Entries from December 2009

Rondo’s Ultimate All-Star Test Starts Now

December 24, 2009 · 3 Comments

Merry Christmas to you and yours. From Loscy (and Santa Rondo).

Merry Christmas to you and yours. From Loscy (and Santa Rondo).

Merry Christmas Eve, ya’ll.

Exactly 364 days ago, the Celtics were on a 19 game winning streak and all was good in Bean Town and for satellite Celtics fans scattered all over. When we rolled into LA on Christmas Day last year, the game was brewing to be a holiday classic, with both teams battling until the last 4 minutes. Then the Lakers embarrassingly shut down the Celtics with a 13-2 run. The Celtics had no answers, while the Lakers held court at home in front of a festive crowed.

Then the post-holiday traumatic skid happened. Bunch of games lost. KG’s mysterious knee injury. Blah blah blah.

But in the midst of their 19 game winning streak, there was plenty of clatter around the league and fan-base that Rajon Rondo was a potential all-star. The remaining PG spot was either going to Rondo, Jameer Nelson, or Mo Williams. But once the Celtics went on their bend when nothing went well on the West Coast road trip following the Lakers game, Rondo was held at fault.

#9 doin work.

#9 doin work.

Fingers were wrongfully pointed at Rondo. He had a few games with too many turnovers and bad decisions, he was so hesitant to shoot anything outside of 10 feet, and teams started to coin the phrase “The Blueprint for how to beat the Celtics: just lay off Rondo and give him space.” Teams were putting a big on Rondo, giving him space so 1) defenders couldn’t get burned by his blistering speed and 2) to expose his biggest weakness: his jumper.

The Celtics sub par play destroyed any hopes that Rondo had to make the East’s All-Star team as a reserve. Literally: the team’s poor play was pinned on Rondo.

Last year, we heard all too many times (including from me): As Rondo goes, so go the Celtics.

Well guess what? We find ourselves in a similar predicament: As Rondo goes, so go the Celtics. I am unabashedly in love with Rondo’s style of play. Being a fan of basketball and a basketball player since 4th grade, watching Rondo play is intoxicating. He does all of the things that I wish I could do on a court and better yet, he is the kind of point guard that I’ve been waiting for to adorn the historic Celtic green jersey.

As Rondo goes, so go the Celtics.

There’s also an eerie similarity between last season and this one about Rondo being in the thick of All-Star consideration talk. We know fans are too stupid to vote Rondo in as a starter, which is fine. I actually think being voted in as an All-Star reserve by coaches is much more prestigious and meaningful. Let’s just face the facts: your run of the mill fans that are voting 8,000 times per day are morons. Rondo has a great chance of being a 2010 All-Star, which should hopefully be the first of many.

Here is the difference between last year and this year, though: Rondo is infinitely better than last year. I’ve already chronicled all of the reasons that Rondo is a monster point guard this year and all of the ways he has added another dimension and level to his game, so I won’t bother doing it here. But know that in a conference where no other PG has performed like Rondo (Deven Harris = injuries, Jameer = lower numbers and injuries, Mo Williams = punk ass free-loader, Derrick Rose = not noticeably better than last year and inconsistent and on a dysfunctional team, Mike Bibby = same as last year but his much improved supporting cast is making him look better, Gilbert Arenas = inconsistent as Tiger’s alibis, Brandon Jennings = not yet, Lou Williams = injuries), #9 really has to be the clear choice for a reserve role on the bench.

¡RONDO!

¡RONDO!

For the next 2+ weeks, Rondo will again face his All-Star test: is he ready, worthy, and capable? Like the post-Christmas Day game last year, the Celtics take a grueling road trip over the next few weeks and will be tested on numerous occasions. Much like last year as well, the battle ground for whether or not he makes the All-Star team will hinge upon how he carries this team without Paul Pierce and an injured KG.

With too many vague comments from management, who knows how long Pierce will be out. With too many vague comments from management, who knows what KG’s status will be for each game. The simple and strategic move is to obviously rest these guys as much as possible and let the team scrap together its wins.

We are playing for June, not January.

One Rajon.™

One Rajon.™

With that said, however, it’s time for Rondo to step up and prove his critics wrong once again. The schedule is tough, but nothing near impossible. If Rondo can stay focused, be aggressive for every minute he’s on the floor, then he should carry this team to win 75% of their games. For the guys that claim Rondo has the easiest PG job in the East because of his supporting cast, here’s the opportunity for Rondo to show what it’s like to not have 3 aging veterans on the court at the same time. Without KG and Pierce (or a 6th man like Quisy), the Celtics turn into a team that’s a shade above .500. So if Rondo is able to carry this team to a successful road trip over the next couple of weeks, what will the haters say then?

Oh, that’s right, they’ll say this: Rondo is as good as we think he is AND he is in fact, without any hesitation, a 2010 All Star.

