the boston celtics
- Thread starter phil
- Start date
blazers been lookin good lately! i cant hate and i wont. i give respect where its due. im anxious to see if oden is going to pan out. im pretty sure he will, i really wanted to get him in the draft this year, but im happier with how it panned out. instant gratification was much needed in boston, not a continuation of the 15 year rebuilding process. if the east wasnt as shaky as it is i would say the bulls are done for the year, but i wont count them out for another month or two.
off the subject did anyone see van gundy go off on his players? bwahahaaahaa!!
off the subject did anyone see van gundy go off on his players? bwahahaaahaa!!
ur right it is retareded but none the less that is what they did. we thought we had something with wlaker and pierce but it didnt work so it was back to rebuilding. please dont hate on something u dont know. i highly doubt u follow the celts at all so dont speak on that typ of shit unless u know whats up. no dissrespect or nothing but why do u insist on hating on a good team? it just makes no sense
pierce is the Trith for a reason, he proves in night in and night out even with that animal KG on his team he still looks best on the team IMO, or maybe i'm so used to him being my fav on the team it's hard to say KG is better but yeah good game and i was happy to actually be there in person so even better lol. and magic is a worthy opponent as well so it makes me happier
The 2007-2008 Celtics = The 1995-1996 Houston Rockets?
Is this Big 3 gonna end up like that disappointing Big 3 of Barkley, Drexler, and Olajuwan?
Grant it that that Hakeem was starting to fall off most likely due to injuries quickly, and that Houston Rockets team basically came off of two straight championships, and these Celtics have a better starting record (against weak competition, but The Mavs crush weaker opponents too for years)... will the Celtics end up disappointing in a close series just like the Rockets did to Utah (and John Stockton late in Game 7)?
I smell Detriot vs Boston Game 7 Eastern Conference finals already ...
Is this Big 3 gonna end up like that disappointing Big 3 of Barkley, Drexler, and Olajuwan?
Grant it that that Hakeem was starting to fall off most likely due to injuries quickly, and that Houston Rockets team basically came off of two straight championships, and these Celtics have a better starting record (against weak competition, but The Mavs crush weaker opponents too for years)... will the Celtics end up disappointing in a close series just like the Rockets did to Utah (and John Stockton late in Game 7)?
I smell Detriot vs Boston Game 7 Eastern Conference finals already ...
and in all honesty, the way i see the team now, if that was to happen we would lose but hey i would still be one happy motherfucker.
i believe they have a road trip coming very shortly, but they played a couple team already that are considered contenders in the west just not the big boys yet
not at all. it's not that the mavs lost to 8th seed but they lost to a team that knew how to play really well against them and them only. thats why GS got raped by utah. if the mavs woulda got past the warriors (which by the way i said the dubs were gonna win that series) then they woulda won the championship cause the mavs play very well against the spurs and utah.
the celts will IMO make it to the eastern chamionship but prolly fall short, but we are getting even better so who knows but regardless i'll be happy just makin it outta the 1st round
i believe they have a road trip coming very shortly, but they played a couple team already that are considered contenders in the west just not the big boys yet
not at all. it's not that the mavs lost to 8th seed but they lost to a team that knew how to play really well against them and them only. thats why GS got raped by utah. if the mavs woulda got past the warriors (which by the way i said the dubs were gonna win that series) then they woulda won the championship cause the mavs play very well against the spurs and utah.
the celts will IMO make it to the eastern chamionship but prolly fall short, but we are getting even better so who knows but regardless i'll be happy just makin it outta the 1st round
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/345055_sonx27.html
Allen's return bitter, not sweet
Veteran guard happy in Boston, but still upset that Sonics traded him
By GARY WASHBURN
P-I REPORTER
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- In the midst of the most prosperous season of his career, sharing a locker room with two fellow perennial All-Stars and contributing to a team that has made winning look effortless, Ray Allen still laments his sudden and stunning exit from the Sonics.
Allen makes his return to KeyArena on Thursday as a member of the Boston Celtics, a team as close to the Harlem Globetrotters or any other traveling All-Star team as the NBA has had since the days of the 1990s Chicago Bulls.
Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Allen make up one of the league's more formidable trios and the Celtics have raced to a 23-3 record, erasing recent miseries that nearly cost coach Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge, general manager and executive director of basketball operations, their jobs.
