Update

Hey everyone, I apologize for not writing frequently, I have a lot of school work at the moment.

I would like to let everyone know that I will now be writing pieces for a new Celtics website called Causeway Today. When the website is finished being made, I will send everyone the link so you can follow me and the other writers on that site. I appreciate all the feedback and comments I have gotten from you all, and I hope to see you at Causeway Today. Thanks!!

Jack

5 Players to Watch this Season

5. Kris Joseph:

Will Kris Joseph make the opening day roster? Joseph is a second round pick out of Syracuse; he is the definition of a jack of all trades. Joseph can score, averaging about 15 points a game in College, he can also rebound and pass at 6'7, as well as providing solid, hard working defense. Kris is a player who could learn a lot from Paul Pierce. Don't expect him to get a great amount of minutes, but he will be there.

4. Chris Wilcox:

Wilcox missed the majority of last season after undergoing heart surgery, but in his time with the team he was a good role player who gave Kevin Garnett more of a cushion. Wilcox was brought back for a small amount of money, and he will play a key role behind Garnett at center. Wilcox will only play about 10 or 15 minutes a game, but that will be ample support for a body as old as Garnetts.

3. Courtney Lee:

Courtney Lee was brought on in a sign and trade from Houston for 4 years/21 million $. Lee may come into the starting job immediately if Avery Bradley isn't ready to go on opening day. It will be interesting to see if the 6'5 shooting guard can provide the same spark for a team that will love to have it this season.

2. Jared Sullinger:

Sulley was the first of the Celtics 2 first rounders this past draft, and fans have high hopes for the rookie out of OSU. Sullinger dropped to the C's because of a back injury that had prospects waving red flags. Sullinger likely will not play that big of a part this season due to the presence of Jeff Green and Brandon Bass, but next season, with Boston's star players getting older, he will be expected to brerak out.

1. Rajon Rondo:

This can be the season where Rondo cements his claim as the best point guard in the NBA. If he is to do this, Rondo will need to consistently show his scoring touch, while keeping his assist and rebound totals high. Rondo will play the tenacious defense that he has his whole career, but will all this combined be enough to snatch the trophy from Lebron James and Kevin Durant?

Philadelphia 76ers Preview

The Philadelphia 76ers were thrust into the Eastern Conference race this season when they helped the Lakers get Dwight Howard. While LA got the best center in the league the Sixers got the second best center in Andrew Bynum. Now that Howard is out of the Eastern Conference, Bynum can grab the spotlight in Philly, as he is their number one man now that Andre Iguodala is gone. The Sixers are very similar to the Indiana Pacers, I team I previewed two weeks ago. They both have star centers and superb supporting casts. It seems to me that the two squads will be battling it out for the third and fourth seed playoff spots this season. Lets take a look at Philly's roster:

PG: Holiday/Ivey/Wayns
SG: Richardson/Young
SF: Turner/Young/Wright
PF: Hawes/Allen/Moultrie
C: Bynum/Brown

The first thing I notice about the depth chart is the abundance of growing stars on the roster. Jrue Holiday runs the show on offense. Holiday is a seasoned, fundamental player who has really impressed in his first few years in the "city of brotherly love". Now that Holiday has a center like Bynum to help him, expect his assist numbers to go through the roof. Holiday was at 4.5 assists last season, this year I would love to see Holiday go up to 8 assists a game with all the talent on this roster. If Holiday can enter into the elite echelon of Eastern Conference point guards, Philly will be sitting pretty through the season. Royal Ivey, an NBA journeyman, is a solid option as a backup to Holiday. Former Villanova point guard Maalik Wayns, showed a lot of life during summer leagues in Orlando and Vegas, and could jump Ivey for the primary backup spot.

The main battle in Sixers camp this year will probably be at shooting guard. Jason Richardson and his hefty contract were acquired in the Bynum trade, while Nick Young was signed this offseason to offset the loss of Lou Williams. As of now, Richardson looks set to start, but I wouldn't be surprised if Nick Young was given the nod on opening day. Richardson and Young are both lengthy at 6'6 and 6'7 respectively, but Young has the better statistical numbers. The Sixers have done a pretty good job replacing the production of Williams and Iguodala. Both Young and Richardson will contribute something close to 15 points a game (Young averaged 14.2 points, Richardson 12) and play tough defense. I'm expecting Richardson to transform into somewhat of a role player, while I have high hopes for Nick Young.

Evan Turner is expected to start at small forward this season, and Philly fans are excited to see how good he can become. Turner was a standout in college at Ohio State and has found some success at the NBA level, but is still looking to become the star that people see him as. Turner put up 9 points and 6 boards last year coming off the bench, and this year should be his breakout campaign. Behind Turner is Thaddeus Young, yet another player who could become a force this year. If coach Doug Collins can squeeze in some more minutes for him,Young, a 6'8 man out of Georgia Tech, could have a sixth man of the year award like season. Young scored 12 and picked up 5 boards a game with limited time last year; if he could get 30-35 minutes he could become more of a 16 and 9 type of guy. I expect big things for him this season. And then there's Dorrell Wright, a sharp shooter who will likely fill Jodie Meeks' role from last season, now that Meeks is a Laker.

The PF position this year isn't full of stars, but I think the play from Lavoy Allen and Spencer Hawes will be very consistent this year. Hawes had a solid year last year, but he didn't take the league by storm. Any production from him that goes along the lines of 9 points/8-10 boards would be considered good enough from a 76ers fans perspective, looking at all the other talent they have. Lavoy Allen was a very strong rebounder last year, especially come playoff time, so look for him to come off the bench and clean up the boards for 20 minutes a game. First round pick Arnett Moultrie won't be expected of much *this* season, but I think he could make some decent contributions along the line of 6 points and 5 boards in maybe 10 or 15 minutes of game time this season. Moultrie will take on a larger role as he progresses through the league in the next few seasons.

And finally, at center, Andrew Bynum is ready to lead these Sixers to the top. Bynum expressed how happy he was to be in Philly in his opening press conference a few days ago, and I think he as the potential to become an All-NBA first teamer. Bynum will certainly get alot of looks in his new uniform, especially since he's the only *dominating* post player on the roster. Don't be surprised to see this guy average 25 and 13 on a nightly basis. That being said, if Bynum goes into a funk and wants out at some point in the season, watch out. Personally though I see great things from Bynum this season. Behind Bynum is Kwame Brown, arguably the biggest NBA bust of all time. Brown will get little time unless Bynum gets hurt, even then Spencer Hawes would likely assume the role.

The 76ers are a dark horse to win the Title this year. They have all the makings of a champ team, a star player (Bynum) a young leader (Holiday) and a vast amount of young players with a lot of talent and energy (Turner, Young, Thad Young, Hawes). I would say the Sixers are still behind the C's, Heat and Pacers in terms of how their regular seasons turn out, but I can imagine a scenario where the Sixers obtain the four seed and upset the Heat in the second round. I just like the overall depth of this team, and how they have a core of young guys who have all been in Philly the past few seasons, waiting for a star like Bynum to show up. My bold prediction is that the Sixers will make a run to the ECF, knocking off the Heat and setting up a rematch of last years battle between them and Boston. For 76ers fans, this will be a great year.

Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jrue_Holiday

Brooklyn Nets Preview

At the beginning of free agency, the East looked like a three horse race this year, with Indy and Boston coming behind Miami. That all changed when Joe Johnson was traded to the Nets, and Dwight Howard was kept in Orlando for the time being. If you ask me, the Nets may be a better team without the superstar. They were able to hold onto two big men, a low post scorer in Brook Lopez, and a double digit machine in Kris Humphries. They were also able to keep a hold of the young scorer Marshon Brooks from Providence, who looks like he could blossom into a 20 points a night guy.

So, lets look at the Nets roster for this year. 

PG: Williams/Watson/Taylor

SG: Johnson/Brooks/Bogans

SF: Wallace/Stackhouse/Shengelia

PF: Humprhies/Evans/Teletovic

C: Lopez

Aside from Center, every position is extremely deep. The starting five is as good as any in the league with Deron Williams leading from the point and Johnson and Gerald Wallace scoring from the wings. The team doesn't have a legitimate "big three" but Williams is the second best PG in the league, while Johnson is probably a tier two or three shooting guard. You know what you're going to get from Lopez and Humphries, but they both are solid players who do what they're asked of (Lopez scores, Humphries rebounds).

Deron Williams had many people thinking he was taking a hike to Dallas, but he had a change of heart and decided to sign a 5 year/98 million dollar deal. Williams had a fantastic year last season having a final stat line of 21 points and 9 dimes a game. Williams is a player who knows when he has to be selfish for the team to be successful, he frequently takes the ball to the hoop and draws quite a few fouls. Williams has two reliable backups one in the form of ex-Bull C.J. Watson. Watson put up solid numbers last year in Chicago, scoring 10 points and dishing out 4 times a game. Keep in mind the numbers are inflated due to Derrick Rose's injury last year, but Watson won't do more than spell Williams for 10-15 minutes a game. Tyshawn Taylor was a star in Kansas during their national title run, but he won't get many minutes in Brooklyn. Taylor is a developing prospect who won't see much floor time. 

Joe Johnson went from the quietest star in the NBA to having one of the worst contracts in basketball history at 6 years/119 million and being labeled a bust. That doesn't mean Johnson isn't useful anymore; he's still a bulls eye shooter (39% from outside the arc in 2011-12, 19 points a game) and he also records 4 rebounds and 4 assists per. Johnson will likely be expected to be the Nets go to scorer, and with a point guard like Deron Williams getting him the rock, Johnson could explode this year. His backup, second year player Marshon Brooks, will be the sixth man this year for the Nets. Brooks is a pure scorer, puting up 13 points a game last season as a rookie; you won't get much else out of Marshon aside from points. The Nets brought in Bogans to add some veteran leadership, he will get next to zero minutes.

The Nets thought they were going to lose Gerald Wallace in free agency but managed to snatch him back with a 4 year/40 million $ deal. Wallace is a reliable scorer with 14 points a night, but more importantly he rebounds; last year he grabbed 7 boards per game. Wallace's all around ability will be extremely helpful for Brooklyn these next few years. Behind Wallace, the Nets don't have much, Jerry Stackhouse is too old to be playing in the NBA and Tornike Shengelia won't do much in his first year in the NBA.

The Nets are two guys deep at PF with Kris Humphries and Reggie Evans. Both guys are rebounding machines, but neither will put up a lot of points. Evans is a defensive bruiser down low, and Humphries is also a tower at 6'9. At center the Nets have Brook Lopez, a guy who signed a 4 year/60 million $ deal in July. Lopez will put up close to 20 points a game, but will need to get a lot better at rebounding and defensive for the contract to be justifiable. Mirza Teletovic, the Nets first round pick, is a highly touted big man out of Serbia. Nets fans are optimistic that he has a chance to be big off the bench, I disagree. Teletovic will need his first year to adjust in the NBA. 

The Brooklyn Nets look good on paper, they have a star point guard, two solid wing scorers, and two big guys who can battle down low. The problems that lie with them are that they are an average defensive team, and they don't have a lot of reliable players off the bench (they traded most of them in the Joe Johnson deal. 

When comparing a team like the Nets to the Celtics, I look at the experience factoid. Most of Brooklyn's players have little playoff experience and haven't made it out of the second round of the playoffs. In a seven game series against Boston I would pick the Celtics in 6 games, they're deeper, they have experience and they have a solid core that has been in Boston for the last five years. The battle between Rondo and Williams would be a duel, but in the end Rondo has more guys to pass to then Williams does. The only problem I could see is the height factor of Lopez and Humphries. The C's don't play with a traditional center, KG is the tallest guy on the floor at 6'11 while Lopez and Humprhies are both big bodies. That being said the Nets don't have much behind those two while Boston has Jeff Green, Chris Wilcox and Jared Sullinger. Depth would prevail at the end of the day. 

 The Nets will only get better as the years go by, and if they pick up a few solid bench options in free agency next year they could be right in the NBA title debate, but right now they aren't ready. At this point I would rank Boston, Indy, maybe New York, and Miami ahead of the Nets. I would say you can expect 45-50 wins in Brooklyn this season, with the four or five seed in the east and a second round playoff appearance. Thats as high as I'll go... for now.

Picture Source:
http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/mac-engel/2012/07/the-reason-deron-williams-stayed-with-brooklyn.html

How Dwight to the Lakers Shakes Up the League

The saga has ended. For now. At this point in time, nobody really cares.

Dwight Howard is set to be the next big center for the LA Lakers, after being dealt in a four team trade that included the Nuggets, Sixers and of course the Orlando Magic. What would have been a mind blowing front page story last year is now somewhat of a backstory leaving most people thinking "its about time".




Howard heads to LA along with Earl Clark and Chris Duhon, while the 76ers received Andrew Bynum along with Jason Richardson and his hefty contract. The nuggets made out well in acquiring Andre Iguodala, while the Magic received Aaron Afflalo, Al Harrington (from the Nuggets) , Moe Harkless and Nikola Vucevic (from the Sixers) and Christian Eyegna and Josh McRoberts (from LA).

It is strongly perceived by many that a coup was pulled on Orlando; they gave up a franchise player and most likely future Hall of Famer, for a bunch of spare parts that they may not even keep. Moe Harkless may turn into a solid scorer, and Aaron Afflalo can put up decent numbers, but outside of those two, the Magic may not keep the other four. One has to look at the trades Orlando passed up earlier, trades that could have made the Magic a playoff team in 2012. The Magic had a shot at a stockpile of talent in Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries and Mashon Brooks or up to three of four first round draft picks. This trade wreaks of desperation on the part of the Orlando front office. It will take a minimum of five years for this team to be competitive, and a star Orlando center has flown the coup, yet again.

On the other hand the Nuggets got a significant from Afflalo to Iguodala, an outstanding defender who still may have his best ball ahead of him. Iguodala puts the Nuggets at around the five seed, seeing as thought they already have quality pieces in Ty Lawson, Kenneth Farried and Javahle McGee.

