Pop Pop gets a treat?

Reblogged from sportspage

$sportspage: What’s wrong with the Celtics? Being in Boston, I’ve seen most of their games and it’s not pretty. In my preview article I mentioned that they worried me as a fan. Here’s what I see. The Celtics don’t have enough players that can create their own shot. Pierce and Rondo are basically the only players that can do this. Rondo’s shot has improved a lot this year, but it’s still his biggest weakness. Pierce has started off cold. Maybe it’s age catching up with him, maybe he’s just behind in conditioning because of the injury that kept him out of the pre-season and the start of the season. He’s not going to the hole as much as he has in the past, which keeps him off the line, and it doesn’t seem like he’s shooting as much. Boton only has a few other offensive threats - One is Allen. Allen can still hit shots (at a percentage higher than his career numbers) but he’s not going to the hole as much as we’ve seen in years past and has never created his own shots. Creating a shot isn’t Allen’s game, but it adds to the Celtics weakness. KG is a fraction of what he used to be. He can still hit 15-18 footers but he’s not threatening defensively anymore. What really kills the Celtics besides the lack of a center is a high rate scorer off the bench. The loss of Jeff Green is really showing it’s impact. Bass has been great off the bench and puts up good scoring numbers but there is no one who can come off the bench and provide a spark - Much like Nate Robinson has done through out his career. I’m surprised that the Celtics didn’t try to bring him back while he was a free agent, I assume that’s because they are trying to change the culture, which is also part of the Big Baby trade. While we are talking about offense off the bench, every time Avery Bradley throws up a shot I cringe (same with Daniels). I’ve watched every team at least once this year and Bradley shoots the ugliest bricks in the NBA from the guard positions. He’s one of the best on-ball defenders I’ve seen this year, but he shouldn’t be a offensive weapon at this point in his career. The Celtics barely provide an inside defensive threat, Jermaine O’Neal has been good, but never stays healthy. Their best shot blocker is 26-year old rookie Greg Stiemsma. Stiemsma was the D League defensive player of the year last season but barely plays with the Celtics. I’d love to see Greg get more minutes, he really adds the defensive presence to the team that they need. We do see lapses of judgement from time to time, but that’s to be expected of a young player. So what can be done? The Celtics need to make a deal but only have a few attractive pieces that would interest teams. They have two first round picks next year in what is thought to be a deep draft, and they have Rondo. One example of a player to bring in would be O.J. Mayo. The Grizzlies are known to be shopping him, but they still value him and want a good return. Either the Celtics need to offer the draft picks, or bring in a third team that could offer the Grizzlies something. If the Celtics want to bring in a shot blocker who can also score Anthony Randolph would be a reasonably priced player that I would target. One trade that I’m skeptical about, but is possible, is a deal with the Thunder. The Thunder could send Mohammed and Westbrook to the Celtics for Rondo. If this wasn’t a fair deal, they could include a pick or Stiemsma. After this season Rondo will make about $10 mil a year for the next three years, and Westbrook (restricted free agent) will probably make about $18 mil a year. The Thunder could start Harden to get his offense in the lineup. Rondo will provide more defense than Westbrook so the Thunder can afford to move Thabo to the bench. This move will improve the offense of Ibaka and Perkins, getting them better looks and transition baskets. Barely important, Rondo and his best friend Perkins will be reunited. The Thunder can afford to keep the team together for years, where that was a question with Westbrook’s restricted free agency coming next year. The Thunder will lose scoring from the point guard, but will gain it in other areas. Imagine what having Rondo running the floor could do for Durant’s already great game. For the Celtics, Ainge has been shopping Rondo, we all know this, we don’t know why. The Celtics have this final year with the big three. Russy could carry the offense when veterans get rested, or injured. Westbrook would add more offense to the team and with Allen and Garnett hitting free agency, the Celtics can afford to bring back Russy and still sign another star. Of course, if they keep Rondo, they can sign two max players next season. It would really have to be a go-for-everything-this-year type of move. Mohammed would give them a center, backing up, until O’Neal gets hurt, then he becomes the starer. He had to be included to get the money even. He’d be a great piece off the bench. If I were running the Celtics, I wouldn’t do this deal. I’d prefer to keep Rondo and sign two top level free agents next year. I’m looking big picture. I feel that Ainge will want to go for it this year, try to get one more run out of the big three. The Celtics are going to have to fight to make the playoffs, unless they bring in an offensive spark plug. I prefer to think big picture when it comes to trading Rondo. Keep him and his cheap contract and bring in two max players next season. For this year, float those two 1st round picks and see who you can entice to deal.$

sportspage:

What’s wrong with the Celtics?

