Can't Hibernate on these Bears

The Celtics' inability to play defense and or rebound the basketball is becoming very concerning. Outside of Kevin Garnett and Chris Wilcox where are your rebounds coming from?

Rajon Rondo was an exceptional rebounder at his position, but who else can clean the glass? Going to be very difficult tonight as they face the number one defense (points allowed) in the Memphis Grizzlies. This defensive machine is fueled by Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol rebounding, defending, and blocking shots like no other power forward/center combo in the league. 

In addition to a powerhouse frontcourt, the Grizzlies also have a very good point guard Mike Conley and old friend Tony Allen is an elite on the ball defender. The Celtics only hope is to hit outside shots to free space inside, otherwise Randolph and Gasol will dominate the boards. Thankfully KG is a great shooter and will force the Memphis bigs to drift out to the perimeter.

The Grizzlies are a top five team in the NBA and are strong in many areas of Celtic weakness. In fact their only flaw is their offense, which has stalled on them this year and in seasons’ past.  Now without the offensive explosion of  Rudy Gay (traded to the Raptors) the Grizz rely on a dominant post game, the three shooting of Conley, and whatever offense they can get out of Tayshaun Prince and other role players.

The Celtics only chance of winning this game is to play nothing less than stellar defense, spread the floor,  and contain Randolph on the glass. KG and the outside shooters will have to play great to draw the Memphis rebounders away from the basket. Another key to this match up is controlling the initail point of attack. C's point guard Avery Bradley will need to meet this challenge head on as he'll try and slow the best Memphis shooter; Conley. Mike Conley has torched his last three opponents with 20 or more points.

The Celtics need to awaken from their three game hibernation, but its hard to see these Bears’ letting that happen tonight at the home den. 

Sources:

www.espn.com

Images:

www.si.com

www.espn.com

www.google.com

Game 2: Reckoning Day

5/6/11

Game 2: Reckoning Day

Last summer when the Miami Heat formed their “super dream team” I instantly thought that they were significantly better than last year. Miami had instantly become a fifty plus win team, a top four team in the Eastern conference, a highlight factory on a nightly basis, but never supposed to be a championship caliber team so soon. I maligned them as the “wrong big three” in two separate blog posts and in countless off the Internet conversations. I spoke of their lack of an inside presence, lack of team depth, and how LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were uncomplimentary superstars:

          My exact words were: "The Heat are an upper echelon team in the Eastern Conference because of the sheer talent of James, Wade, and Bosh, along with the fact that these players are surrounded by good shooters. James Jones, Eddie House, and (when he returns) Mike Miller are all great three-point shooters. LeBron and Wade are very similar players, but when you surround them with shooters to spread the floor they become more dangerous. When the defense is spread out to cover perimeter shooting there is more open room on the court for LBJ and D-Wade to drive to the basket". (Heat Have Wrong Big Three)

In game 1 we saw the danger of the potent three point shooters of Miami. We saw the Boston Celtics pull their defense in towards the basket to hinder the slashing Wade and James, only to get scorched by shooters (left wide open). James Jones lit up the scoreboard with a barrage of three pointers and 25 total points. This allowed Wade and LeBron to relentlessly hammer the paint, score the basketball, and spend virtually the entire game at the free throw line. In Game 2 LeBron and Dwyane punished the Celtics with their high-octane transition offense and potent inside attack. 

Miami's athleticism overpowered Boston on both sides of the floor and the more aggressive team dominated. Miami's 9 blocks compared to Boston's 2, Miami's 36 free throws to Boston's 22, and the 44 to 38 rebounding advantage all told this gruesome tale of Celtic defeat. Boston has no chance in this kind of up-tempo game and could only hope to win the way they did in the regular season. Dictate the pace of the game and force Miami to play in the half court. Never let them get out in transition and always be the more aggressive team. Play a game in which you bully them around by making LBJ and D-Wade work on the defensive end, and press them at their weak points; interior defense and point guard.

