Rondo or Paul?

That's been the talk of the town throughout the day in Boston. Chris Paul is asking for a trade, and Celtics fans are wondering if they are perfect trade partners. Would you deal Paul for Rondo? I think it is simple. Chris Paul in green would be the way to go.

Paul has everything that Rondo has. He has speed, quickness, defensive ability, and wicked explosiveness. Where they are different - Paul can score, can shoot and can hit free throws. Rondo's shooting in the postseason was crippling to the Celtics. He had the worst free throw percentage in the history of the playoffs, an unfortunate trait that cost the C's some games. He extended the season, and guess what, it cost them. They faded in the 11th hour, they just didn't have the legs. Blame Rondo for putting them in that spot.

Now Rondo has a case as well. He has won a title and he helped Boston to the bring of a championship this year. Paul has never even been close.

Paul's stats last year, 18.7PPG, 10.7 APG and 2.1 steals. He shot 40% from behind the arc, and close to 85% at the line. Rondo's year looked like this, 13.7 PPG, 9.8 APG, and 2.3 steals. He was a 21% 3pt shooter (UGLY) and 62% from the line (and 59% in the playoffs...even uglier)!

With Paul in the right system, he could be dominant. If CP3 were on the C's, they would have another scoring option. No more sagging defenses, no more hack a Rondo. I want Paul, you want Paul, let's trade for Paul. Thanks for everything Rajon, enjoy New Orleans.

Matt Barnes Is Out

CSNE is reporting that Matt Barnes will not fill the void left by Tony Allen. Barnes would have been a nice fit for Boston, as he can score from time-to-time and also defends well. Over his career, Barnes has averaged 7.3 points and 4.4 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game.

This is bad news, as Barnes is that tough nose personality the Celts need. This video above kind of shows it all.

Maybe Pierce Should Have Gone Elsewhere

I am happy that Paul Pierce resigned with the Celtics. That being said, he doesn't seem too happy with additional offseason moves made by Boston. The Truth was recently quoted as saying, "I thought it was a great move picking up Jermaine [O'Neal], giving us an inside presence in case Rasheed retires, but sometimes I'm looking at all the players signing and wish we would get on the ball a little bit. I trust in Danny to put a good team around us, but I'm sitting here watching all these good players fall to other teams."

I agree with Paul. The Celts should have done more to sign more impactful free agents. After signing O'Neal, Boston missed the boat on Tony Allen. Mike Miller would have looked good in green, but he went to Miami. Raymond Felton, Hakim Warrick, and others would have fit in nicely as well.

So we stand still for the time being. The Celtics have the big 3, Baby, an injured Perk, Jermaine, and almost Nate Robinson. Still not a complete roster, and as other teams continue to improve, the Celtics stay mum on the free agent front. Let's hope that Danny can find some talent, if any remains.

Dwight Howard Is Lost

A very interesting youtube video posted shows Dwight Howard talking and joking with fans during the 4th quarter of game 2. You would hope that your best player is interested in the task at hand (The Celtics) and not the fans behind the basket. It seems like he had no care in the world. Rashard Lewis had to pull him onto the court to be ready for the Celtics inbounds play. Do you think Kevin Garnett would lack this focus? He would probably be screaming at somebody on the court to cover his man better.

Although Howard had a great game against the C's in game 2, this little clip here might show the greatest difference between Orlando and Boston: Focus.

No Faith In The Celtics

I should have faith in the Celts, right? Well, I don´t. Boston put themselves in a terrible position for the NBA playoffs, set to take on Dwyane Wade and the surging Miami Heat in the 1st round. A 4 vs 5 matchup, with the brunt of the games coming at the Garden. Boston is just 27-27 since Christmas, and have put themselves in a position to get f´d in either the 1st or 2nd round. Most think it will be the 2nd, but this 1st rounder could be as tough as last year´s matchup against the Bulls.

