Delonte West in good mental state

If you watched The Association a couple nights ago, you heard Delonte West profess his love for basketball. “Basketball is my life,” he said. He was emotional after the Celtics gave him a second lease on his NBA career, and happy to be back on the court. Basketball is like a safe haven to West, whose life off the court has been a roller-coaster the last couple years.

With West’s bi-polar disorder, which makes highs better and lows worse, I wondered how he would react to his broken right wrist. Facing months away from the game that means so much to him, I wondered how West would be affected. Would it tear him down? Would it bring back the monsters of his past? Would he be okay?

West joined the team at yesterday’s game, the first time he’d watched a game since the injury. Though he said the injury was the worst broken bone in his life (he has broken eight bones), he said his wrist is good. His cast should be off in two weeks, and he expects to play later this season. For now, he is limited to jump-shooting (the broken wrist was his non-shooting one) and conditioning.

But really, when it comes to West, basketball isn’t most important. His mental health, so fragile at times, takes precedent. From that standpoint, West passed the first test.

“You know what? I got right back up and can’t feel sorry for myself,’’ he said. “Feeling sorry for myself, them days are over with. I gotta get back up again. The Lord is trying to get my attention, trying to show me something. He has my undivided attention now. And my eyes are open, seeing what I can do to help out in the community, help out off the court, and wait this out.’’

And so he continues to ready himself for the return he is certain will come this season.

“That’s what I have to do,’’ he said. “I can’t hang my head and cry about it, it happened. It’s over. It’s on to the next mission.’’

(Source: Boston Globe)

Kevin Garnett expresses uncertainty about future

Want to scare an entire fanbase? Be as vital to a franchise as Kevin Garnett, then say, “Who knows if this is my last year?” Of course, Garnett qualified that question with extenuating circumstances, but this is still the first time Garnett leaving has crossed my mind. Here’s what Garnett actually said (WEEI):

“At some point, especially with the lockout coming up, who knows if this is my last year or if we don’t play next what it’s going to be. So I’m trying to enjoy the guys now, you know.”

Enjoy the guys now, KG. But don’t tell me this might be your last season. Say it ain’t so.

The Noah-Garnett feud continues

Kevin Garnett finished exacting revenge on Joakim Noah last night, he kinda-sorta called Noah a nobody. That was to be expected. If a player talks shit about KG, the normal response from KG was exactly what he said yesterday: “I’m not entertaining nor addressing nobodies.”

Is Joakim Noah really a nobody? Absolutely not. He’s one of the league’s best big men, and a potential All-Star. You’ll just never get KG to admit any of Noah’s potential. After Noah’s disrespect, you’re more likely to see KG stop cussing for an entire year than you are to see him praise Noah.

Did KG have any extra motivation last night?

“It’s not that he’s up for [Friday's game], it’s that these young cats have no respect,” Shaq told CSNNE. “So Kevin just has to teach them.”

It looks like Noah learned his lesson.

“Maybe sometimes, you’re right,” he told CSNNE. “Maybe sometimes it’s better to just shut your mouth. And my mouth definitely, my mouth definitely gets me in trouble. But, you know, you’re right. Maybe sometimes it’s better to not say anything and let your game do the speaking. He (Garnett, 20 points, 17 rebounds) did that tonight, and I don’t like that.”

There’s a reason Noah and Garnett don’t like each other: they’re both competitors. Throwbacks to the days when players didn’t help opponents off the floor, the days when nobody gave a damn about being liked. Once Kevin Garnett steps on a basketball court, all of his opponents are nobodies. (Boston Globe)

“No way, unless you’re on the same team as him,” Glen Davis said of what players actually get shown respect. “Other than that, he’s just a fierce competitor. He doesn’t care who comes in. You can be my friend, but at the end of the day he’s trying to rip your head off. That’s the way he plays.”

That’s how EVERYBODY should play. In high school, I was really good friends with a lot of my opponents. I would hang out with them all the time, we’d play AAU basketball together, yada yada yada. But as soon as I stepped on that court and my friends were on the other side, those friends were just like anybody else –they were enemies. I wasn’t going to take it easy on them just because we had slumber parties once in a while. Fuck, if anything I wanted to beat them even more. Bragging rights are a powerful thing. Even my best friends were never immune to a nicely timed elbow.

I’m not saying, “Hey, guys! I did everything right! Model yourself after me!” Not at all. I was a mediocre basketball player. I had Eddy Curry’s vertical leap, Dwight Howard’s handle and Chris Quinn’s frame. Nothing about my basketball game was perfect. But I was a competitor, and I never wanted to lose. I feel like that aspect of basketball has partially been lost (see: Cleveland Cavaliers in Lebron’s return). But not within Garnett and Noah. Those guys, whether you like them or not, are warriors. They always come out to play.

