Caron Butler fined $15,000 for "obscene gesture"

Milwaukee Bucks forward Caron Butler was fined $15,000 for making an obscene gesture during Friday night's 105-98 win over the Boston Celtics.

During the fourth quarter, Butler sank a key three pointer to tie the game at 93 and did the 'big balls dance' popularized by former NBA guard Sam Cassell and originated in the movie 'Major League 2'.

Brooklyn Nets center Andray Blatche was fined $15,000 for the same offense earlier this month in a game against the Miami Heat.

As a fan I say let the players express themselves a little instead of having them be robotic.

Robert Parish thinks it's awkward for Paul Pierce to be playing for the Nets

As a basketball fan it just won't seem right watch Paul Pierce in a Brooklyn Nets uniform. Just like it was strange watching Hakeem Olajuwon and Karl Malone in a Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers uniform. It just doesn't seem right after watch him play for the Boston Celtics for so many years.

Longtime Celtic great Robert Parish knows a little about being in a different uniform. Parish spent his final years as a member of the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls.

In an interview with Sean Deveney of the Sporting News, Parish said that Paul Pierce being on the Nets 'will be awkward' and he also compared Pierce's situation to his last few years in the NBA.

“Just accept the fact that it is going to be awkward initially. That’s all. Because he has worn the Celtics green for so long and it is going to be really awkward for him. But it was time for a change and what I do like about what the Celtics did for Pierce and Garnett, they didn’t send them somewhere to another situation that is not going to be successful. They sent them someplace where they are going to win. Garnett and Pierce have earned that right.” 

Parish spoke about his time in Charlotte and how he felt about it.

“Un-com-fortable,” Parish said (of wearing the Charlotte uniform). “In my mind, I would always be a Celtic. I was very thankful and humbled that the Hornets saw fit to allow me to play a couple more years, but the only time I thought of myself as a Charlotte Hornet was game time. Other than that, when the jersey came off, I still felt like I was a Celtic.”


When Pierce eventually goes into the basketball hall of fame he'll more than likely go in as a Celtic. But as long as the Russian billionaire is cutting the check in Brooklyn I'm pretty sure Pierce won't be feeling too awkward.

Only when he comes back to Boston.

Pistons still showing interest in Rajon Rondo

Despite the fact that the Detroit Pistons have recently traded for point guard Brandon Jennings, reports are that the team still hasn't cooled on Boston Celtics point man Rajon Rondo.

From Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe:  Just because the Pistons acquired Brandon Jennings in a sign-and-trade deal with the Bucks doesn’t mean they’ve lost interest in Rajon Rondo. In fact, they could eventually use Jennings as a trade chip and seek to acquire Rondo. There are going to be several interested parties in Rondo, and that number could increase when he shows he’s fully recovered from anterior cruciate ligament surgery .

It appears that Joe Dumars is happy with the acquisition of Jennings but if he can find a way to pry Rondo out of Boston he'll do it in a heartbeat.

The only way this happens is if Rondo gets so disenchanted with the losing in Boston that he becomes a force so detrimental to the team that he has to be traded. Also Jennings would have to be the same player he was in Milwaukee, clash with head coach Maurice Cheeks and ruin the Pistons' chance at a playoff spot.

I don't know if it'll happen but i'm sure Dumars has Danny ainge on speed dial if a deal is to be made.

Knicks regret wearing their "funeral" outfits

While I do agree with J.R. Smith's assessment of "if I played Game 4 the series would be over", I don't agree with all the talk and grandstanding him and his teammates were doing before Game 5.

The Knicks talked about going to a "funeral" and ending the Boston Celtics season. The team even dressed in all black outfits to signify the moment. Instead the Celtics showed pride and told the Knicks that they weren't dead yet. Maybe the Celtics should show up wearing Freddie Kruger sweaters and hats before Game 6.

The Knicks regret that little stunt and are now focused on knocking the Celtics out in Game 6.

“We was going to a funeral,” (J.R.) Smith said. “But it looks like we got buried.”

