Mike Conley has been a disappointment so far. Kyle Lowry started and had 5 assist and 11 points though the team actually played better with Conley off the bench in this game. And that is part of the problem.

Tardy Rudy Gay had to come off the bench, but still led the team with 20 points. Marc Gasol played Yao Ming well and finished with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocks.

Pressure is on coach Marc Iavaroni, as the young, talented Grizzlies need to show improvement this season. So far, 5 coaches have been dismissed. Is it asking too much for this young team to be doing better?

Hakim Warrick reminds me a bit of Josh Childress in his role for the Griz. He is athletic and active, scoring 18 points, with 8 rebounds and 2 blocks in a do-whatever-you-need role off the bench.

E.J. Mayo continues to produce, but this team’s identity is still being determined.

Golden State (6-15) outscores Oklahoma City (2-18): 112-102

Kevin Durant scored 41 points (10 rebounds) in another losing cause. I said at the beginning of the year that I feared for P.J. Carlesimo’s job. It took less than 20 games for him to be gone. Now Scott Brooks can absorbed all the losses that this team will take.

They simply are not talented enough to be very successful this season. The only thunder you will hear this year will be teams running over them.

Chris Wilcox (8 pts, 8 boards) is a classic under performer, greatly talented and not very motivated most of the time. Nick Collison (15 points, 10 rebounds off the bench) is just the opposite. Not as talented but will give a consistently solid effort for you. He’s just not a game changer.

Earl Watson has defensive shortcomings, but is a solid distributor of the ball (7^th in assists per 48 minutes, good turnover to assist ratio 4.5) and can hit the three.

Russell Westbrook (8 pts, 8 rbds, 7 assists, 7 turnovers) is the future and has great tools for both ends of the floor. Should they play him more now? Or let the veteran Earl Watson (3 pts, 7 assists) teach him how to run an offense?

Don Nelson’s team was without its top two scorers in Cory Maggette and Stephen Jackson. It didn’t matter as even 6-14 teams like the Worriers drool to play the inept Thunder.

Jamal Crawford led with 19 points, and won his first game as a Warrior.

Andris Beidrins (21 rebounds, 17 points) remains a bright spot on a team that is going nowhere this season. Yet, it is surprising that they are doing so poorly. They just don’t play defense, giving up 112 points a game, by far the league’s worst.

They are negative in every offensive statistic compared to their opponents except foul shooting where they shoot 5 more foul shots. This team turned to mush in a hurry.

Something humorous here? Ummmm…..I got nothing. Nelly's got his work cut out for him with this roster.

So that is this week's round up from the ground up.

Rondo Mr. Fantastic As He Wrecks Pacers

Thomas Halzack — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:49:36 -0500

A career high 17 assists, 16 points, and 13 rebounds for Rajon Rondo befuddled the Indiana Pacers and bedazzled everyone else. It was a magnificent show. He reached the triple double with 10:31 left in the 3rd quarter

Statement game against a sub .500 team? You better believe it. One of only two blemishes (losses) on the Cs record came courtesy of the Pacers. The statement? We owe you.

O'Brien vs. Ainge ...er... Rivers. Rondo vs. Ford. (It's a car thing.) Rebuilding vs. repeating.

Super Heros
Rajon Rondo against T.J. Ford is like Kid Flash against the Flash. It looked like a road race all night. The Pacers got up 91 shots and the Celtics might have as well (80 attempts) if they didn't get fouled so much (32 foul shots).

I said it might not be too long before they become the Fantastic Four. How about the Fantastic Five?

Last night Rondo was everywhere, making him Mr. Fantastic, while Ray Allen flamed on to become the Human Torch. Kendrick Perkins was as powerful and rock solid as the Thing, while Kevin Garnett was a little of all of three or maybe he was Iron Man (okay so he's not part of the FF). Paul Pierce came the closest to be the Invisible Guy, but he really wasn't needed for most of the night.

Rondo - the one man wrecking crew.

Actually, to have that many assists you need team mates making shots.
Leading all scorers with 31 points in just 27 minutes, Ray Allen continues his explosive barrage from the three point line, making 6 of 9 from the downtown and 11 of 18 over all.

Ray is now 23 of 39 for a scalding 59% from the arc in his last 6 games.

Kevin Garnett had his best offensive game of the year with 26 points and 14 rebounds, both season highs, while looking like Bill Russell with 4 timely blocks.

Paul Pierce added 16 points on an off shooting night (5-17), but was the only starter who struggled shooting. Marquise Daniels played Paul physical all night and Pierce was just off to begin with. Never did they need him on this evening.

Even Kendrick Perkins is upping his offense, adding 16 points on 5 of 6 shooting while hitting 6 of 8 foul shots. He even led one break for a Rondo assisted dunk, a rarity for him.

Phoenix Celtics?

It wasn't that long ago that I had a conversation with Rondo where I asked him about playing mostly half court ball since college. He said he didn't mind. I think he was being diplomatic.

Shortly after, he began this aggressive assault on the rim. Last night the Celtics pushed the ball as often as I've ever seen since the Trade. the Celtics had 16 fast break points and numerous early shot clock attacks before the Pacers could set their defense.

Rondo's favorite target all night was Ray Allen who rotated over to the arc on the weakside for every Rondo led fast break and early offensive set-ups, nailing 6 of those demoralizers.

Orchestra Leader
Rondo was all of that. He was not only in sympatico with Ray Allen all night, he also ran a straight ahead moving alley oop with Garnett two times within minutes, once against Troy Murphy and once against Roy Hibbert.

He had three alley oops with Garnett on the night and the entire team looks like it is getting comfortable with each other's tendencies, and receiving the ball where they like it.

Rondo drove and scored a lay up, or kicked it back out to an open shooter all night, often finding Kevin Garnett for open jumpers and Paul Pierce hit a three off a Rondo drive and kick out as well.

The Pacers led for most of the first half, before the Celtics managed to grab a 57-51 half time lead.

Indiana was up 27-21 before Boston made 7 point run to close the first quarter up 28-27, on a Rondo driving lay-up, a Perkins reverse lay-up and a Ray Allen three pointer.

Boston extended the run to 31-15, resulting in a ten point lead at 52-42, before the Pacers closed to within 6 at the half.

Ray Allen had 19 points in the first half.

Rondo is now hitting his foul shots (6 for 7 last night and over 75% of late). If Perkins can start to improve that aspect of his game, he will become all that much more dangerous offensively.

Pesky Pacers
This game was hard fought and the Celtics wanted it badly as evidenced by the amount of time Doc played the starters in the 4th quarter.

A 23 point lead in the second half shrank to just eight at 90-82 before Kevin Garnett hit a huge turnaround bank shot, Ray Allen made a three pointer as did Paul Pierce - all assisted by Rondo to open things back up to 98-82 and the Cs weren't challenged again.

The Celtics out rebounded the Paces by 54-31, a huge gap. But the Pacers constantly got loose in the paint, scoring 50 points, which I think, is a season high for the Cs defense. Boston returned the favor with 52 points in the paint themselves.

The Pacers actually played an energetic defense at times, in spite of the score. Boston's bench was rather ineffective offensively in this game, scoring only 9 points total.

Rondo was Mister Fantastic in this game and been pretty fantastic in this recent stetch of games as he takes the ball to the hoop with authority and takes his career to the next level with his rising performances. Only Larry Bird, Antoine Walker have had 'triples' like that this.

Danny Granger led Indiana with 20 points, while Ford added 15 and 8 assists.

Next up: Portland in Boston on Friday