Congratulations, Bruins. But no thanks for re-opening old wounds
I jumped onto the Bruins bandwagon at some point during the Lightning series, partially because it felt harmless to root for a team while having no real emotional investment, but mostly because, well, what the hell else was I going to do?
The NBA playoffs still held my interest, and I watched those ritually, but I couldn’t root for any other basketball team once the Celtics went down. The Bruins represented my last chance to cheer for a winner this summer, and I figured joining the bandwagon was entirely benign—either the Bruins would win the Stanley Cup and I would enjoy the spectacle with the other semi-fans and diehards, or they would lose and I would feel slight disappointment then completely move on with my life 15 minutes later. A win-win situation, or so I thought. I did not figure hockey would lash at me with its talons and leave my scar tissue torn apart and dripping with blood.
The run the Bruins completed so magnificently last night was the run the Celtics came so close to completing so magnificently last season. The comparisons probably didn’t slap many people in the face last night, but the two playoff runs were eerily similar:
- Team enters playoffs far from the favorite.
- Team grits its way through early hardship (Bruins went down 0-2 to Montreal, Celtics lost Game 3 to Cleveland—in Boston—by 29 points).
- Young, tough, unorthodox players shine (Rondo, Marchand), but veterans provide the backbone (Big Three for the Celtics, Chara, Thomas, Recchi for the Bruins).
- Team enters the championship series as an underdog, and in the championship series meets a team known more for style than for physicality (Celtics-Lakers, Bruins-Canucks).
- The series drags on to a 7th game, with the easiest narrative becoming the Boston team’s passion and heart vs. the opponent’s overwhelming talent.
If I wanted to, I could even note the voo-doo tricks used by the respective Boston teams. During Boston’s final regular season game against the Lakers, Doc Rivers asked for $100 from each of his players, assistant coaches and team managers, hiding their money in the Staples Center; the players would receive the money only if they returned to the Finals (and only if the Lakers joined them there). Last night, Nathan Horton took a water bottle filled with Boston water and spread it on Vancouver’s ice; he felt the Bruins could use some of their home ice at the away rink.
Do you see yet? The Celtics were supposed to win Game 7 last year. They led by 13 points and could have, should have, held on. The Celtics were supposed to receive the Larry O’Brien trophy at the Staples Center. Kevin Garnett was supposed to hold it over his head while the Lakers fans, or at least those who stayed, booed him with the most beautiful boos in the world. Bill Russell was supposed to present the NBA Finals MVP trophy to a Celtic, not to Kobe Bryant. Kendrick Perkins was supposed to emerge from the bench after the game like Horton did, unable to play in the clincher but a champion nonetheless. The city of Los Angeles was supposed to set itself ablaze with angry riots, and the city of Boston was supposed to rejoice with the sweet crunch of victory.
Instead, the lead fell apart. The Lakers overcame the deficit and tears, rather than champagne, dominated Boston’s post-game locker room. Los Angeles partied happily (and rioted happily), while Boston breathed sharply, mourned immediately, and wondered what the hell just happened to its Celtics. The Celtics were supposed to drink from the Larry O’Brien Trophy as the Bruins can now drink from the Stanley Cup.
When I nonchalantly joined the Bruins bandwagon, I never thought watching hockey–and especially watching winning hockey—would hurt so bad. Yet last night took me for a ride down memory lane, to places in my past I never want to visit again.
Congratulations, Bruins. But damn you.
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But at least a Boston team won a championship, right? The Red Sox aren’t gonna do it so it’s a good thing.
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Game seven from last year isn’t the one that hurts. The one that hurts is game six. Everyone forgets how the Celtics basically gave that one away.
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Well I’m a Celtics fan from VANCOUVER who happens to love the Canucks. So this season is my most ironic season as a sport fan.
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Hey guys what about this dude?
http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/06/mock-jajuan-johnson-no-25/
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Nick…He’d be just fine. So would Trey Tompkins or Jordan Williams. Definitely someone with size and rebounding skills but also that can defend and shoot. Is that asking too much? Maybe we use Davis to move up in the draft with a sing and trade? Maybe DA gets creative by doing something like that? Go CS…and stop running back on defense and hit the boards instead!
