1. How much communication have you had with Michael Jordan this year?

Walker: Not much.  I mean, when we are at home he is around.  We see him then, but he’s busy, so not much really.

1a. Has he talked to you individually at all?

Walker: No.

2. You were a scoring point guard in college. How difficult is that to bring into the NBA, trying to set up guys but also get your points with a group you haven’t been able to play with much?

Walker: I think I’ve actually done a pretty good job.  We talk with the coaches and watch film, try to get better.  But I think I’ve done pretty good.

3. You guys have a lot of injuries right now. Will this help you in the long run, getting all this playing time?

Walker: Yeah, I think so.  I think so.  I was on and off, having some ups and downs during the course of the season.  But yeah, me playing a lot will definitely help.  For me, Bismack, and Cory, us being rookies that’s going to help a lot, especially when those guys come back.  I think we’re going to be a much better team, because I know what to do more when I’m out on the floor more with the second group.  So yeah, it’ll be a lot better.

4. Are you already the leader of this team?

Walker: No, I’m not the leader.

4a. Who is the leader?

Walker: (long pause): Well, yeah, right now maybe I am the leader, with all the guys out.  I’m the point guard, floor leader.  But D.J. [Augustin] and Corey [Maggette] are the leaders.  It’s D.J.’s team.

5. Any extra motivation playing against an All-Star point guard in Rajon Rondo? Measuring stick kind of game?

Walker: Nah man, not really. I just played Steve Nash the other night, I got Chris Paul.  (Seems like every night in this league, right?)  Basically it is.  Basically you just got to go out there and play basketball.  Play hard and try to win, that’s all you can do.

Rich Keefe is the Celtics Reporter for 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston.  You can follow him on twitter: @Keefe21

The fans did a pretty solid job picking the starters this year. There wasn’t any popular injured guys (Yao Ming) or veteran fan-favorites who got in undeservingly (Allen Iverson). Carmelo isn’t having the best season and is on a disappointing Knicks team, but he’s still an All-Star. I’m not going to argue with any of the 10 selections. Every year there are arguments over those last 14 reserve spots. And this season is no different. Here are my picks, Western Conference first.

West Reserves:

Forward: Kevin Love, Timberwolves (25 points, 14 rebounds)
Forward: LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers (23-9)
Forward: Rudy Gay, Grizzlies (18-6.5)
Center: Marc Gasol, Grizzlies (14.5-10.5)
Guard: Russell Westbrook, Thunder (22-5-6)
Guard: Monta Ellis, Warriors (21.5-3-7)
Guard: Tony Parker, Spurs (17-8 assists)

Some of these are obvious (Love, Aldridge, Westbrook) but the others are all debatable. I believe Ellis is finally deserving this year, despite the Warriors still not being a Top 8 team in the West. Steve Nash and James Harden have great cases, but with the success of the Spurs I give Parker a slight edge. He is quietly having another great year. Hard to leave the Nuggets without a selection, but the truth is they are a very solid team, not relying on any one player to carry them. Nene, Gallinari, or even Lawson or Harrington could represent Denver. Tough choices.

East Reserves:

Forward: Chris Bosh, Heat (20-8)
Forward: Paul Pierce, Celtics (18-5.5-5.5)
Forward: Amare Stoudemire, Knicks (18-8)
Center: Roy Hibbert, Pacers (14-10)
Guard: Deron Williams, Nets (20.5-8.5)
Guard: Brandon Jennings, Bucks (20.5-3-6)
Guard: Joe Johnson, Hawks (19-4-4)

Toughest omissions included Rajon Rondo, Danny Granger, Josh Smith, Greg Monroe, Kyrie Irving, and Ryan Anderson. If Rondo has a great week (coming back from his wrist injury) he could crack the roster. I feel that Jennings is deserving this year. Hibbert likely gets in because of the lack of depth at center in the East. Al Horford and Andrew Bogut are hurt and the rest of the teams don’t even really have a center, so Hibbert’s 14-10 combined with being on a good Pacers team gets him the honor.

Let the debates begin.

Rich Keefe is the Celtics Reporter for 98.5 The Sports Hub.  He writes the “Around The NBA” and “5 Questions With…” columns on CelticsHub.com.  You can follow him on twitter: @Keefe21

1.  I’m sure you guys are frustrated with your record to this point of the season (8-14), but do you feel that you’re close to putting it all together?

Fields: I do.  I think as of late it’s been good, we’ve been playing hard and learning from our mistakes and film and getting with our coaches, I think it’s been good as of late.

2. What’s it like playing without a true point guard?  I know Shumpert has come in and started a bunch of games, Carmelo has had to run the offense a lot through him, so how does it change things?

