Part Two: DEFENSE

Defensive Line (14):

Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren, Mike Wright, Ron Brace, Marcus Stroud, Gerard Warren (FA), Myron Pryor, Brandon Deaderick, Kyle Love, Darryl Richard, Eric Moore, Landon Cohen, Marlon Favorite, Kade Weston

I lumped the entire defensive line into one group since they all tend to move around.  I know, I sound like a homer, but it’s a solid group.  The top end talent isn’t there (yet), but there’s a lot of youth and depth.  You have one of the top NT’s in the league (Vince), a borderline Pro-Bowler in Ty Warren at one end, and I believe it will be Ron Brace at the other end.  When he’s been on the field he’s be a solid contributor and I think it’s his time.  The top two reserves will be Mike Wright who was great last year in sub-packages and the typical Belichick signing, Marcus Stroud.  I’m not sure how much he has left, but they’ll get everything he has.  The rest of the group is youth and bulk up front and due to injuries last year they have a little bit of experience as well.  We saw Brandon Deaderick, Eric Moore, and Myron Pryor all start a game last year and Kyle Love and Landon Cohen each saw time at the end of the year.  It should be a competitive training camp and I think you’ll see some improvement from last year.

Free Agency Targets:  Bill always grabs a veteran or two for camp and I think they make an offer to Gerard Warren. 

Outside Linebacker (6):

Jermaine Cunningham, Tully Banta-Cain, Rob Ninkovich, Marques Murrell, Tracy White (FA), Markell Carter

This group is an absolute mess.  Everyone thought that they would draft a few pass rushers in the first couple of rounds and instead they focused on the offensive side of the ball.  They didn’t take Markell Carter (not to be confused with Lawrence Taylor) until the 6^th round which is usually late to find an impact player.  He’s also making the transition from DE to OLB which isn’t for everyone.  Bill must think that Cunningham will take the leap in the second year and that Tully and Ninkovich can hold down the other side.  I have my doubts.  There is no reason to think that this group will be good enough to put consistent pressure on the QB.  It feels like another year with the defensive backs being thrown to the wolves.

Free Agency Targets: ANYONE THAT HAS A PULSE AND CAN GET TO THE F*****G QUARTBERBACK!

Inside Linebacker (4):

Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Gary Guyton, Dane Fletcher

This is certainly the strength of the defense.  You have four young players who understand their roles in the defense and are sure tacklers which is what you want from your inside backers.  I read this week that Spikes didn’t miss a single tackle last year in 52 attempts and Mayo missed only 3 tackles in 145 attempts.  That’s great production.  Also, Guyton and Fletcher have proven to be solid backups.  Bill has done a remarkable job replacing Bruschi and Ted Johnson. 

Free Agency Targets:  None

Cornerback (7):

Leigh Bodden, Devin McCourty, Kyle Arrington, Ras-I Dowling, Darius Butler, Jonathan Wilhite, Malcolm Williams

I can’t tell if the problem is the cornerbacks or the fact that they have to cover for 15 seconds at a time.  With all the high draft picks at the cornerback position one would think that the problem isn’t the pass rush.  I think they’re finally done drafting them though.  Obviously you start Bodden with McCourty (very solid) and I think Arrington kicks down to the slot or Wilhite is your slot guy.  It’s put up or shut up time for Darius Butler.  He had a great opportunity to play last year and he was awful.  He needs to step up or he’ll be gone in training camp.  Dowling out of Virginia should be a key contributor in his first year.  He’s big (6’2), fast (4.4), strong (19 reps) and isn’t afraid to get involved in the run game.  He’ll certainly be a special teamer and I think their dime back to start the season.  It’s another solid pick. 

Free Agency Targets:  None.

Safety (9):

Patrick Chung, James Sanders, Brandon Meriweather, Jarrad Page (FA), Brandon McGowan (FA), Sergio Brown, Bret Lockett, Josh Barrett, Ross Ventrone

This is another spot where Bill didn’t feel the need to draft a player which should tell you something.  I think Patrick Chung is the real deal and will be a Rodney Harrison-type safety.  He’s comfortable near the line of scrimmage and doesn’t shy away from contact.  The other starter, James Sanders, is a steady contributor and a good pairing with Chung.  Then there’s the issue of Brandon Meriweather.  He had some trouble with the law this offseason, he released a rap song, and he’s continued to waste his talent.  If the Patriots were able to move him I’m guessing they would.  He was plenty of talent, but he has a peanut for a brain.  He’s consistently beat due to poor decision making and he’s unreliable as the last line of defense.  The younger guys in the group (Brown, Lockett and Barrett) will have a chance in training camp to earn some time.  Sergio Brown earned some playing time last year and should have a leg up on the competition.

Free Agency Targets: I think they’ll offer Page and McGowan contracts.

Part One: OFFENSE

With the NFL season right around the corner (fingers crossed), I’m going to take a break from my NBA draft research to look at the Patriots roster and how it breaks down before free agency begins.  This also gives me a chance to comment on Coach Bill’s draft selections… 

Quarterback (4):

Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Jonathan Crompton, Ryan Mallet:

There is no team in the NFL with a better situation at quarterback.  You have arguably the top QB in the league, a young and capable backup and a super talented rookie to groom.  Bill O’Brien should play the lottery with this kind of luck.  I thought the drafting of Ryan Mallet was genius.  If it’s true that the Patriots had him as their top rated QB then they got an absolute steal in the THIRD round.  In four years when Mallet’s contract is up you’ll have either the QB of the future or trade bait to improve other areas.  I love the move. 

Free Agency Targets:  None

Running Back (8):

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead, Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Thomas Clayton, Kevin Faulk (FA), Fred Taylor (FA), Sammy Morris (FA)

This is a position that appeared solid with BJGE and Woodhead receiving a bulk of the carries and Kevin Faulk hopefully returning from injury.  I guess Bill didn’t feel as comfortable as he drafted an outside runner (Vereen) in the 2^nd round and an inside runner (Ridley) in the 3^rd round.  I was baffled by both selections.  I didn’t see the need to use two high picks on RB’s.  This leaves Kevin Faulk in a tough situation.  What would his role be with 4 young backs on the roster?  Bill has obviously upgraded the position and created some competition which isn’t a bad thing.  To me, there were more pressing needs when the backs were selected.  I think it’s safe to say Taylor and Morris will not be back with the team.

Free Agency Targets:  None

Wide Receiver (8):

We Welker, Deion Branch, Julian Edelman, Brandon Tate, Taylor Price, Matthew Slater, Buddy Farnham, Darnell Jenkins

I love this group of receivers.  I think they’re everything Brady needs.  I know that people have issue with the lack of a deep threat, but they never had a deep threat when it was Branch, Givens and Troy Brown and they won a few Super Bowls.  I think the precision route running combined with the tight ends attacking the middle of the field is extremely tough to defend.  I’m not worried about Brady being able to throw over the top.  He’ll be able to pick his spots with Tate and Edelman streaking into the secondary.  The Randy Moss-less receiving core will be just fine. 

