One hell of a ride – The 2012/13 Celtics season recap.

4 May 2013 By Leave a Comment

What else could we call it, honestly? Every season is full of ups and downs, but this has been the grittiest fight so far in the KG era, with so much change throughout the season.

Pre-season

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The promising off-season with a reloaded roster displayed potential in the Europe exhibition games. We were excited at Chris Wilcox and Jeff Green’s return, and also at all the new faces.

We had the JET himself, ready to take big shots. I was really excited to see Courtney Lee, being a fan from his Orlando days. We had two big men in Darko Milicic and Jason Collins, ready to give twelve hard fouls and some tough interior D. We had scoring speedster guard, The Brazillian Blur himself – Leandro Barbosa. Talk about a stacked guard roster.

Best of all, we saw Rondo consistently nailing jumper after jumper. He was making free throws like a man possessed.

Summary: WE HAD OFFENSE. (Albeit, at the cost of defense.)

Sacramento Kings v Boston Celtics

Season start

The season however, began with a shaky start.  The team floundered, and somehow never got on an even keel. Adding multiple new faces took time, and our defense suffered. We were horrible on pick-and-roll defense. Offensive lineups became experimental. Rondo was pounding the ball at the top all too often. JET was running off back screens and taking jumpers the way Ray did, but it wasn’t working. Courtney became hesitant on offense, pulling the ball back in transition all too often. It was obvious Pierce could no longer take a guy off his dribble and make dagger shots consistently, which meant we had to find more offense somewhere else, and nothing was happening.

I was frustrated.

Avery Bradley's Stifling Defence

Good news arrived in the form of lockdown defender Avery Bradley, who said he was going to return from shoulder rehab. His return gave us a boost of confidence, that his defense would set the tone for the Celtics, who looked lost. It looked like it would, and it did. The defense slowly, but surely got better.

Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets

A temporary moment of triumph happened. We conquered the Brooklyn Nets on Christmas Day, 93-76.  Sullinger had 16 points and 7 rebounds. Everyone was calling for him to start.

Sullinger Pulls Down The Rebound

As it was since the season began, our undersized rookie Jared Sullinger played his ass off. We loved #TheHustler so much for his tenacity on rebounds, his focus on nabbing the boards above all else. His passing smarts, and his shooting range. He became a starter, to everyone’s joy.

The injury bug strikes again

Then, we had the shockers – Rondo’s ACL tear, and then Sullinger’s back operation. Two starters were out, just like that.

Without Rondo, Ticket and Truth had to shoulder a heavier load, and get involved in playmaking. Everything and anything, for the team.

Avery Bradley and Courtney Lee against the Denver Nuggets

Having no choice but to soldier on, we found our footing and played harder, winning from off-ball movement and ball sharing. Avery and Courtney were The Pitbulls on defense. We were finding some sort of rhythm, even without Rondo. The KG/Pierce two-man game worked. Truth was being a point forward once more, and a gritty defensive rebounder on top of everything else.

Jeff Green of the Boston Celtics dunks on Al Jefferson of the Utah Jazz in the 2012/13 NBA season.

Jeff Green of the Boston Celtics dunks on Al Jefferson of the Utah Jazz in the 2012/13 NBA season.

Meanwhile, Jeff Green was creating poster dunks left, right and center. He was slowly finding his way on offense. Slowly, but surely, we were seeing consistency.

“We’re better without Rondo!”

Things were looking up, some fans began to talk about the team being better without Rondo.

Really? Honestly, no. The problem was the offensive system, not Rondo’s execution of the game plan. He did what he was supposed to, every time. If you thought that, sorry – we have to agree to disagree. And Rondo’s plays in the postseason cannot be measured. The man made countless hustle and gamechanging plays, never ever forget that.

Barbosa’s loss – The straw that broke the camel’s back

Leandro Barbosa goes down with an ACL tear

The rhythm fell apart once more as bad luck struck the team. Bench scorer Leandro Barbosa tore his ACL, injecting yet another blow to an already depleted roster. We weren’t the Minnesota Timberwolves, but things were really looking down.

New faces once more.

We had to get healthy bodies one way or another. Left with no alternative, trades happened and signings were made. We added more new faces in the form of ex-Wizard Jordan Crawford, plus CBA imports Terrence Williams, DJ White and Shavlik Randolph.

Credit: ESPN

Credit: ESPN

Everyone loved Shavlik’s hustle and defensive instincts, and Justin dubbed him #ShavKill. Celtic Nation made jokes about Crawford’s crazy shots.

Boston Celtics v Cleveland Cavaliers

Terrence Williams went from a small forward to being a point guard. T-Will outdid all of our other guards when it came to making plays, no questions asked.

Fighting all the way, the Celtics clawed its way to the postseason, vets rested and ready to fight.

