Posts tagged: Boston Celtics
Celtics will pursue Chris Kaman if he’s bought out, reportedly


Am I crazy to have real hesitancy about the Celtics adding Chris Kaman — a legitimate scoring threat in the post and a significant rebounding upgrade over any center the Celtics have — because I want to preserve the chemistry and unity Boston is starting to show lately? Am I nuts to want Chris Wilcox — who was great last night, but not so much the rest of the season — to remain Boston’s backup center just because the Celtics are perhaps emerging as a team with no agendas besides winning and stopping their opponents? Am I insane to settle for Jermaine O’Neal as Boston’s starting center because I don’t want to disrupt the growing sense of pride and togetherness of a .500 team that hadn’t beaten a single winning opponent until Thursday?
I may be out of my skull, but I’m starting to love the feeling I get from this team. Doc Rivers brings Mickael Pietrus into the game and he dives on the floor, chases whoever he’s defending around the court and pesters any opponent in his path. Rivers starts Avery Bradley and he hounds a primary ball handler for 94 feet. E’Twaun Moore subs in while carrying his lunch pail and makes plays. Paul Pierce is beginning to look spry. Kevin Garnett is starting to spew profanities at any human being standing on his path to the hoop. The Celtics now boast the league’s third-best defensive efficiency despite failing to stop a soul for the season’s first few weeks, and are starting to resemble the glory years of yesterday in terms of contesting shots and boxing out and out-working anyone and everyone.
Does Danny Ainge really want to risk that to acquire Chris Kaman? Am I really fighting to preserve the chemistry of a 9-9 team? Is somebody unknowingly slipping drugs into my 5-hour energy each morning? Does Grizzly Adams really have a beard?
Don’t answer those questions. Kaman’s a long shot. Somebody will probably trade for him despite New Orleans’ asking price reportedly being too high, so he likely won’t become a buy-out candidate. But if he is, I don’t know what to think. My mind tells me it makes a lot of sense, but my heart tells me otherwise.
Rajon Rondo hopes to play tonight, Rivers not concerned long-term

Rajon Rondo’s sprained right wrist has kept him out of two straight games, subjecting Boston fans to Chinese water torture a combined 74 minutes of Avery Bradley playing point guard during the past two games. Fear not for the long term, though. Rondo hopes to play tonight against the Orlando Magic, and Doc Rivers says there are no long-term doubts that Rondo will return to good health. (Boston Herald)
Rajon Rondo missed his second straight game with a sprained right wrist suffered when he braced himself in a fall from a flagrant foul by Toronto’s Linas Kleiza last Wednesday. He hopes to play tonight against the Orlando Magic at the Garden.
“It’s really on me,” Rondo said. “Whenever I feel I can be productive, then I can come back.
“The important thing for me is when I can get the ground. Right now I don’t think I can do that without hurting it a lot worse. And with the way I play, I definitely hit the ground a lot. So when I’m good with that, I’ll be back.”
There is no definitive timetable for a return by Rondo.
“He could (miss more time), but I’m not concerned long term or anything,” Rivers said. “He’s close, but we’ve just got to get it right.”
Needless to say, the Celtics could use the do-everything guard who has easily been their best player this season.
Boston Celtics reportedly not in market for Rasheed Wallace

Ease your worries, Celtics fans. Take a deep breath, Doc Rivers. Put your whistle away, Joey Crawford.
Gary Washburn don’t lie. (Boston Globe)
While the Celtics don’t regret signing [Rasheed] Wallace to a two-year deal, they were disappointed that he did not work himself into top condition that season. He had to come out of Game 7 of the NBA Finals because of exhaustion.
Wallace may have some value around the league as a top post defender despite his age (37). But the Celtics will not be in the market for an aging center whose casual approach was a concern even when he was surrounded by role models such as Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.
The final sentence of Washburn’s Wallace segment is euphemistic gold:
“There will be interest in Wallace among title-contending teams with strong coaches, but it may take him the majority of the regular season to get back into playing shape.”
That’s an extremely nice way to put it.
Kevin Garnett walked through locker room post-game with limp, bag of ice

Via ESPN Boston:
Garnett walked through the locker room after the game with a limp and his left ankle wrapped in ice. Asked later about a potential ailment, he gave his trademark, “Y’all take it easy,” before departing to catch the team’s midnight flight to Indianapolis for the second half of a back-to-back against the Pacers on Saturday night.
It’s bad that I’m actually hoping he’s hurt, right? Because then at least there’s some type of excuse.
Keyon Dooling questionable, Jermaine O’Neal probable with knee ailments
Via ESPN Boston:
Both starting center Jermaine O’Neal and backup guard Keyon Dooling did not participate in Thursday’s 90-minute practice session due to knee ailments. Rivers said it was more of a rest day for O’Neal (who appeared to be hobbled by a bothersome hamstring or knee in Wednesday’s game), but deemed Dooling questionable for Friday’s visit from the Bulls. “They’re all questionable,” Rivers quipped of his veteran team. “But, yes, I think Dooling is [questionable]. I think J.O. will go.”
I’m not sure when Dolling injured himself, but I know I’m petrified of the phrase “Avery Bradley, primary backup point guard.”