Rondo has freakishly large hands and an abnormally long wingspan, but did you also know he’s got some boulders for shoulders? It’s the kind of shoulders where a young, cocky, uber-talented PG can carry an entire team on for a couple of weeks while its veteran leaders heal up.

Go Rajon.
Go Celtics.

Categories: In the News · Player Profile
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The Tony Allen Non-Disappointment Outlook Theory (TANDOT)

December 22, 2009 · 9 Comments

TA Doin' Work?

TA Doin' Work?

This is my holiday gift to you. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanuka, or nothing, you are getting a stress-relieving gift about how to handle the next 56 games with Tony Allen at the quasi-helm.

I’ve heard a lot of good anecdotes from various nooks and crannies on the internet in the last few days about Tony Allen’s recent performances. When Tony Allen made his ***triumphant*** return on December 8th against Milwaukee, many of us held out breath… watched TA make a great pass or drive through the lane… then watched TA exercise his patented dribble-off-the-knee move (if you’ve done this, keep it on the DL, otherwise you’ll owe TA crazy royalties)… then make a good pass… then carry the ball… on and on again. The same routine. We are impressed, then flustered, then hopeful, then woefully disappointed.

The next three games against Washington, Chicago, and Memphis gave us the same riveting roller coaster feelings: ups and downs ups and downs ups and downs and downs and downs. It had only been 3 games and the “TA One Man Act” had already grew tiresome.

Then Philadelphia happened. I was fortunate enough to get a ticket with friend @KWAPT (yes, the ingenious creator of voteforperk.blogspot.com) and we were about 7 rows back from the hoop on the Celts’ bench end. Basically, we were in primo position during the first half to see TA work on the offensive end. And yes, he worked. Then the second half came along, and TA continued to work. TA was doing so much work, in fact, that @KWAPT and I started filming on our phones to get some raw footage to pitch to some Boston-based producers: “TA Doin’ Work”.

But seriously.
TA was playing defense. TA was moving without the ball. TA was refraining from proving his galls via long range jumpers. TA was making the extra pass. TA didn’t turn over the ball (at all: he finished with 0 TOs). TA ran the floor. TA was playing defense. TA was playing defense. TA was playing defense.

I kept finding myself looking at KWAPT and saying, “I mean, really? Am I jinxing this?”

On my way home, despite the fact that the Celtics lost the game (and their streak), the TA performance really was a bright spot in the game. I mean, Tony Allen actually played well.

Then I realized, don’t fall into this trap again. Don’t do it.
Then I came to another realization: TA was usually wishy-washy during the game. Again, in any given 5 consecutive possession, TA could have exploded down the middle to throw down a vicious dunk, then foul a guy shooting a long range tre, dribble of his knee (royalties!), not switch off his man when needing to switch, and then breaking his thumb while being 10 feet away from where the play is developing. But this Philly game was different: TA actually had a near flawless game. Again: no turnovers, no remarkably visible defensive lagging, and doing what he was supposed on to on the offensive end.

I allowed myself to be pulled out of the depths of TA hellish disappointment with a ray of hope. Could this be the year? Could Tony Allen being Tony Allen today?

Then Minnesota came rolling in. And TA had another monster game: 24 minutes, 5/8 FG, 5/7 from the stripe, 6 boards, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 0 turnovers (is this the first time in TA’s career where he played 2 games with substantial minutes and did not turnover the ball in either game… ?).

Everyone’s been asking who has been adorning the #42 jersey in the last two games and curious when the real TA will stand up? But everyone’s been thinking the same thing: when will TA disappoint us again?

Jokes aside, I give to you my gift for the holidays: The “Tony Allen Non-Disappointment Outlook Theory (TANDOT)”. It’s simple to learn, yet complex to master.
The 4 principles of TANDOT state the following:

  • Take it one game at a time. For you crazy micro-managers, take it one offensive and defensive possession at a time if you want. There will be turnovers. There will be moments where TA falls asleep on defense or makes a silly foul. But then there will be monster dunks. There will be crisp passes leading to an electrifying finish. There will flashes of brilliant athleticism. But, do take it one game at a time.
  • Don’t pin an entire season’s worth of hope on this one role player. If you do, you’ll be disappointed regardless of how well he plays. There is a reason TA is not a starter: he’s got a limited skill set that cannot translate to starter minutes for this Celtics team. But what can he do? Help sustain a lead and not make things worse. TA looks like he is playing with a chip on his shoulder, and I’d like that chip to remain there as long as possible.
  • Don’t start thinking TA can fill a role that he cannot. TA is not a point guard, TA is not a versatile wing man that can play bigger forwards upwards of 6-8/6-9. TA might be able to bring up the ball a few times when on the floor, but Quisy (or someone else other than Eddie) has to be the ball handler. What TA is: an explosively quick and fast off-guard that can play good stuck-on perimeter defense, a pure slasher to the hoop, a crafty guy that can create on the move and off the dribble, and he can run the floor with ease. TA doesn’t all of the sudden magically have a high basketball IQ. He just doesn’t. TA won’t be able to make the difficult rotations. He just won’t. He can’t be the full-time ball handler. He just can’t. Don’t jam the TA circular peg into the Celtics’ much needed strong wing / point guard squared hole.
  • Take anything he gives you. Just take it for face value. Don’t get over-excited, and just be relieved when our starting five is back on the floor.

