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!

Don't Blame Russ: The Thunder are Inches Away

After the loss to the Miami Heat on Christmas Day, Russell Westbrook found himself trending on twitter. What was 98% of what was coming out of the public's 140 characters? You guessed it: negative. Here were a few phrases that came up over and over again:

"Russell Westbrook hits more sideline tables than jumpers late in games."

"Russell Westbrook needs to realize he's not Kevin Durant."

"Russell Westbrook should've been traded over Harden!"

"Russell Westbrook.....SMH."

"Russell Westbrook looks like a ninja turtle."

 

 

(Russell Westbrook has been taking more heat for his shot selection than clothing since Santa came.)

The last two may or may not still be popping up two days later. The fact of the matter is, for one reason or another, Westbrook has become the fall guy to all of the Thunder's recent issues. Anyone with a naked eye can look at his game and realize that he forces shots at times, but what to do you expect with the starting lineup that the Thunder throw out? Scotty Brooks is hell bent on saying he loves the Russ-Thabo-Serge-KD-Perkins line to start because of the defensive ability it has. And while that is true, it is truly hurting the Thunder on the other side of the floor. According the 82games.com, That lineup gives the Thunder a 50% win percentage across 48 minutes, which would come in as their 10th best lineup. Tenth! When your starting five is being proven to being your 10th best lineup, maybe their is room for some fixing. (For those curious, the best overall lineup with over in terms of getting both offensive and defensive production would be swapping in Kevin Martin for Perk.) 

On Christmas Day, Lebron went one-on-one with Kevin Durant, and somewhat lost. Kevin led both teams in scoring, and at times was having his way. Ibaka was finding space and hitting the jumpers at the elbow like he has been all year. But when those two weren't getting open, or weren't on the floor, what is Russ supposed to do? Perkins is not an offensive threat whatsoever, and Thabo has become more and more afraid to take jumpers because his percentage is so low. In Wednesday's game, he finished with zero points on one shot in 28 minutes. When your guard mate isn't shooting the ball, doesn't Russ have to create on his own out of necessity instead of want? Many of Westbrook's 19 shots were either the result of fast breaks(which you always want him shooting, he could be the fastest baseline to baseline player in the game right now, and I'm including Lebron) or because he was forced to create something late in the shot clock. If Brooks was consistently getting more weapons on the floor that Russ could look towards(such as Collison and Martin, who can make big shots when put in the right position), he wouldn't be taking as many of those shots that everyone says he is forcing.

(I won't disagree that some of Westbrook's move have caused this look, but not all of his deserve it.)

When looking at the game on Wednesday, you have to look towards Kendrick Perkins as the fall guy. And I am not talking about the late defensive non-switch that led to the Bosh dunk. Perkins simply isn't an offensive Center. In Boston, he was surrounded by three hall of famers and a point guard who could all score. Now coming to OKC, he is surrounded by two of the best players in the game, including the best scorer, but then a bunch of players similar to him. It's not his fault, but he simply can't give the Thunder the offensive production they need from the five. In my opinion, the Thunder have two options:

1. Play Ibaka at the five with either Collison or Martin playing in clutch instead of Perkins depending on matchups. Ibaka is a great shot blocker, and has improved the rest of his interior defense. Also, Durant is more than capable of guarding most 4's in this league, as is Thabo with most 3's. 

2. Trade Perkins. While his contract is not the most attractive(7.8 Million/3Years), they have a protected first rounder from Toronto that they can float to any team looking to rebuild. And while the Varajeo for Perk trade has very much been out there(including here on the Pick and Pop), what about going after a certain center who has alot of talent, a good contract, and is definitely looking for a new home. Yup, you guessed it, I'm talking about Demarcus Cousins.

