5 Things To Know About The Knicks

1.) Offense V.S. Defense: The Celtics are the best defensive team in the league, the Knicks on the other hand aren’t even average. Taking Mike D’Atonio’s philosophy of offense first then defense, the Knicks have propelled themselves into the Eastern Conference playoff hunt. Unfortunately for them they’re going up against a team that prides itself on shutting down opposing offenses and if the Celtics are able to control the tempo the Knicks have no defense to fall back on. It’s funny to hear people speak so highly of the Knicks offense when in reality it’s all based around one thing, three pointers. If the Knicks aren’t hitting their shots its very hard for them to go to the pick and roll because everyone will collapse on Amar’e cutting and their offense becomes stagnant and doesn’t produce points

2.) The Knicks Are On Fire! ESPN sure knows how to build up a story, the Knicks have won eight so they must be a good team right? Well I’d like to disagree. They’ve beaten two teams with winning records, Hornets and Nuggets, and both teams are in serious chaos between a lack of leadership and Carmelo drama in Denver plus the slump New Orleans has hit. I’d describe this New York run simply as a decent team playing beyond expectations, beating up on bad teams and catching fire at the right time. Though not as great a feat it resembles the run Houston put together when they won 22 straight games with an undermanned team that shouldn’t have won 5 straight let alone 22.

3.) It’s All About The Point Guards: With 8 straight 30 point games Amare is taking a lot of the credit for the success his team is achieving. Look closer and there is another culprit whose fingerprints are all over the wins, Raymon Felton. Quietly having his most productive season yet Felton is off to a quick start and is proving to be a capable NBA point guard. Most people wondered how the transition from a small market team in North Carolina to New York would affect him and so far he’s proven he can handle the pressure. Though Ill explain later on I believe that Felton is as important to this team as Stoudemire.

4.) Amare Stoudemire For MVP: Folks I hate to break it to you but Amare one of the top forwards in the league, perennial all-star and dynamic scoring threat isn’t as good as people want to believe. Yes he scores a lot of points, commands double teams and has helped rebuild the once proud Knicks franchise but there’s something missing. As a big man and I mean 7 foot big man, why does he average les then 10 rebounds per game? Why do guards attack the rim with no fear of a defensive presence rolling over and sending their shot into the 3rd row? Traditional big men rebound, score in the paint and play defense now I understand the games changed and players have developed and that’s a good thing but they HAVE to keep the playing the roles that define their position. There is absolutely no excuse that a 34 year old KG who’s come off a knee injury should average more boards then Amare. I hate this new breed of big men that play like guards instead of big men .Its not only Amare the NBA is polluted by guys like Rashard Lewis and Antoine Jamison. If Amare ever wants to be remembered as a truly dominate NBA big man he needs to start rebounding and make himself a dominate low post threat.

5.) The Celtics Might Lose: Yes I just went through this whole article pointing out many faults of this Knicks team and all the advantages the Celtics have but there’s one glaring fact that pessimists like me cant ignore, the 2010 season. Last year the Celtics lose this game, they go into MSG thinking easy win and play lifeless basketball. I don’t believe that this is the same team as last year but with those memories still in my mind I can’t help but think “what if”. Hopefully the Celtics will put a strong effort and shutdown this overblown Knicks offense and cool down all the hype. My prediction is that if the Knicks don’t score over 90 points they can’t win so with that I’m picking the Celtics to win 97-88.

Injuries

So the Celtics are being hit hard by the injury bug and who would have guessed it would happen? With an average age of 30 years old it’s surprising at the amount of people who are missing at Tuesday’s practice. Okay, lets drop the sarcasm, this is exactly what a lot of people guessed would happen and it’s not exactly headline news. One of the major quips against this year’s Celtics team was that they were a lot of injury prone players or players that are on the wrong side of 30.
Whether you expected it or not, the amount of injuries piling up have to be a concern. There are the long term injuries to Kendrick Perkins, Delonte West and Jermaine O’Neal that we’ve already accepted but there a couple of nagging injuries that could cause some problems. The biggest and probably the most important has to be Rajon Rondo’s hamstring. Banner number 18 depends on the well being of Rondo and without him the Celtics simply aren’t the same team. Rondo isn’t the only point guard battling a leg injury; Nate Robinson seems to be dealing with a sore foot since the game against the Atlanta Hawks. If he needs anytime to heal up and Rondo is still not 100% we could be dealing with a depth issue at that position.
Shaq seems to be dealing with an injury that players at his age usually don’t deal with, with ONLY 18 years of NBA experience and at the young of age 38, the whole Celtics organization seems to be perplexed at why his knee’s are constantly sore and cause pain (I’m sorry I promise no more jokes). Glen Davis was also sent home from practice with a severe fever and is questionable for Wednesday’s game against Denver. The Celtics seem to be hitting a rough patch but December victories aren’t what this team is built to accomplish. Yes, they should be trying to get home court advantage but if that means playing these injured players then I guess they’re going to be on the road for the Finals. If the team is back and healthy anytime before the all star break then I consider that a success and something to be grateful for.

