Nate Robinson Makes a Great Escape To The Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics have had a love affair with New York natives and point guards since the days of Nate 'Tiny' Archibald; the lone exception, Bob Cousy, whom Red Auerbach initially refused to draft. The Celtics eventually got him in a supplemental draft, but I digress. This story is about the new Nate in Beantown; Nate Robinson, the newly minted three-time NBA dunk champion, an amazing feat for a player who  barley measures 5'9".    

The Celtics have once again tested the New York basketball waters and rolled the dice on a trade involving Eddie House, Bill Walker, and J.R. Giddens for Nate Robinson and Marcus Landry. Cries of haven't they learned from their experiences with gun-toting Sebastian Telfair and Stephon 'I eat Vaseline 'Strange '-bury' is heard across Celtic Nation. I, for one, think that he will be a great fit for the men in green. Think of him as a miniature Danny Ainge in terms of feistiness; Ainge was known for being an irritant and a hot head.    

This diminutive guard brings the quickness and athleticism that Eddie House lacks as well as the ability to finish at the rim. The most important factor that escapes everyone is that Robinson will push the pace, thereby preserving Rajon Rondo's legs. Remember, Rondo has had hamstring issues in the past, hence the compression-like leggings he wears during games. 

It seems like they are placing more emphasis on the bench than the starting five. The Celtics now have as complete a second unit as they could have and can arguably challenge some starting units in the NBA.

He brings that shoot-first mentality like Eddie House brings but more chutzpah than he could ever muster. The Celtics can still spread the floor with Robinson and they can now feel comfortable with a second-unit guard who can not only shoot three-pointers but can drive, dish, and finish at the rim. Tony Allen can now focus mainly on defense and filling the lanes. 

Does this assure them a seat at the NBA Finals? No. It does give them a second unit that can match up against the other upper-echelon teams in the league and it means the Celtics can shorten the minutes of the big three heading into the stretch run.  

Comcast Sports reports that the Celtics are leaning toward keeping Landry and they have also made a D-league trade in acquiring the D-league's leading scorer in Morris Almond, once the property of the Utah Jazz. Landry could address that young, athletic, versatile second-tier wing that they've been looking for. 

The Celtics now have a bench full of swing men who can play more than one position, their only significant loss being Eddie House. These player movements may not seem like much, but with the addition of Nate Robinson it fills the Celtics need to transform their roster with athletic parts.