The Medal Stand: Last Night's Three Best Games

Last night was one of the nights where it was just awesome to be a basketball fan. Despite the Celtic's loss(and thus my awful mood this morning that was ever so nicely met by a snowstorm in LATE MARCH in Boston), you have to appreciate the talent that we saw. While Boston and Miami were certainly the center of focus, multiple games fit the bill. Well, except for Charlotte vs. Washington. Here's some notes from the goodies.

(Last night Jeff Green played at an all-star level on both sides. Unfortunately the MVP was his opponent.)

Gold:
Miami 105, Boston 103: Boston showed the NBA how to beat this version of Miami: Force Lebron to pass out of the lane by double or triple teaming him when they drive, and have the guards shoot threes. Now I want to remind you of something, the guys shooting threes are Ray Allen, Mario Chalmers, and Shane Battier. This is why Miami has won 23 in a row. 

Also, poor Jeff Green. Check out this line: 43 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 assists and 2 steals while shooting 14-21 from the field and 5-7 from three. Oh, and he was guarding Lebron most of the game on the other end. You have to wonder what the Celts can be like when Green plays like this AND Kevin Garnett is the one patrolling the paint and not Chris Wilcox.

Silver:
Denver 119, Chicago 118(OT): While the Celts and Heat were stealing all the headlines, a classic was brewing in Chicago. The leading scorers for each team? Wilson Chandler(35 points off the bench) and Nate Robinson(34 points in 46 minutes). I'll give Nate this, his hustle is unquestioned in games like this. This game had street fight written all over it, and unfortunately the game came down to a very controversial offensive goaltending call. See it here and let us know what you think yourself. 

With this win, the Nuggets have quietly won 12 straight, and sit just a 1/2 game back of that third spot in the West.


Bronze:
Philadelphia 101, Portland 100: Unless you live in Portland or Eastern Pennsylvania, you probably weren't watching this game. While Andrew Bynum's drunk knees stole the headlines again(Bynum is officially done for the year as he is having surgery on both knees), Jrue Holliday and Damian Lillard went toe to toe. The jump that Holliday has made now that he is the man on this roster(and probably deserves Bynum's contract for it) has been fun to watch. He had 27 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and was 3-6 from outside to outduel Lillard who by no means backed down(27 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 5-7 from outside.) Lillard made a three late but the Blazers couldn't covert in their last possession giving the Sixers the one point win on an otherwise down night for the franchise. 

Oh yeah, Jason Terry died last night.

And then Avery Bradley did his best Lebron impersonation.

Wow, last night was fun.

-Bford

 

Quick Halftime Thoughts: Celts/Heat

1. Jeff Green is playing the game of his life tonight, and we are only halfway through. He had 21 points in a 9 minute stretch, and is 9-12 from the field. Unless Miami starts to play Chris Bosh and Chris Anderson together in stretches with Lebron James at the three covering Green(which opens up all of Boston's shooters or creates a mismatch for those bigs), expect Green to be going to hole all second half just like he did in the first.

2. The fouls on Boston's side are troubling. All starters have two, and Jason Terry got three quick ones. While some were questionable, the Heat stayed calm and did what they do best, get to the rack.

3. The fact that the Heat are only down six right now is troubling. Lebron quietly has 18 points and 6 assists. You have to know that this game will come down to if Boston can continue to play the halfcourt defense they have by congesting the lane.

4. Ray Allen and Shane Battier going a combined 1-6 from three is a major stat in this game. If they are even hitting half of those, the Celtics can't double Lebron in the paint with such aggressiveness that they have been. FYI, the Heat as a team are just 3-10. The Celtics are 5-11.

5. Lebron's dunk was insane. Like, I will have nightmares insane.

6. Bradley's block won't get as much PR, but it is just as insane.

7. Chris Bosh could be the X-factor in this game. While he isn't going much on the offensive end, if he can prevent the Celtics from getting into the lane as easy as they have guys like Courtney Lee and Avery Bradley will have to make jumpers.

 8. Jeffrey Green. It needed to be said again.


See you after the game!

-Bford

Three Man Weave Podcast

Last night brought the three of us together for another rousing edition of the three man weave podcast. 

We discussed Knicks/Heat, the Pacers ceiling, the effect Tony Parker's injury will have on the West, and the Lakers getting back to .500.

Also, another rousing edition of Champs and Chumps and Instant Argument. Make sure to check it out!

