Hexed

These are the days where I hate being out of market for the Celtics.  Curse my West Coast lifestyle!  I don't know if I can provide much on a game I didn't see or recreate the excitement or enthusiasm of the contest (Ronald Reagan I am not), I just don't want you to think that I'm not paying attention.  

As we gear up for the playoffs and match-ups become clearer, I'll be ramping up my coverage and analysis of the Celtics and their quest to repeat as NBA champions.  The road to another title will be much harder than it was last spring, as the Celtics will have to best a superior field with a potentially depleted squad.  Last year's championship Celtics team was miles ahead of everyone else, even if 9 of 10 talking heads with opinions on ESPN picked the Lakers to win the Finals (props to Tim Legler for choosing wisely), however this year's team has fallen back into the pack and is currently drafting behind several other very talented squads.  What the hell happened?  

Sixty three percent of participants in a survey I made up for this column chose "lack of Posey" as the answer to that last question, and frankly I can't say I blame them for saying so.  It's no secret that the Celtics miss Posey's versatility, length, toughness, shooting and so on, but I think the improvement of the Lakers, Magic, and Cavaliers has more to do with Boston's struggles to stay ahead of the pack than any holes in their own roster.  With the exception of Detroit, every other elite NBA team got better after the 2008 Finals.  Houston got Artest, San Antonio got Roger Mason, Dwyane Wade returned, Denver added Billups, Portland added Oden, Orlando added Pietrus, the Hornets added Posey, Los Angeles got Andrew Bynum and Trevor Ariza back, and pesky Cleveland got Mo Freaking Williams.  Though not all of the names on this list are stars (though some are), every guy I just mentioned fills a key hole and has improved his team from the previous year.  The Celtics added nobody during the offseason, choosing instead to feast off of some table scraps in late February to help them try and get over the hump this June.

The crazy part in all of this is that the Celtics were still (until fairly recently) the top team in the Association for a while.  They're playing better offense this year while still bringing the characteristic (albeit sometimes unsettlingly spotty) defensive intensity and are still right there with everyone else as the regular season goes into its final weeks.  Leon Powe, Glen Davis, Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins have all gotten better since last year, and with a significantly healthier Ray Allen on board Boston has managed to fill the void left by Posey.  The problem is simply that everyone else has caught up.

This year's championship run will be a different kind of challenge for the Celtics.  As I mentioned before, last year's team was miles ahead of the competition which worked out just fine for their title run.  If I had things my way, they'd be in the same boat again this year.  Unfortunately that isn't the case, but that doesn't mean that the Celtics can't win.  If the Celtics can conserve some energy by letting another team take the lead (in this case Cleveland) and get healthy in time for the grueling home stretch, I like their chances just as much as anyone else's.  I promise that there will be more to come soon, but for now I am tired and need to put some energy into my gig that actually pays the bills...

Put the Pieces Back Together

The NBA's trade deadline is only a few days away, and as a result of our crappy economy, many NBA owners are running around like chickens with their heads cut off to cut costs both immediately and down the road.  Today has already seen one such move, with the Hornets sending Tyson Chandler to the Thunder for expiring big man contracts that happen to be named Chris Wilcox and Joe Smith.  Many of you are probably scratching your heads right now wondering what exactly this means (along with who the hell these players are), but fear not, that's why I'm here.

This move means that New Orleans is throwing in the towel, closing up shop and kissing any and all of their title hopes goodbye for this year.  Chandler was the Hornets' only 7-footer as well as their best rebounder and interior defender.  He was also one of Chris Paul's favorite targets for jaw-dropping alley-oops, and is currently only 26 years old, meaning that he is in his peak years currently (NBA players usually peak between ages 25-30, give or take a little bit).  Chandler was a force in the paint on defense, and despite his struggles with injury this year is still too valuable (in my humble opinion) to be dumped for two solid contributors at mid season.  This move is a straight salary dump, and now the Hornets will have to try and make do with new players who are unfamiliar with their system (always be ready for a pass from Chris Paul!) and without the necessary size and interior toughness to seriously compete in the Western Conference.  Because Chandler has three years left on his deal at approximately $11 million per, he (along with the title hopes for New Orleans) are now gone.  So it goes.

What does this have to do with the Celtics?  A deal like this shows that this year's market for NBA players is a buyer's market, meaning that teams trading away important pieces are likely to get little in return.  This is wonderful for the Celtics, who not only need to make an addition to keep pace with Cleveland and LA, but have bupkis to offer in return.  Earlier today, the Celtics sent Sam "the Crystal Skull" Cassell to Sacramento for the right to swap second round draft picks in 2015, clearing a little bit of salary for us while also opening up a roster spot on the defending champions' bench.  With a spot now open, the Celtics could add a piece through free agency (I can still hope for PJ Brown, right?), drawing on a talent pool that is likely to increase in the coming day when some veteran players are likely to get bought out of their remaining contracts by their cellar-dwelling teams (this is how Sam came to the Celtics last year).

