Author Archive

Memory Lane: Delonte & The Truth

September 2nd, 2010

Back at the end of the 2005-06 season, Delonte West and Paul Pierce filmed a segment over at Fox Sports Net (Now CSN) together breaking down their own fashion styles and discussing the team’s prospects for the upcoming season.

The five minute interview’s highlights include Delonte discussing “future All-Stars” Tony Allen and Al Jefferson, (2 minute mark) and Paul Pierce anticipating a trip to Europe (3:30) to scout for the team’s trip there for next year, that we all know will go down in history.

An entertaining few minutes if nothing else, and you have the sense that both West and Pierce genuinely get along here. You know Danny wouldn’t have brought in West without the blessing for the key members of his roster, so it’s apparent here just how comfortable Delonte was in Boston back then. Here’s to hoping he can return to that place next season.

Bonus goodness after the jump » More: Memory Lane: Delonte & The Truth

Ainge Talks About West Signing

September 1st, 2010

Upon confirming the C’s will be signing Delonte West to a deal this afternoon, Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge spoke with the media this afternoon about the signing and other concerns relating to the team. Our man over at ESPNBoston.com. Chris Forsberg has us covered with the latest the C’s top dog had to say on West, training camp, and the rest of the roster.

On Trading Delonte West in 2007:

“He was one of the toughest guys for me to trade, I’d do it again, of course, but we really liked Delonte when he was here. Even though we knew the issues and the challenges he needed to take care of, we also think Delonte is in a better place today than he was the day he left. He wasn’t perfect, but we still liked the player.”

On Team’s Familiarity with West:

“There’s a familiarity with the roster and a familiarity with the players, Paul [Pierce] and Rajon [Rondo], especially, were big fans having played with him. I’m a fan of Delonte.”

On  Training Camp Plans:

“When I played for the Celtics, we never went away… It’s a long season, guys can sleep in their own beds.”

On Prospects of Tony Gaffney and Oliver Lafayette of Making The Roster:

“We’ll keep the best players.”

A couple other key notes from Forsberg’s column include the admission that Ainge wouldn’t close the door on making any more moves before the start of the season. » More: Ainge Talks About West Signing

Report: Delonte West To Sign With Celtics

September 1st, 2010

The rumors have been out there for about a week now. Someone texted into to Toucher and Rich that Delonte West was seen at Logan Airport last week. There was an email into Red’s Army, that West was getting a physical at New England Baptist Hospital. Reports of apartment shopping in The Boston Herald in Waltham.  Usually when there is enough smoke like that, there’s fire and that looks to be the case today.

The Boston Herald has the scoop:

Delonte West is coming back to the Celtics

A league source confirmed moments ago that the former Celts guard is prepared to sign a free-agent deal with the team.

According to a source, West will sign a non-guaranteed contract and will be on hand when the team begins camp this fall.

A full analysis of the move on the way……

The Importance Of Quisy

August 31st, 2010

In the midst of Chris Forsberg’s terrific Summer Forecast over at ESPN Boston we’ve reached a question of utmost significance in the C’s hopes next season, the importance of Marquis Daniels. Here’s what I wrote today, over at the Forecast:

Daniels’ performance next season is one that bears close watching for C’s fans. Brought back on a one-year $2.4 million deal, purely out of necessity more than anything else, Daniels follows up last season’s disappointing campaign as the team’s top reserve at a wing position thin on depth.

The C’s can’t afford another down year from Daniels, with Tony Allen out of the picture and Ray Allen and Paul Pierce one year older. Those guys need to have their minutes kept down during the regular season more than ever, and Daniels needs to hold his own as a key reserve.

The good news is I expect Marquis to step up to the challenge. A clean bill of health and not having to learn a new system should do wonders for Daniels’ play as he becomes more comfortable in Celtic green without having to battle TA for minutes.

The guy has the overall skill set to be a big contributor; I just don’t think we saw him really healthy at all last year. If he can stay healthy (a huge if, I know), Daniels has both the ability and a strong supporting cast on the bench to excel in his role this season.

I don’t expect him to play 82 games, but a strong bounce-back performance — in a make-or-break season for his career — should be in the cards.

Let’s get a bit more in-depth here as there are a few more points I want to dig into more in discussing Daniels’ prospects next year » More: The Importance Of Quisy

FIBA Watch: Durant leads way against Croatia

August 28th, 2010

Rajon Rondo may no longer be with the squad, but that doesn’t mean CelticsHub won’t be keeping an eye on Team USA as they try to bring home their first World Championship since 1994. The National “B” Team opened up in pool play this afternoon against Croatia on the slow side, only leading by two after the first frame.

Luckily, Coach K’s squad used their defense and athleticism to break things wide open in the second period, holding Croatia to just 6 points, while opening up a 22 point halftime lead they never looked back from on their way to a 106-78 victory.

Kevin Durant led the scoring with 14 points, but it was a couple NBA sophomore stars that stole the show with Eric Gordon (13 points) and Kevin Love  (10 rebounds) serving as terrific sparkplugs off the bench in the balanced effort.

Everyone on the team scored at least 4 points, and 9 of the team’s 12 players made a 3, as Coach K put a premium on shooting by going with a small lineup with 3 guards (Rose, Curry, Billups) to start. I am curious to see if they will stick with this lineup heading into tomorrow’s game against Slovenia (9:30 a.m. ESPN2)

In honor of the win against Croatia, naturally we had to bust out some highlights from the greatest Croatian Celtic of all-time, the one and only Dino Radja. Incredibly, someone made a mix tape on Youtube, combining both Dino Radja and Eric Montross highlights, which will make any 90′s Celtics fans weekends.Enjoy the goodness.

A look at how the C’s newest European import Semi Erden fared in his FIBA debut, after the jump » More: FIBA Watch: Durant leads way against Croatia