Three Man Weave Podcast

 

My Appearance on the Mitch Kendall Podcast

This past week while the Pick and Pop Diaries was on hiatus, I took some time to make an appearance on another podcast. Computer Guru and new to the podcast game, Mitch Kendall welcomed me on to talk about our blog, how social media has changed reporting, what the MVP means, and some Celtic's "what if's". It was a great conversation and I definitely suggest you all check it out. Also, check out www.mitchkendall.com. There is some pretty cool stuff.

Find the Link to the Podcast here: Mitch Kendall - Practice Podcast w/ Brian Ford

In other news, we recorded another episode of the Three Man Weave last night, and our power rankings will go up with that tonight as well. We're back BABY!

-Bford

What a Trade is like for the Guys on the Court

As we talk about all of the rumors going down today and tomorrow, how teams can shed cap, and how players can fit into certain systems, sometimes people forget that these are real people, and not just pawns. 

The Association on NBATV has done an unreal job to give us an inside to an NBA season, and it got super real in 2011 when they followed the Celtics. I couldn't find a smaller cut of the video, but watch the beginning of this episode and see the blank stare of Nate Robinson and the true emotion of Kendrick Perkins after they were traded to OKC just a half a year after losing in Game 7 of the finals. 

It reminds you that while the NBA is a business, it is also very real.

-Bford

February Trade Rumors: Howard & Smith Get New Life

After last night's debacle in Boston(quick homer note: Any season the Celts make the Lakers look like that is a good season), the Dwight Howard sweepstakes seems more and more possible by the day. The Lakers are now 23-27, and 3-2 on this road trip which is their fifth "start of their season". While many people believe that Gasol could be the fall guy, it seems as though if Kobe gets his way(which is what happens in LA), Howard will be the player on the outs.

(High School pals could be on the move.)

But Howard isn't the only superstar on the move in this hypothetical trade. Josh Smith has proven he is very unhappy in Atlanta as well, and it is well known that he has very little intentions of re-signing. Could this three-teamer between LA, Phoenix and Atlanta be a solution for all parties?

 

Why it works for Phoenix:

-Phoenix gets a star in Josh Smith, and it is more of a no-loss situation than you would think. If Josh Smith decides to resign in Phoenix, they have a franchise guy they can rebuild around. If he doesn't resign, the Suns open themselves up for a large amount of cap to try and lock down acquisitions this year, and more importantly in the big free agency class in 2014. Unlike other bottom feeder teams, Phoenix has the warm weather to attract newcomers. They also get a young piece in John Jenkins who has taken advantage of the added playing time since the Lou Williams injury. 

Why it works for Atlanta:

-Atlanta gets Howard in his hometown as a rental for the remainder of the year, and then can try and convince him to stay their long term. While one of his biggest pulls to Atlanta was originally Josh Smith, Howard has to look at the big picture and realize that Atlanta could contend with the right pieces. A nucleus of Howard, Horford(who has the athleticism to play at four) and an up and coming Jeff Teague is a pretty solid team in the Eastern Conference. More than half of the Hawks roster is on expiring deals,  Dudley meanwhile, is an all-world locker room guy who will bring the type of attitude that Howard wants; laid back outside of games, intense inside of it. Plus, he's a pretty solid wing player who could play either the two or three for them.

Why it Works for Los Angeles:

-The Lakers end the Howard saga, and show some kind of loyalty to Pau Gasol who could still help them if played in the right position. Gortat is a solid backup Center who could fill in right away while Pau is hurt, and is definitely looking for a new situation. While Channing Frye is out this year with an enlarged heart(we hope he's recovering well), he reunites with the coach he thrived most with if he is able to come back. He spaces the floor better the any big man the Lakers have right now. While Lou Williams doesn't necessarily fit into the Lakers starting lineup, he gives them some much needed scoring for the Lakers for the future. 

Why it might not work:

-The Lakers aren't getting back enough for this year. While Williams and Frye are solid pieces, neither will step on the floor again this year. If something like this is about to go down, you have to assume that the Lakers are cutting ties with this year. But with every game that Howard turns in like the one he turned in last night (9 points, 9 rebounds in 28 minutes before fouling out), his trade stock goes down. Maybe it is time to pull the plug and set yourself up for next year, which could be Kobe's last in LA. 

-BFord 

Check out our other Trade Rumors: 

Check out the other posts in our February Trade Rumors Series:

First
Second
Third
Fourth
Fifth
Sixth
Seventh

The New Look Celtics and Other Thoughts on the Atlantic

Last Sunday Celtic fans were delivered the news that All-Star point guard Rajon Rando would miss the remainder of the season, all but ending the teams chances of a second half turnaround and championship run....or did it? In this Atlantic Division Roundup, I'll focus on the less talented, but more focused group in Boston, while also giving a few quick thoughts on the rest of the division.