Round 1, playoffs – New York Knicks

Boston Celtics v New York Knicks - Game One

Everyone was eager to see more of the Truth firing his usual daggers at New York, confident that somehow we would make it a contest. Reality was a huge disappointment. The offense was stagnant and one-dimensional. The ball moved too slowly, the Knicks had a field day in steals. We simply could not get the ball to drop into the cursed hoop. The Knicks were not exactly stellar, but made enough to kill us. Avery wasn’t playing with his usual intensity on both ends, and I cringed every time he passed the ball, for fear that someone would cut the passing lane and make a steal.

Bass was playing elite defense on Melo. Truth and Ticket were playing hard, but it just was not enough.

Game 1: we had a 8 point fourth quarter. That was bad. I thought this was rock bottom, we could not possibly get any worse. Boy, was I wrong.

Game 2: the team scored 11 points in the third, 12 points in the fourth. This, was rock bottom. Our offense was so bad, it was ridiculous. Our famed fourth quarter meltdowns in the past were nothing compared to these.

The team went down 2-0, everyone was praying for the team not to go out this way. We missed Rondo. A lot.

It was not until Game 3, when JR Smith gave a vicious elbow to Jason Terry, that the team seemed to find a bit of fire. After losing Game 3, the JET proclaimed:

“I’m coming out with something. I’m going to come out with the heart, the passion, the energy that’s needed to get a win. We have to do that collectively. One man’s not going to be able to provide that. It has to be a collective unit and we’ve got to get it done together.”

Jason Terry of the Boston Celtics takes flight.

And fight we did, taking Game 4 with JR Smith serving a suspension on that silly elbow strike. Dumb luck, the detractors said. We would not have won if JR was playing.

And then, we took Game 5 too, despite an ugly 11-0 start in the first quarter. Melo missed a ton of shots. JR Smith had the same problem, only worse. The unthinkable had happened. New York fans were shaken. Kenyon Martin’s proclamation about wearing black to a funeral, ended up with the Knicks getting buried.

Could the Celtics truly be the first team in league history to come back from 3-0 and clinch the series? We wanted to believe.

Game 6

Today, Game 6. Three quarters of putrid basketball set us back in double digits. We were at 51-75, with 9 minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

The odds seemed insurmountable. With the way theyhad been playing, I had given up hopes of the team making a comeback. Tweets were coming in about fans exiting at the end of the third quarter. The Knicks seemed ready to roll into round two.

Never count the C’s out.

Bit by bit, shot by shot, a 20-0 run somehow happened. Avery somehow found himself and became a defensive maniac once more. He stole the ball and finished it, twice. We got multiple stops, thanks to the Knicks’ multiple bricked shots. We got the defensive boards, and Green ran the floor, finishing at the rim with astounding effort. The NY score was frozen solid at 75. They were regressing into Melo iso plays. Melo had an injured left shoulder, but somehow made baskets. The lead was within grasp at 4 points, we were closing in for the kill.

And just like that, it was over. Melo made free throws over a phantom Bass foul. Green fouled out. New York played the clock out, made shots and led by 12. The noose was slowly but surely closing.

Doc called a final timeout. Coming out of the play, JET hit a 3 and closed the lead to 9. It was hope.

Yet, it was not meant to be. Tyson Chandler got the rebound off a missed Felton shot. The clock continued to wind down. Melo missed a shot, KG corralled the board and Bass managed to get to the line for two. We were 7 points away, with 27 seconds to go. Close, but time had simply run out. It was too late.

Jeff Green and Paul Pierce

The game ended 80-88, with the Knicks advancing after a 4-2 series win. The Boston Celtics end their 2012/13 postseason run in the first round.

Epilogue

The momentuous journey finally ended with a first-round exit. It was more or less what most of us knew deep inside, but just did not want to admit. We wanted to see another magical postseason run, another upset, another round of showing the disbelievers that we could do it one more time.

I was happy to see the fight in the fourth quarter today, to know that the Celtics would not simply roll over and surrender. It just kills me to know that we had a possible Game 7 within our grasp, and yet not be able to reach it.

In the end, it was the first three quarters that did us in, despite a heroic rally in the closing frame. If we had had a perfect free throw game, or made a few more shots, things might have been different. Alas.

Nevertheless, I am stil proud of this team, for battling through all the unsaid injuries and giving it their all at the end. I just wish we could have done it more consistently, that we could have flipped the switch a little earlier.

That’s all behind us now anyway. My thanks once more to everyone in the team, and to everyone in the fan community for taking this journey together.

The Captain.

Onwards, to the next season! Keep believing.

