TRADE DEADLINE UPDATE

via bleacherreport

The NBA Trade Deadline is set to be Thursday, February 20, and it has been uneventful so far for all teams. For the Celtics, there have been many rumors, but Danny Ainge has yet to pull the trigger on any trade so far.

Here are some rumors that are flying around Boston. 

•  Boston has received interest in almost every single player on their roster. They have received calls about Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, Kris Humphries, Jared Sullinger, Kelly Olynyk, and Jeff Green. 
• Danny Ainge: "We would go over the [luxury] cap to make the right deal."
• The Knicks REALLY want Rondo
• The Raptors and Kings also want Rondo
• The Kings have reportedly offered a trade involving Isaiah Thomas, Ben McLemore, and two picks for Rajon Rondo.
• Jerryd Bayless for Will Bynum?
• Some league executives have said that they think the Celtics will keep the current roster intact for the rest of the season. 
• The Celtics are expressing interest in Omer Asik and would potentially trade Brandon Bass and more for him. 

Beantown Ballin' 2/9 - 2/16

via ESPN

In the week before All Star Weekend the Celtics came away with one win and two losses. Now entering the second half of the season, Boston's playoff chances are slowly crumbling.

Dallas Mavericks

In a 102-91 defeat, the Celtics could not do enough against a revived Dallas Mavericks team. Even though Rajon Rondo has looked better and better as he is still on his way from recovering from ACL surgery. Rondo totaled 15 points, 12 assists, 8 rebounds and 1 steal. Jeff Green carried the Celtics 18 points and 5 rebounds. Off the bench, Chris Johnson led the way with 14 points and 3 rebounds. However, Dirk Nowitzki and Jose Calderon had 20 and 18 points respectively and the Celtics could not hang with the Mavericks.

For game highlights, click here.

Milwaukee Bucks

This was a must win for the Celtics. The Bucks are by far the worst team in the NBA and if the Celtics did not beat this team, morale across the organization would go way down. However thanks to Jeff Green and his 29 points Boston came away with the win. Rajon Rondo sat out the game due to rest. Avery Bradley was out for a sore right ankle. In their place, Kelly Olynyk stepped up in their absence and went off for 14 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. Phil Pressey and Jared Sullinger had 13 points apiece. A critical win for the Boston Celtics.

For game highlights, click here.

San Antonio Spurs

An embarrassing loss for the Celtics. The Spurs were without Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tiago Splitter and the Celtics could not put together a win. Tim Duncan dropped 25 points and 9 rebounds against the Celtics' frontline. Boston had balanced scoring with Rajon Rondo having 16 and Kris Humphries and Kelly Olynyk totaling 15 apiece. A disappointing loss for the Celtics and their fans.

For game highlights, click here.

Dunk Contest Preview:

John Wall, Paul Geroge, Damian Lillard, Terrence Ross, Harrison Barnes, and Ben McLemore are all promising stars in the NBA. But that's not the only thing they have in common. 

It was announced today that those six players will be competing in the 2014 Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday night. The high-flyers will be participating in a contest like no other, for new commissioner Adam Silver has installed some new rules that completely change the game. 

This year, the dunkers will be competing against each other in teams; Western Conference versus Eastern Conference. Representing the East will be Paul George, Terrence Ross, and John Wall. The latter is Ben McLemore, Damian Lillard, and Harrison Barnes. 

This group of contestants is very intriguing because it's an excellent mix of underrated players, well-proven stars, and young talent. Whether or not every player in the bunch is a household name, the dunking will definitely be entertaining because all six of them have had posterizing, highlight reel dunks in games this season or in years past. Overall, the field is the strongest it's been in years, ever since superstars decided they were too cool for the dunk contest.

Terrence Ross, the defending Slam Dunk champion, will look to defend his championship. But it's a guarantee that he won't be the talk of the All-Star Weekend even if he wins back to back. Fellow contestant, Damian Lillard is already the talk of the games. Lillard will compete in all five events; he will be the first player ever to play in the Rising Stars Game, Skill Challenge, 3-Point Challenge, Slam Dunk Contest, and All-Star Game. 

Paul George of the Indiana Pacers will be Ross' biggest threat at a repeat. George has thrown down some vicious slams in the regular season, including the 360 Windmill on the fast break; arguably the dunk of the year.

It shouldn't matter who wins this year, the Dunk Contest this year will be a testament to Adam Silver's future as commissioner. In his first two weeks of being active commish, Silver will be respected by the fans for completely reviving the Slam Dunk Contest and All Star Weekend. He somehow regained star power in the Dunk Contest, something that David Stern failed to do in his later years as NBA commissioner. 

Life as a Celtics Fan: California

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  basketballwallpapers.com

  
  

  Warriors, Kings, Lakers, Clippers, Trail Blazers.

  These are all the teams you could root for if you want to stay loyal to your West Coast home.

