Celtic frustrations

An historic start for the NBA’s most storied franchise, as this year’s version of the Boston Celtics goes 0-3 for the fourth time in the past 40 years.  In 2006 the slow start led to a grand total of 27 wins by the season’s end (it has been argued that the team milked Pierce’s injury at the end of the season to get the coveted number one pick to potentially select Kevin Durant) leading to a complete facelift and the acquisitions of Ray Allen then Kevin Garnett.  In 1994 the 0-3 start led the Celts to finish with 35 wins and a grand prize of being dominated in the first round of the playoffs by Shaquille O’Neal and the Orlando Magic.  The next season led to the firing of Chris Ford and M.L. Carr hiring himself (yeah, that worked out well) and a move from The Garden to the Fleet Center, which they didn’t have much of a choice about either way.  In 1977 the Celtics slow start came to a close with a total of 32 wins and the ability to draft Larry Bird with the 6th overall selection. 

The slow starts in franchise history have not ended well for the Celtics.  Two complete overhauls and one season of playoff embarrassment amid a 22 year championship lull that Boston fans would rather purge from their memory regarding their hallowed basketball team. 

Optimistically, if this team makes the playoffs as currently constituted and has a season similar to that of the 1994-1995 Celtics, they will finish with 28 or 29 wins. 

Is that really what fans have to look foward to with this team however?  Does that past necessarily translate to the present and future? 

I’ve never personally believed that the distant past effects the present, due to the simple fact that it is a completely different team, it doesn’t matter what former players did.  Yet, realistically this Celtics team could easily hover around a .500 record when entering the playoffs, and is that really what fans want?

With an average age of just over 30 for players averaging ten or more minutes played, the Celtics seem to be at a disadvantage.  However, when looking at the shortened season of 1999, both the Knicks and Spurs average age was 30 for players with similar criteria.  The Knicks leaned heavily on 36 year old Patrick Ewing in the playoffs, as they finished 3 games over .500 and made the NBA Finals as the 8th seed.  Ewing played in just 38 games during the regular season, but led the team in minutes played per game. 

The biggest difference between the Knicks of 1999 and the current Celtics, however, is the Celtics average age of their stars.  After Ewing, the next six players in average minutes per game were between the age of 24 and 29.  For the Celts only Rajon Rondo and Brandon Bass are under 31 and that doesn’t include Paul Pierce who has yet to play this season.

Optimism is becoming increasingly more difficult to rationalize when addressing the potential of this Celtics team.  The roster lacks depth and youth.  By ridding itself of immature players such as Glen Davis (which I agreed with letting go) and Delonte West (whom I thought should have been the first re-signed) it sacrificed youth.  Keyon Dooling and Marquis Daniels are two of the first players off of Boston’s bench and both are 31 years old. 

Will the addition of Pierce help this Celtics squad?  Of course, but his absence is certainly not the sole reason the Celtics are off to such a slow start. 

For those who are searching for something to be positive about, try to ignore the game in New Orleans and focus on the first two of the season.  With Rondo being the only Celtic player who realized the lockout was over in the first half, he carried the Celtics from a 17-point deficit to a 10-point lead in the 4th quarter before falling to the Knicks 106-104 in the most exciting game the league could have asked for to open the season.  The Celts followed that performance with a 20-point deficit cut down to 3 with 1:22 left to play in Miami only to fall to the Heat 115-107.

Two games where Rondo looked as though he is beginning to step up and become more of a leader, leading his team back from huge holes against two very good teams. 

That being said, the Celtics are allowing too many points, an average of 106 in their first three games, to the point where they had no choice but to imploy a zone defense against the Miami Heat (which worked well in the 4th).  This Celtics squad had prided itself in man-to-man help defense, allowing minimal points to their opponents and thus far we have not seen that team. 

I cannot honestly remember the last time I saw the Celtics throw a 2-3 zone on the floor, prior to the game Tuesday night against the Heat.

Boston cannot continue to dig itself out of holes.  This style of play will catch up with them and it was evident when they lost to the lowly Hornets without budding star Eric Gordon.

Rondo has been exciting to watch, and to be honest the first two games had some exciting basketball, but this team is squaring off with history and the battle will inevitably come to a disappointing end.  The question is will it be an end full of bright future like the ’06 and ’77 starts or are we in the midst of a stretch that should be stricken from the history books like ’94? 

Only time will tell and Danny Ainge has a tough job ahead of him.

Sean Sendall – follow me on Twitter

For the fourth year in a row the Boston Celtics will play on Christmas Day, opening the truncated NBA season with a nationally televised game from Madison Square Garden.  The likelihood of a fifth consecutive Christmas Day game, however, is looking increasingly less feasible. 