While waiting around for a good piece to get bought out is not a bad strategy (adding a piece like Jerry Stackhouse or *gulp* Stephon Marbury wouldn't hurt), I feel that given the current economy and market for NBA talent that the Celtics could be slightly more proactive in their search for the missing piece that can help them repeat as champions this year.  And since New Orleans has now waved the white flag of "salary dump" high so that everyone can see it, I have a business proposition for the Hornets...

Trade James Posey back to the Celtics for either Brian Scalabrine and Tony Allen or for Scal, JR Giddens and Patrick O'Bryant.  Both of these trades work in ESPN's NBA trade machine and could be mutually beneficial for both sides.  For New Orleans, they'd be shedding $24 million dollars over the next four years in the form of James Posey's contract while taking on a few modest salaries that are off the books after next season.  The Celtics could also offer a pick or some kind of monetary compensation to entice the Hornets a bit more, too.  Additionally, New Orleans would be getting at least something back in return in the form of Scal and whomever else is included in the deal.  If New Orleans takes Giddens and O'Bryant, then they're getting two dirt cheap fliers on some young and undeveloped talent, as well as Scal's presence in the locker room and his intangible contributions on the court.  

The appeal for Boston is obvious.  As a team contending for a title with a nucleus of aging superstars, it is in the Celtics' best interest to win right now, regardless of the economic climate of the league and the nation.  It's not like the Celtics are losing or will lose money in the city of Boston if they field a competitive squad with realistic title hopes.  In a city of sports nuts who have been conditioned to pay out the ass for the Red Sox and Patriots, the financial reserves will always be there for the Celtics, so adding some salary shouldn't be a problem for Danny Ainge.  Doing this deal moves pieces that didn't exactly fit in the first place and gives the Celtics exactly what they've been missing this year: James Posey.  

I may be beating a dead horse here, but it remains true: the Celtics need hep this year if they want to have a shot at repeating as NBA champions in June.  Posey was vital to Boston's success last year as a versatile swing man who could defend the other team's best player, rebound and stretch the floor with his outside shooting.  Additionally, he was a great chemistry guy who helped keep the Celtics together in the locker room and on the court, always leading by example with his hustle and effort.  He was a huge factor in the Celtics' title run last year, and he's been sorely missed ever since he signed with New Orleans in the off-season.  Doing this deal would put the universe back in order and would (albeit in a rather convoluted way) atone for Boston's choice of saving $6 million over strengthening the team for years to come.  

I've since reviewed every game of the Finals from last year as well as the seventh game of the Conference semi-finals against Cleveland (thanks to my collector's edition DVD set), and I can say with confidence that Boston wouldn't have won without James Posey.  He shut down Kobe Bryant and LeBron James as well as anyone has ever done, hit big shots, created possessions for the Celtics with his defense and rebounding and gave Boston much more versatility with their personnel and consistency with the second unit.  Despite similar records at the All-Star break (41-9 with Posey, 44-11 without), this team doesn't just need somebody like James Posey, they need the real deal.  

He already knows the system, and we already know that he fits in well with the players on the roster.  We also know that the Celtics desperately need help (why else would Stephon Marbury's name keep popping up?) despite their NBA best record.  Adding Posey to a Celtics team that has seen improvements form its role players thus far would put Boston over the top for a title this year.  Despite losing their best role player, the Celtics have kept pace with the NBA's best teams, all of which improved over the off-season.  Add Posey back into the mix and the Celtics jump way ahead, with more solid defense and better production off the bench, which has been the Celtics' biggest Achilles heel this year.  The stars seem to be aligned for a coup like this, now if you'll excuse me I'm going to make an animal sacrifice to the NBA gods to try and push this deal through.

Monday Moaning

Memo to the rest of the NBA: when the game is winding down and that guy who wears number 8 for the Spurs, I think his name is Roger Mason, has the ball, you may want to put a hand in his face.  Otherwise, he may do something like this.  Or maybe something along the lines of this, or this.  You've been warned.  Also, we'll be putting new cover sheets on out TPS reports from now on.  

Um, yeah.............

Did ya get that memo, Celtics?

I guess not.  First off, that was a great shot, and every time I watch San Antonio this year, all I can think about is how good Roger Mason would look in Celtic green.  He stretches the defense, can handle the ball, is efficient on the floor, understands his role and clearly, he can hit big shots.  And while it may not look as flashy as some shots you'll see in the NBA, pulling up for a jumper off the dribble after navigating your way around a screen and between two defenders is incredibly difficult to do, so kudos to Mason for coming through again and giving the Spurs a big road win.

But that shot didn't win the game for the Spurs, nor did the Celtics lose the game because their defense was not tight enough (the play was covered reasonably well and the other Celtics had to stay home on their men, seeing as the Spurs are one of the best passing teams in the league).  I'm not of the opinion that any one possession lost the game, although Ray Allen's cosmic brain fart on the ensuing inbounds play is making me challenge that statement even as I write it.  That was an awful exchange, to be sure, and the clear path foul, free-throws, possession and more free-throws that resulted from Allen's epic fail did solidify a seven point swing towards the Spurs in just under two seconds.  But even so, the Celtics could have easily won that game.

