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Wysłany: Nie 23:21, 25 Sie 2013 Temat postu: Is Danny Ainge doing an about-spun3 |
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Is Danny Ainge doing an about
All indications prior to the 2011-2012 NBA season were that this would be the final rodeo for the Celtics "Big Three." The team appeared poised to turn over the reins of the team to point guard Rajon Rondo. Rondo has always played the little brother to the "Big Three" despite being the straw that stirs the drink.
As late as March 17, almost two-thirds of the way through the season, the Celtics were barely a .500 team (23-21). Many were clamoring for Ainge to break up the team. I'll readily admit I was one of them. Rondo looked disinterested. The Celtics' centers were dropping like flies. Their bench was abysmal. Garnett was averaging a pedestrian (for him) 14.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. The same could be said for Paul Pierce (averaged 26.8 points per game in 2005-06) who was averaging 17.6 points per game before the All-Star break.
Ray Allen would soon suffer from an ankle injury. What lay ahead was a brutal April schedule which included several back-to-back games (as well as a back-to-back-to-back) and three games against the eventual champion Miami Heat.
Coincidently enough,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], St. Patrick's Day was the turning point for the Celtics. Boston would go 16-6 the remainder of the regular season,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], much of it without Ray Allen. Second-year player Avery Bradley stepped up and proved that he is a starter in this league going forward.
Garnett, playing out of position at center, upped his average points per game to 17. In the playoffs, he took his game up to another level,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], averaging 19.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He was undoubtedly the Celtics MVP and represents their heart and soul.
Paul Pierce averaged 20.9 points per game after the All-Star game. This was not supposed to happen. The aged team was supposed to break down as the season progressed, not get better.
But get better they did. Much of the credit should go to coach Doc Rivers who did a great job keeping the team together and not allowing them to quit.
And it is largely because of Rivers that Garnett decided to return to the Celtics. According to several reports, Garnett agreed to a 3-year, $34 million deal to stay in Boston. That averages out to barely over $11 million per year. Garnett made $21 million last year alone. That is what you call a hometown discount. Ironic when you consider that five years ago Garnett was reticent to come to Boston in the first place.
Now Ainge is saying that he wants Allen back,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], too. Ainge has said he is willing to double whatever Miami may offer Allen. Mayo at the trading deadline. Look out for the Phoenix Suns as a dark horse in the Ray Allen Sweepstakes.
It's hard to blame Ainge for his about-face. The Eastern Conference has changed. The Celtics window,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], which once appeared closed, has now opened ever so slightly.
Boston has always played the defending champion Miami Heat tough. Hey, if Avery Bradley wasn't hurt,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], the Celtics had a legitimate chance of beating them in the Eastern Conference Finals. And then, who knows?
The Chicago Bulls were expected to compete with the Heat for years to come. But that will need to be put on hold for a year or two with the uncertainty surrounding how long star point guard Derrick Rose will be sidelined with a knee injury,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych].
The Orlando Magic have their hands full with disgruntled center Dwight Howard,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]. The same can be said about the New York Knicks and their diva stars Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire. The Indiana Pacers have lost their team president Larry Bird,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]. The Atlanta Hawks just traded Joe Johnson and will most likely lose Josh Smith to free agency after next season. The Brooklyn Nets need to retain Deron Williams if they hope to get things turned around.
The Celtics have no divas, although Rondo is close. The Celtics also have the best coach in the NBA. Ainge is one of the best personnel guys in the NBA. It is safe to say that one or more of his three draft picks (Jared Sullinger,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], Fab Melo, Kris Joseph) will contribute this year. We've seen it before with Kendrick Perkins and Avery Bradley.
Ainge is adept at scouring other teams' rosters and finding talented players who aren't getting the opportunity they deserve,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]. Brandon Bass was a classic example of that. Mayo may be another.
It was nice that the Celtics had several expiring contracts this year. The problem is that the free agent pool is not that strong. Ainge may very well be better off keeping the band together for a year or two and wait until there is a better free agent pool. It would have been interesting to see if Ainge would be saying the same things and making the same moves if someone, say, Andrew Bynum,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], was available.
The Celtics still need to find a running mate for Rondo in the open court. Ray Allen may not like it but regardless of who comes back,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], this is now Rondo's team. He proved that with his performance in the playoffs. I'd still love to see what Rondo could do running the fast break with someone like a Gerald Wallace finishing for him. Wallace,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], unfortunately,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], just re-upped with New Jersey.
The Celtics will also need to add a three-point gunner. If they lose Ray Allen, that goes without saying. Jason Terry would be a perfect fit and is accustomed to coming off the bench. He won the Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2009. Ray Allen may be reluctant to accept that role with the emergence of Avery Bradley. I also love Shannon Brown who is 26, can shoot the three (36.2% last year), and is one of the more electric dunkers in the NBA. He would quickly become a fan favorite here in Boston.
Danny Ainge seemed poised to close the book on the Big Three last year, but now seems curious as to what a few more chapters might bring. Will it be the right decision? Stay tuned.相关的主题文章:
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