The Celtics have a Butler? Great. Is that what they do in Arabia, Thorny?

Looks like the Celtics, and more importantly Danny Ainge, have their man.  Brad Stevens, the former Butler University coach, is now the 17th coach in Boston Celtics history.  Danny Ainge signed him to a six year, $22 million contract, which will be made official on Friday, July 5.  During a press conference on June 25, 2013, Danny Ainge said, "We have no urgency and we'll take all the time we need to make this decision..." when talking about choosing a new head coach.  Apparently, "urgency" means something completely different to him than all of us.

Brad Stevens, the new Boston Celtics coach.

And for the record, I love this move. And I don't think Danny ate "...like, a hundred bucks worth of pot, and, like, 30 bucks worth of shrooms man."  I think Danny Ainge made a very bold, shrewd move.  He decided to hire Brad Stevens to coach a college aged team to play a college-style game.  This Celtics team is going to be the best conditioned team in the NBA because they are going to run up and down the court.  Think East Coast version of the "Showtime" Lakers!  And this is just what the (no pun intended) Doc(tor) ordered.  Brad Stevens is going to be able to coach a team of young talent and mold them into the team he wants.  This will mean Rajon Rondo is gone: which I am perfectly fine with.  I want to build this team around Jeff Green, Avery Bradley and Jared Sullinger anyway.  Put those three with some young talent and this team will be fun to watch.  And in a few years, Brad will have them vying for Banner 18.  The Celtics have the room to make trades to bring in quality talent and flexibility to move around the draft with ease over the next few years.  In the trade for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, the Celtics got back the Brooklyn Nets 2014, 2016 and 2018 first round picks and the have the right to swap picks with the Nets for their 2017 first rounder if the Nets pick is higher than the Celtics.  And if they can trade Rondo, there may be more picks for Danny to use or trade.

Danny knows it's going to take a few years to get back to being a good team in the Eastern Conference and he also knows that the Miami Heat aren't going to be what they are now in a few years.  So why not hire a young coach that can help with the rebuilding process?  Get his system installed with some fresh, young players that are going to listen to him as a coach.  Who cares if they don't win a lot of games, Brad Stevens gets to mold these players into the type of team that he wants.  If the Celtics are just terrible enough, they could end up with the #1 pick in next years NBA draft, which by all indications will have Andrew Wiggins, a "can't miss" prospect.  Andrew Wiggins right now is being compared to the likes of Kevin Durant, who doesn't suck.  You add a player(s) like that in the next few years, along with some veteran leadership, the Celtics have the potential to rebuild, get younger overall and get back to being a dominant force in the Eastern Conference in a very short amount of time.

And if I'm wrong,  then I'll just say, "Okie silly dilly dokie-o.  I'm an idiot."

George L. Mitchell, Jr.

04/15/2013

Today we are not Black or White, Hispanic or Asian. It doesn't matter if you are a male or female, young or old. On this day, the tragedy in Boston effects all walks of life. It touches our souls, it breaks our hearts.

But we're Bostonians, a resilient bunch of people who can band together to help heal and comfort those in need. And the rest of America has responded too, with thoughts and prayers and helping hands from all over this great country of ours.

So today, let us as Americans resolve to never let this happen again. Today, let us fight back, standing up to those who work to bring us down. Today we rise up, together as a nation, and in one voice, letting those who oppose us know these type of actions will not be tolerated.

Today we are not just Bostonians or New Yorkers, or Texans.

Today... we are all AMERICANS!!

God Bless America!!

 

Boston Celtics: To trade, or not to trade

So I have been listening to all the sports talk over the last few days talking about the Boston Celtics and if they should or should not make any trades before the trading deadline Thursday, February 21 at 3 p.m. ET.  I'm putting my two cents into this debate of whether or not to make a deal this year and make a run at the title or blow the whole thing up and start building for the future now.

People seem to be 50/50 on trading either Paul Pierce and/or Kevin Garnett.  But most fans agree they don't want to see the Celtics become the Atlanta Hawks; a one-and-done playoff team, whether they make a trade or not.  Here's how you avoid this, still contend this year and stock up for next year and beyond.

Is Rajon Rondo tradeable even though he just had surgery for a torn ACL?

First, trade that petulant point guard in Rajon Rondo.  Or should it be Rajon "Rhonda" because he acts like such a little bitch sometimes?  (And I'm one of his biggest fans!!)  Well whatever you want to call him, he is a hellava player and is one of the top 5 point guards in this league. Period.  With that being said, you take Rondo and Fab Melo and trade them for Dwight Howard.  I know, I know... you think I've lost my damn mind.  Well I have, but here is why.  Dwight Howard does not R-E-S-P-E-C-T Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Coach Mike D'Antoni or the Lakers organization.  Plus, with Gasol coming back, the Lakers may want to get rid of Dwight to make some room on the ummm... court.  Howard needs to get the hell out of Dodge and Boston looks like a great fit.  He respects Doc Rivers and with the addition of Howard, the Celtics can compete with just about any team in the Eastern Conference.  Now your team will look like Courtney Lee (PG), Avery Bradley (SG), Paul Pierce (SF), Kevin Garnett (PF) and Dwight Howard (C) starting with Jeff Green and Brandon Bass coming off the bench.  Notice I still have Pierce and KG in the lineup.  That is because I believe they still both have the remainder of this year and next year that they can contribute on a high level and I wouldn't trade them.  Plus I need Kevin Garnett to drill into Dwight Howard how to be a pro.  Dwight Howard needs an attitude adjustment and I feel pretty good that KG can "motivate" him.  You now play the rest of this year with this newly constructed Celtics team; which if I'm correct, should make the Eastern Conference Finals.  If they get that far, then they will be playing with house money as far as I'm concerned and if they get to the NBA Finals, that's just icing on the cake.

Imagine Ty Lawson throwing alley-oops to Jared Sullinger?  Umm.. yes please!!

Going into the 2013-14 season, they would need to find a point guard.  My top choice would be Chris Paul, but a guy like Ty Lawson would also fit in nicely with this team.  That gives you a young point guard, Howard, Bradley and Jared Sullinger you can build around for the next few years.  Add that to KG and Pierce for the 2013/14 season, you are again a top 3 team in the Eastern Conference.  Once Garnett and Pierce retire (as Celtics) at the end of the 2013/14 season, you can find a veteran or two to replace them or address those concerns in the next two drafts.  Plus, you still have Jeff Green, who should be just about to break out as a star.

So by just trading Rondo and Fab Melo for Dwight Howard, the Celtics have given themselves a chance to contend this year and by adding a young point guard in the offseason, they have given their team a chance to contend next year and beyond with a young nucleus of talent.  The Celtics fans are happy they get to see Paul Pierce retire a Celtic having only played for Boston and hopefully watch both KG and Pierce raise another championship banner.

So come on Danny Ainge, what are you waiting for?