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hey if you jumped on sooner, you would have had more fun
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How come it says for my comment, “your comment is awaiting moderation” and it doens’t show up on any other compputer?
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James… I agree. Obviously the mock draft there won’t be exactly how the real draft goes, but i was reading about other players that should be in that 20-30 range and there are still some decent players out there that fit the Celtics needs at that point. Maybe even Donatas Motiejunas? He seems like a decent type player who has the possibility to be a good scorer. I’m not so sold on the Dirk comparisons, but it’s worth a shot. Other than SLAM, I’ve heard that this guy has grade A range. When you read the article, toss the stuff about how it helps the Mav’s out the window and just look at his qualites and sore spots. Also, another player who probabally won’t fall down this far, but if he is and DA doesn’t take him, I will be Paul’s best friend and jump on his bandwagon. Klay Thompson. He had some monster games in the Pac-10 tourney and one Super game against Washington were he had like 40-something. I think he’d be one hell of a steal. As i am from Washington, I watched a lot of his games, and that Son of a gun is a stud. I’d compare him to Kobe in the sense that he has a hell of a lot of moves that will throw off a deffender. He is tough to defend and will stretch the floor even at the NBA level. He also has D-Rose handle. I’m not saying that he’s gonna come into the L and be Jordan, I’m just saying that he has a variety of moves in his aresenal that join wonderfully with his ball handling.
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Klay Thomspon:
http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/06/mock-klay-thompson-no-20/
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The Donatas Motiejunas fellow:
(http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/06/mock-donatas-motiejunas-26/)
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Took three seperate comments but i got it on here. I still wanna know what the hell “your comment is awaiting moderation” means Jay.
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Nick…just checking in and saw your latest. I’ll review in the am and comment then. Thompson is going to be a great catch and the Kings here are looking at him, too. I really wish that Kenneth Faried would drop to the Cs and they could really use a ferocious rebounder.
Check out this mock draft (there are several good ones if you Google mock draft)
http://www.nbadraft.net/2011mock_draft
See ya in the am with my thoughts about your picks. Going to be a great week for the Cs….can’t wait. And maybe DA trades Davis to move up? Go Cs…
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Alright, look forward to it. Who would want Davis though? His value went way down throughout the playoffs.
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Trading Big Baby for what? For a pick who likely won’t be as good as he is? Folks need to get a little real about Davis. We are lucky to have him.
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If you folks would stop scapegoating, that would be very clear to you. We can’t make last season’s disappointment feel better by scapegoating our players. There’s no one on this team that makes us better via subtraction.
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paul…who the f’s “scapegoating”??? The Celtics need to get better and the only assets they have to trade are Davis and Green (and both need to be signed first). You have advocated for Green to stay, which I agree he should be given that opportunity, so why not sign Davis and use the little value he has to move up in the draft? Maybe a GM, with your thinking and love of Davis, would jump at that and swap a 10th-15th pick for Davis and the Cs 25th pick? Then we get someone that doesn’t want to be a starter and that should have at least the level of talent Davis has (and wasted this season by being GREEDY and SELFISH) and could accept their role without bitching about it all the f’in time. Do you really think Davis is going to change his tune? How many opportunities are the Cs going to have to give him before he ACCEPTS his role and plays like he is supposed? If you can guarantee that the version of Davis that we all expect and that was making yearly improvement will show up then fine I would love to have him resigned. He has great talent but a donut for a brain. And why can’t he lose 25-40 pounds, too? He was on the way to Sixth man of the year until his brain froze and he started taking 18 footers like a wing would. I don’t want that version and the Cs certainly don’t either.
Nick…looks like I need to start a scapegoating society, too! Go Cs….
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Nick…the players you mentioned are very good and could certainly help the Cs but there’s no way they fall that far or the Cs move up that far to be able to select them. A 6’7″ shooting guard like Thompson would be awesome but as my last post stated, the Cs have limited assets to use in a trade. Go Cs…
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Here’s a great story and kid who has talent beyond the court –
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=Butler-110618
Go Cs…draft some height and rebounding talent!
