Boston Celtics 2005-2006 Season preview

By sgabekahn, Section NBA
Posted on Fri Oct 07 2005 at 2:28 AM EST
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"Ah, the wonders of youth." That ought to be the mantra of the Boston Celtics for the coming season. If they decide to go in a different direction and endorse sayings such as "The future is now," they and their fans may be sorely disappointed.

The newest version of the Celtics are very high on potential and quite low on actual NBA experience. Coming into training camp, the Green has eight players with four years of combined experience and 10 players aged 23 or younger. The inexperience on this squad has gotten so out of hand that Ricky Davis, he of the ripe age of 26, has been talked about as a possible veteran leader of this bunch. Sweet mother of mercy!

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Money for nothing and your picks for free

By sgabekahn, Section NBA
Posted on Wed Aug 03 2005 at 3:59 AM EST
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The largest trade in NBA history, eh?

Yesterday's transaction that netted the Celtics two second round picks, Curtis Borchardt, Quyntel Woods, the rights to Albert Miralles, cash considerations and, all together, a $5.5 million trade exception doesn't really fit my description of a "blockbuster," given that the best players involved were, in no particular order, Antoine Walker, Jason Williams and Eddie Jones. However, it certainly was big, at least in terms of the number of bodies (and future bodies) being moved around. At last count it was up to 13 players and five teams. I would list them all here but I'm afraid I would run out of ink (rim shot!).

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The fellowship turns Green

By sgabekahn, Section NBA
Posted on Fri Jul 29 2005 at 2:02 AM EST
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Boston fans have long had the reputation of being fickle, gloom-and-doom types. Living in a city with the pre-2004 Red Sox often bred this attitude amongst the loyal sports enthusiasts in Beantown, but that negativity has only recently permeated the air that surrounds the Boston Celtics.

As we all know, in the 1980s there was little if any doubt about the ability of Larry Bird et al to, at the very least, be a top contender for the NBA championship. Until some extremely unfortunate events at the backend of that powerhouse (such as the deaths of Len Bias and Reggie Lewis), the franchise enjoyed 12 straight postseasons. Since then, the team has been mired in mediocrity or worse, the lowlight being the 15-win team of `96-'97 and the highlight being their 2002 run to the Eastern Conference finals. With the recent success of the Sox and the Patriots, it appears that the fans have shifted their low expectations toward the Green and White.

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Reed, Allen and Gomes propel Celtics over Suns, Celtics 82, Suns 53

By sgabekahn, Section NBA
Posted on Tue Jul 12 2005 at 4:31 AM EST
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LAS VEGAS- When the Celtics' summer league squad wiped the floor with their counterparts from Phoenix on Monday by a score of 82 to 53, it was difficult to tell whether or not it had anything to do with the superiority of the Celtic team or the vengeance of the refs. A mind-boggling 41 personal fouls were called...in the first half. For the game, there were 79 called and people all the way back at the MGM Grand could have permanent hearing damage from the constant scream of the whistles.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers, on his best behavior, said of the young, aspiring officials, "they're still working on their game and I think it's great. One guy, Matt [Boland], he worked last year in our league and now he's reffing this and I think that's great. He's like Perk and Al."

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Green and a few "vets" impress during Celts' first game in Vegas: Celtics 76, Clippers 59

By sgabekahn, Section NBA
Posted on Fri Jul 08 2005 at 3:03 AM EST
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LAS VEGAS- Gerald Green had an auspicious professional debut and the Reebok Vegas Summer League, but after getting rid of some early jitters, he found time to wow the crowd time and again.

Green first entered the game with 3:34 left in the first quarter and quickly gobbled up a defensive rebound. Without noticing Erwin Dudley of the Clippers lurking nearby, he put the ball on the floor where it was snatched away by Dudley. He then fouled Dudley immediately to stop him from getting an easy 2.. It was certainly not the start Green wanted, but with the help of some pretty aerial moves and a couple of ferocious dunks, his slow start would soon be erased from people's minds.

