Category: Boston Celtics Blog

Celtics blog – Boston Celtics blog. A great Celtics news blog

No plans for Doc Rivers to rotate starting centers while Perkins is out

Rob Bradford of WEEI reports:

shaq

Speaking after the Celtics’ practice Tuesday, Doc Rivers said that he doesn’t plan on rotating Jermaine O’Neal and Shaquille O’Neal in the starting lineup depending on match-ups, instead going with one consistent starter until Kendrick Perkins returns from his knee injury.

“I doubt it. I don’t usually do that,” said Rivers when asked if he was going to alternate between two big men. “I usually just go with one, and that’s what we’ll do. I’m going to wait until the end of camp and the best big wins.”

Regarding if he feels it makes a big difference which of the two get the starting nod, Rivers said, “It doesn’t. I think it’s going to come down to who we feel is going to give us the best chance to get off to a good start.” The Celtics’ coach also noted that he doesn’t expect to play both Jermaine and Shaquille on the floor at the same time.

What’s your take? Share it on the Boston Celtics forum.

Jermaine O’Neal discusses past injuries

Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reports:

Jermaine O'Neal discusses past injuries

“The problem is that I’ve never been a player who complained or let people know how bad things were,” O’Neal said. “You get guys who are hurt and they try to play and it’s, ‘Oh, I didn’t play well because I was hurt.’ I wasn’t that player.

“I played almost two years with a torn meniscus. I tore my meniscus twice, and I never said anything because my team was going through so much and I felt like the city of Indianapolis needed any positive notion that they could get. I played through it. Nobody knows about me having to wear the big compression (clothes) just to walk around and me not being able to practice before I played in the games. People don’t know about that. Nobody knows about me taking 10 Advil a day and then having to get my liver and kidney checked. People don’t know about that.

“People always judge and they don’t know about anything that was going on on the inside. One thing I can say – and anybody can say from any team I’ve ever played on – is that when I get out there I’m going to play as hard as I possibly can, whether it’s on one leg or two legs or whatever. In the last three years of my deal, people were saying, ‘Oh, he’s not worth it.’ But I was still hurt.”

Talk Celtics basketball on the Boston Celtics forum.

Fan poll results: Six East locks to make playoffs

An InsideHoops.com front page poll asking fans to predict the eight Eastern conference teams that will qualify for the 2010-11 NBA playoffs had the following results:

Celtics     2,046 votes
Heat     2,045 votes
Magic     2,011 votes
Bulls     1,985 votes
Hawks     1,886 vote
Bucks     1,658 votes
Bobcats     1,011 votes
Knicks     1,074 votes
Wizards     637 votes
Sixers     481 votes
Pistons     336 votes
Nets     333 votes
Cavaliers 333 votes
Pacers     229 votes
Raptors     173 votes

Fans felt that the six teams — the Magic, Celtics, Heat, Bulls, Hawks and Bucks — are strong locks to make the playoffs.

After those teams, the Bobcats and Knicks came in next, with the 7th and 8th highest votes.

InsideHoops.com editor says: These are some pretty fantastic results. Look at the top eight teams, in order. That’s pretty close to what an East power ranking list should look like.

Missing the playoffs but getting good support were the Wizards, receiving the 9th highest votes.


Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard (12) is congratulated by teammates Rashard Lewis (L), Jameer Nelson (14) and Vince Carter (15) during overtime in Game 4 of their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series against the Boston Celtics in Boston, Massachusetts May 24, 2010. REUTERS/Adam Hunger (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

NBA dress code update: Collars required for coaches

Chris Forsberg of ESPN reports:

Doc Rivers got a memo from the NBA this offseason on an updated dress code and promptly launched it into the nearest trash basket.

“I saw the dress code and I didn’t even look at it,” admitted Rivers. “I thought, ‘I don’t think I’m breaking the dress code, so I’m pretty good with it.'”

Apprised Thursday of the league’s new decree requiring collars on coaches, a change directed at Orlando head man Stan Van Gundy and his penchant for turtle necks, Rivers expressed disappointment.

“I like Stan’s style,” he said. “I really thought Stan had set the bar on the dress code. We should stay with that; It was nice… I actually [wore no collar] a couple times, even tried the collar with no tie, I just didn’t like it.”

Rivers doesn’t think the league needs to regulate any coach’s attire.

“I don’t think anyone dresses poorly,” said Rivers. “I think coaches dress pretty well. That’s fine, though. If [the NBA] thinks we need to look different or something, I’m fine with it.

InsideHoops.com editor says: I am completely joking here — I think this is the NBA’s way of telling Stan Van Gundy that his roundish figure would appear to be more sharply defined with the assistance of a collared shirt.


May 18, 2010 - Orlando, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - epa02163674 Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy reacts during the third period of game two of the NBA Eastern Conference finals at the Amway Arena in Orlando Florida USA 18 May 2010.The Celtics won 95-92 to take a two games to none lead in the best of seven series.

