Ball or Nuthin' » Celtics

Orlando’s Still Not a Real Contender

T Lamont — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:03:37 +0000

Now we see just why Dwight Howard tossed his name into the trade arena.

In the midst of a game that had all of the makings of a blowout, the Magic found a way to squander a 27-point advantage and lose – at home.

Against perennial rival Boston, Orlando had their way in the opening half. They executed, hustled and shot themselves ahead of a Celtics team that was missing its starting backcourt (Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen).

What happened in the second half, however, was nothing short of abysmal.

Stan Van Gundy allowed his team to lose focus, both offensively and defensively.

Orlando’s offense usually flows when they operate from the inside-out, taking full advantage of its nightly physical mismatch at the center position. But the reigning Defensive Player of the Year rarely saw anything come his way on the block, and the Magic lost focus in a game in which they should have cruised to victory.

Dwight Howard will have a difficult time pointing Orlando in the right direction.

The Magic went overboard to help Boston generate offense of its own, as well. Turnovers, quick shots and poor rotations highlighted some of the mental miscues that signaled their demise.

The 2011-12 season is one that will be pivotal to the success of the Orlando franchise. Howard is a hot commodity on the trade radar, and one would have to assume that a mediocre showing by his team will push him out of the door.

If tonight’s game was any indication as to what can be expected of this current assembly of players, Orlando’s in big, big trouble come April.

And in even more trouble come the 2012-13 season and beyond.

OKC’s Big 2 Outduel Boston’s Big 4

T Lamont — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:58:45 +0000

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After tonight’s matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Boston Celtics, an undeniable truth has been revealed.

The Celtics are old.

In a game pitting two teams that are currently heading in opposite directions, the visiting Thunder bested the Celtics in the TD Garden, 97-88.

Boston, noted for its stingy defense, was unable to find an effective method for stopping OKC’s talented duo of All-Stars, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, who scored 54 points. The Celtics are a team that has traditionally found to prevent themselves from losing to teams with great individuals, but not tonight.

Durant and Westbrook’s 54 matched the exact point total of Boston’s big four, who were led by Paul Pierce’s 24.

Westbrook has the speed and quickness to make just about any NBA player look old.

While Durant and Westbrook’s theatrics were expected, the Thunder got a momentous lift from shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha. Sefolosha contributed his usual selfless defense, doing his best to lock down Boston sharpshooter Ray Allen – who was only 3-7 from the floor (6 points). But Thabo really became a difference maker due to his offensive effort, a 19-point performance that saw him shoot 7-9 including 2-2 from deep.

Oklahoma City is riding high now, and appearing to be the class of the Western Conference. It’s early, but the young legs and ample playoff experience over the past two seasons could finally pay off for the franchise.

Boston needs a shot of adrenaline. At 4-8, they’ve lost five in a row and are tied for the second-fewest wins in the Atlantic Division, trailing Philadelphia and New York. The Celtics have plenty of games to right their ship, and they will do so (enough to get into the postseason, Cleveland will falter as the season progresses). But their slow beginning and notable losses to playoff bound (New York, Miami, Dallas OKC, Indiana and Chicago) is clearly not a good sign.

CP3 Proves New CBA Doesn’t Matter

T Lamont — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 04:26:48 +0000

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As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months, it began to seem unlikely that NBA basketball would occur in 2011, or perhaps even 2012.

Thankfully, our summer of discontent is over.

Now that the league is about to officially resume business as usual, the media has initiated its continuous buzz of trade rumors.

And the new season, under a new collective bargaining agreement, is looking a lot like last season.

For those that need a refresher, the 2010-2011 NBA campaign afforded fans the luxury of seeing the formation of two ‘mega-teams:’ the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks.

Of course, tension erupted even before the season commenced with the departure of a certain two-time MVP from his native area. It appeared that LeBron James’ declaration to do whatever it takes to win a championship – meaning surround himself with comparable All-Star talent – struck a chord with other superstars across the league. So, after Chris Bosh announced his decision to join forces with Dwyane Wade in South Beach, it was clear that James was trying to do just that.

And while some may say that neither James nor Bosh forced their way out of town, others can argue that their play exemplified their eagerness to skip out of town.

But that was hardly the end of the trend.

From day one of the season, drama in Denver captivated the attention of even the most casual fan – as the Nuggets went through the gut-wrenching process of figuring out what to do with its franchise star, Carmelo Anthony. It was Anthony’s refusal to agree to a contract extension that clearly stated his intentions to entertain other potential destinations. And the end result: ‘Melo is now playing hoops alongside his former teammate Chauncey Billups and power forward stud Amare Stoudemire in his hometown of the Big Apple.

As the year wore on, there were sudden reports coming out of Utah of a rift between Jerry Sloan and perennial All-Star Deron Williams. The bottom line was that Williams wasn’t happy, and the Jazz management knew it. Rather than let him drag out his trade negotiations in a public fashion, Utah hastily shipped him to New Jersey for some fresh, young talent.