Power Rankings

Well a lot has changed in the NBA since our last rankings, the Hornets have reverted to the mediocre team we all expected, the defending champs went on a 4 game losing streak and the mighty Celtics have continued to dominate (yes I’m still a homer). I know its early in the season but I’m also taking back something I said in the previous rankings, hint the Celtics aren’t behind the Lakers anymore.
1.) Boston Celtics- How can I deny a team that’s on an impressive 10 game winning streak and are playing some great basketball even though they’ve been plagued with injuries. Kevin Garnett is playing some amazing ball and some of the rebounding numbers hes getting are flat out ridiculous comparing to how he struggled last year
2.) Dallas Mavericks- With a 16-4 record the Mavericks are surprising many people with their play and seem to be a serious contender in the West. They have been ending teams streaks and have six straight wins at home. A quick glance at their schedule and you can see they have the potential to go on a monster streak with the lousy teams they play.
3.) San Antonio Spurs- They seem to be borrowing the Utah Jazz’s blueprint for success, go down by at least 15 points and comeback to win the game in the fourth quarter. Four wins this week have come when they were trailing and they have now matched the team’s best start through 20 games. I said this last week and I’ll say it again GO AWAY.
4.) Orlando Magic- The NBA season had started about a month ago but flu season is just hitting Orlando. They’ve been hit by a serious virus and multiple players have been missing games while recovering, what they can be proud of? Their still 15-5.
5.) Utah Jazz- Great point guard, great coach and a deep team are things a lot of people overlooked when deciding the fate of the Jazz and Deron Williams seems to be on a mission to prove every one wrong. An early MVP candidate he seems poised to have a break through season.

Celtics Mix

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxIjamyqpR4

Giving Thanks to The Celtics

There are a lot of things to be thankful for this season, the family, health but what I’m really thankful for is the Celtics. Thankful those on days when I should be doing homework I have something to watch on TV. Thankful that one of the best point guards in the NBA rajon rondo is on my team. The Celtics give me the escape I need from life and this thanksgiving I’m extremely thankful for that.

So Far So Good: Celtics Aren’t Repeating Last Season Debacle

The 2010-2011 seasons came with much anticipation, excitement but most of all it came with hope. Hope that the torture the Celtics put their fans in last year wouldn’t repeat; hope that there would be no more losses to the lowly Nets or 28 point blowouts to Washington at home. Hope that with a revamped roster and a rejuvenated Kevin Garnett the 82 game NBA season would be respected and there would be no coasting or lackluster play. So far that hope has been fulfilled and the Celtics are living up to the expectations that were set during the summer. Sure there have been moments where the Celtics have looked like the team from last year but there’s something different this time around. There’s a sense of urgency for the regular season and an intensity that was lacking in 2010. Fingers can be pointed all around for who is responsible for the different approach toward the regular season but my clear cut nominee is Kevin Garnett. The passion that he brings along with his energy is going to be vital parts towards the success the Celtics hope to have this season.  Last year with the Celtics desperately in need of someone to charge them up and push them Garnett wasn’t there to do it, his injury not only slowed him down physically but affected his ability to yell and scream at teammates to get them going. With his knee at a very stable place the confidence that he lacked last year is back and he’s having no problems leading once again. His leadership along with the great play of the team has given the Celtics a respectable 12-4 record and they currently sit atop the Eastern Conference.  With key wins against some of the East’s best contenders, Heat, Hawks and Bucks, the Celtics look like a prime choice to once again reach the NBA finals.
With all the positives things that have been going on this year Celtics fans haven’t had a lot to worry about. The injuries to Delonte and Jermaine have brought some problems but the major concern of the Celtics not trying this year has been answered.  Fans won’t be put through another roller coast season and now instead of the hope we’ve been carrying all summer we can turn it into faith. Faith that this play keeps up and by April we will be talking about how good the Celtics have been playing and how they are the favorites heading into the playoffs.

Age Is A Number Shaq Seems to Ignore

38 years old and with 18 years of NBA experience under his belt you would think that Shaq would have gotten somewhat bored with the regular season. Some expected him to try and coast through the 82 game grind just like Rasheed Wallace had done last year but Shaq has other plans. Playing with great intensity Shaq has been a pleasant surprise for the Celtics. His play has been very good and his averages of 12 points 7 rebounds are above what a lot of people were predicting for him. His recent performance of 25 points 11 rebounds against New Jersey proved that when called upon he can deliver a game changing performance. With the injury plagued Jermaine O’ Neal still out because of a knee injury Shaq’s number has been called on and he’s responded. One of the major problems thought to arise with the addition of Shaq was his affect on the defensive side. With the pick and roll being a major part of the NBA there was the obvious concern of Shaq being able to defend it well enough for the Celtics to get by. So far his pick and roll defense has been enough that there isn’t a negative impact on the team, his presence in the paint though has been outstanding. We now an “ enforcer” as he likes to call himself and there must have been at least a dozen times when a little guard began to drive to the paint but stopped or took an a bad shot because he saw Shaq. Our rebounding woes of last year seem to be getting better and now that we have Shaq grabbing over 7 boards in 20 minutes of play we should be fine once Perk returns.  One of the key assets Shaq brings to the team that people don’t realize is all the fouls he collects. People are quick to point out the hundreds of free-throws he’s missed but if you look closer it’s clear to see how many free-throws he’s produced for the team. Last year one of the major reasons the Celtics didn’t take a lot free-throws was because they never were able to rack up a lot of fouls per quarter and they didn’t force teams to go over the limit. This year even though he has missed a lot of free-throw Shaq is helping the Celtics get over the foul limit and players like Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are reaping the benefits.  Though there are the obvious concerns of his age and if his body can hold up the Celtics are enjoying Shaq for now and hoping that he can continue this play into the playoffs.

Where There's Good There Has To Be Negative

            The Boston Celtics have alot of upside this season. They have a deep bench, best starting 5 and one HELL of a point guard. With alot of things going there way its hard to nitpick and find negatives but like every team in this league we have out faults and Im here today to show you them. First off there's the obvious age factor, with an average age of about 30 we have one of the oldest teams in the leauge and thats not the best record to hold. Theres the risk of anyone of the players getting hurt at any moment or simply running out of fuel. So far this has only implied to Jermaine O'Neal but you can never be too sure in sports. Theres also the issue of the Celtics having to many different characters in one locker room. So far everything has been fun and laughs but with so many opininated players( Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Shaq, Nate, Delonte, Peirce, Perk and Big Baby) ( pretty much the whole team) theres the chance that it all blows up and they ruin their chemistry. Its a good thing that we have Doc Rivers though because he might be one of the few coaches that can keep this group stable. If all goes well and this team stays healthy I see no reason that they cant go to the NBA finals and beat the Lakers.

Power Rankings

Power Rankings: 4/26/10- 5/16/10

For all the die hard NBA fans like myself I'm going to start a series of blogs that come out every other week and give some info of the top 5 teams in the league. I'll try to be as unbiased as possible but don't hold me to it. Without wasting any more time here's your top 5 NBA teams up to today.

1.) New Orleans Hornets- Probably the biggest surprise of the young NBA season so far the Hornets stand at 8-1 and have the best record in the NBA. Though I don't think that it will last there has to be some respect given to Chris Paul and Monty Williams for leading their team to a great start.

2.) Los Angeles Lakers- There isn't much to say about the defending champs, only two losses to very good teams( Nuggets and Suns) but besides that have been playing great ball. Lamar Odom is playing out of his mind ( I still hate him) and Steve Blake has finally given the Lakers a stable and consistent guard off the bench.

3.) Boston Celtics-  I know what every ones thinking, how can the Lakers be ahead of the Celtics when they've already lost twice and the Celtics are playing such great basketball? The answer is simple, the Celtics lone goal this season is to beat the Lakers in the Finals, wins against the Heat in November don't mean much. We all know deep down that the Celtics are capable of beating the Magic, Heat, Spurs and anyone else but the Lakers are a different animal. Call me crazy but I refuse to anoint this Celtics team the best until January 30th when they play the Lakers and beat them.

4.) Utah Jazz- Sometimes I wonder if the NBA games are scripted out because what the Jazz are doing right now is just unheard of. Going down by double digits doesn't seem to phase this team at all, especially when you have Paul Millsap draining three pointers in the fourth quarter. Wins against the Clippers, Heat, Magic, Hawks and Bobcats are pretty impressive considering they played those games in 5 days. The let down against the Thunder hurt their chances of making the top 3 but not a bad week for a team that many thought would struggle without Carlos Boozer.