Filed Under: Games, Opinions, Season 2012/2013 Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Green Kick Of The Week feat Courtney Lee’s Air Jordan VII ‘Golden Moments’

18 March 2013 By Leave a Comment

As the Celtics look forward to playing Miami tomorrow, and hopefully breaking their 22 game winning streak, I’ll be looking back at the best pair of kicks of the past week.

This weeks winner of KOTW is Courtney Lee with his awesome pair of Air Jordan VII ‘Golden Moments’. These kicks looked great with the amazing St. Patrick’s Day uniform.

Boston Herald Media

Lee has been rocking Nike’s and Jordan’s all season. He has been wearing many retro’s, along with some newer kicks. This particular pair and his Nike Air Penny V’s, which he wore earlier in the season, have caught my eye the most this season.

Lee looked very comfortable in these shoes. He put together a nice game, filling the stat sheet with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in a well-rounded effort.

air-jordan-vi-vii-golden-moments-pack-11

Fans with a good memory might remember that Jared Sullinger wore these for media day photos before the start of this season. From memory, feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, I don’t think Sullinger ever wore these on the court, so it was nice to see Lee bring them out against Charlotte.

These Jordan’s are a favourite of mine, and I can definitely see why Lee chose to wear these against the Bobcats on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day. I really like the simple black outer with the gold lining.

air-jordan-vi-vii-retro-golden-moments-pack-2

What are your thoughts on these Jordan’s? Do you think Courtney Lee should keep ‘em or dump ‘em?

Filed Under: Green Kick of the Week Tagged With: , , , , ,

Green Kick Of The Week feat Courtney Lee’s Nike Air Penny V’s

2 February 2013 By 2 Comments

Rajon Rondo’s ACL injury was a double tragedy. With our best player and main sneakerhead out for the remainder of the season, we have no choice but to look for our KOTW in new places. Have no doubts, Rondo will be greatly missed on the court for his inspirational play and for his flashy kicks. Thank you for a great season Mr. Triple Double, here’s to a speedy recovery.

With that said, let us shift focus to the player who caught my eye this week. This week’s KOTW winner is Courtney Lee and his Nike Air Penny V’s. He bought out these kicks in the two wins against Miami and Sacramento.

Courtney Lee, Jason Thompson, DeMarcus Cousins, Francisco Garcia, Tyreke Evans

Lee has been swapping back and forth between different Nike’s all season long, but these are by far my favourite. These kicks have long been one of the most unique in the game. The yellow accents along with the icy translucent sole complement the subdued black and grey outer to make these a prominent stand out from the crowd.

Nike-Air-Penny-V-Cool-Grey-Tour-Yellow-01

Over the years, Nike has released many colourways of this classic shoe. This particular pair was released on the 26th of December, 2012 in the U.S.A.

Lee is one half of ‘The Pitbulls’, with Avery Bradley forming the other half, a recent moniker Molly McGrath coined in tribute to their all-out defensive pressure. These kicks certainly aren’t hindering Lee’s performace! You will very rarely see him slip over on the court with the great traction control these sneakers offer.

Miami Heat v Boston Celtics

I would love to see Courtney keep pulling out the Nike Air Penny’s, either with this colourway or mixing it up with a new colourway.

What does everyone else think about these kicks? Let us know in the comments if you think Lee should keep loving ‘em or dump ‘em.

Filed Under: Green Kick of the Week Tagged With: , , , ,

When Will The JET Soar Once More?

20 January 2013 By Leave a Comment
Avery Bradley and Jordan Crawford

Avery Bradley and Jordan Crawford (Photo credit: Keith Allison)

With the return of Avery Bradley –The Gamechanger, The Saviour and all of a billion other divine titles– there has been a shuffle in the playing rotations. When Danny Ainge put this team together in the off-season, the idea was to have the tenacious backcourt of Rondo and Bradley start. A bench featuring Jason Terry and Courtney Lee would then cover the starters, with the Brazillian Blur, Leandro Barbosa thrown in for good measure.

This has since created a logjam amongst the guards, with a huge chunk of minutes going to Rondo (35.8), Bradley (24.3) and Lee (17.6) over the past fortnight, leaving a potentially scarce 18 minutes for Barbosa and Terry.

The question remains: with very limited action, what will become of Jason Terry’s role on this team?

Lee’s return to form

The early season struggles of Courtney Lee were well-documented as he bounced around from starter to bench player and back, but he has found a definitive role in the rotation since Bradley’s return. When Avery heads for the bench, Lee enters the game to sustain the same ball pressure.

As Bradley told ESPN in a recent intervew:

“We definitely frustrate our opponent, and that’s what we try to do. I start the game off trying to frustrate whoever I’m going up against and Courtney comes in the game and he does the same thing.”

Now that Lee has settled into a role that he can thrive in, he has proven over the last fortnight exactly how valuable he is to the team. His confidence on D has found its way into his shooting, resulting in a much higher shooting percentage. Over the month of January, Lee has shot 54% from the field in 17 minutes of action, averaging 7.6 points a contest.

