Yep, It’s The Offseason
by Jeff Clark on Jul 20, 2007 5:53 AM EDT
in Boston Celtics Articles
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PrintThe team hasn’t played an official game in 3 months. Yet between the playoffs, draft, and summer league, it hasn’t exactly been dull around here. With that said, we are entering into that dreaded period of time called the Dog Days (and no, that isn’t an Ookey Vick reference). Yesterday was the first day in recent memory when all the local newspaper beat scribes were absent from the online publications. Even their "blogs" have gone silent. That is fine; they all deserve a vacation after a long season and eventful offseason. Not here though. CelticsBlog presses onward.
And why would we go anywhere? After all, the C’s brass said repeatedly after the Ray Allen trade that they "aren’t done." So instead of mentally checking out for the summer, fans are waiting with bated breath for the proverbial "other shoe" to drop like a care package on a deserted island. I'm sure that the Steve Bulpett’s, Shira Springers, and Scott Souza’s of the world have their Crackberries charged and clipped to their belts (and tucked under their Hawaiian shirts) in case Danny and Kevin decide to settle things once and for all over a game of flip-cup.
But what to do in the meantime? What can a Celtics fan do while July creeps into August and your neighbor is boring you with "it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity" smalltalk? I’d like to offer some humble suggestions (note: I figure if you are a big baseball fan, you aren’t in much need of this list, so I’m leaving "give into WEEI and submerge yourself in the Sox" off the list).
Watch Old Tapes
Still got a dusty VHS of the 86 Championship game (I do)? Pop that puppy in and lose yourself in your youth. Got a copy of that biggest-comeback-in-playoff-history game against the Nets? Fast forward through the first half and practice your Walker Wiggle, just for kicks. Have the win over the Spurs on "save till I delete" on your DVR? Now is the time to relive the time when our 2nd worst team of scrubs stepped up and took down the eventual Finals Champs. Or if you prefer the more recent events, just watch all those Summer League games again and figure out if Leon Powe favors his left or right shoulder when pivoting into the lane.
Research Other Teams
Tired of wearing out the trade checker looking for possible future retirement homes for Theo Ratliff? Give it a whirl with some teams that don’t wear green. What would you do if you were Chris Wallace (you know you think you are smarter than him anyway)? Is there anything left on the Knicks roster to steal from Zeke? What can the Heat do to be relevant again? There is a league of teams out there that we seldom think or care about unless they are the opposing team or a potential trade partner. Love the NBA for more than just your team.
Get Out On The Court Yourself
It is easy to forget how hard it is to move your feet on defense at the end of a game. It is hard to sympathize with a guy that is suffering through a shooting drought when you keep swishing those balled up paper shots in the trash can next to your desk. Sure, those guys are pros. They are paid to do nothing but play a kids game. But get out there and play that kids game a few times yourself. Your respect for Geralds hops, Rondo’s vision, and Pierce’s scoring knack might just jump a few pegs. And maybe, just maybe, you won’t cringe so much when you see Perk’s hookshot slam against the backboard because you’ll remember the brick you launched that didn’t even catch rim.
Play Like Tony Allen
Ok, if you are still too lazy to get up off the couch (or in some cases if you physically can’t or shouldn’t play basketball), then play it virtually. Play video games, just like Tony Allen has been doing. The game developers keep trying to make them more and more realistic and maybe you’ll learn a thing or two. If nothing else, it will feed your competitive instincts for a while.
Take A Vacation From Basketball (If Possible)
If you are like me, you can’t bring yourself to completely shut out basketball for a whole week (unless I’m on vacation overseas or something like that). Still, there are lots of other things to keep occupied with. Take a weekend road trip somewhere fun. Plan your next vacation. Start researching for your fantasy football draft ("I’ll take TJ Houshmanzilla, put it on the board …Championship"). If you just can’t bring yourself to leave CelticsBlog, try the time-killing games section.
Still, when you just can't stay away any longer and need to read and talk Celtics basketball, CelticsBlog will still be here waiting for you.
Bonus Time Killing Links:
- Draft pick caricatures by The Blowtorch
- Ballhype - sorta like myspace for readers of sports blogs
- I Can Has Cheezburger? - for pet lovers
- Yacht Rock - just trust me
- Dilbert - need I say more?
- Universal Hub - blogging about Boston
- Follow the point-shaving refs scandal
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Here’s what I did to kill time. You’re right about the video games idea, I just couldn’t wait to play with Ray-Ray. Here’s what I did.
I went to the transactions like on NBA.com and I manually put every player on their appropriate roster. Any free agents left over I left them as unsigned free agents and reduced their overall ratings down to zero so no one else would sign them. I then created every single rookie/undrafted signed player using as many references as I could. I then began a shortened season, 28 games I believe, and I’m going to play a game every day, one a day, until I end the season.