The Sixers part of the deal may be overlooked because of the hype behind D12, but Andrew Bynum to Philly is a big deal! The Sixers could make some serious noise in the EC playoffs this season, as they now have a star big man in Bynum as well as young players like Jrue Holiday, Thad Young and Evan Turner. Philly hopped into the upper echelon of the East along with the likes of Indy, Boston and Miami, and will be expected to challenge Boston for the Atlantic division title.

The big part of the trade is obviously Howard finally moving to LA, and this certainly does not bode well for the rest of the NBA. Howard to the Lakers gives the Lakers a big three of their own in Kobe, Nash and Howard. This will most likely pit the Lakers with the Thunder for the Western Conference Title. The only concern I have with the Lakers is that they have little depth on the Wings. Ron Artest is no longer the player he was and rarely puts in a good offensive contribution. The Lakers desperately need a good small forward, but won't likely find one for at least another year. That means Kevin Durant will likely roam the perimeter stroking threes like he has been. Not to mention Steve Nash isn't fast enough to contain someone like Russell Westbrook. The good news is that we won't have to listen to anything regarding Dwight Howard trade/free agency rumors...at least for a year.

Image Source:
http://www.businessinsider.com/lakers-dwight-howard-luxury-tax-2012-8

A Sense of Defeat

The greatest part of being a sports fan is thinking about the stuff you don't know, rather than the facts that you do. Who is going to start at shooting guard tonight? I wonder if so and so will be able to perform as well as last night...who do you think will come out of the bullpen first tonight? My favorite part of the game is before it starts, I have no nerves; I contemplate how the game will be decided and who will win. When the going gets tough I often start to shake and begin to imagine all the horrible outcomes, no matter how far fetched they are.

These feelings were ever present before and during the game 7 loss to Miami in last years ECF. Living in Germany, I am not able to watch every Celtics game for the sole purpose that they are played at very late hours (6 hour time difference). I woke up the morning after game six had been played and turned on my blackberry to check the score. I fully expected to see the headline read something like "Celtics Earn Trip to Finals After Embarrassing Miami Once More". It was however, nothing close to this. A huge picture of Lebron James filled the cover of ESPN.com and I immediately began thinking of game 7. I started reading analysis of game 6 and a look ahead to game 7 and the C's were unanimously picked to lose. I had no problem with this because as I've said before I'm a fan, not a realist. I thought the C's had just as good a chance as they did in game 6, there was no way Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and KG were going to play as bad as they did in south beach the next evening. "Lets take it to those south beach pricks, and make them the laughingstock of the league again" I thought. I welcomed a game 7, just because of the thrill of it. Game 7's contain the most tantalizing moments in sports.

I stayed awake for the entire morning and at 2:30 AM, the game began. I was watching on my school laptop on a streaming website.The American Airlines arena was packed with Heat bandwagon jumpers from left to right. The game began and the Celtics pulled up to an early 9 point lead, but the Celtics followed the "Big Three Era Big Game Script" down to a science. They jumped out to an early lead, stretched the lead in the second quarter, took their foot off the gas in the third, and got wiped in the fourth. Brandon Bass was playing the game of his life in the first half connecting on all 6 of his shots and going for 16 points, while playing fantastic D on Lebron and posterizing Wade right before the half. He was finished though, and in the second he didn't score a single point. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen both looked spectacular for much of the first half, connecting on treys while also taking the ball to the cup, something Allen rarely does as a 38 year old on his last legs. KG never really found that rhythm that had made him such a factor in the postseason, and he was noticeably off target.

As the third quarter ended I prayed for a miracle, but nothing was to come. Despite Rajon Rondo's amazing triple double, talent prevailed and Lebron carried the Heat to victory. I came to grips with the end when Lebron hit a three from the nosebleed section, that resulted in the C's losing any wind left in their sails. As I watched Lebron drain the three I put my laptop down and sat up on my couch; I was defeated. I put my face in my hand and wondered how it had come to this.

The worst feeling in sports is watching the team you love get slaughtered in a crucial playoff game in front of a phony fan based crowd such as Miami's.Coming to grips with the fact that the opposing team is noticeably better than yours is an awful feeling that I associate in moments such as the game 7 losses to Miami and of course the debacle in LA in 2010. Watching Garnett, my favorite player since I was six, walk off the court without a second ring for the fourth time in as many years was terrible. Of all the players in the league KG deserves a second ring.

If I were 10 and this had happened, I would be outraged; how could we let this one get away? Now, I realize that those guys did everything they can and just didn't have enough left in the tank. But its these moments that make you love the team even more (unless you're a Red Sox fan), the moments that make you dream of what it will be like when they walk off the court victorious, in front of the raucous Miami crowd. It brings you closer to the group of guys that you idolize as a kid, a feeling that only can be shared in a loss.

And thats what makes me all the more excited for this season, I actually believe that the Celts can pull one last title off with the core of guys they have now. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how we feel at the end of the year...

Image Source:
http://www.bballbreakdown.com/celtics-vs-heat-game-7-in-game-tweets/

New York Knicks Preview

The Knicks are in my opinion,  the most interesting team. The Knicks, given their talent, could have a serious claim for the NBA title, but at the same time the Knicks, given their inconsistency, may bow out in the first round to a team like the Heat or Celtics (the two teams who have eliminated New York the past two seasons). Jeremy Lin made the most noise coming out of New York as he left for Houston, but the Knickerbockers have made some quality pickups that could help them finally make a deep run into the playoffs, and reward their fans who have been starving for a championship for so long.

The Knicks are unquestionably led by Carmelo Anthony, the most important cog in the team, and one of the best scorers in the NBA. Melo has been one of the strongest players on this years Olympic squad and he isn't even starting, most notably his 37 point performance against Nigeria, which included 10 treys in just 14 minutes of action. Anthony said that he would be the next to get his ring after Lebron won his in game 5 this season. Anthony posted 22 points a game, a line that is down from Melo's usual 28 points a game.

Anthony does have help however, with Tyson Chandler anchoring the defense, Amare Stoudamire still an able bodied offensive player. Chandler won't contribute a whole lot on the offensive end, but he has officially transformed the Knicks from a disgraceful defensive unit, to a respectable group. Stoudamire is definitely past his prime, and would likely be better off being traded rather than staying in New York, where the pressure is on and the fans are getting sick of him. That being said, Stat can still put up 20 points a contest, that is if he is able to keep his second hand. Marcus Camby was also brought to NY to strengthen the front court. Camby will grab a lot of boards with Chandler at second, which is great for the Knicks, because of the fact that it will give guys like Melo and the Steve Novak more bullets and second chance points from the three point line.

 The Knicks are iffy at the guard position, especially after the departure of Landry Fields and Jeremy Lin. The Knicks did acquire Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton, plus holdovers J.R. Smith and possibly Iman Shumpert, if hes healthy enough after tearing his ACL against Miami in last years first round playoffs. If Shump is indeed good to go, he could take a huge leap and potentially become a starter. Shumpert is a tenacious defender who also holds his own on the offensive end with some major ups when driving to the hoop. Steve Novak is also a decent holdover who can shoot lights out from 3 point range.