The Blur, ready to go

Due to the quality of guards in Boston’s squad, Leandro Barbosa has found himself on extremely limited minutes this season through no fault of his own. Since early season, Barbosa has proven his ability to handle the ball, get to the basket in a flash, and finish well on the fast break. He has also surprised Doc Rivers with his ability to defend other guards.

After the win over Oklahoma City in November, Doc praised Barbosa’s defensive gears to ESPN:

“He has that reputation of being an offensive player. What we have found since getting him, he’s a heck of a defensive player. He has the ability to put pressure on the ball. That’s something we didn’t know.”

To have a guard of this quality sitting at the end of the bench adds pressure to Terry, especially with Doc looking to Barbosa down the stretch in the team’s win over the Bobcats last week. The interesting decision to start the Brazilian Blur against the Bulls in Bradley’s absence is also something that should be taken note of.

What is left for JET?

So where does this leave 35 year-old Jason Eugene Terry, who is renowned for knocking down big shots off the bench? The former Sixth Man of the Year seems like a perfect fit for Boston to provide an offensive boost when he enters the game, but his defense leaves a lot to be desired. It is a glaring weakness, and could well be a reason for the drop in recent minutes – Terry logged a combined 31 minutes in the wins against Charlotte and Houston.

#4 Jason Terry

#4 Jason Terry (Photo credit: Girovagando)

Terry returned to his preferred role of coming off the bench since Bradley’s return, but has been in a shooting slump in January. He shot just 37% from the field while averaging just 6 points per game, down from an average of 11.5 for the rest of the season. If he is not scoring, Terry must find other avenues to get involved in the Celtics offense.

When Rondo was out with a two-game suspension, the JET entered the starting line-up as the point guard and proved himself  as an underrated passer. Terry posted 11 assists against the Bucks in December, showing his worth as a distributor of the ball. Terry is especially proficient at drawing the defense in with dribble penetration, which allows him to set his teammates up for open shots on the drive and kick – this was something he did very often during his tenure with Dallas. The Celtics as we all know live and die by the jumpshot, and Terry’s ability to facilitate the shot could very well be a factor on offense.

With the improvement in production from Jeff Green and Courtney Lee, Terry should feel less pressure to carry the bench’s scoring load.This (theoretically, from a fan’s point of view) should enable him to relax and shoot the ball with confidence. We might have caught a glimpse of Terry emerging from his shooting slump against Chicago, hitting some big shots in overtime to almost snatch the win for the C’s. Things are yet uncertain, but it should only be a matter of time until we see the JET taking full flight once again.

From all of us at Celtics Down Under – may the JET soar and let those threes fly!

(And swish of course.)

Filed Under: Opinions, Players, Season 2012/2013 Tagged With: , , , , ,

Finding consistency: Suns @ Celtics preview

10 January 2013 By Leave a Comment
Phoenix Suns logo

Phoenix Suns logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Three game win streak, more to come! There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be taking this game. Granted this season’s team has not been consistent even on home games, but hell if we do not get this one.

Fact: nothing is going to happen in the meantime, we are just going to have to rough things out until the 10th at least.

Game time: 10 Jan 2013, 1200hrs AEDT

Watch on: NBA League Pass

Roster changes:

1. Wilcox is still out with his thumb injury (sprained ulnar collateral).

Consistency
The key to the win, as far as I’m concerned. Put up four good quarters and we’re done. The Suns are very prone to fourth-quarter offensive meltdowns (the way we used to be), keep the foot on the gas pedal and all will be good.

Containing Gortat/Scola
The Suns have two very good big men in Marcin Gortat and Luis Scola, both of whom can roll effectively off the pick, work off the post or take their own shot in the mid-range. Deny these options, and you’re left with less severe options like Dragic or Dudley’s shooting. Granted either of them could go off on scoring streaks, but Scola is the scoring anchor of this team, period.

Rebounding
No second chance points please. The better we can rebound on the defensive end, the better our chances of kicking it up in transition. This means rebounding machine Sully needs to do what he does, with everyone else chipping in. Our chances of getting rebounds are definitely better without overly helping on defense, something that the third factor relates to.

Dribble penetration
The Suns do not have aggressive penetrating guards outside of Goran Dragic, and containing the dribble penetration should not be an issue when we have a healthy Avery Bradley. Stop Dragic from directing the flow of the offense, everyone else on the court wilts. Limit the help defense from the big guys, and our rebounding improves. See how that works?

Not much to take away from this, it’s going to be a straightforward win unless the entire team decides to coast and collapse altogether. What do you reckon?