With the expiring contracts of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, General Manager Danny Ainge has set the Celtics up to take a run at virtually any free agent next summer, filling in the remaining roster spots with a majority of one-year deals this season.  Big names such as Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, and Deron Williams were all scheduled to become free agents, but it is becoming less likely that they will infact be on the open market.  Paul has since said he will remain with the Clippers for at least two years and Dwight Howard is looking to be traded to either the Nets or Lakers at some point this season, two teams which he intends on signing longterm with.  Williams’ future seems to be contingent upon the ability of the Nets to trade for Howard, if they are able to, Williams and Howard will be the cornerstones to the Nets future in Brooklyn.  If not, Williams will likely be the only big name free agent on the market next season.

There are two major problems in relying solely on luring free agents to Boston following this season.

1.  A core group of players must be in place in which free agents will want to be with and play around.  Kevin Garnett was only convinced to allow a trade to Boston when the Celtics traded for Ray Allen to play alongside Paul Pierce.  If those pieces weren’t in place Garnett would have never come to Boston.  Why then would Deron Williams, a point guard, choose Boston in free agency to play with an aging Pierce and another star point guard in Rajon Rondo?  The only way to lure a guy like that, or any other star for that matter, to Boston is to have more pieces in place for the future.

2.  With the new collect bargaining agreement a player can make up to $40 million more in salary by re-signing with the team they currently play for, which is part of the reason for the CP3 trade and the future Howard trade (I know I’m pontificating a bit here, but lets face facts).  The league is trying to make it more difficult for players to leave their current teams with monetary incentives.

The only rational way for the Celtics to move into a new era, without a similar 20 year lull that they experienced following the original Big 3, is to break-up the current roster. 

There should be no player on the current roster that is untouchable, from Rondo to Pierce, the Celtics need to blow up the roster now before they make a playoff push that once again comes up short.  Undoubtedly the Celtics will have games this season where they will look unbeatable, but the inevitability of going up against younger, healthier rosters will be their downfall. 

I am in no way saying that the Celtics as currently constituted have no chance at a championship, in fact I will go as high as 6% or so.  Based on the new CBA and the lack of resources to lure big name free agents, the Celtics need to make moves with more than one eye toward the future.  Organizations desire expiring contracts and the Celtics have a plethora of them. 

Ray Allen’s skill set, leadership, and expiring contract will make him the most attractive chip in the trade market.  Team’s that need that extra push for the playoffs will inquire with Boston and for the right price Ainge should pull the trigger. 

Pierce and Garnett will likely be the most difficult to move.  Pierce is signed for the next three years with just over $45 million left on his contract, but a team looking for that same kind of leadership as they move into the playoffs may inquire with Ainge on the price of his services. Garnett’s gaudy $21 million owed this season will make him difficult to move and the Celtics are looking forward to having the cap space when his contract is up.  Again, however, for the right deal Ainge should not hesitate to pull the trigger.

Fortunately, Danny has proven that he can be an aggressive GM.  Trading for Allen and Garnett were bold moves in 2007, but worked out well.  It will be tough to see the Big 3 broken up, and even tougher for Ainge to pull the trigger, but for the betterment of the franchise and the future of the Celtics I expect the general manager’s telephone bills to be through the roof with calls both to and from other GM’s.

Enjoy this year’s Christmas cheering because without a few bold moves it may be the last time in awhile the Celtics play with Yuletide spirit.

Sean Sendall – follow me on Twitter

With the beginning of the season rapidly approaching it’s that time to document predictions that will likely look foolish come June.

Eastern Conference Finals:  Heat over Bulls

Western Conference Finals:  Thunder over San Antonio

Finals:  Heat over Thunder

Best lottery number (a.k.a. worst team in the league):  Charlotte, Toronto, Cleveland

MVP:  Kevin Durant – This is contingent upon Russell Westbrook’s willingness to allow Durant to do what he was clearly born to do.  Westbrook is a great player, but there’s no shame in being second best to a once in a lifetime player like Durant.

Rookie of the Year:  Derrick Williams – I’m hesitant here for fear that he’ll be stuck behind Michael Beasley, but Williams was the most NBA ready entering the draft and will show it if he gets the chance

Coach of the Year:  Rick Carlisle – I just want to see this due to how he outcoached EVERYONE in the playoffs last year

Sixth Man of the Year:  Taj Gibson – If the Bulls hope to beat the Heat in the conference finals they will need a great season from their back-ups lead by Gibson in the frontcourt

Defensive Player of the Year:  Dwight Howard – self-explanatory

Most Improved Player:  DeMar DeRozan – Poised for a break-out season on a team that will be battling for the most ping-pong balls

Biggest Storylines of the Season:  The battle for Los Angeles supremacy between the high flying Clippers and aging Lakers:  edge for me still goes to the established Lakers…baretly.  The Dwight Howard sweepstakes:  Originally I gave my edge to the Nets, but with the Brook Lopez injury Howard is likely bound for Hollywood with Kobe.  Locally, the potential break-up of the Big 3.

BOOK IT!  It’s all documented and bound to change for my end of the season awards piece.

Editor’s Note — It looks like Bob Ryan of The Boston Globe must have read this piece as he has the same Eastern Conference Finals, Finals, MVP, and RoY picks.