Free Agency Targets:  Santonio Holmes would look nice on the outside and it would give Bill a chance to tweak the Jets. 

Tight End (5):

Alge Crumpler, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Carson Butler, Lee Smith

The tight end position is similar to the quarterback position; they’re loaded.  The fact that they can switch from 5-wide to 3 TE’s is a huge plus.  Gronkowski is an absolute beast and is a magnet for the ball in the red zone and Hernandez might as well be a wide receiver with his skill set.  You would think that Bill would be content with those two, but of course he’s three steps ahead as he drafted Lee Smith out of Marshall as Alge Crumpler’s replacement.  This should set up the TE position for years and should help balance the offensive attack.  

Free Agency Targets: None

Tackle (7):

Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder, Nick Kaczur, Mark LeVoir, Steve Maneri, Matt Light (FA), Quinn Ojinnaka (FA)

The Patriots have done a good job of infusing youth into the offensive line over the last couple years and the selection of Nate Solder was just another step.  They now have their tackles of the future in Vollmer and Solder.  I think they will try to re-sign Matt Light at a reasonable cost as they are a little thin at the position.  Also, you may not want to count on Solder starting on Day 1.  Lastly, I’m not sure what will happen with Nick Kaczur as he’s carrying a high cap figure.  Don’t be surprised if he ends up on the chopping block.

Free Agency Targets:  My guess is that they try to re-sign Light and Ojinnaka

Guard (6):

Logan Mankins (FT), Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell, Rich Ohrnberger, Marcus Cannon, Thomas Austin

The guard position could be fantastic or a little scary.  It all depends on Logan Mankins and Robert Kraft being able to come to an understanding.  If Mankins is signed long term then the Patriots will be able to pair him with the massive Marcus Cannon at RG and make the Patriots offensive line one of envy.  They’ll have youth, size, and a little nastiness for years to come.  Personally, I think the deal gets done.  Cooler heads will prevail and Kraft will pay the man his money.  They also have capable backups Dan Connelly and Ryan Wendell, who both started last year, in the mix.  The rich seem to get richer.   

Free Agency Targets:  If Mankins is signed, then no move is needed.  If he walks, then they have some concerns and you can expect a veteran or two to come in and compete.

Center (1):

Dan Koppen

Dan is one of the top centers in the league and has anchored a very good offensive line since he got to NE.  According to the depth chart the only backup for him is Ryan Wendell.  Since the Patriots didn’t draft a center I would assume that they feel very comfortable with the talent at the postion.

Free Agency Targets:  None


Part Two: DEFENSE will be available tomorrow...

NBA Mock Draft

1.  This is without trades (there will be many)
2.  Because of number one you might as well stop reading now. 

...or let the craziness begin...

1.  CLE - Derrick Williams - PF - Arizona
He's the safest pick and the most NBA ready player in a mediocre draft.

2.  MIN - Enes Kanter - C - Turkey
It will be tough for Kahn to pass on Irving, but he MUST go with the big man.

3.  JAZZ - Kyrie Irving - PG - Duke
The consensus number one falls into a great situation with a talented Utah team.

4.  CLE - Brandon Knight - PG - Kentucky
The perfect scenario for Cavs with them getting two of the top 3 players.

5.  TOR - Bismack Biyombo - PF - Spain
He adds toughness and athleticism to a 'soft' Raptors team.  The first gamble of the draft. 

6.  WIZ - Kawhi Leonard - SF - San Diego State
John Wall will be very happy with this pick.  He'll be a much better option than Josh Howard on the wing. 

7.  SAC - Kemba Walker - PG - UConn
A very scary backcourt is created with Tyreke Evans.

8.  DET - Jan Vesely - SF - Czech Republic
Joe Dumars tries the International route again.  This time successfully. 

9.  CHA - Marcus Morris - PF - Kansas
**the consensus pick**

10.  MIL - Alec Burks - SG - Colorado
He'll be the more athletic Michael Redd.  Oh ya, and he has two healthy knees.

11.  GS - Klay Thompson - SG - Washington State
He'll be the starter on opening night after Monta Ellis is traded this summer.

12.  JAZZ - Chris Singleton - SF - Florida State
A lock down defender and superior athlete to spell Paul Milsap.

13.  PHX - Jimmer Fredette - BYU
The perfect guy to learn from Steve Nash.  Still think he's 50/50 to flop.

14.  HOU - Valanciunas - C - Lithuania
Fills their biggest need and with two picks they can roll the dice.

15.  IND - Jordan Hamilton - SF - Texas
Larry said that he needed scoring and this is his answer.

16.  PHI - Tristan Thompson - PF - Texas
I just wanted to take two Texas players back to back alphabetically.

17.  NYK - Reggie Jackson - PG - Boston College
How can New York pass on Mr. October?

18.  WIZ - Markieff Morris - PF - Kansas
He's got 3 point range and is a tough rebounder.  That's a solid combination. 

19.  CHA - Nikola Vucevic - C - USC
MJ won with Will Perdue.  Maybe he sees a little Will in Nikola.

20.  MIN - Tobias Harris - SF - Tennessee
Should be able to play the 3 and give Minny a tough front court with Love and Kanter.

21.  POR - Kenneth Faried - PF - Morehead State
If the top rebounder in the country is available at 21, you have to take him.

22.  DEN - Marshon Brooks - SG - Providence College
The next Carmelo has arrived.  Except for his lack of winning pedigree. 

23.  HOU - Iman Shumpert - PG - Georgia Tech
Houston goes with best available.

24.  OKC - Donatas Montiejunas - PF - Lithuania
The perfect alternative to Perkins.  An offensively talented big who runs the floor well. 

25.  BOS - Jeremy Tyler - PF- Japan
Danny goes with the upside and selects a top 10 talent with a ton of baggage.    This is the perfect locker room for the kid. 

26.  DAL - Nikola Mirotic - SF - Serbia
Dallas upgrades on the offensive end selects an understudy for Dirk. 

27.  NJ - Kyle Singler - SF - Duke
Bobby Hurley's dad coaches in New Jersey and that's all I got here. 

28.  CHI - Travis Leslie - SG - Georgia
Thibs attempts to fill their biggest hole by selecting one of the most explosive guards in the country.

29.  SAS - Norris Cole - PG - Cleveland State
The Spurs are trying to get into the lottery (by trading Parker) which leaves a big hole at PG.

