Tuesday, July 31, 2012

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.





Friday, July 27, 2012

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. 

Sunday, July 22, 2012

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!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

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.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

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!

Saturday, July 14, 2012

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.

Friday, July 13, 2012

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.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

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!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

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.







Tuesday, July 10, 2012

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.