          Step 1: Make Miami’s Best Defend: When you do not force LeBron or Dwyane to work hard on the defensive end, they are free to expend all of their energy on offense, where they will destroy you. This is what Miami has done to nullify Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. As Paul and Ray are spending all of their energy on the defensive end, they are too fatigued to be aggressive on offense. Pierce especially needs to be the aggressor towards the basket and finally put some pressure on Miami’s dynamic duo. Also, Jeff Green and Delonte West need to continue with their timely shooting from Game 2, but most importantly need to provide defensive support at the small forward and shooting guard slots. Starters’ and bench players alike need to put some weight on the defensive shoulder’s of Flash and King James.

          Step 2: Dominate the Point: Rajon Rondo played great in Game 2 and will need to continue his assault on the weak Miami point guards. Rondo needs to ignite the fast break only after his team makes a defensive stop. Opening up the track meet with Miami will only hurt the C’s unless used wisely. Rondo needs to dominate at the PG position and when the Heat throws a bigger man on him, he must find the open teammate for an easy score. He can also greatly contribute to the execution of Step 1 with his uncanny quickness to the hoop; expect greatness from Rondo in this game.

Step 3: Lean on a weak interior: Perhaps this goes hand and hand with step 1, but attacking the basket will solve each step. Miami does not have a real center of any kind and this must be exposed. If Shaquille O'neal plays in this game Step 3 will be a walk in the park; as he can finish inside and abuse the 6’9 Joel Anthonys’ of the world. With our without Shaq Boston needs easy baskets, fouls called against the Heat, and to establish a physical and aggressive tone in the paint. To bring down a wall lean on its weakest point with all of your might; the Miami interior can be brought down.

Now the Celtics face a reckoning day with the Heat, a day that I thought would never come to be. The time has come for a reckoning with the fact that Miami is ready for a championship. That LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have clicked at the right time and have elevated the play of a depthless team. A time to realize D-Wade and especially LBJ are out for blood. In recent years Boston has become the ultimate slayer of one-man superstar teams. They dispatched the one man shows of Wade last year, and LeBron twice in three years. However, they have never faced a foe with two superstars of this caliber.

Saturday night's Game 3 is an absolute must win for the Green, as without a victory Boston will be down in an insurmountable hole. In NBA history there are been 98 teams down three games to one in a best of seven series, none of come back to win. Several players on the Celtics have echoed the "Do or Die" nature of this pivotal Game 3. If Boston can defend home court and win the next two games (re-tying the series) I see them being able to take this series in Game 7, but it all starts with this Reckoning Day.

Sources:

www.espn.com

Images:

www.si.com

www.espn.com

Game 1: Behind the Eight Ball

5/1/11

Game 1: Behind the Eight Ball

It seemed as if Doc River’s frustration went unheralded in Sunday night’s nine-point defeat to the Miami Heat. Rivers knows the pulse of his team very well and is always on point with what they need to do to improve. Throughout TNT broadcast of the debacle of a loss that was Game1; Rivers was heard in the “WIRED” audio clips urging his team to not play into the hands of the Heat: “...if you think you're going to beat them in an athletic contest, you're kidding yourselves”.

Other similar audio clips of River’s barking messages of urgency at his team seemed to have no effect on their play. As the Boston Celtics continued to play right into the hands of the Heat, and the game slipped away. Miami is a younger and more athletic team that wants to get out and run. Dwayne Wade and LeBron James are the best transition offensive players in the NBA and will eat you alive if you turn the ball over. This is what Doc urged his team not to do, but the turnovers piled up and the loss ensued.

When you turn the ball over LBJ and D-Wade fly down the court for alley-opp dunks, or they can be seen driving the lane for a basket and a foul. The Celtics kept turning the ball over and they kept trying to play an up-tempo game against The up-tempo team. It was sad to see the more experienced veteran team be pushed around so much. You cannot get behind this Heat team, play their game, and lose your composure and expect to win.