KG continues to be the HEART of this team

There is no doubt that this is not as talented a group of players as it is with a healthy Rondo, but the style of play as well as the overall attitude has changed dramatically in Beantown. A more balanced attack with increased ball movement has led to plenty of good looks for this team.  We are seeing the point guard by committee thrive by receiving outlet passes and trying to get a good look before the defense is settled.  We are seeing Jason Terry finally look comfortable with an offense that spreads the ball around instead of one player dominating the possession and we are seeing Jeff Green finally start to show the aggressiveness he has lacked in his tenure in Boston.  But as much as I'd like to gush over the offense, it really is not as good without Rondo. We saw this yesterday as the team struggled down the stretch for offense in half court sets making turnovers without a pure point guard to control the rock. The biggest difference for me yet, in the teams' 4 wins, is their lock-down constantly switching looks defense.

The KG era in Boston is off course known for its smothering defensive rotations and shutting down the pick and roll.  This season we just hadn't seen the type of all out, lock-down  gritty defense that we had become accustomed to. Since Rondo went down, we are seeing the energy level, the hustle, the overall effort increase to a point where Celtic fans aren't ready to write this season off.  In the 4 games post Rondo, the team has forced 18 turnovers per game and limited opponents to just under 42% shooting.  That 42% also includes the near 51% shooting the Clippers shot, with much of the damage coming the second half of that game. The Celtics are throwing out different looks to opponents too in an effort to keep the offense guessing.    Either way, having KG at the back-end of any defense makes it formidable.  Overall, it just looks like the effort level has increased top to bottom as the players no longer have the security blanket of Rondo to get them out of holes.

 A Few Takeaways from What I've seen:
 1) Paul Pierce and Jason Terry are great together as they are the two best individual perimeter scorers on the team.  While Terry certainly does not play the on-ball defense that Lee or Bradley does, he is crisp in defensive rotations and he stretches the opposing teams defense so that it opens up driving lanes for others. Terry has been on a nice roll of late, shooting 55% over his last five games.  He is a significant part of the offense moving forward.

2.) Brandon Bass, who had a really solid year last season, is just not getting it done.  A lot of his defensive mistakes are masked by playing with Kevin Garnett and the starting unit, but he seems to have trouble in all forms of defense (both individual and team help defense).  He also has shown hesitation on offense, something we just didn't see last season.  Everyone wants Bass to confidently shoot any mid-range jump-shots he gets, but when he starts pump faking and jab stepping, I lose all hope in a bucket that possession.  Against the Clippers yesterday though he was actually playing better making extra passes and crashing the boards.  The next step is for him to have confidence in that jump shot again.  He has the lowest plus/minus of any player on the team by almost 100 points.  He is a -148 for the year.  The closest to him is Rondo at -56. With a very thin front line, the C's need big production from Bass moving forward.

3.) Jeff Green could be a star.  He has all of the athleticism and skills (shooting ability, driving ability, defense) necessary to do so, but he just doesn't have the killer instincts; the aggressiveness to go get buckets whenever he wants. We have started to see him turn it around in the last 4 games with increased production, could he be the biggest difference maker post Rondo and Sully? He just oozes with potential. I know this has been said about Green a thousand times, but it's just the truth.  If he wants to be a star, he can be.

4.) Lastly, and it's obvious, but KG is still an elite player and a force on both ends.  He just makes his teammates better by making smart plays and playing amazing defense.  Sometimes it's as simple as a tipped pass or an off ball screen, but he does everything well. I would not trade KG or Paul Pierce this year, I think they team can compete not only this season, but for the remainder of KGs contract.

The C's have some good tests coming up against the new look Raptors Wednesday, Lakers Thursday and Nuggets Sunday.  These will be excellent barometers for Danny Ainge as he decides what to do with his roster going forward.  This team was thought dead by most just a week ago, but you can't put a value on heart and the know-how to win.  This team is still dangerous, just differently, than it was with Rondo.

Other Notes around the Atlantic:

The First Place Knicks are only .5 games behind Miami for the number 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. They continue to play well despite Carmelo shooting the ball poorly recently, which is a testament to their depth.  As long as Melo is healthy and draws the attention of opposing defenses, this team will be in the thick of it in the East.

Brooklyn has shown little consistency recently, coming out red-hot one night and flat another.  While Brook Lopez is steady on offense, neither Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, or  Gerald Wallace is giving them the production they need yet.  Johnson is averaging 13 a game on sub 40% shooting over his last 5 while Williams has mixed in 2 good games with 3 stinkers in his last 5.  They can still be great, but they need to bring it every night.