I play as much of a sim as possible but I use San Antonio’s offense. Plus I use the motion 3, it’s a simple stack, the wings flare and al and kendrick generally switch, but i run the pick and roll with RA or TA and Al and it’s deadly. If it breaks down I swing the ball to P2 or GG and isolate or continue to swing it and wait for them to switch, where I then post up with Al in the post. I run a little bit of the flex since it was my high school offense but it really doesn’t play to their strengths. I’m like 10-2 or something because I play on All Star and I don’t jack treys all day like the losers online do. My 3/4 court pressure d is forcing a lot of turnovers and Big Baby is a monster on the boards. I haven’t had such a one dimensional player in NBA Live (I’ve never played a season as another team, wow it’s so much easier to use Phoenix, I do it once a year and it makes me sick) since my boy Dana Barros, guess what he was good at? Anyway, the article says it all, I’m equally bored, hence this comment. Word.
by davemonsterband on Jul 20, 2007 6:23 AM EDT reply actions
The u-19 world champs are on atm aswell. anothter idea to keep u goin this offseason/.
by jackson_34 on Jul 20, 2007 6:46 AM EDT reply actions
For discussion sake, what would anyone like to do to change or not change/tweek the Celtics uniforms.
by bird01 on Jul 20, 2007 7:16 AM EDT reply actions
I got plenty of other stuff to keep me busy. If all else fails, I can add to my own blog at http://quinielabox.blogspot.com. I invite you all to leave comments.
Since we all know there really isn’t a chance at a championship this year, even if we got KG, what would be a good agressive target for a successful year this year? 1st round, 2nd round? Atlantic Champions? Individual player improvement? What are we looking for? (Don’t need sky is falling comments… We already know how you feel)
I’d like to see a real attempt to improve the team defensively, including some pressing defenses, e.g. 3/4 court and half court traps, and a basic zone that is much more agressive than the one they’ve been playing. With Pierce and Allen on the floor they will be playing alot of zone, so they might as well get it right.
Brickowski said:
I’d like to see a real attempt to improve the team defensively, including some pressing defenses, e.g. 3/4 court and half court traps, and a basic zone that is much more agressive than the one they’ve been playing. With Pierce and Allen on the floor they will be playing alot of zone, so they might as well get it right.
===
Isn’t this what they did (or tried to do) when coach Pitino was running the show?
Forgive my naivety, it’s an honest question.
Pitino did that as a full time defense, 40. He wasn’t going to get pros to do that full time…may have worked in college…That’s why the transition is so difficult from college coaching to the pros.
Defenses like Pitino’s and the blitz need to be mixed in situationally and not used as a full time system in professional basketball. The coaches and players are too good and adjustment is easy.
As far as PLAYA’s goals are concerned.
Under the current regieme:
-.500 season
-a coherent defense
-playoffs
The sky fell 3 years ago, PLAYA…it hopefully bottommed out in 2007.
You would set a GOAL of “individual player improvement”?? If that’s a goal to you, PLAYA, well….I guess we have to start somewhere. Oh my.
“Watch Old Tapes
Still got a dusty VHS of the 86 Championship game (I do)?”
I just purchased a VHS to DVD dubbing machine—and I transfered Game 6 of the 86 Championship last night(pretty much perfect copy)…I’ve got a bunch of old classic games.
by Maxwell Smart on Jul 20, 2007 12:51 PM EDT reply actions
I tape all the games during the season and save the best ones. I have a pretty good collection from the past few years. I also have the Celtics History and Larry Bird DVD’s that I watch from time to time. There is also USA basketball to follow. Plus I keep pretty busy with all the boards, links and blogs. It will be interesting to see the ref scandal unfold.
by FLCeltsFan @ CelticsBlog on Jul 20, 2007 12:58 PM EDT reply actions
If we fail to make the playoffs, which I agree is a legitimate goal along with defensive improvement, then individual player improvement would be a good thought. If this happens yet Big AL continues to improve and gets to an all-star level it would be a big coup for the future of the C’s. If Green suddenly starts to look like he is in the game for more than just sitting on the wing waiting for someone to hand him the ball, then that would be a win. If Perk becomes the defensive presence that I fully expect him to be then that is also a win. How about if Big Baby shows he can do in the regular season off the bench what he did in summer league?! No wonder you are so miserable all the time. If the goal is to make the playoffs or the world has come to an end as the only alternative, you are setting yourself up for misery! Of course making the playoffs is the goal. Of course we’d like to be .500 and improve our defense. If PP and Ray Allen went down to injury though , then it isn’t gonna happen. We are at least 2 years away from a championship period. Why make a rash decision that the whole thing has to blow up if the unforseen happens and put ourselves in a situation where we do longer term damage to the team because of lack of patience. I want it all, but am going to be happy with token improvements if the unexpected happens.