Fields: It’s different in some regards, but I think they’ve done a great job.   I think Shump’s been doin the best he can in his first year.  I’m sure whatever can be cleaned up will be by the coaches.

3. Is there a Knicks-Celtics rivalry, like the other New York-Boston team rivalries?

Fields: I mean, you know, a lot of time yeah, but right now all the games are important.

4. What’s it like guarding Ray Allen, having to chase him around all night?

Fields: It’s tough, but it’s something you got to go out there and do.  Watch a lot of film on it, so go out there and do my best.

5. You have to pick the Giants because you’re in New York?

Fields: Yes, I have to pick the Giants because I’m in New York.

Did you have a team growing up?

Fields: Not really, so I’ve adopted the Giants.

Rich Keefe is the Celtics Reporter for 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston.  You can follow him on twitter: @Keefe21

1. Keefe: What has been the key to your team’s success against the Celtics this season?

West: I don’t know.  We just try to have the same approach, regardless of who we playing.   Try to be aggressive and set the tone defensively.

2. Keefe: How have you been able to fit in with the Pacers in your first year, just 15-17 games in?

West: Well you know, not trying to do too much.  Took me my time in terms of learning these guys.  Didn’t come in and try to impose who I am on this team.  You know, this is a good core, good group.  I still am trying to find the best way for me to fit. 

3. Keefe:  What is Coach Vogel like?

West: I mean he’s good.  He’s young and energetic.  He keeps things positive even when we don’t play well.  He’s able to get us goin, get our mind away from the game we just had and go out and get another one. 

4. Keefe: Do you consider you guys a top contender in the Eastern Conference?

West: No I don’t.  Nah, it’s too early, and we haven’t done anything except win a couple games.

5. Keefe: What did you make of Tu Holloway and all that went on back at Xavier?

West:  I mean the game was over.  But you know.  Sometimes it becomes more than basketball, and that was the effect of that.

BONUS QUESTION!

Patriots or Giants in the Super Bowl?

West: Giants.

You a Giants fan?

West: Little bit.

Rich Keefe is the Celtics Reporter for 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston.  You can follow him on twitter: @Keefe21

The slapped together 66-game season would be a rushed compromise.  The owners get the Christmas games (and a number of concessions in the new CBA), the players get their jobs back, and the fans?  The fans get what should have been a slightly abbreviated NBA schedule, complete with the aforementioned traditional Christmas games, an All-Star game, 16 less games (which doesn’t sound so bad), and most importantly a full post season.

But there’s a catch.

The overall quality of the games has been crap.  As many of the Celtics players said prior to the start of the season, it’s been rushed.  Two preseason games sounds good on paper.  Limited practice time, to the average fan?  Who cares?  Well, as we are all witnessing, it matters.  It matters big time.  The season was rushed and the on-court product/ fan experience has suffered.  In a way they have sacrificed the season, by not sacrificing the season.  I don’t see this as a long term problem, but as for the present, it’s embarrassing.

The Celtics scored 71 points last night.  71 points in 48 minutes.  (They played the whole game.)  I know Rajon Rondo didn’t play, but come on.  They were not alone in a night of futility around the league.  Check out some of these other final point totals: 75, 76, 79, 81, 80, 84, 86, 86, 88.  Faaaaaaaaaaantastic.

A closer look at the numbers: only four teams are averaging 100+ points per game this season.  (Yes I know it’s not even a month in, and two of those four teams are just a couple of bad nights away from being in the 90s).  By comparison, 11 teams put up at least 100 last season.  Equally discouraging, five teams are averaging less than 90 points per game this year, not one team did that for the entire season a year ago.

Many NBA experts warned us that this schedule, with the multiple back-to-backs, and the always dicey back-to-back-to-back, that there would be nights that teams just simply don’t have the energy.  Oh ok.  That should be consolation enough for the paying customer.  Sorry the Lakers scored 52 points thru 3 quarters in a primetime ESPN game… it was just “one of those nights.”  Weak.

Injuries have been a big discussion with the condensed season.  I don’t blame the number of injuries on the lockout like others do, I, more simply look at the effort and energy on a given night.  Rondo messed up his wrist going up for a layup on Wednesday that same exact play could have happened in a traditional 82-game season.  I’m not freaking out about the injuries, but the level of play, that’s the problem.

There are still an overwhelming number of must-see players around the league and intriguing teams and storylines.  However with so many “off nights” throughout the season, it becomes more difficult to defend the NBA product.  Again, I think/hope that this problem will be isolated to this season and not carry over.  It appears that it may not only be a long season for the Celtics, but for the NBA fans as well.

Rich Keefe is the Celtics Reporter for 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston.  You can follow him on twitter: @Keefe21