Toronto's new lineup of Lowry, Derozan, Gay, Johnson, and Valanciunas/Bargnani will be really good offensively.  Wednesday against the Celtics should be a fun test for both teams.

I have nothing to say about Philadelphia.

February Trade Rumors: Paul Pierce to the Nuggets

With Jared Sullinger now out for the season after back surgery, even more "break it up" rumors have swirled about the Celtics two coveted pieces, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Personally, I find it very unlikely that KG will be moved due to the fact that he has a no trade clause and can waive any deal. For KG to leave Boston, a guaranteed shot at the finals would have to be in play, and there are maybe one or two places in the league that have both the cap and the talent to offer that. 

(It may be time for Pierce to leave Boston.)

If one piece is going to be moved, it is most likely going to be Pierce(who I would hate to see retire in any other jersey besides the green), as he offers more scoring for a contender looking to bolster up. With the Nuggets charging in the West(now just a game out of 4th to gain home court advantage), they may look to improve the one area they are lacking: a proven scorer who could create his own shot late. Here is what I would propose:


Celtics Get: 
 -Corey Brewer - SF
Contract: 1 Year $3,243,000
-Danilo Galinari - SF
Contract: 4 Years $9,349,000

Nuggets Get:
-Paul Pierce - SF
Contract: 2 Years $16,790,345


Why for Denver:
-The Nuggets finally get the scoring punch they need. While Galinari is having a solid season(leading the team with 17PPG), he is not Pierce by any means in terms of being able to create his own shot as well as the late game heroics. Trotting out a starting lineup of Lawson, Iguodala, Pierce, Faried and Mozgov makes the Nuggets a team no one wants to face come playoff time, and they shed the contract of Galinari that is probably a bit too high for what his production is. They can run with Pierce for this year and next, and have him help groom this young roster into a steady Western Contender. By trading away both Brewer and Galinari, the Nuggets also eliminate the logjam at the three spot, and now have Wilson Chandler solely backing up Pierce. 

(Galinari gives the Celtics a scorer for the future.)

Why for Boston:
-The obvious is getting rid of Pierce's contract. While they bind themselves a bit with Galinari's, he fits into a Rondo offense very well as someone who likes to run. Galinari isn't the best defender, but in a team defense mentality like the Celtics, he can only improve and won't be put in as many one-on-one situations like he would in Denver(Boston would most likely use Jeff Green for those). Speaking of Green, this gives the Celtics an option if they want to try to trade him, as they have a new small forward for the future. 

Brewer is an expiring deal that brings a ton of energy to a Boston bench that dearly needs it, and he could be a future piece if the Celtics decided to resign him with some of the new cap money(especially if Garnett retires). A future of Rondo, Bradley, Galinari, Green, Brewer and a healthy Sullinger(and Oden...too soon?) is a much smaller step back than people are expecting the Celtics to take once the remaining pieces of the Big Three are gone. 


We will be doing proposed trade rumors throughout the month(some crazy, some not so crazy, some so crazy that they actually make sense), so make sure to keep up and let us know what you think in the comments. Here are the first and second installments of February Trade Rumors.

-BFord


 

Antoine Walker is Giving Financial Advice

 

(Remember when this was a thing?)

The Basketball Jones has a post up today regarding old Celtic favorite Antoine Walker. Walker used to be known for his need to never pass the ball, take three from the parking lot, and shimmy and shake his way around the FleetCenter(THROWBACK ALERT). He has recently been more known for blowing over $100 Million on a number of different things, including reportedly at the Craps table with Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, who well, made alot more money than Walker.


 

Walker is now starting an athlete financial advice firm, using his own story as a way help other athletes not go through the same trouble he did. While in all seriousness this is a great story, I can only imagine how some of these meetings go. Some of the tips Antoine must give include:

1. Never try to beat Michael Jordan in Craps.
2. You Don't need a Benz, BMW and Rolls Royce. Two would suffice.
3. Never try to beat Michael Jordan in Blackjack.
4. 50 friends on your bankroll is probably 49 friends too many.
5. Don't go to casinos with Michael Jordan.
6. Top of the line watches do the same as a clock on the wall: Tell time.
7. Don't hang out with Michael Jordan.

Here's to Antoine shimmying away the financial problems of future athletes everywhere.