Von Wafer wants what’s best for the team

It’s natural to desire playing time. If you didn’t, well, why do you play basketball again? So I didn’t dislike Von Wafer’s preseason “I don’t just want to make the team; I want to play real minutes” comment (I paraphrased) because he wanted minutes. Everyone in the NBA wants minutes, I assume. I disliked Von’s comments because it was evident he hadn’t quite grasped the team concept.

Now? Everything that comes out of his mouth is about the team. Yesterday, Wafer spoke about his role (or lack thereof) so far this season. He still wants minutes (again, who doesn’t?), but Wafer now understands he’s part of something greater. (Boston Globe)

“It’s tough. It’s very tough, because I’m a rhythm player. I need my rhythm. But it’s not about me, it’s about the team. I’ve just got to play the cards that have been given.’’

At this point, Wafer said, he’s more interested in making shots than making waves.

“Just do what I’ve been doing,’’ Wafer said. “Coming to the gym early, staying out of the way, listening to what they say. Just don’t become a distraction.

“Hopefully, they’ll eventually notice the work I’m putting in and how bad I want to be a part of this, because it’s something special.’’

Wafer said he will stay ready in case his opportunity comes, but he wants to keep his hopes down. He doesn’t expect to be subbed into games, yet he will be prepared when his name does get called. And that might happen sooner than Wafer thinks.

“We’ve got to get one more guy to play,’’ said Rivers. “Von is probably the first candidate.

“We’ve got to figure out a way of getting him going a little bit. He’ll figure it out. He’s close, he’s working. He’s just got to remember why we play him, and he’ll figure it out.’’

So Von, remember why the Celtics play you — because all other options are exhausted. I kid, I kid. Wafer’s coming around, but he still has to learn the Celtic way to play. At least he’s now headed in the right direction. The intentions are good. Now, the Celtics just have to work on defense and shot selection.

Injury news

– Rajon Rondo is still bothered by two ailments: plantar fasciitis and a sore hamstring. Early in the first quarter of Friday’s game, reports Chris Forsberg, Rondo actually asked Doc Rivers to replace him with Nate Robinson. Rondo’s hamstring was THAT stiff. Says Paul Pierce, “He’s battling through a lot of injuries right now.”

Even Doc Rivers admitted Rondo’s minutes have to be cut down. “”Rondo’s a guy, we have to lower his minutes. There’s no doubt about that.”

I bet you $100 Rondo plays at least 39 minutes today.

– Nate Robinson, limited by symptoms similar to those caused by plantar fasciitis, played only three minutes against Portland. He bounced back with 13 minutes against Chicago, and — despite registering more shot attempts (6) than points (5) — didn’t look any worse for the wear.

– Kendrick Perkins continues to recover from his offseason ACL surgery. Perk targets a February return, saying he intends to take the recovery slow and safe. Perk has been okayed, he said, for all activity except side-to-side movement. He can now run on a treadmill, and has been shooting jump shots for quite some time. By all accounts, he looks to be slimmer (in a good way) than he was before the injury.

– Jermaine O’Neal could be cleared for activity sometime this week. Still, according to Forsberg, “no return is imminent.” Yes, I know the Celtics originally said he would miss 2-3 weeks, and now it has (already) been damn near a month, but — hey — better late than never. Also, it’s not like the Celtics have a reputation of being open about injuries. They’re more Belichickian than Belichick himself.

– Devin Harris will likely return to the court today when the Celtics play the Nets. He has missed the last two games with a strained left knee.

The Celtics host the Chicago Bulls tonight at 8:00, at the TD Garden. My brother Tommy will be at the game, thanks to the fact that my uncle is now dead to me. My uncle had only one extra ticket to the game, and offered it Tommy instead of me. If you ever see me in person, please remind me never to speak to my uncle again. Thanks.

Carlos Boozer recently returned for the Chicago Bulls, which means he has finally recovered from his “I tripped over a gym bag because it was dark in my house” injury. Frankly, I don’t care much about Boozer, nor his health. There’s something about him I always found boring. Sure, he’s pretty good and was also the subject of one of the greatest photographs ever, but Boozer’s game does nothing for me. I’m a Duke fan, too, so I should appreciate him. I just could never enjoy an undersized (yet brolic) big man who loves shooting rainbow jumpers.

