Ragin' Rondo

It's taken me some time to get over the Celtics early exit from the playoffs, but I feel very confident in terms of next year. Judging how the Conference Finals and NBA Finals ended, I think the Celtics have an excellent shot of getting back to the promise land next year. That was until the third Rajon Rondo trade rumor of the summer came out came out yesterday.


Was I the only one that saw this kid grow up through the season? Forget the season, what about when it counted in the post season? Take a look at the difference in his post season numbers from last year (10.6 pts, 4.1 rebs, 6.6 asts, and 1.7 stls) and this year (16.9 pts, 9.7 rebs, 9.8 asts, 2.5 stls). Granted it was a smaller sample size than the '08 playoffs, but you still have to be impressed with how he stepped up in the absence of Garnett. I know he still shoots like like a guy 15 beers deep in beer pong, but after the Bulls series I saw a star in the making.

Which is why I really don't understand the guys the Celtics were going after in these rumors. Rodney Stuckey is a pretty good player. He had a great 2008-09 season playing behind Billups, but NBA fans saw him struggle in the starting PG role. Not to say he can't improve, but why risk it when you have Rondo?

A bigger risk than that would be taking a shot on some of the guys in this year's draft, as was rumored in trades for the number 2 and number 4 picks. In these spots, the Celtics would probably be looking for Spanish stud Ricky Rubio. The kid's moves are pretty amazing for 17 and he's being compared to Pete Maravich. But you still don't know how quickly he can adapt to life in America and the NBA. Do Celtics want another 2-3 years of growing pains for a young point guard? The point is don't get greedy and go younger, unless it's one of the Bundchens.

So there seem to be only three reasons why the C's would be actively trying to move Rondo:

Reason 1: His Connection to McLovin

This photo is not doctored. That's McLovin with Rondo and his family. Apparently McLovin is a big Celtics fan (there's some other pics with him and Pierce). While it seems unlikely, maybe the Celtics were afraid Rondo would go to buy booze with him, fight a bum at a bar, and shoot guns with cops instead of playing against the Thunder.

Reason 2:Locker Room Issues with Rondo

Yesterday on Sportscenter, Chad Ford speculated that this might be the case. He said that he had issues while playing in Kentucky, and maybe he butted heads with teammates in the Celtics locker room. Other Boston websites are saying the same thing, but it seems to just be speculation, no confirmed reports. If this is the case, the Celtics need to take a page from Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson so that they can be riding Duckboats next June.

Reason 3: All Just talk

The Celtics made big draft day news 2 years ago when the acquired Ray Allen. But the last two years have left little intrigue going into the draft. So even if they don't plan on making a move, maybe they think it's just as good to be in the media spotlight in the middle of the summer. After all, what better time than when the Sox are on a road trip, and the Patriots are still a ways away from training camp?

I guess I should personally thank the Celtics management for making this move. Otherwise, I would've been a crappy blog about the Albuquerque Isotopes' newest star.

No Big Ticky, No Championship Laundry

Couple quick website shout outs:
-My friend Tyler, who you can take some of the blame for getting me into this blogging BS, started blogging himself. Usually good for funny links and videos.
- Connect is a public affairs show that I work on at Newhouse. Some really good stuff up there, and we're trying to get as many hits as possible.

Now to the Celtics...


Of course Celt's fans are weepy over the fact that Kevin Garnett is most likely out for the playoffs. But I still think we will see some good basketball from the team. KG missed 27 games, this season, and the Celtics were 19-8. Of course Pierce and Allen will come to play, but I think Rondo and Big Baby will play a role in a playoff run. Will they make it to The Finals? Probably not, but would we even with pregame chest pounds?

It's one of the most overused cliches in sports, but I just don't believe the Celtics have the same hunger as last season. Last year you had three of the best players in the NBA (in their primes), all with the goal of looking to win their first championship. There is still the drive to defend your championship, but I'm not sure that's enough this season.

Also, the supporting cast isn't the same. James Posey was a monster that could lock down anyone on defense and had championship credentials. Add that with P.J. Brown, a veteran that came out of retirement at the All-Star Break for a chance at his first championship too. Do you get that same feeling about Mikey Moore and Mike Tyson's lookalike Stephon Marbury? Didn't think so.

In the end, I think it's really just Lebron's time. The Cavs have been virtually flawless at home. But even if the Celtics had the home court advantage and a healthy Kevin Garnett, I think Cleveland has the perfect pieces and chemistry to solidify King James as the NBA's biggest superstar right now. I see them in their pregame introductions, and it reminds me of when of when I watch my friends drink. They make asses of themselves and I say, "I remember what my first beer was like, grow up." When really I'm thinking, "God I wish I was in their mind state right now." I hate watching the Cavs have fun, because I know how much fun their fans are having.

Even with KG, this title defense would've been a tall task trying to beat the Cavaliers. Without him, I give them less than a 10% chance to even get to The Finals. But if by some chance they are hanging up Banner 18 next season, Kevin Garnett was right.