In an effort to resuscitate an organization that had hit rock bottom since its glory years of the 1980s, Ainge worked out a draft-day deal with Sonics GM Sam Presti to acquire Allen and the Sonics' second-round pick (Glen "Big Baby" Davis) for Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West and the rights to Jeff Green.
The trade stunned loyal Sonics fans, who envisioned Allen and Rashard Lewis tutoring Kevin Durant and Seattle returning to Western Conference respectability. Four days after Allen was traded, Lewis agreed to a maximum contract with the Orlando Magic, and the Sonics were relegated to total rebuilding mode.
And their two most talented and popular players were mere memories.
"I thought they totally blew it by trading me," Allen said before the Celtics' 89-69 win over the Sacramento Kings. "And Rashard definitely wasn't thinking about coming back once that happened.
"We're sitting on a potential 50-win team, easily, because that's all we talked about was we needed a third scorer. And we can get fortunate to be able to draft Durant. Under mine and Rashard's tutelage, whatever struggles (Durant) had would have been minimized because he wouldn't have had to take the brunt of all the offense."
Of course, retaining Allen and re-signing Lewis would have been a substantial financial commitment from the organization. And with Lewis and Allen, the Sonics made just one playoff appearance in five seasons.
But there was a perception that Allen would have had trouble blending with Durant because they have similar offensive mentalities. Allen points out he is taking fewer shots this season and averaging seven fewer points, and he has not made a peep about his role.
Winning is the primary motivation.
"Rashard and myself, we were at the point of our careers where we wanted to win," he said. "I think maybe they underestimated our ability to adapt. For Durant to come in, if he led the team in scoring, so be it. It wouldn't have fazed me or Rashard."
Allen said he knew major changes were in store following a conversation with Presti in June. Presti did not deny that everybody on the roster was potentially on the trading block -- including the franchise player.
"He didn't tell me what direction he was heading in; that's how I knew that I wasn't untouchable," Allen said. "I knew there were trade talks in the works with Boston at the time, so I asked him. His comment to me was, 'I'm glad you brought it up because I didn't want to bring it up and make it seem like I was trying to trade you.' I know with the change, when Rick Sund got fired, that it was likely that there were going to be a lot of moves made."
Presti insists that trading Allen, shipping out the organization's most identifiable player and scrapping an opportunity to compete in the short term, was a difficult decision.
"We certainly had some tough decisions to make," Presti said. "Ray is a consummate pro both off and on the court, but we felt like it was in the best interest of the organization to create a young, talented core of players that could grow together and that would allow us the flexibility and positioning to build with them throughout their development. As difficult of a decision as it was, we feel it improves our opportunity to achieve sustainable success."
The trade allowed the Sonics to become more salary-cap flexible in two seasons. Szczerbiak's contract expires after the 2009 season, allowing for a major free-agent signee to join Durant and Green.
The Sonics advanced to the Western Conference semifinals in 2005 before losing to eventual NBA champion San Antonio. Allen expressed disenchantment that the Basketball Club of Seattle, led by Howard Schultz, did little to build off that success.
"I never felt betrayed by new ownership (Clay Bennett) that came in," he said. "I think it was more by the old ownership because that's who we had a vested interest in, that's who we really got to know. In hindsight it seemed as though everything was ran barely above ground just to get to the point where they ultimately ended up selling the team. It was unfortunate; we as players had no control over it. That's why I said it was the last ownership that we became somewhat disingenuous with."
He remains bitter about not building the team into a contender.
"Yeah, because we were supposed to continue to do what we did," he said. "We lost Jerome (James). We lost Antonio (Daniels) and that's when you bolster your lineup even more if you want to continue to be a legitimate team. You can't lose players and continue to have success."
On the bright side, Allen said he is happy to be in Boston. The Celtics rolled over the Kings, allowing just one 20-plus-point quarter. Boston comes to Seattle with a 9-2 road record and hopes of an NBA title.
"Yeah, look where I am," he said when asked whether the Sonics did him a favor. "The resurgence here in Boston, to be on one of the best teams in the NBA, yeah I think they did me a great favor."
Allen's return bitter, not sweet
Veteran guard happy in Boston, but still upset that Sonics traded him
By GARY WASHBURN
P-I REPORTER
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- In the midst of the most prosperous season of his career, sharing a locker room with two fellow perennial All-Stars and contributing to a team that has made winning look effortless, Ray Allen still laments his sudden and stunning exit from the Sonics.
