Tony Allen’s Face
Absolutely everything about anything has been written about the Celtics this year. That’s why I’m shocked some crazy Boston fan hasn’t written about the deformed faces Tony Allen makes when he’s shooting.
It doesn’t matter where he is on the floor - a jumper, a contested layup, a free throw - it always appears as though there are strings attached to his lips and there’s someone yanking on ‘em. Arms up! Commence deranged face mechanism!
Tony Allen Photo Gallery [Yahoo!]
PROGRAMMING UPDATE: Wednesday’s podcast is on the way. Just hold tight.
Comments (5)The True Class Of The East
They say defense is all about effort. With the intensity the Boston Celtics bring to every possession, you can see why they are by far and away the leaders in points allowed per game (86.5).
But it’s not just on the defensive end. Boston is ridiculously focused from the moment they walk out of the tunnel. Yesterday in Toronto, there was a 14 minute delay to start the 2nd half because of a leak in the roof. Kevin Garnett didn’t so much as smile during the break. He kept going through that layup line along with his ‘mates, time after time until the hardwood was ready.
All you have to do is watch Boston’s bench. If Rajon Rondo pushes the ball and misses a lay in, the bench is screaming out props because he did the right thing. When Tony Allen makes the smart pass, he hears about it. The bench is in playoff form and so is that ridiculously solid defensive 5.
They made a mockery of the Raptors’ fluid offense. Jose Calderon leads full-time point guards by a mile in assist to turnover ratio (5.6), but yesterday he committed 4 turnovers to go along with his 5 assists. The Celtics forced him to take a couple more dribbles and make him generally uncomfortable because they were constantly in front of him. After scoring 29 in Toronto’s previous game, Jason Kapono finished with 8. He got very few good looks and couldn’t out battle a Celtic for a rebound even if the back of his jersey read Rondo. Anthony Parker saw nothing but green and those flailing hands were getting Chris Bosh more rattled then I’ve seen in a very long time.
That tenacity shook most of the Raps. Even when they got open looks, Toronto just didn’t appear right in a 13 point loss where the score flattered the home team. It was a lot more C’s than TR’s. There will be no mid-January Tuesday blah game for this Celtics squad; playing lackadaisical just doesn’t seem in them at all. The methodical offense, the hard fouls; they are unshakable in every facet of the game.
The answer isn’t merely Kevin Garnett. It’s likely the effect of the leaders getting together far earlier than they were supposed to before the pre-season and their attitudes trickling down to the rest of the roster. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are definitely practicing what KG is preaching and the rest of the team has no choice but to follow suit. I’m not sure Doc Rivers needs to be on the bench at all.
Is this team giving a little too much and maybe peaking a little too early? There is something to be said for that but the benefits of establishing well defined roles should pay off handsomely in the long run. Tony Allen, Kendrick Perkins, Rondo, Big Baby, James Posey… the list is endless. These guys are all doing fine, fine jobs and it is surprising how quickly they’ve come together. Now, bring on the West already.
Comments (10)Oh, The Humanity!
30 Teams / 30 Hours: The Small Three
You know, one can never have too many NBA season previews. (That’s a lie.) Which is why we present a new series to add to the list: The Basketball Jones’ 30 Teams in 30 Hours NBA Season Preview. Yup. It is what it is.
12:00p / Boston Celtics: Screw it. Enough analysis of the analyses of The Big Three. What ever happened to sticking up for the little guy? Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins and Tony Allen are on this team and are going to have an impact on the outcomes. Some keys to success - Rondo: don’t turn it over, don’t shoot. Perkins: don’t turn it over, refrain from shooting if you can’t touch the rim. Allen: don’t turn it over, don’t shoot, only dunk during game play. Be safe, look both ways before crossing the lane and good luck!
Tas says: 2nd in the Atlantic, 5th seed
Skeets says: 1st in the Atlantic, 2nd seed
(Don’t forget to check out Monday’s NBA season predictions podcast, Charlie.)