5.) San Antonio Spurs- Just go away already please!! Greg Popovich might be the Bill Belichick of basketball, he somehow finds a way of making players that we have never heard of produce. The spurs are squeezing as much out of Tim Duncan as they can and for now its working, Tony Parker is playing much better than the disappointing season he had last year while Manu is just being Manu.
 

Another Season, Another Great Start for the Boston Celtics

              So the Boston Celtics might have one more championship run in them after all. An offseason that was filled with South Beach drama, the defending champs adding some serious depth and young players representing the United States in the FIBA championship, the Celtics seemed to fall somewhat under the radar. Quietly adding veteran players with playoff experience, the Celtics seem to have their best team in recent history. Old foes like Shaq and Jermaine O’Neal were added to the roster while an old friend in Delonte West returned.
            It wouldn’t have been an NBA season without all the doubters that questioned the ability to stay healthy for the aging core. Up to today those doubters have been somewhat right considering that Shaq and JO haven’t played together yet and could possibly miss more time, but they don’t let that mask the positives the Celtics have shown so far. Rondo has been the brilliant player he is but the contributions out of the rest starting five is what really stands out. Kevin Garnett has looked like a player we have dearly missed with a new found explosiveness and willingness to go into the post. Paul Pierce has looked extremely slim and has some quickness in his game. Ray Allen has been the player he always is; 16 points, a couple 3’s and the willingness to throw his body around for his team. One of the brighter spots of the team is the emergence of Glen Davis as a consistent 4th quarter option. His game has developed rapidly and he is now is a presence on both the offensive and defensive end. One of the best parts of watching the games is counting how many charges Davis can take. Nate Robinson seems to finally have matured into a serviceable point guard that can lead the second unit (or as Shaq calls them the Boston Bench Mob). Robinson will also benefit from the return of Delonte West as he will be off the ball and fill more of the scoring role he is comfortable in.
             What also stands out is the team’s cohesive play. Playing the Heat on opening night was a huge eye opener in how important it is to have good chemistry with your teammates. Rondo must have at least 30 assists this season that were completely results of knowing his teammates. With great wins coming against playoff teams the Celtics have cemented their place as one of the serious contenders for a championship this year. Besides their win against Miami on opening night the Celtics have rattled off wins against Oklahoma, Miami again, the Bucks and Chicago. This team might be built for the playoffs but they seem to have taken it upon themselves to make sure their isn’t a repeat of last season regular season.

Rondo Mix

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnlrI9vqBug&feature=related

THE NEW ERA

Over the years people have gathered their own opinions on Rajon Rondo, but something that everyone can agree upon is that's so far into the season he is off to a toroid start. After witnessing the great skill set that he possessed in last years playoffs there was great anticipation to how he would translate that into a full NBA season but a lot of the questions were answered quickly. Heading into the season rondo had already been anointed as one of the best passers, but what he is doing to teams is just amazing to watch. Mike Gorman, the Celtics announcer, has been saying for years that Rondo is the best left handed passer in the league but Rondo has added a whole new dimension to it with pump fakes, behind the backs and no look passes. Opening night against the Heat was the unveiling of his greatness and he didn't disappoint as he racked up 17 assists. Not long after that Rondo put everyone in amazement with a one of a kind triple double consisting of 10 points 10 rebounds and 24 assists. THAT'S RIGHT 24 ASSISTS!! The passing isn't the only thing that separates Rondo from the other point guards in the NBA, he has a way of completely dominating a game without putting any special numbers in the stat sheet. Now there are a lot of people who would want to say that this is just a swing of momentum he's going through and that he'll slow down but don't believe that at all. Rondo is hear to dominate and there are few things teams in the NBA can do about it. Rondo's ability to penetrate and dish the ball are critical assets to the Celtics offense which might put him in the MVP consideration. Though unlikely he would win it this shows the growth Rondo has went through to become the all star he is today. With an aging core of Allen, Garnett and Pierce Rondo is the undisputed leader and the engine that keeps the Celtics going. Watching the team now its hard not to look ahead to the post KG era, Rondo will be our he'll have the supporting cast to keep the Celtics winning. Whatever the future hold though its sure to be a bright one for Rondo. Watching him from his rookie year to now I've gotten a deep appreciation for his game. People criticize all the things he CAN'T do but they fail to appreciate the things he can. With all the doubt and concerns I remain optimistic that at the end of Rondo's carear  he will have accomplished many great things and be recognized for the player he is.