Smith owned up to being a key part in this whole deal by mouthing off about Jason Terry before Game 5. But the ringmaster of this funeral stunt, Kenyon Martin, didn't want to talk about it.

“I'm not talking about that,” Martin said. “If you want to talk about basketball, we'll talk about basketball.”

I guess I wouldn't talk either if I only chipped in a bucket and had five fouls.

The Celtics haven't been horrible, they've just killed themselves in one quarter of each of the first three games. The Knicks should've known that the Celtics wouldn't just roll over for them. This team has a lot of pride and veterans that have been through the playoff battles.

Now we'll have to see if the Knicks can bounce back in Game 6 or risk having the Celtics "2004 ALCS" them.

Rasheed Wallace announces his second retirement

Rasheed Wallace has decided to retire from the NBA once again. Wallace, who signed with the New York Knicks at the start of he season, returned from a foot injury Monday night against the Charlotte Bobcats and still felt sore.

He hasn't been able to recover from the injury suffered in December and wouldn't be healthy enough to join the in the upcoming playoffs. Wallace had played surprisingly well after a two year layoff and was a key part to the Knicks' strong start.

Coach Mike Woodson was hoping that Wallace would be ready to join the rotation for the playoffs.

"Rasheed has given this team everything he had," Knicks coach Mike Woodson said in a statement provided by the team. "He is a winner, true professional and leader on and off the court. Due to his injury, he will not be available to play for us during the playoffs."  


It's a damaging blow for the Knicks, who loaded up on veteran big men this season but have now lost two of them for good in Kurt Thomas and Wallace, and have gotten almost nothing from Marcus Camby. Also, Amare Stoudemire's status for the postseason is unclear as he recovers from right knee surgery. The Knicks added another big man Wednesday by signing Earl Barron.

Delonte West to join D-League team Monday

After changing his mind about playing in the D-League earlier this season, well traveled guard Delonte West has had a change of heart and figured the way back to the NBA was through the D-League.

West gambled that some team would be willing to sign him during the season after the Dallas Mavericks dumped him in the preseason. No one was willing to sign West who also had problems during his stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics.

With playoff time coming up and teams willing to sign proven, low cost veterans to round out their roster to 10 day contracts, West will report to the D-League's Texas Legends on Monday according to a report by Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.


With NBA teams uneasy about taking a risk on his past behavioral issues, free-agent guard Delonte West intends to report to the Texas Legends of the Development League on Monday, a league source told Yahoo! Sports.

West, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, had planned to join the Legends earlier in February, but never arrived. Since coming to realize the D-League is likely his only avenue back into the NBA, West has reconsidered, a source said.

West could help a contender out if his head is straight and that's a big if. But if he performs and shows no signs of rust some team might be able to look past that.

Paul Pierce says Celtics lack mental toughness

The Boston Celtics are clearly a team in transition. Once a team dominated by the Big Three (Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett), the Celtics are now a mix of veterans and youngsters with point guard Rajon Rondo being the bridge. The result so far hasn't been pretty. The Celtics currently stand at 20-21 with losses to the lowly Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers the last two games. Not the kind of results Celtic fans have been accustomed to the past five years.

Pierce, who has seen both the good and the bad, has spoken out about the team's current four game skid. Pierce told Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe that the Celtics are lacking the mental toughness of teams past.  Not exactly a ringing endorsement of your teammates.


“I think we got pieces here,” the Celtics captain said before Tuesday night’s 95-90 loss to the Cavaliers. “We just got to come together. We got to figure this thing out. Can’t get discouraged.

“I think that’s the one thing this team lacks, that mental toughness, man. When we lose our confidence, I’ve never been on teams like that. We got to stay together, we got to play with confidence.

“Yeah, definitely, it hurts me to say that. It’s like I really sometimes don’t believe it.

“We get down on ourselves. We got to go out there and believe we can win every game. It’s tough sometimes.”

Now Pierce has been on some bad Celtic teams prior to the arrival of Allen (now with the Miami Heat) and Garnett, and this one isn't quite as bad, but it's probably wearing thin on Pierce's patience for the young pups to grow up.