30.  CHI - Justin Harper - PF - Richmond
A stretch 4 who can offer a whole lot more than the overpaid Carlos Boozer.

Fresh Brew

** How did the 38-year old Jason Kidd shut down LeBron James? I know that he’s a wily veteran, but that should be no contest. 

** After looking through the draft prospects, I like Marshon Brooks out of PC.  Pairing his freakish wingspan (7’1), scoring touch (24 ppg), and rebounding ability with Rondo would be a great start in the rebuilding process. 

** Draft prediction:  Danny takes an athletic big that can stretch the floor and hit the open jumper.

** Maybe Salty just needed someone to believe in him.  After batting .218 over the first two months, he’s hitting .357 in June and he’s showing some promise at the plate.  I think the Sox may have found their catcher of the future.

** You have to love Josh Beckett hitting Jeter and A-Rod before Sabathia hit Ortiz for his flipping of the bat the previous night.  The guy is a pit bull.  A pit bull who’s 6-2 with and a 1.86 ERA. 

** I never knew the Na’vi could cry.  Thanks to Chris Bosh for clearing that up.    

** It sounds like June 21^st could be the end of the NFL lockout.  That will ensure a full season and absolute chaos for a few weeks as teams scramble to sign draft picks and free agents.  Prediction: Logan Mankins will be signed to a long term deal in New England.

** Jerry Jones should try and learn something from his NBA neighbor and keep his mouth shut during the season.  It worked out pretty well for the Mavericks. 

** Advice to Robert Luongo:  If you’re gonna run your mouth about your expertise as a goaltender, you might want to back it up.  Getting yanked after 8:30 minutes and 3 goals (on 8 shots) is a little embarrassing.  

** For all the fans that thought the Patriots needed a “true” starting RB:  I read a stat this week that adjusted the yards-per-carry by the strength of schedule (it was a little complicated) and do you know who tied Adrian Peterson at 4.7? You guessed it: BenJarvus Green-Ellis. 

** US OPEN prediction:  Phil finally breaks through after being the runner up FIVE times.

**Dirk vs. Larry:  If you look at the stats you’ll see it’s really no contest.  Larry beats him in points, rebounds, assists, steals, FT% and FG% (career averages).  If you’re still not sure, I’ll throw in Larry’s three MVP’s and 2 Finals MVP’s.  Moving on…

** I’m giving Carl Crawford a pass for the month of April (.155).  Since May 1^st he’s batting .295 and looks to have recovered the swing the Sox paid $142M for.  It’s good to be a big market team. 

** The Bruins could have easily won all 7 games.  Not sure you could say the same about the Canucks.  Maybe that’s why the Canuck fans tried to burn down the city. 

** Tedy Bruschi must have been excited to have Bill Belichick as a surprise guest at his football camp this week until Bill chewed out a seven year old for being late.  The guy is always on. 

** If a pitcher throws a one hitter and no one watches it, did it actually happen?

** Keeping with the theme from last week (Seidenberg as my bodyguard), I would add Tim Thomas as my drinking companion.  There aren’t many elite players that seem completely normal and he fits the bill. He sees like the guy you’d be drinking beers with after a softball game. 

** Tim Thomas will forever be remembered as the hero, but a lot of credit needs to go to the Bruins top defensive pairing, Chara and Seidenberg.  They were tough, physical, and intimidated the hell out of the Canucks.  The Bruins held the top scoring offense in the NHL to 8 goals in 7 games and completely took the Sedin twins out of the series. Very impressive. 

** Saw this on my way into work this morning:  Hibernation always ends in October.  This year when the Bruins get back to work they’ll be the defending STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS.

 

Cuban!

Wow, he's taking it to a new level.

Great 00's

When I woke up this morning the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the Sports Gods had done their job (well, one out of three isn’t bad).  Since February 2002 the Sports Gods have been very kind to the Boston sports scene.  Granted, there would some tough losses (2003 Red Sox, 2007 Patriots, 2010 Celtics), but the Gods can’t come down on our side ALL the time.  It’s been an amazing run and it’s a travesty that the “Great 00’s” haven’t been done by Channel 4.  You bring back all the news personalities from the 80’s and you remake this: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqJSqG1X5Q8&feature=youtube_gdata_player 

 It would be a ratings bonanza.  Who wouldn’t want to see Lobel and Neumy together again?

Moving on to the present, last night the despicable Canucks were battered yet again by the Bruins at the Garden and now we have a Game 7 on Wednesday night in Vancouver for the Cup (a big one).  Things couldn’t get much better for Boston fans.  On Sunday afternoon the Red Sox annihilated the Blue Jays, running their streak to nine in a row and showing the league that they might be who we thought they were in spring training.  They are 6-0 on their current road trip (sweeps of NY and Toronto) and they can extend their AL East lead with a good showing in Tampa. With a lineup that’s on fire and Beckett and Buchholz starting two of the games, they have a great chance to finish the trip 8-1.  I’m guessing  Terry is sleeping a little better these days. 

 On to the NBA, roughly six hours after the Sox win we were treated to the dismantling of the Heat by the Dallas Mavericks and the crowning of Dirk as the NBA’s top dog (for the moment).   With the Celtics obviously enjoying their vacation, having the Mavs win was a nice consolation prize. The arrogance of the Heat was too much for most fans to handle and to see them go down in flames AT HOME was a beautiful thing.  We also were treated to LeBron’s press conference where he informed us that we can all go back to our miserable lives and stop bothering him since the season is now over.  Stay classy LeBron.  If I were LeBron, I would grab a giant bag of popcorn, ease onto the couch and pop in some tape of Jason Terry.  You know, the guy who outscored you 107 to 106 in the series and played like he had nothing to lose (even though a tattoo was on the line).  I’ll never understand how someone as supremely talented as LeBron could simply vanish on such a grand stage.  At least Eddie House went down swinging (or chucking up 3’s).

 Then last night the Bruins completely undressed Roberto Luongo and forced him to the bench after allowing 3 goals in 8 shots.  He may want to keep his goaltending pearls of wisdom to himself.  Talk about a fraud.  It will be very interesting to see: A) if he starts tomorrow night, B) if he decides to wash his hair between games, and C) how short his leash is if he does in fact start.  I’m optimistic about Game 7 and Tim Thomas is the reason.  He’s been incredible for this run and he’s got one more in him. I can just feel it.  Screw the stats and the Bruins trouble in Vancouver.  They’re bringing the Cup home with them! The Red Sox and Mavs have been nice, but the Bruins winning is all that matters right now. 

Quick Note:  Mark Cuban tweeted on Monday morning that he was in bed with the championship trophy.  That’s good stuff. 