As for Kidd, he took a U-turn and signed for the Knicks rather than returning to the Mavs. Kidd can still distribute the rock and make all his teammates around him better offensive basketball players. Kidd can also play some defense, which is good news for the Knicks, who are always looking for better defensive players. He won't average 10 assists per game, but he will be a playmaker and thats what the front office is asking him to do.

Ray Felton is looking forward to his second stint in the big apple, primarily because he was pretty successful in his first. Felton averaged 15 points and around 6 assists during his time in New York, until being traded in which he moved to two different teams in the space of two years (Nuggets, Blazers). Felton will be asked to play solid defense, and make a good all around contribution on the offensive end in the 25 or so minutes behind Jason Kidd. We have all been waiting for J.R. Smith to blow up and become one of the best players in the league, but he hasn't. Smith may get the starting nod at the 2 if Shumpert isn't able to play at the start of the season, and the front office will look to him for offensive explosiveness.

PG: Kidd/Felton
SG: Shumpert/Smith
SF: Anthony/Novak/White/Copeland
PF: Stoudamire/Thomas
C: Chandler/Camby

Expectations for the Knicks are always high in New York, and they will be around the States this year as well. The Knicks have a loaded roster and a solid coach in Mike Woodson, so the sky is the limit for this team. Call me crazy, but I could see the Knicks hoisting the Larry O'brien trophy at the end of the season, with Melo carrying them on the offensive end and Chandler carrying them on the defensive side of things. I wouldn't mind it either, Melo is a fantastic player; it wouldn't hurt that he would be remembered as the player who finally brought a title to New York.

The 2012-2013 Boston Celtics from a Boston natives point of view

          My name is Matt Bird, a close personal friend of the editor of this blog. As a Boston native, I too am a longtime Celtics fan. Last year's loss to the Miami Heat was rough, but expected because our bench was not very deep and I was actually pleasantly surprised at the huge impact the Celtics had in the playoffs.

The Re-signings:

Going into the offseason, I expected the Celtics to undergo a serious transformation. However, I could not have been more mistaken. The offseason kicked off with Kevin Garnett being resigned to a 3 year deal. At the beginning, I was quite skeptical for two reasons: 

1. I strongly believed that while Garnett may still retain that competitive fire that fueled his excellent postseason play, he was slowing down and it would only go downhill from here.

2. The money they were offering him (33 million) was simply too much for a guy that would likely average a 13 and 9 the first season and steadily get worse.

However, Ainge justified the resigning by drafting Ohio State's accomplished big man Jared Sullinger and a raw 7 footer out of Syracuse, Fab Melo. I immediately understood part of the reason that Garnett had been resigned. Over the past seasons, Kevin Garnett has been viewed as the backbone of the Celtics but more importantly his impact on his teammates has been tremendous, especially the big men. Brandon Bass had a career year with the Celtics, and he attributes much of his success to Garnett, who acted as a positive influence on him. Garnett's impact on rookies as been equally as visceral as Avery Bradley took over the starting role for the Boston Celtics in only his second year with them, despite being a late first round draft pick and Greg Stiemsma, became a great defensive player. One can only imagine how Garnett will help mold the raw talent of Fab Melo and how he will help Jared Sullinger adjust to the NBA game and lifestyle. 

The next resigning was that of Jeff Green. This signing is the only move of the offseason that I am a little disappointed with. I understand that it had to be done or else we would have gotten absolutely nothing in return for trading Perkins and Green, when healthy, is certainly a very talented and versatile player who would help fill in Pierce's spot as Pierce begins to slow down. However, we have to remember that Green hasn't played for a whole season and that while the health reports give Green a clean bill of health, we must take in account that his heart condition was serious and this had a major impact on his body in the season he didn't play. I could have understood paying Green, a fair contract that hinged on his health and his play. However, Green and his agent the infamous David Falk (Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson's former agent)  proceeded to absolutely rob the Boston Celtics for a four year 36 million dollar deal. This is way too much a player with a lot of question marks. However, we must have faith in the Celtic's front office and assume that they are certain that Green can assume a big role on the roster and have an immediate impact on the Celtics.

The third major resigning was Brandon Bass. I liked this resigning as Bass is an athletic forward who fit in well with the Celtics and connected with Rondo and Garnett. He is a reliable player who had a career year with the Celtics and will likely continue to improve. The money they paid Bass (20 million) was also reasonable so the Celtics came off on top in all aspects.

The two final re-signings of the offseason were Keyon Dooling and Chris Wilcox. I also like both of these re-signings because Chris Wilcox, before he got injured, was a good bench player who had good chemistry with Rondo. Keyon Dooling's play was average this past season but he had a few marquee games and there's no denying the positive influence he holds over Rondo. 

Offseason Acquisitions:
The first offseason acquisition was Jason Terry. I was very happy with this signing because Jason Terry is an accomplished scorer and a proven winner who would fit right into the Boston mentality who we could count on for a solid 15 ppg/game. Unfortunately, I knew the signing meant it was all but certain that Ray Allen would leave. As I expected, a few days later Ray Allen left to the Miami Heat. As a brief side note I would like to give my opinion on the matter. Ray Allen was one of my favorite player and one of the few really good guys in the NBA and all of professional sports for that matter. I hope that Boston fans show him the respect he deserves and while they may not agree with his choice of a team, they have to understand that Boston treated him absolutely awfully. Ainge had him on the trading block before every deadline and was nearly traded All-Star weekend for OJ Mayo before it fell apart in the last minute. His relationship with Rondo was also sour and when they signed Terry, it was the last straw. He treated his departure with respect, which included taking a full-page ad out of the Boston Globe thanking the Celtics fans for the support they had shown him and his family over the years.

The second offseason acquisition was a sign and trade for the Houston Rocket's Courtney Lee. I also really like this acquisition. It allows Jason Terry to keep his role as a sixth man and provides the Celtics with a young athletic shooting guard who can play solid defense. He averaged 11 PPG last season but he never played with a gifted point guard like Rajon Rondo. This means that Lee's efficiency will only increase.

The Rookies:
This was my personal favorite part of the offseason. The Celtics filled their need of big men by drafting one of the best college basketball players, Jared Sullinger (18 ppg, 9 rpg) and the raw 7 foot, Fab Melo. Sullinger was a lottery pick before a medical red flag dropped him to the 21st pick in the Draft. He immediately dispelled any doubts about his effectiveness by making a big splash during summer league. His consistent good play was a reassuring sign for Celtic's fan and as I have stated above Garnett and Bass will help Sullinger continue to improve. Fab Melo had an underwhelming summer league, however his big 7 foot presence will be enough to justify drafting him. Once again, Kevin Garnett will help him and teach him how to harness his size and talent. The final draft pick was used on Syracuse's top scorer Kris Joseph. Kris Joseph will have an opportunity to make the final roster who can be a good role player for the Celtics.

Full Overview:
This is how the 2012-2013 Boston Celtic's roster will look:

PG- Rajon Rondo
SG- Courtney Lee
SF- Paul Pierce
PF- Brandon Bass
C- Kevin Garnett

Bench
G- Jason Terry
G- Keyon Dooling
F- Jared Sullinger
F- Jeff Green
F- Kris Joseph
C- Fab Melo
C- Chris Wilcox

The starting lineup is virtually the same as last year's conference final starting lineup (except Lee is an upgrade over Ray Allen). However, this year the Celtics bench is a lot deeper and poses a serious threat for any NBA team. I think that they will have a tough time beating the Miami Heat but it is certainly within the realm of possibility that they beat the Heat.

