As I Wonder Why It Snowed Again

Celtics:
Well the train keeps rolling for Doc Rivers bunch. Who would’ve guessed it? If this team had a legit player in the pivot, they’d be championship material. I wonder if Kareem can still play.

Patriots:
If the rumors are true that Tedy Bruschi is taking next year off, I can’t help but think that a) it’s a good idea in general and b) since he hasn’t publicly talked about his stroke and mini hole in his heart, that it really doesn’t appear likely that he’ll ever play again. And the fact that he hired agent Brad Blank to represent him, (he’s never had an agent), speaks volumes about his future. Can you say retirement settlement? As for needs, they will definitely need to replace him at inside linebacker; but his leadership qualities will be hugely missed.

Red Sox:
As the season draws near, I still think this team, minus Lowe and Pedro, will give the Yanks a run for their money. I think David Wells is going to be huge, no pun intended, for them. Watch for a trading deadline deal for even better pitching, think Florida Marlins and AJ Burnett.

Bruins:
Nobody even remembers hockey anymore. That’s ok. I’d rather watch Lifetime with my better half than a Bruins game.

Off-Topic:
And a special thank you for the introduction to Billie Holiday; like Larry Bird and Bobby Orr, they’ll never be another!

Some Sport Thoughts

As I sit here and await the warmer weather, some thoughts about the local sports scene:

The Celtics:
Will everybody finally give Danny Ainge the credit he deserves for dismantling a Celtic team that was going nowhere and reassembling a team that is 35-29 and on its way to winning the Atlantic Division? He’s taken a lot of heat from the local media, in particular WEEI am radio, and it’s time that he finally gets some long overdue credit.

I haven’t even touched on the draft picks that have stardom written all over them. As Cedric Maxwell said, Al Jefferson may be their best draft pick since Kevin McHale. Delonte West will be their starting point guard within two years and Tony Allen will be a key contributor for them off the bench. How will they do in the playoffs? I don’t know, but I certainly think anyone is beatable and that includes Miami and Detroit. If they don’t bring Antoine Walker back next year, then they may as well trade Paul Pierce since he seems to only flourish with Antoine by his side.

The Patriots:
It certainly doesn’t sound good for Tedy Bruschi, who now has undergone heart surgery. The team will draft an inside linebacker early just in case he can’t play anymore. If I were he, I wouldn’t play again.

As for the player departures, I’m completely not concerned as each player will be replaced; hence Duane Starks and Tim Dwight for Ty Law and Troy Brown. In Bill we trust.

The Red Sox:
And as for the Red Sox, I just can’t get into spring training, I never could.

I am so bored with the steroid talk I can’t deal with it! As David Lee Roth said on WZLX this week, “who cares!” If that’s what they want to do to their bodies, let them.

Off Topic:
And if you really want a laugh, watch the outtakes from Austin Powers Two. That’s it from here. Be well.

Steven with Belle and Lars 

Celtic’s Draft and Party a Complete Success

The expression goes something like ‘build it and they will come.’ Well the Celtic’s threw a draft party, and everybody came and went home satisfied with everything from the outstanding food to the selections Danny Ainge and company made in the 2004 NBA Draft. With the 15th selection in the NBA Draft, Boston selected 19-year-old power forward Al Jefferson from Prentiss, Mississippi High School. With the number 24 pick they selected 6-4 shooting guard Delonte West from St. Joseph’s. And with the 25th pick they selected 6-4 guard Tony Allen from Oklahoma State. And in the second round they selected a rarity amongst today’s draftees, a senior from Mississippi, 6-8 forward Justin Reed.

Jefferson is 6’10” and weighs in at 265 pounds. His senior year he averaged a whopping 42.6 points and 18.0 rebounds a game. He has been compared to Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire. Danny Ainge said that “he’s one of the few big, young guys in the draft, but he’s got a ways to go. He’s not ready to make an impact, but he’s got great basketball instincts. The thing I like about this guy is he loves to play basketball and he’s tough, and he has an NBA body. We’re very excited.” If he becomes Amare Stoudemire (with more offensive repertoire), then the Celtic’s will have found their stud up front to take the load off of Paul Pierce.

In Delonte West and Tony Allen, Ainge and Coach River’s hope that they may have found their future starting backcourt that will comprise of one guy, West, who can shoot lights out and hopefully will become a point guard in time, ala Chauncy Billups. On Delonte West, Ainge said “we think Delonte West can play point (Ainge rated him the second best point guard in the draft after Shaun Livingston). Maybe not in the traditional fashion of point guards, but we think he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the game because his decision-making is right up there with the best of them.” And in Tony Allen, they have the Big 12 player of the year who is known for his tenacious defense, speed, and ability to score. Rivers said, “ I liked his toughness. When he got inside the 3-point line, he was almost unguardable. He got to the basket whenever he felt like it.”
Where those picks leave the status of Marcus Banks, last year’s number one pick, is anyone’s guess. As Danny Ainge said” there’s going to be a lot of competition in the backcourt.”

