Preseason Games 3 & 4: The Good, The Bad And The Gino

Watching last night's game against the New York Knicks, there were just two things missing that prevented me from total enjoyment: Gino being called out of mothballs to dance on the Jumbotron and the childlike jubilation with which one former Celtic used to watch him do it.

Actually, there was one other thing missing...any remotely linked semblance to relevancy that this win has on the upcoming season.

Now, don't get me wrong...I am the greenest of GreenHeadz that you'll ever find and I've been told that, as far as my belief in and support for the Celtics goes, my balloon never lands. But, when the Knicks go-to high scorer is Ike Diogu -- a man not yet guaranteed to be on the roster come November -- and the only efforts in this game given by the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Ray Felton, Tyson Chandler, Ron Artest and Kenyon Martin were as high-priced cheerleaders, you know that your 30-point win is going to have to come with a major asterisk.

Still, there were encouraging things to be seen, like watching The KO Kid, Kelly Olynyk, hang a well-rounded game on the New Yorkers and seeing MarShon Brooks come alive. Jordan Crawford continues to play under control, Avery Bradley is making his shots consistently and Jared Sullinger's back looks to be in great shape.

On the downside, Courtney Lee is still turning over milk cartons trying to find his jumper and Jeff Green has yet to find the magic can of spinach that he was eating from towards the end of last season and into the Playoffs, but, hey...it's the preseason and most realists out there know that the real reason to watch the games this year is to see the newbies develop and admire the team's scrappy play, even in under the threat of a looming Lottery.

Of course, this team -- especially when Rajon Rondo returns (December? February?) -- is going to be competitive on most nights and may even surprise a few top-tier teams from game to game. But, I can't help but think that the game that was played the night before against the Philadelphia 76ers is more in line with what we're going to see as the season begins in earnest -- a close game in the middle stages between the 2nd and 3rd quarters with the requisite furious comeback, only to fall in the 4th as the better team locks in and drives it home.

Still...looking at some of the young talent that's been scratching and clawing for the Green and White, it won't be too long before Gino regains full employment and anything becomes possible again.

Preseason Game 3
Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Box Score
Tale of the Tape

Preseason Game 4
Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks
Box Score
Tale of the Tape
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Who Got Next?
Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets
(Yeah, THAT team)
Tuesday, October 15th, 2013
7:30 PM

Meet Ray Felton: Member Of The New York WhinyBabies

So, Ray Felton of the New York Knicks is bent out of shape about the preseason predictions of a certain sports media empire located in Bristol Connecticut? Somebody get this guy some warm milk, footie pajamas and a reassuring hug, STAT!

Seriously, Ray?

At least Kobe Bryant had the sense to give his team's lowered expectations the royal "Harhummmph!" and move on. And HE's got a problem or two to contend with that you and your mates don't.

Kobe's completely dysfunctional and disjointed team imploded well before he ever blew a tire and ended his season. Then, his team lost their franchise supersized summer rental after he beat town following a constant barrage of negative comments from teammates, fans and media alike. In his Felton-short time in L.A., Dwight Howard was constantly berated and belittled by Kobe (okay, the incessantly immature Dwight Howard clearly deserved those size 14 "Black Mambas" up his @$$, I won't argue that...), even as he dealt with a nagging shoulder injury for much of the season. Add to that the uncertainty around a rapidly degenerating Steve Nash, Cottonelle center Pau Gasol and the aforementioned Achilles tendon injury and your problems seem to disappear faster than a New York Minute in comparison.

 
And, yet...even still...the Lakers look to be potentially more competitive than your notch-above-borderline-mediocre squad. They've added some interesting pieces in the wake of the L.A. Dwightmare to the point that you have to think a healthy Kobe Bryant (as much as it may pain me to say so) might be able to drag them to the postseason and make some modest noise.

So, you think your team is entitled to a higher ranking than #5 on the completely speculative and meaningless preseason "Predictometer?"

Ray....Ray, Ray, Ray...

It took your team six games to win a first round matchup with a Boston team leaning hard on two "old" stars in the absence of its best and most critical Playoff performer in Rajon Rondo -- not to mention being saddled with a gaggle of other injuries to important players like rookie phenom Jared Sullinger and sparkplug Leandro Barbosa! And then you went down in the second round with just two wins to show for it!