There's still another half of basketball to play and it'll be interesting to see if GM Danny Ainge will make a deal to keep the team competitive, let things play out, or blow it up altogehter.

Celtics' Avery Bradley injures shoulder

Avery Bradley has been a solid contributor for the Boston Celtics this season filling in well for an ailing Ray Allen and providing quality minutes at the shooting guard position. The Celtics have been hit by a myriad of injuries this season and the playoffs are no different. Allen returned from an ankle injury but is playing limited minutes. He probably will return to his role as a starter because Bradley injured a shoulder in Game 2 against the Atlanta Hawks and re-injured it again in Boston's Game 3 win last night.

Bradley has fought a shoulder injury all season but it just hasn't worked out for him in the playoffs. He left last night's game in the third quarter and never returned after it was believed that he would return.

"It's really sore," Bradley told CSNNE.com after the game. "Every time I go to extend my arm, and it gets hit, it comes in and out."     


"He's had that problem all year," said C's coach Doc Rivers. "Usually they're able to, like a leg, snap it back in. It wouldn't go back in."


As of now Bradley expects to be back for Game 4, but expect Celtics officials to hold him out.  

Pierce Gets No Love In His Hometown

Why is that a hometown hero can't get any cheers when they come home for an All-Star game. Paul Pierce was the latest to experience the hometown hate. Pierce plays for the Boston Celtics, and with the All-Star festivities being held in Los Angeles that should tell you all you need to know. Hey, Kobe Bryant experienced this when the game was held in Philadelphia. At least you expect it there.

Part of it comes from the fact that the player is usually killing the hometown every time they go there. At least Pierce understands why they boo him and embraces the hate.

“When you play for L.A.’s biggest rival, it’s tough getting booed by the fans. But I’m sure if Kobe Bryant was from Boston, he’d get booed, too, if he went back there. It’s something you get thrown into once you become a Celtic or a Laker. It’s automatic, regardless of how you used to feel about the Lakers or Boston. Once you put on one of the uniforms from either side, you automatically inherit the rivalry,” It’s something you get thrown into once you become a Celtic or a Laker", Pierce said.


Dwayne Wade hears it when he goes home to Chicago. I don't think Rasheed Wallace ever heard it when he went back to Philadelphia. I guess the dislike only goes for select players.

 

Quote Of The Week: Eddie Sefko

Not so much of a quote, but a headline. Eddie Sefko from the Dallas Morning News was blogging on the Boston Celtics/Dallas Mavericks game Friday night and was disappointed with Brendan Haywood's performance.

Brendan Haywood getting schooled by some dude.

Some dude was Boston Celtics deep reserve center Semih Erden, who normally wouldn't play if Shaq wasn't hurt right now. 

West, Wafer Throw Blows

Boston Celtics reserve guards Von Wafer and Delonte West reportedly came to blows during a shootaround Friday. West is already serving a 10 game suspension. Wafer is trying to stick around Boston. If what is reported is true this doesn't help either's cause.

Alex Kennedy at HoopsWorld:

During a three-on-three game with Avery Bradley(notes), Luke Harangody(notes), Semih Erden(notes) and assistant coach Tyronn Lue(notes), West began fouling [Von] Wafer each time the reserve guard touched the ball. West was increasingly physical to the point that Wafer exited to the locker room midway through the game. As he walked away, West barked obscenities and taunted Wafer.

After Wafer had showered and sat down at his locker, West approached from behind and threw a punch. Wafer didn't see the punch coming but quickly got off of the ground and connected on two punches of his own. He then wrestled West to the ground before being separated by the team's veterans.

Kennedy went on to say that Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce didn't find any pleasure in this situation and that Danny Ainge was considering waiving West.

West believes Wafer was behind this comment which led to the scrum.

Danny Ainge was not pleased with the story altogether. In the big scheme of things, they are bit players on the Celtics and they shouldn't let something like this potentially derail their season. From what the report says it seems like Wafer got the best of the exchange.

