At first I thought maybe it might be an intelligent move on the part of the Celtics to move Ray Allen. He has an expiering contract which almost every GM loves, because it doesn't mean commitment, but with the right guy it could put your team over the top at a run to the finals. In return the Celtics could recieve a younger player like the trade with the Warriors for MOnte Ellis. It would mean that the likes of Perkins and Rondo would have someone to build with. A young explosive player with great potential. Or a trade to New York or Chicago and pick up a few players, to get you by until next year.
After thinking about it, I realized that with the huge 2010 class coming up in the summer they could hold out and see what they can get out of this squad until the end of the season. Then you have th option of no resigning Ray and picking up a guy like Wade because you will have $20 million freed up.
Let's not get too excited now. I mean the Celts finally pulled out a game. KG finally looked like his old self. Allen had a redemption/I am still really valuable game, and they had the 4th Quarter of their lives. We still need to remember that they did not play extremely well during the game until the 4th Quarter and it was against a Washington team that was without Arenas. With that said it was extremely encouraging to see them play somewhat fluidly.
They are going to be coming up against a struggling Miami team that just got smoked by the friggen Bucks. After that they move onto playing teams such as New Jersey, Orlando, and a New Orleans team without their star In Chris Paul. These are the games where they need to build their momentum, get their confidence back before they play the Lakers again, along with the Nuggets and Cavs. The Celtics schedule does not look much easier in the upcoming month than it has all year long.
The way that they played in the 4th Quarter last night was inspiring, and it gave you hope that they would be able to continue to play well even though they have been shaken up. The guard play needs to be able to step up big time. Eddie has not been shooting like his regualr self and a lot of that has to do with the innability of anyone to bring the ball up and free up the likes of House and Allen. The main reason that Ray Allen is able to score so many points is because of the point guard play of Rondo and House needs that more than Ray needs it.
The Celtics set to play the Lakers today at home which could end their most important 3 game swing of the season. The Celtics started on Thursday with a game against Orlando. A game in which the Celtics were up by as many as 18 and lost the game. Last drive of the game Lewis blows right by KG on the baseline goes up for a layup and neither Wallace nor KG even attempt to jump to block the ball. That is extremely concerning. It makes me question KG's health because I never question his heart.
Then on Friday they play the Hawks (a team which they have yet to beat this season). Again up double digits, blow the game. The Celtics have this innate ability to lose complete control of games at times. Call it old age, beat up, or as I like to see it, just plain cruise control. They have it in their heads that they can cruise into the playoffs or cruise into March and April and then just all of the sudden turn on the jets. They have been fucking disgusting to watch on T.V. A team that you know is completely and utterly capable of beating teams even when starters are out. I mean Christ I went with Lantern to see a game against Toronto and we had no Rondo, Pierce and KG and they still won. So I do not want to hear any garbage now, now that everyone is back in the lineup besides Daniels.
Which brings me to my bext point: this team needs to get Marquis Daniels back and soon. They need another guy bringing the ball up the floor so we can frre up House more off of teh screen. Daniels gave you that kindve prescence that we are lacking right now.
Now coming into todays game against the Lakers, I told this dude that I work with that this was going to be the most important stretch and that the Celtics had to win at least two of these games and prefrebly in a perfect world those games would be Atlanta and L.A. Well now we know that is not possible but they do still have a game at home against a very hot Laker team, who have been on fire lately on this East Coast trip. If the Celtics can pull out this game it will say a lot about the character of this team and what they stand for. However if they allow their opponent, rival, what not, to come in and take control, then we can go back and talk about why they are so old and why Wallace isnt helping with anything at all.
Cant wait to have that conversation. Until then here are some videos to wet your tounge.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 1:04PM