Allen makes his return to KeyArena on Thursday as a member of the Boston Celtics, a team as close to the Harlem Globetrotters or any other traveling All-Star team as the NBA has had since the days of the 1990s Chicago Bulls.
Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Allen make up one of the league's more formidable trios and the Celtics have raced to a 23-3 record, erasing recent miseries that nearly cost coach Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge, general manager and executive director of basketball operations, their jobs.
In an effort to resuscitate an organization that had hit rock bottom since its glory years of the 1980s, Ainge worked out a draft-day deal with Sonics GM Sam Presti to acquire Allen and the Sonics' second-round pick (Glen "Big Baby" Davis) for Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West and the rights to Jeff Green.
The trade stunned loyal Sonics fans, who envisioned Allen and Rashard Lewis tutoring Kevin Durant and Seattle returning to Western Conference respectability. Four days after Allen was traded, Lewis agreed to a maximum contract with the Orlando Magic, and the Sonics were relegated to total rebuilding mode.
And their two most talented and popular players were mere memories.
"I thought they totally blew it by trading me," Allen said before the Celtics' 89-69 win over the Sacramento Kings. "And Rashard definitely wasn't thinking about coming back once that happened.
"We're sitting on a potential 50-win team, easily, because that's all we talked about was we needed a third scorer. And we can get fortunate to be able to draft Durant. Under mine and Rashard's tutelage, whatever struggles (Durant) had would have been minimized because he wouldn't have had to take the brunt of all the offense."
Of course, retaining Allen and re-signing Lewis would have been a substantial financial commitment from the organization. And with Lewis and Allen, the Sonics made just one playoff appearance in five seasons.
But there was a perception that Allen would have had trouble blending with Durant because they have similar offensive mentalities. Allen points out he is taking fewer shots this season and averaging seven fewer points, and he has not made a peep about his role.
Winning is the primary motivation.
"Rashard and myself, we were at the point of our careers where we wanted to win," he said. "I think maybe they underestimated our ability to adapt. For Durant to come in, if he led the team in scoring, so be it. It wouldn't have fazed me or Rashard."
Allen said he knew major changes were in store following a conversation with Presti in June. Presti did not deny that everybody on the roster was potentially on the trading block -- including the franchise player.
"He didn't tell me what direction he was heading in; that's how I knew that I wasn't untouchable," Allen said. "I knew there were trade talks in the works with Boston at the time, so I asked him. His comment to me was, 'I'm glad you brought it up because I didn't want to bring it up and make it seem like I was trying to trade you.' I know with the change, when Rick Sund got fired, that it was likely that there were going to be a lot of moves made."
Presti insists that trading Allen, shipping out the organization's most identifiable player and scrapping an opportunity to compete in the short term, was a difficult decision.
"We certainly had some tough decisions to make," Presti said. "Ray is a consummate pro both off and on the court, but we felt like it was in the best interest of the organization to create a young, talented core of players that could grow together and that would allow us the flexibility and positioning to build with them throughout their development. As difficult of a decision as it was, we feel it improves our opportunity to achieve sustainable success."
The trade allowed the Sonics to become more salary-cap flexible in two seasons. Szczerbiak's contract expires after the 2009 season, allowing for a major free-agent signee to join Durant and Green.
The Sonics advanced to the Western Conference semifinals in 2005 before losing to eventual NBA champion San Antonio. Allen expressed disenchantment that the Basketball Club of Seattle, led by Howard Schultz, did little to build off that success.
"I never felt betrayed by new ownership (Clay Bennett) that came in," he said. "I think it was more by the old ownership because that's who we had a vested interest in, that's who we really got to know. In hindsight it seemed as though everything was ran barely above ground just to get to the point where they ultimately ended up selling the team. It was unfortunate; we as players had no control over it. That's why I said it was the last ownership that we became somewhat disingenuous with."
He remains bitter about not building the team into a contender.
"Yeah, because we were supposed to continue to do what we did," he said. "We lost Jerome (James). We lost Antonio (Daniels) and that's when you bolster your lineup even more if you want to continue to be a legitimate team. You can't lose players and continue to have success."
On the bright side, Allen said he is happy to be in Boston. The Celtics rolled over the Kings, allowing just one 20-plus-point quarter. Boston comes to Seattle with a 9-2 road record and hopes of an NBA title.
"Yeah, look where I am," he said when asked whether the Sonics did him a favor. "The resurgence here in Boston, to be on one of the best teams in the NBA, yeah I think they did me a great favor."