What makes this matchup an absolute bitch? One man, Dwyane Wade. DWade has blown up against the Celts several times this year, once for 44 points. Not a good sign for a team that prides themselves on defense. Another interesting tidbit comes from ESPN´s Chris Forsberg ...The Heat are 29-1 when coming out of the break with the lead, and the Celtics are one of the worst teams to hold a lead after the break.... To me, this means that these games will come down to the wire every single night. That being said, the ball will be in Dwyane Wade´s hands, and on the flip side, Paul Pierce´s hands. Both have NBA titles and MVPs under their belts. Who do you trust?

The whole analysis of this series is probably dumb however, as the winner will have to go to Cleveland. In a game where home court advantage is everything, Boston will be playing in the toughest house in the league. Playing against a guy that wanted to kill after his playoff loss last year. A guy that wants revenge on all bloggers who trashed him after his final series last year. (Whoops, we might be partly to blame when he goes off on the Celtics in the 2nd round!)

Boston won their championship with the Big 3 because of home court advantage. They also had a better team in place, and a hungrier one at that. This year, the team doesn´t have these items in their favor.

Expect the Celtics to play hard in these NBA playoffs, just don´t be shocked at an early exit.

Huge Comeback Helps Celtics Over NBDL Wizards

The Boston Celtics came back in a big way to take out the lowly Washington Wizards at the Garden Sunday night. The Cs trailed by double digits in the final quarter, yet Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen brought Boston back into the game. Allen hit two huge 3s in the final minutes of the ballgame. The Celts took a 1-point lead on the Wiz on an Allen 3, coming off of an offensive rebound of a free throw.It was Boston's first lead since the 1st quarter of the ballgame. After Washington put in a basket to take the lead back, Allen hit another 3 to put the Celtics up for good.

Allen has been huge for Boston since the All-Star break. It showed tonight, as he had 18 2nd half points. He was the catalyst of Boston's 19-4 run to end the ballgame. Aren't we glad to still have Allen on this yeam? Washington gave this game away, but can you blame them? They suck. No Gilbert Arenas = no real scoring threat. They traded Jamison, and are really left with Blatche and Foye. They held Boston below 90 points, yet they still lost. Only bad teams lose when their opponents score in the 80s. I would hate to be a Wizard fan tonight. C's 86-Wiz83. It was a bitter sweet game for the Celtics. Good news is that Boston came back to win. Bad news is that they almost lost to Washington.

Celtics Should Look Into Ilgauskas

Zydrunas Ilgauskas was traded to the Washington Wizards, and now he has been bought out by the Wiz. He is now an unrestricted free agent, and I imagine the Celtics don't have much of a chance to bring him in. If the Celts wanted Z, they would most likely have to shift some money around. The Celtics would need also need to get rid of some of their trash in order to bid for Z. Sheldon Williams, Brian Scalabrine and Marcus Landry are a few names that come to mind. That being said, the chances that Boston can do these things are quite slim. Z's presence in the post, however, would certainly be a helpful thing for a team that often gets beat on the glass. Z can also shoot, so he would be able to spread the floor if he was on the court at the same time as Kendrick Perkins. The Celtics should make a run at him, but most likely they won't be the team that wins the Ilgauskas sweepstakes.

Celtics Resting Up

The Celtics played back to back games in both LA and Portland, and won them both. The cherry on top is that they will be fresh when they play their next game Sunday at Denver. They will then be home on the 23rd against the Nate Robinsonless Knicks and the no-more-win-streak Cavaliers come into town on the 25th. Boston could go on a big run here, and they will be able to point to Ray Allen's performance against the Trailblazers as the reason why.

Allen went off for the second straight game, as he went for 24 on Thursday against the Lakers. Against the Blazers, Allen scored 21 points, and was on the court to put Portland away in the 4th quarter. The Celtics lead was cut to single digits in the 4th, but Allen hit 2 3-pointers and a 2 over a 3 minute span in the 4th. It turned a close game into a blowout. And with Allen the only member of the Big 4 (I include Rajon Rondo now) on the court during the 4th, the rest of the Celtics stars got some much needed bench time.

