Danny Ainge is a good guy? No, that is not what is being said here.

So Danny Ainge is a bad guy? No, you are just putting words in my mouth.

Danny is Danny, a Celtic for life. He played on those great Boston Celtic teams with the Chief, Bird, McHale, and Dennis Johnson. Every year it seemed they battled the Los Angeles Lakers of Kareem, Magic, and Worthy. Those were some great ballgames.

Now Danny is the GM of Boston and already has a NBA title to his credit and wanted another one last year, but his superstar, Kevin Garnett, had some leg problems and sat out the playoffs. No Kevin, no title, it is that simple.

This year Boston should be favored to win the Eastern Conference and do battle with the Los Angeles Lakers, who else? It is like basketball has restored itself to normalcy. Is that a word?

Earlier this year Danny Ainge had a heart attack and to listen to him tell it, it was pretty scary.

Ainge woke at home with pain in his chest and his left arm in the early hours of April 16, two days before playoffs began. He thought it might have been symptoms of a flu virus he had been battling for a few days. His wife, Michelle, knew better and rushed him to Massachusetts General Hospital. Doctors found a clogged artery and inserted a stent.

“When I got that news, early in the morning, it scared the hell out of me,” Rivers says. “When you hear that someone has had a heart attack, your next thought is, ‘Oh my God. And what?’ That brief moment before you hear he’s OK, you’re thinking the worst.”
source

As much as Danny Ainge loves being the GM of Boston he has to stay in shape and try and reduce stress which is almost impossible with his job. There questions about Garnett, questions about the Celtics chances, and lately questions about Rajon Rondo.

It seems that everything gets twisted around in this blogging internet world. Danny spoke out on Rajon, saying how he had to get better and all of the sudden rumors were out there that Ainge didn’t like Rajon, not true, and that he would not be getting a good contract, not true, and that he was not good enough for the job, also not true.

Danny Ainge will resign Rajon Rondo

Sure there are areas that Rajon can improve on, mostly his shooting and consistency, but there are plenty of nights where he is darn near unstoppable.

Danny plans on staying the course now that he has a good heart!
Photo source Newscom

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Will Stephon lean in the direction of the Boston Celtics?

Those of you that read this blog on a regular basis must think of me as Stephon Marbury’s press agent or something. That needs to be explained. More on that later.

First there is this Celtic business. It turns out the Celtics have been blowing smoke about picking up Marbury and getting Reggie Miller out of retirement.

According to sources, the Celtics have had talks with Marbury (the Knicks gave him permission to speak with other teams in hope that it would hasten his desire for a buyout), but one source close to the situation said yesterday the club has made no firm commitment to him on a deal.

source

Reggie does claim the Celts have contacted him, but that does not seem serious, come on.

Stephon, meanwhile, claims the Knicks should let him go to the Celts.

“The question to be asked to the Knicks is: Are they fearful for me playing for another Eastern Conference team? My thing is, they shouldn’t be fearful,” Marbury was quoted as saying. “They’re trying to get under the cap for 2010. They shouldn’t be worried about me. You had guys saying I was a distraction, I’m a cancer. If I’m all those things, wouldn’t you want me to go to another team?

“It shouldn’t matter that I go to Boston if you’re the eighth seed and Boston is in the front. It can’t be about money. The Knicks got plenty of it. It’s got to be personal. If it’s personal, then how is business being done there?”

source

Oh, and my love for the Stephon Marbury? Years ago he tortured my Pistons with 9 or 10 straight shots from all over the court in the 4th quarter of an inconsequential game. Later in Sports Illustrated he admitted that he only played for the money. How sad. Have often wondered how good he could be with strong willed players around him. Maybe with Boston we will find out.

Photo source Newscom

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You know Kevin Garnett is happy to hear that Sports Illustrated ranks Boston 1st for next year in the East

Marty Burns of SI predicts the top 6 in the East.

He has Boston number 1.

1. Celtics: The loss of veteran forward James Posey (via free agency to the Hornets) could hurt, especially come playoff time, but for now Boston has to be considered the East favorite again. General manager Danny Ainge re-signed key reserves Eddie House and Tony Allen, and Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen should be even better with another year together (assuming they’re not too worn out from last season’s long playoff run). The bottom line is that the defending champs didn’t make any significant moves … but they didn’t need to.

source

The only real surprise was dropping the Detroit Pistons to 6th.

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Robert Parish joined Larry Bird and Kevin McHale in the Original Big 3

Image details: Boston Celtics served by picapp.com

You knew this was coming. The comparisons of this great Celtic team with the Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish big 3 of 1986.