When you are behind against the Heat you try harder to score quickly and that is just a formula for disaster. The Celtics (as Doc stated post game)were not patient in their offense at all, despite out scoring the Heat in the second half. You cannot get behind the eight ball against this team because as you saw the Celtics would make a run, make the game close,and then all of the sudden be down by ten. It was so sad to see the Celtics let the Heat dictate the game and do all of the things they weren’t able to do in the regular season. Now it is up to the Will of the Big Four, the coaching of Doc Rivers, and some timely plays from the bench to retake this series.

Every time you hear Doc preach in game during time outs he impressively aware of game situations and precisely what his players need to do to win. Rivers is very much like Phil Jackson; knowing how to motivate his team very well and how to succeed in the postseason. Although not nearly as decorated as Jackson (with championships) Doc has become an excellent playoff coach taking his team to the finals two out of the last three years. He will be able to correct the issues we all saw in Game 1 and have his players ready for a must win Game 2. Make no mistake that if the Celtics get behind the eight ball again and play the Heat’s game; they will lose.

Sources Used

http://www.espn.com/

Photo:

ESPN: Photo gallery

The Missing Piece

Game 1: Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

The Boston Celtics finished the regular season as the best defensive team in the league (in terms of points allowed per game 91.1). In the Championship season of 2007/2008 defense was the winning formula for the Celtics. Despite again being the NBA's best defense this past season, there has been something missing from this team's defensive effort. Ever since the Kendrick Perkins trade and the injuries to Shaquille O'neal and Jermaine O'neal, this team has desperately lacked defensive production from the center position.

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal between the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics was determined by intense defense and clutch shooting. Many are not used to see the Knicks play any sort of defense, but they were a different team on Sunday night (holding Boston to 87 points). As well as New York defended the Celtics had a defensive stopper of their own, and his name was Jermaine O'neal. The much maligned six time all star has been injured nearly all season, but shined through in his first playoff game as a Celtic. O'neal made all six of his shots, grabbed four rebounds, blocked four shots, and in only twenty minutes greatly helped the Celtics in the victory.

This is what had been missing; a defensive presence in the paint to swat shots away and allow Kevin Garnett more free roam. KG is an excellent one on one defender, pressuring the ball, stealing the ball, bothering shots with his length, and is the best defensive communicator in the NBA. He can guard any position effectively, but does operate best with a defensively sound center at his side (which is true for any big man). Garnett and Perkins were so effective because Perk would hold down the fort underneath the basket while KG patrolled the paint. Jermaine backed up KG and was superb in this game and again proving why the Celtic's truly need a solid defensive center.

The Celtics should have no trouble surpassing the Knicks in the first wave of the postseason and will do so within five games (worst case scenario in six). Jermaine played very well in Game 1 and set the defensive tone for the night, but the game still came down to the wire and into the cold blooded hands of Ray Allen. This is why I named him the “Irreplaceable man” a player who you always want taking the big shots in the crucial moments. Ray continues to add to his storied history of hitting clutch shots and his game winning three pointer with 0:11 on the clock was yet another piece of greatness.

The Will of Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnet is at championship strength this year. They will never quit and they will never cease to will their way to victory, but they need a supporting cast to win a title. In Game 1 Jermaine O'neal was nothing short of a star supporter for the Big Four and his contributions from the Center position were invaluable. With, or especially without Shaq, the Celtics need this type defensive intensity from Jermaine. To emerge from the Eastern Conference past the Heat and Bulls they will need strong interior defense; to expose Miami's weakness and to combat Chicago's strength

Sources

http://www.espn.com/

http://www.weei.com/

Photos

ESPN Photo Gallery

Separation Anxiety May be Real:

 When Danny Ainge hastily traded away Kendrick Perkins (and virtually the entire second unit) I chalked it up to be nothing more than separation anxiety. Nervousness spawned in the wake of missing Perkins. This was the only ill effect I thought the trade would cause to the Boston Celtics. However, I could not have been more mistaken about Troy Murphy's ability to contribute, the health of Shaquille O'neal, and the severe damage caused to team chemistry. Making matters seem even worse is Ainge's admission that he never would have made this trade if he could have resigned Perkins long term.