With Kirk Hinrich (and his scrappy play) gone for less green pastures, there are only four Bulls I now honestly care about. Sorry, Luol Deng and C.J. Watson, you guys didn’t make the cut. Also, extra apologies to Kyle Korver. I’m normally quite fond of shooters who look like Ashton Kutcher.

Derrick Rose

A hypotethical conversation with Rose:

Me: Exactly how good are you, Derrick Rose? More importantly, what is your ceiling?

Rose: How good am I? 25 and 8 good, as a 22-year old. And, umm, ceiling? That word doesn’t apply to me.

Me: Oh, yeah. And you’re younger than I am? Making all that noise in the NBA? Hot damn.

There aren’t many things in the world better than watching a Rose-Rondo matchup. The matchup was great even before this season — blazing speed everywhere, two entirely different approaches to the same position, young studs on their way to greatness. And this year? The matchup is even better. Not only did both players take the leap to true stardom, but they are also now bigger rivals based on, well, whatever happened in the FIBA World Championships this summer.

One game, Rajon Rondo started over Rose. The next, he received a DNP against Ricky Rubio and Spain. A few days later, Rondo supposedly withdrew from the team. I still don’t know whether to believe that story, but at least believe this: Rondo doesn’t forget that DNP. He believes he’s the world’s best point guard, and probably thinks Coach K is nuts for putting Rose ahead of him in the rotation.

Joakim Noah

Noah’s annoying. He hates KG, and called KG ugly. He’s demonstrative, and his jumper makes people wish they were blind. And did I say he was annoying?

Still, I like Noah. I feel like I should apologize for that, but I will not apologize. Noah may not like KG as a person, but there’s still some KG to his game. The intensity. The motor. The tendency to scream, very loudly, and beat his chest like it stole something. The truth is, Noah plays basketball the way it is supposed to be played. He attacks every rebound, unselfishly finds teammates, and only occasionally forgets to throw an outlet pass near the end of a game. (Sorry, Joakim, I had to bring it up.) In all seriousness, if my unborn child one day plays with Joakim Noah’s passion, I’ll be a proud father.

Tom Thibodeau

There was that one “he forget to make a single substitution” thing during a game Doc Rivers got ejected from, but Thibodeau’s one brief snafu can easily be forgotten amidst his otherwise honorable term as Doc Rivers’ assistant coach. The Celtics are still a staunch defensive outfit, of course, even without Thibs. But he helped instill their defensive mentality. Along with Kevin Garnett, Thibodeau should be given the most credit for shaping one of the league’s most-respected defenses.

The same things he accomplished in Boston, Thibodeau is now doing in Chicago.

“I think that we’re definitely starting to get an identity because of him,” Noah told ESPN Chicago. “He’s a tough coach, nothing’s easy, you gotta work really hard every day. You have to come with the right mindset, no days off.”

“He’s definitely competitive, but that’s what we want,” Noah continued. “That’s what we want our identity to be, even though it’s frustrating at times because you’re tired. But I think he knows what it takes to win. That’s the beauty of it. I feel like he’s been in championship locker rooms before, and not everyone has the chance to play for somebody who’s experienced it before. You know he knows because he’s been there and that’s a beautiful thing.”

“Because of his work ethic you have to take your hat off to him,” Kurt Thomas added. “He’d stay here 22, 23 hours a day if he could. If he didn’t have to go to sleep and get rest, he’d be up here in this gym. If he’s not out here on the floor, he’s breaking down film and trying to figure out the mistakes he’s made and trying to correct them.”

Yup. That’s the Tom Thibodeau I remember. But fear not, Celtics fans: Lawrence Frank has done an admirable job taking over the ”little white guy who can’t stop screaming during games” position.

Brian Scalabrine

Last, but not least, comes Scal. And a picture is worth a thousand words.

Where's the love? I'll show you the love.

Once upon a time, Joakim Noah idolized Kevin Garnett. He had Garnett’s poster in his room. He wore Garnett’s jersey. At the time Noah made it to the NBA himself, he admired Garnett. And then, well, he met KG.

“He was very mean to me my rookie year,” Noah said in an interview with ESPN 1000. And he’s only mean to the young guys and the [European players], for some reason. I don’t know why, but that’s who he doesn’t like. He’s not nice. I talk a lot of trash out there, but c’mon, be a little sensitive. Be sweet.”

Noah says KG is only mean to young guys and Europeans, yet KG’s jawing led Noah to pick up a technical foul when the two team’s last met. Maybe Noah considers himself European because his parents are both from there.