Former employee suing Shaq

QMI Agency reports:

Shaquille O’Neal is being sued by a former employee who accuses the NBA superstar of trying to plant child pornography on his computer.

Shawn Darling, who worked for O’Neal as an IT consultant from 2007-09, is taking the Celtics big man to court in Florida for “intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and civil R.I.C.O (a racketeering charge).”

According to the lawsuit, Darling was ordered to delete information from a computer and email account that would have exposed multiple affairs O’Neal was having while he was still married. After the information was deleted, Shaq allegedly tried to plant child pornography on Darling’s computer to frame the employee and keep him from releasing any of the incriminating evidence.

UPDATE: The Boston Herald reports:

In a lengthy statement released by his representatives yesterday, O’Neal called Darling “an ex-con” with a lengthy record. He portrayed the suit as a brazen cash-grab by a man who previously tried to extort him for $12 million by threatening to expose O’Neal’s personal communications and e-mails.

“Mr. O’Neal has made it crystal clear that he will never respond to these outrageous tactics,” Shaq’s representatives said in a statement. “As a result, Darling filed a lawsuit which seeks only to embarrass, harass and extract money from Mr. O’Neal.”

Delonte West returning to Celtics

Celtics are reportedly signing Delonte West

Delonte West is reportedly returning to where it all began and is set to sign a contract with the Boston Celtics.

According to CSNNE, 6-3 combo guard will rejoin the team his career began with. West entered the NBA in 2004, playing for the Celtics through the 2006-07 season before a quick stint with Seattle SuperSonics and then years with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

For his career, West averages 9.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 28.5 minutes per game. He averaged 7.4 PPG with the Cavs last season.

Because of his legal infraction, West is suspended by the NBA for the first 10 regular season games.

InsideHoops.com editor joking: At press time, the parents of Boston’s current players have yet to comment on this breaking news.

InsideHoops.com editor being straightforward: This is a good move for Boston. Delonte has some personal issues but I don’t believe they will be a real factor with his new team. He should be fine. The signing adds good bench depth to both guard spots. If any problem did develop with Delonte, the team can just send him packing. Boston gets slightly better with this move and are pushing hard to squeeze out another championship before Kevin Garnett fades away and Paul Pierce’s age starts to become a factor.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.


March 06, 2010 Milwaukee, WI. Bradley Center..Cleveland Cavaliers Delonte West brings the ball up the court, West had 27 points and 7 assists coming off the Cavaliers bench tonight..Milwaukee Buck won over the Cleveland Cavaliers 92-85. Mike McGinnis/CSM.

Team USA cuts Rajon Rondo; Colangelo says Rondo asked to withdraw

Team USA cuts Rajon Rondo

With one exhibition game remaining and just tfour days out from the tip of the FIBA World Championship for Men, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo today announced the 12 players who will represent the United States at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

Named to the 12-man 2010 USA World Championship Team were: Chauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets); Tyson Chandler (Dallas Mavericks); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers); Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder).

“Rajon came to us and said he was going to withdraw from the team, that he had some family matters to attend to and some things to take care of before the NBA season. He did an outstanding job during our training, we appreciate the effort and commitment he made to our program and he completely has our support,” said Colangelo.

Much more info is on the InsideHoops.com USA Basketball page. 

NBA suspends Delonte West 10 games

NBA suspends Delonte West 10 games

Delonte West, who played last season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, has been suspended without pay for ten games for pleading guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and wearing, carrying, and transporting a handgun, in violation of the law of the State of Maryland, the NBA announced today.

West is currently a free agent.  If he signs a contract to play again in the NBA, West’s suspension will begin with the first game of the NBA regular season for which he is eligible and physically able to play.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Despite his personal issues, I still think West eventually will get signed, though probably to a short and possibly non-guaranteed contract. He’s too good a player to fall out of the league.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.


MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 16: Hells Angels bikies leave after the funeral for Melbourne crime figure Macchour Chaouk at Preston Mosque on August 16, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. 61-year old Chaouk was gunned down in the backyard of his Melbourne home on Friday. A man from the rival Haddara family has been questioned by police over the shooting but released without charge. Chaouk will be buried next to his son Mohammed Ali Chaouk who was shot dead by police in a home raid in 2005. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

Full 2010 preseason schedule

The NBA today released its 2010 preseason schedule, which is highlighted by a comprehensive international slate of games that includes seven contests in China, Europe and Mexico. The preseason slate tips off on Oct. 3, when the New York Knicks visit Armani Jeans Milano – the former team of Knicks forward Danillo Gallinari and head coach Mike D’Antoni – in Milan, Italy, and the New Jersey Nets host Maccabi Haifa.

As is the case these days, the action starts overseas, with a few NBA squads heading to Europe.

I’ve always had mixed feelings about teams playing preseason ball overseas. Because generally it’s just a warmup. I think if NBA fans overseas are going to get a rare taste of live NBA action, it should be the best basketball possible, and we usually don’t see that before the regular season begins.

See the complete 2010-11 NBA preseason schedule.