If you/we adhere to these principles, it will make watching TA from here on out much more satisfying and a lot less stressful.
As we watch and tweet during games, be sure to use TANDOT when you’re on the verge of frustration! So Tony Allen dribbles off his knees (royalties!)? TANDOT! Tony Allen takes 6 steps without dribbling? TANDOT! Tony scores on our own basket as he gets turned around? TANDOT!

Learn it. Tweet it. Live it.

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Article of the Day: A Slight Drizzle on Last Night’s Parade (via CelticsHub)

Categories: Game Recap · In the News · Player Profile
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Doc prescribes a winner: Increase Sheed inside, Perk in the final 6 minutes, and call him in the morning

December 17, 2009 · 3 Comments

I’ve seen two things in recent weeks that have really made my heart flutter. Yes. I said it… flutter. My heart is freakin’ fluttering!

Boom! Sheed dropping a D bomb!

Boom! Sheed dropping a D bomb!

I’ve seen Sheed tackle the monster task of playing inside more than out… GASP! And I’ve seen Perk finally closing quarters in meaningful and/or close games. Both of these changes have undoubtedly been a contributing factor the the recent win streak (¡11!), and I hope will continue to make beating our beloved team increasingly difficult.

While the nit-pickers out in the world can argue about how to fill the wing role left open with Quisy’s absence and our severe lack of a reserve point guard to handle and distribute the ball within the second unit, let’s dwell on that at a later point and time, shall we? For now, let’s really focus on the positives: the increase of Sheed inside and Perk closing out the final 6 minutes when it matters.

Since Quisy’s been out recovering from surgery, a robot by the name of Tony Allen -3.0 has stepped into fill the minutes. When Quisy was playing efficiently, it was partly due to the spacing the second unit could give him to slice through the lane: it was too risky to leave Sheed and Eddie wide open on the wings, meaning teams couldn’t collapse on Quisy when he got into the paint. The catch-22 of it all was Sheed was back behind the 3-point line in order to give Quisy the room, but when Quisy kicked out, we were left with Sheed’s rendition of Bombs Over Baghdad. Sheed has been a streaky shooter this season; whether it be due to the murmurs of him being out of shape or him taking the inch Doc gave him to shoot 18 miles away, the simple fact of the matter is that Sheed was launching a lot of threes without much success. With Quisy out, Sheed has fallen back into the post more and more. For the first time this season (I am guessing on this based on previous numbers, so of course there is room for me to be wrong on this), Sheed has had a batch of 5 games where he has taken more shots in the post than from deep range (excluding longer mid range jumpers). Hallelujah. Halle-freakin-lujah. Check out the hotness that is NBA Hot Spots:

Love the HotSpot...

Love the HotSpot...

Sheed has taken a total of 18 shots from downtown in the last 5 games, and made 7 of those shots leaving him at 39% (rounding up…). That is a great percentage for him, and a good amount of threes for a big man to keep his defenders both honest and on their toes. On the inside, Sheed has taken a total of 21 shots in the last 5 games, and made 11 buckets resulting in a fantastic 52% FG. This, my dear friends, is what you call efficiency! Sheed has been in a wonderful groove in the last 7 games (all of the games in December). Sheed is having his best and most efficient month out of the previous three: he averaging the least amount of minutes (19) out of the 3 months but having stronger and better numbers across the board… Sheed has his highest ppg out of all 3 months (11.0), his highest FG% (42%), highest FT % (90%), most blocks per game (1.6), least amount of fouls (2.1), and least amount of turnovers per game (.1).

Sheed! Inside!

Sheed! Inside!

This is what we all signed on for: a 20 minute big man that can play smart interior defense and provide help on the offensive post from the bench. Yes he could be a starter, but those are not where our needs are. We know he loves to pull the massive trigger on that long ball, but that needs to be fired on selective plays instead of it being a go-to default move. I really like the way Sheed is playing on both ends of the floor and he is proving to be our best bench player during our 11-game win streak. If we keep this algorithm simple, then it basically comes down to this:

1/3(Sheed’s long ball) x 3/1(Sheed’s inside play) = W

W = wins.

