The playoffs are really starting to come into the picture with a week left in the season. Five of six divisions and the Eastern Conference are locked up. 15 of 16 teams have punched their tickets, leaving the Lakers and Jazz in a dogfight for the final spot, though Dallas is still holding out hope. Other than that, there’s still plenty of time left to decide on the final standings and first round match-ups. With teams now deciding whether to rest players or make one last push for a better seed, let’s look at what would happen if the playoffs started as of Wednesday, April 10, at 7:30pm: Continue reading If the Playoffs Started Today – NBA Week 22 »

Just two weeks remain in the season. The Jazz and Lakers are still in a dead heat for the final spot, while the others are pretty safe, if not mathematically clinched. Still, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to play for. Avoiding Miami in the first round will certainly be a good race. The top spot in the West is still in play as well. The middle seeds are all working to give themselves any advantage over their competitors. With teams giving all they have in their last few games, let’s look at what would happen if the playoffs started as of Wednesday, April 3, before the day’s games: Continue reading If the Playoffs Started Today – NBA Week 21 »

On Wednesday, the Chicago Bulls ended the Miami Heat’s franchise-record winning streak at 27 games with a 101-97 win, a game in which LeBron James recorded 32 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks. James, however, was not about to graciously accept the end of the second-longest win streak in NBA history, instead choosing to go off on the officials. In his postgame comments, he focused on two hard fouls by Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson that he felt shoud have been called flagrant.

“Those are not basketball plays,” James said. “And it’s been happening all year. I’ve been able to keep my cool and tell [Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra], Let’s not worry about it too much. But it is getting to me a little bit.” James was himself correctly issued a flagrant after running into Carlos Boozer late in the game.

The following day, Celtics president Danny Ainge was asked about James’s comments during an interview with WEEI’s Salk & Holley and, after saying that the referees made the right calls, added, “I think that it’s almost embarrassing that LeBron would complain about officiating.”

That’s when the fun began. Continue reading “Shut the F— Up”: Riley, Ainge Exchange Pleasantries over LeBron’s Officiating Complaints »

20 weeks into the season, and things are starting to come down to the wire. There isn’t much time left at all to make a move, yet only five teams have been mathematically eliminated so far. The Heat have opened a sizable lead in the East, while even San Antonio isn’t out of the woods yet with OKC. The Lakers also have to be careful with their #8 seed, while the rest of the teams are busy trying to set up the first round match-ups. With many playoff implications still to be decided, let’s look at what would happen if the playoffs started as of Wednesday, March 27 at 8:00pm: Continue reading If the Playoffs Started Today – NBA Week 20 »

The ‘good’ JR Smith showed up at the TD Banknorth Garden for the Knicks and erupted for 32 points and seven rebounds in a 100-85 win over the Garnett-less Celtics.

Not only was Kevin Garnett sidelined for the Celtics, but Courtney Lee also missed his second straight game with an ankle injury. One has to think that Lee’s defense and size could have helped the Celtics in slowing down Smith.
Continue reading JR Smith, Knicks Send Celtics to Fifth Straight Loss »

When the Celtics acquired Jeff Green at the 2011 deadline in the controversial trade that sent Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City, the reaction from the Boston faithful (and some players) was generally negative. Some, however, saw Green as a potential replacement for Paul Pierce once the captain decides to retire. Green, after all, posted solid numbers in his three and a half seasons with the Sonics/Thunder: 14.2 points and 5.8 rebounds while starting nearly every game and with virtually no history of injuries.

While his numbers took a hit in the 26 games he played for the Celtics that season, this can easily be ascribed to the fact that he played nearly 14 fewer minutes per game than he had in OKC. In fact, his shooting percentage went up significantly, to 48.5%. Green’s career was put on hold in the 2011 offseason when he was found to have an aortic aneurysm which forced him to undergo surgery and miss the entire 2011-12 season.

Continue reading Jeff Green Finally Fulfilling Potential with Celtics »

Wednesday morning the Celtics officially signed power forward D. J. White to a multi-year contract. White was first signed to a 10-day contract on February 28, and again on March 10. According to NBA rules, a team can only sign any given player to two such deals, and then has the option to re-sign him for the remainder of the season.

The Celtics have gone beyond that by giving White multiple years. Although the exact terms of the contract have not been disclosed, it is assumed that the second year of White’s contract is only partially guaranteed, giving the Celtics an out should White struggle in training camp next fall.

Continue reading Celtics Extend White, Randolph »