-BFord



(Via TBJ, Trey Kirby)

They Just Pull me back in...Your Editor's Emotional Reaction to Tonight's Win

They are like the high school girlfriend you can't shake. They aren't as attractive as they used to be, they don't do things as flashy, and they certainly have gotten older. They went into rehab, you lost sight of who they were when they were great, and you are wondering if they will ever get back to what they were. Remember when you and her used to run the town? Yeah, that Summer of 2008 was special. She broke your heart in 2010, yet you came back for more. Sometimes you can't even bear to love them anymore, yet you have to because of all the years you put in. The Celtics are the high school girlfriend who keeps calling and reminding you of the good ol' days. Well guess what. Your phone is ringing Boston. She's calling to let you know she's out of rehab, and she feels fantastic.

(Mark January 24th on your calendar. The Knicks come to Boston.)

One week ago, I had resigned to myself that I was seeing the twilight of my favorite Celtic's career coming to an end(Pierce and his teammates looked a step slow). While it wouldn't have been fulfilling, I would have watched him spend his last few years on okay teams and let him stabilize himself amongst Celtics lore. Boston was resigning itself to saying a third year point guard who really hasn't proven himself over a long period of time would change the culture.(Bradley is great, but he isn't an all-star. Yet.) The team that once was known for it's defense, was getting exposed all over the floor. Those sexy signings? Lee and Terry were the girlfriends even less attractive friends. The future of our franchise was starting to make Demarcus Cousins look like a choir boy. Our future center? Well, he got a concussion by walking into the door.

Now, one week later, after a blowout win over Indiana, a big time comeback in Atlanta, and then a HUGE HUGE win, without their best player, on the road, when they trailed by 10 in the first, I am officially a believer again. This was a playoff atmosphere. This was only New York's 4th loss at home. This got you back to .500. And this was WITHOUT RONDO. 

We try very hard not to be homerish at the pick and pop. And we'll call ourselves out when we are(this is me calling myself out.) But after a blowout win over a younger Indiana team, a 33-9 third quarter against a quicker Hawks team in Atlanta, and then beating the Knicks in MSG, where you forced Carmelo to forget everything that has put him in the MVP conversation(Carmelo was 4-12 from three, 2-10 in the fourth quarter, 6-25 for the game), the Celtics are back. Carmelo tried to beat the Celtics, the Celtics looked the beat the Knicks. They might not be back fully, they might not win a championship, but they are back.

Boston, you might want to answer that phone. The Celtics are ready to take you out to coffee, tell you they are a new person, and that they are ready to give you everything you both wanted. 

-Bford

Atlantic Division Roundup: Celtics Turning it Around and Trade Ideas

ATLANTIC	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	DIFF	STRK	L10
New York	23	10	.697	-	13-3	10-7	4-1	14-3	102.5	97.1	+5.4	Won 2	5-5
Brooklyn	19	15	.559	4 ½	12-7	7-8	6-3	14-8	95.8	94.9	+0.9	Won 3	6-4
Boston	16	17	.485	7	10-6	6-11	3-4	11-10	95.2	96.7	-1.5	Won 2	4-6
Philadelphia	15	20	.429	9	9-7	6-13	4-4	8-10	92.9	96.6	-3.7	Lost 3	3-7
Toronto	12	22	.353	11 ½	8-7	4-15	0-5	6-8	96.7	99.5	-2.8	Lost 2	7-3

As the Knicks continue to pace this division, both the Nets and Celtics look to be turning their seasons around.  Since the coaching change in Brooklyn, PJ Carlesimo has had this team rolling to a 5-1 record, finally showing the offensive balance that this team anticipated after landing star Joe Johnson to pair with the trio of Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, and Gerald Wallace. Deron Williams looks to be playing more comfortably and seems to have found his confidence that was lost somewhere in Avery Johnson's duffel bag. Then there is the Celtics, who had lost their patented style in the KG era of lock down defense and half court offensive execution.  It just wasn't there this season as Doc Rivers searched to find a lineup that would mesh like teams of the past.  Finally, Boston got back it's defensive bulldog in Avery Bradley, a player that not only will harass the opposing teams' best wing player, but also allows Rajon Rondo to play off the ball and save some of his energy for the offensive end.  

For this divisional roundup, I'll switch up the style a bit and while each team will still be evaluated on current play, I'd like to start the NBA rumor season with kicking up some dust on a few rumors of my own and working the NBA Trade Machine.