Flip cup!!! Damn, I haven’t played flip cup in years. the good old days of college, flip cup, and many things I care not to mention.
by cos on Jul 20, 2007 1:21 PM EDT reply actions
No, PLAYA…We’re on different ends of the spectrum. I don’t look at individual player improvement as a goal. I also don’t look at a 24 win season and see a light at the end of the tunnel….because there is none. If something unforseen happens, you don’t cease to compete and hope your paying customers and the league doesn’t notice.
The majority of these players have multiple years under this coach. They should understand his “system”, PLAYA. By virtue of that, they should improve and not regress as a team. Regardless whether their best player is playing, injured, or “injured”. Improvement as a goal…baby steps..are absurd. These are professionals.
You’ll be happy to know that the majority of the Celtics have been working out at there Waltham facility in preparation for the upcoming season.
I happened to spend a few min this morning talking with Ryan Gomes at his camp and he is very excited about the up coming season. On paper he was telling me that they have the team to win their division.
Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to ask him any difficult questions; I didn’t think it was appropriate with the young kids there, my son would have killed me LOL…
But he did mention that they are focused going into the up coming season more so than in the past. He also said that there is pressure on them to succeed now, at least take that next step forward.
He is very excited about the acquistion of Ray Allen to the team.
He has been working on his outside game alot he was telling the kids and hopes to play both the 3 & 4 spots.
Master Po, would that be either Doc or Danny with more pins in the voo doo doll?
by West Side on Jul 20, 2007 3:31 PM EDT reply actions
We haven’t lost a game yet plowboy! We have a squad with at least 4 new players and maybe more if there is a trade. You can sit there and be upset about last year if you want. I for one see hope in this team. With Ray Allen coming in here and giving us a huge lift offensively, with Big AL probably making that next step to be considered an all-star, and with a few other players having a chance at adding more to the team. We will be better! No question about that and I think that I will be excited to see how far we can go. I’m not looking for baby steps. I want big steps. That is going to happen though. Go ahead and wallow in last year if you want, but if all you care about is a banner, and you hate most of the players and the coaches and management, then why are you a fan? Go root for the Spurs so you can be happy. Be a fair-weather fan if you want. When we have fought through all of this adversity and THEN come through with #17 it will all be worth it. Don’t try and ruin the ride for the rest of us!
and sharpening my 2 inch stick pins.
I read this sooo wrongly..
by havlicekstoletheball on Jul 20, 2007 5:29 PM EDT reply actions
A fair weather fan? I’ve been a fan longer than you’ve been alive, PLAYA. I want to see a competitive team on both ends of the court. I also see reality and doubt that can happen under Rivers.
I saw positives in the summer league game. Especially in the last half of the last game. When Gerald finally went to the hoop and got to the free throw line. Davis’ play throughout the game…and throughout summer league. I hope I’m wrong, but Powe and Davis’ strong summer league and training camp performances should cement them to the bench for the first half of the season.
Yeah…There we go again. Give me your history lesson. Tell me how it was when you had to walk 5 miles to school in three feet of snow uphill both ways. Real tough to be a Celtics fan through those big dry stretches in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s! You sure must have struggled. Now that it has been awhile you have turned from a staunch Celtic supporter to a pure criticizer. I have watched the C’s since the late 70’s and been a fan despite 3 championships in the first 10 and none in the last 20. Yes I am calling you a fair weather fan. If you can’t admit that we are in better shape than we have been in quite a few years then you might as well tune out until next offseason so you can start whining again.
Real big thing to own up to the summer league team looking pretty good. None of them will see more than 10-12 minutes a game at most during the regular season. You’ll never be happy Plowboy so why bother…
What on earth is Danny waiting for? I can understand the concept of “patience” but I wonder if this marathon of inactivity is due to exhaustion of ideas or the dawn of a new “vision”.
by moskqq on Jul 20, 2007 6:52 PM EDT reply actions
I’m getting optimistic. Can’t help it. As a Celtics fan, optimism now has a strong undercurrent of anxiety. It’s almost as tho I don’t feel I’m entitled to be optinistic because, for the past 20 years, hope has always been followed by heartache.
It’s like emotional “muscle memory”: As soon as I start getting hopeful, I have an overwhelming feeling that something will come along to crush it. A crappy trade, a player injury. Pavlovian conditioned response.
Sheesh.
I recommend any Celtic fan by the Celtics Dynasty series dvd set fron Amazon.Bostons best games on DVD and the documentaries are great as well.
by havlicekstoletheball on Jul 20, 2007 9:15 PM EDT reply actions
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