The second round selection of Justin Reed, evoked comments from Ainge such as “he’s a Corliss Williamson type; he’s bigger, stronger (at the three) than what we didn’t have.
I like his toughness. I love his intensity. He can score. He can defend. He can rebound.” He may be a better scoring option than last year’s number 2 pick Brandon Hunter, who was recently lost in the expansion draft to the Charlotte Bobcats. There may not be room on the roster for this young man either, but if that’s because the other picks step up to the plate, then that will termed a “good thing.”

With the draft complete, the only need the Celtic’s did not fill was finding a big man to replace the imminent departure of free-agent center Mark Blount. That is why had Seattle not chosen Bakersfield High School 7-footer Robert Swift at number 12, The Celtics probably would’ve chosen him. As of July 1st, they can begin talking to free agents and as of July 15th, they can sign a mid-level exception to a contract beginning at more than $5 million. The rumor mill has them liking Wizards restricted free agent power forward Etan Thomas, along with Adonal Foyle and Antonio McDyess. Personally I always like Foyle dating back to his college days at Colgate. If McDyess is healthy, he’d be a great addition and a steal at the mid-level exception. And if they can add a low-cost center like Michael Doleac to fill the void, well, if Jefferson and McDyess for example eat up the boards, it will compensate for not having a big-time center for the time being.

A roster of McDyess, Jefferson, Pierce, Atkins, West, Allen, Banks, Welsch, LaFrenz, and Mihm, along with Doc Rivers calling the shots, sounds almost as appetizing as the great feast the Celtic’s owners put on for everyone on draft night!

6/28/04

Catching Up With Wyc Grousbeck

As Danny Ainge oversees the rebuilding process for the Boston Celtics this summer, the man who will oversee Danny Ainge, Wyc Grousbeck, the Managing Partner and Governorof the Boston Celtics, took some time to answer some questions regarding the future of his team.

The Celtics formally announced the hiring of two new assistant coaches, Dave Wohl and Tony Brown to Doc Rivers’ staff. Wohl coached with Rivers in Orlando and Tony Brown, a lifelong friend of Rivers, coached last year in Miami. Wyc is very impressed with the chemistry the three guys share as a coaching unit, commenting that they are “commanding and accomplished.” Last Tuesday, they were working out high school draft prospect Al Jefferson, a 6’9” 250 pound prospect from Prentiss, Ms. In general, he was very impressed with how the college and high school kids have been “snapping to attention” as the new coaching staff runs the pre-draft workouts. Since Tony and Dave have been on board unofficially for two weeks, they have seen everybody that Danny has brought in for workouts. Doc has seen mostly film of the prospects as he is still doing color commentary for the NBA playoffs.As for the rumor mill buzzing about former Celtic Ed Pinckney joining the staff, Wyc issued a “not speculating at this time.”

In terms of the previous administration, most recently interim coach John Carroll, Wyc thought he did a “good job in tough circumstances.” He did not feel that he was over his head, and in fact, they actually negotiated an option for him to be the head coach this year had the situation worked out. This was an action that revealed they were confident in Carroll’s abilities. He did manage to help guide the team into the playoffs, which is what Wyc wanted, and rightly so. As he put it, “losing is not acceptable,” and winning “builds character.” Unfortunately for Coach Carroll, it did not work out in the end and the Celtics moved in another direction.

Since Danny Ainge is the official “wheeler and dealer” on this club, Wyc wouldn’t speculate on any potential moves. I did mention 3 names whom are legitimate number two wing players to support Paul Pierce and fill the void left by Antoine Walker’s departure: Donyell Marshall, Jamal Mashburn, and Maurice Taylor. His comments were that a) he thought the consensus in the organization were that the priority needs were a 1 and a 5 (point guard and center/power forward), versus a wing player (he felt that Jiri Welsch and Ricky Davis provided steady number two players); b) he was “not encouraged” from what he read concerning Mashburn’s health issues; c) that Coach Rivers feels their number one need is an “aggressive big- man that can make them tougher”; and that they will use their mid-level cap slot to help the team, and it will probably come from a list of “recognizable names.”The Celtics are not averse to taking a point guard, but they also feel they’re all set at the position. Doc Rivers is high on Marcus Banks (“I do look at guys like Marcus Banks as a guy who can help us become a better basketball team-today. I like his potential, he’s got a bright future.” Boston.com). And of course Doc Rivers coached Chucky Atkins in Orlando.

All of this off-season activity has already generated a buzz for the Celtics fans in Boston. Wyc said that season ticket sales are way ahead of last year’s pace, which he wished to thank the fans for that. And the team has actually kept ticket prices flat and/or lowered them to make them more attainable for fans. The draft is 3 weeks away, and then the free agency period and trade talks will begin. And with the Doc Rivers era about to begin, Wyc Grousbeck is “more excited than he’s ever been.” Let the summer of rebuilding begin.

05/31/04