Sean Sendall – follow me on Twitter

Swingman Jeff Green has been diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm and will undergo surgery in January.

Green now has a chance to address his physical ailment and return to the NBA next year.  Ronny Turiaf, with the Lakers at the time, went through the same surgery and has since made a full comeback to the league.

According to The Boston Herald Green’s free agent contract will be voided because he could not pass the physical.

We all know the children’s story by Hans Christian Andersen about the vain Emperor who is made a fool of in front of his entire kingdom; only to be knocked down a peg, prompting him to become less egotistical.  The moral of the story is to teach children to not become narcissists.

For those of you who haven’t read the classic short story from the mid-nineteenth century…paging David Stern…I suggest giving it a look over.

Emperor Stern, in all of his vanity, has given the league an unforgettable, and for some an unforgivable, black eye.  Coming off of a lockout that was more about small market owners vs. big market owners than anything else, the league had a chance to move on amicably without much recourse.  NBA die-hards would never fray from the league and the general fans don’t pay much attention until Christmas Day, the league was in good shape to keep its strong fanbase. 

During the official ratification process of the new NBA collective bargaining agreement, General Manager of the New Orleans Hornets Dell Demps was working furiously to find the best trade offer for his star point guard Chris Paul.  The Hornets did not want to end up like Cleveland and see their star walk away in free agency at the end of the season with nothing in return.  Rumors swirled as the new CBA was ratified on December 8th, which triggered the beginning of the season.  Shortly after the ratification the Hornets announced a trade that seemed fair for all three teams involved. 

Paul was headed to the Lakers, Pau Gasol was headed to Houston, and New Orleans came away with Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, Lamar Odom, Goran Dragic, and future draft picks.  Demps had done his job in a move that would have made New Orleans better immediately. 

Mere hours after the new CBA was ratified, Emperor Stern stepped in and nulified the deal.

Let me repeat that…Stern stepped in and nulified the deal…

How often do you hear Stern say the wrong thing?  Rarely?  Never?

Never!  That’s how I know this decision was a gut reaction to complaining owners about the Lakers seamless transition from one era into another.  Stern and the league had the perfect out.  They had the perfect explanation that, although would still throw red flags up, would have been legitimate.  Emperor Stern’s explanation for vetoing the trade was due to “basketball reasons” even though the Hornets walked away with three players who are borderline all-stars.  Had his explanation simply been, “As the commissioner of a league that owns this team I feel we can get a better deal,” people would have accepted it more willingly, even though at the time finding a better deal seemed ludicrous, even comical. 

Stern’s arrogance had finally caught up with him.  When he has made big decisions in the past he was always ready with the perfectly worded political answer, yet this time he was caught off guard.  He had not thought is statement through and fell back on “basketball reasons” as his rationale.  Of course he later explained how he, as the owner, had the right to pull the trade off the table, which of course is true.  The question simply is, which hat was he wearing at the time of the decision, that of  the owners or commissioners?

Give credit where it is due, however, Stern was actually right, the Hornets could get a better deal.  While many teams dropped out of the dealings for Chris Paul because they were no longer dealing with another GM, but the league itself, there was still one persistent, if not crazy, franchise in the running.  That team is of course, the craziest of the crazy, that other team in L.A., the Clippers. 

Emperor Stern took the decision making process in New Orleans away from Demps, making him a high-paid spectator, and handed it to the basketball immortal Stu Jackson.  To understand how well Jackson did as a general manager, go see how well the Grizzlies are doing in Vancouver right now…

With Demps sidelined, and the genius who gave Bryant Reeves tens of millions of dollars running the show, the only team crazy enough to deal with the Hornets was of course run by Donald Sterling.  In fact, Jackson would be a great new GM for Sterling when he’s looking next, remember you heard it here first!  Crazy and crazier!

Initial reports had the Clippers close to sending Erik Bledsoe, Al-Faroug Aminu, Chris Kaman, and Minnesota’s first round pick next year to New Orleans for CP3.  That trade sounded fair for both sides and left the Clippers with a great core of Paul, Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon, and DeAndre Jordan.  However, the league must have caught wind that people ACTUALLY thought the trade was fair for both sides and reneged saying they needed Gordon in the trade as well.  The league clearly did not care the effect they had on the Clippers, like the Clips need any help hurting themselves, as they tried to squeeze them for everyone but Griffin.

Eventually, it looked to be worked out with Gordon in the trade rather than Bledsoe.  Not as good for the Clips, better for NOLA, but overall pretty fair.  Again, the league must have caught wind that people thought the trade was generally fair, and began to insist that Blesoe be included in the trade.  The Clippers, finally doing something right for their franchise, quickly backed of saying the league was being unreasonable and asking for too much.

Does anyone notice the problem here?  THE LEAGUE!  It wasn’t the people of NOLA or the Hornets themselves, it was THE LEAGUE. To think Phil Jackson got secretly fined last year for saying there would be a conflict of interest when the league had to trade Paul…looks like Phil can get a new job with Ms. Cleo predicting the future.