KG only played 21 minutes, and played only 26 in LA. Pierce played 26 minutes, Perkins 25, and Rondo checked in with 31 on Friday. Allen took the bullet, playing 37 minutes. He stepped in and saved the day. And good for the ESPN announcers, they acknowledged that Allen's play in the 2nd half saved Boston's legs. Figure this: Marquis Daniels, Tonly Allen, and Rasheed Wallace all played more than KG. That is a very good sign.

This was almost an unnoticeable feat by R. Allen. He helped his team out more than any average viewer would see. The Celts will now be fresh for their upcoming tough games, and don't be surprised if they stretch this 3-game winning streak to 5, 6 or even 7 if they can get by Lebron and the Cavaliers.

Paul Pierce - The Greatest 3-Point Shooter Since Larry Bird

Paul Pierce has won the 3-point competition. Unbelievable. A guy that has barely shot over 35% in his career from downtown, wins the competition. Pierce hit 17 in the 1st round, and 20 (including all 5 moneyballs) in the 2nd round to take the crown. Competing against Pierce in the finals were Chauncey Billups and Stephon Curry. Both better overall shooters than Pierce.

Pierce is the first Celtics to win the compeition since Larry Bird.

Pierce is probably the worst shooter to ever win this event. Currently, I think he is the 3rd best shooter on Boston. Ray Allen #1, Eddie House # 2, and then Pierce. I was happy to see him win, but let's also be honest and say he was the only person in the event that cared about winning. Pierce was streaking down the court in celebratory mode even before Curry finished his final rack. Finals MVP, now 3-point shooting champ. His trophy collection is pretty much complete now.

NBA Player Of The Week Award Is Lame

Kevin Garnett was the NBA Player of the Week for last week. His numbers look as followed:

Dec. 1 @ Charlotte: 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists in a 108-90 win over the Bobcats.

Dec. 3 @ San Antonio: 20 points to go along with seven rebounds, five assists and two steals in a 90-83 win over the Spurs.

Dec. 4 @ Oklahoma City: 23 points, eight rebounds and three assists in a 105-87 win over the Thunder.

These number sure would have helped the Celts in last year's playoff effort.

Celtics And Spurs A Preview Of NBA Finals?

The Boston Celtics travel to San Antonio tonight to take on the Spurs in a battle of stacked teams. We already know the Celtics are coming out of the Eastern Conference this year. They have the strongest starting 5 in the league, and the deepest bench in the Conference. I will take Rasheed any day as my 6th man. As for 7,8,9 - how about Eddie House, Shelden Williams and Marquis Daniels. Wow! No doubt, Boston is favored to come out of the competitive East. Sorry Cleveland, you took a step backwards with the acquisition of Shaq. You are right there Orlando, but with KG in the lineup this year, the Cs have an edge.

As for the West, the usual suspects are involved. LA, Phoenix, Dallas, Denver...but have we forgotten about the Spurs? Yes, a 9-6 start was not what they were envisioning, but riding a 5 game winning streak they are now starting to look like one of the best in the West. Their top 4 players are right there with the Celts. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and newly acquired Richard Jefferson can certainly handle the best the league has to offer. (By the way, the aging Duncan is off to an 18ppg 10rpg start.) Off the bench, Antonio McDyess, DeJuan Blair, Michael Finley and Matt Bonner make up the well rounded reserves.

So, while everyone is giving the Lakers the Western Conference, let's not forget about the veteran Spurs. Injuries have kept this team from making it to the finals over the last two years, but this year looks different, and the addition of Jefferson puts them right there. The former Net and Buck is hovering around 14 ppg, definitely one of the steals of the offseason.