  It's different for me. I never liked any of those teams since I started watching basketball during the 2009-2010 season. 

  I didn't have a favorite team back then when I first started watching the sport. When the 2010 NBA Finals began, featuring the Celtics and Lakers, I wasn't really rooting for any team. All the people I knew here in California were rooting for the West Coast, Lakers. 

  We all know how the 2010 Finals turned out. 

  The Lakers took the Celtics to 7 games. The Celtics were leading in Game 7 through 3 quarters but few through in the 4th. What really turned me into a Celtics fan was Game 2. In Game 2, I was impressed with how Boston fought back after losing the first game. I was also impressed with Ray Allen, who made eight 3 pointers in the game. He later went on to become my favorite player (and still is now). Now here we are. I have stuck with the Celtics through the hard times and good times. I am confident Danny Ainge will put us in good shape moving forward to win Banner 18.

  Here in California, it is really hard to be a Celtics fan. I only know about 5 other Celtics fans here in the West Coast. Most people are either Lakers or Warriors Fans. When I try to talk to my Warriors friends about the Celtics they just respond by saying, "Celtics Suck" or "Rondo can't shoot". I simply respond with "17 is greater than 0" or "How many times has Curry won the assist title?" 

  If you live on the West Coast(or any other part of the world), tell us how you became a Celtics Fan, or if you have had any other memorable experiences with fans from another team!
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Sully Awarded EC POW

espn.go.com

Sully had a great week in the NBA for the Boston Celtics and was rewarded for it. He earned the Eastern Conference Player of the Week after averaging 20.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 1.65 blocks per game. 

Those are some all-star caliber stats for Sullinger, but here are some more awesome advanced stats for him over this latest stretch of games.

• Celtics were +34 with him on the floor, -228 when he was on the bench
• He played over 30 minutes in every game
• His career night was when he recorded 31 points and 16 rebounds (see video)

Rondo Joins Great Company with 4,000 Assist

Photo credit celticslife.com

Last game against the Dallas Mavericks, Rajon Rondo recorded his 4,000th career assist. His first career assist was on a Ryan Gomes jumper. His 4,000 was a beauty to Kris Humphries. Here is the list of Boston Celtics legends Rondo joined with his individual milestone:

1. Bob Cousy (6,945)
2. John Havliceck (6,114)
3. Larry Bird (5,695)
4. Paul Pierce (4,305)
5. Bill Russell (4,100)
6. Rajon Rondo (4,000)

That's pretty good company for Rondo. He will probably pass Russell by the end of this season and will be in striking distance of The Truth.

"It’s definitely an honor, especially to have so many [great players in] this organization," said Rondo. "But for the most part, goals like that come across you when you try to work hard and do what’s best for the team." 

Potential Celtics Trades (Special Edition: NBA Trade Deadline)

The NBA Trade Deadline is February 20 at 3:00 p.m ET. Many teams, including the Celtics, will be frantically trying to shop for players, expiring contracts, and draft picks. In this post, I will be using ESPN's NBA Trade Machine to predict possible trades involving teams who will be trying to improve their team at the deadline. For more Potential Celtics Trades, click here, here, and here. Without further adieu....

The Atlanta Hawks have reportedly been "aggressively shopping" for Jeff Green, and Carroll would be involved. The Celtics would also receive multiple picks in this upcoming and future drafts. 

It says that this trade fails because the Heat would then be over the luxury tax, but Miami has already expressed that they don't really care about that tax. This trade rumor has been all over the Internet for a number of reasons. Humphries has been great and Haslem, not so much. I don't see how this trade works and I don't like it in any way, shape, or form. I just don't understand it. I suppose if the Heat included a few future picks, it might be interesting. I only included it in this post because it's a legitimate rumor that the Heat have been publicly interested in.
Dear Danny Ainge, Don't do this trade. 

This trade makes a lot more sense than the previous one for both teams. The Celtics receive Ben Gordon, a solid scorer. But more importantly, they get his expiring contract. Also, the Bobcats would have to include a future second round draft pick in this deal, which could benefit the Celtics immensely. The Bobcats would want to do this trade because it would supply them with a legitimate front court option in Brandon Bass. Also, it would help the Cats with their softness; Bass is a physical player who would compliment the finesse-heavy Bobcats. Michael Jordan desperately wants to get into the playoffs and end his reputation as a terrible GM, so he would be quick to pull the trigger on a trade that helps his team now. 

This deal only works if the along with Shawn Marion, the Celtics receive the Maverick's 2014 second round pick. This trade is similar to the Bobcats trade, in which Boston gets an established, solid player who has an expiring contract. This trade really sets the Celtics up for the future and it helps the Mavericks right now. The Mavericks want to get into the playoffs because they feel like the end of Dirk's career is near the end so they want to pay their respect to him by being a good team in his final year. Jeff Green would help Dallas do that. 