With the embarrassment continuing the Emperor began to realize his image had been sorely tarnished, just in the year 2011 alone.  He needed to act and fix it immediately.  The Gordon trade was finally pushed through and NBA fans will now be treated to an oopfest from CP3 to Griffin and Jordan for at least the next two years.  As for the Hornets, they did get a better deal.  Gordon is a great shooter (when healthy), Kaman is a solid inside precense  (when healthy) with an expiring contract, Aminu is a long player with a lot of potential (which might not ever come to fruition in my opinion), and Minnesota’s unprotected first round pick in a draft that could be as deep as we’ve seen in years (and if this happens to be the first overall pick more consipracy theorists will begin to wonder how fixed the lottery is from Patrick Ewing, to the Cavs two in the top four and then NOLA top overall).

And last I check Los Angeles is still a big market, it may not be the Lakers, but the Clippers still play in a big market.  Now it just seems as though stars wont be allowed to go to CERTAIN teams, or GOOD teams, having nothing to do with where they’re located.

I for one, am excited for both clubs with their new potential, but I also wonder if Demps’ GM powers have been given back to him yet?

As for the Celtics…it is time for concern.  Jeff Green has yet to practice and NO ONE seems worried about this mysterious medical problem that is keeping him out.  We have yet to be told anything, except that he has decided to get a second opinion.  I hate to bring this morbid comparison up, but, the last time a Celtic was told not to play and decided to get a second opinion telling him that he was good to go was Reggie Lewis.

Has Emperor David Stern learned anything yet or will we soon see him walking down Fifth Avenue with nothing on?

Sean Sendall – follow me on Twitter

After 149 days the NBA agreed to terms with the players to end their lockout and struck a deal that should be ratified within the next few days.  With the new collective bargaining agreement now in place the NBA season will begin on December 25th with training camp and free agency beginning December 9th.

By now none of this is breaking news, so what does this all mean for the Boston Celtics?

The Celtics will enter training camp for the first day of practice with six players under contract.  They will likely sign at least one, if not both, of their Purdue product draft picks in JaJuan Johnson (first round selection) and E’Twaun Moore (second round), bringing their total player count up to eight.  From there they have a qualifying offer in for Jeff Green, which means he is a restricted free agent, for just under $6 million.  After trading Kendrick Perkins for Green last year, and considering how high the Celtics brass is on him, they intend on keeping him around.

The first two free agents the Celtics are likely to inquire about are Delonte West and Glen Davis.  Expect a push to retain the services of West.  He played very well in multiple positions for Boston last year before being derailed by a broken wrist.  As for Glen Davis they will bring him back for the right cost, but they will more than likely allow him to test the free agent waters a bit if he doesn’t agree to their terms.

Danny Ainge has said that the Celtics biggest needs are back-up point guard and big men (deja vu right).  Presumably, Delonte will fill the void as the back-up PG and wing player, which means they will have time to look into the free agent market for a big man.  On a side note to the “back-up point guard problem” this doesn’t mean they are done with Avery Bradley as of yet, they simply feel as though he is not ready, which he’s not.

Jermaine O’Neal is the only true center on this team come opening day.  He’s the only one who will get in the post and bang for the boards, and even that is debatable.  If and when Boston signs JaJuan Johnson his body type is all too similar to that of Kevin Garnett’s, and that’s assuming coach Doc Rivers will play the rookie because as we all know he tends to shy away from playing rookies too much.

So who should you expect to see as the potential back up center to the oft injured Jermaine O’Neal?

Don’t expect Tyson Chandler to be walking through that door.  It would be great to see restricted free agent DeAndre Jordan, but it is unlikely the Clippers will allow him to walk and it’s even more difficult when you look at the Celtics cap situation.  Simply put, expect an underwhelming move.

The only way the Celtics make a big splash in any capacity is through the trade market.  The Rajon Rondo rumors have already come and gone, but don’t expect them to be gone forever because he is the most enticing piece on this roster.  After Rondo, Ray Allen is a viable trade option with his expiring contract and specific talent behind the arc.  If Boston drops out of the race early the ”Allen to a contender” rumors will quickly begin.

This is not a team, however, that will fall out of contention at all, let alone early.  The depth of the roster is a HUGE problem, but with a shortened season to 66 games, the aging Celtics stars will benefit from less total miles on their legs come playoff time.

No, Boston does not play well on back-to-back games and the possibility of three in a row could hinder their chances to make the run that I just spoke of.  However, in 1999 when the NBA played 50 games beginning on February 6th, the Celtics played back-to-back-to-back games just twice.  In that same season the lowest seed in the Eastern Conference, New York Knicks, made their way through the entire conference to lose in the Finals to the San Antonio Spurs.  With a 36 year old Patrick Ewing playing 38 games that season, starting each, with knees that should have belonged to a 60 year old.  The Knicks are the mold in which Boston can use in the forthcoming season.