And Perk. Perk Perk Perk Perk Perk. There is a grass roots movement to vote for Perk onto the All Star team. Okay. We all know that we are not going to garner the kind of numbers it will take to get Perk the sheer volume of votes to get in the game… So we will have to just rely on the coaches to get Perk in. But that doesn’t mean we give up: visit @kwapt site (http://voteforperk.blogspot.com) and vote anyways.

This really shouldn’t have been an argument at all this season. Perk has worked to earn the closing spot with fellow starters Rondo, Ray Ray, Pierce, and KG. This is our opening squad, and this is our closing squad. At the very least, anyone could have made the argument that Perk is a co-anchor of our defense: Perk holds down the paint so that KG can make those quicker switches. But the surprise to many of us this season is that Perk has all of the sudden turned into an offensive threat with the addition of so many of his post moves and ability to front defenders with the ball. Now, Perk is not only our defensive stalwart, but turning into a light (dieted version of an) offensive weapon as well. It only makes sense for Perk to be on the floor when it matters. We hired Sheed to be a bench guy that could fill in the front court in case of an injury; we did not bring Sheed on to close out our games. This is Perk’s job… to perform with Rondo, Ray Ray, Pierce, and KG.

Perk! Perk! Perk!

Perk! Perk! Perk!

Credit goes to Doc on both of these fantastic changes. Doc saw the symptoms, diagnosed the problem, and found the ideal remedy.

Let’s keep the gravy train rolling through Christmas.
Orlando: we’re coming for you.

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Articles of the day: Rondo’s Latest Trick – Consistency (via CelticsBlog), Rajon – “I’m Sleeping Better” (via Red’s Army), It Took 24 games, But… (via CelticsHub)

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My favorite KG pic so far this season:

KG: a portrait of intensity.

KG: a portrait of intensity.

Categories: Game Recap · In the News · Player Profile
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The Rondoness of all Rondo Articles: The Mother-load

December 12, 2009 · 1 Comment

Loscy's Boo.

Loscy's Boo.

If you’re familiar with these parts (yes, you!), then you’re familiar with Loscy’s fondness of one Rajon Rondo. And by fondness, you know I mean a (un)healthy obsession with the point guard’s abilities and style of play. I’m a bit of a gym rat, and I’ve incorporated too many of Rondo’s plays/moves into my game: using my speed and quickness to navigate underneath the hoop and circle out if no play develops, the behind the back fake, senseless gambles on defense… Now, am I really trying to compare my game to Rondo? Well, yes, I am… trying to.

Trying to.

Back to what matters. With 22 games underneath the Celtics’ belt, it’s a wonderful time to give a full evaluation of our fearless floor general, Rajon Rondo. Be fair warned: this is the Rondoness of all Rondo articles: the real mother-load. Prepare yourself. I’m going to tackle 3 major points: (1) in what ways was my pre-season prediction of Rondo right on, (2) the statistical importance of Rondo’s play this season, and (3) the empirical evidence of Rondo’s play that has helped fuel the current 9-game win streak.

–

(1)

Back in September, I explained in excruciating detail about WHY Rondo mattered the most. It was a changing of the guard, of sorts: the team’s success hinged upon KG’s knee, Pierce’s and Ray’s ability to stay effective throughout a long season, a deeper front-court bench, the continued development of Perk, and of course, what Rondo was going to bring to the table. In my post, I came up with 9 areas of Rondo’s game that needed to improve in order to make him a top 5 point guard.

To read the original article, peep it here. Below, you’ll see the areas that I originally noted as an area Rondo needed to improve, a quote from the original article, and then a reflective tidbit.

#9. Improve that outside shooting.
“He needs to develop that knock-down 17-footer from both elbows. If Rondo can even become a 35% shooter from these places, then teams really won’t know how/where to guard him.”
Well, Rondo hasn’t turned into Ray Allen Jr. overnight, but he’s knocking down his shot with more frequency. According to 82games.com, funny enough, Rondo is shooting .349 from what would be actually considered a jump shot selection. Rondo is choosing to take his jump shots from straight up near the top of the key and just off the elbows. While he isn’t catching and shooting, Rondo is able to shoot off the dribble when defenders play off of him. He’s making people pay 35% of the time.

#8. Stop bitching if he’s bitching.
“In a contract year, this is a big decision for Danny/Wyc/Doc to make: is Rondo worth big money? Is he worth the 5 years/$55 million?”
Yeah, the front office thought he was worth more. Since his re-signing, he’s been butter. And yes, the kind of butter that causes clogged arteries and congenital heart failure. Oh yeah… we haven’t heard a freakin’ lick of a bad attitude from Rondo this season. Was all of it blown up this past summer by the media? You betcha.

#7. Be picky/choosy when you gamble.
“For a guy with one of the quickest first steps in the league, he shouldn’t be getting burned by anyone.”
While we are seeing Rondo leave his man less, we are still seeing it. But, his ability to just man up and fight through picks is improving. Oddly enough, Rondo’s leading the league in steals with 2.5 per game.