Filed Under: Games, Season 2012/2013 Tagged With: , , , , ,

Hello Melo: Celtics @ Knicks preview

8 January 2013 By Leave a Comment
New York Knicks logo

New York Knicks logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This will be the real test of the Celtics revival: a Rondo-less road game, being well-rested and facing a true contender in the form of Melo and the Knicks.

Bring it on!

Game time: 8 Jan 2013, 1130hrs AEST

Watch on: Good old NBA League Pass

Roster changes:

1. Wilcox is still out with his thumb injury (sprained ulnar collateral).

2. Raymond Felton is out with a fractured right finger.

3. Rajon Rondo has been suspended one game for bumping referee Rodney Mott in the Atlanta game. (I was surprised when he didn’t get tech-ed right then. Ah well.)

Defense

Melo-stopper: There is no one in the team capable of defending Melo one-on-one in his current state. Not Pierce, not Green (who am I kidding), not Bass. No, not even Rondo (who is absent for this game), even though we’ve seen him try to defend LeBron before.

Melo is strong and quick enough to go against anyone outside and in the post, and should you be smaller or slower, he will be getting his points one way or another – either by bulldozing his way to the basket, or by his extremely quick pullup shot.

Look for double-teams to be used to force Melo off the ball, expect KG’s swarming help defense to be utilised.

Long range: Melo, Novak, Smith, Brewer, even Copeland. And not forgetting our favourite: SHEEEEEEEED. The 3 ball is an extremely important weapon in this Knicks team, and getting out there to deny the open shot is crucial.

Pick-and-roll defense: STAT is finally back, and while he is not in 100% game shape, he can still roll and finish with ease. Coming off the bench with Prigioni manning the ball, be prepared to see more of this being shoved our way today.

A good win in New York will cement the streak and give everyone confidence that the C’s are well and truly back. Rondo’s absence from this game will be tough, but count in the fact that Pierce always plays well in the Garden, so expect him to have a good showing too.

What are your points for the game?

Filed Under: Games, Season 2012/2013 Tagged With: , , , , ,

Finding the light: Pacers @ Celtics preview

4 January 2013 By 1 Comment
pacers vs c's

pacers vs c’s (Photo credit: burningairlinesgiveyousomuchmore)

Coming off a four game losing streak, it’s tough to find positivity amidst the bad we have seen so far. Nevertheless, it’s our job to remain deluded optimistic and look for the silver lining, rather than continually screaming TRADE (INSERT-NAME-OF-UNDERPERFORMING-PLAYER) DAMMIT!

Fact: nothing is going to happen in the meantime, we are just going to have to rough things out until the 10th at least.

Game time: 5 Jan 2013, 1200hrs AEST

Watch on: Good old NBA League Pass

Roster changes:

1. Wilcox is still out with his thumb injury (sprained ulnar collateral).

2. Rondo is not fully recovered from the hip bruise, but he hasn’t indicated any reason for sitting out.

Offense

I’ll talk about offense this time round, rather than harping on the same old tired defensive points of rebounding-help-rotation. The C’s need to make things simpler for themselves.

Less IsoPierce
IsoPierce is good in limited doses, but he is beginning to show the lack of lift in recent games. Reduce the amount of IsoPierce, allow him to take his 3 shots off the catch. He’s shown that he can still hit them shots. Forcing the captain to take the offense into his own hands and making him charge into a packed interior is not going to have pretty results. We’ve seen the jump balls, the blocks, the turnovers. No sir, less of those please.

How do we reduce Pierce’s role then?

Boston Celtics v/s Washington Wizards April 11...

Boston Celtics v/s Washington Wizards April 11, 2011 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bench men – Green/Lee/Barbosa
I hate to even hope for miracles like these, but we need these guys. Jeff Green, Courtney Lee and Leandro Barbosa are the young legs on the team, the ones who can and should be aggressively taking it in without hesitation.

Space it out, set a pick for them. Get them inside, force the contact and get some free throws! Less hesitation, and less outside shots please. We are not going to win a game shooting jumpers all night long.

Of course, there is that tiny problem of us having horribly ineffective pick setters. Times like these make me miss Perk a lot.

KG versus Hibbert
Having KG match up against Hibbert allows Sully to sneak into the paint. KG will be taking his usual long 2s, and that will definitely draw Hibbert out.

Note: I’m not saying Sully will be hitting putback bunnies under the rim all night long against the rebounding likes of West/Hansborough/Mahinmi/Granger, but with Sully’s positioning smarts, there’s a fighting chance our hardest working rookie can make something happen.

No? Nevermind, I know we’re getting killed on the boards.

Bradley’s cuts
All of Celtic Nation had a glorious moment of deja vu last game, when they witnessed a beautiful backdoor cut from Avery Bradley. HE’S BACK! And so it came to be that every fan wept, and gave thanks to something so sorely missed.