Paul has his sights set on bigger NBA markets.

With the scenario of players demanding their way out of organization lingering in mind, Chris Paul is at it once again.

It was about a year ago that the rumor mill began churning regarding Paul’s desire to play elsewhere, preferably New York. Almost predictably, his desire was to team with Anthony and Stoudemire to form another ‘big three’ with about as much star power as the one in Miami. Paul, attempting to massage his image a bit, backed off of his pressing and recoiled his request, stating that he was content in the Big Easy.

But, it was easy to see that a line had been drawn in the sand. CP3 was merely giving the front office time to get to work, and come up with a way to get him out of town.

What’s startling to me is the list of teams who have been mentioned as suitors for Paul – the Knicks, the Celtics and the Lakers. The fact that these three teams are first in line illustrates that last year’s trend is still alive and well. It also illustrates that a major factor in NBA labor negotiations – big-market versus small-market competitiveness – will remain an issue for the indefinite future.

In labor meetings, the owners reported that 22 of the league’s team were losing money, signifying a gap in the NBA’s teams based on their market and location. And with teams such as New York, Boston and Los Angeles being noted for their success and/or superstars on the hardwood, the prospect of adding another player that caliber of Chris Paul only figures to widen the gap that already exists.

Can New Orleans, Denver and Cleveland really compete with the likes of New York and Miami?

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Can Lakers and Celtics Rebound From Disappointment?

T Lamont — Thu, 19 May 2011 17:00:13 +0000

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For the first time in the past four NBA playoffs, neither the Los Angeles Lakers nor the Boston Celtics will assume starring roles in either of the conference finals.

Let’s take a look at each team and its ability to move forward from here:

Boston Celtics

Surprisingly, Boston remains in fairly good shape to be a major part of the playoff picture next season. Many figured this to be their last good run at a title. And with the oncoming of younger, more confident teams (Miami, Chicago) that may be true, but there are still six additional spots that’ll be up for grabs in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta, who bowed out in their typical fashion last night against Chicago, will continue to be inconsistent and, to a certain degree, uncoachable. New York should improve its conference standing with a full year of its own ‘big three’ on the court, but will they really become elite? And who knows what will happen in Orlando. Will Superman still be in the building?

Regardless of the standing of its opponents, Boston may have already made its most significant off-season move. Immediately following his team’s loss to the Heat in Game 5, Boston head coach Doc Rivers asserted his commitment to return to his position next season. Today, Rivers and the organization agreed to a 5-year contract extension. It is clear that Rivers has an unbreakable bond with this Celtic team – it is visible when he talks about them. His loyalty will undoubtedly be matched by the team’s most influential players – Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo.

Can Rondo and the Celtics get healthy enough to make some noise in the East?

Granted, time is not on Boston’s side. Next year, the team will be a year older, and three of its best performers are comfortably into their 30′s. But, if management can reload the roster with some interior size (which cost them dearly in their series loss to Miami) and explosive bench talent, there’s no reason to think that the Celtics won’t find a way to have home court advantage in the opening round of the 2012 playoffs.

Los Angeles Lakers

From a standpoint of roster potential, the sky is the limit for this team. Sure, they got waxed by the Mavericks. But however you slice it, the Lakers retain their daunting interior size, Lamar Odom coming off of the bench, and a fellow named Kobe Bryant.

However, Los Angeles has a tougher road ahead of it than does Boston.

Why?

Because they’ll be dealing with turnover in perhaps the most tumultuous position in the organization - the head coach.

The current edition of the Lakers is one that has publicly confessed its tendency to become complacent. Phil Jackson – generally noted as one of the game’s premiere motivators and a trailblazer when it comes to dealing with diverse personalities - was unable to minimize the supposed internal strife and keep them focuses on the task of three-peating. The situation begs the question:

If Jackson – an 11-time NBA championship head coach – can’t command the team’s attention, who can?

Was their drama between their women that contirbuted to an embarrassing performance?

There are several candidates currently in the running for the position, including Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw, former Rockets coach Rick Adelman, former NBA sharpshooter Chuck Person and former Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy. While some of the candidates on L.A.’s short list have better resumes than others, none of them have the authoritative presence that Jackson did.

The Lakers are a hotbed of drama, and the next coach will have to get a handle on the following:

The rumors of relationship meddling that may have caused a perceived rift between Bryant and Gasol
Andrew Bynum’s frustrated belief that he needs to be more of a central focus in the Los Angeles gameplan…and Kobe’s subsequent denial
Ron Artest’s role with the team

And these are just the surface-scratching issues that the new head man will have to tackle immediately. Who knows what else could develop with Jackson not around to babysit the huge egos on the team.