#6. Toughen up.
“Cassell advised him to always pick himself up, shake it off, and cry about it later. Don’t sit on the ground and let the other team know that you’re hurt.”
Yup. This has been huge. Rondo has been knocked around, but he’s not lingering on the floor like an English football diva.

#5. Get rid of the floater.
“Because of the quickness that he can get into the paint and the fact that his jumper is not pretty or even effective, he often puts up one-handed floaters while on the move.”
I’ll admit defeat here: his floater is falling. But the floater is different this year: last year he spotted up that floater front on. This year, he is falling away, fading, and drifting. Rondo’s floater this year isn’t straight up and the fading away is almost giving him more time to get himself squared up and set. I like the way the floater is developing this year.

#4. Get faster.
“The quickness in movement of hands and feet can only get better in small increments that may not even be noticeable… but Rondo still has the track legs in him. Rondo can get faster.”
Rondo is faster this year. He’s also quicker. Chris Johnson might find out how fast Rondo actually is soon enough…

#3. Continue to mix up the half-court ball with up-tempo ball. 
“This is something Rondo needs to keep learning: when is a good time to push, and when is a good time to back-off and set up?”
If you have listened to what Doc has been saying, this is one of the biggest areas of improvement from Rondo: when to push, when to set. As opposed to adjusting to an opponent’s tempo, Rondo is setting the tempo and forcing others to react. Because of his ability to change gears so quickly, it can be difficult for defenders to tell what Rondo will do; this of course plays into our favor.

#2. Be smarter.
“A big area of improvement since his rookie days is the ball-handling. Rondo’s getting better at protecting the ball… but not as well as he could be.”
With a respectable 4:1 assist/turnover ratio, this has been huge. Knock… on… wood…

#1. Consistency. 
“One game he looks to be a premier point guard, and then another he looks to be enjoying the best seat in the house. One game he is dominant, and another he is happy to be giving high-fives to players that he admired while in his teens (KG, Pierce, Ray).”
I’m not even going to make a comment: in the last few close games during the 9-game winning streak, Rondo has been consistent and ferociously focused. We are seeing more consistency out of him this season than ever before. It’s not a coincidence that the Celts are playing well when Rondo is out to compete every night.

Take a breath. 1/3 of the way through.

Take a breath. 1/3 of the way through.

–

(2)

Statistically, Rondo is on pace to have have an overall career year. Rondo’s PER is at a stellar 20.08, which is good enough for 29th in the league and just behind D-Will. Not too shabby. But a closer look at HOW his stats have translated into wins for the Celtics, we have to hop on over to hoopsstats.com.

Check out a glimpse of how important Rondo has been to the Celtics’ wins:

From hoopsstats.com

From hoopsstats.com

The notables:

When Rondo is playing 36+ minutes, the Celtics are 7-1
When Rondo is shooting over 50%, the Celtics are 9-1
When Rondo has 4 or more steals, the Celtics are 6-0
When Rondo has an efficiency recap of 22+, the Celtics are 8-0 [ NBA Efficiency recap = ((Points + Rebounds + Assists + Steals + Blocks) - ((Field goals attempts - Field goals made) + (Free throws attempts - Free throws made) + Turnovers)) ]

So the basic moral of the story: Rondo plays well translates into wins for the Celtics.

–

(3)

The freakin' terminator in #9.

The freakin' terminator in #9.

There have been 3 bits of interconnected empirical evidence that have me beyond excited for what we may see from Rondo as the season progresses.

First, it’s in Rondo’s aggressive play. While Rondo has been hesitant at times to shoot and choose in favor of distributing, we are seeing Rondo constantly on the move with and without the ball. When Rondo has the handle, he is pushing that ball into places to free up guys on the wing and the bigs underneath. When Rondo is eating up the clock, the team’s offense isn’t effective. Take a look at the chart below:

Rondo is most effective when he is aggressive from the time he touches that ball (0-10 seconds) and is least effective when he is running down the shot clock (16-24 seconds). The point production for shots under 10 seconds is egregiously different than the point production when Rondo is just dribbling or holding. The numbers don’t lie.

From 82games.com

From 82games.com

Second, Rondo is confident. It’s a subtle expression in his eye and a huge swagger in his step. Rondo is growing up, and he’s taking control of games.

Third, Rondo is closing quarters. This is huge. Rondo has the confidence and aggression and determination and grit to close out quarters. The 2 best recent examples: the Bucks and Wiz. Rondo came alive and played nearly the entire quarter in both games in order to shut down Brenden Jennings and Gilbert Arenas. On the offensive side of each game, he was silky smooth and used his speed, quickness, handle, and court vision to scalpel his way to a clean victory. We are witnessing a point guard that can close a quarter and showed that he could do it in the playoffs… and also for a run of the mill regular season game.