Avery Bradley may leave at the end of this season (I really hope not), so adding O.J. Mayo would solidify the shooting guard spot for a few years, even though he's not playing very well in Milwaukee. Mayo is only 26 years old, so he should be entering his physical prime. He still has a lot of upside, but at the same time he has experience which would help the young Celtics. 

Unlike the shooting guard position, the Boston Celtics have an excess of power forwards with Bass, Sullinger, Kelly Olynyk, and Kris Humphries. The value of O.J. Mayo is most similar to that of Brandon Bass, so this trade makes sense. A straight up Bass for Mayo could be beneficial to both teams in this specific case. 

I wish this trade could work, but it probably wouldn't. It's a blockbuster deal including both team's best players. Faried is still on his rookie contract, so he's a steal and would probably not leave Denver. The Manimal would be an excellent addition to the Celtics even if Boston gave up Rajon Rondo. I'm usually not a fan of trading The Captain, but this one would be amazing for the Celtics. 

In this trade, the Celtics would send their two 2014 first round picks to Denver. That would make this lopsided trade a little more beneficial for Denver, who would be officially blowing it up and tanking. I don't think they would do that because they are in tenth place in the Western Conference. This is a crazy trade that could change the future of both franchises, but especially the Boston Celtics.

Another exciting, blockbuster deal, which kind of-but not really- makes sense. The only reason why this could work is that Minnesota suddenly decides that they know Love is definitely leaving in a few years and they believe that Wallace, Bass, and a whole bunch of picks are the most they can get for the star. 

The details of this trade would include two 2014 first round picks and a 2015 first round pick. The Celtics would do this in a heartbeat and without a doubt would drastically improve immediately. 

The Warriors don't use Barnes to the best of his ability and they really need some help defensively. This trade works for them because they improve defensively and they give up someone they don't really need. The Celtics would love this trade because they would get a young player with a lot of potential. But they would also probably have to surrender a future draft pick. 

Quite a few trades are pretty much just fiction with a 1% chance of possibility. These trades are all either just fun, rumors, or speculation. A lot of these trades were brought to my attention from requests through Facebook. Send in your trade ideas to postsfromtheparquet@gmail.com or connect through Facebook and Twitter.

Decoding the Marcus Smart Situation and What it Really Means!

Marcus Smart, the outstanding combo guard who plays at Oklahoma State University, will never be looked at the same by fans, teammates, coaches, evaluators, and everybody else. In a 65-61 loss to Texas Tech, Smart's actions were unacceptable.

Smart will be facing disciplinary action from OKState or the Big 12. He will likely be suspended; the Big 12 Conference is reviewing the incident as you read this.

With his team down two points, Smart hustled back on defense to block a layup but was called for a foul. He fell into the crowd when he obviously heard a man say something he didn't like. Smart pushed that man, Jeff Orr, with two hands and with what looked like a good amount of force. Orr stumbled back but didn't fall.



It has now been reported that Marcus Smart claims Jeff Orr called him a slur.
..............................................................................................................................................

It's these types of incidents that make the game of basketball worse. If players keep doing this at any level and it becomes more of a frequent thing, leagues will begin to take action. And those actions would be nothing but trouble to themselves, the players, and the fans. If players keep this up, people in high authority will consider 'protecting' the fans with a barrier or wall of some sort. That would take away the unique experience of basketball in which you feel like you're right next to the stars.

A barrier between the court and the fans would drive away season-ticket holders, drive ticket prices and sales down, so inevitably making the league less profitable.

This incident wasn't as extreme as the Malice at the Palace, but it may make the NBA and NCAA think a little more about the safety of their fans and players. After the fan vs. player brawl in the Pistons and Pacers game, the NBA changed many rules regarding alcoholic beverages that still stand today. They also enforced that at least three security guards must be between the players and the fans.



With those precautionary measures not working, could the NBA or NCAA possibly be considering walls or barriers that would ultimately ensure fan safety but also take away from the overall experience? Probably not right now, but if this keeps happening, that would definitely be a topic of discussion in the future for Adam Silver.
..............................................................................................................................................

Back to Marcus Smart now; how will the incident affect his draft stock and the way NBA organizations look at him? Smart is projected to be picked sixth according to ESPN's mock draft, but I suspect his stock will drop to around 10 because of his now questionable character.

If the Celtics drafted Smart, I would actually be happy. I wouldn't be concerned with his personality because of the leadership in the front office and coach Brad Stevens. If Boston were to draft Marcus Smart, I suspect they would attempt to trade for a veteran player to put Smart under his wing. That would reassure nothing like this ever happens again with him.

The only thing that would concern me about drafting Smart would be if the Celtics didn't have a ton of veteran leaders in the locker room and he didn't get along with Rondo. It seems like both Rondo and Smart have strong personalities, so if they clashed, it would not be pretty.