New York Knicks:

The Knicks continue to struggle with injuries, as Rasheed Wallace will miss his 12th straight game tonight when the Celtics visit MSG and they continue to be without Raymond Felton who will miss another 4 weeks or so nursing a broken pinkie finger. Thankfully for the Knicks they have the depth and talent to withstand this mid-season doldrums period.  While Carmelo Anthony is still the offensive force on this team scoring over 29 a game on 48% shooting (nearly 44% from downtown too) another player has emerged as a true offensive weapon for the Knicks. JR Smith has been absolutely on fire the past couple weeks.  In his last 5 games he is averaging 24 points, 7 rebound, and 4 assists all while providing incredible energy and highlights like this one:

  
While gushing over Smith's talent has been something that NBA scouts have been doing for years, I recognize that he has a propensity for inconsistent stretches of play, hitting numerous lows and highs throughout an NBA season.  The Knicks also celebrated the return of Amar'e back to the lineup, though he has been on a serious minute limit, averaging just a shade over 18 mins a game in the three games he has played in so far.  While his shot has not fallen consistently in those three games, Amar'e still has a bunch left to give to the Knicks. As long as he recognizes that he is no longer a focal point of the team's offensive strategy, he could be a big piece for them as they head toward the second half and an eventual playoff run (or they could trade him-see below).

Now Lets Look at a Trade:
Team Need: Depth in frontcourt

This is a tough team to trade with since they have huge salaries and few tradeable pieces. Here's one scenario I came up with for them in which they trade one of their "untradeable" pieces.:
The Knicks get more size up front that they can pair with Tyson Chandler at what would be an excellent center rotation. The Wiz would rid themselves of one year of Nene's contract by taking on a 3yr contract in Amar'e rather than the 4 owed to Nene.  John Wall will also get that all important pick and roll partner he will need to succeed in this league. The Knick would also have to throw in a future first or a couple second round picks to get this done.


Brooklyn Nets:

What a turnaround for the Nets! After getting out of the gates hot and then struggling mightily in December, they made the decision to change coaches and go with NBA veteran PJ Carlesimo.  So far the results have been quite satisfactory for owner Mikhail Prokhorov.  As mentioned above, the team is 5-1 in the Carlesimo reign, showing a much improved offensive balance as well as renewed confidence from franchise player Deron Williams.  While Williams stats don't jump out as much improved, he is getting his teammates involved in better positions for them to score or to make an extra pass.  Proof of this is that in the last 5 games Brook Lopez is averaging 23 points on 57% shooting, while Joe Johnson has been scoring 19 a game and shooting 49% in that same stretch.

This team is pretty much impossible to do a trade for, I've tried to make something fair on the trade machine for an hour and just can't come up with something that's not one sided. If the Nets are really going all in this year they could trade Mashon Brooks, Keith Bogan, and another minimum salary for Jermaine O'Neal and Sebastain Telfair from Phoneix.   I wouldn't do it as a Nets fan since the team won't win it all this year anyways.

Boston Celtics:

This team has turned in back to back performances that brought to mind the 2007-2008 club.  They dominated defensively allowing only 75 and 81 points respectively against Indiana and Atlanta.  In fact, after being down 15 at halftime against Atlanta, the team allowed only 28 total second half points from the Hawks, while scoring 51 themselves including 33 in the third quarter.  Avery Bradley's defense makes this team look younger and much more aggressive on both ends, as it allows Rondo to expend his energy getting to the cup and providing for his teammates instead of having the greater responsibilities on the defensive end.  The speed of the Celtics backcourt is a difficult matchup for any opponent and remain their biggest strength on both ends of the floor.  As has been the case for the past few years, the Celtics biggest weakness is the lack of a legitimate center to pair with the ever springy Kevin Garnett. The Celtics have the second worst rebounding differential in the NBA, trailing only the struggling veteran group in Dallas.  Rumors have been swirling about adding DeMarcus Cousins, but I didn't want to limit it to just him, so here are a couple potential trades for the Celtics:

1. For Cousins-Can we acquire him without giving up Rondo or Bradley? Not in this scenario...


2.  For Gortat-we also include a draft pick...I don't give up Bradley in a deal for Gortat.


3. Varejao-Do you trade Bradley and Sullinger for Varejao, a legit center w/ 3 more years on his contract?


Either way it would seem unrealistic to acquire any player without giving up our two best tradeable assets in Bradley and Sullinger.  Do any of these sound like something you'd be willing to do? Sound off in the comments

Philadelphia 76ers:

Losers of 5 of their last 6 and 11 of their last 14 games, this team is reeling right now. Teams seem to have figured out how to limit the backcourt combo of Turner and Holiday.  While Holiday leads the team in scoring at 18.4 per game as well as dishing out 8.9 assists per, Evan Turner has been struggling recently, shooting under 40% and scoring only 11 a game in his last 5. This team gets very little from its frontcourt outside of Thaddeus Young. We are supposed to get an Andrew Bynum update this week, which we will bring once Phili holds a press conference  but in the meantime this team is left as a bottom feeder in the league.  My trade idea for this team: Go get DeMarcus Cousins.  he could be paired with Andrew Bynum in the future creating the best twin tower combo since Duncan and Robinson.