Comments (0)The Celtics, The Raptors
I watched these two battle it out Saturday in Rome and let me tell ya, this is gonna be nice. Two teams on the rise that will not back down from one another are gonna wrestle four times this coming season, not to mention atop the standings of the Atlantic Division. This was the most intense exhibition game I’ve ever witnessed. Benches were jumpin’, chests were bumpin’ and players were a-yellin’. Just thought I’d share some observations from the game. Not sure if I’m jacked ball is back or that the Raps finally head in to a training camp with minimal problems, but I’m feeling good right now; like a boy tearing the plastic off a brand new video game.
Pre-game, when Kevin Garnett was head butting the stanchion and pounding his fist in to his chest, I felt like, easy fella, it’s kinda early for that, no? But, it’s always the playoffs for KG. He played well, and he gelled nicely with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. The 3 looked like they had played together before. Maybe meeting up in Beantown weeks prior to camp really did pay off. There were times when the C’s were playing too much 1-on-1, but there were also instances when they shared the ball like the Suns, or, if you will, their Raptor counterparts. Ray Allen took what was given too him, Paul Pierce has had his usual, “I’m taking over” attitude at times, and KG, well, he was the dominant, versatile, 7 footer that he is.
The trio is gonna be great. As we’ve heard before, it’s the supporting cast that is the ? mark. Although, Eddie House’s yap was in mid-season form. A couple made 3’s and he’s chatting like a participant on “Yo Momma” (for you MTV fans). Speaking of House, Boston still needs some help at PG. Rajon Rondo was doing his job well for strecthes, but House, Allen or Gabe Pruitt won’t cut it. Now, I’m not sure if Tony Allen may be the answer, but he seems to lack the skills of a distributor. I had to wince when he grimaced after his dismount on that 4th quarter, high flying jam. He looked fine afterwards; guess he just needed to shake the cobwebs off his first game action dunk after that ridiculous injury. Kendrick Perkins has such an easy job and he appears to be grasping it. Be physical, establish positioning, rebound, work your butt off on D, and dunk the opportunities the big 3 serve you. When a role player simply has to play his role, things are rosy.
It was good to see the best mascot in pro sports, The Raptor, in Rome for this one. As for the Raptors new talent, I’m skeptical. Just what kind of auditions were held? I know it’s early, but I’m not sold on the new Dance Pak.
The duo of Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani showed flashes of what a terror these two will be to play against in the years to come. Bargnani is learning to compliment his pristine stroke with some hard drives and post moves, although, his finishing ability still needs a lot of work. Even on the defensive end, these two were showing glimpses by challenging shots with those long arms and stepping up to Garnett. It was also nice to see Bargs has packed on some bacon so he can bang a little more. With some dedication, I think these two have the b-ball intelligence and quickness to get it done in their own paint.
Bargnani is going to go some thorugh seriously tough stretches at the defensive end if he starts at center. With Il Mago on the first unit, Toronto’s second unit is deadly. Jose Calderon, Carlos Delfino, Joey Graham/Juan Dixon, Jorge Garbajosa and Rasho Nesterovic. Toronto’s third team could pound Boston’s second squad. The depth will make for some nice competition at practice.
What I didn’t like about the Raps’ first unit is their lack of a slasher. Anthony Parker and Jason Kapono on the wings didn’t seem to generate any cutting in to the lane. I’m not sure if Parker will step up his game to an even higher level this season, but Kapono doesn’t appear to be capable of scoring this way. That’s why I think Delfino should replace Kapono in the starting 5. The group that started Saturday seems to look too much like the stagnant bunch who got beat by the Nets in the ‘07 playoffs. Toronto can obviously move the ball and the team has 2 point guards that can penetrate, but Delfino will provide scoring in a facet the team lacks. Delfino is the Eric Byrnes of the NBA (for you baseball fans). He has all the tools of a natural athlete. Sam Mitchell seems to be tinkering with the idea as he started Delfino over Kapono in Sunday’s game versus Italian club team, Lottomatica Roma.
In conclusion, it’s baaaaaaaaaacccccckkkk.