–

Final words:
In Rondo We Trust.

Categories: Game Recap · In the News · Player Profile
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10 Questions for Jon Duke from Celtics Stuff Live

December 9, 2009 · 3 Comments

If you’re reading this blog, you might be one of the following:

  • A) a die hard Celtics fan
  • B) a casual basketball fan that likes to laugh at what a homer might say
  • C) my mother
  • D) a realist basketball lover that likes to read mind-boggling, cut-throat analysis of a game we all love
  • E) a very nice friend
CSL!

CSL!

If you are either A, B, or D, then you probably know about one of the best basketball podcasts out on the net: Celtics Stuff Live. Jon (@csl_duke), Justin (@csl_justin), and Kevin (@henkink) do a fabulous job of bringing together wonderful Celtics analysis that has plenty of humor organically woven into the show. You can catch their podcast every Sunday night when Jon, Justin, and Kevin have a special guest (such as Mike Gorman, Jess Camerato, Austin Ainge…), chat with live callers on air, and address email/twitter questions from fans. Additionally, once a week you can catch their weekly podcap after a Celtics game. Be sure to check their schedule each week at http://www.celticsstufflive.net.

I trust Jon and and Justin and Kevin’s take on the Celtics more than most. They have a wonderful eye for the game, and an even better appreciation of what it means to be a Celtic fan.

Jon was nice enough to answer some questions from Loscy.
Enjoy.

2008 Boston Celtics: World Champs.

2008 Boston Celtics: World Champs.

1. What’s the biggest difference between the way the 2008 team was built and the way the current 2010 team is built?
The biggest difference between construction of the 2008 and 2010 teams is arrival of Rasheed Wallace. Let’s not forget that until PJ Brown rolled into town in late February, the C’s relied on Leon Powe and rooke Glen Davis for their front court depth. It’s even more remarkable looking back that the team did as well as it did relying on young players in important reserve roles.

2. How many more good years does Pierce have in him?
Though it depends on what a “good year”  is, I’d say Pierce is good for another 3 years at an All Star level and 5 as a starter. The problem Paul faces is that the most athletic and diverse players on a court are the guys he has to guard. This may shrink his window of influence.

3. What’s the ceiling for Rondo?
Rajon Rondo does not have a ceiling. He has innate abilities and intuition about the game of basketball that will be with him until he’s 40. He has athleticism that can match anyone in the league. The only thing holding him back is not his unreasonably criticized jumpshot, but his inability to be a consistent force on the court. If Rondo can learn to be more consistent with his effort and aggression level, he can be the best point guard in the league.

Heeeeeeeeeeere's ¡Rondo!

Heeeeeeeeeeere's ¡Rondo!

4. Did you ever play basketball growing up? If so, what was your go-to move?
I “played” basketball, but I won’t snow you and tell you I was good. I was not. I was slow, unathletic, and until I turned 16, short. I loved the game as much as anyone, but that only goes so far and entering high school as one of the shortest kids in your class isn’t a great way to become a varsity player. Of course now I’m 6-2 and I bloomed a bit late, but the athleticism never really came around. As for a go-to move? It became a lot more effective for me when I grew, but I watched a lot of McHale growing up and his up and under was a frequent friend out of my bag of tricks.
5. What awards/accolades could you see any member of the Celtics winning this year (realistically or what you hope)?
Though it is a big man award, I think the only individual honor I see a Celtics player winning is the Defensive Player of the Year and Rajon Rondo being the recipient of that. Rondo racks up a ton of steals and he is becoming highly regarded as an on the ball defender. Of course he has a ways to go in not gambling for steals, but DPOY is, not unlike baseball’s Gold Glove, an award that doesn’t always go to the person most deserving.