Don't Be Alarmed

The Miami Heat and their supertrio probably played the worst game they'll probably play this year. The Heat dropped an 88-80 decision to the Boston Celtics last night. Save for LeBron James, the Heat didn't play that well. They showed flashes and LeBron showed that he might be the go to guy out of the three. Due to a hamstring injury and his divorce/custody case Dwayne Wade looked a little rusty to me. Chris Bosh looked like Chris Bosh having a lousy night in Toronto. Also as usual Boton played their trademark tough defense. They won't look this way every game. Nor will they look like the 72 win Bulls team every game. But there's no way they put together another nine point quarter this year.

For Rondo It's About Dollars And Sense

Rajon Rondo is doing what a lot of NBA players didn't seem to do during the last lockout. He's saving his money. After Big Daddy Stern said he wants to cut player salaries by a third, Rondo is doing the smart thing by preparing as if there will be a lockout next season. Even though he makes 9 mill this year, it can go fast when you're not getting paid. Undoubtedly a smart move that some other players might want to take heed to.

Then there won't be anymore comments like this.

  

Shaq, The Big Leprechaun

The Big Leprechaun, The Big Clover, or whatever Shaquille O'Neal decides to call himself these days has landed in Boston. The Celtics signed the 38 year old O'Neal to a two year deal. Now he gets to join all the star geriatrics in Boston. To be honest, I kinda like the deal, even though the Big Diesel is on the verge of breaking down. Boston gets someone to fill the hole left by Kendrick Perkins and people like me still get to hear quick one liners from Shaq. Especially this year a they try to keep up with the Miami Heat, who rounded out their roster with a bunch of ring chasing vets.Hopefully we can see more ESPN commercials like this.



Even though Shaq really didn't fit in with Cleveland, he might do just fine in Boston. The Celts do like to run when they have the chance, but they are more likely to shut you down on defense, wear you down, and be effiecient on offense. As long as they don't let Shaq dominate the ball when he's in the game, the Celts should be ok. Only if he has a matchup he can still exploit. Also don't have him in late in the game. If they can do that this experiment just might work out. If not it might go the way of the Stephon Marbury experience. Hey at least there's still a character in the game. Which means i get more ridiculous Comcast commercials and maybe get one more hilarious ESPN spot.

File this under things I think I think

The demise of the Boston Celtics was greatly exaggerated.The Celtics hammered the Orlando Magic in game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals,making their second trip in three years to the NBA finals.I was one of the non-believers who figured the Celtics were done and went as far as saying this was thier last stand and with hardly any help on the horizon.I couldn't have been more wrong.Rajon Rondo has played like he's one of the all time greats,they've ramped up the defense,and have been fairly efficient on offense.Add to that,that the bench has been pretty good to.Right now I have to give them the nod over the Los Angeles Lakers or Phoenix Suns,because of the way they've defended throughout the postseason.Phoenix plays no defense and they Lakers have been somewhat exposed and have a hobbled Andrew Bynum.Its too early to crown a champion,but if I were a betting man,I'd put my money on Boston.   

You have to know when to break it up

While watching the Trailblazers-Celtics game last night,my wife asked,"If Boston wanted Rasheed Wallace,why couldn't the Pistons use him?"You see she's a Piston fan,more of a casual one since she really can't bear to watch an effortless team parade toward Lotteryland.I'm a Pistons fan through and through.It's where I'm from so I'll always support them.Well,back to the point of today's posting.We always have the discussion about how the business of sports works.More specifically about when to break a contender up and start over.