Photo: via Ruth L
Comments (11)The Celtics Have More Work To Do
There are days I wake up freakin’ excited about the upcoming season. Big reason: the historic C’s. What a dream the Celtics roster has become; but it ain’t championship caliber yet. Depending on who you talk to, the point guard or the center spot is the most important position on the floor (hmm, I see some foreshadowing here). A quick look at Boston’s horses:
PG: Rajon Rondo, Gabe Pruitt (R)
SG: Ray Allen, Tony Allen, Eddie House, Jackie Manuel (R)
SF: Paul Pierce, James Posey, Brandon Wallace (R)
PF: Kevin Garnett, Leon Powe, Ginger Balls, Glen Davis (R)
C: Kendrick Perkins, Scot Pollard
For me, the center position is covered. Perkins is now a young vet and he can be successful rebounding, setting screens and defending along side star players. If need be, Pollard or other parts of the bench can fill in. I could also see some small ball with KG at center, and Powe or Brian Scalabrine at power forward. The 2, 3 and 4 positions are obviously set, especially with that Posey signing. Man, the guy is a winner (’06 champ-een) and he does the exact things this team needs: shut down D, hit the open shot, and scrap for everything.
It’s the PG spot that is still a worry. It’s time to make this thing right. What begun as a horrific offseason for the Celtics on draft day with the Ray Allen trade has really materialized in to something special. Now, it’s time for Danny Ainge to finish what he started. Not to take anything away from Rondo, but there needs to be a vet in that backcourt.
There is just no way a team can go in to the playoffs with 1 year of experience at PG and expect to be successful. Absolutely, no way. Coaches need to rely on people who aren’t going to make mistakes, and every young guy boo-boos. Check the back-up PGs from last year’s Conference finalists: CLE (Eric Snow), DET (Lindsey Hunter/Flip Murray), SA (Jacque Vaughn), UTA (Dee Brown sat because Sloan didn’t trust him). Skeets has made the same point on this site before. Winning franchises hire guys who they know will make smart decisions and take care of the basketball.
This weakness is taken to a whole other level because Rondo is so green himself. Yes, Boston might be a team where the PG won’t have to do all that much, but the fact is, he’ll have the leather in his hands a good deal. I can see Ray-Ray being forced to handle the rock like he did in Seattle - the team will be so much better if they can avoid this. There will be times when Rondo struggles this year, and looking at that roster, there’s no one there to sub for him. Ainge has been a part of championship teams - he knows what it takes. Looking at the remaining free agents point guards, there isn’t anything too appetizing: Earl Boykins, Troy Hudson, Jeff McInnis, Keith McLeod, etc.
Danny, it’s time to swing a deal for a guy you can rely on. He doesn’t have to be an All-Star, but he has to have the smarts. A Sam Cassell, an Antonio Daniels, a Rafer Alston, someone who is good enough to fill the role. This has been an amazing couple months for the C’s but it will be all for not without that missing piece. You started to go for it, now finish the job.
Comments (12)The Long Fingers Of The Law
If you’re not excited about Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen coming to Boston, you’re whacked. KG is one of the top 6 or 7 players in the league. Allen and Paul Pierce have to be included in the top 25. That has got to be enough for the Celtics to be an upper echelon team in the weak Leastern Conference. This baby is cyclical - let the power come east.
Even though I’m a fan of the Raps, I am jacked about the opportunity of seeing Garnett play in the EST time zone. The guy is under appreciated. The numbers speak for themselves but when you’re surrounded by teammates like Ricky Davis, Marko Jaric and Mark Blount, you can’t compete in the West. Look at the names struggling over there: Kobe Bryant hasn’t won a playoff series in 3 years, Tracy McGrady hasn’t won a round in the postseason ever, and so on. Both Garnett and Allen will finally stand out playing in the East.
I watched both those players take their respective teams on their backs last season. I remember KG single handedly stopping the Suns 17-game win streak with 44 effortless points. Just too many skills to speak of: rebounding, passing, defending, etc. As for Ray, it’s trendy right now to say he’s washed up. Yes, he is 32. And yes, he is a jump shooter. The consensus is his legs have to go some time soon and he’s seriously banged up. Whatever. The way he played when he was scoring 26 per last season leaves no doubt in my mind he will be very capable for the final 3 years of his contract. Especially considering he will have 2 Hall of Fame caliber players shouldering the load. He had to free himself up constantly to get off his shot in Seattle, but with double teams swarming around Pierce and Garnett, you’ll see the man with the most beautiful stroke in basketball elevating with lots of room around him. He says his ankles are perfect and frankly, I’m just naive enough to believe him.
