Magic Johnson

The Los Angeles Clippers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder yesterday, eliminating their championship title hopes.  Despite losing, the Clippers and their players should feel proud for how hard they played, and what they had to deal with.  Especially considering what their owner, Donald Sterling has been doing the past few weeks.  Yesterday, he said he wouldn't pay the fine Commissioner Adam Silver told him he had to pay, and a few days ago, he gave his first interview since audio of him making derogatory/racist remarks was leaked.  It was what I expected, considering the reputation Sterling has.  He came off as a deluded, sorry, weak old man, with no remorse for his actions.  What shocked me most, though, was when he went after Magic Johnson.  In case you don't know what Sterling said, here's the clip of it...

I'll be honest, I'm not the biggest Magic Johnson fan because I love the Boston Celtics, he's a terrible color commentator, and he has too much exposure, but I respect him for everything he's done to turn his life around and help others.  Not just for those who have HIV, but the African-American community as well.  Has Magic done some bad things?  Yes!  Being actively promiscuous as he was is a negative thing that should not be praised, but everyone makes mistakes; he deserves a second chance like everyone else in our society.  The HIV Magic has is just one aspect of his life.  It's a negative thing, but he fought it just like everything else in his life.  Donald Sterling wants to attack Magic for the negative, but misses all the positives Magic has done, like being a role model, which he would know about if he did some research or used the billions of dollars he has to educate himself better.  But in the case of Donald Sterling, he's too old, and it's too late for him to change.  Luckily, Magic Johnson did, and it's made all the difference in the world for himself and others.

Kevin Durant: Most Valuable Person

Kevin Durant won his first MVP award a few days ago, which was expected, considering the season he had, carrying the small market Oklahoma City Thunder to one of the best records in the NBA yet again.  But one thing that wasn't expected, was the emotional and powerful speech he gave, where he cried and thanked all those who helped him get to where he is today.  He thanked teammates, family members, friends and even people I didn't expect, like staff.  KD is a humble person, but you usually wouldn't relate that to a star player in his league.  Everything KD had to endure in his life made him the person he is, though.  He had a poor and tough upbringing, not to mention being second his whole life in basically everything.  He's such a good human being with everything he's done to help others, not to mention being an ambassador for the game by being a good role model.  Most people say athletes shouldn't be role models, and they're probably right because their lifestyle is something few of us will ever reach, but I don't have trouble saying I'm influenced by KD.  And I hope others are as well.

I get so annoyed when people say KD made himself look weak by crying, but I think if people use that against him, then they're the weak ones, attacking an innocent person who was just being emotional because he was so happy.  Yes, he cried, but so what?  We all do it.  Just because he is an athlete, does that mean he is not allowed to have feelings?  I hate how society judges a person just off of one thing.  KD has done so much, but people don't even care about the past, they only care about the now.  To those people, I say shame on them because they're missing the point of who KD is, and what his speech truly entailed.  He was overjoyed he won the MVP award, but he also wanted to give thanks to all those he loved in his life.  Anyone who does that, and doesn't forget who they are and where they came from is a good person to me.

Kevin Durant, I might be a Boston Celtics fan, but I'm rooting for you and your Thunder to win it all.  You might have come second so many times, but you're a first rate person to me.

The speech in its entirety

Donald Sterling Thoughts

With the NBA playoffs being in full swing now, the league should be thriving with ratings and positive publicity since the product has been great so far.  Even a diehard fan such as myself has been surprised with the blowouts, buzzer beaters, clutchness, and overall play of every team from seeds 1-8.  It's a great time to be following the NBA.  That is, until yesterday, when Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling made many racist comments recorded on tape about minorities, how he didn't want them at games, thought of them as animals, etc.  I'm giving the lighter version of it since I can't sum it up with the phone message being so long, and listening to this guy speak is just sickening.

Usually, I wait for all the facts to come out when I judge a person, but I won't this time because Donald Sterling has a history of being a bigot.  Ask former players like Elgin Baylor and Baron Davis who used to play for him what type of person he is, and they'll tell you how they used to get scrutinized.  In the year 2014, I know that racism is alive and it still exists, but I like to think that we've made some progress from the past, when racism was running rampant.  The NBA markets itself as a global game for everyone, and I think they do a good job when you see all the different types of players in their game today.  They've come a long way since then, which is why it's a shame what Donald Sterling said came to public since it makes the league look bad.  Not to mention, his comments make it seem as though he views minorities as animals, saying you can "feed them" or "sleep with them", but not bring them to games.  What an ignoramus if that is how he truly feels!  We're all human beings!  And even though the Clippers players are all mixed in terms of race and ethnicity, I'm glad they're all outraged because it shows how strongly they feel, and shows that racism has no place in sports.  It might be a few days until we figure out what the penalty is for Donald Sterling, but hopefully the penalty is severe, or as another Donald says, "YOU'RE FIRED"!

One last thing I want to interject (which is my own opinion) is everyone disses baseball for there being a lack of African-American players, but you never see stuff like what happened with Donald Sterling happen in baseball.  I'm not denying it doesn't happen; I mean, look at Marge Schott or how often the race card was played whenever Barry Bonds was questioned.  It exists, but I feel like the culture in baseball doesn't promote as much discrimination currently.  Look at the NBA and NFL, the race card is played all the time, they say the N-word like it's nothing, and there's gang affiliations.  I'm not saying having those things makes sports worse because I still love those sports, but I think when a sport has all those things, we shouldn't be surprised of anything anymore.  Racism shouldn't have a place in sports, but Donald Sterling isn't the only one who feels the way he does.  And sadly, it still exists in the world, which I don't think will ever change. 