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For now, the sunniest of outlooks for the Celtics

By sgabekahn, Section NBA
Posted on Thu Jun 30 2005 at 1:20 AM EST
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There were many smiles on display when two of the three Celtic draft picks, Gerald Green and Ryan Gomes were introduced to the Boston media on Wednesday. Everyone already knew that Celtics' Executive Director of Basketball Operations was excited with his selections on Tuesday night, and on Wednesday he seemed downright giddy, joking about the hat worn by Mickael Gelabale, one of Seattle's second-rounders.

When Green talked about watching former Celtic greats like Larry Bird and Bill Russell, on ESPN Classic, Doc Rivers quipped, "You should probably say Danny Ainge."

Green, more than willing to get in on the fun, replied to his new coach, "You can't leave me alone." Green then jokingly apologized to Ainge, saying "Don't be mad at me Danny!" We don't think that Green has to worry about insulting his boss too much; trading Young Gerald is probably the furthest thing from Ainge's mind.

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2005 NBA Draft, In Progress...

By sgabekahn, Section NBA
Posted on Wed Jun 29 2005 at 12:13 AM EST
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It's finally here, everyone, the 2005 NBA Draft. All the speculation about who's coming out and who's staying in school, all the mock drafts, all the trade talk. It's all here. Most of what's going to happen will happen tonight. The wheels started turning this afternoon when the Blazers traded the number 3 pick to the Jazz for their numbers 6, 27, and a first -rounder next year. My crazy friend `Neal and I had already made up our mock draft before that trade went down, and we were forced to change it up once the deal was announced. We're positive that this one is our most accurate ever...which really doesn't say all that much considering our past performances. Come join `Neal and I as we give our commentary as the first round unfolds:

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2005 NBA Draft Preview

By sgabekahn, Section NBA
Posted on Mon Jun 27 2005 at 10:50 PM EST
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Welcome to another round of NBA Roulette, more commonly known as the NBA Draft. As always, my crazy friend 'Neal and I get together and see if we can predict where each player will land in the first round using team needs, past tendencies and overall guess work that we like to refer to as "logic." It's a lot like throwing darts while blindfolded without even knowing if you're facing the target. As if it's not challenging enough, general managers everywhere love messing with our guesses by trading their selections even as the draft is going on. Last year, we got five out of 30 picks right, and, here's the kicker, we felt pretty good about ourselves. So take everything we say with a grain of salt, especially because `Neal is at his caffeinated best during the draft. It's a sight to behold. Trust me.

Like every year, these picks were all made with the assumption that every team will select in this order, and that no trades will be made. Also like every year, I'll slow dance to Lady in Red with the 8- pound piece of machismo that is my dog if that actually happens. Onto the picks:

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Beware the high riser

By sgabekahn, Section NBA
Posted on Fri Jun 24 2005 at 6:42 PM EST
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By Gabe Kahn

Every year, about three weeks or so before the NBA draft, certain players, initially thought to be high first round picks, suddenly find their stock falling further than Mike Tyson's. At the same time, some eligible players rise to prominence and become the darlings of the dance, and we begin to hear words like upside, potential, and athletic, followed by whispers of promises.

This phenomenon is a yearly occurrence and is happening as we speak. Once surefire early first round picks such as Monta Ellis, Jarret Jack and Chris Taft have to hope they'll be selected in the first round. Channing Frye, Roko Ukic and Yaroslav Karolev, on the other hand, are all now being talked about as good shots for the lottery.

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Victory for the NBA isn't in the details

By sgabekahn, Section NBA
Posted on Tue Jun 21 2005 at 6:20 PM EST
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Thankfully, it appears that Billy Hunter was good on his promise to make one final phone call to NBA Commissioner David Stern before the June 30th expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

After marathon negotiations on Friday as well as over the weekend, the Players' Association has come to an agreement with the NBA Owners and struck a deal on a new CBA. At the head of the line to show their appreciation for avoiding the second work stoppage in NBA history is the NBA's Public Relations staff, thrilled that their services will not be necessary to rebuild the reputation of the league only seven years after having had to do it before.

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