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9 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 [...]

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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 [...]

9
10 days ago

Danny Ainge Expects Doc Rivers & Kevin Garnett To Return, Unsure About Paul Pierce

A long, challenging offseason awaits Danny Ainge this summer. Before he dives in head first, he joined Salk and Holley on WEEI-FM 93.7 to discuss the multitude of decisions facing him this offseason, as well as the progress of Rajon Rondo in his rehab from ACL surgery. A few of the notable highlights from the interview. Ainge [...]

11
10 days ago

Suns Hire Away Celtics’ Assistant GM Ryan McDonough

In one way or another, there will be change this offseason in Boston. That process started in the past couple days, with the first piece moving out coming as a name most C’s fans might not be familiar with. Yet, it was Celtics’ assistant general manager Ryan McDonough, one of Danny Ainge’s top lieutenants, who [...]

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12 days ago

Doc Rivers Finishes 13th in Coach of the Year Voting

It was a tough season for the Boston Celtics, and that includes for head coach Doc Rivers. The long-time coach battled to find the right fit for a lot of new pieces that were both underperforming and/or failed to pick up his schemes on both ends of the floor. Naturally, an unfortunate plethora of injuries [...]

23
13 days ago

Overconfident Answers To Offseason Questions (Part 1)

It seems like every offseason since 2010 we’ve been through this: a myriad of questions and concerns about the Celtics’ roster that usually involve the possibility of the core of the team being dismantled. As we head into the summer of 2013, we’ve got a whole batch of questions, many of which will be familiar.  [...]

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Game 8/66: Pacers (4-2) @ Celtics (4-3) Open Thread

Indiana at Boston
7:30 P.M. ET
TD Garden
CSNNE

Offensive Efficiency:
Boston: 104.8 points/100 possessions (5th)
Indiana: 96.8 points/100 possessions (21st)

Defensive Efficiency:
Boston: 101.1 points allowed/100 possessions (18th)
Indiana: 96.7 points allowed/100 possessions (7th)

Key Injuries:  Boston: Mickael Pietrus (knee) is still out, probably until next week. Ray Allen appears to be back from his flu. Jermaine O’Neal is permanently day-to-day.
Indiana: Jeff Foster and Tyler Hansbrough are day-to-day.

Probable Indiana Starters: Darren Collison (PG), Paul George (SG), Danny Granger (SF), David Moorer West (PF), Roy Denzil Hibbert (C)

View From The Opposing Bench: Eight Points, Nine Seconds

THUMBNAIL
The Pacers figured more prominently than any other team in the Celtics’ offseason activities, even though the two teams didn’t actually exchange any players. First the Pacers expressed interest in a three-team deal with Boston and the Hornets that would bring Chris Paul to Boston, send Rondo to the tenth circle of Indiana, and bring Darren Collison and a few other guys to New Orleans. Indiana getting involved got Danny Ainge all fired up, and he actively tried to push this deal forward. Feelings were hurt. Would have been much better if the Pacers had just stayed out of it and let an idle offer of Rondo, Jeff Green, and JaTwaun Bradley die on the first phone call.

Then, instead of just letting other teams handle their business, the Pacers jumped in and signed David West out from under the Celtics, just because they were willing to offer him a much better deal and more playing time. How annoying is that? This must be about retribution for the time Paul Pierce stole that water.

Now the Celtics face the Pacers with with the goal of drinking the cool, refreshing water that is a home victory from the plastic bottle of determination (strong metaphor).

PREGAME ANALYSIS
The Celtics are catching the Pacers in a vulnerable spot: the guy who burns most of their usage (Granger) is playing horribly, and their new offensive weapon (West) appears to be still working his way back from mincing his ACL last season. Granger’s always been something of a double-edged sword for the Pacers; as a volume shooter, their success depends on him maintaining average efficiency levels, but lately he’s been taking shots from more valuable players on his own team. Also, aren’t all swords double-edged? Why do people say that?

The one guy who could bestow trouble on the Celtics is Roy Hibbert, who lately has been the team’s best scorer and rebounder at the Celtics’ weakest position. If Jermaine O’Neal can’t play, this game could be the first real test for Greg Stiemsma, the person who every Celtics storyline is somehow about now.

PREDICTION
Celtics 97, Pacers 93

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