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The Ticker
8 days ago

Painful Reminders (Part I): The Celtics Drafted JaJuan Johnson Instead of Jimmy Butler

On June 23rd, 2011, Brian Robb and I stood around a high top bar table in Tommy Doyle’s in Kendall Square.  Before us lay one of the biggest mounds of buffalo chicken wings I had ever endeavor to make disappear.  These 25 cent flappers- one of the few indulgences afforded to the participants of our [...]

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9 days ago

Chris Wilcox: 2012-13 Final Grade

There are a number of contextually-appropriate ways to craft this post. One would be to forgo words entirely, and represent Chris Wilcox’s entire season with a series of videos. That would involve one part of this: For every eight parts of this: Note the headline on that second clip. Someone was so amused/enraged by Wilcox’s [...]

12
10 days ago

Rajon Rondo’s 2012-13 Final Grade

Here’s a sweeping general statement involving super specific statistics that may or may not mean anything: In the 1423 minutes Rajon Rondo played this season, the Boston Celtics were outscored by 1.3 points per 100 possessions. When he sat (including all contests after he tore his ACL), Boston was better than their opponents by 1.8 [...]

94
10 days ago

Avery Bradley Elected to NBA All-Defense Second Team

Avery Bradley has been a standout defender for the past couple seasons…in the regular season anyway. Now he has a trophy to prove it. The NBA announced this afternoon that the third-year guard has been elected by coaches around the league to the second-team all-NBA defensive team for the first time in his career. Bradley [...]

13
13 days ago

Paul Pierce’s Contract: Dispelling The Myths and Stating The Facts

The first domino to fall this offseason is Paul Pierce’s contract. Until Danny Ainge figures out what he’s doing there, little else matters. As we wait for this decision, we also must face the rest of the offseason, which means it is also rumor season. With that time of year, comes plenty of information floating [...]

42
14 days ago

Final Grade: Avery Bradley (C+)

In his third year in the league, in which promising players often make brash leaps from benchwarmer to starter, from starter to star, Avery Bradley took a big step back. But his regression might be deceptive. When he returned to the Celtics’ lineup on January the 2nd after two in-season months recovering from offseason shoulder [...]

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The King’s New Clothes?

lebron-james2

Finally.  I was wondering if this would ever happen and last night, the gears were at least set in motion.  During his post-game on-court interview, Lebron James stated that he would be changing his number next year.  The impetus?  Michael Jordan.  Lebron went on the say that he didn’t think anyone should wear 23, as no one can really grasp the greatness that is Michael Jordan.  I’ve thought about this for the NBA for awhile, but I’ve also thought it meant a lot that James wore 23.

Whether or not this actually happens remains to be seen, but what we are seeing is a boy becoming a man.  I used to think Lebron was all about “me.”  Many of his on and off court antics would, albeit endearingly, suggest that as well.  I’ve heard that Lebron wants to be the best player in history, the highest paid player in history, and be “the guy” on a championship team.  This is why I always took the wearing of 23 as more of a slight than admiration.  I understand every kid grows up wearing 23 and wanting to “be like Mike” but when you actually have a chance to like Lebron,  you have to carve your own path. Legacies shouldn’t overlap in that way.

Hopefully, now they won’t.  What does this mean for the Celtics?  There might be an increase in Lebron’s maturity level, which may translate into Lebron taking less money to play for a good enough team to win.  However, one thing is now put to rest.  All the delusionists out there that think if the C’s finagle this and don’t resign some guys, are in play for Lebron, well, his new number next year will be his lucky number “6.”

If that doesn’t seal the deal, than I don’t know what will.

(Happy Friday)

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