Beautiful Day

Fresh Brew

Back in college the weekend started on Thursdays for most "students"' and the weekend usually consisted of consuming some adult beverages.  As you know, when people have said beverages they tend to argue about sports, politics, music, television, pretty much anything.  I recently argued with my brother-in-law for about 3 hours about high school football prowess.  I've been out of high school for 14 years.  That's what happens.  Since most of you will be discussing sports at some point over the weekend, I figured I'd throw in my two cents every Thursday to get the ball rolling.  Remember, this isn't college and most of you have some responsibilities on Friday, so there's no sleeping in and calling Mina's for lunch.  Let's get it started...

** I’d like to thank CSKA Moskow for signing Nenad Krstic and saving Danny Ainge from having to take part in an uncomfortable press conference where he explains the positives of bringing him back.

** The next major championship for Tiger Woods will be on the Champions Tour.

** The resurrection of David Ortiz has been unbelievable.  Almost too unbelievable, wouldn’t you say?  

** Finals Stats:     LeBron’s 4^th quarter points:  11   Bruins goals:  14

** Would you trade Jeff Green for Andre Iguodala?  I would, but Danny wouldn’t ($$ and years). 

** After watching Freddy Garcia and AJ Burnett, you have to assume Cashman is willing to give up pretty much anything for a reliable arm.    

** Not only is Dice K done pitching for the Red Sox, he’s done pitching in MLB period.  When’s the World Baseball Classic again?

** If it became necessary for me to have a bodyguard, my first call would be to Dennis Seidenberg. 

** The latest the NFL could start the season is November 1st (an 8 game season with the SB on February 12th).  That couldn’t be more depressing.

** Predictions:  Bruins in 7 (2-1 OT Win) and Mavericks in 6 (a rout with Terry and Dirk draining 3’s)

** Am I the only one that thinks WEEI is trying waaaaayyy too hard with all this hockey talk?  You are who you are and it’s not a hockey station.  Kudos to 98.5 for the authentic coverage. 

** Why hasn’t Michael Bowden made the ‘jump’?  It’s amazing to think that he made his debut in 2008 at the age of 21. 

** I’ve always liked Shaq (my wife disagrees with that statement), but I won’t remember his time in Boston as a success.  His injury (along with the GM) torpedoed the Celtics title hopes. 

** I picked up some Narragansett Summer Ale pounders last night and was pleasantly surprised. They were a perfect pairing with the Heat loss.

** Good News:  Kevin Faulk looks great after his knee surgery.  Bad News:  Kevin Faulk has longs odds to make the roster. 

Note:  Starting next week this will be posted on Thursday afternoons.

LeBron, the Friendly Ghost

LeBron’s vanishing act has begun.   The games are getting bigger and the player that everyone was raving about after the Eastern Conference Finals is wilting under the pressure.  It’s like the changing of the seasons.  It’s going to happen.  The excuse was always his supporting cast, but that’s a myth, a fallacy, quite frankly, bullshit.  Obviously it doesn’t matter who he’s surrounded by, whether it’s Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Mo Williams, or Delonte West.  He’s going to shrink.  My only theory on why it happens is that this is a guy that’s been coddled and praised every day since he was 10 years old and when push comes to shove he doesn’t have the mental toughness.  The NBA Playoffs bring an intensity that he can’t match.  You saw it two years ago against the Magic.  You saw it last year against the Celtics.  If you watched the game last night, you saw it AGAIN versus the Mavericks.  This is a guy that averages 27.7 points per game in the regular season and UPS his game to 28.2 points per game in the post season, but the NBA Finals have been a problem for him.  He’s averaging 19.6 points per game in 8 games and he’s never scored more than 25 in a single game.  You might say that I’m nitpicking, but that’s an 8 point drop.  That’s a huge drop off in production.  In contrast, Mr. Wade (the guy you want to have the ball at the end of the game) is spectacular in the Finals.  I’d go through the stats, but the eye test should be enough.  The guy’s a winner and a TRUE competitor.  I realize that last night is only one game, but LeBron’s totals have dropped in each of the four games (24-20-17-8) and I feel it’s a meaningful trend.  He’s great as a frontrunner, but when that extra effort is needed, I’ll take Wade any day over the “King”. 

Level One

Two weeks ago I said that it finally felt like baseball season, as the Celtics were done and the Bruins were battling with Tampa Bay to see who would play for Lord Stanley's Cup (haha, is that even right?). I was 100% wrong. Boston is alive with the sounds of cross-checks. No, this isn't going to be a critique of the Bruins putrid power play or the insane risk-taking of Timmy Thomas. It's more a congratulatory, "welcome to the party". The city of Boston has done a lot of celebrating in the last 10 years and the Bruins have been on the sidelines watching and they've certainly arrived. As someone who could care less about the sport of hockey, this postseason has been incredible. They've kept my attention, which isn't easy to do. I've found myself actually talking about hockey and it wasn't in a sarcastic or derogatory fashion. I'm invested in this team. That's the great thing about being a sports fan. I've had my eyes opened to a sport that I never thought twice about. It's almost like being a little kid again because there's so much to learn (that's why there will be no critique). There was no chance of me reading the Sunday notes column in the Globe by Kevin Paul Dupont, but I'm doing it. That was the page I always skipped. BUT, this postseason has changed things. I'm not saying I'll be watching preseason games in October, but these games have given me a better understanding of the game. I could see myself watching some regular season games next season (when the Celtics are off and there's no national NBA game on). I realize the Bruins bandwagon is packed at the moment and I wouldn't dare step on any toes, but I'm walking alongside and enjoying every minute of it. Go Bruins!

Deja Vu

The Bulls season ended just at the Celtics did, with the Heat and the referees sending them home for the summer.  That’s not to take anything away from the Heat and their performance to close out games 4 and 5 of each series.  They made the shots when they had to.  The way both teams lost though was eerily similar.  They both had the ball with time running down in Game 4 and a chance to win, but ended up with terrible shots and overtime losses.  Then in Game 5 they both had leads late in the 4^th quarter that they weren’t able to hang on to (Celtics by 6 and Bulls by 12 with 4 minutes left).  Strange considering the two head coaches were on the same bench last year.  It was like the Celtics series wasn’t painful enough so they decided to replay it with different uniforms.  The reason I’m bringing this up is because the NBA has a problem on its hands.  It’s a problem that everyone except the fraud fans in Miami needs to worry about.  David Stern has decided that the Heat will be winning titles for as long as he sees fit.  The referees last night were incredibly bad.  The lead official was none other than Scott Foster, the crooked and completely in the bag accomplice of Tim Donaghy.  Really, what the hell is Stern thinking?  Is he that brazen to put this hack out there and think that he’s not going to get called out?  Apparently his is.  The game took a turn for the worse last night when at the 2:24 mark in the 3^rd quarter Carlos Boozer was hit for a flagrant foul on LeBron.  After watching the replay 30 times (TNT hates doing that) it was obvious to me that it was simply a hard foul.  It was a playoff foul.  Of course the officials overreacted and this lead to the Heat taking NINE foul shots in 75 seconds and turning an 11-point Bulls lead into 5 at the end of the quarter.  I know, they were still winning and they blew it down the stretch, but I would argue that it never should’ve been that close.  The Heat had no offensive flow to their game and it was the free throws at the end of the quarter that saved them.  The Bulls defense was fantastic and the referees (with Stern’s blessing) took that aggressiveness away from them.  LeBron looked like a European soccer player last night, flopping and diving all over the floor and he was rewarded (or bailed out) for it.  It was disgusting.  I understand that the stars will get the calls, but you didn’t see Rose get a single call on the other end as he was bumped all over the court.  Lastly, you had Steve Kerr simply embarrassing himself by DEFENDING the officials on each and every call.  I have no idea how the Finals will play out, but it’s becoming obvious that the shots are being called at the top and Mark Cuban might want to send the Commish a little “care package” if the Mavericks want any chance of winning. 