Beantown Ballin' 2/2 - 2/8

Photo Courtesy of ESPN

In the first full week with Adam Silver acting as NBA Commissioner, the Boston Celtics had a great week; stringing together three wins in a row.... Amidst a season of struggle and a lot of losing, the Celtics pulled out wins against all three of their opponents this week. For a change, the Celtics are undefeated in this week's edition of Beantown Ballin'.

Orlando Magic

Two words are to be said about this game. Rajon Rondo. In Rondo's first victory since coming back from a torn ACL, he looked like the Rondo we all know and love. Rondo dropped 19 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals. Not only was he a great scorer, but the star floor general scored efficiently shooting 9-11 from the field. Beantown's leading scorer this game was Jared Sullinger who tallied 21 points and 12 rebounds, Sullinger has been playing fantastic lately and is looking more and more like a future star in the association. Brandon Bass and Avery Bradley were also scoring the ball well totaling 19 and 17 points respectively. Boston looked like a legitimate playoff squad in this game and showcased their true potential as a cohesive unit.

For game highlights, click here

Philadelphia 76ers

In one of the most thrilling games of the Celtics season thus far, Boston pulled out with a 114-108 over their division rivals. Jeff Green had 17 points in the third quarter and 36 for the game. Rajon Rondo was his old self and flirted with a triple double against the Sixers. Rondo had 8 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals. Sullinger continued his climb to stardom with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals. Jeff Green and the Boston Celtics proved too much for the 76ers.

For game highlights, click here

Sacramento Kings

Even without Rondo playing, the Celtics came up with a 99-89 thumping of the Sacramento Kings. Rondo sat out for rest and is not injured. Jared Sullinger went toe-toe with DeMarcus Cousins and stayed competitive with him throughout the whole game. Both Cousins and Sullinger totaled 31 points and 16 rebounds. The real surprise of the game was Gerald Wallace who nearly finished with a triple double. Wallace had 8 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. In Rondo's absence, Wallace took up the role as primary facilitator and filled in admirably. Jerryd Bayless came off the bench and made vital contributions scoring 19 points and adding on 4 assists.

For game highlights, click here

Quick Preview: Injuries Fo' Days

sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Tonight at 7:30 ET, the Celtics and Sacramento Kings will square off, well, whatever's left of the teams.

We saw that the Lakers are so banged up and their lineup was so reduced that they had to play Bob Sacre in the fourth quarter even though he already fouled out. That won't happen tonight, but both teams have a ton of injuries to take care of.

For the Boston Celtics, Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley are both out. The Celtics are undefeated this season when they are playing together in the backcourt so they will both be gravely missed. Rondo has been playing great lately, but his minutes have been reduced and it's precautionary to sit him on back-to-backs. He's still recovering from his knee injury and needs some rest; believe it or not. The Captain had this to say about his injury situation, 

"I'm getting back to my old self...I'm not there yet but I'll take the progress."

The Sacramento Kings, led by DeMarcus "Boogie" Cousins, will be without recently acquired Rudy Gay or Marcus Thornton. The Kings have been playing their best basketball this season why Gay is efficient on offense and takes care of the ball. He will be a key part to their future as an organization and it will be tough to win games without him.

It will be very tough to score for Boston with Rondo and Bradley out. Their defense will also suffer monumentally. Jared Sullinger and Jeff Green will both have to have terrific games if the C's want to come out on top tonight. 

Both teams are injured, but the Kings will still have the best player on the court, Cousins. They will also probably have the second best in Isaiah Thomas. 

PREDICTED FINAL SCORE:

BOS: 84

SAC: 91

Who is Chris Johnson?

      

rantsports.com

  On January 17, the Boston Celtics took a chance on Undrafted FA Chris Johnson. A '6"6 Forward out of Dayton College, Johnson had the skills to become a solid bench player in the NBA. All he needed was a chance, a team that would be willing to give him a shot in the NBA. The Celtics were that team. With the departures of Jordan Crawford and MarShon Brooks, Boston was starting to look thin at the G position.

         This is where Chris Johnson came in. He was signed to a 10-day contract beginning on the 17th. He made his anticipated debut just 4 days later against the Heat. He concluded with 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal. He went on to average 10 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals until his second 10-day contract on the 28th. His second 10-day contract will expire on Thursday. Boston must decide whether to keep him on-board for the rest of the season or cut him. He has averaged 8.7 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 1 SPG over the course of 20 days. 

        Johnson played college ball at Dayton College. He averaged 11.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG, and 1.6 SPG during his junior season. While there, he also led his team to a 20-13 record during his senior season.

        Boston does not want to pay the luxury tax this season. If they sign Johnson for the rest of the year, they will NOT go over the luxury, but they will lose a roster spot. Each roster spot is very crucial with the trade deadline looming over our heads. 

