GreenHeadz Regurgitations: As The Celtics Ponder The Future, Who Should Stay And Who Should Go?

The following post is the partial regurgitation of a story so good, we wish we wrote it ourselves! Follow the link at the end to catch the full story where it lives.

(The Following Story Originated On ESPN's "Boston Celtics Report" And Was Written By Chris Forsberg) 

Take 'em or leave 'em

By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com

Each year after the Celtics' season ends, we play a game of Take 'Em or Leave 'Em to determine which players the team should retain -- and which ones should be sent packing -- for next season.

Below are longer explanations for our decisions (sometimes five words just isn't enough to elaborate in the main piece). For the purpose of this year's exercise, we ran with the idea that the Celtics would bring back veterans Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. While many have expressed a desire for Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge to dismantle this roster, we subscribe to the notion that the shred-the-team path won't be particularly easy to do. That's not to say that Boston won't explore trade avenues before -- and during -- the 2013-14 season, it just seems that one of the clearer paths to roster turnover, while still remaining competitive, actually involves keeping the veteran core intact for season seven of a three-year plan.
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You can read the rest of this insightful article by clicking here.

And, when you're done with that, take the "Take Em' Or Leave 'Em" poll either at ESPN.com or by clicking here.

Despite Insane 20-To-Nothing Rally, Celtics Fall Short As Season Concludes

It's not that I didn't know this was a possibility, even a probability. But, I'm just not ready to write about this at all.

There are stories about Paul Pierce having played his last game for Boston, Kevin Garnett maybe retiring...I'm just not ready to put it all into words right now, it sucks too much. How could we have lost like THAT to THIS team? I can't stand it.

"I told them after the game that I couldn't be more proud of a group of guys who went through a ton of adversity all year with all the injuries."

 - Celtics coach Doc Rivers

Me, too. These guys have been through a LOT. No excuses. But, they SHOULD be proud of themselves.

Ah, well...I suppose I can take solace in the fact that they're about to get stomped...if not this round by the Indiana Pacers then DEFINITELY in the next one. Miami owes them some payback.

Look at that...am I really pulling for Miami now? Is that what it's come to?!?!

I really, REALLY don't want to write about this. I think I'm gonna need some time off before I clean out my blogging locker for the season.

Box Score

Tale Of The Tape (Yes, it IS worth it just to see the rally...but if it's too soon...)

Garnett's 27 Points Make Dinos Sore As Boston Beats Toronto For 5th Straight Win: 99-95

Good...   

Sweet...   

Lord.

Maybe it was all the trade talk. Maybe it was his 25,000th point looming just over the horizon. Maybe it was just due.

But, Good...Sweet...Lord!

Growing up as a young man, Kevin Maurice Garnett must have broken a lot of hearts on his way to basketball supremacy. I say this because tonight against the Toronto Raptors, on the heels of several rumors and much speculation about teams eagerly, hopefully inquiring as to his availability in trade, The Big Ticket unveiled some mad skillz directly related to his brand-new persona: The Big Tease. That's right. The Big Tease.

Sensing the amorous eyes of the basketball world fixed firmly on his 7-foot frame, Garnett walked out onto the floor of the Air Canada Centre and proceeded to show all of his suitors exactly how much they're never going to get, delivering his highest single-game scoring output since the Championship run of 2008.

Feasting on the Dinos as if they were Brontosaurus Burgers, KG netted a game-high 27 points on 11-18 shooting and pulled down 10 rebounds IN JUST 26 MINUTES. Contrast that performance with Toronto's high scorer, new Raptor Rudy Gay, who scored 24, but had to take 24 shots to get there, making only 8. In fairness, he did get 10 boards, 4 steals and 3 assists, but he managed to sink only one shot in the 4th quarter amidst an aggressive Celtics defense.

As astounding as KG was tonight (did I mention he scored 27 in only 26 minutes?), he had some help from Captain Paul Pierce, who shot an abysmal 2-11 but still nearly got a triple-double by living up to one of his favorite sayings and "giving the game what it needs", which was apparently 12 points, 11 rebounds and a team-high 6 assists.

Courtney Lee had a strong 15 points, Avery Bradley got 11 and Brandon Bass scored 10. Coming off the bench, a very active and explosive Leandro Barbosa dropped 14 on 5-8 shooting with several baskets coming in crunch time as the Celtics took command of the game down the stretch.

When asked to give his assessment about the game and why the Celtics are beating teams without Rajon Rondo and Jared Sullinger, KG uttered these heartwarming and telling words, "We believe in each other." They apparently like each other, too, as evidenced by the embrace we saw Jeff Green (who played great defense) give Barbosa after the game and the smiles pasted all over the faces of the team.

Milestones? Did someone say Milestones? No? Well, we're talkin' about 'em anyway!

