If there was one thing I wouldn’t want a teammate to say about me, it would be that I have no fight. I’d rather have a teammate say I was the least-skilled player ever, or as ugly as Tyrone Hill, or that I had a jump shot not even Ben Wallace would want. Okay, maybe I’d rather have no fight than be as ugly as Tyrone Hill, but still: One of the worst things a teammate could possibly say about you is that you have no fight.

I now forward you to Charlotte, where that insult is precisely the one Gerald Wallace just hurled at D.J. Augustin, while comparing Augustin to former Bobcat Raymond Felton. (Hang on, folks. I will tie the Celtics into this in time.) Read more »

 Every once in a while, I link to a few articles from other writers around the internet. You know, I throw some dimes.

1. Rajon Rondo interviewed with ESPN about the new NBA 2k11, but his rare humility when discussing the Big Three was most interesting. “It’s still the Big Three,” he says. “Shaq is four. Shaq is an enforcer. I know that from experience. He knocks guards like myself down, but he can’t hit me no more, so I’m excited about that.” Rondo continued, “I’m just one of the guys. I’m not saying I’m not important, but this is a team game. The Big Three still get a lot of attention, and I’m just really excited to start the season with them and be a part of this team. I’m excited.”
2. Speaking of NBA 2k11, it sounds pretty damn amazing. Just read this review: “NBA 2K11 is a love letter to basketball fans. If you don’t follow hoops, a lot of the subtleties will be lost on you. And if you are looking for a loose, fun, crazy dunkfest experience like NBA Jam, you’re going to get hosed. But if you are serious about basketball, this will fill a long-standing void in your hoops-loving heart. This is the NBA. No one else has come close to representing it in such great and accurate detail as this. Honestly, the stuff with Michael Jordan is reason enough to pick up NBA 2K11. The fact that 2K Sports did so much more with this game and improved it so greatly over last year’s title is stunning. This isn’t just the best basketball game ever; it’s the best sports game of this generation.”
3. Doc Rivers on all the locker room shenanigans: “I could really care less, they’re serious in practice,” said Rivers. “After that, they’re grown men, I don’t care how they act. If they wanna have fun or embarrass themselves, or do whatever they want to do, I really don’t care. The only rule I always have is called the respect rule. If anything is getting where to disrespecting someone to point where problem, then it’s a problem. They enjoy each other. I’m sure they’ll cross the line at some point … they’ll get it. That’s fine.” I love the “if they wanna have fun or embarrass themselves” line.
4. Remember when we were worried about this team’s chemistry? Those fears are dwindling, writes Paul Flannery. “Jermaine O’Neal has only been with the Celtics for a little more than a week, but he’s already marveling about how things are done here. There was movie night in Newport and team dinners on other evenings. Back in Boston, the team gathered for a duck boat ride and then ate brunch together on their off day. All of that: the dinners, the team events, and the clowning make up the foundation of what we like to call chemistry. But this is something a little more than that and when O’Neal sees it, he recognizes what it isn’t as much as what it is. ‘That’s a real situation in pro sports that people don’t talk about,’ he said. ‘In Indiana we had some really good teams, but we couldn’t get over the hump because that togetherness wasn’t quite there.’”
5. Shaq says he’s Harvard and MIT material, but he’s “not going to [take classes there] unless it can help me.” Which reminds me of the time I boasted I could drink a gallon of milk in less than an hour, but then said I wouldn’t do it unless it would help me.
6. From WEEI: “On the Sportsbook.com website, the Celtics are 10-1 to win the NBA title this season, tied with the Orlando Magic behind the Lakers (5-2) and Heat (8-5).” If anyone wants to spot me money so I can place the bet, please feel free. I can’t do it myself because I have $88.17 to my name. Seriously.
7. Funniest news of the week, by far? The Indiana Pacers’ starting power forward spot “is Josh McRoberts’ to lose.” No need to do crunches today. That line gave me all the ab exercise I’ll need.
8.  Shannon Brown’s back at it again. Let Shannon Brown dunk. Just don’t let him do it in the dunk contest.
9. Gerald Wallace says what anyone who’s seen Tyrus Thomas play basketball already knows. “I think he’s still a little immature.” Also, Larry Brown compared Thomas to Rasheed Wallace, because neither reached their potential. The only difference? Thomas always has sucked, still does suck, and probably always will suck.
10. And before you go, this video is hilarious.

Got a tip? An article you think should be included? Send an email to jayking@celticstown.com or hit me up on Twitter @CelticsTown.

One of the cuts?

With the United States looking to trim its roster down from 19 players to 15 for a training camp in NYC, three of the four cuts are expected to be Tyreke Evans, O.J. Mayo and Gerald Wallace. (Fanhouse)

It’s not looking good for Tyreke Evans, O.J. Mayo and Gerald Wallace.

Sources close to the situation told FanHouse on Tuesday they’re expected to be among the cuts when Team USA on Wednesday reveals the 15 out of 19 remaining players who will be invited to New York for the Aug. 10-16 training camp in preparation for next month’s World Championship in Turkey. As to who might be the fourth cut, sources said that was still being debated.