Being in Boston, I’ve seen most of their games and it’s not pretty. In my preview article I mentioned that they worried me as a fan. Here’s what I see.

The Celtics don’t have enough players that can create their own shot. Pierce and Rondo are basically the only players that can do this. Rondo’s shot has improved a lot this year, but it’s still his biggest weakness. Pierce has started off cold. Maybe it’s age catching up with him, maybe he’s just behind in conditioning because of the injury that kept him out of the pre-season and the start of the season. He’s not going to the hole as much as he has in the past, which keeps him off the line, and it doesn’t seem like he’s shooting as much. Boton only has a few other offensive threats - One is Allen. Allen can still hit shots (at a percentage higher than his career numbers) but he’s not going to the hole as much as we’ve seen in years past and has never created his own shots. Creating a shot isn’t Allen’s game, but it adds to the Celtics weakness. KG is a fraction of what he used to be. He can still hit 15-18 footers but he’s not threatening defensively anymore.

What really kills the Celtics besides the lack of a center is a high rate scorer off the bench. The loss of Jeff Green is really showing it’s impact. Bass has been great off the bench and puts up good scoring numbers but there is no one who can come off the bench and provide a spark - Much like Nate Robinson has done through out his career. I’m surprised that the Celtics didn’t try to bring him back while he was a free agent, I assume that’s because they are trying to change the culture, which is also part of the Big Baby trade. While we are talking about offense off the bench, every time Avery Bradley throws up a shot I cringe (same with Daniels). I’ve watched every team at least once this year and Bradley shoots the ugliest bricks in the NBA from the guard positions. He’s one of the best on-ball defenders I’ve seen this year, but he shouldn’t be a offensive weapon at this point in his career.

The Celtics barely provide an inside defensive threat, Jermaine O’Neal has been good, but never stays healthy. Their best shot blocker is 26-year old rookie Greg Stiemsma. Stiemsma was the D League defensive player of the year last season but barely plays with the Celtics. I’d love to see Greg get more minutes, he really adds the defensive presence to the team that they need. We do see lapses of judgement from time to time, but that’s to be expected of a young player.

So what can be done?

The Celtics need to make a deal but only have a few attractive pieces that would interest teams. They have two first round picks next year in what is thought to be a deep draft, and they have Rondo.

One example of a player to bring in would be O.J. Mayo. The Grizzlies are known to be shopping him, but they still value him and want a good return. Either the Celtics need to offer the draft picks, or bring in a third team that could offer the Grizzlies something.

If the Celtics want to bring in a shot blocker who can also score Anthony Randolph would be a reasonably priced player that I would target.

One trade that I’m skeptical about, but is possible, is a deal with the Thunder. The Thunder could send Mohammed and Westbrook to the Celtics for Rondo. If this wasn’t a fair deal, they could include a pick or Stiemsma.

After this season Rondo will make about $10 mil a year for the next three years, and Westbrook (restricted free agent) will probably make about $18 mil a year. The Thunder could start Harden to get his offense in the lineup. Rondo will provide more defense than Westbrook so the Thunder can afford to move Thabo to the bench. This move will improve the offense of Ibaka and Perkins, getting them better looks and transition baskets. Barely important, Rondo and his best friend Perkins will be reunited. The Thunder can afford to keep the team together for years, where that was a question with Westbrook’s restricted free agency coming next year. The Thunder will lose scoring from the point guard, but will gain it in other areas. Imagine what having Rondo running the floor could do for Durant’s already great game.

For the Celtics, Ainge has been shopping Rondo, we all know this, we don’t know why. The Celtics have this final year with the big three. Russy could carry the offense when veterans get rested, or injured. Westbrook would add more offense to the team and with Allen and Garnett hitting free agency, the Celtics can afford to bring back Russy and still sign another star. Of course, if they keep Rondo, they can sign two max players next season. It would really have to be a go-for-everything-this-year type of move. Mohammed would give them a center, backing up, until O’Neal gets hurt, then he becomes the starer. He had to be included to get the money even. He’d be a great piece off the bench.

If I were running the Celtics, I wouldn’t do this deal. I’d prefer to keep Rondo and sign two top level free agents next year. I’m looking big picture. I feel that Ainge will want to go for it this year, try to get one more run out of the big three.

The Celtics are going to have to fight to make the playoffs, unless they bring in an offensive spark plug. I prefer to think big picture when it comes to trading Rondo. Keep him and his cheap contract and bring in two max players next season. For this year, float those two 1st round picks and see who you can entice to deal.

Pop Pop gets a treat?

Notes