"It's a complicated time of the year for us with the trade deadline coming up,"Qinge told CSNNE." We like everything about Chris. We're hoping to keep him around, but there's a lot more that prevents that from happening or could prevent that from happening."

 Don't be suprised if the C's don't sign him for the reminder of the season at this point, solely because of the financial situation of the deal. Judging on his play, though, Johnson has definitely played well enough to deserve another contract. If Ainge doesn't pull off any big deals then expect Boston to sign him again if they don't come Thursday.

BOS @ PHI: Recap

Photo courtesy of concordmonitor.com

This was an excellent game from both teams. It was entertaining, there were excellent performances, great plays, and it came right down to the wire. Some of the players must have saw my report card post because they played like they had a chip on their shoulder. Jeff Green and Brandon Bass expressed through their play that they didn't appreciate my harsh grading. Jared Sullinger made me look like a genius....

TOP PERFORMERS:

BOSTON:

• Jeff Green-- 36 points, 12 rebounds
• Brandon Bass-- 18 points, 6 rebounds
• Jared Sullinger-- 19 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists
• Rajon Rondo-- 8 points, 9 rebounds, 11 assists

PHILADELPHIA:

• Thaddeus Young-- 20 points
• Michael Carter-Williams-- 11 points, 6 assists
• Spencer Hawes-- 13 points, 14 rebounds

With the win, the Celtics have their first winning streak since December. Boston was led by the scoring of Jeff Green, Sullinger and Bass, while Rajon Rondo flirted with a triple double. Even though he didn't score a ton of points, Rondo took over and owned this game down the stretch. The Captain controlled the pace of the game and the offense played through him. Every play in the half court was a pick and roll executed to perfection. Rondo either kicked it out, found a big man down low, or finished at the basket himself. The Celtics are undefeated with the Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley back court, but AB apparently aggravated his sprained ankle in the win. 

"Rondo was a significant part of what's going on. You can see that it's a better-functioning offense than what we've seen all season long."
— Tommy Heinsohn (@CSNTommy) February 6, 2014

Jared Sullinger was huge; he cashed in his second double double in a row. After a sub-par January, Sully has launched off February with two unbelievable performances. He gets it done in so many ways. He works on both the offensive and defensive glass, can score on the inside and outside, and is a very good passer. 



Check out this fresh 3/4 court shot from Tony Wroten to end the third quarter...

REPORT CARDS: All-Star Break

thesacklunch.com

The Celtics have been right on par with their preseason expectations; they have shown short signs of success for the future, but mostly have been struggling to play well. The roster is a rotating cast of over the hill, under-achieving castaways who struggle to play in a team concept on both sides of the ball. With that said, there have been some impressive performances on the Celtics' squad. 

Even though not all the players attended four years of college or necessarily received a proper education for whatever reasons, they will all be getting a grade based on their performance halfway through the season. It's currently 11 days before the all-star break and the Celtics have 5 more games until then. The formerly known writer of this post, Danny Emerman, will write this under his teacher alter-ego, Mr. Emerman. 

THE DEPARTED/ACQUIRED: 

Jordan Crawford: B+

Even though this man was traded to the Warriors, he played excellent in a green jersey. When he was playing, he led Boston in scoring and assists, which were both career highs for him. His solid play earned fantastic trade value for Danny Ainge and his play indirectly rewarded Boston with future draft picks. He averaged 13.6 points and 5.7 assists per game in his time with the C's.

Jerryd Bayless: C+

 Bayless was traded to the Celtics in part of the Courtney Lee trade. He hasn't dazzled in green, but he has been injured so the sample size is small. Bayless plays limited minutes, but makes the most of them with explosiveness and playmaking ability. In 11 games, Bayless is averaging 7.5 points and 2.9 assists in just 21.2 minutes per game. If he can improve his grade if he stays healthy and works hard on defense in his limited minutes. 

Marshon Brooks: D-

Thank god this guy was traded. He has so much potential but he's obviously doing something wrong. His talent is there; he scored 40 points in the D-League. But there has to be something wrong with his work ethic or practice regiment because Brooks rarely got off the bench when he was on the Celtics. He was in and out of the D-League and he was traded to the Warriors with Crawford.

 Joel Anthony: C-

His performance is nothing special, but he's not expected to be anything special. 

Courtney Lee: B

Off the bench, Lee shot almost 50% from the field and 44% from downtown. His shooting behind the arc was especially impressive. He's now tearing it up in Memphis and it seems like that trade was not a great one for the Celtics. Mr. Emerman wants Lee back on the Celtics because of his productive shooting and consistent defense. 