  A lot of people in the Detroit area were upset about the Chauncey Billups-Allen Iverson trade.Including my wife.At that point it seemed like a trade that wanted to put fans in the seats.You know,get a bonafide superstar without a championship,and add him to a team that made the Eastern Conference finals for 6 straight seasons and you might make a deep run in the playoffs.In addition,seeing someone fresh and new,you could put a few extra fannies in the seats.My wife hated that move,but I explained that since Iverson had an expiring contract they had to get something for Billups while they could.If it worked out for the Pistons,great.If not,then they had the option to start the rebuilding process instead of waiting out everyone's contract,having an old team going nowhere.Which is something I always bring up.You can't let a team age and just get old without having younger talent in place for the future.This is something I alluded to in a previous post about the current Celtics.They have 3 of the premier players in the league,but in the NBA you can get old quickly.Just ask the Miami Heat (2001) about that.Yes someone wanted Rasheed Wallace.He signed with the Celtics.But they had a better role for him,also he's a better fit with Boston than Detroit.I explained that to her as well as the art of the trade nowdays in the NBA.You try to trade a player with a heavy contract for a player with equal ability and value with a contract that is up after the season.It just didn't work out well for the Pistons.

 In the NBA,when your team has a lot of good,but not great players such as the Pistons did,there will come a point where you have to cast an eye to the future.Detroit wasn't getting any better as they were constructed.They would've put up 50 or more wins in the regular season, only to be embarrassed by teams they once dominated such as Atlanta,Cleveland,and Orlando.Then you would have to hear,why didn't they get rid of these players when you could've?  Joe Dumars had to do something .It's just that the wrong move was made last year.If you allow your team to get old without having younger talent to take their place, there will be a longer,steeper climb back to the top.Celtic fans know all about this.They weren't going to trade Larry Bird,Kevin McHale,or Robert Parish,but they got older and eventually walked away from Boston with no one there to take their place.Of course the untimely deaths of Len Bias and Reggie Lewis didn't help.In the early 90's when the Pistons were surpassed by the Chicago Bulls,they were devoid of younger talent to replenish the roster which led to some dark days at the Palace.The Los Angeles Lakers seemed to overcome this phenomenon by getting lucky with younger,cheaper talent like Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones and Vlade Divac,the latter two being parlayed into Kobe Bryant.Good things don't last forever.Some fans need to learn to let go.Sometimes you have to get bad before you're good again.If management makes the right moves and has a little luck it can happen a little quicker.You gotta learn how to bridge the gap.

I might be wrong,but the Celtics could be done

I was talking basketball with a few friends recently and the conversation turned to the NBA playoffs and possible matchups.More specifically about the Eastern Conference.One of my friends boldly predicted a Cleveland vs. Atlanta Eastern Conference final.We both came to a conclusion that Orlando is a good team,but doesn't really know what they are.They seem kind of lucky last year.They caught Cleveland looking ahead and their perimeter shooters caught fire.Just like the hot goalie in hockey.We said that if Jamal Crawford and Joe Johnson can't score for the Hawks,Cleveland would run through them.As good as Joe Johnson is it seems like he shrinks up when guarded by Lebron James.After Johnson and Crawford,the Hawks have no bonafide scorers.They have some good players,but not enough to beat the Cavs.Then the talk turned to the Boston Celtics.
   The Celtics are a good team,but they might be fool's gold.They'll make the second round by default since the East is so weak.But they might not have enough to beat the young gun squads like Orlando,Atlanta,and Cleveland.The Celtics need to get younger,which is why the Ray Allen rumors have been out there for the past few weeks.The team's core,the big three,aren't getting any younger and as much as it might pain Boston fans to think about it,its getting dangerously close to thinking about blowing this team up.Don't be alarmed,I'm not saying do it now.If there are some sweetheart deals in trade possibilities that can keep them among the elite, then make those moves.If things remain status quo,others will start to pass them by.I've seen this before with the Miami Heat back in 2001,when they held on and were swept out of the playoffs in the first round.It happened with the old Pistons and Celtics teams when they held on to aging stars.Piston fans today think they should've held on to Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace.But the fact is that they would've gotten their 50 wins and drummed right out of the playoffs.The Celtics need to heed this warning.Kevin Garnett is playing on one leg,Ray Allen is prone to shooting slumps,Paul Pierce is Paul Pierce,which is the only thing that seems to be holding them together.Rajon Rondo is good,but he might end up pouting himself out of town this offseason.I think they might have a last stand in them,but Danny Ainge might want to think about retooling this offseason if they can't make a deep playoff run.