CELTICS: Pierce Handcuffed
August 5, 2008
Boston Celtics guard Paul Pierce was detained in handcuffs during a traffic stop in Las Vegas this weekend, but was released without receiving a summons, according to the Associated Press.
BOTTOM LINE: Pierce was not arrested, so this seems to be the extent of the news. Pierce is a must start in all leagues next season.
NBA Off-Season: Five Storylines to Follow
July 7, 2008
Stephon Marbury would be better suited playing for another team next season.
[PHOTO BY ICON SMI]
BY MICHAEL GANCI
UPDATE! Writer
1. Teams Preparing for 2010
COMMENT: Many teams are already working diligently to get under the salary cap in anticipation of 2010, which is when LeBron James will be an unrestricted free agent, which the Cavaliers will have to work very hard to avoid. Rumor has it that LeBron will not resign with the Cavaliers, and his top two choices may be the Knicks and Nets. He loves the idea of playing in the big apple in the world’s most famous arena, but New Jersey is not too far out. Although it is very early, I would say the Nets are the favorites due to the close relationship between James and Nets shareholder Jay-Z.
2. Will Kobe Demand a Trade?
COMMENT: Last summer, Kobe expressed a desire to be traded and nothing came of it. Instead of being a cry baby about it, Kobe showcased himself to the best of his abilities, and he was awarded with the MVP honor for his efforts. He wouldn’t say he was satisfied, because his Lakers fell short in the NBA Finals to the Celtics. Kobe is said to be sick and tired of running the show by himself, and would prefer to be somewhere else, but my money is on him remaining a Laker through next season.
3. Will the Celtics Repeat?
COMMENT: There has been a lot of talk about whether or not the Celtics will be able to repeat next season. They are looking to add more depth to their bench, and have been in talks with Corey Maggette. They had only one pick in the draft and didn’t make much of it. I think the Spurs would be my early favorite to win it all due to their experience and sound fundamentals. They just have to make sure that they do not shut down on offense like they did in against the Lakers. Other teams that will surely be in contention are the Hornets, Suns, Cavaliers, and Magic.
4. How do the Knicks Fix Their Problems?
COMMENT: The Knicks were nothing short of a disaster last season, and they decided to change direction. The first act of duty was to get rid of Isiah Thomas. Then, the Knicks replaced Thomas with former Phoenix Suns head coach Mike D’Antoni. They drafted Danilo Gallinari with the sixth overall pick, although that was much chagrin to the New York fans. The latest move was the Knicks’ signing of free agent point guard Chris Duhon. That may signify the end of the line for Stephon Marbury, which would be the best course of action for both parties. Other Knicks that need to go are Jerome James, Eddy Curry and/or Zach Randolph. The Knicks need to have a better attitude in the locker room. The process will take a couple of years.
5. Who Will Win Rookie of the Year?
COMMENT: I think the man who will be pronounced 2008/09 rookie of the year this season will be Michael Beasley of the Miami Heat. Beasley has a huge upside for the Heat, and also may have the opportunity to post big fantasy numbers. He should go as a fourth or fifth round pick in most fantasy drafts. Other guys who have a shot at Rookie of the Year are Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo and Danilo Gallinari. Who knows? Maybe someone no one is thinking of will become the NBA’s new phenom. It could happen.
CELTICS: Perkins has Shoulder Scoped
July 3, 2008
Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins had arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder on Wednesday, accoring to the Associated Press.
BOTTOM LINE: Perkins was a valuable commodity this post season, and he really came into his own when he went one on one with Pau Gasol and badly outplayed him. No timetable has been set for his return.
CELTICS: Pierce Skipping Olympics
June 19, 2008
Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce has decided not to play in the Olympics this summer so he can be healthy for the beginning of next season.
BOTTOM LINE: You have to think that Pierce is taking the proper course of action here. There’s no reason to risk injury this summer, because his sole responsibility is playing for the Celtics.