In my mind, feeble as it is, the 1986 team was awesome. They would kick the tail of this current team. Now that is just my opinion and literally means nothing really. The 1986 team ended up winning a lot of titles. Maybe it would be fairer to see if this current Celtic team can win any more titles, before we start making wild comparisons.

Still…Mike Freeman at CBSSports.com is going with the current team.

Speed and athleticism and speed. And did I mention speed?

Speed is the reason why if you took almost any championship team in any sport and matched it against ancient predecessors, the more modern group would usually win. Belichick’s Patriots would beat Lombardi’s Packers. The athleticism of the Shaquille O’Neal-Ko-Me Bryant Lakers would beat Magic’s version.

source

Ok, the problem to start with is that modern training methods have produced superior athletes and no one argues that. Kind of makes most comparisons unfair. Mike has a point here, but he did not stop there.

Let’s begin with Bird. In this game, Pierce would guard Bird and Bird would eat him alive. Because he’s, well, Bird.

Pierce, however, on offense would reciprocate the beating. Bird might drop 40 but Pierce might score 30 to 35 points of his own on Bird. Pierce wouldn’t be able to defend Bird and Bird wouldn’t be able to defend the stronger Pierce. It’d be a wash.

Pierce may have the muscle tone of 14-year-old debutante, but he is quicker than most people give him credit. He’s definitely quicker than Bird.

The next matchup is where the speed and athleticism difference would be far more visible. Garnett and McHale would face one another and Garnett would deliver a weapons-grade ass-kicking.

Garnett’s speed would be the difference. You don’t understand how quick Garnett is for his size until you see him in person. It’s astounding.

McHale’s only chance is that he could coax Garnett into foul trouble.

This is where you will get some argument. Larry was not a great defender, but a clever one and he was a big boy. Man, my mind is stuffed with images of Larry Bird drilling shots from the corner like they were nothing and then if you went out to defend him, he just blew by you. Pierce is not putting 35 points up on Bird, because the Celtics played team defense. Pierce would meet the hammer of McHale if he drove to the hole. The Original Big 3 played a physical brand of ball.

Speaking of McHale there is this image of him putting up 50 on my Pistons. Kevin was unstoppable in the low post. Garnett is too thin to have stopped McHale down low. This isn’t Pau Gasol we are talking about.

And what is this Johnson stuff? Parish, the Chief, was the 3 of the big 3. Robert would eat Kendrick Perkins alive. Parish had this move in the paint where he took steps on his tippy toes every time, but it was his signature move so no ref ever called it. When he shot the ball it was high over his head. Unblockable.

As for Ainge and Johnson, they were both shooters and passers to the postup players. Both of them very disciplined. You had to play them honest.

Hey, let’s not take away from the 2008 NBA Champions. Today’s Celtics are great, but, please; do not tarnish the Original Big 3.

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Hey, Sam Cassell, if you want to win, go to Boston

Not sure about this one.

The 38-year-old Cassell averaged 12.8 points for the Los Angeles Clippers this season before negotiating his long-rumored exit. He is expected to back up starting point guard Rajon Rondo and play some off-guard.

“Since I got traded here last summer, Sam was excited about this team’s potential,” said guard Ray Allen, noting the deal will take pressure off Rondo.

“Sam will give Rondo another gear,” Allen said.

The 6-foot-3 Cassell is expected to take minutes from Eddie House, who has been backing up Rondo all season. source

My first thoughts were, Sam Cassell, hmm, pretty good player, pretty good shooter.

My second thoughts were, where does he play? Back up to Rajon Rondo? Hardly, Sam has never been one to be a backup. Back up to Ray Allen? Not likely either. Where will he get his shots?

Now they talk about benching Eddie House. Eddie plays a lot fewer minutes, shoots fewer shots with the same shooting percentage and a higher 3 point percentage.

Danny Ainge seems to be overloading the house.

But who knows, Sam has played for so many crummy teams that maybe he is willing to sacrifice everything, maybe he is even willing to play defense, just to get a ring.

Good luck on this one Boston.

With Ray Allen needing his shots, Paul Pierce needing his shots, and Kevin Garnett deserving his shots, where are all these shots going to come from?

But, maybe just maybe, Sam just wants a ring.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Where does Sam fit in?

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Adrian Wojnarowski at Yahoo Sports lists his early trophy winners. Also included are NBA Obsessed views.

MVP: LeBron James, Cleveland. If you had any doubts about his sheer force, all you had to see was what the Cavaliers looked like without him on the floor for 5½ games. Without LeBron, the Cavs wouldn’t win the Big Ten. Seriously, he’s been playing on a level unseen in the sport in years. One of these years, he’s going to threaten Oscar Robertson’s feat of chasing a triple-double average for the season. source

NBA Obsessed view: Triple Double? Average a Triple Double? Big O did it in a different generation, so it is hard to compare. Most players never even get 1 Triple Double.