Could tonight be a matchup of the NBA Finals? Maybe so.

Bold Predictions: 2009-10 Boston Celtics

Record: 67-15 (1st Eastern Conference, 1st in Atlantic Division)

All Stars: Kevin Garnett (voted in as starter), Paul Pierce (selected as reserve, Rajon Rondo (selected as reserve)



Player Predictions/Analysis

Rajon Rondo:
Averages: 13 PPG, 9 Ast, 7 Rebs, 2 Stls
Analysis: I expect Rondo to step up huge this year, averaging close to a triple double while making 2nd team all defensive NBA and being selected to his 1st all star game appearance.

Ray Allen:
Averages: 16 PPG, 3 Ast, 3 Rebs, 1 Stl
Analysis: Ray is the oldest starting shooting guard in the NBA this season. He is in terrific shape and is one of the best conditioned NBA players of all time, so while his overall play shouldn't dip, his numbers may because he will play less minutes with the arrival of Marquis Daniels.

Paul Pierce:
Averages: 20 PPG, 5 Ast, 7 Rebs, 1.5 Stl, 48% FG
Analysis: Many people think the wear and tear on Paul Pierce's tires will finally start to show this year, resulting in his lowest scoring output since his rookie season. I'm not sure I see it. Like the other members of the big 3, Pierce will be well rested this year with a deep bench, but should have one of his most efficent season of his career, shooting close to 50% from the field.

Kevin Garnett:
Averages: 17 PPG, 5 Ast, 10 Rebs, 1.5 Blk, 1 Stl
Analysis: Obviously his health is the biggest concern for the success of this team. I'll be optimistic and say he stays healthy all year, maybe even taking comeback player of the year honors and finishing 1st team all NBA defense.

Kendrick Perkins:
Averages: 11 PPG, 2 Ast, 10 Rebs, 2 Blk
Analysis: Perk lost a lot of weight over the summer, and has shown tremendous quickness and better low-post moves this pre-season. I expect a mini-breakout of sorts as the only true center on the roster. Perk should average a double-double this year while continuing to improve defensively.

Rasheed Wallace:
Averages: 13 PPG, 2 Ast, 8 Rebs, 1.5 Blk
Analysis: Wallace will fit in perfectly in his first season in Boston. A great defensive player (when he wants to be) he should provide plenty of rest for KG this year and serves as an excellent insurance policy should Garnett's knee fail to hold up. Sixth man of the year isn't out of the question.

Marquis Daniels:
Averages: 9 PPG, 4 Ast, 4 Rebs
Analysis: Daniels is a crucial part of the Celtics bench, anchoring the second unit with Rasheed. He is tremendously versatile, and will likely serve as the C's primary backup PG and will keep Paul and Ray's legs fresh all year.

As for the rest of the bench, Eddie House will still provide an electric shooting touch and instant energy off the bench, and Glen Davis has to be the best 9th man in the league. He was averaging 16 and 6 in the playoffs, while coming up with clutch shots. If there are any injuries to any of the big men listed above, I'd be very comfortable with Davis as a replacement.

I fully expect this team to make the finals at the very least. Cleveland will be a tremendous hurdle to overcome in the playoffs, but if healthy, the Celtics should have just enough to get by. I do, however, worry about a potential matchup with the Lakers in the finals. On paper, L.A. looks like one of the best teams ever assembled, and they don't have nearly as tough a road to the finals as the C's.

Celtics Lose Game 7, Still Greatest Team Ever!

The Celtics lost game 7 to the Orlando Magic in dramatic fashion: a blowout at home. But Orlando felt like the real losers when it was announced that the Celtics were still the greatest team ever. In fact, there Celtics dominance stretches all the way back to 2008 when the C's won their first NBA title in over 20 years. What a franchise! Will they ever lose again? Probably, but even they when do, they will still be #1.

New photos of Delonte's gun bust

They just kept coming out of his pockets!