Sunday Notebook: Baby’s Game, More Future Talk
Posted by Zach Lowe on Jun 20, 2010
• The Herald gives us the mechanics of how Pierce’s potential opt-out would work:
Pierce has until June 30 to exercise a termination option in his contract that would make him a free agent.
This would require written notification. If July 1 arrives and the Celtics haven’t received the paperwork, then they know Pierce is coming back.
• It sounds more and more like Rasheed Wallace will retire and give the Celtics some degree of salary cap relief, depending on the exact mechanics of Sheed’s retirement (we’ll get to this later). Here’s KG on Sheed’s behavior after Game 7, via the Herald:
“I see a lot of myself in him, and we have a lot of the same ties and a lot of the same characteristics. Both (draft) Class of (1995) – so for him to come in and give his thanks and his regards after a loss like this . . . it was a difficult night.”
• The Herald’s Dan Duggan has a nice piece evaluating Glen Davis’ progress this season:
Though he’s made strides, Davis still has some growing to do. The third-year veteran hasn’t yet discovered what it takes to be consistent on a nightly basis.
Rivers frequently pointed this fact out after Davis had a big game. The coach remarked after one strong performance in the first round against Miami that Davis needs “a parade out there every good game” and it takes him a few games to come back to earth.
Next year is a crucial season for Baby. Depending on which free agents Boston signs and whom they draft (likely a big man), Davis will have to take on an even larger role next season. And he has the tools to be a guy you can depend on for 12 points per game. But he must put all of those tools together in 2011.
As I’ve pointed out a few times now, Davis re-invented himself this season as an interior banger on offense after drifting out to the perimeter in 2009. With Sheed here and Powe gone, that’s what the team needed Davis to do.
But as a result, his jump shot suffered. Davis hit about 41 percent of his long jumpers after KG got hurt in 2009. That’s a nice number for a power forward, especially considering Baby’s high number of attempts. This season? He shot just 29 percent on jumpers, according to 82games, and that was one of the worst numbers in the league for power forwards.
If Baby can find balance his inside and outside game, he can become a much more dependable player—and someone the team can go to confidently during those dreaded offensive droughts.
• CelticsBlog takes a look (via DraftExpress) at some of the big men likely to be on the board when the C’s select at #19 in the draft. What the C’s do in the draft will depend in part on whom they believe they can sign with their mid-level exception and other cap exceptions, but I agree a big man has suddenly become the more likely pick given Perk’s injury and Sheed’s possible retirement.
I don’t watch all that much college hoops, so any insight from the NCAA fans here would be greatly appreciated. I will say this, though: If Eric Bledsoe is there at #19, the idea of drafting a tenacious young point guard—one who likes to play defense—to back up Rondo is intriguing.
• Dan Shaughnessy on whether Doc Rivers will step down with one year (and about $5 million in salary) left on his contract:
That’s a lot of ballgames. A lot of senior years. A lot of final games, final hugs, graduation gowns, and mini-fridges toted up and down four flights of dormitory stairs. What dad wouldn’t want to be there for all of that? Especially when you have the money (Rivers makes $5 million annually with the Celtics) and the ability to come back and get another NBA job any time you are ready. Let’s not forget that Rivers could easily slide into a cushy TV gig. He’s been in the booth before and, of course, he’s great at that, too.
The Celtics are ready for this and surely have been for a long time. But it’s not ideal for a team to lose its two primary coaching brains in the same off-season. Perhaps a veteran group is better prepared than most to handle such a transition, and they have probably absorbed Tom Thibodeau’s defensive principals deeply enough to produce a reasonable facsimile of them next season.
But this team needs a creative offensive mind to tweak the playbook, preach unselfishness and find ways to score. Doc has developed well in that area, and his loss would be a blow in that regard.
• R.I.P. Manute Bol.
• Shira Springer has a nice behind-the-scenes look at how the league prepares to document Game 7 and rehearses all the post-game trophy presentations ahead of time. The piece includes details on a pep talk Bill Russell gave to NBA staffers before the game.
That’s it for now. Enjoy your Sundays.
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