Billion Lost

In case you didn't know, or don't follow college basketball, businessman/investor Warren Buffet offered a billion dollars to anyone who could fill out a perfect NCAA March Madness bracket.  If you don't know anything about the sport, you might think this is easy, but this is even difficult for people who know a lot about the sport because of the high possibility of an upset.  And that was the case yesterday as Duke lost to Mercer.  With that loss, everyone was eliminated from Warren Buffet's challenge, and his billion dollars was safe.  I myself didn't enter a bracket because of the 1 in quintillion chance of winning (which is even lower than the lottery), but I can't help but think of what I'd do with all that money.  I'd donate to charity, pay off any money I owe, help out friends, etc, but it's just a pipe dream now.  One that Warren Buffet can laugh about now that he doesn't have to pay anyone.  In the end, at least we still have great college basketball.

In the end, Warren Buffet was the big winner of March Madness

Ty-Reking Havoc

I remember when Tyreke Evans won NBA Rookie of the Year back in 2009.  If Blake Griffin had been healthy, he probably would have won, but that's not how fate worked.  After that first season when he averaged 20-5-5, everyone thought he would become one of the best young players in the league.  Unfortunately, that didn't happen as he constantly got injured, and his statistics regressed every season.  Worst of all, the Sacramento Kings did terrible and never made the playoffs, so every year, they were always in danger of relocating.  In the end, they didn't move, but new ownership signaled the end of the short lived Tyreke Evans era.

Fast forward to this current season, where things are a lot different for Tyreke.  He's on the New Orleans Pelicans now, he's not starting anymore, and he has Anthony Davis, instead of Demarcus Cousins.  Their team has struggled badly, but I don't think it's Tyreke's fault, since he is doing all he can in limited time.  I know this sounds wrong, but if I had to blame anyone, I would blame Monty Williams, the Pelicans head coach.  He's always been average at best, but has been praised because of the talent he's had, like Chris Paul.  But the record shows, even when he has talent, he never knows what to do because his teams still stink.  They never do well in the playoffs, and in the case of this season, they won't be anywhere near it.  With Monty Williams, another reason why he's a terrible coach is because it took him so long to play Tyreke.  I mean, this guy was a former Rookie of the Year, and has some of the best dribbling and slashing ability in the league, but he isn't starting over Al-Farouq Aminu, Brian Roberts, or Austin Rivers?  What a joke!  Recently, since Tyreke has been starting, he has thrived statisticly the way he did his rookie year.  And while he may be inconsistent, his play shows he can produce, which made me wonder what took Monty Williams so long to realize it.

Now, I have to admit, I'm biased toward Tyreke.  As much as I love him, I can't deny he does a lot of things wrong.  He can't shoot the ball, makes questionable decisions, and doesn't hustle all the time, but no one can deny the talent is there.  Maybe because he has struggled, I should be harder on him, but he's still one of my favorite players, whether he's on the Kings or Pelicans.  And while I do wish he was still on their team, I'll be cheering him on, hoping he gets his game back together, and back to superstar potential.

NBA Lame Dunk Contest

Terrence Ross, Paul George, and John Wall won the Slam Dunk Contest as a team, but did it add anything?

The NBA All-Star festivities were in their second day yesterday, with the the Shooting Stars Challenge, Skills Contest, 3 Point Shootout, and Slam Dunk Contest.  Usually, these events are promoted as the highlight of the whole weekend, but after watching them, I have to say that they were all a complete dud.  The challenges had their moments individually, but they were all boring as a whole.  Even the Slam Dunk Contest, which actually had good dunkers in it, was not as good as I thought it'd be with their confusing new format, and the fact that everyone besides John Wall couldn't do their dunk on their first try.  Yes, there was some good teamwork involved, but if they left things in the traditional format, I think people would have enjoyed that more since it would have just made more sense.

Can All-Star weekend be salvaged?  I would like to say yes because the NBA is always changing and trying to appeal to fans, but they've already tried changing their format so many times, so I don't know if anything new would drastically improve things.  One thing I will say though, is that I think it's taking a step in the right direction with more superstars being in it.  As long as that's the case, then there will always be fan interest during All-Star weekend, even if it sucks.  I think yesterday night's commentary proved something though.  They kept talking about how Paul George was the best athlete and dunker that night, and they were right.  But we all know if LeBron James, Kevin Durant, or more superstars were in it, the quality would have been better.  KD gets a pass because he's competed in the festivities before, but we know LeBron never will (even for charity).  It's a shame, but as long as things stay like that, with mediocre competition and rules, the All-Star weekend will always be a dud.

John Wall doing the best dunk of the night

The Tanking Celtics Train

Jordan Crawford was the latest Boston Celtic to be traded.  Will more trades follow?

The Boston Celtics won their first game in awhile yesterday after losing 9 straight games in a row.  It was especially tough to watch if you were a Celtics fan, but it felt even worse to watch if you were solely a basketball fan since they did so many things fundamentally wrong during their losing streak.  They committed errant passes, dribbled out the clock, didn't pass, and jack up so many shots that they weren't even worth watching.  Then again, the Celtics have been like this the whole year.  With no Rondo, and a new roster led by new coach Brad Stevens, it's clear that they're tanking to get a top pick in the 2014 draft, or do what they did back in 2007-2008 and trade for star talent.