IN-AND-OUT OF THE DEVELOPMENTAL LEAGUE: 

Chris Johnson: B+

This guy consistently finds himself waiting in the corner and the ball finds him. He's been shooting lights out from the corner 3 and has been extremely impressive. His defense has been solid and what really distinguishes him from other players in this tier is his ability to rebound on the offensive glass. He does that because of his athleticism, hustle, and basketball I.Q. Mr Emerman thinks Johnson should be signed for the rest of the season.

Vitor Faverani: C+

vuhoops.com

Early in the season, it looked like Faverani was a serious threat at the Center position and was competing with Olynyk for the starting job. After a hot start to the season, Faverani definitely cooled off and his stats and every category dipped. The C's then labelled him as a work in progress and sent him down to the Maine Red Claws in the D-League. He has been in and out of the NBA ever since then. 

Vander Blue: C+

Blue has shown flashes of brilliance in green but has been doing most of his work in the D-League and on the practice court. He's athletic and he plays very good defense, but his offensive game is very raw to say the least. For a fantastic post on who Vander Blue  is written by Danny Emerman, click here. 

THE YOUNGINS:

Phil Pressey: B

Pressey has been one constant for this ever-changing roster of Boston Celtics. Pressey has played well for the whole year, but has gained confidence in the last month especially. Pressey's passing ability is excellent but his overall offensive game needs a lot of improvement. He's a very streaky shooter but he pushes the pace better than anyone on the team not named Rajon. He doesn't have a huge role on the team and he doesn't play many minutes, but he's very young and has a lot of potential. He knows his role and makes the most of his playing time. For an awesome article on Phil Pressey's growth as a player as well as his background, click here. 

Kelly Olynyk: B-

Olynyk, Boston's 2013 first round draft pick, has physically struggled in the NBA at times, but makes up for it with an underrated passing ability, rebounding, and quickness. He's not very athletic, but he's a very good passer for a big man and he's quick with the ball. Olynyk's not a fantastic defender, but there's room for improvement because of his size. If I had to compare him to another player, I think he would be a poor man's Joakim Noah. Olynyk is averaging 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in just 18 minutes per game. Olynyk has been reliable, playing in 39 games. 

Avery Bradley: B-

Bradley is just 23 years old and has already solidified himself as one of the peskiest on-ball defenders in the league. But his offense still needs a lot of work. His jump shot has looked great at times, but his role in the offense has exceeded his capabilities. Bradley often finds himself shooting at least 20 times in some games, which is terrible because he's very inconsistent and inefficient. Bradley still can't really handle the ball and he has turnover problems. But those problems won't be as apparent when Rondo returns to full strength and can contribute legitimate minutes. Mr Emerman loves the defense, but would like to see some major improvement. 

THE VETS: 

Gerald Wallace: C+

Wallace, 31, is definitely eroding physically, but he has been a pleasant surprise in my opinion. He has show signs of leadership on the court and he consistently makes the right decisions. He doesn't put up great stats, but he often makes basic backdoor cuts and outlets the ball up the floor after rebounds which results in easy buckets. If hockey assists were a stat, Wallace would probably average a respectable 4 or 5 per game. He's physically not there anymore because of his age, but making the right decisions goes a long way for a young team that can be stagnant or wild at times. With all that said, he really doesn't play enough minutes, put in enough effort, or contribute on the offensive or defensive side of the ball enough to get a great grade from Mr. Emerman. 

Jeff Green: B

He's always been agonizing to watch, but it's becoming insane for Green. He's unstoppable when he's aggressive and he stinks when he settles for jump shots. I can't believe he hasn't caught on with his own scouting report yet! All he needs to do is attack the rim on a nightly basis and he would be a fantastic player. Instead, he's incredibly inconsistent and averages just 15.9 points and 4.9 rebounds as the number one option. He shoots 42 % from the floor and a pedestrian 36% from behind the arc. Get the hint, Jeff! Stop shooting threes unless your in the corner!!! He gets a B just because he's the leading scorer and go-to option with Rondo out. He also single-handedly won the Miami game. 

Kris Humphries: B

Humphries has picked up the slack from the under performing Brandon Bass, while coming off the bench and often tagging Bass out of the game. Hump has been very impressive, grabbing 6 rebounds per game and doing a bit of scoring: 7.8 PPG. Humphries always plays hard and that's all Mr. Emerman is looking for. 

Brandon Bass: C+

Bass has been solid, just like all his other years with Boston, but he was expected to make a leap with all of the talent that left the team. He's the best big man on the team, so Boston relied heavily on his offensive production early in the season. He couldn't execute on the offensive side of the ball and his size monumentally hurts him defensively. He's under performing, averaging 10.9 PPG and 5.9 RPG. Mr. Emerman wants to see Bass take on a more prominent offensive role. 

realcavsfans.com

THE FUTURE: 

Rajon Rondo: N/A

Rondo was absent to too many days of school because he was recovering from his knee injury. Rondo has played in just 7 games, hustling for 25 minutes per game. He doesn't qualify for a grade, but Mr. Emerman was very impressed with The Captain's performance against the Magic. Rondo was very rusty before the battle versus Orlando, but he dropped 19 and 10 in that contest and looked like vintage RR. Rondo will be an intricate part of the Celtics' future and their rebuilding phase.

