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5 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 [...]

15
5 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
6 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 [...]

92
7 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
10 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
10 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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Game 2/82: C’s (1-0) @ Cavs (0-0)

Cleveland Plain Dealer

Boston at Cleveland
7:00 P.M. ET
Quicken Loans Arena
Local TV: CSN

Offensive Efficiency:

Boston: 98.4 points/100 possessions (5th)

Cleveland: N/A

Defensive Efficiency:

Boston: 89.4 points allowed/100 possessions (1st)

Cleveland: N/A

Probable Cleveland starters:

Mo Williams (game-time decision due to death in family)/Ramon Sessions, Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon, J.J. Hickson, Anderson Varejao

Thumbnail:

For everyone that has always wondered what the Cavs would be like without LeBron, you’re about to get your answer. Pretty much the only reason to watch the Cavs this year is to get some sort of measurement of how good (or bad) LeBron’s supporting cast really was. Apparently the NBA schedule-makers are curious too, matching the Celtics up against James’ new and former teams right away to start the season.

We all remember when Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert made a fuss and said his team would win an NBA title before LeBron did. And I’m sure a lot of people will be pulling for Cleveland this year.

But at the end of the day, their roster is painfully weak. Mo Williams was never fully in tune as the Cavs’ second fiddle, and now new coach Byron Scott will ask even more of him as their primary scoring threat. Probably not a good sign. And at 34, how much can Antawn Jamison reasonably carry the Cavs’ front line?

One bright spot could be the development of J.J. Hickson, who looks like he has the potential to be a solid role player on a championship team. But maybe that says everything you need to know about the Cavs.

Contrary to last night, this is just another game for the Celts. We know Doc likes trying out new rotations early on, so it will be interesting to see his different approach tonight  —- Mike Salvucci

WHAT THE CAVS DO WELL:

We really don’t know yet, but from the looks of the roster, it won’t be a whole lot. Get back to me tomorrow morning on this.

WHAT THE CAVS DO POORLY:

See above. Should be quite the list.

PLAYER/S WHO MAKE ME WORRY:

Hickson. KG is moving around better this year but Hickson is the kind of athletic four that gave Boston all kinds of trouble during last year’s regular season. He will get his chance to reek havoc in the starting lineup tonight.

Powe. Not really, but I like to use any opportunity to give Leon some love. The guy is finally healthy this year and should see consistent minutes off the Cavs bench as their lone real post presence.

PLAYERS WHO DO NOT MAKE ME WORRY:

Everyone else.

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FROM BOSTON TONIGHT:

Reduced Minutes. I have no problem with them from last night. Pierce 41, Rondo 41, Allen 40, KG 35. The C’s needed to win that game so those minutes had to happen. However, tonight starts the Doc Rivers era where he should be able to leave heavily on his loaded bench to take the onus off the starting unit, especially coming off back to backs. Let’s hope everyone above is closer to the 30 barrier tonight and look for Von Wafer to see his first action of the season, especially if Paul’s back issues are still affecting him.

PREDICTION:

Celtics 103-92

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