Danny Ainge still needs to plan for the future.  Following this season both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen will be coming off the books.  That’s over $30 million dollars of potential contract.  Ainge will likely make some kind of deal this season, as he has many times before, but to what extent?

As for the NBA, they were able to save face with the casual fans.  Most casual fans of The Association don’t pay attention until Christmas anyway, and lets be real, die hard NBA fans are not about to walk away.  The lockout may have been inconsequential despite the 149 days and the 16 missed games.

The NBA has added two extra games to the Christmas Day opener loaded with star power, but the most intriguing headline will be in Dallas as the Mavericks will hoist their Championship banner in front of the Miami Heat.

Your Boston Celtics travel to New York to take on the team they swept in the playoffs a year ago.  For the third year in a row Boston will play on Christmas and tip-off will be at noon.

Sean Sendall – follow me on Twitter

Let the madness begin!

Normally a phrase reserved for a special time in March regarding college basketball, but as it was appliciable to the fast paced free agency period that the NFL experienced when their lockout ended, it is again just as pertinent as the NBA enters a similar period.

Not only will training camps officially (once the CBA is completely ratified) open on December 9th this date will also mark the beginning of free agency and the period in which teams can begin to make trades. 

It seems as quickly as Emperor Stern and Billy Hunter announced a “hand-shake” deal that trade rumors began to swirl surrounding Boston’s beloved point guard Rajon Rondo.  The rumor, which Danny Ainge has since debunked for a multitude of reasons, was that the Celtics had inquired with New Orleans to acquire their all-star guard Chris Paul.  As the rumor picked up steam more stories began to emerge about Boston looking for a third team to involve, followed by the seemingly inevitable statement from Paul saying he would not sign an extension with the Celts.  This, of course, was a deal breaker for general manager Danny Ainge if the rumors were in fact true. 

Why wouldn’t they be?  Of course Ainge inquired with the Hornets.  It’s no secret that Paul wants out and will do so whether traded or through free agency at the end of the season. 

As the Boston faithful went up in arms in defense of their own all-star point guard Ainge was forced to make a statement, this of course only came after CP3 stated that he would refuse to sign an extension with Boston.  Ainge’s statement repudiated any Rondo trade rumors, which worked two-fold (ideally). 

First, Ainge wanted/had to make a statement to the media and public one way or another.  By denying the trade rumors he did his part in putting to bed the discussion, calming the locals and shutting the talking heads right up.

Second, Rajon Rondo is beginning to get the reputation of a man who lacks maturity and can be a bit sensitive.  Rumors (again with the damn rumors) swirled last season following the trade of his close friend Kendrick Perkins that his play was hindered due to frustration with upper management because of the Perk trade.  At the time his play was down, whether it was directly related or not is moot because much of the media and general public began to believe it to be valid.  By denying the report and spinning it into a positive, Ainge can save face with his star point guard in hopes that his play will not be effected by any negative mental state of mind.

Although the trade will likely never come to fruition, why would it have come up in the first place?

Rondo is under contract for the next four years, the only Celtics player signed through the 2014-2015 season, at a very reasonable cost for an assist leader, $10 million this year and steadily increasing $1 million each of the following.  Chris Paul will command a significant amount of money when he hits free agency, despite the league’s best efforts to reduce huge contracts.  Contract-wise the egde goes to Rondo.

What Rondo brings to the floor is the pure definition of a point guard.  A pass-first guy, who drives to the hole (although he did less of that last year) plays tight defense, and pushes the tempo.  Rajon Rondo is THE perfect point guard for a team constructed around three future Hall of Famers who are classically phenominal scorers.  Although Paul’s assist numbers are always in the top five he pounds the ball too much from a pure point guard stand point.  By that I simply mean he dribbles too much, waiting for a pass he KNOWS will get the assist.  Is that the worst thing in the world?  No, but Rondo can be more of a facilitator when it comes to the ball leaving his hands to find and create the open man.  Passing edge goes to Rondo.

Althought the numbers that CP3 has put up the past few seasons have declined from two years ago when he had an amazing season, there is no denying that he is a better scorer than Rondo.  He is head and shoulders better than Rondo when it comes to shooting and drives hard to the hoop in a similar fashion.  Big edge to Paul.

What the future holds, no one really knows, but it’s Danny Ainge’s job to make the future for the Boston Celtics.  While Rondo is the perfect pass-first, facilitating point guard he is not a number one guy on a championship team.  Can you build around Rondo?  Absolutely, but you’ll need to find pure scorers in the mold of a Paul Pierce on the wing and preferably a solid number two scorer as well.  That way Rondo is a key part of a “Big 3″, but his job consists of utilizing his talents and not trying to reach and be a player he is not.