Side Note:  When and where did the "Let's Go (fill in the team)!" chant start?  I was listing to a Bruins montage on my way to work this morning and they had fans going crazy with that chant and even though it's pretty basic and generic and it was pretty damn awesome. 

NBA Jam

Josh Beckett is on fire right now and looking like the ACE we saw in 2007 and 2009. His stat line for May is off the charts:

4 GS, 1-0, 23.1 IP, 1 ER, 20 K,.39 ERA

It's staggering to look at. This is a run that only Pedro match and of course top. Check out Pedro's September from '99:

5 GS, 4-0, 41 IP, 5 ER, 70 K, .88 ERA

That's insanity. 70 strikeouts in FIVE starts! Safe to assume we'll never see someone like Pedro again, but Josh Beckett is doing a good job to be in the discussion (even if it's only for a month). With the back end of the rotation injured at the moment, this has certainly been a pleasant (and needed) surprise. Beckett's got the fire in his belly right now (see: his tirade on the bench in the 8th inning tonight) and his confidence is growing by the day and that's a huge plus for the Sox going forward.

One last thing: Congrats to the Captain who hit his first HR In 360 days.

MIrror Image

2011 Statistics:

Player A:  19.2 IP, 5 ER, 27 K, 3 BB

Player B:  24.2IP, 10 ER, 24 K, 7 BB

One of the more shocking revelations this season is that Player A has been the more productive reliever for your Boston Red Sox.   It's a reversal of fortune that NO Red Sox fan saw coming.  We didn't think it was possible.  When the season ended last year there was a segment of the fan base that was bitter Theo didn't ship this declining reliever out of town at the trade deadline.  His goal of hitting free agency, as opposed to working on his pitching repertoire was enough to anger any fan.  His talk of being the highest paid reliever was laughable.

Player A is obviously Jonathan Papelbon and not Daniel Bard, who most Sox fans this offseason were hoping would be ushered into the closer's role.  He has been outstanding so far and when you compare the numbers from the month of May this year and the month of May last year there are significant differences.  The first being his strikeout to walk ratio is much better this year and he’s been much more dependable this year.  I’m not a pitching coach, but he seems to have better command of his pitches and he’s actually using more than just his fastball this year.  He had turned into a one trick pony last year with a low 90’s fastball and it’s tough to be successful with one average pitch.   Last year Papelbon was the one walking batters, giving up home runs and looking shaky in crucial situations.  Here’s the comparison:

2010: 0-2 and 5 saves, 10 IP, 4 ER, 8 K, 3 BB, 2 HR, 3.60 ERA

2011: 2-0 and 3 saves, 10.1, 3ER, 15 K, 1 BB, 0 HR, 2.61 ERA

Then there’s Daniel Bard who has shown his mortality this year.  He just doesn’t seem the same.  His fastball doesn’t seem to have the same pop as last year and his off-speed stuff has been a little…off.  He’s obviously extremely talented, but it seems like he’s having some trouble between the ears.  He doesn’t have that same confidence.  Here’s his month of May comparison:

2010:  1-0 and 1 save, 11.1 IP, 1 ER, 11 K, 6 BB, 0 HR, .79 ERA

2011:  1-1 and no saves, 12.1 IP, 5 ER, 12 K, 4 BB, 3 HR, 3.65 ERA

Could it be the change behind the plate?  Is he simply in a slump?  Has the league started to figure him out?  I think he’s simply in a slump and his stuff is too good to struggle like he has.  I will say that last night was an eye opener though.  That’s not what you’re accustomed to seeing and it blew a chance to vault the Sox into first place with the Yankees and Rays losing last night.  The good thing is they have 4 months of baseball left, but blowing games in May is just as damaging as blowing games in September.  Hopefully now that the Rapture has passed, Bard will be able to clear his head and get back to his 2010 self. 

Sox - Indians: Part Deux

I know that the Bruins are still playing playoff hockey, but it feels like we’ve finally hit baseball season.  I know that a lot of you have been following since the truck left Fenway for Spring Training back in February, but I’m, not in that group.  I’ve been watching when I can and I plan to make a more concerted effort to stay on top of things.  That’s why I’m excited for this series with Cleveland.  This should be a good test for the Sox after getting swept by them the first week of the season.  They are facing an Indians team that has come storming out of the gate (unexpectedly) and boasts a blistering 18-4 home record (tops in the majors).  The Sox have won 8 out of their last 9 and 14 out of 20 since May 1^st and seem to be rolling (excluding that ridiculous 8^th inning on Saturday night).  To make things even better we’ll get to see the Sox top three starters with Buchholz, Beckett, and Lester and the guy who should be the Sox 4^th starter pitching for the Indians, Justin Masterson.  I don’t know about you, but I was always a big fan of Masterson and I think they made a mistake letting him go.  He’s a guy that could eat up innings and he’s almost unhittable for right-handed batters (.141 avg. against this year).  Sounds like a better option to me than Lackey or the Dice man.  Baseball 2011 starts in earnest for me this week, and let’s hope the Sox can continue Boston’s winning ways into the summer (if it ever gets here).  Oh yeah, and Go Bruins!

Bad Company

One more thing on Drew:  his career passer rating is 77.1.  That’s 81^st all-time.  That’s equal to Jay Fiedler and worse than Jeff Blake, Jon Kitna, Charlie Batch, Aaron Brooks, Elvis Grbac, Neil O’Donnell, and Neil Lomax.  That’s not Hall of Fame company.  Sorry folks, he’s not headed for Canton. 