Sadly, that was all we got – one brilliant flash.

Not holding high hopes for his shooting at this point, but I’m really looking forward to Bradley making an obvious impact with his precise cuts and Rondo’s passing vision. Potent scoring formula, yes? I’m hoping Rondo will be in better shape to drive and pass tomorrow.

Against yet another team with a tough interior presence, I’m not hoping for the C’s to take a blowout win. I’m glad Collison left though, that’s one less guy to carve us up for layups.

All I’m saying is, any kind of win is good at this point, and the odds are not fantastic.

Filed Under: Games, Season 2012/2013 Tagged With: , , , ,

Celtics Reloaded: The 20-game picture.

18 December 2012 By 1 Comment

It has been twenty games into the 2012/13 season, a good quarter gone. What have we seen so far of the new C’s roster, and is this enough to get us into the Finals?

Short answer: The Charles Barkley, aka “I could be wrong, but I doubt it.”

Things might change down the road, and our defense could morph into the tenacious, high-pressure system that the KG-era Celtics are known for. Until that really happens though, we are what we are right now.

The real question is: who are the 2012/13 Boston Celtics?

English: Jeff Green עברית: ג'ף גרין

English: Jeff Green עברית: ג’ף גרין (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1. Scoring boost

Let’s kick off with something positive. Unlike previous seasons, this season’s Celtics are definitely capable of scoring. Last season’s average was 91.8 (26th in the league), this season we are at 97.4 (12th in league) – a massive jump of 14 spots, go figure.

Outside of Pierce/KG/Rondo, the JET (11.7 PPG) and Jeff Green (10.0 PPG) are providing some measure of firepower.

  • After a very slow start, Green is slowly finding his game, expect his scoring average to increase over the coming games.
  • Similarly, Terry will return to his comfortable spot as the scoring 6th man role once Bradley returns to the starting lineup. Look for his PPG to return to the tune of 15.0, which was what he had in recent two seasons with the Mavs (15.8 and 15.1).
  • Brandon Bass’s scoring has suffered as a result of his being shuffled around the start and bench roles, but I’m confident he will return to his usual groove, given enough minutes.
  • Courtney Lee unfortunately is not making a real impact on offense. He has been far too hesitant on driving in, which is one of his strengths. His 3 shots are not falling either (3P% at .286, huge drop compared to past two seasons’ 3P% at .401 and .408), a real dent on offense. In short, he hasn’t been filling the hole left by Ray’s departure and Bradley’s absence.

Comment: Good mixed with the bad. We have got some capable scorers so that’s mild good news. The problem seems to be finding consistency and the right spots. Refer to next point.

2. Offense in the works

Whenever Rondo’s not in the game, everyone seems confused on what to do. Bad spacing ensures, and we invariably end up with a bailout KG jumper or ISO-Pierce when the shot clock’s winding down. Thankfully, the two of them hit the shots often enough for those last minute options to work. But hell, this happens even when Rondo’s in the game at times.

Comment: The new guys are still finding their way in the system, and that’s fine, things take time. It’s got to flow better though, we are leaning heavily on a mix of KG/Rondo/PP (combined 48.3 PPG of the team’s 97.4 PPG) for go to options. The bench needs to score more consistently and find their way more often. Right now, things look plain awful when any two of the Big Three are not on the court.

Russell Westbrook dribbling the ball during Ok...

Russell Westbrook dribbling the ball during Oklahoma City Thunder vs Boston Celtics at TD BankNorth Garden. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

3. Defensive lapses: Recovering

Last postseason has shown us how vulnerable the C’s are without KG on the court. This season is no different. We have gotten significantly worse on defense, opponents are scoring 89.3 PPG (2nd last season) to 97.9 PPG (16th this season).

(Hell, talk about coincidence: that’s a massive jump of 14 spots too!)

The key to the Celtics defense system lies in trapping/hedging to either force a turnover (or the ball to be swung elsewhere) with the big man then sprinting to recover and everyone else compensating. It is a team thing, and everyone has to make an effort. One missed rotation is all it takes for a baseline shooter to be jacking that open 3.

KG is incredible in this aspect, as his experience and length allows him to recover in double quick time.

How are our other big men doing on this area?

  • Bass is doing his best in the system, but it feels like he is overdoing the show and recover, which breaks the defense down elsewhere.
  • Sully is however coming along nicely, and should get the hang of it eventually. He has a very good grasp of the court spacing, knows where his man is and how far he should be on help defense.
  • Wilcox is very good at creating the double-team and forcing turnovers, and as a result is slower on the recover. Good or bad, you decide.

Comment: Either the guys get their act together, or we need to get a big in who is really good at the show and recover, good enough to be a game changer. Game changer is read as “Tyson Chandler” by the way, but I know it’s obviously not happening so Wilcox/BB/Sully need to improve, period.