Jared Sullinger: A-

Even though Sully has struggled lately, he has been Boston's best player throughout the season. He's good on offense, 13 PPG with a solid 16.77 PER, but that's not what stands out for Sullinger. Sully, the undersized power forward, grabs 7.9 rebounds per game. He uses his body better than any big man in the league and this man is only 21 years old. Sully has been ripped for his defense, but wrongfully so. He's not a shot blocker because of his size, but he does a great job contesting shots at the rim without fouling using the rule of veridicality. He wasn't great in the month of January, but he started off February strong with an enormous 21 points and 12 rebounds. Sully has the most potential on the team and Mr. Emerman thinks he's the key to the Celtics' future along with Rajon Rondo. 

Beantown Ballin' (1/26 - 2/1)

Photo Courtesy of ESPN

In a three game week, the Celtics had a hard time finding success and ended up with three tough losses.

Brooklyn Nets

In Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce's return to Boston, the scrappy Boston squad could not pull out a win against the two future Hall of Famers and their team. The final score ended up being 85-79. Garnett could only manage six points along with 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Pierce also had 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. Luckily, the fans in the Garden gave the pair a well deserved standing ovation and the buzz surrounding Boston was magnificent. Brandon Bass played his heart out in the loss with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Rajon Rondo had a great game with 13 points, 8 assists and 8 rebounds.

For game highlights, click here

New York Knicks

Facing off against the other New York team, the results were not better. In a blowout 114-88 loss, almost everyone on the Celtics contributed, but it was still not enough. Jeff Green led the Celtics with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals. Off the bench, Chris Johnson and Kris Humphries had 12 points apiece. Jerryd Bayless contributed 10 points and 4 assists in 27 minutes of action. Boston's downfall this game was their shooting. Shooting 39% from the field and 27% from behind the arc is not going to win you many games.

For game highlights, click here

Philadelphia 76ers.

This game was the definition of a heartbreaker... The Celtics looked like they had this game in the bag, but Evan Turner had other ideas and dropped in the game winner. One factor that could have made a huge impact on this game is that Rajon Rondo was sitting out for rest. Jared Sullinger had an amazing performance in the PG's absence and poured in 24 points, 17 rebounds and 2 assists. Jeff Green had 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists while playing shooting guard for the majority of the game. Off the bench, Kris Humphries had a near double-double with 13 points and 9 rebounds. This game left the Celtics with an abysmal 15-33 record on the season.

For game highlights, click here 

Potential Celtics Trades (January, 2013)

This is the third installment of "Potential Trades" done by Posts from the Parquet. The first two were written by Ankit Mehra; you can read those here and here. 

The Celtics are in unofficial full tanking mode, so Danny Ainge probably isn't looking to improve Boston through trades. In other words, the only trades he would possibly make are for future assets like picks or expiring contracts. Here are some trades that may fit that description. Thank you to ESPN's NBA Trade Machine. 

Although this trade makes the Celtics substantially worse for this season, it can be monumental for the future. Danny Granger's 14 million dollar expiring contract would clear loads of cap space for the Celtics who are looking to rebuild through free agency and the draft. The cap space would give them the type of flexibility that Danny Ainge would want to have. Additionally, the Celtics would demand a draft pick of some sort from Indiana. 

The trade makes sense for the Pacers because they have been publicly known to be unhappy with Granger, and Bass helps them get better now. The Pacers are trying to win the title this year, so they would probably be willing to take Wallace if they also get Bass to help them on the road to the Finals. 

This trade is very good for the Celtics because it both improves them for this season and the future. Thaddeus Young as expressed that he wants out of Philly, so the 76ers would ship him and Hawes to Boston for Jeff Green. Hawes is the key to this transaction because he would provide a true center to Boston and he's a nice expiring contract. Young can be a complimentary piece to a Boston team that likes to run. He can play both small and power forward and defend both positions relatively well. 

Philly would like Green's athleticism and perimeter shooting to go along with MCW, Evan Turner, and the crew. He would fit well into their young system.

Three team trades get a bit hectic on the Trade Machine, but this one is interesting. The Celtics acquire Austin Rivers, a young, athletic guard with loads of potential, who the Pelicans don't use. They also receive Asik from the Rockets, who has been riding the bench for the whole season because of Dwight Howard. The Celtics would then have a true center who can be a presence down low on defense and can grab 15 boards per game. They are getting rid of Avery Bradley, who is going to leave in free agency anyway, Jeff Green, and Brandon Bass. Boston would also probably make sure they get some sort of draft pick from either team. 