So what went wrong?  Aside from not playing defense in the first half and failing miserably to exploit some of the mismatches that the Celtics had (Matt Bonner guarding KG?!?  Really?), I can't help but feel like the game was lost at the start of the fourth quarter, when the Celtics bench was on the floor.  With a second unit of Leon Powe, Glen Davis, Eddie House, Tony Allen and Paul Pierce on the floor, all of Boston's momentum that was accrued in a stellar third quarter that saw Boston outscore San Antonio 24-14 evaporated into thin air.

After working so hard to regain the lead after three quarters, the Celtics reserves struggled to find offense and keep the Spurs from scoring on defense, surrendering a 76-74 lead and falling into a five point hole.  The bench play was so bad that Doc Rivers was compelled to go back to his starters early in the quarter just to stop the bleeding.  Not that the first unit looked excessively tired at the end of the game, but the fact that the bench players can't be trusted to do their fair share is Troubling (notice the capital "T").  

Although the Celtics' bench isn't short on hustle, effort or enthusiasm, they've struggled all year long to create offense and match up with some of the better second units in the NBA (think Portland and the Lakers).  Eddie House is instant offense, sure, but he's really the only one who needs to be paid attention to, and he suffers for it much of the time.  Yesterday's Spurs game was a great example, during which Eddie only attempted two shots (never mind that he made both)!!!!!!!!  For a guy whose sole purpose on the team is to shoot and score, this is baffling, like worse than trying to figure out the plot of Eye of the Tiger.  Why did this happen?

House was never open because San Antonio simply didn't have to worry about anyone else on the floor from the Celtics' second unit beating them.  Sure, Paul Pierce was out there too, but he was swarmed and pestered by defenders as well (even so he did actually keep the game relatively close).  With Tony Allen, Big Baby and Leon Powe on the floor, there simply aren't enough offensive threats to make a halfway decent NBA defense sweat over the Boston Celtics.  

All three of those guys (TA, Baby and Powe) are energy/hustle players, meaning they generally impact the game on offense by hitting the offensive glass, setting screens, getting easy baskets in transition and occasionally scoring as a fourth or fifth option for the team.  Plays don't get run for them, and they don't threaten a defense outside of the ways I just outlined.  None of these guys are shooters or scorers, none of them can really handle the ball very well, nor are they great play-makers, so while they aren't liabilities on offense per se, they are by no means hard to defend or game-plan against.  

Don't get me wrong, each one of these guys, and effort/hustle role players in general, are vital cogs in any elite basketball team, and without them the stars couldn't shine as brightly as they do.  Often times these players are making the biggest sacrifices for the betterment of their team with the smallest reward, and it does seem somewhat wrong to be overly critical of the guys who don't get the same opportunity and have to make the most of what they have, but the simple truth is that there's only space for one or maybe two of these guys in a successful rotation.  Having too many limited offensive threats can and will make your offense stagnate and fall apart like so many celebrity marriages.  Just as the stars need the role players to do the little things, the role players can only flourish when there are stars around to attract attention and make the game easier for them (think Anderson Varejao).

Right now, the Celtics are suffering because of this.  Last year, with James Posey in the mix along with House and usually Ray Allen or Paul Pierce, the Celtics' second unit was much more threatening.  Not only did Posey bring defensive intensity and versatility to the Celtics, but his ability to hit outside shots stabilized the Celtics' second unit and forced defenses to stretch out and open up lanes for the other players on the court.  With three scorers out there, it becomes harder to camp out in the paint and box out the likes of Davis and Powe or keep track of them on dribble penetration, which was possible because of the optimal floor spacing provided by Posey.  This year, with three guys who can't shoot out there, everything has become that much harder and more taxing for the Celtics, who have been showing signs of fatigue this year much more so than last year (that 2-7 slide in December just happened to coincide with a lot of games in a short amount of time taking place on both coasts).  If I were a robot with silly clamps for hands, I'd be flailing my arms around and screaming "Danger, Will Robinson!!!  Danger!"

What are the Celtics to do?  Let me first say that the Celtics wouldn't be in this pickle had Antonio McDyess read that letter I wrote him earlier this season, but we can't change the past so I won't go there (but I bet you wish you'd listened, don't you think so?  How's life on the crappy Pistons treating you, Tony?).  The Celtics either need a point guard to take the load off of Eddie House and create for others on the second unit (the more Wild Turkey I drink, the more I like the idea of Stephon Marbury, I'm just sayin'), or find a long big man to help defend the lanky dudes like Pau Gasol and occasionally hit a big shot every now and then (please, PJ, come back!  I beg you!).  The tricky part for Boston is their lack of trade chips either in the form of young talent or expiring contracts, which limits the team's options to free agency pick ups.  The bad news, is that there isn't really anyone out there that is terribly enticing as of yet.  A move is needed, but unfortunately, I have no idea what the move is.  All I know is that if the Celtics keep losing close, winnable games, their future will be as bleak as the job market is.  Yikes.