“Every year he has promised to come back better, and he’s done it again,” Cavaliers forward Donyell Marshall said.

Clearly, the Team USA experience has broadened James’ perspective on greatness. He’s used the time with the best players in the world to become a better shooter, and more determined defender. Like the Magic Johnsons and Larry Birds before him, James takes the time to add something to his game every offseason. That used to be the norm in the sport, but James is bringing it back.

NBA Obsessed view: One great thing about LeBron is his willingness to get better. This helps separate him from others.

Rookie of the Year: Kevin Durant, Seattle. Everyone knew he was an extraordinary talent, but lately Durant has shown flashes that simply leave you breathless. The next Jordan? Only LeBron was so good, so fast.

NBA Obsessed view: When they compare you to the incomparable LeBron, what more needs to be said.

Coach of the Year: Jim O’Brien, Indiana. After taking over one of the most dysfunctional teams in the league, O’Brien has delivered structure and purpose to the Pacers.

NBA Obsessed view: Jim O’Brien is doing a good job, but what about Sam Mitchell at Toronto. Who is even on that team besides Bosh?

Executive of the Year: Danny Ainge, Celtics. He has taken his share of hits in this space, but this is an easy one. Beyond the obvious of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, Ainge did a terrific job of constructing a useful bench after trading so many players and picks to get his two new stars.

NBA Obsessed view: Hands down, Danny has pulled it off. This team has the potential to win it all.

NBA Basketball Fan Question What are your picks?

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Danny Ainge can’t help but be happy these days

Who can forget all the epic battles with the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. Boston had an unbelievable starting lineup with Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge complementing the big three of Robert Big Chief Parish, Kevin McHale, and Larry Bird.

When my Pistons played them, it was pick your poison. Stop Parish, McHale and Bird would score. Stop McHale, Parish and Bird would score. Stop B…well, you never really stopped Larry Bird.

NBA Basketball Robert Parish factoid Did you know that Robert Parish played in 1,611 NBA games? More than any other NBA player.

Now there is a new trio in town with some connections to the old group. Kevin McHale pulled the trigger on the trade that sent Kevin Garnett to Boston. Danny Ainge is the GM in Boston and also picked up Ray Allen in another off season trade. Larry is still around as well, as GM of the Pacers.

Paul Pierce talked about what is was like to have other superstars on the team.

“For me, it’s just interesting to be around these guys who’ve been in the same situation as me, carrying franchises for a long period of time and even at this point in their careers, just checking out how they go about their everyday approach and what they do to get better,” Pierce said, one day before the team left for training camp in Italy. “That’s what I’m learning.” source

It still begs the question as to how well the 3 players will mesh with each other and mesh with the team. That question inevitably draws comparison to the original big three, but Kevin Garnett was quick to point out the difference.

I know the (phrase) we’re using around Boston is the “Big Three” but honestly I don’t like that because McHale, Parish and Bird were the big three so we need to come up with another (phrase),” Rivers said. “I clearly know there’s work to do, and we’ve done nothing.”

But from ownership, management and coaches, all the way down to the players and locker room staff, nothing short of reaching the NBA Finals will satisfy the expectations.

You also can not discount their age. Kevin Garnett is 31, but has 12 pro seasons behind him, because he started playing right out of high school. This kind of works like dog years and 12 seasons makes you more like 34 or 35. Your knees and ankles can take only so much pounding.

Ray Allen is 32 with 11 years as a pro. Paul Pierce is 30 with 9 years of experience.

Will age work against them? Will they try to do too much and get injured?

Another factor is how well they will mesh together as a team. The original big three constantly looked for mismatches or the hot scorer. If those weren’t present then Larry Bird would find a way to score.

How will this team do it?

“The thing the three of us share is the (experience) of carrying teams, and it feels good to have help, to be honest, and to know that you’re not always front and center,” Garnett said. “I’m going to bring to the table what I bring, but it’s great to know that you’ve got two other guys with experience and know-how along with the experience in the regular games and playoffs.”

Doc Rivers will need to bring his best coaching job to the table.

It is easy to talk unselfish and another thing to perform it night after night.

Boston fans have to be excited about the possibilities and expectations could not be higher. Some fans and writers talk as if anything less than playing in the NBA Championship game would be a let down.

There is a very good chance for them to get there.

But as fans, we should be very happy to watch these three play and grow together and certainly there will be tough times, but also nights where it is just lights out and an easy victory for Boston.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Will all three stay happy?

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