Celtics
Rajon Rondo can make NBA players look slow and goofy. Like he did in last night's closing minutes against Dirk Nowitizki and the Mavericks. Sure Nowitizki is 7 feet tall, but he moves well and is amazingly coordinated for a player his size. So for a 6 foot 1 point guard to score on him in the paint is a big deal. Rondo's game looks reminiscent of Isiah Thomas.
Thomas could also score against bigger players in the paint. Thomas was a great athlete. Able to dunk in rebounds (though he rarely did this) and take players off the dribble at will. He had great foot speed and was fearless. A great player that is actually overlooked. Is there another player in the NBA that is close to Isiah Thomas? I say Rajon Rondo.
Rondo is only 21. He is about the same size Thomas was when he entered the league. He has the same athletic ability. He can dunk in a rebound if he times it right. He can get in the paint whenever he wants. He is fearless in attacking bigger players and he can make big plays. An example? 12 Boards in last nights Celtics game
The only thing separating these guys right now is a consistent jump shot. Isiah had a nasty pull up jumper and later had respectable three point range. Which made covering him from 23 feet and out impossible. Will Rondo develop that type of range? It may take a few years but right now he just keeps getting better and better. Will it be enough this year for the Celtics to win a title? We'll see. But this guy is good right now.
A 6 foot guard that can grab 12 boards in an NBA game and have the foot speed to cover Alan Iverson and is only 21 years old. Gotta love it.
The Bobcats are coming to Boston and the Celtics are jacked up right now. They are as hot as NBA team can be. Great bench play has been the key and made up for quiet games from Ray Allen.
Is Ray Allen hurt? That is the question to start asking. With 11 combined points over his last two games, there is cause for concern. Is he getting old? Doesn't appear so. He looks like he takes care of himself and is in great shape. The ankle surgeries from this past off season are most likely slowing him down. Should he be rested while the Celtics still have that luxury? That is something to think about. With the other Allen playing well and House and Posey always ready to go, the Celtics need to think about that one. If Ray Allen is not hurt and plays well, than all chatter on that matter can stop.
The Bobcats lost a tough game to Boston when Ray Allen hit an incredible shot in the last few seconds. They played the Cletics tough that night and have some good young players. They will need a huge game from Okafor to make any noise this time.
With the 76ers and Wizards also to be played on this homestand, its not hard to look ahead to the Blazers. They have played great and are the best story in the NBA so far. Of course there may be a Michael Jordan sighting during the game. Jordan is probably as miserable watching this team as he was in is earlier stint as GM with the Wizards. Coming back to rescue this franchise Michael? Not likely
For Celtics fans this is great news. The Big Three, or Boston Three Party, as they are called in a recent ESPN commercial, had quiet games. Paul Pierce 19 (again leading the team in field goal attempts), Garnett 15 and 5 boards, and Ray Allen with 9 points on only 8 shots.
Glenn (Big Baby) Davis had 20 points. With 16 coming in the 4th quarter. Davis continues to looked like he belongs in the NBA and is pushing for Perkins' minutes. Davis provides more scoring punch than Perkins and is an overall better basketball player. Perkins does have size and is a better finisher in terms of ripping the rim down and that may be the deciding factor in the long run as far as minutes. But the real story is that this team is coming along, with players contributing everywhere. Last night alone, Pollard, House, Tony Allen (double figures again with 10), Posey and House all scored or contributed and that makes this team all the more dangerous.
Commercials like the recent ESPN one can flame jealousy on a professional sports team. Will it effect this team? So far it hasn't. Winning 29 out of your first 32 games should bring unity to a team and these Celtics have that. Garnett's personality will hold this team in check and make everybody feel important. The proof? Great contributions off the bench and that ultimately will decide if these guys (all 12) can bring an NBA title to Boston.
The Celtics squeaked out a win against the Grizzlies on Friday. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce had 23 each but Ray Allen had two foul shots that came in the last seconds of the game.
For Celtics fans, that is worrisome. Allen has proven that he is an elite scorer through out his career and the new Celtics are preaching "harmony", but this can't continue. Pierce leads the team in field goal attempts almost every game. Has he taken it for the team? Doesn't appear so.
Garnett was able to get his 23 on only 10 field goal attempts. Pierce shot a respectable 9 for 17 but Ray Allen needs more touches and field goal attempts to help this team over the long haul.
Tony Allen had another great game scoring 20 in 25 minutes. With every game Tony Allen seems to get better and strengthens a bench that was a major concern to start the season. However, even with the bench providing scoring, rebounds and energy, Ray Allen only scoring 2 and disappearing over the last few games is not a good sign.
Former UConn star Rudy Gay, lost a tooth to a James Posey forearm. Gay has started to show flashes of NBA stardom but a James Posey forearm will send him to the dentist in the next few days.
That bodes well for tonight's game against the Pistons, who stole one from the Celtics on a Chauncy Billups head fake in Boston. Giving the Celtics one of their three losses. Expect a physical, low scoring, NBA playoff type game tonight.