Honorable Mention

This week it was announced that Drew Bledose will be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame this summer and it led to me receiving a few emails suggesting that it won't be the last Hall of Fame that he gets inducted into. Obviously they were talking about Canton, Ohio and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. My initial reaction was that there was no way. He was undeserving of such an honor. Then an email with stats and all-time rankings was passed along and I had to think a little harder. Was Drew Bledsoe really an all-time great?

Drew does have some impressive statistics, but the longevity certainly helps. It's not the only reason he's ranked as high as he is in passing yards (6th) and passing touchdowns (14), but you have to admit, you wouldn't put Drew in your Top 10, or 15, or even 25. He was one of the most important draft picks in Patriots history and when you think about the success of the past 10 years, Drew Bledsoe should come to mind. Not because he was injured and made it possible for Tom Brady to take the field, but for the success he had in getting the Patriots on the map. This was a team that was an NFL laughingstock when Drew was drafted and within two years they were in the playoffs and two years later they were in the Super Bowl. He was larger than life at that point. The Dreeeewwwwwww chants could be heard every Sunday at Foxboro Stadium. Drew went to the Pro Bowl in 3 of his first 5 seasons. Impressive stuff. The only thing is, he was never the top quarterback in the league. He was good, but not great. I feel you have to be GREAT at some point in your career to get to Canton. I think he was a Top 10 quarterback for his first 8 seasons, but that's not enough for me. Another thing that bothers me about Drew is that he didn't necessarily make the players around him better. I know it's not fair to compare him to Tom Brady, but since we get to see him each week it's hard not to. Tom Brady is excellent at making the players around him better. It doesn't matter if it's David Patten, or David Givens, or Randy Moss catching passes, he's going to get the best out of these guys and move the chains. I think it's safe to say that Drew Bledsoe was not able to do that in his career. He also didn't help his offensive line as he took way too many sacks as he tentatively tapped the ball with his left hand. To be fair, most quarterbacks can't raise the level of play for all the players around them. It's not a knock on Drew, it just makes me hesitate when people talk about him being Hall of Fame bound.

The thing I'll always remember about Drew was his professionalism. When he was injured in 2001 it would have been very easy for him to rehab, collect his paycheck, and worry about HIMSElF. Drew didn't do that though. By all accounts, Drew took young Tom Brady under his wing and helped him in any way that he could. Drew could even be seen on the sidelines during the games with a headset on to keep himself involved. He wasn't up in the press box with the Kraft's like Wes Welker a couple years ago (hey, it happened). He was on the field and he wanted to win. Of course he wanted to play as well, but he was able to put the team's goals first and that's a very refreshing thing. It was just last year that we saw Jay Cutler get hurt in a playoff game and at no point did he talk to his backup or his backup's backup (yup, he had to play too). Can you imagine Drew doing that? No way. To me, that's more important than passing yards or touchdowns. He was a TEAM guy and a fierce competitor. I think that's why when he's inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame that will be enough for him. He was one of the most important and valuable Patriots of all-time and I say he belongs in Foxboro as opposed to Canton.

Amateur Hour

This is what you get from an inexperienced blogger, an incomplete post. I need to read my notes more carefully as I completely missed the section on Perk's value to this team mentally. My apologies. This is where the eye test comes in. Am I wrong to say that it just didn't look right? They gave up too many layups and putbacks on the defensive end. They consistently had players out of position and they couldnt buy a second chance bucket on the offensive end. They became timid to an extent. Their swagger was gone. The fact that players around the league applauded the trade should tell you something. They feared the Celtics when they rolled out their starIting five. This was a group with championship experience that couldn't be rattled in crunch time. At the time of the trade they were the favorite to win the NBA championship. The flipping favorite! Danny is now ruining my breakfast. His trail of ruin continues. One more point and I'll put this trade to rest. The trade killed the team chemistry. I'm not sure if any of you watched The Association on ESPN, but it did a great job showing the reaction to the trade. There was genuine shock. Doc said it was like losing a family member. Rondo was obviously disturbed by the trade (for way too long). It was a bad scene. Messing with the team's chemistry was a mistake and unnecessary. I know that Danny would do it again, but Doc said yesterday that he would NOT have done the trade during the season. It caused too much turmoil and in the end doomed the Celtics. I know there are people out there that thought this team was on borrowed time already, but they could have had a ruin them. This team was in a better place than last season and we all know how that ended. They coulda been a contender!

In _____ We Trust

First, a little background: I liked Danny Ainge as a player. I like Danny Ainge as a General Manager. He has done what most Celtic fans thought was impossible after losing the Draft Lottery and missing out on Kevin Durant. He has made basketball relevant again in Boston. He's put together a team that in the last four years has gone to the NBA Finals twice (winning once) and lost in the Eastern Conference Semifinals twice. That's an impressive feat considering how far this organization had fallen since the original Big Three. This transformation wasn't easy and took some shrewd moves and a willing partner (a Minnesota GM who shall remain nameless) to make it happen. Really, he was about to hit Bill Belichick status when it came to team building. It was going to be "In Danny We Trust". He was so close. They were about to get the t-shirts made. That's when it happened.

I still remember the shock. I was sitting at my desk monitoring the NBA trade deadline coverage and not expecting very much. The Celtics were on top of the Eastern Conference standings at the time and they really didn't have any pressing needs besides a backup swingman to give Paul and Ray a breather. The general consensus was that they would pick someone up when players started to get bought out. Not a major move. Well, Danny obviously saw a bigger need. He decided that he was going to get a budding star for the future. That's when he made the outrageous decision to trade Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson to OKC for Jeff Green, Nenad Krstic and a future 1st round pick from the Clippers. Even with the season now over I had to read that sentence three times to make sure I had it right. Danny Ainge traded his starting center for a backup swingman that would play about 20 minutes per game (if he was lucky). It was Insanity. Danny always gave the impression that there was a script he was following. This was not part of the script. The Celtics have three aging stars and it always was about "now". That's the reason Danny has signed veterans to complement his core group over the last fur years. PJ Brown, Sheed, Shaquille, Jermaine, Michael Finley and Delonte were the perfect guys to bring in. Danny wasn't building for the future. He was trying to win now. Isn't it obvious? Well, he changed course with the Perk trade. He looked ahead. He thought getting Jeff Green was more important than winning THIS YEAR. I think he made a huge mistake and cost this team a chance to go further than the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

When the trade was made Danny went on the record (no, not with Greta) and gave his reasoning for the move. Reasoning that he's still defending (and sounding foolish doing it). First, there was Perk's health. At the time he had just injured his other knee and would be out for a couple weeks. Danny also had concerns about his long term health due to the fact that his scowling would put a ridiculous amount of pressure on his facial muscles. Second, the Celtics had offered a four year contract extension that Perk declined because of the dollar figure. This is the first contradiction from Danny. You have concerns about his health, but you offer him a fou year extension? Hmmm, seems strange to me. Moving on. Third, Danny was sure that Shaq would be back soon and Jermaine would be back before the playoffs, adding some big man depth. Also, Danny felt that due to Shaq's age and performance thus far he would be better suited as a starter. Fourth, due to the injury to Marquis Daniels, Danny felt that he needed someone to play meaningful minutes against the likes of Carmelo, LeBron, and hopefully Kobe in the playoffs. As we all know, this was a bunch of crap. The fans may have bought it for a couple games after the trade, but as the season went on and the Celtics lost the top spot in standings it became clear that Danny was the one getting swindled. He was the sucker at the table.