A solid rebounding big man would be a plus, but I’m willing to overlook this as a minor concern. So long as everyone makes an effort to grab that defensive board, things should still work.

Avery Bradley and Jordan Crawford

Avery Bradley and Jordan Crawford (Photo credit: Keith Allison)

4. Defensive lapses: Perimeter defense

We all know enough by now not to lie to ourselves. Rondo is not a defensive stopper like Bradley (or Tony Allen), his job more often than not consists of staying in front of his guy, and funneling the dude into the helping big man’s trap, while attempting to poke the ball away from behind. The attempts are unfortunately, not successful all the time.

This in turn forces help defense and rotations all over the place, which leads to open shots on an unselfish team that hits the open man. Refer to the recent Spurs game for examples, we had plenty of those.

Without Bradley, our perimeter defense has been a little lacking. What about the other guys?

  • Jason Terry works hard, but age is age and he simply cannot keep up with some of the younger guards like Jrue Holiday, Brandon Jennings or Monta Ellis.
  • Courtney Lee provides energetic defense, but he tends to give a little more space than is necessary at times, which leads a smart attacker into getting the space he wants for shots. Let’s not forget about the last Heat game, when he forgot about Wade and provided several backdoor cut opportunities.
  • Leandro Barbosa is lanky and quick, hustles on defense and goes over the screen on pick and rolls, something I really like. It keeps the pressure up and makes it harder for the opposing ball handler to see the court and make decisions.

Comment: We need a 2 guard who is capable of pressuring the offensive ball handler. The other team gets delayed in running their set, it’s easier for Rondo to defend (and gamble for steals) and the interior defense is hammered less, simply because the inbound passes are harder to make.

Lee is a stop gap solution, Bradley is the real answer to the starting 2 guard role. On the bench, Barbosa would be the ideal stopper/backup 1 guard, while JET or Lee play off the ball.

Does that sound like we have too many guards? Unfortunately, yes. Speculation about Lee being possibly traded is a valid topic these days, most especially with Bradley returning soon.

Rondo!

Rondo! (Photo credit: Lorianne DiSabato)

5. Lack of a backup point guard

Rondo is playing 37.9 minutes per game right now. A worrying trend, because it shows how much his presence is needed right now. The lack of a backup ball handler/playmaker is showing very obviously.

Do we need a trade for Rondo’s load to be lightened?

Comment: I’d say yes, but I’m not sure what the price will be. I’m sure Doc will limit Rondo’s minutes when necessary, it’s just that the rest of the team has got to step up and make things work when Rondo’s not on the court.

Note: “Make things work” does not equate to Pierce taking the ball and launching a three bomb. He is shooting .299 at 3P%, which means he is making one of three shots. That’s bad.

The ball needs to be moved around for an easier option, much the same way the Spurs execute on offense. An inside/outside rhythm, pushing it into the rolling man who kicks it out, the defense has to be forced to collapse inward so that easier shots can be taken. Incidentally, this is what Rondo’s court vision and speed does for the Celtics. His drive forces help defense, which allows him to find open shooters.

Summary: Defense is down, offense is up. Will things improve? Yes. Will a trade be happening? Very likely, but no one knows what Danny ever has in mind. It is clear enough that two main needs are to be addressed, in a defensive-minded big man and a backup point guard. The real concern is, what do we have to give up for the trade(s) to happen?

In Danny we trust, and that is what us fans have got to do – stay patient, watch the team and hope for the best.

Filed Under: Opinions, Season 2012/2013 Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The green season so far: Overexpectations, underperformance and adjustments.

8 November 2012 By Leave a Comment

The offseason/preseason had Celtics fans all over clamouring in excitement about the quality of offense, our lineup depth and how chemistry was being built during the Europe trip. Well now, it’s been 4 games into the season so far. With a 2-2 record, things aren’t looking too shabby.

However, there is a slight cause for concern if we looked closer at the games.


(via Red’s Army gallery – Celtics v Bucks)

  • v Miami (road): 107-120 (L)
  • v Milwaukee (home): 88-99 (L)
  • v Washington (road): 89-86 (W)
  • v Washington (home): 100-94 (W) (OT)

The wins so far have come against the same team, the Washington Wizards who are missing two key players hampered by injuries, namely John Wall (left patella) and Nene Hilario (sprained foot). The victories however have not been easy ones, the latest win being a home game that was secured only in overtime. What exactly is wrong?

These four games played thus far, are showing up areas that could be legitimate concerns later in the season.

Here is a look at some of them.

Lack of backup point, Rondo’s minutes
Rondo has been playing a minimum of 40 minutes in each game so far (43, 40, 40, 44), something that could wear him down in the year long grind. The original solution (i.e. taking turns to bring the ball up) has not proven to be the answer; we can see Rondo’s scoring and creativity are needed on the court right now.