 Offer the Kings Perk, the Raptors' #1 from the Harden Trade(Protected only for Picks 1-3, so if the Raps get 4-14 in the lottery, it goes to whoever is holding it) and Eric Maynor for Cousins and Travis Outlaw, and see the if the Kings bite. On the Kings side, they gain another draft pick in the lottery this year that they desperately need, a defensive minded veteran center who will become the only guy in Sactown not looking for his own shot, and Eric Maynor who would be an upgrade over Isiah Thomas and is also on an expiring deal. Meanwhile, Cousins is still on a great contract(2 years/3.8m) and can gain a fresh start on a team full of guys that would force him to think team first. If the experiment doesn't work out, you set him loose and cut your losses. If it does work out, you have a nucleus of Durant/Cousins/Westbrook/Ibaka for the next two years. While many people may argue they are then in the same "who do we pay" argument of Cousins and Ibaka like they were for Harden and Ibaka, isn't the goal to win a title? A center like Cousins helps you do that now.

(Playing Ibaka at the five gives the Thunder more options on offense.)

I'll end with this. When looking for a scapegoat as to why the Thunder lost four straight games in the finals, many people criticized Westbrook over James Harden. Did anyone care to look at their numbers? in five games, Westbrook had a stat line of 27PTS, 6ASTS, 6REBS and only 2TO's(as the primary ball handler against a Miami Defense known for creating turnovers) per game on 43% shooting. On any given night, he had Lebron, Wade, Chalmers, and Norris Cole giving him different looks on the perimeter. While Harden received some of the same treatment, his numbers are nowhere close. 12PTS, 3ASTS, 4REBS and 2.5TO's were all under his season and playoff averages, and much less impressive than Russ. Even less impressive, Harden only took 48 shots in almost 32 minutes a game. Wouldn't you rather have someone whose not afraid to miss than someone who is afraid to shoot?

So Thunder fans, calm down. Your team is 20-6. You have two of the top 10 players in basketball, and if you decide to go forward with this lineup, there are only small tweaks to be made. Perkins could work out, Thabo could remember how to shoot, and Russ' shot selection has continuously improved. So while you woke up the day after Christmas saying "if Russell keep shooting, we won't win a championship", you might want to realize that if he stops shooting, they might not make it at back to the finals at all.

-BFord 

The Curious Case of Demarcus Cousins

When two sides decide they have had enough, and agree to split ways, there is usually a backstory. Whether it's disagreements, one of the two acting out, or simply not caring, some bad blood has already been brewing. Well without getting too cute on you, Demarcus Cousins could open a Starbucks with all of the bad blood he has brewed in his short three year NBA career.

(Cousins even looks disinterested in his NBA profile picture.)

Cousins came into the league drafted 5th overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2010 draft. The buzz before the draft was that he was the 2nd best player(after Kentucky teammate John Wall), but stock had fallen because of "character issues". So many times you hear these character issues come into play with players, but it is never well documented what that means. Can they not listen to direction? Are they bad at remembering plays? Do they not hustle? Or is it all of the above? In his one year at Kentucky, Cousins averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds. This was after originally committing the Memphis of course, but then following Calipari to Kentucky. That was also after originally committing to UAB, but then opting out after their coach left. Should this have been a sign to come? It seems as though Cousins was looking for a role model, and could have found that in Calipari. However, Cousins butted heads at times with his college coach, not willing to completely fall into place with Calipari's system. That Kentucky team, full of talent that included Wall, Eric Bledsoe, and Terrence Jones, fell short in the Elite Eight.

(Talented? Absolutely. Misguided? Probably. A future in the NBA? Still up for discussion.)

When Cousins entered the draft, many looked at the physical specimen and saw a possible project that was definitely worth the risk. Between his interior presence on both sides of the ball, his ability to quickly move up the floor despite his 6'11, 270 pound frame, and his rebounding ability which was rated second to none in that draft class, he looked like a sure thing. However, NBAdraft.net was quick to point out his one major weakness in his draft profile; where he scored 5 on intagibles:

"Cousins' lack of maturity and mental focus is evident in his negative body language and lack of composure ... He tends to lose his head, looking disinterested or frustrated if things don't go his way. Also does not appear receptive to coaching, tuning out his coaches when they attempt to give him advice on the bench ... The big question is whether it's merely a lack of maturity due to age or something deeper ... To his credit he made it through the entire season without any suspensions or ejections. However, there were a few times (flagrant fouls) where he may have deserved to be."