Could that fourth player be Rajon Rondo? Perhaps. Danny Granger and Eric Gordon were both considered to be on the bubble and both have reportedly survived the first cut. I don’t have to tell you this, but every player that makes it pushes Rondo one step closer to getting snipped. One other player who could get cut is JaVale McGee, but Coach K and Jerry Colangelo are reportedly thinking about bringing all three centers to NYC.

Well done, Rajon. Well done.

Not only was Rajon Rondo named to the NBA’s First Team All-Defense, but he also received the second-most votes for the team behind Dwight Howard.

Rondo absolutely, 100%, no doubt about it, deserved the recognition.  Yeah Rondo sometimes gambles too often, but he is a more disruptive  defender than any other guard in the league.  He covers an incredible amount of ground in a matter of split-seconds and can take a team entirely out of its offense with his propensity for steals.  He’s as fast as point guards come, has defensive instincts normal humans could only dream of, and the best part about all those steals he picks up is that they turn into points going the other way.

Here’s the rest of the All-Defensive Teams:

First Team:

Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics (50 points — two points for First-Team vote, one for Second-Team vote)

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (34)

Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (45)

Gerald Wallace, Charlotte Bobcats (30)

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic (57)

Second Team:

Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat (20)

Thabo Sefolosha, Oklahoma City Thunder (14)

Josh Smith, Atlanta (20)

Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs (21)

Anderson Varejao, Cleveland Cavaliers (15)

I’ve got a serious problem with Varejao on the Second Team.  He’s a very good defender, don’t get me wrong, but he plays only 28 minutes a game! That’s barely more than half a game.  Really, he was a better defensive player than Andrew Bogut, who anchored one of the league’s top defenses while playing 35 minutes a game?  I know Varejao is a great flopper, very good rebounder and has an Energizer Bunny motor, but he doesn’t deserve to be on the Second Team All-Defense.  Not at all.

Want a voting oddity?  Dwight Howard was named to the Second Team on one ballot.  Whoever didn’t put him on the First Team should be given the Old Yeller treatment.  Want another voting oddity?  Earl Watson received a vote for Second Team.  Since it’s the coaches who vote for the teams, I can only assume there’s some coach in the league having an affair with Earl Watson.

Back to Rondo now, congrats sir.  You are officially the Celtics’ best player on both ends of the floor.

I really hope David Lee doesn't get a chance to play with these guys.

The All-Star game is right around the bend, and the starters have been named.  (Long live AI!) The reserves, though, have yet to be chosen.

Do I have opinions about who should be picked?  Of course.  Am I going to share them with you?  Absolutely.  I’ll go with the East today, the West tomorrow.

And here we go…

Eastern Conference

Guards:

Rajon Rondo – Watching Rondo play every night this season, it should be impossible for him to be left off the team.  Not only is he first in the NBA in steals and third in assists, but he’s a game-changer each night on both ends.  I would even argue Rondo has been the C’s MVP so far.  He’s been that good.

Joe Johnson – Another no-brainer.  Johnson is the best player on the Eastern Conference’s rising contender.  He’s a matchup nightmare and his team’s unquestioned go-to guy.  He makes shots, finds open teammates, and helps his team win games.  Enough said.

Forwards:

Chris Bosh – In a just world, Bosh would be starting the game in Kevin Garnett’s place.  But All-Star voting is anything but just, and Bosh will have to settle for being a reserve.  Bosh could stand to play a little (read: a lot) more defense, but he’s done everything else to help Toronto win games: 23.9 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 52.4% shooting.

Josh Smith – The difference between Smith this season and Smith last season is what has HASN’T done, rather than what he HAS done.  Smith hasn’t jacked up bad shots, he hasn’t become enamored with the three-point line, and he hasn’t given anyone a good reason to keep him off the All-Star team.  He could always fill up a box score, but Smith is just now beginning to realize that sometimes basketball’s about a lot more than well-rounded statistics.

Gerald Wallace – To average 11.1 rpg as a 6’7″ small forward is simply silly.  That he added 3.3 boards on top of his previous career-high average in his ninth season is nothing short of ludicrous.  But to do all that while spearheading perhaps the top defense in the NBA and leading the Charlotte Bobcats to a surprising 21-21 record?  That’s All-Star worthy.

Paul Pierce – Stats-wise, Pierce hasn’t had his best season.  His numbers are down almost across the board.  But he’s leading the Celtics in scoring and doing it in a cooly efficient manner, including a scorching 47.0% from behind the arc.

Center:

Joakim Noah – You might think I’m nuts for this pick, but hear me out.  There are plenty of centers in discussion to be an East reserve but, really, none is truly worthy.  A lot of people will say David Lee, due to his 19.2 ppg and 11.4 rpg, but I’m here to remind you that there are two sides to the game of basketball.  Of all the centers being talked about in the East, Lee is the worst defensively.  And, in my eyes at least, it’s not even close.  Noah has done everything the Bulls could possibly want from him.  He rebounds, plays ‘D’, is an underrated passer, and can even score a little bit.  Besides Noah, Kendrick Perkins and Al Horford are both viable options to be picked.  Really, as long as Lee doesn’t win it, I’ll be happy.  Please, coaches, value defense and winning above gaudy statistics.

Snubs:

Andre Iguodala, Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler, Kendrick Perkins, Al Horford, Mo Williams