Final Prediction:
Regular Season- 3rd seed
Postseason- Lose in 7 games to the Miami Heat in the conference finals

Indiana Pacers Preview

The Indiana Pacers are a curious team. They should have finished off the Heat in the second round of last years playoffs, but eventually fell in six games after poor tactics involving Roy Hibbert, their 7'2 center. Here's a look at how the Pacers would stack up against the C's.

PG: Hill/Augustin
SG: George/Stephenson/Johnson
SF: Granger/Green
PF: West/Hansbrough/ Pendergraph
C: Hibbert/Mahini/Plumlee

The Pacers have very strong depth in their team all across the board. The point guard spot is fortified with George Hill, a solid player whom the Pacers massively overpaid at 4 yrs/40 million. The Pacers expect him to take the reins from Darren Collison last year, and have a bigger all around impact on the game. Indy brought in DJ Augustin in free agency to back up Hill, and I like this move a lot. Augustin has NBA experience starting for the Bobcats, and is a solid distributor who can also put in around 10 points a night.

The Pacers shooting guard position has the potential to be stacked, or could end up being a complete flop depending on the young players and how they fare this season. Paul George has the tools and the build to be the next big superstar in the NBA, but so far he has somewhat underachieved. George is extremely lengthy for a shooting guard at 6'10, and he also possesses the ability to shoot the three ball. If George can turn into the stud that he is meant to be, the Pacers will have a legitimate superstar who can carry the team through the playoffs. Lance Stephenson and Orlando Johnson are both promising youngsters, especially Stephenson who was one of the leading scorers in summer league this season. Look for Stephenson to get some decent minutes off the bench.

Danny Granger has always been a *good* scorer for the Pacers, but he has definitely lost a step, his points were one of his career lows at 18.7 points a game. That's down from the 25 he was averaging two seasons ago. Granger is a very strong shooter, and also a solid defender, but he needs to regain his confidence to be able to score late in games. A theory for why his points dropped was because the Pacers were a very good team last season, so others were able to take some of the load. That being said, there are times when Granger will be needed to be selfish and take it upon himself to carry the team. The Pacers dipped into the free agency market and acquired the services of Gerald Green, a 5th year 6'8 swingman from the Nets. Green will likely get a good amount of minutes to spell Granger, and will be asked to go for 10 to 15 points off the bench.

The Pacers are deep at power forward with two reliable options: one with veteran David West, and two with the tenacious and intense Tyler Hansbrough. Hansbrough has come a long way from when the Pacers selected him in the first round three drafts ago, and will hope to become a key cog in the Pacers machine this upcoming season. West is a veteran and a large contributor on both sides of the ball.

The Pacers are strong in depth at center after re-signing Roy Hibbert and trading for Ian Mahini. Hibbert continues to improve after being named to his first all star team this past season. Mahini is a solid back-up to Hibbert and will not be expected to produce any big numbers, aside from rebounds.

Looking at the Pacers roster, and the fact that they have a good coach in Frank Vogel, it all comes down to the development of a key group of their players. If George takes the leap that he is capable of and Granger gets to 20 points a game than this team will be scary good. While they still lack experience that comes with going deep in the playoffs this team plays fantastic defense and has eight or nine players who are double digit scoring threats on any given night.

The Pacers stack up quite well against the C's, they are two somewhat similar teams in that they play tough D. The one big advantage for Boston is that they have Rajon Rondo and Indy doesn't. Rondo is a playmaker especially on the offensive side of the ball and he would likely take George Hill to school in a best of seven series.

If you have any questions or comments, please leave a comment in the comment box below or email me at asorianofan@hotmail.com. My next team preview will be of the New York Knicks.

Sox Take Another in 6 Innings

The Sox beat up Justin Verlander and the Tigers 4-1 in a rain shortened game to add to up their current win streak to four and reduce the Yanks lead in the East to 7.5. The Red Sox also are only 3.5 game out of the wildcard, and have a lot of recent momentum to build on.

The Sox beat Detroit off of Pedro Ciriaco's RBI single that scored Cody Ross, and then a bases loaded walk that scored Salty. The final blow came when Carl Crawford had an infield single that scored Kelly Shoppach, followed by Omar Infante's error that allowed Ciriaco to score from second.

The lone run came off of a bases loaded walk in the third, at which point Josh Beckett was still pitching. Beckett left the game soon after with back spasms.

The Sox finish off their series with the Tigers on Wednesday at 7:00 with Rick Porcello taking the mound for Detroit and Aaron Cook taking the hill for the Sox.

Summer Schedule

For the next few weeks I will be previewing NBA teams and stacking them up against the Celtics. Here's a look at the first teams I will be taking a look at: 

Brooklyn Nets

New York Knicks

Miami Heat

Indiana Pacers

After I preview these teams I will do a segment with some western conference teams. 

If anyone wants me to keep up with following the Red Sox please leave a comment somewhere, otherwise I'll just stick with basketball. Thanks, and please reference my blog to any other sports fans whom you think would be interested. I'm trying to get as many followers as possible with this site. 

Beckett Not Likely To Be Traded

Sources report that right handed pitcher Josh Beckett is unlikely to be traded today. Beckett's numbers are way down; he has been particularly bad in his last three starts. Beckett's ERA is at 4.57 and he has a very poor record of 5-9.

The Red Sox most likely trade targets would be to move one of their catchers, Jarod Saltalamachiaa or Kelly Shoppach in order to give more time to young prospect Ryan Lavarnway.

Buccholz, Sox Take Down Tigers

The Red Sox pulled off their third straight win on monday beating the Tigers at Fenway 7-3 behind Clay Buccholz's strong outing. Buchholz went 8 innings strong and gave up a mere 2 earned runs; this coming after Austin Jackson whacked his second pitch of the night for a leadoff homer.

The Red Sox would respond however getting solid contributions from Dustin Pedroia who knocked a 2 run homer out of the park in the 6th inning as well as an RBI groundout in the first, Carl Crawford who hit a triple and scored a run off of Pedroia's groundout, and Will Middlebrooks who went yard on a 2 run shot for his 13th homer of the season.

In other news the Yanks lost, slimming their lead in the East to 8 1/2 games.

Josh Beckett, the subject of a lot of trade talk these past weeks, will take the hill on tuesday going up against Justin Verlander. This matchup would have thrilled us a year ago, but after Beckett's flop of a year don't expect a W today in Boston.

Sox Take 2 of 3 From Yanks

Seeing as though basketball is still a ways away, I thought that I would talk about the Red Sox presuming that most of my readers are Boston sports fans. If anyone likes this segment and wants me to write about the Sox more, or that you think I should do away with it completely, please leave a comment.

The Sox were able to muster another win off of Pedro Ciriaco's tenth inning RBI single, winning 2 out of 3 in NY. The Red Sox looked like they were about to choke under pressure yet again in the big apple after Russell Martin hit a solo shot in the 7th and an RBI single in the 8th to tie the game. After a fiery start to the 10th inning in which Bobby V and Josh Beckett both got ejected for arguing about the umpires decision to not award WIll Middlebrooks first base after being hit, CIriaco was able to hit a flare to right field and bring home Jarod Saltalamccia, beating the Yanks 3-2.