OK, let's look at what happened. Perk went to OKC, missed a handful of games due to the sprained MCL, became a leader in their locker room, and right now is STILL playing in the Western Conference Finals. He seems like the exact same player in OKC that he was here. He's a solid defender that understands his role and is doing the little things that are needed to win, such as getting whistled for moving screens. Sorry, I loved Perk, but the guy had some issues with that. The only thing that matters is winning games and Perk is helping them win games.

Now let's look at how the Celtics faired after the trade. They struggled down the stretch, finished 3rd in the East, and got bounced by the Heat in 5 games. Shaq, who was supposed to be the answer at the center position played 17 minutes, scored 8 points, grabbed 1 rebound, and committed 4 fouls. That's not per game averages. Thats's Shaq contribution after the trade on February 24th. Danny seriously thought that the oldest player in the league was going to be healthy enough to not only start, but play a significant role heading into the playoffs? It's delusional. Jermaine did make it back, but a fractured left wrist rendered him useless versus the Heat. I can give Danny a pass for that one. I've already said my piece on Jeff Green last week I think he was completely overmatched in his matchup with LeBron and he looked extremely timid and uncomfortable in the Celtics offense.

In my humble opinion, Danny's reasoning doesn't cut it. He broke his own rules and tried to justify his move with a bunch of BS. Losing Perk in the middle of the season was a disaster for this team. They relied on him defensively and he was the perfect TEAM guy. He understood his role, unlike Big Baby, who lost his mind over the last 20 games. He also knew all of the offensive and defensive sets (thanks Doc) which none of the new guys knew. He brought a toughness that didn't show up on the stat sheet and Ray Allen will forever be grateful for all of the open looks he got because of Perk. He was the perfect piece for THIS team. Danny took that away.

My crystal ball says that if Perk was here the Celtics would still be playing right now. Had Perk been here the Celtics would have been the 1st or 2nd seed in the East, meaning they would have played the Hawks or had home court against the Heat. Looking at that scenario, the Celtics would have advanced to play the Bulls and who knows what would have happened. I would have liked their chances. Danny just needed to stay the course. He didn't and now we'll never know if this team could've made another deep playoff run like last year. I think KG-Paul-Ray deserved that chance.

One last thing that I forgot to mention. All we heard about after last season's Game 7 loss was they needed more length. So what does Danny do? He brought in Shaq, Jermaine, Semih, and still had Perk and Baby to play the center position. Danny knew that size was needed. He addressed that need to excess. So why do you abandon that idea when the trade deadline approaches? It will never make sense to me. After the trade, the only healthy big man on the team was Krstic. Just an awful decision from a GM that has made so many good ones.

Mount Snow

Yes, I paid money for the chance to be electrocuted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObcX5ZopSZE&feature=youtu.be

 Story coming soon.

Last Stand

Game Five ended exactly as it should have:  the Celtics simply running out of gas as Wade and LeBron put their feet to the floor.  It was sobering to watch the Celtics come unraveled to an extent with turnovers, missed shots, a little luck for the Heat and a little help from the Commish.  I’m sorry, but if Dwyane Wade is going to get bailed out EVERY time he goes to the hoop then the fix is in.  For example, our goofy-ass center Nenad Krstic is standing outside the lane with his hands up and not moving at all and Mr. Wade comes rumbling through the lane, initiates the contact, throws up a prayer, and gets a whistle.  In slow motion it was even more appalling.  Not to channel my inner Tommy Heinsohn, but it was a joke.  Sorry, just had to get that out.  The Celtics did still have a shot though.  They held a 5 point lead with 3:48 left and just couldn’t hang on.  Not having Rondo (injury) or Baby (mental midget) on the floor at the end was a killer.  They just had too many moving pieces that hadn’t spent a lot of time together out there on the floor.  Not the way you want to end your season. 

As the game ended and the nation was forced to watch the Heat celebrate as if they had just won the championship, I was planning my post today and it was to be a eulogy.  The new ‘Big 3’ era was ending (even though they are under contract) and with Doc riding off into the sunset, it was going to be a very different feel next year.  The good times were behind us. The championship aspirations were gone.  We were headed for the middle of the pack.  BUT…then I turned on Doc’s press conference.  He praised the Heat (a savvy thing to do publicly, even though Red would rather choke on his cigar before he pulled that kind of move) and then was asked about his future.  WARNING: if you have any sort of heart problems, you may want to sit down before you read this.  Doc explained that he’s leaning towards coming back.  He wants to win it again with these guys.  He loves coaching them (really?).  He’s a Celtic.  I was speechless.  Now this doesn’t mean pencil the Celtics in for the NBA Finals next year, but it certainly was a silver lining after the disappointment of an early exit. 

The problems that plagued this team all year came back to bite them once again.  The turnovers prevented them from extending the lead in the first half and seemed to pop up right at the most inopportune time (a Pierce to Green pass ends up out of bounds with a minute left and down 3).  The defensive lapses led to a huge advantage at the free throw line for the Heat (they were +18 in attempts).  The lack of rebounding again was a problem.  The Heat were a +8 in that category, but it felt like even more.  The Celtics were forced to go small without the services of Jermaine or Shaq, and they just got pummeled underneath.  Lastly, the 2^nd chance points were a joke (13-7).  All of the hustle plays went to the Heat in the 2^nd half.   Here’s a look at these categories for the series:

                REB            Pts/Paint        TO           FT’s Attempt     2^nd Chance         

Gm 1      Even               Even            BOS -3          MIA +14          7-7

Gm 2      MIA +6          EVEN           MIA -1           MIA +14       MIA 10-8

Gm 3      BOS +3         BOS +2       BOS -2           MIA +2         BOS 16-14

Gm 4      MIA +17       MIA +16        BOS -1            BOS +1        MIA 10-0

Gm 5      MIA +8         MIA +6          MIA -8            MIA +18        MIA 13-7

As you can see, being physical, aggressive, and giving that extra effort was what made the difference for the Heat.  They deserved to win (that PAINS me to say).  In the end, the injuries to Rondo, Jermaine, Shaq, Paul and Ray were too much to overcome.  Oh yeah, and that trade on February 24^th may have changed things a little too….