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James…Scapegoating society sounds good. James you are becoming an Entrepaneur by opening all these societys and clubs. Lol.
And I had previously read that Jimmy Butler story. That’s quite remarkable.
After you said you’d get back to me, I went and read a few diffrent mock drafts and i noticed just what you said, that Klay Thompson won’t fall that far. But hey, if the Celtics can draft a 6’10″ – 7’0″ guy who can rebound and block shots, that would help their rebounding, which was one of the worst in the league last year. As you and I liked to point out.
Paul…
As James pointed out to you , which i agree with, maybe a GM would take Davis. Look at these two examples off the top of my head:
David Kahn(I believe his name is) the GM of the T-wolves signed Darko Milicic to a $336(i think) million dollar contraact because he saw potential in him.
This is the most lopsided trade i have ever heard of, and there have been rublings of: Monta Ellis for Dwight Howard. The trade has been offered to Orlando. I doubt they take it but thats besides the point. My point is that there are lopsided trades out there, stupid shit happens. Maybe they do see potentail in a overweight, slow, needy individual. Who knows?
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Haaa! I meant $36 million.
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Nick…actually I am an entrepreneur working on getting my company funded. The more I read about Kenneth Faried the more I’d wish we were 5-7 spots higher in the draft. We need some size so hopefully both picks will be bigs and able rebounders. Go Cs…
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James… Moving up in the draft even 2 or 3 picks would be wonderful.
Good luck with the company. What’s the purpose of it?
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Nick…my company is about anti scapegoating and DA worshiping…weening people off of edges in regards to their sport team love. I think it’ll go viral once implemented.
Actually, its a service to help stock market investors, traders, and professionals analyze fundamental data quicker, easier, and better in order to achieve better investment returns.
Go Cs…make some magic happen Danny!!!
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If only you could listen to yourself, James. You want to give up our first round pick AND the guy who was our sixth man last year, on top of being our extra Big, for one player, who MIGHT be as good as Davis in a few years, maybe. It’s ludicrous, and you know it. We HAVE a big who is pretty good, in Davis, and you want to throw him away, because you are mad that we lost to the Heat and he’s the easy scapegoat. It’s really as simple as that, and you and Nick, and Jay too, should be ashamed of your scapegoating, but instead you gloat over it. You think it’s kewl to scapegoat. It’s like gradeschool all over again. Yeah, let’s all make fun of the fat guy.
And no, I don’t love Davis. I just recognize that he HAS IN FACT been more willing than most players would be to perform any role asked, WHEN HE’S CLEAR ABOUT THAT ROLE. I also recognize that we are desperate for Bigs, and wanting to get rid of a pretty good big we have makes NO sense at all. And I recognize that, while Davis will never be great at any one thing, other than taking charges, he is pretty good at a lot of things.
Red Auerbach had an ability that I wish Doc had. He was able to understand the psychology of each player, and would deal with them on that basis. Davis needs more coddling, basically, than most guys do. SO WHAT?!! When he feels comfortable, and feels like he understands his role, he plays well.
But you guys are pissed off about losing and you refuse to scapegoat the one guy who really deserves it, Danny.
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If we can’t sign Davis for a reasonable amount, then he needs to go. If we can resign him and then we get a trade offer we can’t refuse, then sure, let’s trade him. But basically, we should be wanting to keep him if we can. Subtracting him won’t by itself make us a better team. He’s clearly NOT one of those guys.
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James… Fairly good idea actually. I hope you succeed with that company.(Both of them!)
Paul… Red was one of the best coaches ever. Not just the C’s, but ever. Not everyone is going to have the talents he had. Your telling me you would like to have someone with diminishing potential over a young aspiring player? Think about what your saying here. A younger guy with more talent and athletisism will be ten times better than Davis. I don’t dislike the guy because he’s fat like you said. I dislike the guy because he has hit his roof, and that roof is going to stay where it is unless he drops weight. The reason i say this is not to critisize that he is overweight, but to use logic in the fact that if he lost some weight and was more athletic, he would have more potential and help his team more. And i don’t dislike him as a person, nor do i dislike what he does as a player. What i dislike is what he has to offer to the team. A young 6’10″- 7″ athletic player would help the Celtics more than 6’9″ Davis.