Felix Doubront pitched a gem striking out out 8 with the sole run coming off Martins homer in the 7th.
Doubront has arguably been the Sox most consistent starter in a season where Bostons three aces, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz have all struggled.

Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda was also very good on the mound giving up two runs and almost going the distance with 8 innings of work.

Reliever Alfredo Aceves pitched the last 2.1 innings and also got the win, striking out Raul Ibanez in a 9 pitch            
AB. Jacobv Ellsbury has continued to look good after coming back from the DL two weeks ago. Ellsbury went for 2-5 on Sunday night.

This series could prove pivotal down the stretch for Boston, beating the Yanks at Yankee Stadium in no easy task by any means. The Sox look to build momentum and make a playoff push over the next 60 or so games.Josh Beckett could be traded either today or tomorrow due to his poor pitching performances. Big Papi could come off the DL in as soon as a week, giving the Sox yet another offensive weapon.

Clay Buchholz is on the bump tonight against the Tigers looking to get his ninth win of the season and lower his sky high ERA of 4.93. Max Scherzer makes the start for Detroit; Scherzer is looking fir his 11th win of the year.
The Sox lineup this evening will go as follows:
1. Ellsbury CF
2. Crawford Lf
3. Pedroia 2B
4. Gonzo 1B
5. Middlebrooks 3B
6. Salty DH
7. Sweeny RF
8. Shoppach C
9. Ciriaco SS

Looking at Buchholz's ERA, the Sox will need to score more than a few runs tonight; and runs will be at a premium due to Scherzer's presence. Boston is 9.5 games out of first in the East and 4 out of the wildcard.

Celtics Summer

After a wifi-less vacation in hometown Indiana I'm back, and the Celtics have gotten busy.

The Celtics finally got their man in Courtney Lee for the price of JJ, E'twaun and Sean Williams. Lee gives the Celtics a more than capable backup behind Avery Bradley; Lee may even get the starting job if Bradley isn't able to feature in the beginning of the season. Lee was much more than serviceable in Houston average 11 points a game and is also a very good 3 point shooter. The C's have now restocked the shooting guard position with a healthy Bradley, Lee and Jason Terry who can play either the 1 or the 2. 

This trade caused the C's summer league team to noticeably suffer. Moore was the leader of the team, and was also playing at a very high level putting up 25 points in his final game in Vegas. The move must have come as quite of a shock to Moore who was a top 5 guard in both Vegas and Orlando. JaJuan Johnson was also a player who put up decent numbers for the team this summer. Johnson is a gifted rebounder due to his 6'10 frame and unquestioned athleticism. Sean Williams was already on his way out after the team brought back Chris Wilcox. Speaking of the center position, Boston also signed Hawks back up center Jason Collins to the veterans minimum to rein-force Kevin Garnett and Wilcox this year. Backup PG from last season Keyon Dooling also signed a one year deal with the C's, and will play behind Jason Terry and Rondo. This is how next years squad will most likely look. 

PG: Rondo/Terry/ Dooling

SG: Bradley/Lee

SF: Pierce/Green/Joseph

PF: Bass/ Sulley

C: Garnett/Wilcox/

The most notable name that misses the cut here is Fab Melo, a guy who looked absolutely lost at times on the floor in summer league. Melo may get a call-up but that remains to be seen. 

The NBA schedule was released yesterday, and after I looked I went for a 50-55 win prediction for the season. I will look more closely at the schedule in tomorrows post. 

This C's roster is a lot more talented, and even younger than last year with the additions of Sulley, Lee, Joseph and Bradley. All signs point for a good year, all signs except the ones pointing towards south beach. 

Summer Vacation

Hey everyone, Im on summer vacation in America so I will not be able to post as frequently. On Monday however, I will be reviewing the C's summer league week in Vegas as well as my thoughts on the Courtney Lee for Moore and JJ swap. Hope all is well!

Moore Puts On a Show In Vegas

E'twaun Moore had the hot hand in a 79-74 victory vs the Bulls in Las Vegas. Moore scored 25 points on 10-19 shooting, making 2-4 from behind the arc. Both Moore and Bulls small forward Jimmy Butler had 25, putting on a show for the small crowd in Vegas. The Celtics built a huge half-time lead off a 21-2 run to end the half, but then squandered the lead late as the Bulls pulled to 74-69. Moore than made a series of clutch plays to help the team pull off the victory.
JJ also had a solid performance with 7 points and 12 boards, and looked much more confident than the victory against the Hawks two days ago. JJ still has a long way to go, but could definitely grab a roster spot as a 4 or 5.
Dionte Christmas continued to impress, scoring 18 points along while shooting 6 of 11 on the floor. Christmas has arguably been the Celtics most solid all around contributer, and has definitely made a name for himself this summer.
Kris Joseph hyperextended his knee in the victory, only managing to play 13 minutes. Depending on how severe the injury is, we may not get to see Joseph again this summer. I really liked what I saw from the rookie, aggressive offense as well as all around good defending.
Jamar Smith had a solid contribution hitting 3 of his 6 three point attempts and finishing with nine points.
Jared Sullinger had a fantastic effort, finishing with 14 rebounds for the Celtics, and at times the only dominant post presence on the floor. Sullinger only scored 7 points, but the boards really helped the Celtics.

E'twaun Moore looks primed to grab a spot on the regular season roster after another great showing in the summer league. The Celtics youngsters continue to play as a team, and it seems that the players have all established what role they have on the squad.

Celtics Have Another Strong Outing against Hawks

The Celtics got a huge boost from their bench in the 87-69 win over the Atlanta Hawks in their first Las Vegas summer league game. Jared Sullinger had the strongest outing with 14 points and 7 boards, while Kris Joseph also had a solid performance with 14 points. Dionte Christmas kept his clinic running with 11 points as well as 5 boards and two assists. Christmas has been an all around fantastic player since arriving in Orlando. Fab Melo also had his best game on Monday. with 7 points and 5 rebounds. It was good to see Melo pick up some offense, something that we haven't seen in the six summer league  games thus far. Melo and Sullinger will get a lot of tips and experience after playing alongside KG in the regular season.
The Celtics young summer squad looked good again today, and will tip off against the Bulls tomorrow!

Go Celtics!

Roster Roundup

The Celtics made alot of solid moves in free agency, most notably getting every to sign on for another run, but also getting Jason Terry to fill in for Ray Allen. The roster looks as follows

Players under contract at guard are Rondo, Terry and Bradley. Terry is a great option of the bench, and you can mark him down for a good 15 points a night. Bradley is a guy with a lot of upside, an outstanding defender. If he can contribute 10-15 points on a nightly basis, the Celtics offense could become one of the best in the league. And then there's Rondo, the best player on the team, and a top three point guard in the NBA; not much else needs to be said.
Keyon Dooling is still on the market after having a decent year for Boston this past season spelling Rondo at the point. Dooling may be brought back, depending on what the team decides to do with E'twaun Moore, a second year combo guard out of Purdue. Moore has shown some real promise in the summer league, leading the Celtics to a 4-1 record in Orlando. The C's are unlikely to keep pursuing a Courtney Lee or OJ Mayo due to the fact that they simply don't have the money. Theoretically, its possible they could strike a deal with one of the two, but the player would be taking a significant pay-cut, and both Lee and Mayo could potentially get a much better, bigger deal elsewhere.