Phili would get it's big fella, but would also take on all of Sacramento's poor contracts, but i think it's a sacrifice they would be willing to make.  Sacramento would get a nice building block in Evan Turner as well as ridding itself of some terrible contracts.  They would also require a first round pick from Phili. If i was Sacramento I would not do this, but it would save the Maloofs money and that's the only point of interest for the worst owners in basketball.



Toronto Raptors:

Despite losing back to back games to Sacramento and OKC, this team continues to play really well.  Demar Derozan, Kyle Lowry, Jose Calderon, and a seemingly-out-of-nowhere Alan Anderson have been playing well of last for the Raptors.  PF Ed Davis continues to play well scoring 13 and grabbing 7 boards over his last 5.  Andrea Bargnani will likely be returning at the end of the month, but that shouldn't stop the progress Ed Davis has made.  Coach Dwayne Casey has indicated that Davis will remain in the starting lineup when Bargnani returns.  This team is still no where near ready to compete for the playoffs, but they have some solid trade chips that could help them there rebuilding process moving forward.

LA gets much better for this season, surrounding Kobe and Howard with a very good backup PG and a PF/C that could excel in the pick and pop with Nash when Howard is out of the game.  Both Gasol and Bargnani have has injuries this season, but the star power of Pau Gasol in Canada could help Toronto become more relevant.  They would also acquire an expiring contract for next season which they could use to acquire players for the future if things aren't working out.  This is the most far fetched idea I have come up with, but i've been on the trade machine for hours and starting to put together more rediculous packages by the minute.



Sound off on these trades in the comments!

Week 10 Power Rankings

1. Los Angeles Clippers: 25-7, 9-1
During the Clippers 17 game win streak, Blake Griffin shot above 50% from the field in all of the games. While this team has no identity(read a great piece by the Daily Dime here), maybe they don't need one. 17 wins is 17 wins. (BF)

2. Oklahoma City Thunder: 24-6, 8-2 
-The Thunder would be widely considered the best team if LAC wasn’t on a historic run. They have shown their championship meddle and will continue to improve with their young core. (EJ)

(Reggie Jackson has given the Thunder yet another boost off the bench.)

3. Miami Heat: 21-8, 7-3 
-The Heat have somehow stayed out of the headlines with two of their west rivals stealing the show. Expect them to shoot back into it with games against Dallas and Chicago this week. (BF)

4. San Antonio Spurs: 25-8, 7-3
-This team has some of the greatest offensive balance of any NBA team in the league. Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli continue to play at a high level on scaled back minutes. Second in points and third in point differential, this team is a beast. (AL)
 
5. Golden State Warriors: 21-10, 7-3 
-With every win, the Warriors are becoming more battle tested for the playoffs. It's a complete reflection of Mark Jackson's tough guy mentality that this team is 4th in rebounds without their star center. (BF)

6. New York Knicks: 21-10, 5-5 
-An injury to point guard Raymond Felton will hurt; can they weather the six weeks without him by leaning on extra minutes from Jason Kidd? This team continues to rely heavily on the three point shot, but for now they are falling. (AL)
 
7. Atlanta Hawks: 20-10, 6-4
-The Hawks are putting themselves in contention for a three or four seed in the East with other contenders failing. The question always remains, what do they do with it? (BF)

8. Memphis Grizzlies: 19-9, 5-5
-The Grizz need to continue slowing the game down and letting there bigs do work on the interior. I need to see Marc Gasol play better after the team has lost 2 of its past 3. (AL)
 
9. Indiana Pacers: 18-13, 8-2
-Indiana was able to win their brawl of a contest against Memphis this past week. They have shown all season that they are elite rebounders and defenders. The question remains can they score enough? (EJ)

(The Pacers could really use Granger's scoring right about now.)