I plan on dealing with Danny (the trade) and the future of this team soon…

All I know is, 41-14 seems a LOOOONG time ago... 

Any Given Wednesday (?)

Doc's speech after morning shoot-around (compliments of Tony D'Amato):

I don't know what to say really.  Eight hours to the biggest battle of our professional lives all comes down to tonight.  Either we heal as a team or we are going to crumble.  Inch by inch, play by play, till we're finished.  We are in hell right now gentlemen, and we can stay here and get the s*** kicked out of us, or we fight our way back into the light.  We can climb out of hell one inch at a time.  Now I can't do it for you.  I'm too old.  You know when you get old in life, things get taken from you.  That's, that's part of life.  But, you only learn that when you start losing stuff.  You find out that life is just a game of inches.  So is basketball.  Beacuse in the game of life or basketball, the margin for error is so small.  I mean, one half step too late or too early and you don't quite make it.  One half second too slow or too fast and you don't quite catch it.  The inches we need are everywhere around us.  They are in every break of the game, every minute, every second.  On this team, we fight for that inch.  On this team, we tear ourselves and everyone around us to pieces for that inch.  We CLAW with our fingernails for that inch.  Cause we know when we add up all those inches that's going to make the f****** difference between WINNING and LOSING, between LIVING and DYING.  I'll tell you this:  in any fight, it is the guy who is willing to die who will win that inch. And I know, if I am going to have any life anymore, it is because I am still willing to fight and die for that inch because that is what LIVING is.  Now, I can't make you do it.  You gotta look at the guy next to you.  Look into his eyes.  Now I think you are going to see a guy who will go that inch with you.  You are going to see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team because he knows when it comes down to it, you are gonna do the same thing for him.  That's a team gentlemen, and either we heal now, as a TEAM, or we will die as individuals.  That's basketball guys.  That's all it is.  Now what are you gonna do?





  

It's Miracle Time

86-86.  19.5 seconds.  Celtics ball.

19.5 looong seconds.

The situation you want to be in with Doc Rivers as your coach.  The Celtics were one play away from putting the Heat back on their heels and evening the series at 2-2.  I can’t emphasize enough how confident I was when the timeout was called.  I think I’m speaking for most Celtics fans here.  It was the classic mismatch; the championship proven Celtics with the ball versus the jittery Heat.  Hell, the Heat had just squandered their chance to take the lead only seconds earlier when the King turned the ball over while driving in the lane. 

One perfectly executed play was needed.  So who does Doc call on to make it happen?  Surprise, surprise:  KG-Paul-Ray.

The result: THE END OF AN ERA.

It was as if that last play of regulation was in slow motion.  After two quick passes the ball is in Paul’s hands at the top of the key (still plenty of time).  Across the court you have KG and Ray looking like a couple awkward teenagers at a YMCA dance.  Neither knowing what exactly they should be doing.  First, they both step towards Paul. Then they both step back (come on, do something!).  The goal is a slip screen to get Ray open, but neither can seem to decide who’s going to go where to set it up.  It was an absolute disaster.  Paul is left completely out to dry as the clock ticks down and he finally has to make his move, which ends up being a heave from about 18 feet with LeBron right in his face (what the expletive was that!!).  The ball clangs of the backboard, the buzzer sounds, and the Celtics head for an early playoff exit.  You may be wondering about overtime, but if you were watching the game you knew that overtime was just a formality.  The Celtics had their shot and the three guys that have made the last four years so exciting for the fans of Boston DID NOT COME THROUGH.  They were gassed and had left it all out there for 48 minutes.

It would be easy to blame it all on Rondo’s injury, but that was just part of it.  He gave everything he had last night and it wasn’t any less than he’s given all series.  It would be equally easy to blame the “Big 3” for not being able to run a play they’ve run hundreds of times over the years, but that’s not quite it either.  Granted, it was awful, but they were out of gas.  Game 3 took a lot out of them physically and emotionally.  You can’t complain about the effort.  The problem in the end was the bench’s inability to play quality minutes.  Big Baby and Jeff Green murdered this team.  I will forever hold them responsible.  (Don’t worry, there will an article on Danny at some point in the future.  There is no way that he gets a pass.)  The two of them were embarrassingly bad.  It was like watching my golf swing on video every time they came on the floor.  Pure torture.  How Big Baby can completely disappear is beyond me.  Right now he brings zero to the table.  His jumper is gone.  He’s not defending and drawing charges.  He’s completely invisible when it comes to rebounding.  Oh yeah, and he’s crying on the bench again.  Talk about a complete meltdown.  It’s safe to assume that he didn’t improve his free agency price with this postseason. 

This leads me to Jeff Green.  I hate to criticize the guy, but he’s a big boy, he can take it.  He’s been here since February 24^th.  At what point does he feel “comfortable”?  Based on what we’ve seen so far, my answer would be never.  How can he look lost at all times on the offensive end?  This is a guy that was averaging 15 points a game while with OKC and for whatever reason he can’t do anything for the Celtics.  I could count on my left hand the number of times he didn’t look out of position in the last couple months.  Think about that…months.  It appears that he hasn’t learned a single offensive set.  The only time he looks remotely comfortable is in the open court.  I would go into his defensive issues, but I’d like to be able to keep my lunch down.  All I’ll say is that he’s useless on the defensive end.  Utterly (expletive) useless.  If Danny really thought JEFF GREEN could back up Paul and defend Carmelo, LeBron, and Luol Deng, he’s sadly mistaken.  That’s all I have to say about that.

My guess is that the season will end tomorrow night in Miami, but it certainly won’t end like it did for the Lakers.  This team won’t quit on their coach.  They’ll go down swinging (the right way).  One can only hope that KG-Paul-Ray can get another chance to run that final play.  I’m pretty sure we’ll see a different outcome. 

Game 2 Breakdown

POSITIVES:

At the 7 minute mark in the 4th it was tied  80-80 (2:30 later they were down 10)

Baby finally contributed in the 4th quarter (before he got too aggressive)

Rajon had a solid double-double and showed some burst to the hoop

KG's jump shot reappeared in the 2nd half

Jeff Green's offense kept the C's in the game with Paul in the locker room

Jermaine was steady in the middle and the only Celtic to get his hands dirty in the paint

Delonte continued with his Tony Allen impression and gave the 2nd unit a boost (10 pts.)

NEGATIVES:

Ray only took TWO shots in the 2nd half

Rondo struggled to keep the offense in rhythm; too much standing around

Von Wafer played

Free Throw Attempts:  Celtics - 22    Heat - 36

EVERY loose ball went to the Heat

Joey Crawford was able to collect his cash from the Commish

2-0 is a HUGE hole to climb out of