This trade did increase the offensive talent of the team, but the damage done to a championship level team chemistry is now readily apparent. The Celtics have complied a 14-12 record (with one remaining) since the trades happened and have fallen from the Eastern Conference's top seed down to the third. This is not a losing record and the postseason has yet to be told, but this team has looked lost and has been spectacularly inconsistent. One night they lose to the  Charlote Bobcats without their best player (Stephen Jackson) and on another night the defeat the San Antonio Spurs by ten points on the road. This inconsistency is eerily similar to the 2009/2010 Celtics.

At this time last year the Celtics had five less regular season wins, inexplicable problems on their home court, and were the fourth seed in the East. Yet I knew they had an excellent chance to turn up the heat in the playoffs and make a run to the Finals. They had no deficiencies on defense with Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace, Kevin Garnett and that staring unit had never lost a playoff series. Also, I incessantly refereed to the concept of “the Will of the Big Four”, how they would not let failure happen. This carried them all the way to the brink of an 18th Championship banner, yet in the end was not quite enough. Despite the better regular season this year, it is harder to feel so strongly about this team “flipping the switch” when the postseason begins.

The Celtics have a much tougher road to the finals this time around; as they will not have a push over opponent in the first round , they will have to face the Chicago Bulls, and there will be no Kendrick Perkins. However, the most difficult challenge that awaits the Celtics is competing for a title bout with many new and inexperienced team mates. The will of the Big Four is still strong, but without a supporting cast this will cannot and will not be imposed. Without significant contributions from Jeff Green, Delonte West, Jermaine O'neal, and something from Shaq this team will not even return to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Garnett is an excellent defensive player and a floor general for his defense, but without a brute center he can be exposed. Garnett is tall and lean and not meant to be a physical presences down low (like Kendrick did so well). The greatest risk of trading Perkins was banking on the fact that Shaq would return and that he would combine with Jermaine O'neal to fill the void at center. Now Shaq's health is still a blaring question mark as the playoffs approach. Without Shaq at their disposal, there has to been angst about Boston's championship aspirations. Maybe this team truly and desperately does miss the defensive toughness of Perk, but more importantly they miss the  camaraderie of a team that had been to two Finals in three years.

Keep in mind that the validity of this trade cannot be truly finalized until the Celtics complete their postseason gauntlet run. I was wrong that the trade did not instantly make this team better or instantly more equipped to reach and win the NBA Finals. I was  also wrong that this team's chemistry would not suffer so dramatically. However, until this team is eliminated from playoff contention this situation remains nothing more than separation anxiety.

Sources

http://www.espn.com/

http://www.weei.com/

Photos

Google Images

Heat Have Wrong Big Three II:

On the first day of December I proclaimed the Miami Heat to have the "Wrong Big Three"  (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh). I discredited this Heat team by speaking to the fact that they do not have the defensive personell to contend for a title. Also speaking to the fact that they have all the talent in the world to win any one given contest, but not a seven game series against The Boston Celtics or Chicago Bulls. Yet after this proclamation of a faulty "Big Three" Miami  soared to new heights, winning 21 out of 22 games, before crashing back to earth in a 1-5 skid.

The Heat again began to ascend with an eight game winning streak until they matched up with the Celtics. Boston clinched the season series between the two rivals with their thrid win over Miami this year. After picking themselves up from the Boston defeat, the fickle world of professional sports fans and media revised their thoughts on the Heat (considering them title contenders once again). This is due to an upswing in the Heat's play as they have beaten the  L.A. Lakers and San Antonio Spurs in recent times. The knock on Miami this year has been that they cannot beat any of the top teams in the NBA. Now that they have (beaten two of the best), people who were ripping them during their five game losing streak, are ready to praise them, and ride their coat tails to promise land.