The Truth, the Big Ticket and Ray-Ray all know this is their best shot to win a title. They’ll all be 30+ when training camp starts. Pierce said he felt like a rookie again during KG’s press conference (and even though we all knew PP wore #24 #34, it was a nice little snapshot of the future seeing the big 3 hold up their jerseys). The trio is rejuvenated and ready for a hard run, and that drive will have a trickle down effect on to the rest of the roster. Take a role playing Brian Scalabrine for example. Last year, he was pleasantly plump, but you know when he heard KG was gonna to be playing next to him, Ginger Balls put down the old Krispy Kreme and went for a jog. Three Hall of Fame worthy players and a thinner Ginger Balls, sounds like a winning formula to me.
‘07 NBA Season Preview: Boston Celtics
Like my NFL-humping brethren to the south, it’s about time we start previewing the upcoming NBA season here at The Jones. Over the next fourteen weeks or so, we’re going to break down, setup, and dissect the living shit out of each and every team in the league. We’ve already done the Hawks. (CAW!) But today: The Boston Celtics.
Three Facts About The Boston Celtics:
1. This ‘07 Celtics roster is loaded with Hollywood talent! Ray Allen stared in Spike Lee’s He Got Game, Sebastian Telfair was the subject of his very own documentary Through The Fire, and Brian Scalabrine made an appearance in Billy Madison. Seriously. He’s credited as the piece of shit.
2. Pulled from the womb January 1, 1986, Glen Davis is still recognized as the largest New Year’s baby ever born. He weighed 260 pounds, sans champagne and party hat. (Bonus fact: He eats basketballs for breakfast.)
3. While working at a nuclear power plant, Kendrick Perkins was exposed to massive amounts of radiation that affected his genes. As a result, Kendrick transformed into a mutant beast nicknamed … well, ‘Beast.’ His superpowers include rebounding and chillin’ like a squirrel.
Projected ‘07 Record: 39-43, 4th in Atlantic
Possible ‘07 Onion Headline: Lucky The Leprechaun: ‘Yes, I’m Gay.’
Obligatory Celtics YouTube Video: Bird, Walton and Co. Do ‘The Wave’
One-On-One With … Gerald Green!
As part of our extensive NBA season preview, I’ve been awarded the honor of sitting down and going “one-on-one” with a representative from all 30 teams. (Yeah, just like Big Daddy Drew! Weird, eh?) For the Celtics, it’s ’07 ‘Champion of Dunking’ Gerald Green.
J.E. Skeets: Gerald Green. Wow. Thanks for taking time out of your busy off-season schedule to sit down and talk with me today.
Gerald Green: No problem. Anytime.
Skeets: You don’t do dick shit during the off-season do you?
Green: Not. A. Thing.
Skeets: Yeah, didn’t think so. Seen any good movies lately?
Green: Um, yeah. I finally caught that Transformers flick the other night. Not bad.
Skeets: Ooh! Megan Fox!
Green: Drop dead gorgeous, man.
Skeets: Isn’t she? Whew!
Green: Yeah.
Skeets: Ooh! Ooh! That one scene where’s she’s rocking the mid-drift, checking under Bumblebee’s hood …
Green: Ha. Yeah, she’s nice.
Skeets: I bet you’d like to hit that foxhole, eh? Eh?
Green: Ha.
Skeets: Am I right or am I right?
Green: OK …
Skeets: Get her back to your place, drink some wine …
Green: Easy, man.
Skeets: … Introduce to her to the ol’ G-Money perma-shocker–
Green: HEY!
Skeets: What?
Green: That’s enough, dude. C’mon.
Skeets: Oh. Too much?
Green: Yes.
Skeets: The foxhole line or the part about your nub finger?
Green: Can we just move on?
Skeets: Of course. Gerald Green: Take us through the range of emotions that you felt when you first jumped over that table in Vegas?
Green: Joy.
Skeets: That’s it?
Green: Yes.