CELTICS: Garnett Leads to Promise Land
June 18, 2008
Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett scored 26 points and had 14 rebounds as the Celtics embarrassed Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in game six of the NBA finals to win the championship.
BOTTOM LINE: The Lakers just didn’t come to play in game six. Gasol and Odom disappeared again, and their inconsistent play is the reason that the Lakers were eliminated.
It’s Not All About Kobe
June 16, 2008
Kendrick Perkins had overmatched Gasol physically for the whole series thus far, but thankfully for Gasol, Perkins was out of the lineup. He was able to get position, and create plays for his teammates.
Odom needs to keep on driving the lane. When he takes too many jumpers, he is not successful. His game thrives on movement into the paint to he can either take the shot, or pass the ball off to a teammate.
The bottom line is this. These guys need to be atop their game if they want to win the whole thing, because if they’e not, the Lakers will be eliminated in game six.
–MICHAEL GANCI
2008 NBA Finals
June 2, 2008
By: Michael Ganci
Update! Writer
It all comes down to this. The East and the West are both set, and the NBA Finals will begin on Thursday in Boston. The Celtics made quick work of the banged up Pistons thanks to some great play from their big three. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to two big comebacks that were vital to their overcoming of the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. Two teams remain, and only one will survive. This is the 10th time in the history of basketball that the Lakers and Celtics have tangled in the finals, and the most memorable matchups were when guys like Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson ruled the courts. I’m here to break down each team by positions to see what team has the edge.
Comment: This is not even a fair matchup. The trade from Memphis has launched the Lakers to the level they have been playing at. It must have been nice to acquire an all-star forward for pretty much nothing. Any time you can rid yourself of a guy like Kwame Brown, you are happy with the situation, but the Lakers capitalized by getting Gasol in the deal is well. I don’t know what Memphis management was thinking, but the Lakers wouldn’t have beaten the Spurs without him. 17.7 points and 9 rebounds per game in the post season clearly makes Pau Gasol the best center in this matchup.
Advantage: Lakers
Comment: Garnett has been excellent in the playoffs, averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds per game on a team that also features Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. He also plays solid defense and is the best-rounded player in this series. The Lakers would love more scoring from Odom, who is averaging about 14.7, but his 10 rebounds per game are more than satisfactory. Odom is good, but Garnett is one of the best players in the game.
Advantage: Celtics
Comment: This was the easiest call besides the center position. Pierce had a huge series against the Pistons, including a game in which he scored 27 and went berserk in the fourth quarter. His 19 points per game have proved vital in Boston’s playoff run, and he is definitely superior to Radmanovic, who averages 8.3 points per game. This is no contest, and I look for this matchup to be huge, and Pierce needs to silent his critics that say he cannot perform in the clutch.
Advantage: Celtics
Comment: Kobe is the reigning MVP and the Lakers wouldn’t be where they are today without him. 31 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists has been the consistent line for the superstar thus far in the post season. Allen has been a bit of a disappointment for the Celtics in the playoffs, and has put up an average of 14 points per game. Much like Lamar Odom for the Lakers, the Celtics expect more out of the aging Allen, and if he becomes the Allen of old, the Lakers may be in trouble.
Advantage: Lakers
Comment: This is kind of a funny comparison, but they have pretty much been the same player for their teams thus far in the post season. Fisher is one of the most underappreciated players in the game, but Rondo knows plenty about that because he plays in the shadow of the big three. Both players put up 10 points per game. The one key difference is that Rondo averaged 6 assists per game and Fisher only is averaging two. If one of these guys bursts out of their bubble, their respective teams will be heading in the right direction.
Advantage: Tie
Comment: This was a tougher decision than one would expect. Rivers coached in Orlando and didn’t impress me with his tactics, and the simple difference here is the fact that his team is more equipped. Jackson, on the other hand, has always been successful no matter where he has been. I can’t go against Jackson’s experience in this situation, and he always seems confident and never seems to over manage the situation.