To say that as a (unoffical) sports analyst I have never been fickle is not true, nor was that my intention to imply that. I am simply saying that all season long I've remained steadfast on my stance that the Miami Heat will fail in the posteason. Of all the top seeded playoff teams in the East and West, Miami is by far the most depthless and has glaring weaknesses at point guard, power forward, and center. This team has incredible offesnive talent; with two of the best slashers to ever play the game (James and Wade) that are surrounded by potent three point shooters. However, asisde from Miami's offensive prowess this team's interior defense is simply not there.

Chris Bosh does not play effective interior defense and as great as LBJ and D-Wade are, they just are not big enough to defend centers and power forwards. The only interior defender to speak of and respect is Udonis Haslem, but he has only played thirteen games this season (due to injury). Zydrunas Ilgauskus, Juwan Howard, Jamaal Magloire, and Erick Dampier has to be the worst and oldest front line in the NBA, and leaves the Heat more than vulnerable inside. To escape the Eastern Conference playoffs you will need to defeat the Celtics or Bulls in a series. You will need size on the defensive end and an elilte point guard to slow down Derrick Rose and or Rajon Rondo.

The Heat lack the qualifactions to eliminate the Bulls or Celtics in the postseaon, because their greatest strength is attacking the basket. Lebron James is the greatest slasher in the game today. A man who uses his strength, power, and speed to penetrate into the paint and "slash" to the basket. James is their best player and driving to the basket is his most prized skill. The reason this does not serve his team well against the Bulls and Celtics is because both of those teams have great size and stalwart defenses.

Boston (when healthy) has the biggest paint clogger in NBA history in Shaquille O'neal, Jermaine O'neal, Kevin Garnett, and not to mention another seven footer in Nenad Kristic. Do the Celtics miss Kendrick Perkins in this area? Of course they do. However, as long as the O'neals can return and team up with KG, Miami would have no chance to dominate the paint. Chicago is similarly poised to stall the Heat's main attack with a stout front line of Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer. Perhaps an even greater challenge for Miami would be trying to hinder Rose or Rondo, and Mike Bibby certainly can't do that.

The Miami Heat will be a great team within the next two to three years if they keep their "Big Three' intact and add defensive minded and capable players. Of all the star players that have won championships in NBA history, they never did it alone. You need a "team" to win in Basketball, whether you are Michael Jordan or Larry Bird you need your role players, team depth, and you need interior defense. When Dwyane Wade won his championship with the Heat he had a true team. A team with Shaq O'neal and Alonzo Mourning anchoring the defense, Gary Payton distrubuting the ball, and of course the brillant play of Wade himself. The 2010/2011 Miami team is the polar opposite of the last South Beach champions.

Maybe the Celtics or Bulls won't even play Miami in the playoffs, but if they do the Heat are in too deep with the wrong Big Three.

Sources

http://www.espn.com/

http://www.basketball-reference.com/

Images
www.google.com
www.si.com



Separation Anxiety

My first reaction to the trade of Kendrick Perkins was outrage and confusion, as it seemed the Celtics gave away their best defensive player for no reason. Some would say Kevin Garnett is the Celtic’s best defense player, but Perkins has youth and has not yet reached his full potential . Garnett is the defensive leader unquestionably and is the more versatile defender, however Perkins is that enforcer down low. Perk is someone who can defend any center or power forward in the league with his brute physicality. Yet  what seemed worse than losing their best interior defender in KP-43, was disrupting team chemistry.

This trade makrs the end of the starting five that had never lost a playoff series, and a tight knit group that played for one another. This trade disrupts such a close relationship between a group of men that won a championship together. Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, and many others in the organization saw Perkins come into the league out of high school at age 18. Perkins would grow into one of the best centers in the NBA and help raise the Celtics' 17^th Championship Banner. Kevin Garnett's comment: "it feels like we lost a family member" tells you just how close these players are. Now it is time to say goodbye to a part of this team, a key cog in the Celtic machine that churned out a championship and  nearly another, falling short in game 7 of the NBA Finals.