(see the whole profile here.)

Fast forward three years, you have to think they hit the nail on the head. Cousin's has been heavily rumored to be the major cause of Paul Westphal's firing early into the season last year, just four days after Westphal decided to sit him down for "going against team direction." Now again, he has already been suspended on three different situations for verbally attacking a sideline analyst, love tapping O.J. Mayo in the no-no zone, and now simply for lashing out at his new coach during a halftime session in the Kings locker room. The Kings reinstated Cousins earlier today, and he practiced with the team this afternoon. But on a young team where guys are looking for their best player to step up and be a leader, it Cousins the right man for a King's franchise desperate for a guy to build around?

One might play devil's advocate as well. Are the Kings right for Cousins? Since the Chris Webber/Mike Bibby/Peja Stojakovic neucleus that was robbed of a title chance in 2002 and ultimately fizzled out along with Rick Adelman's end in 2005, the Kings have failed the make the playoffs. More than that, they have failed to win 40 games and finish better than 4th in their own division. A young player coming with a history of turbulence in his own right is not magically going to fix his own attitude to better the team. The Kings have been called "the worst pick-up basketball team every assembled" by Bill Simmons. This doesn't seem like a good situation for Cousins to grow as an NBA player, and even more important, as a person. I won't even get into the ownership situation in Sacramento, but you know it can't be helping.

At this point, the Kings have to be thinking it is time to cut the cord. They are not going to win at all this year, and while be it a small sample size, the Kings looked lively in their 12 point victory over the Blazers without Cousins in the arena. As he returns after the holidays, do they look elsewhere? As this whole situation has worked it's way out, one name has come to mind. Zach Randolph. Randolph, once a member of the Jailblazers, has completely revived his career in Memphis. He was placed on a team with a great coach, on a roster full of team-first guys, and a organization whose first priority was to build a winning NBA team, and then let everything fall into place once it arrived from Vancouver. Randolph is now playing for a title contender and is considered one of the best big men in the game. When was the last time your heard "Maturity Issues" and "Zach Randolph" in the same sentence. Phrases that used to go hand in hand now seem completely obsolete. 

(Randolph's career was almost characterized by all of his faults. Now it's being characterized as a winner and leader that any team would be lucky to have.)

Their are many spots Cousins could go. He could learn and grow under a guy like Kevin Garnett in Boston. He could go to Houston and learn how to play the four under Kevin McHale (I include Houston, because let's face it, they'll trade for anybody.) He could even go to a team like Golden State for the right price, and fall into place with other team-first guys who are looking to build a winner(although unlikely in the division). Wherever he goes, the right no nonsense veteran coach and guys in the locker room who account for others actions is where his new agent should be shooting for. Whatever it is, Cousins need to realize the NBA world has a real thin patience. What he's doing in Sacramento is speeding up his career clock.

I'll end with this. On each NBA.COM player profile their are five links to videos under a tab called: WATCH VIDEO. Highlights if you will. Here are Cousins five highlights currently:

 DeMarcus Cousins Benched

 Cousins finds Robinson 

DeMarcus Cousins Suspended 

Cousins' Cheap Shot 

Cousins Working Hard Inside

When four of your five most recent highlights are not about your play(which mind you, is a double double every night. And yes, this is the first time I'm mentioning it all post because it is far and away not the first thing you think of when you hear his name.), maybe it is time to look in the mirror and realize everyone around you might not be the problem.

(If Cousin's doesn't soon change his attitude, he won't be arguing with refs. He'll be arguing to get a team to take a chance on him.)

Oh yeah, Merry Christmas everyone!

-Bford