Time could quite possibly sort this problem out, but Rondo’s minutes should be limited regardless, if we want Rondo to perform at an All-Star level in the playoffs. That being said, Doc and his coaches would know when Rondo should be reined in.

Teething issues: new players
Preseason is what it is, and the games so far have shown the new Celtics to be in the process of adjustment. The Celtics’ offensive style takes time to learn, the defensive schemes even more so.

Some examples:

  • The JET is clearly not comfortable running off screens and making shots the way Ray did, and is used taking his shots either in rhythm off the dribble, or as a set shot. On defense, he has proven to have slower legs, something the team defense will have to learn to compensate for when guarding Terry is matched up against quicker guards.
  • After a preseason scoring barrage, Green is once again finding his way on offense. It feels like a lack of aggressiveness at this point. Also, he appears to be showing too hard on pick and roll defense. This results in his man getting open while he recovers from the hedge.
  • Lee is somehow resigned to being a spot up 3 shooter at the baselines, when he has shown us that he can be so much more. The tenacious energy and hustle that was so impressive in the preseason somehow vanished. He seems to be struggling with the defense so far as well, which became very obvious when he was matched up against Wade, who resorted to backdoor cuts for the easy basket.

Note: I’m not saying the new guys are complete failures, but rather the fact that the sky high expectations we all had, should be adjusted. The entire process is definitely going to take some time. While this adjustment is happening, expect more of the above scenarios to happen. I am hoping that everyone gets onto the same page by the time All-Star weekend is over though.

Related: check out CelticsLife – It’s not easy wearing the green and 4 reasons JET is still taxiing.

Big Three shouldering the load
After that shaky loss to the Heat on season opener, the Celtics have gone back to the proven formula: namely, utilising the new Big Three of KG, Pierce and Rondo. In the past three games, the trio have account for half or more of the team’s scoring (40 of 88pts, 54 of 89pts, 53 of 100pts).

This strategy is definitely a step in the right direction, but the bench unit needs to step up and contribute much more in the way of offense. With KG’s limited minutes in the season, do not expect him to come out with 20 points every night. Pierce and Rondo are going to have nights when they struggle to score. Bass has been the quiet and steady performer, putting up numbers (10.2 PPG. 7.2 RPG) both as a starter and off the bench.

All that is left is for guys like JET, Green and Lee to step up.

Stay calm folks, let’s keep faith in our guys in green and keep on cheering for that banner #18!

What do you think of the season so far? Feel free to share your thoughts too.

Filed Under: Opinions, Players, Season 2012/2013 Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Daily Ubuntu feat. the underpaid Jeff Green and more

27 October 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Daily Ubuntu is a collection of Celtics-related news and columns from around the intarwebs, just so that you keep in touch with our favourite green team.

Follow us on Twitter at @CelticsDownUnd and like us on Facebook too! There will be a contest for the season opening game, so join us on the Facebook page, have fun together and win a prize if you’re a lucky at game stats.

Today’s edition features talk about JET shooting the lights out in gym, Jeff Green being underpaid and more.

Video highlights

Celtics Jason Terry puts on shooting clinic in practice: Swishing one, then another, then another, then another. You get the idea. (via Mike Petraglia)

Player features

Lee gets crash course on Heat rivalry – ESPN Boston

Head coach Doc Rivers hasn’t been bashful about putting Miami on the minds of his players, and Lee — in all likelihood the team’s starting shooting guard on Tuesday — is prepped for his matchup with Wade. He already has his plan for defending Miami’s all-star guard.

“Just trying to make everything tough on him, as far as just trying to deny the ball out far, getting into him on pick-and-roll coverages, and then taking away his right-to-left crossover,” Lee said. “He loves to do that and reject pick-and-rolls, so just try to play hard defense on him, especially without fouling, and keep him off the free throw line.”

It sure looks like Lee is well-prepped on defending Wade, I’m pretty sure that he will start the game on the season opener. Everyone is getting pumped up, are you?

Jeff Green is UNDERPAID – Yes you read that right – CelticsLife

Mike D explains why he thinks Green is underpaid (in comparison to all the other overpaid stars out there). Having seen the preseason performance so far, I would tend to agree that Green is worth his salary, but underpaid? That remains to be seen. I’ll hop on the underpaid bandwagong when Green starts lockdown defense on Melo and LeBron like his life depends on it.

Some body of work – Boston Herald

Interesting writeup on Sully, about his upbringing and the way his dad taught him to post up the good old fashioned way, something that’s not very popular with players these days. Read.

That’s all for today folks, have fun and I’ll see you soon.

Filed Under: The Daily Ubuntu Tagged With: , ,
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