Also, sweet is one thing that has never been used to describe Garnett’s on-court demeanor. But Noah’s comments are still in stark contrast to Shaq’s description of KG in a recent interview with Sports Illustrated. Shaq called KG the funniest player in the NBA. He also called KG “real” and referred to him as a character.

I’ve got a feeling Garnett’s just the type of player you hate until he’s on your team. He does anything he can do on the court to get under an opponent’s skin, but once he’s in your locker room the funny side comes out. Not that Garnett’s rumored humor makes him any more loved by Noah.

“Kevin Garnett will not — will not — get a Christmas gift from me,” Noah said. “I don’t like him.”

“He’s a very mean guy,” Noah continued. “Where’s the love? None at all. Ugly, too.”

I’m not sure, but did Joakim Noah just call somebody ugly? I guess I’ll end this post on that note.

The Morning Walkthrough is a set of links to Boston Celtics articles throughout the internet, designed to get your day started the right way.

Chris Forsberg, ESPN Boston - ”Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett didn’t spend long addressing his spat with Detroit Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva on Friday, but sent a terse message amidst the fallout from Villanueva suggesting Garnett called him a ‘cancer patient’ during Tuesday’s game in Detroit. ‘He’s a nobody,’ Garnett said following the Celtics’ 110-105 overtime win against the Chicago Bulls at TD Garden. ‘I’m not paying attention to nobodies anymore.’ … ’I don’t even want to get into that,’ Noah said, when asked about Garnett’s propensity to rile up opponents. Garnett got whistled for a double technical with Villanueva on Tuesday, then got the same infraction after a scuffle with Milwaukee’s Andrew Bogut on Wednesday night. ‘I think … whatever. He is who he is. At the end of the day, it cost me $2,000 today [for the technical foul]. Just getting upset at his dumb [stuff]. I’m not getting involved in it. It’s stupid. I let his dumb a– cost me $2,000, so I’m the dumb a–.’” Read more »

There is no more deserving head coach.

The Tom Thibodeau courting process is finally over, and Thibs has taken a position as head coach of the Chicago Bulls.

Looking around the NBA, I find it hard to believe there’s a better opening for a head coach than the Bulls job. Sure, Thibodeau might be subjected to a brawl or two with John Paxson, but he will also be coaching rising stars Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Free Agent X. (Two notes about my previous sentence: 1) The Bulls have plenty of cap space and are attractive because Rose is such a stud. They WILL sign a max player. 2) Is it okay that I just called Joakim Noah a rising star? Even if it’s okay, it sounds weird.)

With Rose, Noah, Free Agent X, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich and Thibodeau’s defensive magic, the Bulls should have a hell of a team next season. Another note on the Bulls’ suddenly very bright future: Some people wondered why Chicago didn’t resign Ben Gordon after he had such a wonderful playoff series against the Celtics. Now, with the Bulls well under the cap space and Joe Dumars repeatedly slamming his head against a urinal for signing Gordon to a $50 million contract, I think we know why.

Back to Thibodeau, he’ll finally get his chance to run a team. That chance is long overdue.

That pink tie looks great, Thibs.

After years of being overlooked for every head coaching opening despite his own sterling reputation as a defensive Einstein, Tom Thibodeau is finally going to get a head coaching job… as long as he doesn’t vastly overplay his hand.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, Thibs’ agency has begun contract discussions with the New Orleans Hornets.  However, the deal is far from done.  Thibodeau would like to keep his options open for a potential offer from the New Jersey Nets or Chicago Bulls.  Both the Bulls and Nets jobs are considered better opportunities than the Hornets — the Bulls have Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and cap room, while the Nets have plenty of cap space and a Russian owner with bottomless pockets focused on nothing but winning championships (well, that and making jet-skiing instructional videos starring himself).

Woj reports that Thibs’ number one choice is the Bulls, but Thibs may have to decide between taking a Hornets offer that’s already on the table and waiting for an offer from Chicago or New Jersey that might not come. The Hornets could rescind their offer if they feel Thibs is using other opportunities as leverage.

And Thibs is likely to have other opportunities.  He is being mentioned as a favorite for both the Nets job and the Bulls position he seeks.  The Chicago Daily Herald (h/t Green Street) reports that Thibs is one of two clear-cut candidates for the Bulls job, with former Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks being the other.  However, there is speculation the Bulls could hire Brian Shaw (former Lakers player and now a Lakers assistant) in an attempt to lure Lebron James, who apparently has some interest in playing in the triangle offense.  Of course, all the Shaw talk seems to be wild speculation… as is almost everything we’ve heard about Lebron this summer.

Thibs is certainly a sought-after man.