So...what....you want to be slotted for the Finals now that you have the ancient Metta World Peace Ron Artest eating up a roster spot? Are you (rhymes with "trucking") kidding me?!?!

You want angst? Try having your general manager take a keg of dynamite to your team and losing two Hall Of Fame players in the process to make way for a full rebuild and then tell me about how unfair it all is. Granted, it had to happen and really, I'm doing quite well with it all now...(happy place...happy place...), but...still.

And, since we're talking about Felton and his New York WhinyBabies...

He recently spoke to that very same mega sports network that rhymes with "We Guess The End," and spent the majority of this other interview trying to convince everyone that he doesn't care about Paul Pierce's statement calling for the Nets to begin running New York.

Memba Dis?!!

Here's a little piece of his ardent indifference:

"They will never take over the city. Because we've got 'New York' on our chest," Felton said Sunday. "They've got 'Brooklyn' on their chest, and we've got 'New York.' They'll never take over the city." 

And...

"He's just trying to talk, talk, talk, to fuel the rivalry, which is good. I love it," said Felton, who laughed when asked about Pierce's comments. "I think it's good for us, it's good for the whole state, it's good. So, whatever -- I love it." 

But, then...

"I don't really pay no attention to what Paul is saying," added Felton, who was at St. John's University at a clinic for Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City. "I hear about it, but I don't pay it no attention. It's all fun and games to me."

So, which is it, Ray? Are you actively challenging and being deeply offended by Pierce's assertion that the Nets will run New York? Do you think that it's a good thing and all it is, is The Truth being The Truth? Or do you not pay it any mind at all?

You know what I think, Ray? I think you have no idea what the (rhymes with "duck") you're talking about. And, you sound pretty dazed and confused, so -- barring your ingestion of actual mind altering substances -- you may be in need of some kind of attention, medical or otherwise.

I think I'm going to call you a wambulance.

You're welcome.

Lacking Substance, Lazy Writers Try To Stick You Innuendo

Oh, for crying out loud!

People...I know there's not much more out there to talk about -- though I think the ongoing saga of a Celtics team pulling together without their best player and rookie phenom is fairly sexy with enough leg to walk a few more weeks -- but, can we PLEASE put the "Garnett May Be Traded!!" futhermucking shullbit to bed? Please? Please?!?

Look...a day of reporting rumored hearsay is fine. A second day, I get it...you have to look at all the angles...beat the fantasy horse a little. But, folks...three days on a story that isn't backed up by a single credible source, makes no tangible sense to either team, and is essentially barred from happening in the first place because the main player mentioned in the deal has a "no-trade" clause...overkill, much?

I know I sound cranky, and maybe that's because we're talking about trying to trade one of the two Celtics that currently deserve to retire in Green (we'll talk about the rafters for Garnett another time...maybe when readers need sexy...) and it rubs me the wrong way when normally levelheaded talking-heads start behaving like they're on the latest episode of "Basketball Housewives From The Bachelor's Surviving Dancemom's HoneyBooBoo."

I know, I know..."this is what sportswriters and bloggers DO!" Some of 'em even get paid for it. I get it. I do.

But, how long can we kick that horse before it turns into powder? According to reports, Garnett has a number of conditions that would prohibit his waiver of the no trade clause he holds and one of them hinges on whether or not Paul Pierce is also traded. That's all I need to know. To paraphrase the father of a bumblingly lovable drink-share-worthy ex-president who is an ex-president himself, the Celtics are "not gonna do it. Wouldn't be prudent at this juncture."

Doc says as much at the 1:33 mark:

But, as I said...normally sensible folks are out there flogging this non-story so hard, they should face suspensions and fines before they're allowed to return to work. (Sorry, Sherrod...this was just three steps past one too many. 

So, I implore everyone to get their sanity back and start reporting on other more interesting stuff that actually happened, like how Ron Artest will never be worthy of the respect of people calling him anything other than the name for which he became notorious (in a BAD way not B.I.G. way); our next opponent Toronto's more potent offense with the addition of Rudy Gay; how the Lakers appear to have righted their ship somewhat just as they prepare to invade the Garden on Thursday; and, finally...oh, hey, would you look at that...four-game win streak without our best player and rookie phenom!

Then again, aren't some of you still participating in Honey Nut Cheerioverkill?

For crying out loud.