That is why the Celtics should trade him to move up in the draft.
That makes sense to do, even if it is trading one of your big men.
It is not “ludicrious”.
Oh, and i know i don’t think it’s cool to scapegoat; I think it’s cool that i know how to spell cool right.
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Decent idea for you in my opinion Jay:
On draft night, have some sort of open thread.
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On another note, Davis does not clearly know his role and we all know this. When KG was out for a little bit, Davis started a few games. In which he sucked. His role was clearly defined; Start, and do the same thing you did when you came off the bench. He didn’t do that.
Or during the playoffs, when he played terrible. Or look back into the last two or three weeks of the season if you want more examples of Davis’ poor play.
Does that sound like a Clearly defined role? Yes.
Does it sound like he played it well?
Short answer:
NO.
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What about Vince Carter? Rumor has it that the Suns are going to buy him out soon, or at least before the season starts. Although he is aging, and we don’t need to get older i know, he can still score. He’d be a good sixth man in my opinon.
Good backup for Ray Ray.
He can still play 25 minutes a night.
One year deal sounds good…
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honestly i was just sick of looking at the box score every night and seeing baby either leading the team in shot attempts or 1 or 2 shots behind it. i dont understand how he takes the same number of shots as paul while playing 10 less minutes. and they werent even smart shots around the rim. he fell in love with that mid range jumper and started jacking up shots like he was carmelo or something. after the c’s lost and some reporters were interviewing baby, he really sounded like he didnt want to go back, and he probably knows hes not going back unless they can offer him a lot of money and a start position or something. pretty much this guy is going to tony allen us. not a true celtic
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paul..I am not mad at losing to the Heat or want to blame DA as neither beat us. Frustrated is a better word and it was solely injuries that beat the Celtics this year. Davis is an unrestricted free agent so technically he is not a Celtic, can’t be “subtracted”, and is free to sign with any other team with no compensation to the Cs. That said, I agree with Nick and my original premise that Davis hurt the Cs by his selfish and deteriorating play as the season progressed until his absolute flop in the playoffs. So do we resign him hoping he doesn’t want to start, will actually understand his role (how many years does it take to accomplish this?), and will perform as worthy of Sixth Man consideration? You hate Danny so what is your decision? Sign him and hope he wakes up and does as needed or sign and trade with our pick to significantly improve the Celtics draft? So GM paul, what’s it going to be? We need athletic bigs and the only way to get them is via the draft (we’re not high enough) or via trade; or hoping someone decides to leave money on the table to play with the Cs for a title. Who’s out there? The Cs haven’t had any problem getting players to sign but then Doc doesn’t use them. I’ll offer you this; resign Davis but use Murphy 15 mins per game for rebounding purposes. Now that I could live with but the Cs sign Murphy and then waste his talents by sitting him. His defense is no worse than Davis’ and he can rebound better. Yes, his offense was weak but I believe it was more to do with the lack of playing time than diminishing skills. I mean, why sign all these players (15 per roster; so at least 7 available after the top 8 used by Doc) if you don’t plan to use them EVER????????????? How about we keep our draft picks and develop some players? Lastly, I am not in the habit of scapegoating players like you claim. I am in the habit of calling attention to their not delivering or living up to expectations. Davis did not wreck our season, injuries did. But he was the one player that digressed significantly and then has the cojones to talk about starting. That is not an exemplary show of Celtic pride. And therefore, he needs to be humble and say all the right words in order to even be considered for re-signing. I hope he does as I really like his game and wheat he brings. But if it’s the selfish Davis model vs trading and upgrading then give him his wish and let’s move on. Go Cs…
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I’m with you rondeezy. The box scores from past years were better to look at as wins were produced vs this season when lame games lost due to his jacking all the shots. So his stats improved. Too bad that didn’t translate into more victories. The guy could be a Sixth Man candidate EVER year if only he would embrace his role and play with Celtic pride. It’s not Davis pride that we’re after. Go Cs…
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