Fortunately for them, the Lakers still have one of the league’s most well-rounded rosters. That alone will keep them relevant. This is not a team that needs to be blown up.

It’s simply a ship that needs the right captain.

Game 5 Win Could Help LeBron Turn the Corner

T Lamont — Thu, 12 May 2011 17:14:28 +0000

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Greatness. A word with about as many variations in its meaning as people in the world.

Yet, we all strive for it collectively and, perhaps more importantly, individually.

That greatness is often realized after a daunting task has been overcome, or surpassed, if you will. That is, on the side prior to greatness, there is usually a degree of suffering that comes at the hands of a troubling obstacle.

Last night, maybe LeBron James was able to clear the final hurdle on the path to realizing the expectations that were laid before him.

Since middle school, James has been groomed to become the top NBA star in this still-new millennium. But unlike many others who were well-hyped extremely early in their amateur careers - such as O.J. Mayo, Sebastian Telfair and Derrick Character too name a few - LeBron has validated the praise that was heaped upon him. His career averages of 27-7-7 (points-rebounds-assists) have basically solidified his standing as a future Hall of Famer. James has even upped those averages to 29-9-7 in the postseason.

Wherever LBJ went, Boston had four guys on him.

But anyone following the NBA knows that, while James has lived up to the hype, he still hasn’t lived up to his FULL potential.

After a brief taste (since his Cavs were swept it was more like a sip) of the NBA Finals in 2007 against the San Antonio Spurs, LeBron has failed to come close to making another appearance. Each subsequent season seemed to bring about more promise for his and his Cleveland mates, but alas, they would ultimately flame out in the playoffs due to mismatches that their opponents were able to exploit.

Personally, it was the 2007 run that saw LeBron finally slay the first of his trying nemesis, the Detroit Pistons. Detroit was a veteran team that, in 2006-07, had completed a brilliant regular season. In the Eastern Conference Finals that year, James put the Cavs on his back during his signature 25-point 4th quarter and overtime performance, which many considered to be his breakthrough. Sure that more experienced and well-rounded Spurs clubbed Cleveland in the Finals, but you had the sense that LeBron’s presence on the NBA’s biggest stage was going to be something that the fans could count on annually.

Well, fast forward four years. LeBron failed to bring Cleveland what they had longer for. Partially because of the the team that became his new nemesis – the Boston Celtics.

In 2007-08, the Celtics had a dream season. The acquisitions of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen instantly rejuvenated Paul Pierce (who suddenly became much healthier on a regular basis), and rescued Boston from its previous abysmal state. Of course, they were dubbed “The Big Three”, and were too much for any team to handle – including Kobe and his Lakers. From that point forward, Boston, when healthy, has consistently proved itself to be the top team in the East (recall that Orlando knocked them off to reach the 2009 Finals in the absence of Garnett).

If LeBron didn’t have any angst towards the Celtics, it would be hard to believe. It was James’ struggles against Boston that set forth the series of events that jilted Cavs fans forever. The infamous Game 5 performance during which LeBron’s heart to win was questioned. The free-agency flirtation with different organizations. The off-season suspense of whether he was coming back to Cleveland. And, finally, the ultimate betrayal and mockery on national television.

Or at least that the way most of the sports nation sees it.

Or perhaps LeBron was just desperate. He has looked into the face of his latest nemesis and realized the truth: that it would take more than one superstar to beat them.

Even after LeBron retreat to South Beach, he was initially failing to defeat the demons of his past. In his first three games against Boston as a member of Miami, neither he, nor his new teammates, could seal the deal to upend the veteran-laden squad.

James and Dwyane Wade ruthlessly attacked Boston's interior defense.

But then this year’s Eastern Conference Semifinal came around. Miami, on the strength of two, crowd-inspired home court victories, were able to surge out to a 3-1 series lead. However, the most daunting part of dethroning a champion is closing them out.

And four years after he initial breakthrough, LeBron did it again.

Last night, with the game knotted at 87, James hoisted a triple from the corner. Despite the outstretched hand of Paul Pierce distorting his view, LeBron’s shot went through the net to give the Heat a three-point edge.

Moments later, King James extended that lead - this time with an improbable fall-away three from the wing, but with Pierce draped all over him. Again, the result was three points for Miami.

With Boston clearly reeling and needing quick scores, they tried to get the ball into Pierce’s hands. James saw it coming, stepped into the passing lane, swiped the ball and was off to the races for a crowd-pleasing two-handed rim rocker that served as the icing on the cake with under 30 seconds remaining.

In total, LeBron scored the last 10 points of the game. In about two minutes, James’ erased the pressure of his regular season shortcomings and his team’s foreshadowed success. He had pulled the plug on the Green Monsters.

With L.A. taking an unpredicted early exit, the stage could be set for James – with his new arsenal – to be the headlining act in this year’s edition of the NBA Finals.

And for LeBron, nothing could feel better than to finish what he started four years ago.