At forward Boston currently has Bass, Green, Sulley, JJ and the Truth under contract. The C's paid WAY too much money for Green, (4 yrs/36 million), but he is still a versatile forward who can shoot from deep, so he will be expected to put in about 30 minutes off the bench. Bass is a tenacious defender who will be the starting 4 at the beginning of the year. That brings up Sullinger who will play behind Bass unless his play becomes more consistent than BB. Paul Pierce is a guy who needs no introduction, just a stud.

The big men under contract for the C's are Garnett whos raking in 11 million per year for three years, Chris Wilcox who just signed yesterday, and then Fab Melo the long-term project who had a sub-par time in Orlando.JaJuan Johnson will also possibly play the 5, giving the Celtics another big body to spell KG, something that will come up big in the post-season.

E'twaun Moore, Kris Joseph and Sean Williams all have team options. I expect the C's to exercise the options of Moore and Joseph, but not Williams because of the fact that Wilcox was brought back.

This C's roster is much deeper than last years, expect the team to possibly make that extra mile and take down the evil empire in Miami.

Celtics Win Final Game In Orlando

The Celtics saved their best for last in the final summer league game in Orlando. Led by Dionte Christmas's 21 points, and E'twaun Moore's fantastic showing which included 18 points and 3 steals; the C's prevailed 94-73 over the Magic. With the big lead, Ty Lue was able to give players such as Craig Brackins and Larry Owens good time off the bench, both finished in double figures with 10 and 14 points respectively. Jared Sullinger sat this one out after playing large minutes in each of the previous four games.

The Celtics had an overall solid week in Orlando winning 4 out of 5, but more importantly, several players showed tons of ability.
E'twaun Moore had 15 points or more in four of the five games, while also playing outstanding defense every time he was on the floor. The young combo guard will look to replicate his play in Vegas, and ensure he gets a spot in the rotation next season.
Kris Joseph is another player who showed his scoring touch throughout the week, aggressively attacking the cup, and playing overall solid defense.
JJ looked average in large spurts on the court, but took over the fourth quarter of Wednesday's game against the Pacers, and also had a team high 17 points in the loss to Detroit Thursday. JJ has the athleticism, he needs to beef up and play well in Vegas to get that roster spot.
Jared Sullinger looked downright scary at times this week, banging with bigs down low, and even taking his shot downtown on occasions. If Sullinger can average 10 points and 5 boards a night in the regular season, it would be a major boost to the Celtics title hopes.
Dionte Christmas, a 26 year old SF from Temple, had a great week in almost every aspect of the game. He is still far from a roster spot though, being 26 while competing against fresh 20 year olds. Look for Christmas to take his game to Europe once again.
Fab Melo had a disappointing week overall, but capped it off with a nice 10 rebound performance on Friday. Melo is a long-term prospect, but will likely come around when playing alongside Garnett.

The Celtics have an exciting week coming up in Vegas, look for the youngsters to try and build off their solid week in Orlando!

Go Celtics!!!

Joseph and Johnson Show Offensive Brilliance in Loss

On a day where the Celtics weren't able to generate much offensively, Kris Joseph and JaJuan Johnson showcased their offensive talent, each player tallying 17 points.
Joseph especially had a fantastic game with 11 boards as well. The 6'7 swingman from Syracuse was the #51 pick in this years draft and has showed a lot of ability in Orlando. Joseph would likely be a third string SF behind Paul Pierce and Jeff Green this season, but could prove vital if Pierce's minutes start to decrease due to age.
Johnson was the Celtics first round pick last year out of Purdue, and rarely received court time due to the vast presence of veterans on last years team. Johnson connected on half of his shots today, scoring 17 points and tacking on 6 rebounds in the 93-79 loss to the Pistons. Johnson is an athletic freak at 6'10, possessing a great ability to run the floor as well as a neat mid range jumper. Johnson could help spell KG at the 5 as the team aims to get younger and more athletic this season.
Jared Sullinger and E'twaun Moore both had very disappointing outings; both shot 2-9 and were unable to make their presence felt against a versatile Pistons team. Sullinger ended the game with a mediocre 11 points and 7 rebounds, while Moore came up with 6 points.
Brandon Knight was an absolute monster with 19 points and 14 dimes. Knight dominated the game for large periods of time, dishing the rock to Andre Drummond, a lottery pick in this years draft who was labeled a bust. Drummond finished with 10 points and 8 rebounds.
There is reason to be excited about this young C's squad. Joseph, Moore, Sulley and Johnson have all put up solid numbers throughout the summer league, a good sign for an aging Celtics squad. What was missing from last seasons team was a young big man who could fill in for Garnett when he got into foul trouble or got tired. JJ (Jajuan) and Sulley are two guys who can fill that void, and Fab Melo will only get better. Kris Joseph and E'twaun are two players who will most likely be third stringers, yet they both possess strong scoring touches that can be game changers come April and May and maybe even June. First though, they must continue their strong summer league play on Friday, and then in Vegas for next week.

Sullinger and Moore Shine Again

The Celtics youngsters took to the hardwood again on Wednesday afternoon and handily dispatched the Indiana Pacers 85-77. Jared Sullinger had another big game with 16 points and 8 boards, while E'twaun Moore continued to show his scoring prowess with 15 points. Moore is looking like a decent option to spell Rajon Rondo at point guard this season, with his great ball handling, as well as shooting touch, something that Rondo has never shown. Kris Joseph also had another solid performance, coming up close to a double-double with 12 points and 7 rebounds. Joseph reminds me of a poor mans Paul Pierce from back in the day. Joseph is an extremely hard worker, but also has the skill set and talent to drive, as well as create his own shot from time to time.
But the big story here is Jared Sullinger, who is looking like a player who could have an immense impact on the Celtics this year. Sullinger has proved the doubters wrong who passed on him due to medical concerns. He has been able to showcase a plethora of the offensive skills that he used so skillfully at Ohio State; his post up ability, long range shot, and hard-working defensive ability to contain larger post threats. If Sulley can replicate his playing ability now into the regular season, he could see some serious minutes behind PF Brandon Bass, who recently signed a three year extension with the Celtics. Sullinger is a younger version of Bass, but he contains a smooth shot from downtown that Bass has never possessed in his time in the NBA.
3rd year player Lance Stephenson of the Pacers continued to score in heavy doses with a 19 point outing against the C's. Stephenson's attitude was a big issue coming out of Cincinnati, and he has been involved in a few bust ups since joining the Pacers, most notably his choke sign to Lebron in game 3 of the playoffs last season. The Pacers first round pick Miles Plumlee also had a solid afternoon, scoring 18 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.
The C's play again today at 11 AM Eastern time against Brandon Knight's Detroit Pistons. Look for Moore and Sulley to continue to carry the team and show they deserve some solid minutes next season.

