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7 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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8 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
9 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 [...]

93
9 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
13 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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Doc to coach All-Stars; Pierce challenges Ray to 3-pt contest

With the Celtics’ win over Sacramento last night, Boston secured the best record in the Eastern Conference through February 6, meaning coach Doc Rivers will be heading to Los Angeles.

“It’s an honor, obviously,” Rivers said. “I would obviously rather be at home watching my kids play…but it is an honor. Especially when you factor in this month, and the injuries we’ve had.”

Rivers, who also coached the All-Stars in 2008, will likely have a bench full of Celtics to choose from. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, and Ray Allen all are Eastern Conference reserve hopefuls.

…In other All-Star related news, Paul Pierce challenged Ray Allen to this year’s 3-point Shootout at NBA All-Star Weekend.

On Monday, Pierce wrote on his Twitter account, “I think me and Ray Allen need to have a shootout in this years 3pt contest what y’all think come on NBA make it happen.”

But it appears Pierce is taking his comments even further. Here’s what the Globe’s Julian Benbow had to say in his Celtics’ Notebook today:

Initially, Paul Pierce’s challenge was for a one-on-one 3-point shootout with Ray Allen at All-Star Weekend this month in Los Angeles.

“He’s the 3-point king,’’ Pierce said, “but I’m the 3-point champ.’’

But playing a promoter’s role at shootaround yesterday morning, Pierce said he wanted to defend his 3-point title against any and all of the league’s top shooters.

“I’m just trying to go against the best,’’ Pierce said. “I’m just trying to figure out who the best shooters are of this era, and I’m just trying to challenge them. Ray’s definitely one of them. Who else? Dirk Nowitzki? Peja Stojakovic? I want them all to come out. This is something you might want to see.’

I’m sure the NBA has already caught wind of this story and is planning to invite Ray to the competition. I just hope Ray says yes, because Paul Pierce desperately needs some answers. I mean, the guy is simply trying to figure out who is the best shooter of this era. That’s not too much to ask, right?

Personally, my pick to win would be Pierce. Again. It just seems like whenever Pierce is able to take his time and square himself up to the basket, he never misses 3-pointers. I don’t know, maybe if the NBA allows Ray to roll off some screens before getting his shot off, then I’d have to go with Ray. But Paul Pierce just seems like he’s on a mission right now.

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