Doc Rivers got his 400th Celtic win and KG now stands at 24,994 career points -- for all of you non-math majors, that's just six points away from an impressive milestone. Tomorrow night against the Los Angeles Lakers, Garnett should join the only other active player in the NBA with 25,000 or more points. That player? Kobe Bryant. Bryant, by the way, recently said something to the effect of, "You guys don't want Rajon Rondo? Send him my way...I like everything that guy's about." Take THAT, Rondo haters!

Not to make early projections here, but the Celtics are now 2 games over .500, just 6.5 games out of first place in the Atlantic Division, and only 8 games out of the top spot for the Eastern Conference. Aww, Hell...I WILL make a projection, or at least, a prediction...the Celtics will win the Atlantic Division. After that? ANYTHING IS POSSIBLLLLLEEE!

Take Of The Tape

Box Score

Next Up, The Los Angeles Lakers!

THE BUZZ:

The Boston Celtics vs. The Los Angeles Lakers
Thursday, February 7th, 2013
@ 8:00pm
The Boston Garden, Boston MA

C's Pull Rabbit Out Of A Hat, Vanquish Magic In Overtime: 116-110

The Boston Mixed-Bags? How about the Boston Boxed-Chocolates?

Seriously, though, you really never do know what you're gonna get when it comes to the C's these days as they continue to work on establishing consistency in this toddler stage that is the NBA season. They've been putting it together more often than not lately, but on occasion (like in the 3rd quarter against the Orlando Magic!), they'll go into Space Jam "an alien stole my powers" mode. Again, this is to be expected as they incorporate 10 new players (including rookie Jared Sullinger) into the mix of a championship-or-bust squad, but it can be...shall we say, interesting...to watch at times.

Oh, they started things off well enough taking a 28-22 lead after one and staying ahead by 4 entering half-time. The third quarter, though…the third quarter…let’s just be charitable and say that the C’s must be fans of the AMC show “The Walking Dead,” because the group that took the floor for the 3rd quarter looked like our C’s

portraying the zombified versions of their former selves. Spinning through the undead-Celtics like they were MBTA turnstiles, the Magic went 13 for 17 from the floor – led by hot potato Jameer Nelson (20 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists for the game), who turned the C’s defenders into giant orange traffic cones for use in his own personal obstacle course. Nelson would finish the game scoring 17 points between the 3rd and 4th quarters and the overtime period, and the Magic would head into the 4th quarter up 2.

 

No matter, though. The C’s, showing the resilience and willingness to fight that has been a hallmark of the team for the past five years, battled back on the strength of The Tremendous Trio (I’m giving “The Big Three” a night off to rest), who flipped a seven-point Magic lead into a tie at the end of regulation. Kevin Garnett was especially tremendous during that stretch, scoring 8 points in the last five minutes of regulation play. KG led the C’s with a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds while Rajon Rondo not only streaked into a tie with John Stockton for the second-most consecutive double-assist games (16 assists on this night), but he fell just shy of a triple-double with 15 points and 9 rebounds.

 

Paul Pierce, who had yet ANOTHER strong game (23 points, 5 boards), still managed to produce his share of potential “goat” moments not only missing on what could have been the game-winning shot from his preferred spot on the elbow at the top of the key, but he also managed to overcome this…uhm, ahhh…awkward moment in his role as one of the aforementioned orange traffic cones in Nelson’s “All-Star Skills Challenge” workout. That Nelson missed the shot may be one of the only saving graces on what surely will be a point of comedy for The Captain’s teammates and a “Sports Center” favorite this week, at least. In his defense, though, on both plays, you can clearly see his foot slipping on the court before each mishap. 

 

 

In any case, once in the extra period, the Celtics went to work, wrapping the Magic in a defensive blanket and executing down the stretch on offense. Paul Pierce, shaking off any doubt that might have been cast at the end of regulation, hit a clutch three to put the C’s up ahead for good in the overtime, and the Celtics got a tough but satisfying win over a young, active Magic team.

Brandon Bass was beastly, grabbing his own double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Leandro Barbosa was an offensive catalyst, scoring 15 points and Jared Sullinger continues to make Danny Ainge look like a genius with his tantalizing play, this time going for 11 points and 6 rebounds in 19 minutes.

Magician Big Baby Davis tallied 15 points 7 rebounds 3 assists 3 steals against his old team, but he shot just 3-12 from the floor (9-10 on free throws, however); JJ Redick scored 21 on 8-13 shooting; and Aaron Afflalo scored 15 with 7 assists for the Magic cause. Former C's draft pick E'Twaun Moore made 2 from Threeland and hit two freethrows for 8 points.

Box Score

THE BUZZ:

Next Up:

Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets
Wednesday, November 28th, 2012
7:30 pm
@ Boston Garden