Chris Paul, on the other hand, can be a number one scorer.  To build around him doesn’t mean finding players who are better than CP3, it means finding players who are his equal.  To put it into perspective, Chris Paul led a team that brought the reigning Champion Lakers to a game 6 with a starting lineup that consisted of Trevor Ariza, Carl Landry, Emeka Okafor, and Marco Belinelli.  That is why he wants out of NOLA.

So with an eye on the future, there is no doubt in my mind that Danny Ainge inquired about CP3′s services in Boston.  That would create virtually the same team this season and a way to entice future free agents to Boston down the road. 

I love Rondo’s play, but I would have done this trade as well.  The one hesitation would come from the knees of Chris Paul that have given him some trouble in recent history. 

Looks like the Celtics and their fans wont have to worry about that though, as Paul refuses to sign an extension in Boston and his agent recently requested a trade to New York.  No surprise there.

Rajon Rondo will be around for the long haul, it seems, and the question remains what the future holds as the team begins to build around him and his talents.

Stay posted for my theory on star point guards and winning championships…coming soon to The Green Street blog.

Sean Sendall – follow me on Twitter

Spin Master Stern

It has a nice ring to it doesn’t it?  “DJ Spin Master Stern…on the mic, rippin’ the ones and twos!”  Couldn’t you just hear that coming from the stage during an upcoming reunion tour for Run-DMC, as Stern takes the place of the late Jam Master Jay?

The thought is of course comical, but Commissioner David Stern is the ultimate spin master.  There is no reason to not believe that he has plotted this public relations spin since the first time the word “lockout” was uttered in the NBA world.  He has done all of the right things by remaining in the constant watchful eye of the media, which has continually relayed his message directly to the fans. 

On the other side of the labor fight Derek Fisher has occasionally spoken, as has the union (well former union) executive director Billy Hunter.  Yet, their public appearances have not been near as frequent nor as detailed (slanted or not) as Stern’s.

Let me remind you that David Stern is the same man who is so conscious of public perception that he enforced 45 uniform rules that range from short length (no longer than one inch above the knee) to prohibiting different length socks worn by a player.  When the public still seemed to show some disdain toward the personnel the NBA employed, Stern enforced a dress code for players not in uniform or when traveling to and from the arena. 

Emperor Stern (as I affectionately refer to him) is the consummate, savvy businessman and understands that without the fans his league will not prosper (yes, I know that seems counterintuitive right now).  If the general public does not look favorably on the NBA as a whole, things must change. 

With that in mind Stern has created a perfect timeline for any collegiate PR class to learn from, as he has spun the OWNERS locking the players out of their facilities into the players being ungrateful hardliners who do not want to play. 

In the wake of the player’s union decertifying following the most recent CBA proposal, ESPN had a survey asking who you as a fan blame for the continued lockout.  The results were astonishing as 34% blamed the players, while a mere 18% placed the blame on the owners.  Not only was this a baffling statistic of where the general public stands, but it proves the PR genius that is David Stern.

By speaking to the media as much as possible and pointing out the “concessions” that the owners had made for each proposal the damning finger of the public slowly shifted from the owners to the players.  Stern perpetually spoke in an eloquent manner and never hesitated when asked difficult questions.  He was the epitome of cool, calm, and collected and shifted the spotlight off of the group he works for (the owners) onto the people who are, for all intents and purposes, the actual product of the NBA, but in this battle they are simply the lowly employees.

Let’s not be fooled the owners are all businessmen and there is a reason they are all wealthy enough to afford professional sports teams.  As with any business, the owners are in it for the profit, which is understandable.  Yet, these owners are claiming “poor-mouth” and verbally reporting losses in revenue rather than gains.  The general public is inclined to believe that, despite not believing the NFL owners when they claimed the same a few months ago and having never seen any of the NBA official books.

Now I’m not saying it’s not true, that SOME of the owners may in fact be losing money based on low attendance numbers reported.  However, if a majority of teams are losing money, as the owners would lead you to believe, then why were the Philadelphia 76ers recently sold for reportedly $280 million (the official sales numbers were not released)?

Now, with that said, I would be remiss if I also didn’t mention that Forbes valued the Sixers franchise at $330 million and another source close to the organization reported that the team has not turned a profit since their last Finals appearance just over ten years ago.  The same source has said that the team lost a staggering $15 million last year, despite being in a major sports city.

Again, I’m not disputing that there are NBA teams that are probably losing money, but if that’s the case why not simply prove it? 

Well, I know why.  When you have David Stern running the show you, as an owner, don’t have to because he will seemingly take care of everything.

What Stern was not banking on, however, was the decertification based on the amount of time virtually wasted before bringing the case to the courts.  Let’s chalk that one up to poor advice, probably on the part of Billy Hunter, but the end result will be more lost games.

With the possibility of long and arduous court hearings ahead of the NBA, a few of the owners have reportedly stated that they will not hesitate to lose not just one whole season but two.  If that’s the case Mr. public relations will have to perform some amazing PR magic when the NBA actually returns.