Skeets: My goodness. How interesting. How bizarre.
Green: Yeah.
Skeets: Hey, how’s Paul Pierce’s foot doing? Is he still taking the Ginkgo Biloba I sent him?
Green: He’s doing much better.
Skeets: Good. Quickly: Favorite American Gladiators event? Go.
Green: Swingshot.
Skeets: Nice. I see here you own three dogs. You ever pit them against each other?
Green: No.
Skeets: You never set up a makeshift ring in the middle of your dining room and just let those lil’ fuckers go at it?
Green: No!
Skeets: Me either. Gerald Green, it’s been a “joy” talking to you today.
Green: Yup.
Skeets: You see what I did there?
Green: Yes. Joy. I said that earlier.
Skeets: Yeah, I wrote it down.
Green: OK.
Skeets: Little thing I picked up at community college.
Green: Yup.
Skeets: Centennial College. I would’ve got my diploma, too. You know, if they hadn’t kicked me out of school for trying to take a dump on the professor’s desk during a Dadaism presentation.
Green: Um, I’m going to get going now.
Skeets: Goodbye, Gerald Green.
Green: Bye.
The Video That Keeps On Giving
Yesterday SLAM!’s treasure hunter Lang e-mailed Celtics coach Doc Rivers about his brilliant performance in The Greatest Internet Video Of All-Time. Today, Coach “Stevie Ray” Rivers responds:
FROM: Doc Rivers
SUBJECT: Forever UncoolJust when I had my kids convinced that their Dad was cool, they discover that video. They loved it. They’re showing all their friends. They have also informed me not to bring up the words hip or cool ever again.
– Doc
Can I say it? I LOVE THE INTERNET!
Doc Rivers Responds [The Links]
The Greatest Internet Video Of All-Time [The Links]
Wanted: Atlanta’s Air Force Video [The Basketball Jones]
(Update: I just received a fantastic e-mail from ClipperBlog.com guru Kevin Arnovitz. Now, I didn’t ask for his permission per se, but I don’t care, I’ve got to post this beauty:
Skeets: I grew up a Hawks season ticket holder at the Omni. Aisle 116, about 15 rows up. AAF was my formative basketball experience; Tree Rollins and Kevin Willis my basketball Yetis.
I had the “Atlanta’s Air Force” 45, which I bought at the old Turtle’s Records & Tapes on Roswell Road. It would air mercilessly on Channel 46 during the big playoff drive of 1985-1986 and 1986-1987. It became the lead-in music for John Sterling on WSB-Radio (”Welcome South, Brother”), then the voice of the Atlanta Hawks (and an admirable homer; i.e., “Parish in the lane. He walks, walks again, then lays it up and in.”)
So, yeah, before there was Lil John & the East Side Boyz and Bone Crusher, there was Tom Gross & the Varsity, who played a number of Bar Mitzvahs in the Atlanta area, though he wasn’t so formidable as the “Black Rabbi” — a breakdancing coach and longtime Atlanta fixture on the Bar Mitzvah “kids party” circuit, whose clientele included children of Atlanta’s Jewish upper crust.
Wow. You send in an e-mail containing the words “Kevin Willis”, “Yeti”, and “The Black Rabbi”, and well… it’s going to be posted on here ASAP. Thanks for the laugh, Kevin.)
Comments (6)Bill Russell Can Save You Money!
They sure don’t make television commercials like they used to, eh?
Check out this incredible 1973 Bell Systems ad of former Celtics great Bill Russell explaining how easy it is to save 50% on long distance. (”Don’t pass off to the operator, she can’t save you money!)
Man, there are so many great things to love about this commercial — the script, his kick-ass tie, the fact that there’s a basketball net hanging in his library — but my favorite, by far, has to be the euphoric grunt Russell unleashes at the end.
“Aaaaaahaigh!!!”
Sort of sounds like Big Boss from C.O.P.S., no?
Bill Russell — Bell System Commercial [YouTube]
Comments (8)About
The Basketball Jones is a NBA blog and podcast, written and recorded five times a week by J.E. Skeets, Tas Melas and Jason Doyle. Comments, questions and cold hard cash are always welcome and much appreciated. Contact us.
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