yeah yeah, There are chances the C's won't get a top 2 pick.but having the 2nd worst record includes more chances of getting a pick.The Bucks may 'pass' the C's if the C's keep winning...from espn's Bill Simmons NBA blog;[Finally, Michael from Dallas passes this account along: "I don't know if you saw any of the Bucs/Mavs game last night, but if you want a FANTASTIC example of tanking, there you go. Michael Redd was having one of his crazy hot nights, and was 14-18 from the field with 34 points when he was subbed with :33 left in the third. The Bucks were up 82-77. Redd then sits on the bench until 4:35 left to go in the fourth quarter! He gets one more shot the entire quarter, and the Mavs win 105-103. Oh, and in spite of how hot Redd was, and the fact that he is their $90 million star player, he's not their go to guy in the fourth (that's some dude named Ersan Ilyasova -- who had two turnovers in the final minute). Don't get me wrong; I'm a Mavs fan, and I'm glad we won (the fact that that was our 60th win is overshadowing the tanking), but seriously! You're not even trying to hide it!"He's right. The Bucks will not win another game this season -- they'll cripple Michael Redd like Kathy Bates hobbled James Caan in "Misery" if they have to. Just look around the league. Ray Allen isn't coming back. Neither is Joe Johnson. Charlotte is "resting" its big guys. Minnesota pretty much threw the Sonics game two night ago. And so on and so on. Everyone's pushing their chips into the middle of the lottery table.On the flip side ... A. The Celtics keep trotting out an injured Paul Pierce, who killed himself for 53 minutes in a double-OT win so we could move within three games of the Bucks (remember, we play them two more times in the next month).B. We have a coach who tried to tank one time (last week against Charlotte) and screwed it up so egregiously that we have to try for the rest of the season just to erase the stink of one game.C. This whole mess is leading to the legitimate scenario of Doc Rivers coaching an overmatched Brandan Wright in Boston for 82 games next season. I have never been more upset about anything so dumb. ]
All this negative publicity is making us look bad, and it's absolutely ridiculous. Yes, it's a little odd what happened when we "lost" to the Bobcats, and it's odd that Doc came right into the press conference and said "I did not tank this game" before anyone even asked him a question. However, if you are a person that believes the Celtics are tanking, think again. That's not true. Bill Simmons writes about us tanking every other f*cking day, and I'm sick of it. We aren't tanking. Tanking teams don't beat the Spurs, compete with Dallas, beat Toronto, and win a double overtime game against the Magic with 3 weeks left in the season. Tanking teams don't play their best player 53 minutes. We are not tanking, Bill Simmons should shut the F*ck up. The funny thing is that all these writers have written pieces saying "Did Stern purposely screw the Celtics in the 1997 lottery?" Now, I definitely don't believe that's true... but if it was, why the F*ck would these idiots write about tanking every other day? That does nothing but give us negative publicity to people who don't pay attention to the Celtics, and they all think we are tankers. It's not true, christ. Mini-rant over.
I think you misunderstood.he's more pissed that they keep winning and may screw up their shot at Durant or Oden.he really loves Durant and is concerned about Oden's lack of passion.Simmons is a great writing IMO.I love all the topics he discusses and his passion for his teams.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticFan @ Mar 30 2007, 12:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think you misunderstood. he's more pissed that they keep winning and may screw up their shot at Durant or Oden. he really loves Durant and is concerned about Oden's lack of passion. Simmons is a great writing IMO. I love all the topics he discusses and his passion for his teams.</div> I didn't misunderstand anything. It's obvious he wants the top pick, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that one out. But it's ridiculous that he KEEPS talking about tanking when we aren't. EDIT: And people being concerned about Oden's "lack of passion"... give me a break.
I'm pretty pissed off about this too believe me. Celtics get chewed out for semi-tanking a game against the Bobcats (I sort of believe Doc's excuse). But teams like the Bucks can get away with such crap. Bobcats are another example, about a week ago they announced that 4 of their 5 best players are going to be out for the rest of the year (Wallace, May, Felton--I think, and Okafor), and bring in some guy hamed Herman to take 20 shots a game.. if that's not tanking I have no idea what is.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Trifecta @ Mar 30 2007, 01:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm pretty pissed off about this too believe me. Celtics get chewed out for semi-tanking a game against the Bobcats (I sort of believe Doc's excuse). But teams like the Bucks can get away with such crap. Bobcats are another example, about a week ago they announced that 4 of their 5 best players are going to be out for the rest of the year (Wallace, May, Felton--I think, and Okafor), and bring in some guy hamed Herman to take 20 shots a game.. if that's not tanking I have no idea what is.</div> Well, I don't know how hurt Wallace and Felton are, but Okafor/May have been hurt. They have had injury issues their whole career (college included). Also, Walter Herrmann is not a bad player. He has been playing pretty well as of late.