Do I think this is a smart plan?  In a lot of ways, I do, since it was clear the Celtics had to rebuild after their championship window closed, which quite honestly, was open much longer than it should have been.  That's a testament to the players they had and Doc Rivers, who became arguably the best coach in the NBA in that time span.  The Celtic fan in me wishes they kept Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett and went on another title run with the old crew, but with no Ray Allen, things didn't feel the same for me.  Not to mention, looking at how they're both playing in Brooklyn now, it's safe to say both are closer to retirement than contributing.  A sad thing to see for someone who's such a fan of them.  But you can't dwell on the past, you have to focus on the future.

That's what Danny Ainge is doing though, focusing on the future.  If he can't trade for anyone, he'll have to rely on the draft, which isn't a terrible thing this year if he can get a top pick, since everyone says this is the deepest draft in years.  I don't know much about the players as a whole, but you'd have to be oblivious to not to have heard the names Wiggins, Parker, Randle, Smart, Gordon, etc.  They're potentially franchise changing players, so everyone is paying attention to see who goes where in June.  I personally have no preference who the Celtics take or what they do in the end, as long as they get back to winning because as much as I love basketball, I can't stand to see them tanking and playing so bad.  Yes, this is necessary for some teams to get back to the top, but if our team loses, we at least deserve to watch good quality basketball, which is something I haven't seen consistently this whole year. 

Hopefully, things change, but only time will tell...

Will the Celtics get one of these guys in June?  They want one of them, but it's up to the ping pong balls if things fall their way

LaMarcus Aldridge

Now entering his 8th season in the NBA, LaMarcus Aldridge is finally getting the recognition he deserves

The NBA All-Star game isn't for another few months, but that hasn't stopped the league from releasing the voting leaders in each conference.  In the East, LeBron James leads the Eastern Conference in votes, while Kevin Durant leads the Western Conference.  No surprise considering they're both the best and most popular players in the game arguably/currently.  What's surprising though, is that LaMarcus Aldridge, one of the top players in the NBA this year (and quietly over the past few years) is 8th in voting and 3rd in the power forward race behind Kevin Love and Blake Griffin.  I can understand why that is since they're both accomplished, and talented, but so is L-Marc.  And it's time the league recognize he is one of the best power forwards in the game.

The first time I was exposed to LaMarcus Aldridge was when he played for Texas back in college.  That was such a long time ago, but I remember those as better times since I was in love with college basketball back then.  Since I live in Boston, which isn't a huge college basketball town, it was hard to follow L-Marc, but whenever he was on TV or playing in the tournament, I watched with envy, wishing the Boston Celtics would draft him (or anyone that could make them better).  He ended up being drafted by the Chicago Bulls, which drew criticism because he was taken so high,  and was then traded to the Portland Trailblazers for basically nothing.  It took a few years for L-Marc to develop his game since he was so lean and just had a few moves, but after a few years, his hard work showed.  His jump shot improved, his post moves got better, and he got bigger.  His defense and rebounding were always his weakest attributes, but even they improved by his 5th year.  Now in his 8th year, it's safe to say he is entering his prime, as he has lead the Trailblazers to the best record in the West.  It's premature to think they can stay there all year, but just the fact they've surprised this many people shows how many people doubted them.

With L-Marc's play this year being this spectacular (30-20 stat-lines some nights), I'm annoyed that even though he has more recognition than usual, he's still behind people like Kevin Love and Blake Griffin in all-star votes.  Kevin Love, I will give you, is a better player, but Blake Griffin is not.  Even though he is having his best statistical year (finally), all he does is dunk.  He has not carried his team like L-Marc has.  Yes, L-Marc has Damian Lillard, but Blake has CP3, who last I checked, was the best point guard in the game.  I know that the all-star spots are up to the fans, and they should be allowed to vote for who they want to see, but I wish they would reward someone who works their tail off, plays in a small market, and is a humble/quiet superstar, who leads by example.  L-Marc will probably be a reserve, which is a great honor in itself, but if he started, he would be on prime time, and people would finally start giving the Trailblazers the recognition and respect they deserve.

I know I'm one voice, and I can't make up the thousands of votes that others have in front of him, but let's acknowledge and throw our support to LaMarcus Aldridge, one of the best and most underrated power forwards in the game today, who plays not only fundamental basketball, but most importantly, team basketball.  The Trailblazers may be a long-shot to win the NBA title, but if they do, LaMarcus Aldridge will be one of the reasons why.

Bill and Jalen

When it comes to first impression's, like most, I don't make them the be all-end all when it comes to meeting new people.  But when it comes to TV personalities, that's a different story.  Usually when I look at them, I can instantly tell whether I like or hate them.  And because of my stubbornness, my views rarely change.  That was the case with Bill Simmons and Jalen Rose in the past.  Years ago, I told my friend I couldn't stand anything about Bill Simmons from the way he looked, his voice, to his commentary and work on ESPN and on podcasts.  While for Jalen Rose, I didn't like him because of his attitude, such as with the Grant Hill "Uncle Tom" incident.

After a few years though, my feelings changed.  Bill Simmons wasn't the guy I disliked anymore.  I thought he was funny, well-spoken, and not to mention passionate about his work, which you can tell from his fan perspective.  The same goes for Jalen Rose.  Like many, that Duke comment was taken out of context at the time, and I recognize Jalen Rose for who he is.  He was part of the Fab 5 and NBA for years, and now he's giving his perspective, which is very interesting.  Not to mention that he's just as funny as Bill Simmons, so when you get them together, you have comic gold.  That's why I had to post about these two.  I've been watching their NBA preview videos for the past couple of weeks and they're so entertaining.  They have hilarious clips to describe team mindsets, "Clairvoyant Bill", and "Champagning and Campaigning", all while talking about the NBA seriously, which I need as I wait for the season to start.

If anyone is interested, 3 videos I recommend watching from the NBA preview countdown are the Boston Celtics (#24), Denver Nuggets (#13), and the Detroit Pistons (#12).  The Nuggets one has the funniest moment I've seen when Bill Simmons attempts a Javale McGee and eats... Well, you'll have to see and find out.  You won't be disappointed though.  All I can say after this is, how did I ever not like these guys?  They're the best, and now part of my daily routine.

Source of Picture: http://www.sportsgrid.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/bill-simmons-jalen-rose.jpg

Buying A Basketball

Today, I embarked and completed one of my daily goals, which was to walk 10,000 steps, or about 5 miles.  I did it because of the diagnosis my doctor gave about my high blood pressure, and because it just felt good.  I walked all over my neighborhood, and could have stopped there, but like Forrest Gump, I just felt like I could keep going.  And I did keep going, from my neighborhood, all the way to the next, leading me to a nice empty basketball court for me to exercise and play in.  I didn't have a basketball, but luckily, I found one on the court, so I just shot around with that for about 40 minutes, building a good sweat, and hopefully, lowering my stress.

I have no complaint about the day besides my feet hurting, and the cost of a basketball, because I wanted to buy one, but I had no idea how complicated and expensive it was.  First you have to look at the brand, then the size, type (indoor/outdoor), material, and of course the cost, which can be as little as $15 all the way to $60.  I suppose I can't complain since this is going to benefit my health, but I just wish I didn't need so much.  In the end, I hope this all pays off since it's been a lot of hard work already.  But with patience, I know the results will show.

Dan Gilbert Sucks!

Yesterday, Andrew Bynum signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers.  But the only thing I could think of when I heard of this news was Dan Gilbert, the miserable owner of that team.  I'm not lying when I say that I cannot stand this man.  Why you may ask?  The answer should be obvious, but I'll explain anyways.

First off, he's not a team guy.  You may think he is because of everything he's doing this off-season with trades and draft picks, but in the past, he wouldn't do that for players who could have helped him win, like Amar'e Stoudemire.  Then of course, there's everything that happened with him and LeBron James.  He couldn't surround him with any talent, then insulted him behind his back when he chose to leave Cleveland for Miami  I understand being upset, but you don't do that to a player who saved your franchise and gave you everything he had.  Sure, LeBron may not have gave 100% every night, but not many athlete's do.  Along with that, there's the arrogance and smugness he has.  That attribute may be difficult to see, but all you have to do is watch the draft lottery's the past 2-3 years, and you'll understand what I mean.  He brings his son with him, who is sick to give the team luck, but I know he just does it for publicity because when you have a reputation like he and his team do, you need it.

Now, I know with this tirade it sounds like I dislike owners of teams, but I don't.  I just don't like owners who are fake and don't give it their all, which Dan Gilbert does.  Everyone keeps talking about how LeBron may go back to Cleveland next year, but I say he shouldn't or else this bum will get another prize he doesn't deserve like he did with Kyrie Irving.  The Cavaliers are a franchise that has picked themselves up nicely after "The Decision", but I hope they don't win as long as Dan Gilbert is owner.  There are much more deserving teams, and much more deserving owners.

NBA Free Agency Thoughts

Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, and Andre Iguodala.  Some of the biggest free agents this summer

Since it's summer, baseball is the main sport of focus, but that doesn't mean the other sports take a break.  Football has training camps, while hockey and basketball have free agency.  Hockey free agency is very active, but most of the players are people I've never heard of, so during the summer, I focus mostly on NBA free agency because after baseball, it's my favorite sport to follow.  This year's free agency is nothing like it was when LeBron James was a free agent, but that doesn't mean it's still not interesting.  Lots of players have taken their talents to new places, while some others have stayed.  And while everyone hasn't signed yet, here are some my thoughts on the players who have made decisions so far.

In no particular order...

• Chris Paul: CP3's resigning comes as no surprise to me or anybody considering the Los Angeles Clippers have done everything he wanted.  They got rid of Vinny Del Negro for Doc Rivers, which is a plus, and they added and traded players (i.e, Eric Bledsoe).  I still don't know if the Clippers can compete for an NBA title, especially with the West being stacked, and Black Griffin taking a step back this past year, but with arguably the league's top point guard and coach, they'll definitely be in contention.
• Dwight Howard: Dwight has finally chosen the Houston Rockets as his new team.  HALLELUJAH!  Praise the lord!  The baby made a choice.  I don't want to criticize Dwight, since I think he means well, but it's hard not to with the decisions he's made the past two years.  He goes back and forth with his decisions, is a terrible teammate, and whines about a lot.  Let's just hope that because he's picked a new team, he'll stay there and keep his mouth shut.
• Tyreke Evans: I've made it no secret that Tyreke Evans is one of my favorite players in the NBA, but it's hard to be a fan with his regression since his rookie year.  That year, he was averaging 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, but since then, all those stats have gone down, and he's been injured off and on.  You can blame his poor play on the coaching staff, the fact that he never had a set position on the Sacramento Kings, or his overall effort.  I don't know if I want to go there because I watch a lot of Kings games, and I see that he tries, but he takes plays off too.  I'm not surprised Tyreke is leaving the Kings (I even thought it'd happen at the trade deadline), I just thought it wouldn't be for the New Orleans Pelicans.  He didn't know where he'd play in Sacramento, but where's he going to play in New Orleans with all the players they have?  I honestly don't know, but I wish him the best.  I'll still root for him, but it won't be the same now that he's not wearing the Sacramento purple.
• Andre Iguodala: One of the most balanced and underrated players in the league agreed to a 4 year deal with the Golden State Warriors yesterday, which I can't praise enough.  The Warriors were already good, but with "Iggy", their defense got better, and they're even more spectacular than before.  Los Angeles may have Kobe Bryant and "Lob City", but Golden State may have the best team in California.
• Al Jefferson: "Big Al" agreed to go to the Charlotte Bobcats on July 4, which was a surprise decision that many people frowned on, but I like the move for owner, general manager, and greatest NBA player of all-time Michael Jordan.  The Bobcats need talent and a player they can build around.  Al Jefferson may not be a top 20 player, but he's one of the best young big men in the league, with good health and consistency.  Something that's hard to find in any big man and on the Bobcats.  I doubt they'll make the playoffs any time soon, but this signing is a step in the right direction.
• David West: Not much to say here.  David West agreed to resign with the Indiana Pacers.  He did great with them last year, and bought a lot of tenacity with his play, so I expect that to continue.
• O.J Mayo: This is a baffling signing to me, but only because of the destination, which was the Milwaukee Bucks.  I have no problem with the city, but the team's roster is up in the air until they figure out what to do with Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis.  The only thing I got from this decision is that all O.J Mayo cares about is money, which is no surprise with the way the NBA is structured.
• J.R Smith: J.R Smith has been called the best scorer in the NBA before, which is a bit of a stretch, but when he's on, he's hard to stop.  In New York last year, he was on his "A" game often, being one of the team's best players and winning Sixth Man Of The Year Honors.  For that reasoning, I thought he should be resigned, but there's risk in the move because of J.R Smith's conduct and mindset.  He's not the most behaved player (like what he did in Boston), and he makes a lot of bonehead plays, but there's no doubt he can play and fits into what the New York Knicks want to do.  A big contract for him in my eyes spells trouble though.
• Ray Allen: Not really a free agent, but he had an option, so I put him here.  It still hurts to see Ray Allen in a Miami Heat jersey, but I got over it.  I though he might retire on top, but you know what they say.  "If something still works, don't fix it".  The Heat have that formula down, so with Ray Allen, they're going to try for a three-peat. 
• Kevin Martin: Kevin Martin is a nice player, but nowhere near the hype or money he's gotten.  For a sixth man, he was overpaid.  And at the end of the day, he chose to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Minnesota Timberwolves.  What a great decision!  I'm being sarcastic of course.  With this move, it's clear where Kevin Martin's mindset was.  Man, what idiots the Thunder must feel though for trading James Harden, and now losing the player they traded him for.  That's NBA free agency though.

ESPN SportsCentury: Kevin Garnett

With everything that happened to the Boston Celtics on Friday, it's hard not to focus on Kevin Garnett, arguably the best player on their team.  His future is up in the air after this season since he's unsure what the future of the Celtics is going to be.  Because I was so interested in him, I found an interesting SportsCentury video posted on Youtube about him during his Minnesota Timberwolves days.  Yes, it's outdated, but it's interesting if you're a Kevin Garnett fan, or want to see what he was like as a youth.  I know I gained something from it.  Anyways, here it is, so I hope you all enjoy!

Celtics Playoffs/Season In Review

Paul Pierce had a tough series overall vs. the New York Knicks

As the final buzzer sounded yesterday, the right word to describe how I was feeling was let down.  Yes, I knew the Boston Celtics were huge underdogs going against the New York Knicks being older (arguably), and not having the same caliber of players, but somehow, like always, the Celtics always found a way to keep things interesting.  I didn't think they would come back (especially being down by 26 at one point), but somehow, they almost did.  If that happened, it would have been equally as amazing as what the 04' Red Sox World Series title was to me, which in my opinion, will never be topped  Yes, I knew the Celtics weren't going to win the NBA title this year, but throughout the six year run since Kevin Garnett came to Boston, they always made you believe they could.

Describing the Celtics-Knicks series is painful, but somebody has to do it.  The first three games went to the Knicks, and while I give them credit for playing good defense, it's arguable the Celtics gave those games away by not scoring 80 points in any game, and turning the ball over a ton.  Carmelo played well, as well as J.R Smith, but the MVP of the first three games was Raymond Felton and Iman Shumpert for the defense they played, and the fact they actually hit shots consistently.  After losing the first three games, I thought, like many, that the Celtics would get swept, but they won game 4 in overtime and won game 5.  Credit could be given to Paul Pierce, Jeff Green, or even Jason Terry, but I give it to Kevin Garnett for his leadership and statistics.  Hell, even if the Celtics had Rajon Rondo healthy, I'd still think KG was more valuable, but that's a post for another day.

Game 7 was a debacle with the Celtics barely scoring for the first three quarters, until they exploded, and almost came back in the fourth.  It was the most excitement I had for the Celtics all season, but I knew it was over when Carmelo hit that three pointer to seal it.  Blame can be cast all over from Paul Pierce (4-18 shooting) to Danny Ainge for not giving the team a better supporting cast.  I'm usually one who supports loyalty since I think it's a lost thing in sports, but it's obvious the Celtics need to make a change.  Despite that feeling though, I can't bring myself to say the Celtics should trade Paul Pierce or Kevin Garnett.  They've given so much to the organization, and the Celtics wouldn't be who they are without them.  Maybe I'm being too sentimental, but these two Hall of Famer's deserve better ending considering all they've done.

I know I'm in the minority on this, and that's fine, but the season could have been so much different if Rondo and Jared Sullinger didn't get hurt.  I know we could say that about a lot of teams, but for this team, that statement definitely fits.  Other teams were hurt, but they didn't have Terrence Williams and Shavlik Randolph on the floor for their season.  I don't know what next year holds, which a lot of people feel, but I know I don't want to say good-bye yet.  Sure this season was tough with injuries and subpar play with the Celtics being older, but if the San Antonio Spurs can do it with Gregg Popavich, why can't the Celtics do it with Doc Rivers.  Out of the four major sports, the NBA is where you see the least upsets, but with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, they've taught us anything is possible, and to never give up until that final buzzer sounds.

Have Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce played their last games as Celtics?  Hopefully not, but if it's over, thanks for everything!

Jeff Green For Kendrick Perkins: The Trade Revisited

The Then

Yesterday, the Boston Celtics failed to end the Miami Heat's 22 game winning streak, falling to them 105-103.  They were up by as much as 17 points, but couldn't stop Lebron James, who had a dominant game with 37 points/7 rebounds/12 assists/2 steals/2 blocks, and a thunderous dunk over Jason Terry.  Not lost from the game though, was Jeff Green, the soft spoken Celtics bench player, who had 43 points/7 rebounds/2 assists/2 steals/4 blocks.  The game was Jeff Green's best game of his career, and something we Celtics fans have been waiting to see since Danny Ainge pulled the Kendrick Perkins for Jeff Green trade three seasons ago.  At the time of the trade, Celtics fans thought it was a huge mistake, but now, they are still beginning to reap the rewards.  Was the trade still bad, even with things the way they are now?  I say no.

The Celtics trade with the Thunder wasn't terrible for various reasons.  First of all, they were building for the future, which is a must in the NBA with young teams and superstars like Lebron James or Carmelo Anthony.  Yes, the Celtics had The Big Three at the time, but their team was old that year.  Jeff Green gave them the scoring and youth they lacked so much.  Secondly, Kendrick Perkins had no value that year.  He got a few rebounds, and gave defensive toughness, but he was injured for most of the year, and he wanted money that he didn't deserve.  The Oklahoma City Thunder benefited with him one year, but they still haven't won a title with him, and he does next to nothing.

I'm not saying that the trade had no ramifications because it did, but in the long run, the Celtics won that trade.  They got Jeff Green, a younger player with much more upside.  Sure, they had to overpay him on his contract extension, and he had open heart surgery, but that just made him stronger/better.  Kendrick Perkins on the other hand is doing nothing for the Thunder now besides taking money.  He was so bad at one point that the Thunder were thinking of amnestying him because he wasn't worth the money he got.  Because of his contract, that made the Thunder unable to keep James Harden, so they traded him.  All the naysayers can say the Celtics made a bad trade, but at the end of the day, they added someone better, while the Thunder lost someone better.  And while Kendrick Perkins can't/won't improve, Jeff Green can and will.

The Now

Another Win For The Kings!

We Sacramento Kings fans have had it rough this past season with our team struggling to win games, and the cloud of whether our team is moving to Seattle or not, but for one night, we Kings fans can enjoy a dominating win over one of the top teams in the NBA, the Chicago Bulls.  The Kings beat the Bulls 121-79, and yes, you guys are reading that score right.  The Kings decimated the Bulls from start to finish, and while Bulls fans may defend themselves by saying they didn't have Derrick Rose, the Bulls defense (ranked #1 in the NBA) didn't have it tonight.  Here are some things I highlighted from tonight's game.

• Tyreke Evans had his best game of the season with 26 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block.  He shot efficiently and did everything well overall.  Some people are down on Tyreke because his stats aren't there every night, and he's lackadaisical on defense sometimes, but I think he's having a fine season because his overall game has improved, and he's playing despite personal issues and injuries.
• The Patrick Patterson trade for Thomas Robinson still makes me scratch my head, but I loved his play tonight.  He started for Demarcus Cousins and nearly had a double-double, stretching the floor, and playing good defense.  If he plays this way all the time, then I think this deal in retrospect won't look so bad.
• Isaiah Thomas is slowly making a name for himself as one of the best up and coming point guards in the league, which is great to see considering he was the last pick in the NBA draft a few years ago, and he just seems like a nice, hardworking guy.
• The bench played together tonight, which was a sound sight.  If only they could play like that every night, but I understand everything is a work in progress.  Still, it was nice to see.
• Games for the Kings that include 17 assists to 5 turnovers will lead to wins most of the time.

Yes, I know I'm getting excited over one game for a team that isn't going to the playoffs this year, but I don't care.  The game was entertaining, and displayed the potential of what the Kings could be (and they didn't even have DeMarcus).  Of course, in the NBA, this is just one game.  The Kings played great against the Bulls, but now it's time to look ahead.  Next stop is LA against the Los Angeles Lakers, and I can't wait!       

Believing In The Celtics

 

The Celtics pulling off their latest miracle win

Rajon who...?

That's what a lot of Celtics fans, including myself have been thinking or saying since Rajon Rondo went down vs the Heat on January 27.  When he went down with that ACL injury, everyone thought the Celtics chances of winning this year were over because even with him, they were still losing.  But somehow, like always under Doc Rivers, they find a way to win.  Whether it's with Kevin Garnett's defense, Paul Pierce's facilitated role, or Avery Bradley and Jeff Green stepping up, they always find a way to stay strong during rough times.  Even when Jared Sullinger and Leandro Barbosa went down, they didn't panic.  They just got Terrence Williams and Jordan Crawford.  I know, not the sexiest names in the world, but they're both two young, athletic guys, which is something the Celtics have been lacking for awhile.  Now, I'm not saying they're going to beat the Heat or Thunder and win the NBA title, but their chances look much better now than before.  And in a series against them, anything can happen.  I didn't think they were better without Rondo before (I even vouched they keep him), but now through inspired team play and wins, I believe they are.

Chris Paul For MVP!

CP3 doing what he has always done, lead a team.  But he never seemed to get enough publicity in New Orleans

Chris Paul has been one of my favorite players in basketball ever since I saw him play college ball at Wake Forest.  When he was entering the draft, I was hoping the Celtics could get him somehow, but I knew it was impossible considering where they were slotted.  History being what it was, he was picked by the New Orleans Hornets and had some great years there.  He won Rookie of the year in 2005-2006, and even had an MVP type season in 2007-2008 when he lost to Kobe Bryant (an award I think he still should of won).  He got injured, and slowed down a bit in 2009-2010, but came back strong the next season almost upsetting the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.  After that season, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers and made an impact instantly with Blake Griffin and their young nucleus.  He had a good first season with them, but they lost badly in the playoffs.  This season still has quite a few games left in it, but if you ask me, the MVP of the season isn't LeBron James, Kevin Durant, or Tony Parker, it's CP3.

Many of you reading this may think I'm bias picking Chris Paul for MVP, but I don't think I'm wrong in doing so.  Yes, LeBron is having his best season by far numbers wise (One we've never seen before), Kevin Durant is scoring for a top Thunder team, and Tony Parker has the Spurs as the top team in the West, but look at the role Chris Paul plays.  He plays point guard, which is the most vital position in the league, is one of the top assist men, top steals guy, etc.  His numbers aren't up there with LeBron or Kevin Durant, but they play with other superstars on their team, which makes things easier.  LeBron has Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and Ray Allen while Kevin Durant has Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka.  Yes, Chris Paul has Blake Griffin, but he's overrated in my opinion.  He's a scorer, but all he can do is dunk, and he's not even averaging 10 rebounds a game this year.  This is the season when Chris Paul has mattered the most, and it's not just his numbers, it's the team's numbers.

The Clippers play better with Chris Paul leading their offense and defense, and they win more games with him.  Look at the numbers.  When Chris Paul was healthy, the Clippers were leading the NBA in wins, but when he got injured, they plummeted.  Yes, this could happen with any team, but it hasn't with the other teams, and even if it did, they have other superstar's, so that just makes Chris Paul's value larger.  Plus, he is being such a great leader on and off the floor.  I know you could say that for a lot of players, but Chris Paul mentor's all the young players on his team, which is vital for any team's growth.  The knock on Chris Paul may be that he's been too injured for MVP considerations, but the numbers don't lie.  The Clippers are better with him, and are a true threat to any team for that NBA gold as long as he's at the helm.  And in the end, isn't that what MVP is all about?

CP3 has been captain of the Clippers ship this year.  When he's healthy, they're tough for anyone to beat

Rondo: To Keep Or Not To Keep?

 Rondo has that look again, but what's it mean?

In a sport like basketball, it's rare to find a superstar who doesn't talk much, but that's what Celtics point guard (PG) Rajon Rondo does.  He doesn't talk much to people and the media; he lets his play do the talking, which I commend him for because his play speaks for a lot.  This season, Rondo's stat line was

• 13.7 points per game (tied for career high)
• 11.1 assists per game (leads NBA)
• 5.6 rebounds per game (career high)
• 48% field goal percentage (4th among guards)
• 64.5% free throw percentage (career high)

As you can see from his stat line, Rondo was having a career year by many people's standards, even having some people call him the best PG in the league.  I don't know if I can agree with that statement, but there's no doubt in my mind that Rondo is a top 15 player and a top 5 point guard.  That brings me to last week though.  Last week, the Celtics played the Miami Heat and it was discovered that he had a tore Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) from the previous game against the Atlanta Hawks.  The Celtics won, but their star PG was lost for the season.  Since ACL's are tricky injuries, people in Boston have surprisingly said to trade Rondo, or that the Celtics are better without him, but I think that's a bunch of BS.

