On a slow news day, you have to give thanks for people like J.R. Smith and Dennis Rodman. They break up the mundane — not that the mundane has to be boring (Case in point is the latest of our team previews, this one on the Oklahoma City Thunder. For all published team previews, click here.) Here is the lowdown: Smith gets five game ban J.R Smith has been suspended five games by the NBA for violating the league’s anti-drug policy. Due to the length
Less than 14 months ago, the Philadelphia 76ers were four minutes away from a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. Four players remain from that team. Less than 14 months ago, the Boston Celtics were one win away from a trip to the NBA Finals. Two players remain from that team. The Celtics prevailed against Philadelphia on that Saturday in May, 2012, with Rajon Rondo recording a triple-double after Paul Pierce fouled out with 4:16 to play and the Celtics clinging to
Doc Rivers’ exodus to the Western Conference, where he joined the Los Angeles Clippers, left a giant chasm needing to be filled on the Boston bench. No more. The Boston Celtics have announced the hiring of their new head coach. [Read more…]
Remember when we all speculated a few seasons ago that the reason for Jerry Sloan’s sudden urge to quit as the long-time head coach of the Utah Jazz was tied to the behavior of Deron Williams? Williams will deny to this day that he was the reason Sloan decided to abruptly hang it up back in the 2010-2011 season. There were never official reports or claims explaining why blame would fall on the shoulders of the former Jazz point guard. Jazz
It may not be the end of the world as we know it, but it certainly is the beginning of the end for the Boston Celtics as we currently know them. Their coach looked at the daunting reclamation project ahead of him and left for Los Angeles – the Clippers, not the Lakers. In his wake there is . . . what? A lot of questions and, as of now, no answers. [Read more…]
With Doc Rivers’ departure from the Celtics imminent, the question needs to be asked: Who will be the next coach for Boston? With Danny Ainge taking out the dynamite, looking to trade or buyout Paul Pierce and then deciding what to do with Kevin Garnett (no-trade clause) and Rajon Rondo (head case), the Celtics are going to be a rebuilding team for the forseeable future. You think George Karl or Lionel Hollins want any part of that? I do not. [Read more…]
The NBA landscape over the last week has been dominated by two things: the Finals, obviously, and the Doc Rivers trade talks (do they have a name yet? Doc-umentary?). But now it’s time to abruptly shift gears, from a thrilling final series to a wide-open draft class. In Joe Kotoch’s latest mock, it seems the Cavs have locked in on one candidate for the #1 pick — Alex Len, and can obtain Shawn Marion in a trade that would give
One piece of information that has not come out during the alive/dead/alive/dead Celtics-Clippers trade talks is Rivers’ motivation in wanting to leave the Celtics. It isn’t just that he doesn’t want to be a part of a rebuilding situation; it is because he has an intense dislike for point guard Rajon Rondo. [Read more…]