 
10. Houston Rockets: 17-14, 7-3
-Houston has lost back to back games, but is playing well winning 5 in a row before the losses. James Harden is playing great basketball and Omer Asik is strengthening his case for most improved player of the year. (AL)
 
11. Chicago Bulls: 16-13, 5-5
-As the season lets on we are seeing the Bulls miss Derick Rose more and more. Their offense is based on execution not elite scoring. This means that their offense has a higher degree of difficulty, which is what you have seen in recent losses. (EJ)


12. Milwaukee Bucks: 16-13, 6-4
-The Bucks have shown great offensive strength throughout the season. But can this team beat the best when the game is slowed down come playoff time? (EJ)

13. Denver Nuggets: 18-15, 7-3
-The Nuggets have played a ruthless schedule on the road. Since when did the Nugs piss someone off in the NBA office? (BF)

14. Portland Trailblazers: 16-14, 8-2

-Portland has a very good starting five and no bench at all. If they are going to make a playoff push I look for them to be one of the more active teams in trade talk. (EJ)

15. Minnesota Timberwolves: 14-13, 6-4

-The Timberwolves are around a .500 team without Ricky Rubio. With a healthy Rubio they are a much better team. The question is if they can get enough of a healthy Rubio to get in the playoffs playing their best ball. (EJ)

16. Los Angeles Lakers: 15-16, 6-4
-Kobe claims the Lakers are old, and that is why they are struggling. The excuses are getting pretty old for the fans in purple and gold as well. (BF)

17. Brooklyn Nets: 16-15, 4-6

Firing Avery Johnson won't solve the Net's issues. Listen to our podcast and you will know, but I put this on Deron Williams, who continues to play poorly.  This team can be dangerous but right now no one is fearing them, even after winning both games of the new PJ Carlesimo regime. (AL)

(Okay Deron, is this going to work?)

18. Philadelphia 76ers: 15-17, 3-7
-They have lost 8 of 10 and looked horrible in doing so. Andrew Bynum needs to get healthy if this team wants to make the playoffs. (AL)
 
19. Utah Jazz: 15-17, 3-7
-This team is either playing under their capabilities or is just not very good. Either, way it seems times to give Favors and Kanter more minutes. Expect Jefferson and/or Milsap to be moved, especially with the Jazz playing so poorly. (EJ)
 
20. Boston Celtics: 14-16, 3-7
-Disappointing losses to both the Clippers and Golden State have left this team under 500. Maybe they can grab a win tonight against the Kings, but this team needs to turn it around soon. The return of Avery Bradley when they return from the west coast should help. (AL)


21. Dallas Mavericks: 13-19, 2-8
-Dirk is back but he is not curing all this teams' ails. OJ Mayo continues to play well, but the rest of the group lacks consistency. Darren Collison may have had the play of the year with his one footed three to force OT, but they lost anyways. (AL)


22. Toronto Raptors: 11-20, 7-3
-Toronto has won 7 of 8 and has turned around their season. Demar Derozan looked great the past couple weeks. They may pass Phili in the Atlantic if both teams continue in there current directions. (AL)
 
23. Orlando Magic: 12-19, 4-6
-The Magic have really been hurting since Glen Davis went down to injury. Even with Arron Afflalo dropping 26 and 28 in games last week, this team couldn't break the slide and has now lost six in a row. (BF) 

(Arron Afflalo has quite a heavier load on his shoulders these days.)

24. Detroit Pistons: 12-22, 5-5
-With Drummond coming along quicker than anyone thought he would the future now seems extremely bright for the Pistons. Right now Drummond is only playing 20 minutes a game, this number will increase as the season goes along and the Celtics will be better for it. With Drummond, Monroe, and  Knight coming along the Pistons are the best of the basement. (EJ)
 
25. Sacramento Kings: 11-20, 4-6
-With the Cousins Scandal supposedly behind them(maybe), this team can try to get back to winning. As good as they looked against Boston, it's tough to think they can stay that consistent, and Cousins can stay out of trouble. (BF)

26. Phoenix Suns: 11-21, 4-6
-Ohh the Suns. After losing a buzzer beater to the Knicks, they followed it up with three more losses on the road. This team is crashing, having lost six straight. (BF)

27. New Orleans Hornets: 7-24, 2-8
-Eric Gordon is finally healthy and scored 24 points in 24 minutes in his debut. I can't wait to see what this team does in January with a fully healthy roster. Davis and Gordon are the futures of this franchise. (AL)


28. Charlotte Bobcats: 8-23, 1-9
-They won! They won! Now the big step is where do they turn to prevent the next losing streaking from happening. (BF)

29. Cleveland Cavaliers: 7-25, 2-8
-Tristan Thompson’s improved play might make trading Varejao more palpable. As the season move along I warm on the idea of Cleveland moving Varejao. AV is a good player who is on a light contract but by the time his contract is up Cleveland might not be a playoff team. (EJ)
 
30. Washington Wizards: 4-25, 1-9
-The Wizards currently don't have anyone averaging over 16 points a game, anyone averaging over 8 rebounds a game, or anyone averaging over 5 assists a game. Thank god for RGIII. (BF)



Until Next time, Your NBA youtube Clip!