Now, I'm not the biggest fan/defender of Rondo in the world.  His attitude annoys me, as does his lackadaisical effort whenever he plays against certain teams, but he is a dynamic and great player.  You can tell from how hard he plays when he puts in max effort and by his stat line.  I know for Rondo the stats are iffy since he does seem to play for stats sometimes, but that shows he cares about winning.  What I don't like about Rondo though is that ego of his.  Him thinking that just because he has a ring, he is better than Chris Paul or Derrick Rose when it just doesn't work that way.  Sure, Rondo may have better stats or more triple doubles, but he can't score consistently like Derrick Rose, run a team like Chris Paul, and most importantly of all, can't get wins like them.  You can disagree with me if you want, but ask anybody who they'd rather have and they'll mention tons of PG's like CP3, D-Rose, Russell Westbrook, etc.

The Celtics recent four game winning streak would suggest to you that the Celtics are better without Rondo, but again, I say that is nuts.  That's just a small sample; it doesn't prove anything if you beat Sacramento or Orlando, two of the worst teams in the league.  Sure, the Celtics beat the Heat last week, but there's no way they could beat them 4 times in the playoffs.  It just can't happen.  Like I said before, Rondo isn't the best PG in the league, but he is the most important player on the Celtics besides Kevin Garnett in terms of value.  And you can see from the way he plays that on nights, he can be the best player in the league.  I like to think of Rondo as Randy Moss sometimes because they take plays off, but when they're on, they are the best players at their positions.  Two different sports I know, but you see my point.

Trading Rondo or thinking the Celtics are better without him may seem good now, but in the long run, I don't think that will help.  Rondo is young now, and because of that, I think he will bounce back from this injury and come back stronger.  I know trading the veterans for young talent is the new thing now, but staying loyal can pay off, like it did last year.  I know Rondo can and does get on everyone's nerves, but his talent outweighs all of that.  Whether that leads to wins, I don't know, but I would like to see how it goes since Rondo is special.

Rondo showing that team leadership

Ray Allen: A Lookback At A Hero's Departure and His Return

As Ray Allen walked off the court in Miami last year during the Eastern Conference Finals, I tried to figure out how he was feeling.  Obviously, he was saddened and disappointed that his team lost to the Miami Heat after leading the best of 7 series 3-2, but the other thing I thought he must of been feeling was is this it?  Is this the last time I'm going to be a Boston Celtic?  When that loss happened, I thought there was no way the Celtics were bringing him back since they had Avery Bradley in the wing, but they did want him back.  And they wanted him back a lot, offering him a supposed 2 year, 12 million dollar deal with a no trade clause, but Ray said no thanks.  A decision that stunned all.

I was devastated by the news that my favorite Celtic was leaving, but I wasn't going to turn on him until I heard more details.  Once I heard the details though, I was shocked.  Ray Allen took less money to go to the Miami Heat, and play backup to Dwayne Wade, when he could have had more money and potentially started for the Celtics.  It made no sense to me, but in hindsight, it did, because the Miami Heat were a better team.  They had the best player in the league in Lebron James and arguably two other top 15 players, which catapulted them to the NBA title.  That all made sense to me, but I still thought he'd stay since he always talked about how much he loved Boston.  Then the other stories starting coming out.  

 

Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo getting at it

Behind closed doors, it was said Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo didn't get along because Rondo always followed him around, looked him off, or got too cocky as the team's best player.  Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were okay with it being Rondo's team, but Ray wasn't, which led to arguments and even fights supposedly.  Once I heard this, it was no surprise why Ray left because as long as Rondo was going to be on the team, he wasn't.

Say it isn't so Ray.  Ray Allen at his Miami Heat press conference

Now that I knew all I needed to know, I braced myself for Ray Allen's press conference in Miami; it was hard to watch since he was in enemy colors and wearing a different number, but something about him was different.  He looked relaxed and at peace with his decision, which I happy about, but in the Boston media and airwaves, people thought otherwise.  They were saying all sorts of terrible things about Ray, like calling him a traitor or wishing something evil on his family.  That is where I draw the line on Boston sports and their fans.  I understand being passionate and being hurt by an athlete's decision to leave, but this is sports; it's a business and this happens all the time.  Why are you wishing for someone to get hurt when all this person did was help you win a title, play hurt, and help out the community?  Ray Allen is a good human being who was just making a decision that was best for his family.  Is that wrong?  People call him a traitor for leaving, but management always wanted to trade him, so how are they being loyal?  If anything, it sounds like the Celtics and their fans are just sore losers cause they know the Miami Heat got better.

The NBA season started opening night when the Celtics played the Heat and lost 120-107.  Ray Allen contributed 19 points, but the story of the game was that Kevin Garnett didn't acknowledge him, and he didn't acknowledge Rajon Rondo.  They haven't crossed paths since then, but now they do today when Ray comes back to Boston for the first time in a Heat uniform.  I know Boston and their fans won't cheer him on since they've done it for other athletes like Johnny Damon, but I will stand and cheer, since Ray Allen was, and will always be my favorite Celtic.  Some people may call me an untrue fan for doing that, but I say f**k em'!  There comes a time when people need to stop being sore losers.  Boston fans say they're mad Ray Allen left, when they should be angry their team almost sucks as bad as the Lakers.  Most Boston fans only want to remember the negative stuff, but I will be one fan who remembers the positive times.  Thank you Ray Allen for everything you did for Boston!  I'll be watching you today and cheering you on as you come back home.

The good times! (L-R) Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce after winning the first Celtics title in 26 years.