6. Will the Celtics will another serious rebuilding era of 3-5 years after the window for this team closes, or can you see the Celts staying contenders (ECF Semi contenders) annually?
What the Celtics look like after The Big Three era ends will be answered in the next 18 months. Rondo is locked in and if he can become a more consistent threat then they should be competitive. The question is how the team makes over the wing positions. I would suspect Pierce is here for life, so a lot of this depends on whether Ray Allen re-signs this summer and how much he costs. Even if Pierce, Allen, and KG are not replaced with All Star players, you have to feel confident in Danny Ainge that he can get the guys he needs to fill in around Rondo (and possibly Perk if he re-signs after next year).
7. Do we need a real back-up point guard?
We need Marquise Daniels to get healthy and give him the keys to handle the ball full time. I don’t think anyone on the second unit knows who the “point guard” is and thus the group seems disorganized. I think a wing defender is a bigger priority right now because I think Eddie and Quisy will figure it out.
8. Could Tony Allen and Scal combined rent us a decent PG with an expiring contract?
Even in this era of a Swine Flu Pandemic, I would accept a bag of used kleenex for Tony Allen. As for Scal, until Glen Davis returns I wouldn’t want to pull the trigger on anything, but I’m not sure how much the Celtics get for these guys unless it is to assure the C’s of a chance to acquire a guy who might get bought out or take someone off of another team’s books. I think with the Summer of 2010 looming, it will be a weird trade market this February.
9. Do you see Perk getting re-signed for a long term deal once his contract is up?
I’d like to think Perk re-signs here and I see no reason why the Celtics wouldn’t want that. They will have plenty of cap space after next season, so they can back the Brinks truck up for him. I think the only issue for a Perk re-signing is how much will need to be devoted to adding a wing player will cost. Might it cost sending Perk in trade? Maybe, and writing that might make my CSL partner Justin Poulin’s head explode.
10. What are your thoughts on how the time share of minutes will work between Glen Davis (refusing to call him Baby) and Shelden?
Shelden started very strongly and I think saying that he’s been bad or knocked out of the rotation is unfair. However he does seem lost at times and still needs time to acclimate to his teammates. Still, Baby missed a lot of time and will be very rusty coming back. I would suspect that it will be a true competition for Shelden and Glen with perhaps each sharing the minutes Shelden has been occupying with one getting the minutes in the first half, and the other getting the second half minutes. May the best man win… so long as no one is getting punched in a moving vehicle.

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Be sure to check out Celtics Stuff Live for more information.
Thank you to Jon for your time and answers.

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Articles of the day: Perkins v. Bogut Had an Old-School Feel To It (via CelticsBlog); He [KG] Doesn’t Know What He’s Saying Half The Time (via Red’s Army); Daniels Out 8 Weeks: What Does This Mean For the C’s Bench (via CelticsHub)

Categories: In the News · Old School · Player Profile
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Kendrick Perkins is a freakin all-star: and you know this, man

December 5, 2009 · 14 Comments

Perk is a freakin' all-star: and you know this, man!

Perk is a freakin' all-star: and you know this, man!

There are things in life that we hold as pure truths. Life is better when we keep things simple. Honesty truly is the best policy. Random acts of kindness do actually make this world a better place. Kendrick Perkins is a freakin all-star.

Before the season started, I submitted a question to @csl_justin and @csl_duke from Celtics Stuff Live. The question was pretty straight forward: will Kendrick Perkins have a breakout year? I thought the answer was yes. Justin and Duke also thought yes. Perk was going to keep adding to his game, stepping up, and being as solid as ever. We were going to see a few more dimensions to his offensive game while steadily making his defensive prowess louder and more consistent.

Many of us thought yes. But did we think we’d see THIS KIND of breakout year?

Vote for Perk '10.

Vote for Perk '10.

We’ve known that Perk has been a stalwart defender for the last couple of seasons. Much of what made Perk so effective never shows up in the box score. You can’t quite quantify his importance to a team or its ability to win. But when KG went down shortly after the all-star break in February 2009, Perk matured in an instant. Perk filled in quite beautifully as the quarterback of our defense and to anchor the crew that was charged to make stops. The Celtics fan base observed this, soaked it in, and smiled because of it. This little known factoid became a national headline when the Celtics took on the Magicians during the Eastern Conference Semis. Dwight Howard was shut down, and it wasn’t the first time that season (read this article that was written during the series).

When Dwight Howard ate Cleveland alive during the ECF, everyone knew why: there was no defender strong, fast, or smart enough to shutdown Dwight. Perk has continued that kind of hidden but excruciatingly important defense this season.

But there is a difference. Yes we know that Perk does the dirty work. Perk muscles his way to clog up the paint against opponents attempting to slash to the hoop. Perk boxes out opponents’ bigs so that someone in green can get the boards. Perk plays help defense to force bad shots. This is the type of dirty work that just doesn’t show up in the stat sheet. Yeah, Perk’s still doing those things. But his slimmer physique has given him a considerably quicker first step. Perk can slide from one spot to another so much faster this year than in the past. In other words, Perk has the strength to body up a big one on one but now the quickness to cover more ground in less time.

So back to that difference: Perk’s play is starting to translate into noticeable stats:

  • Perk has 38 blocks this season, which is good for 5th best in the association.
  • Perk’s blocks are almost an equal balance between jump blocks and close blocks.
  • More impressive than that, Perk has a 1.88 ratio of blocks/fouls.
  • Perk is shooting 64% from the field. Whoa.
  • Perk is averaging a career high 12 ppg.

