Saw Danny Ainge being interviewed after the shockingly bad news from the draft lottery that the Celtics will not be getting one of the top lottery picks afterall, presumably either Oden or Durant. You could see the thoughts going through his head like “Gee, still can’t get lucky … now I’ll actually have to be good at my job.” and then … “But wait, I’ve never been good at my GM job.” That’s right, Danny Boy, you’re actually gonna have to work to make the Celtics better … that’s pretty clear now. And not many of us give you much of a chance at succeeding.
It’s really a shame that at least one of those top 2 picks didn’t go to a team in the east (Boston or Philly would’ve been nice … who really cares about Memphis?). As previously stated, the NBA badly needs the nor’eastern seaboard to be good again and I’m sure David Stern & Co were at least privately disappointed. (Hey, at least this lottery result helps put to rest the notion that Stern “fixes the outcome” of these types of things. I remember the league got a lot of flack when the Kincks miraculously landed the draft rights to Patrick Ewing). And how bad does it suck to be the Kincks now that the Bulls own your top 10 pick???
One thing is for sure … if the Portland Trailers are choosing first, they will somehow choose the wrong guy … ala Bowie instead of MJ circa ’84. So if you’re Durant or Oden, you’re praying that Portland does NOT pick you!! The kiss of death.
Anyone see the Spurs hammer the Jazz last night? Steve Nash might be the best passer in the league right now, but as a team, the Spurs sometimes look like they invented the game. Last night, we saw 4 or 5 beautiful plays that featured back screens and 2-3 passes, plus they ran the break beautifully. Ginobili is one of the funnest players to watch … how many guys in the league are both a huge 3 point threat and someone who can drive with a spin move and dunk in your face. Plus the dude can pass. AND HE DOESN’T EVEN START!!!!
Can someone please tell me WHY there is no Cavs vs Pistons game tonight??? What … were they both worn out from all that scoring in game 1??? Puh-lease … spare me. Gotta play at least every other night when not traveling. This is what makes us lose interest … there’s got to be continuity. Somebody … quick … pull Stern’s head out of his tail!!!
Out.
Wally
Ainge, Bird, and McHale all part of some great Celtic teams, but they can’t do anything from a management standpoint. I don’t know what the deal with the devil was that Auerbach made, but it sure is a doozie.
Actually the NBA is probably happy with Portland #1 and Seattle #2. Those two towns only have one major chan’ship each, and it’s in the NBA. The league sees those cities as their babies and wants to keep it that way.
Danny,
This is Red Auerbach from beyond the grave. First off, when you buried me, didn’t I tell you to put a couple of boxes Cubans in with me? Well??!? Where the #$#$# are they? Great start..
Let me congratulate you on bringing the Celtics into another decade of hell.. Yes, hell. I am in heaven and I can tell you, watching what you have done to my Celtics has turned heaven into hell.
First off, nice job on trading the #7 pick from last year’s draft to Portland for Sebastian “gotta gun” Telfair. Sounds like an Aerosmith song… only you’re singing and your voice sucks. So in short summary nice job on passing up Brandon Roy for a felon.. Wow that is the makings of a great GM..
Next.. I am gone a week and suddenly you have dancers? Let me just say there is not much room to roll around in this coffin and your decision making has had me spinning like a ball on Curly’s finger in a Harlem Globetrotter’s game.. I mean dancers? We ARE the CELTICS.. We are what made the NBA great.. Russell, Cousy, Bird, McHale, White.. I could go on – and don’t think I am adding your name to that list.. But now you have Bunny and Bambi shaking their booties on the same floor those guys made sacred? Did you learn anything when you were sitting on my bench? Well, I shouldn’t blame you.. I heard a Gotham say it – apparently Bird or McHale didn’t learn anything as well.. And M.L. DEFINITELY didn’t learn anything.
I do have commend you though.. Your youth movement strategy – the one you have been working Boston over for the last 4 years? Genius, absolute genius.. It is the only way you have managed to stay employed..
So what are you going to do with this #5 pick? Pick a guy named Ying? I heard he is being called a Chinese Brad Lohaus.. How about Corey Brewer? How about Al Horford? You pick Noah and I am making sure it is a one way ticket to hell for you.. How about trading the pick? You did it last year, just do it right this year.. Trade the pick ( and for God’s sake don’t trade next year’s pick because you are going to suck again) and a couple of players from your “youth” movement for someone like Jermaine O’Neal..
Alright, I can’t bear to watch anymore.. I gotta game to coach.. I am coaching God and his team, against Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, Pete Maravich and few other stiffs.. Wanna hear something great – we play in the Gaaaaden.. No, not the new one you dummy. The old garden.. It seems even God knew the old Boston Garden was a cathedral….
Sincerely,
Red
I would like to report a mugging – yes, Rip Hamilton mugged LeBron James on the last play of the game last night.. I think all 3 referees collectively swallowed their whistles..
Definitely a mugging AND the CAVS have ZERO semblance of a half-court offense. Could they be any more predictable?
Casey
I saw them run the same play about 20 times. Swing the ball around, catch the ball at the top of key, hand off to LeBron and let him drive to the basket..
It became predictable and boring.. Bring back the Suns!!!
As predictable as they were, what does that say about the Cavs, the Pistons and the Eastern Conference?
Charles Barkley said and for once he made sense – he wished the top 2 picks went to Eastern Conference teams, because the West is already stocked and there is a huge need to turn around the Eastern Conference. He wasn’t knocking Portland or Seattle – just comparing the two conferences and the state of the NBA..
As predictable, and probably unlucky, as the Cadavers have been, they still had a GREAT chance to steal both of these first two games at Detroit. Donyell Marshall had a wide open look for a trey to win game 1 with 4 seconds left and he missed of course. Then last night after the LeBron mugging they still had a couple chances for a putback and couldn’t get it to fall. What can you say??? Other than “let’s make some damn open shots when it counts”. AND “LET’S CALL A FOUL WHEN IT’S A FOUL!!!!”
Either the Pistons are sleep-walking through this or they aren’t very good. Not sure which it is yet. If the Cadavers win both in Cleveland, then Pistons probably aren’t very good … at least compared to Western Conference front-runners. It won’t matter, then, who wins the East.
Expect the Spurs to be challenged at Utah, possibly dropping two there. They tend to relax too much when they get a lead, but we’ll see. Winning one in Utah will all but clinch it for them.
Wally
Just a question to the smart people out there: Is there another league that has a lottery for it’s draft other than the NBA? If not, why does the NBA need one? Just a thought…