Let’s not forget why the players did decertify though.  They have brought the case to the courts on the grounds that the NBA owners are not bargaining “in good faith”.  So what the hell does that mean?  Imagine your boss coming up to you and saying, “you’re going to take a pay cut, we’re going to make it exceedingly difficult for you to EVER leave this company, and you may never have co-workers as competent as you are, but we still expect to be one of the best in the industry as long as you perform.”  Now they would continue to say, “Oh, and if you don’t agree to this offer, the next one will be even worse.”  

That sounds more like a threat than a negotiation to me.

My optimistic stance of a season beginning around February 6th is beginning to look unrealistic.  I will, however, remain blindly optimistic that a 50 game season is still feasible and the sole reason is David Stern’s image and legacy is at risk and remember he is overly sensitive to his image in the public eye.

Your move Emperor DJ Spin Master Stern, start spinnin’!

Sean Sendall – follow me on Twitter

In the wake of one of the most heinus acts ever to be associated with athletics in the United States, I’d like to do my part in engaging minds outside of that world as a reprieve from the odious actions committed.  There is no way to fully move on from a story that makes the Nevin Shapiro violations out of Miami look insignificant, which I understand and am not trying to do.  I would, however, like to take some time to talk about stories that are still relevant to athletics and could take your mind off of a story that transcends athletics and moves into the realm of relevant national news. 

With that said, here are my “Celtics Hot Spots”.  Just like the game, there are multiple points that will be made from different spots, some Celtics related, some not.  A few will be quick hitters, like a high percentage lay-up, others will take more effort to knock down, as they’re deep. 

- You have to love hearing from former players, especially Hall of Famers and living legends.  When the legends speak out, people listen.  It could be the most insignificant statement like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar complaining about not having a statue in Los Angeles, which by the way the media ran with and created a HUGE debate/outcry, or it could be as significant as Ted Williams HoF speach in 1966 when he advocated for the induction of Negro League players.  This time, somewhere in between the two, Celtic great Bill Russell has spoken out about the current landscape of the NBA, or lack thereof.  Russell’s statements do not defend either side, infact he condemns both sides for seemingly not wanting to work together and compromise.  Russell stated that the NBA’s season is in jeopardy due to “hard-liners” on both sides.  He continued by saying, ”I have this theory that hard-liners are like true believers. And true believers think that any compromise is a retreat. And moving forward, that doesn’t cut it.”  Do you hear that NBA and NBPA?  It’s bad enough politicians can’t be bipartisan and compromise, but now you’re depriving fans of basketball enjoyment and Bill Russell is a fan!

- Speaking of Bill Russell, Hall of Famer and former Celtic Ed Macauley died ealier this week at age 83.  Macauley was a six-time all-star when the Celtics traded him and the draft rights to Cliff Hagan, another future Hall of Famer, to the St. Louis Hawks for the rights to the aforementioned Russell.  Macauley and Hagan would go on to win the 1958 NBA Championship in the midst of the Celtics winning 11 of 13 from ’57-’69.  Ed Macauley was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1960 and his number 22 can be seen hanging from the rafters in Boston.

- What in the world does the future hold?  The NBA is still locked-out and the last time we saw the Celtics they’re aging veterans could no longer play the entire game and their bench was virtually anemic.  I’d love delve deep into the logistics of what a 51-49 split in all basketball related revenue really means, but that is beyond monotonous.  The latest proposal by Emperor Stern has a 72 game truncated, but condensed season that would begin on December 15th.  With a vitual 50-50 split and more threats coming from Stern’s office about how the next proposal will be even more harsh, the NBPA does not want to accept the current offer due to its restrictions on free-agent movement.  Without getting into exception rules, the players want a “soft” cap so teams can spend over the salary cap stragetically, while the owners want a “hard” cap to create a more balanced league.  Basically the owners want to keep their stars and not see them walk away and the players don’t want restrictions on their free-agency.  I don’t like to side with either party in these situations, but the fact is the players are right here.  To limit free-agency means to virtually return the days when owners retained the rights to every player on their roster and the only movement occurred when the players were traded.  The players are now going the David Stern route by making threats, for them it’s to decertify as a union.  Oh and for the Celtics…yeah 72 games in a shorter time, just what their old legs need.

- Another unfortunate story to come out of the lock-out is ignorance.  By now we’ve all heard that Bryant Gumbel called David Stern a “plantation overseer” on his show on HBO.  What some have missed were the more recent statements made by the players union attorney Jeffery Kessler.  He too evoked his inner ignoramus by stating that the owners are treating the players like plantation workers.  I’m sorry, but you two are both fools.  Kessler has gone on to apologize, and although you may disagree with the owner’s stance, you do not play that card.  It does not make sense, when will people in society realize that a dispute between people who are of different races does not automatically mean we live in the 18th century again!  People disagree all the time and yes Stern is white and yes Billy Hunter is black, but really why must we always turn it back to that?  That bothers me.

