Boston Celtics Doc Rivers Wants Great Regular Season: He Will Get It
[picappgallerysingle id="9142961"]
”I do not want to repeat what we went through last year,” “You go through a lull this year like we did last year and you’ll end up being a seventh seed,” Rivers said. “There simply are too many good teams.” “What you can say to them,” Rivers explained, “is that if we had won more games and taken care of business at home, then Game 7 would have been in Boston and that would have made a huge difference.”
Doc Rivers on the regular season courtesy of ESPN Boston.
The 2009 to 2010 regular season was a failure for the Boston Celtics. The team managed to win a mere fifty games in a very weak Eastern Conference. The team started off great with a 25 and 3 record. After that great start the wheels fell off. The team had many reasons for the debacle. The first and main reason was the already injured Kevin Garnett aggravated his injury more and had to sit out a few games and slowly work himself back into game shape. Paul Pierce also got hurt and lost a little explosiveness with a foot injury. Ray Allen was not in the right frame of mind to shoot with trade rumors swirling. The injuries to Marquis Daniels and Glen Davis crippled the already thin bench. The fact the team shut it down and said we need to get healthy and ready for the play offs is no surprise.
However, the injuries contributed to losses, but the mentality of the regular season is no big deal was another factor. The team had way too many lapses in execution on both ends of the floor. This is the main reason why Boston managed to find a way to lose a lot of games despite second half leads. Phil Jackson was right; the team was a front runner. This same mental lapse caused the team to drop very winnable home games to garbage teams like New Jersey and Washington at home last year. Despite injuries the team was still good enough to win at least ten more games. I am sure if I sat down and revisited the season, I could find at least that amount.
This year is very different. The East got a little better. Teams like Miami, Chicago, Milwaukee, New York, and even New Jersey are all a little better. Doc knows this. The players know this. To beat a team like Miami or LA, home court would be a huge lift. That is why I expect the focus to be there.
The starters are all healthy. KG is healthy for the first time since 08 and is showing ridiculous explosiveness in his movements. Rondo is a year better. Paul Pierce is angry at his Finals performance and strengthened his problematic foot. Ray Allen has peace of mind. The team has a great bench that is deep at most positions. The team has a very deep bench with 10 guys that can contribute if given the opportunity. The team also has the personnel to match up with any team. The team has the size to math up big with Jermaine O’Neal and Shaq on board. The team has enough guards to go small and be effective with Nate Robinson, Marquis Daniels Avery Bradley, and Delonte West to augment Allen and Rondo. Von Wafer, Marquis Daniels, Tony Gaffney and Luke Harangody can spell Pierce. Glen Davis and Jermaine O’Neal can back up KG. The team is loaded for a great regular season with a deep team.
The only aspect that can hurt this team is focus. Doc is right if the focus is like last year and waiting for the playoffs, the team is in trouble. Somehow with a healthy KG, a painful Finals loss, and Doc Rivers preaching; I feel a better regular season is a lock. If the regular season is better remember the seeds were planted last year at the Finals, fertilized during the offseason, and began to grow during the training camp. Also remember to credit Danny and Doc for keeping the team talented, motivated, and ready to win. Let the East know the defending Eastern Conference Champions are taking the regular season serious. This is bad news in Miami, Chicago, Orlando and everywhere else.
Boston Celtics Kevin Garnett Is Truly The Embodiment Of Celtic Pride
[picappgallerysingle id="9142053"]
“Yup, this is it. Last train stops in Boston.”
Kevin Garnett on whether this is his last NBA destination Courtesy of WEEI Radio
Kevin Garnett has only been in Boston three years going on four. 2007- 2008 was his first season in Boston. Before that he was in Minnesota for 12 years. He may have spent the bulk of his career in T-Wolves country, but he was born to be a Boston Celtic. Garnett was always the embodiment of everything that was Celtic Pride. This quote right here from Kevin himself is everything that is Celtics Pride.
“When it comes to competing, being in shape, passion — none of those things are lacking, not with me. When I get out on the floor, man, I’m going to compete. I wear my heart on my sleeve with anything that I do, anyway. Basketball is one of the things I enjoy in this world, so it’s like I’m having a tryout here. When I work out, I work out to better myself, to better my craft. Basketball is pure enjoyment for me.”
Since Larry Bird retired and the players that he touched left as well, the team was missing Celtic Pride. Where was the out working of every team? Before KG arrived the culture here was relaxed and missing intensity. Even the Antione Walker and Paul Pierce led teams lacked that Boston Celtic intensity (especially on the defensive end at times. Yes, O’Brien was a nice defensive coach, but the team was too relaxed at times). The team lacked the one guy that set the tone with his work ethic. KG demands the most of his teammates because he demands the most out of himself. The rest of the team follows their fiery leader. Paul Pierce is great, but he is captain only in name. It is no coincidence that even Paul Pierce stepped up his game both defensively, offensively, and in the gym upon the arrival of KG.