Advantage: Lakers
Comment: The Celtics managed to finally win a road game against the Pistons, but I think their inability to play well on the road is going to be huge in this series. Also, it has seemed like the whole season it has been Kobe versus the world and Kobe has always been the person standing tall. The Lakers are a heavy favorite in my mind, and we are going to get to see the war that started in the eighties with all of the legends possibly end with Kobe standing tall. Only time will tell.
Prediction: Lakers in Six Games.
2008 Eastern Conference Finals
May 20, 2008
Well, the conference finals are both official. A playoff that started off with 16 teams is now down to four. Only one will be left standing when all is said and done, and there will be a lot of emotions that fly before we find out who the best truly is. First, the Detroit Pistons will go to battle with the “Big Three” in Boston. In the West, Phil Jackson’s Lakers are going to do battle with Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs. In this preview, I am going to look at each match up in a position versus position manner. The end result will be my prediction.
Comment: MyDyess’ numbers don’t exactly jump off of the page, but he proves to be important for a team that isn’t particularly deep in the position. He outrebounds Perkins by about two per game and is scoring slightly more than him as well. I don’t expect this position to be the deciding factor in which team wins, but rebounding will be huge in this series, and McDyess is the superior in that respect.
Advantage: Pistons
Comment: Garnett has been awesome in the playoffs, averaging over 20 points per game and almost nine rebounds per game as well. Wallace has been a little bit disappointing in the playoffs thus far, averaging 13.9 points and just over six rebounds per game. Wallace has to be able to keep himself in check with his temper in this series. These teams are very evenly matched, and one point from a technical could be the ultimate difference. Defensively, there is no competition, and Garnett is the reigning defensive player of the year. Advantage goes to the Celtics on this one.
Advantage: Celtics
Comment: This was actually a harder decision for me than most would expect. Pierce has been huge in the playoffs for the Celtics, and he has been the rock in this organization. Prince has averaged 16 points and six rebounds throughout the playoffs so far, and has been one of the most consistent players for the Pistons. Pierce’s 19 points, five rebounds and four assists have proven to be important in the Celtics’ hopeful trip to the NBA championship.
Advantage: Celtics
Comment: This was an easy call for me. Hamilton may be the MVP of this Pistons team right now with the way that he is currently producing in the post season. He is averaging over 21 points, almost five boards and two assists. He has attracted the attention away from Chauncey Billups and that has allowed the other players to get more into the action. Allen has been a disappointment in the playoffs with his 12 points per game, but don’t be surprised if he breaks out in the clutch. I expect this to be a big matchup in this series.
Advantage: Pistons
Comment: This was a tough decision for me because Rondo has really performed well in the playoffs. Along with his 11 points per game, he has averaged 6.6 dimes and four rebounds as well. Billups averages more in points, but is not exceeding as well as Rondo in the other areas. I think his experience is going to be the major difference here. Billups knows what it is like to win, and he knows how to deal with everything that comes with it. I want to know whether or not Rondo will be able to keep his composure when it comes down to the pivotal play in the fourth quarter. Who would you rather? I think the answer to that question is painfully obvious.
Advantage: Pistons
Comment: For me, this is much like my Joe Torre philosophy in baseball. With all of those stacked Yankees teams, I never believed Torre was the genius that everyone made him out to be. The same applies for Doc Rivers. You can give Dennis Rodman the helm to that team and they would probably be in the same position that they are in today. The Pistons, on the other hand, execute fundamentals, and that is something that Saunders very much believes in. He is known to be excellent with time management, and has proved to be one of the best coaches in the NBA.
Advantage: Pistons
Comment: Originally, I thought there was no way that the Celtics could be defeated by any other team in the Eastern Conference, but it is painfully obvious that the team that executed the fundamentals of basketball will be the team that advances to the NBA championship. As long as they can get Rasheed Wallace to maintain his composure, I think the Pistons are golden.
Prediction: Pistons in Six Games.
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