- College hoops is finally upon us.  It’s well known that I am a huge advocate of college basketball, but trust me when I say that this season is going to be special.  Not only will it draw the attention of those who just want to see the game of basketball played at a high level, but due to the lock-out and an impressive crop of freshman there are some uber-talented players in the collegiate ranks.  Big name players opted to stay in school after their freshman year despite knowing they’d be lottery picks.  With the likes of Harrison Barnes (UNC), Jared Sullinger (OSU), and Perry Jones III (Baylor), just to name a very few, returning to campus they’ve already livened up the upcoming season.  Now combine that with new comers Austin Rivers (Duke), Andre Drummond (UConn), and Marquis Teague (Kentucky), again to name a few, you’ve got a ton of talent in college this season combined with some talented veteran leadership.  This should be a fun NCAA season.

- My final thoughts for this piece originate two decades ago.  By now we’ve all seen the articles written about Magic Johnson’s admission to having contracted the HIV virus 20 years ago.  He did so in a press conference that stunned and shocked the world.  If you haven’t read any of the pieces I’d recommend virtually all of them, from the LA Times to Sports Illustrated, ESPN and well beyond.  Sports writers reflected upon where they were at the time and how, due to the lack of knowledge about the disease, their initial thoughts were virtually 100% incorrect.  Most people expected Magic to have died shortly after the announcement, today he can be seen all over the country and on your TV during NBA games.  The effect he had on the country and the world with his announcement was profound.  Even I, as a very young child at the time, vaguely remember the news and my parents wanting to learn more about the virus.  This was shortly after the time Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury had died of an illness brought on by full blown AIDS and I can recall my mother going to the local YMCA in 1992 when his AIDS awareness quilt came to town.  The admission of a high profile figure prompted significantly more research into the virus and has helped bring us to where we are today.  Although there is still no cure, Magic’s press conference 20 years ago helped to promote more awareness and scientific studies of a potentially deadly virus. 

Sean Sendall – follow me on Twitter

With little to no progress being made during meetings between the players and owners, the one piece of solace fans can take away from the lockout to this point is that meetings are in fact happening.  That, however, is not all too comforting.  Reports coming out of the meetings are generally negative, to the point Commisioner David Stern has already threatened to cancel the entire season, stating that if significant progress was not made this weekend “enormous consequences” would be felt.

Let me be as clear as possible, David Stern will NOT cancel the entire season this early in the negotiations.  He is a businessman that is hypersensative to “image”.  His legacy in the world of the NBA, and sports in general, will forever be tarnished in the eyes of history if he is the presiding commissioner over a league that lost half a season then 13 years later did not play at all.  So, please, do not take his threats seriously, as that is exactly what he is hoping for.

The most recent, and damning, story that has come out of the meetings rests solely on the shoulders of Commissioner Stern.  He allegedly, and recently confirmed there was an altercation, pointed in the face of Dwyane Wade and spoke to him as though he were a young child who just stole an extra cookie before dinner.  This prompted Wade to lose his cool, at which point he, and the rest of the players in attendance, stood up and left the meeting.  The story goes that Stern had to virtually beg Executive Director of the National Basketball Players Association, Billy Hunter, to convince the players to return to the table for negotiations. 

Once again, Stern playing his part as the big bad wolf, but this time it back fired…allegedly. 

Player’s Union President, Derek Fisher, admits that he is not any more optimistic with the ongoing negotiations and has stated that there is still a long way to go, but he continues to say, “…we’ll keep at this.”

Billy Hunter conveys a similar sentiment by stating, “There’s a huge bridge, gap, that I don’t know if we’re going to be able to close it or not.” 

These statements coming after a seven-hour bargaining session in which the two sides debated the owners desire for a hard-cap, similar to the NHL style salary cap; while the other large issue at hand, the division of revenue, was barely touched upon as no agreement could be settled on in regard to the salary cap.

The owners are looking to cut down on the player’s guarunteed salary and cut their basketball related income from 57% down to 46%. 

As the meetings continue, and the owners continue to lock their players out, many of the athletes are looking elsewhere to play.  The most recent being Kobe Bryant looking to head back to where he lived as a child and play in Italy for Virtus Bologna.

There are, however, many players intimately involved in the negotiations with the owners and player’s union.  In addition to Fisher and Wade, your very own Paul Pierce is a regular at the meetings.  Even Emperor Stern acknowledged that Pierce made a few significant and meaningful points, singling out the Celtic captian in a positive way.

In no way am I overly optimistic about these negotiations.  Many of these owners are also owners of NHL teams and have experience losing an entire season to a lockout.  As the NHL continues to try and recover from their lockout of 2004-2005, the NBA was building on increased popularity throughout the country over the past few years and an entire season lost will sorely hurt the Association.  Don’t be fooled, Stern is a savvy businessman and knows his league, and reputation, would suffer dearly.

I will stand by my original prediction of a season similar to that of ’98-’99, where the league will start around February 6th, as it did in 1999, and play a 50 game truncated season.  Many, however, are not as optimistic as I am.

 Sean Sendall – follow me on twitter