This trade works for Houston because even though they are happy with Terrence Jones' improvement at the four position, they would love to reunite Ryan Anderson with Dwight Howard. They were teammates in Orlando and made a run together all the way to the Finals in 2009. That Magic team played through Dwight in the post and surrounded him with excellent perimeter shooters. If the Rockets can replicate that with superior players like James Harden, they would have a fighter's chance at making a run at the title. They would also greatly benefit from the perimeter defense of Avery Bradley. 

This trade works only works if the Pelicans are involved. They give up Rivers and Anderson for Jeff Green and Brandon Bass. The Pelicans would improve because they would be happy with the perimeter shooting of Jeff Green, but more importantly, need a physical big man to play with Anthony Davis. Brandon Bass is just that. Bass has proved to be Mr Consistent in Boston, 11 and 6 this year for Boston. He would be a big upgrade to playing Anthony Davis at the power forward position and starting Greg Stiemsma. Bass and Green both provide playoff experience to a very young New Orleans team that is VERY guard-heavy. 

There has been a common theme with these trades; the Celtics are either trying to get a true center or future assets. In this case, they could get both. Okafor would solidify the center position for Boston while also having a Danny Granger-like contract. The Celtics are dying to get rid of Wallace because of his menacing 3 year-10 million dollar contract, and they would do just that in this trade. 

This trade is unlikely to go through because I doubt the Suns would trade away his contract because of their cap situation. But, the Suns are very confident and comfortable with their current front court status even without Okafor. They love both Morris brothers and have gotten excellent production from Len and Plumlee. They also are looking to improve their small forward depth because after a Gerald Green in permanent eff you mode because of all the teams that released or traded him, they don't have much. It's even worse now that Eric Bledsoe is hurt because Green is forced to play shooting guard and PJ Tucker starts at the 3. 

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If you have any trades that you would like to see the Celtics make, or if you have a problem with any of the potential trades above, please contact us! Thank you.

Email: postsfromtheparquet@gmail.com

Twitter: @ParquetPosts

Who is Phil Pressey?

Pressey contorts his body to make a spectacular pass against the Knicks
Photo courtesy of csnbayarea.com

Just a few months ago….

Phil Pressey went undrafted in the 2013 NBA Draft. He wouldn't have imagined that just a few months later-he would be playing for arguably the best franchise in all of sports, the Boston Celtics. The former Missouri PG who looked like he had no future in the NBA now looks like he could become a solid NBA back-up, possibly a starting PG if he gives it his very best. He certainly has the work ethic to accomplish that.

Phil Pressey was born February 17, 1991 in Dallas to Elizabeth and Paul Pressey. He has basketball background in his family as his father, Paul, played for the Bucks, Warriors, and Spurs in his 11 year career, while averaging over 10.5 PPG, 5 APG, and 3.5 RPG. Paul Pressey was also an assistant coach on the Celtics from 2004-2006. He had some words to say about his son's future in the NBA, 

"Him being around basketball all his life, this is second nature to him. The biggest thing for him is making the adjustment to what the NBA is all about. The game is full of more talent. You're not the fastest. You're not the only one that's skilled. Everybody on the floor has skill. They got speed, they got size. So you have to make adjustments, too. He's smart enough to figure that out. It's just gonna take time on the floor at this level to figure it out."

Phil Pressey played college ball at the University of Missouri. He led the Big 12 in assists and steals during his sophomore year. He was also successful in his junior year; leading the conference in assists. 

He decided to fore go his senior year at Missouri to enter the NBA draft. Although he had a solid season at Missouri, ESPN projected him to go in the late 2nd-round...He went undrafted. Pressey later signed with Boston to play in the Summer League. His play rewarded him with a 3 year deal worth the league minimum for a rookie, which is around 490k. Pressey did not earn much playing time during the first months of the season, but he has recently played legitimate minutes. In his first career NBA start on Jan. 15, Pressey had 10 assists and 0 turnovers (something he struggled to do in college).

With Avery Bradley, Jerryd Bayless, and Rajon Rondo all out on the 22nd against the Wizards, Pressey had another chance to shine. He finished with a career high 20 points on 7/10 shooting and 4 assists before fouling out in his second ever career start.

Pressey has looked like a steal all season long in the sense that Boston got a reliable and productive option for basically nothing. He has put up averages of 2.3 PPG, 1 RPG, and 2.6 APG; not star numbers, but effective in limited minutes. Additionally, Pressey is only 5"11, which gives him a physical disadvantage, but a mental advantage because of the chip on his shoulder. 

Those performances mentioned earlier are impressive for a player like Pressey. If he can continue to keep his turnovers down and shoot consistently on a daily-basis then Pressey has a chance at becoming a future starting PG, probably not for Boston. All in all, Pressey has shown flashes of brilliance in his rookie season, but for now, I can only see him as solid back-up point guard.