Well I guess I'm just too concerned about losing the No. 2 pick status. But who isn't? Wouldn't you yourself accuse a lot of teams of tanking right about now because of the potential draft class?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Mar 30 2007, 01:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I didn't misunderstand anything. It's obvious he wants the top pick, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that one out. But it's ridiculous that he KEEPS talking about tanking when we aren't.EDIT: And people being concerned about Oden's "lack of passion"... give me a break.</div>well when you watch Oden during March Madness, dude doesn't seem to get excited about much of anything. Sure he could be the second coming of Robert Parish, but those overtimes wins shoulda had him jumping around like a pogo stick with excitement.p.s Happy B-day CB32
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticFan @ Mar 30 2007, 03:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>well when you watch Oden during March Madness, dude doesn't seem to get excited about much of anything. Sure he could be the second coming of Robert Parish, but those overtimes wins shoulda had him jumping around like a pogo stick with excitement.</div> Did you not see Oden cheer, clap, and absolutely try to tear the rim down in the last game? You don't necessarily have to pump your fist and jump around to have love for the game. Oden clearly works hard. Yes, he's a nice and humble kid, oh well. I don't care if he ever waves a towel as long as he blocks shots, rebounds, is that intimidating factor in the paint, and keept improving. The kid is 19 years old, don't worry about it. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>p.s Happy B-day CB32</div> :dribble: Thanks bro.
you can't assume every kid coming into the league has that fire to be the best.look at Derrick Coleman. Had the talent to be one of the ten best players of all time.had the desire to be content with doing just enough and got motivated from time to time to show just how good he could be but not nearly often enough.If Larry Bird had Coleman's physical gifts, to go with his smarts and desire, we'd be talking about Jordan and Bird in the same breath.I don't know enough about Oden to say which way he'll go. I think he's a case of being a very good college kid who will explode in the pro's due to the change in style (and lack of zone defences)
Coleman was an idiot, the guy was a drunk who didn't give a sh*t about anything and they were talking about that before he even left college. Oden is playing with a F*cked up hand and he was still the most dominant big man in all of college basketball. He learned to shoot consistent free throws with his left hand, when the hell did Coleman ever do something like that?Also....what the hell?<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>If Larry Bird had Coleman's physical gifts, to go with his smarts and desire, we'd be talking about Jordan and Bird in the same breath.</div>897 games 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG, .496 FG%, .376 3P FG%Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1998); NBA champion (1981, '84, '86); NBA Finals MVP (1984, '86); NBA MVP (1984, '85, '86); Nine-time All-NBA First Team (1980-88); All-NBA Second Team (1990); All-Defensive Second Team (1982, '83, '84); NBA Rookie of the Year (1980); One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996); Olympic gold medalist (1992).
yes I know the greatness of Larry Bird, but who's better him or Jordan?Now imagine Larry's intelligence, competitiveness and court sense in the physically gifted body or Derrick Coleman or Kevin Garnett!Everyone acknowledges that Larry wasn't the most athletic player out there, but the rest of his game was nearly without peer.that's all I was trying to say.As for Oden, that title game is the most urgence I've seen in his game. He played like he wanted to be the reason they won. Whereas his earlier games, he was just contributing and not taking over as much. He looked like the most dominant big man in college.I think he's erased any doubt between him and Durant as to who should go #1.
Oden definitely plays with passion out there on the court.. just because he doesn't scream every time he gets a trip to the foul line like Noah, doesn't mean he doesn't play with passion or heart. The guy wanted to play both halves, and he was angry when Thad Matta took him out.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Now imagine Larry's intelligence, competitiveness and court sense in the physically gifted body or Derrick Coleman or Kevin Garnett!</div>I guess....I mean granted Bird wasn't the fastest or quickest guy on the court but he still was as tough as they come. You could really say this about anyone, what if Jordan was 7 foot 5 and as quick as Earl Boykins? You can elaborate this argument on any player really.
what I was getting at originally was that some players put up very nice college numbers but just don't have the mental toughness to be as great as they can be.Bird had the mental aspect down, but wasn't necessairly a physical specimen. His intelligence, skill and unreal competitiveness allowed for him to be an all time great.Whereas Coleman had the physical tools but not the mental aspect. He was wildly inconsistent but still had some eye popping games from time to time when he felt like it.Which shows, you can't be sure about players coming in to the draft all the time. Some surefire can't miss prospects have done exactly that. Lots of NBA players have made it to the league and have flopped. Others have become complacent and after having a good rookie year, never improve much beyond that.Oden to me had not show that inner fire to take over a game and be dominant in the tourney and the few games I caught in Jan/Feb. There wasn't an urgency about his game, he did his thing and that was it.Monday night he showed it and erased any questions I had about him. He was hustling around on defence, demanding the ball more on offence and was a force.He won't be the next Bogut/Olowakandi. It looks like he has that desire to be great IMO.I now have to have to cross my fingers and find a four leaf clover for the lottery draft night :worthy: :happy0144:
