Rule #1 of a fast break: don’t slow down when Mario West has you in his sights. If you do, he will steal your lunch money, pin your shot off the board, and then give you a swirly after the game. West is the type of hustler who deserves a nickname, a la “The Junkyard Dog.” Maybe “The Caged Pitbull?” I think I like that.

From now on, I will refer to Mario West only as The Caged Pitbull.

Splash.

The last few Sunday mornings, I’ve played basketball with some middle-aged men at my local Jewish Community Center. The competition is, at best, weak; I play mostly to get a sweat during my furious attempt to get my fat ass back in shape.

You should see the cast of characters that shows up. There’s the 6’6″ stiff who thinks that setting a pick means bear-hugging your opponent until your teammate gets free; the bumble bee of energy who zips around the court and causes plenty of turnovers, but probably doesn’t even know the definition of the term “offense”; the 6’3″ red-headed Jew with a sweet stroke, who couldn’t even beat a parked car in a race; the big, lead-footed man who always demands the ball in the post, but who still hasn’t actually scored once in four weeks; and the 65-year old who moves like an elephant and is an even worse jump shooter, but always thinks he should have the green light.

The characters may sound interesting, but watching the games definitely wouldn’t be. Hell, I almost fall asleep while playing in them.

I know what you’re undoubtedly wondering: how do these pickup basketball games between misfits have anything to do with the Boston Celtics? Read more »

Delonte West earned a few fist pumps tonight.

This was a meaningless preseason game, the second night of a back-to-back, against the NBA’s worst team, played in front of a crowd that would make Podunk look densely populated. It was no surprise, then, that the starters looked comatose in falling behind 28-19 by the end of the first quarter. Also no surprise? The bench turned the game around.

By the time the starters reentered, the Celtics were winning 56-54 and on their way to a 96-92 win. (Yes, I know the game was close at the end. But this is the preseason, folks; that was nothing more than garbage time.)

The catalyst to the second quarter turnaround? Delonte West. Watching West drill open jumpers and play freely in sync with Nate Robinson, it’s not difficult to imagine the C’s bench winning loads of games for them this season. As great as Tony Allen played last season, West brings a new dynamic (after years of hating his guts and wanting to strangle Doc every time he subbed TA into the game, it’s still weird to say Tony Allen played great). When Nate Robinson kicked the ball out to TA for an open jumper, it was time to hide yo kids, hide yo wife; a brick was coming. But when it’s West open in the corner? Buckets.

West can play point guard or off guard, create plays for himself or others, and always maintains control of himself and the game. When West has the ball, I feel completely calm, utterly confident. When Allen had the ball last season, I sweated profusely and gripped the remote control just in case I had to whip it angrily at the television. There’s a different feel, a better feel, to this season’s second unit. Even though West can’t defend small forwards like TA could, he brings so much to the table that I’m not even worried about it.

With West leading the charge, Nate Robinson lighting up the scoreboard, Marquis Daniels taking advantage of opportunities and Semih Erden, Big Baby and/or one of the O’Neal brothers holding down the fort inside, the C’s bench is versatile and loaded. And the main difference between this year and last? West. He brings Boston one more steady playmaker, one more accurate shooter, one more gritty defender.

Today was the first game the Celtics bench turned around this season. It won’t be the last.

(Click the jump for game notes) Read more »

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

Anybody else not like the little stripes on the new jerseys?

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald - If it was up to rookie guard Avery Bradley, he could play his first serious basketball – at least in practice – any day now. ‘I could be back tomorrow the way I’m going, but I’ll take it day by day and see how my ankle feels each morning,” the first-round pick, who had ankle surgery in July, said before last night’s exhibition opener against the Sixers at Verizon Wireless Arena. It feels good. I never had an injury before. I thought it would take three weeks, but I haven’t played in so long. But my trainer and teammates tell me not to come back and hurt myself.’ That’s all the message coming from Doc Rivers. ‘When I talk to him he’s doing OK, in passing,’ the Celtics coach said. ‘I haven’t seen him on the floor. But we don’t want to rush him. This is his first year, it’s a foot injury, he’s going to have a healthy career, but I think we’re handling this the right way. We’re not going to push him at all. We’re actually holding him back a bit. I don’t want him to get off to a slow start with your confidence and everything. I want him to be 100 percent before he gets on the floor. It’s important that he gets healthy. I would love him to play. Him missing what he’s missed already has set him back a ways, but putting him back on the floor would hurt him more mentally at this point.’ There’s a possibility Bradley could miss so much time, his only realistic place for action will be Portland with the Maine Red Claws – the C’s NBDL affiliate.” Read more »

Smile for the camera, Kevin.

The last time the Boston Celtics played a game — actually, let’s not talk about that. I’d rather not start bawling for the 4,569th time since The Game That Must Not Be Named. Let’s just say it’s been awhile since the Green and White suited up to play some basketball, and I’ve missed it.

Tonight, the wait is finally over. Amen. Here are some things to look for: Read more »

Everybody loves the underdog, right? Then everybody should love Mario West.

Contrary to popular belief, West actually WAS drafted out of college. Just not by an NBA team — by the Harlem Globetrotters. As a senior at Georgia Tech, West averaged only 4.7 points per game. For a reference point, Brian Scalabrine averaged 14.7 points as a senior (and 17.8 as a junior), and Scal even played for a better team. Somehow, someway, after his completely nondescript college career, West clawed his way onto his hometown Atlanta Hawks. How’d he do it? Defense, dummy. And heart. All heart. Read more »