Go Celtics!

Did Ray Ray Betray Boston?

Ray Allen left Boston for brighter and definitely warmer pastures in Miami, with narcissistic Bostonians calling for his head. Did Ray Allen betray the Celtics, or did the Celtics betray Ray Allen? There are several factors that can sway the mind to either side.

Why Ray Allen Left:

• The Celtics tried to trade him the past two years.
• The Celtics took away his starting role at SG and gave it to Avery Bradley.
• The Celtics signed shooting guard Jason Terry before Allen had even made up his mind. 
• Rajon Rondo
• Lebron James, Dwayne Wade.

The fact is that Ray Allen must have been extremely pissed at the organization and front office, not the fans in which after the game 6 loss to Miami he called them "the greatest". This is a matter of getting back at the front office who has tried to ship him off to a different team so that they can get a younger scorer who can sit behind Bradley for a few seasons. Ray Allen obviously thought that the Celtics didn't want him anymore, signing Jason Terry, a slightly younger version of #20 before he had even decided what his decision was. Stories also surfaced that Allen was being somewhat mistreated by Rondo, that the two had been feuding for the duration of the season. And lets be honest, who in their right mind would pass up the opportunity to play with Lebron James, especially a player like Allen, who normally sits in the deep end dropping long balls. 

Should Celtics fans feel betrayed? Maybe. If Allen would have taken the same 3 year deal that he did in Miami, he would have made twice as much money in Boston. Allen also quit to join the evil empire in South Beach, the team who has knocked out the Celtics the past two seasons, the team who we will likely be dueling with in the ECF this season and maybe even next. 

To be honest, I feel the betrayal is mutual, the Celtics tried to dump Allen and when it failed, he dumped them. He spurned them and left for the team that the Celtics are locked in a rivalry with. I think that the fans are upset because of how much they will miss the sharpshooter, and what he has already done for the club.  My fondest memory of Allen was in Game 2 of the 2010 finals against LA. We all watched as Allen banged in 8 3's, with his first seven being on the mark. Every time the ball left his hands you had to have a feeling that it was going in. Ray Allen may be booed heavily by angry fans when he comes to play next season, but in time, fans will hopefully remember the good times he helped bring to Boston.  

Celtics Summer League Action

The young Celtics squad in Orlando has shown a lot of promise in their two opening games. Players such as E'twaun Moore and Dionte Christmas are fighting for spots on the Celtics regular season roster, something that is already stacked with veterans. The two biggest impressers on this team early on have been Jared Sullinger and Moore, both former Big Ten standouts at Ohio State and Purdue respectively. Nearly every Celtics player has been able to showcase some skill and talent as well as a role that they could be able to fill.

Most Intriguing Players
E'twaun Moore: Too small to be a two guard, his natural position at Purdue, Moore is a pure scorer. So far Moore is the leading scorer on the team averaging 15.5 points a game. This summer is a make or break campaign for Moore, and so far he has impressed.
Jared Sullinger: Projected as a top ten pick in the draft early on, Sullinger dropped into the bottom 20. Sullinger is one of the most talented players in Orlando and certainly will have a spot on the Celtics 2012 roster barring any injury. Sullinger will use this time to hone his skills and play against some of the better youngsters in the NBA.
Kris Joseph: Joseph is a 6'7 small forward out of Syracuse, this years second round selection. Joseph has showed a lot of promise early on in the summer league, showcasing his consistent jumper as well as his ability to cut to the rack. Joseph still has a lot of work to do in the summer league, but he may yet have a role on the Celtics 2012 roster.
Fab Melo: The 22nd pick in this years draft, also out of Syracuse, is a defensive work horse and someone the team will need to spell Kevin Garnett at the 5.  Melo has showed his defensive prowess so far in Orlando, racking up blocks and anchoring the defense.
Jajuan Johnson: Last years first round selection, Johnson was barely able to get any time on the floor, yet was also unable to be sent to the D league because of the injuries that ravaged the Celtics late in the season. Johnson has shown an ability to rebound so far in Orlando. The Celtics need another big body down low, and the freakishly athletic Johnson could prove to be very helpful come the regular season.

How Dwight Howard's Arrival in Brooklyn Would Shake Up the East

In the past week, following the trade that sent Joe Johnson to Brooklyn, Dwight Howard has become the center piece of virtually every Sports reporting website. As it stands at this point in time, the Brooklyn Nets are at best a four or five seed behind Miami, Boston, Indy, and a healthy Knicks team. Joe Johnson put the team back into the playoff picture, but not enough to make any of the serious title contenders cringe. A Howard trade would do exactly that. Dwight Howard is a franchise player when healthy, and not bitching about his contract or how pissed he is that the second best player on his team is Jameer Nelson. Is Jameer Nelson a good player? Yes. Is he top 50 caliber, probably not. The trade creates a drastic shakeup of a conference that has been owned by the same two teams for the past five years it seems (my beloved Celtics, Miami).

Teaming up Howard with Deron Williams and Joe Johnson creates a perfect balance, something that a team like Miami can't offer. Williams is a pure point guard, someone who can create shot opportunities for others while also posing a threat that he will drop 40 on any given night. Joe Johnson went from being from arguably the most underrated player in the NBA to becoming a 119 million dollar bust when he signed a max contract with the Hawks back in the free agency frenzy of 2010. This doesn't change the fact that Johnson is still a very good player, one of the best shooters in the NBA who, despite not being worth the max contract, will still consistently put up around 20 points a game.

And then there's Howard, and absolute game changer on both ends of the floor. Howard anchors the defense, blocking shots and controlling the paint every second he stands on the floor. This type of balance provides the Nets with a pure PG, a dominant scorer in Johnson, and a true center, the best in the league in fact. This creates a matchup nightmare for the newly crowned champs in South Beach. Not only do the Heat not have a true center, they also have a weak link at point guard in Mario Chamlers, someone who has progressed very well in his time in the NBA, but nonetheless a guy who would get torched by a player of Williams caliber night in and night out.

Howard to Brooklyn would help the Nets jump to the two seed over the likes of Boston and NY, two teams that create intriguing match-ups come playoff time. Both NY and the C's have low post threats in KG and defensive player of the year Tyson Chandler. They also have point guards who can match Williams level of play, Rondo, and at least keep things close (Lin, Kidd).

The Heat certainly look the strongest team in the NBA right now, following Ray Allen's exodus to Miami, something that I will expound upon in detail later. If Howard is to join Brooklyn, which is looking more and more likely by the minute, it will put the east with five very solid squads in Miami, Boston, NY, Indy and Brooklyn. It would drastically change the outlook of the Eastern Conference and  create the dream matchup of Brooklyn vs Miami in the ECF. That however remains to be seen with the Celtics and Pacers reloading and the Knicks looking to get healthy. The Eastern Conference is a much bigger horse race than the Western Conference, with the Mavericks striking out in free agency and the Clippers still without a dominant wing.

This is all speculation of course, Howard has been trying to push this deal for months now, and has in the process ruined himself from a PR standpoint as well as the organization that adored him so much. The trade is intriguing and would create a very interesting ECF race for not just next season, but much of the decade.