But the kicker in all of this? Perk’s game is continuing to develop in ways that still don’t show up in the stat sheet:

  • Perk’s improvement in setting legal screens (hip hip, hooray!).
  • Perk’s vision to see the passing lane.
  • Perk’s ability to execute a pass when a player is on the move and cutting to the hoop (very new).
  • Perk’s ability to not only back down a player on the post, but to also front him.
  • Perk’s evolving post moves: spins, hesitations, ball fakes.
  • Perk’s slowly increasing range from the baseline.

See more of his stats at 82games.com and basketball-reference.com.

Simply put, this man is a beast. Perk is truly contributing to making a great team greater.
Kendrick Perkins is a freakin all-star, so go get your vote on at http://voteforperk.blogspot.com (created by none other than @kwapt).

A vote for Perk is a vote for you.

A vote for Perk is a vote for you.

Categories: In the News · Player Profile
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Doin it and doin it and doin it well: Celts play defense and move the ball

December 4, 2009 · 5 Comments

Vote this beast onto the all-star team: http://www.voteforperk.blogspot.com

Vote this beast onto the all-star team: http://www.voteforperk.blogspot.com/

We’ve all been lost before. As a kid, I would get separated from my parents when I wandered off to explore something shiny. As a teenager, I would get separated from my friends when I wandered off to explore something shiny. As a husband, I still get separated from my wife when I wander off to explore something shiny.

There is a moment when we look around, can’t find our familiar faces, and we are overcome with emotion. That very instant of realization that we are lost is followed by either extreme panic or detective mode. We either become frozen from fear or look to find our way. The cool, calm, and collected approach is always the way to go.

In the last couple of weeks, some fans have been lost because they felt the Celtics were lost. We looked old. We looked slow. We looked out of sync. We looked old. So many of you that are reading this are shaking your head saying, “No, I didn’t think that! I knew it would be okay!” But don’t fool yourself. Lots of people were panicking. Lots of people were convinced the Celtics had lost their way.

But you know who wasn’t panicking? The Celtics. You know who knew the Celtics weren’t lost? The Celtics.

In the last 5 games, the Celtics have been playing pretty well. The Celtics didn’t go into extreme panic when dropping a few games in a short week and a half span; they went into detective mode. There were comments from Danny. There were comments from Doc. Both gentlemen made it publicly clear that the players needed to clean up their act. They were the only ones that could fix the inconsistencies in their play. The players figured out what they were missing: they returned to playing within their means and rediscovered their identity.

Dare I say it... is he back?

Dare I say it... is he back?

The current Celtics team is built on team defense. We win by playing defense. We have weak-side helpers that force opponents into tough shots. We have weak-side helpers to help the helpers force opponents into difficult situations. We rotate. We share the defensive load. Our perimeter defenders are just as important as the interior ones. Two years ago, the team talked about the “no lay-up” philosophy. If a team kills us because they are making tough, long-range, low-percentage shots, then so be it. The Celts weren’t going to give up any bunnies.

But this year, in games that we have lost and in close games that we have won, our defensive rotations were egregiously slow. Recently, though, we have been rotating. From my couch and section 322, we are playing with a fiery intensity. We aren’t giving up when players get by. Instead, we are fouling them, sending them a message, and forcing them to earn their points. We aren’t taking defensive possessions off. We are playing hard on defense to get the ball back to the other side of court. We are sliding. We are talking. We are rotating. We look alive. Thank goodness, we look alive.

Collpase! Collapse! Collapse!

Collpase! Collapse! Collapse!

When we played Phoenix (and lost), Indiana (and lost), and Orlando (and lost), we played to their game. We accommodated and adapted to their style. We are not a flat-out uptempo team. We are a team that can have up-tempo possessions, but all fast pace / max out on shot attempts doesn’t play into our strength. Quality, not quantity. Our strength is in our half-court sets. It’s not always the traditional half-court set: we can push and set up quickly because our PG is the damn near fastest thing on earth besides U-Bolt. We have bigs that can run. We have swingmen that know where to set up on the wing and when to move. When Rondo is aggressive and getting to the hoop, shots open up. When players are making cuts, shots open up. When we are mixing up the tempo by pushing the ball up the court and settling into our offense, shots open up. When it comes down to it, though, when we move the ball, we get good looks. Our starting 5 are all competent passers. The unselfish mentality makes passing even easier. We have a pure point guard that looks to create and has incredible court vision. We have one of the best passing power forwards in the history of the game. We have a small forward that can do anything he wants whenever he wants.

All day. Every day.

All day. Every day.

If we make our defensive stops first and just move the ball on offense, this team will be unstoppable. We are too deep, to cohesive, and too good to lose if we play the way we play.

It’s actually pretty simple: our defense breaks down other teams’ offense and our offense breaks down other teams’ defense. In the last few games, we’ve been doin it and doin it and doin it well.

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Article of the day: The Semi Transition Game: Embrace it (via CelticsHub)

Picture of the day:

By Jordan.

By Jordan.

Categories: Game Recap · In the News · Player Profile
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