This is why KG is so special. This man played his heart out injured last season and was still real good. This year his explosiveness is back. KG will be screaming and barking at everyone once again. The chest bumping KG that oozed Celtics pride is back. This is music to a Celtics’ fans ears.
Boston Celtics Von Wafer Hurt Ankle?
[picappgallerysingle id="4844784"]
It is being reported that Von Wafer tweaked his ankle in day one. This is a minor issue for Wafer. Wafer is battling for a roster spot with guys like Tony Gaffney, Delonte West, and Erden. An injured Wafer that cannot explode to the hoop is not going to help his chances of making the team. If you are a Tony Gaffney fan, this is your opening. If Gaffney can impress with his defense and Wafer cannot show his explosiveness, then Boston will keep Gaffney.
However, if the injury is not that serious, Wafer will make the team. Wafer is too talented a scorer and a solid defender to boot. He might be a great weapon off the bench for Boston. My money is on a banged up Wafer to still make the squad.
Boston Celtics Shaq Fires Shot At Kobe Bryant
[picappgallerysingle id="9525472"]
Shaq was asked if he had heard Bryant bragging about having one more ring than him in the moments immediately after winning another championship in June.
“Yeah I heard it,” O’Neal said. “My whole career I’ve been the measuring stick. Glad to see I’m still relevant.
“I would’ve been more upset, more hurt, if Tim Duncan would’ve made the comment. I don’t compete with guards. They have the ball more than I do, they shoot way more than I do. You can’t compete with guards.
“I’m only competing with Tim Duncan so hopefully I can get number five before Tim Duncan, respectfully before Tim Duncan.”
Boston Celtics media day
This comment is a friendly shot at Kobe. Shaq is saying Tim Duncan is his rival not Kobe Bryant. Giving the history of these men nothing could be further from the truth. Shaq is just trying to slight his former teammate. I do believe that Shaq is competing with Tim Duncan. It is only natural that a man that can lay claim to Shaq’s thrown as best center of his generation would be a chief rival. However, there is no way that Shaq was not upset at Kobe’s comments.
Shaq is a very prideful man. Knowing that Kobe is bragging about having one more ring must eat at Shaq. The results are astonishing. Shaq is in the best shape going into this training camp than the previous three. He is more slender and muscular. He looks ready to go and I doubt Kobe’s comments did not help fuel Shaq’s motivation. Circle the Lakers games on your calendars, this is going to get interesting.
Boston Celtics Rajon Rondo Did Work On His Shot: The Truth About Rondo
[picappgallerysingle id="9127488"]
Rajon Rondo did not work out with Mark Price this summer. Said he did not do anything special to work on his shooting, but feels good about it.
Dan Duggan Twitter
A lot of people do not know the real Rajon Rondo. Despite a ton of on court success, Rondo still finds a way to avoid the media. Rondo hides in the shadows of his more famous teammates. When Rondo does speak, he is direct and to the point. The man comes across as almost robot like with his serious edge to his responses. The man has the expressions and responses of the Terminator.
However, Rondo is a very funny dude with a dry sense of humor. One reporter asked him about a cut on his hand. In his usual robot like way, he responded with “I cut it moving boxes”. “I got evicted.”. The reporters took more than a few moments to realize he was joking. This is the dry sense of humor that makes Rondo famous. Rondo is also very sarcastic. This quote to me reeks of his sarcasm. After Rondo had a wretched shooting experience during the Finals, I find it hard to believe that the ultra competitive Rondo sat on his butt the whole offseason. Rondo is too smart and competitive to not realize he needs a reliable jump shot to be truly unstoppable in this league.
If people remember last year, he said the same thing. He said he did not work on his shooting and yet, Rondo added a three point shot to his arsenal. Owner Wyc Grousbeck cited Rondo’s work ethic during the season ticket holder only chalk talk last season. He claimed Rondo works as hard as or harder on his shooting than any other player.
The bottom line is this is a case where a quote is misconstrued and a person runs with it. Clearly Rondo was being his dry sarcastic self. Those that still believe the quote be prepared to be surprised this season. I guarantee Rondo will be a better shooter this season. I believe he will have a similar quote next season. Maybe people will have figured out his dry and sarcastic sense of humor. If not, remember to take quotes like this with a grain of salt because Rondo has no problem breaking people’s stones that ask questions that he feels are ridiculous.