You have to feel for Perk who suffered a horrible season ending injury in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, and you've got  respect how hard he battled to rehab and get back out on the court this season. It is time to say goodbye to what so many of us thought was the strength of the 2010-2011 Boston Celtics, the Bigs. The front line of big men Shaquille O’neal, Kendrick Perkins, and Kevin Garnett that was going to nullify the size of the Lakers, Orlando’s Dwight Howard, and any other front line in the NBA. However, after simmering for a few days on this trade, I've come to understand that we are all just suffering from a little bit of Perkins separation anxiety.

The fans of Boston and his teamates loved Kendrick Perkins and it is sad to see him go, but its time to remember to trust Danny Ainge. A risk taker indeed at the General Manager position, but don't forget he is the magaican who transformed a 24 win team into NBA Champions (seemingly overnight). Yes, the vaunted front line is no more, and yes the team chemistry has taken a major blow, and yes the Big 5 will never have a chance to defend their title, but they are better now. Many (including myself) believe that if Perkins does not tear his ACL in Game 6, that the Boston Celtics would have prevailed over the Lakers. In that series the victor of each game won the battle of the boards, and the Celtics were outrebounded  easily without Perkins in Game 7. This was the mission in the off-season: To overload the team with size and rebounders, and never be out muscled by a bigger team again.

Danny Ainge added free agent centers Shaq and Jermaine O'neal, and drafted 7'0 Semih Erden from Turkey. This was done so that never again would his team lose the rebounding battle in a playoff series. This was also in conjunction with the return of a healthy Perkins, but now he and Erden have both been traded away. The reason why this trade seemed so outlandish at first is because it seemed that Ainge had abaonded his plan of amassing rebounders.

Ainge cleared out roster spots for a reason and now the Celtics have added Troy Murphy, who is a proven rebounder and a skilled offense player to boot. The Celtics also replaced Semih Erden with another seven footer in Nenad Kristic, and had inside knowledge on the health of the O'neals. Shaq will be returning soon and Jermaine is on his way to being back on the court by the end of March. In the end these trades made the Celtics a much better offensive team, restored team depth, and finally ended  the two year search for a replacement of James Posey.

In the 2007/2008 Championship winning season the Celtics had a wing player in Posey that could defend the Lebron James' and Kobe Bryants' of the NBA. In addtion they had someone reliable to knock down clutch outside shots. Most importantly they had a player who could spell Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, keeping the veterans fresh for closing out games. Yes, it does remain to be seen if Jeff Green can execute this very role, but he possesses superior atlethic talent (that Posey never had). Also, Green is taller, longer, bigger, and is starter material, as Posey was always a bench player. Taking nothing away from Posey who Iis an elilte sixth man, Green is simply a suped up verison of J.P. who averages more points, rebounds, and has serious untapped potential (in only his fourth year). Green averages 14.2 points per game along with 5.7 rebounds and was the third scoring option behind two superstar players on the Thunder.

The Celtics have improved greatly with these new acqusitions, and as sad as it feels to say goodbye to Kendrick Perkins, this team is better. The Celtics unquestionably got weaker on defense, but at the same time became exponetially better offensively. With big men Kristic and Murphy (who are  forever more skilled than Perk offensively)  the number one defense in the league (91.3 ppg) may have lost some muscle, but the team has gained rebounding, outside shooting, inside scoring, and most importantly healthy bodies.

 It is importnat to remember that Kendrick did decline a contract offer from Boston eariler in the season and he got a far more lucrative from Oklahoma City (36 million over four years). He is also going to a great Western Conference team that was in desperate need of a defensive center like Perkins. Once the Separation anxiety subsides and the wins start rolling in, fans and teammates alike will move on.

Sources:

http://www.espn.com/

http://www.weei.com/

Photos:

http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi