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Delonte West, The End of the Offseason

September 2nd, 2010

Let’s be clear: This is a great deal for the Celtics. They are getting a league average player with major post-season experience, and they’re getting him for the minimum salary (about $1.1 million for West) and the same amount in luxury tax payments. While the Grizzlies ownership is nickel-and-diming the team’s first-round draft picks to save Rudy Gay’s beer money, the C’s ownership is throwing $2.2 million at a player with a shaky mental health history—even though the team already had 14 players under contract and one back-up (Von Wafer) playing the same position as West.

This is a good period to be a Celtics fan. Don’t forget that.

Again: This is a great deal, and it’s a great deal because the C’s aren’t giving up any basketball assets to make it happen. And that, to me, is the story of this off-season. » More: Delonte West, The End of the Offseason

Can Jermaine O’Neal Play The Four?

August 13th, 2010

In my breakdown of the Shaquisition, I mentioned the question of who Shaq could be paired with in the front court. If Perk returns healthy, the C’s post-season big man rotation will probably consist of: Shaq, Perk, KG, Big Baby, Jermaine O’Neal.

Shaq is immobile, and so in an ideal world, you’d pair him with mobile big man who can defend the screen/roll and otherwise cover a lot of ground. KG obviously works, and Perk just as obviously does not. That leaves Big Baby and Jermaine O’Neal, and I expressed doubts that Jermaine O’Neal could realistically play the power forward position on defense against most teams.

A lot of readers disagreed, and so did Chris Forsberg at ESPNBoston.com (to an extent). Here’s what Forsberg wrote in response to a question about the C’s front court rotation:

I actually see potential in an O’Neal-O’Neal frontcourt. Celtics GM Danny Ainge noted that he was eager to utilize Jermaine O’Neal at the 4 this season, and high-mileage legs aside, I don’t see why it can’t work against another team’s second unit. It’s not like they’re going to spend 20 minutes together on the court per game, so if you need to lean on that pairing for a sequence or two each game, I don’t see a problem.

In the end, I really like the flexibility O’Neal’s addition offers Boston. Although without ideal sets all the time, Boston can easily trot out a reserve-laden big lineup like O’Neal-O’Neal-Luke Harangody-Marquis Daniels-Rajon Rondo or go small with something like Jermaine O’Neal-Glen Davis-Daniels-Nate Robinson-Rondo. Go ahead and mix and match starters in those units. Again, it’s not something you trot out there every day, but it offers greater flexibility than was available last season.

Some thoughts: » More: Can Jermaine O’Neal Play The Four?

Quirks of the C’s Schedule, Part II

August 12th, 2010

A few more observations about Boston’s 2011 schedule:

• The first 10 games are brutal. The C’s start with Miami, and after a three-game respite (@Cleveland, New York, @ Detroit), the next six games go like this: Milwaukee, Chicago, @Oklahoma City, @Dallas, @Miami, @Memphis. Those first 10 games include three back-to-backs, including the Thunder and Mavs games.

The C’s started 27-2 in ’09 and 23-5 last season. Don’t be shocked if they are 5-5 after their first 10 games in 2011.

• Even so, the schedule is mostly back-loaded. If the C’s want to fatten up their record, they should do so between games #10 and the halfway point of the season. After Boston’s first 10 games, the C’s will play 20 of 32 at home, and many of those games are against the mediocrity of the league.

After that? It gets much tougher. » More: Quirks of the C’s Schedule, Part II

Chill on the James Posey Speculation

August 11th, 2010

The Celtics have an open roster spot, one they may or may not fill at some point with a wing player. James Posey was traded today to the Indiana Pacers as part of a four-team deal. The Pacers are a mediocre team. Posey is 33 and enjoys winning. 

Put it all together, and a firestorm of 2008 nostalgia ignited around the idea of the Pacers buying out Posey’s $13.5 million deal, freeing Boston to make a run at him. 

Forget it, says Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated:

As you were.

Shaq in the Hot Seat

August 11th, 2010

It’s a Sunday tradition: Deborah Solomon of The New York Times magazine runs a Q-and-A with a famous person. Solomon’s exchanges are famous for shifting quickly from friendly to feisty to cranky to uncomfortable and maybe back to friendly again. It’s always an entertaining read. 

This week’s guest: Shaquille O’Neal

Some excerpts (with Solomon in bold):

Did you watch along with the rest of the world when [LeBron] monopolized ESPN for a night to announce where he was going? 
No, I didn’t. One, I was with the kids, and two, I didn’t know it was going to be on TV.

I didn’t watch it, either. 
That’s because you’re mature and you’re my age and we have a different mind-set.

And:

When was the last time you panicked? 
1981.

When you were 9? » More: Shaq in the Hot Seat