Rondo Sharp vs. Future Backup

great game all around. Still would take sam even after the cheap shot if he comes reasonable after the buyout. My only concern is recent comments that lead me to believe he sees himself as the true PG while rondo holds down the fort the first 3 quarters. whether that turns into being true or not, its a scary attitude to have to me. I don’t want a guy whos going to whine about minutes, ect.

been very impressed with rondo getting better at knowing when he should go to the hoop. he still makes mistakes, but to start the season, he would ALWAYS dish and never finish. Now he’s doing both. He’s still feeling it out, but these last 6-8 games he has been solid. can’t wait to see him dishing to kevin instead of perk. every time perk gets a nice dish and power dribbles,leading to a strip from a guy that would have been out of position without the 2 extra steps. i want to hurt someone when he does that. perk, just be like leon and kg. when they get the same dish they go right up. watch and learn.

Leon Powe continues to impress. Also, im 50-50 on doc as a coach, but i would like to say, good job sticking with the bench in the 4th, but pulling them back when the clips made a run. let the bench get some good experience, but not to the detriment of the game. not the biggest doc fan but that was nice.

good game over all, glad rondo didnt go down awkwardly off the cassell cheap shot, that could have been a knock out shot.

Sam was gripping all game, he couldn’t stay with Rondo and he eventually put a flagrant foul on Rondo and got ejected.

Unfortunately I remember too much of Cassell’s whining and antics. Maybe he becomes a good soldier for the Celts and I learn to like him.

However we have enough players griping and trash talking. Pollard was a goof ball but now is a good lad just sitting on the bench. Cassell better get a serious attitude adjustment or I don’t want him destroying the good chemistry and karma we have.

Tommy H. literally said this was “one of the worst officiated games of the year”. The only thing is, this is the 35th time Tommy has said those exact words this season.

true, though i would agree with him on this one, and i don’t harp on the refs. but some of the calls tonight were horrific.

i think they got scared they’d lose control after the cassell shot, so they tightened up the calls, but far, far to much.

Cassell spends much of his game griping. I agree, if the ref missed a call you can mention it and move on. There are players like Cassell, Rasheed, and announcers like Tommy H. where it just gets beyond being rational and realistic.

These guys litterally have it in their head that the other team every game honestly commits 60 fouls per game to their team’s 4 fouls.

At some point players need to shut up and just play ball. Quit looking for the refs to bail you out. It is a sign of weakness when you do it all game. Concentrate on playing basketball and not begging for calls.

Like I say, maybe Cs land Cassell, he becomes the poster child for decent behavior like injured Pollard is and we go onto a crown.

What Cassell should have done is tried to devise a strategy with the rest of the Clips to contain Rondo. Cassell had an opportunity to “showcase” his talent on both ends of the court and endear himself to C fans.

When Rondo “exposed” him, Cassell’s true colors came out again- griping all game and then the flagant foul.

Now we have Doc trying to mend fences and do a little butt kissing saying 20 years ago this foul was no big deal.

The proof is in the pudding. If Cassell comes here and acts this way with adversity, he will be a net zero.
I’m not saying he will be, but I’m not as up for gettting the guy after seeing his antics tonight.

And I don’t want the Cs biching and moaning like Tommy H does and like they were doing during the Wizard/Charlotte slump. It’s tough enough having to put up with Tommy’s miserable announcing, we don’t need Cassell and Tommy feeding the negativity off each other every game.

In getting tossed, Sam helped us to see things more clearly. Maybe now we’ll realize that it’s not worth trading someone like TA in order to put Sam Cassell in Celtic’s green. Rondo’s break-out over the past month makes a strong statement…all we really need is a veteran point-guard with good ball-handling skills and a pass-first mentality. With such great team-play and chemistry, I’d hate to see anyone get traded. TA is returning to last year’s break-out form. Even Scal is filling his role (“Bring the Energy!”, as summed up in his half-time interview). How sweet was that clunky 3 that somehow tasted twine! He needed that one. So did we.

To trade TA for one half year of Sam is insanity, and I hear we would give up other players too? This cannot be. It would be total insanity.

It was pretty apparent that Sam was being schooled in front of potential future employers and he reacted. Also notable when asked if he’d be ok coming off the bench Sam replied “whatever..” and the cliche “it’s not who starts…”

C’s do need a vet backup who can run the floor under pressure & defend. Sam still has ability, but I’m not sure his ego lets himself see he’s on the downside of his career.

sam’s d or lack of d was exposed. house is not a point but he plays d. pruitt deserves little bits of time to keep him exposed to the speed and power of the game. rondo is growing before our eyes.

Rondo and the Celtics play better without the congestion of Pierce, Allen, and Garnett on the floor at the same time. Since Garnett’s been out the flow and movement has been quite noticeable. However, starting Scal is a big mistake. He is the worst and least contributable player on the team. The big 3 could be on the court together during certain periods. Rondo’s game has opened up with just 2 of the 3 on the floor without worrying about the voracious appetite each one has. I am not offering any guesses as to who should not start.

I was so wrong about Rondo. He is developing into what eventually could be the Big 4. Still hoping for another point guard so House can play his preferred position.

Regardless of what happened last nite I still don’t think Sam is the guy we need. We win because of unselfishness, fitting into roles, and moving the ball. With Sam the ball stops while he looks for his own shot. He also doesn’t play defense. A backup for Rondo needs to facilitate plays for others. TA is getting better in that role the more he plays it. Practically the only way we get Sam is if he is bought out and comes here for minimal $’s. There is no sense in trading for him.

Sam, like Payton, still thinks he’s a great player. He may have more in the tank than Payton, but he’ll never play behind somebody who is essentially a rookie in his eyes without becoming a major distraction.

Last night’s exhibition should have cemented that in management’s eyes.

 Danny would never trade T Allen for a Cassell. Danny held onto the right guys – Rondo, T Allen, Leon and picked up some value in the draft. Posey and Eddie are team-first guys and I don’t think the C’s will spoil the soup with a guy who as Iowa Playboy says still thinks he’s a great player. Rondo tortured him and so will Chauncy and TJ Ford (if he gets back) etc, etc.

Yes, we don’t have a classic back-up point guard. The Clips do – Brevin Knight – and I’d rather have Eddie House.

Stand pat, Danny. The ship is even keel and your bench is getting better stepping up for Ray and now KG.

For the last few weeks we are seeing a Leon Powe who is not just an all-heart guy, but a bonafide regular minutes NBA player. I just love it.

agree on powe, rebounding is still our biggest problem even when KG is in there and powe can rebound and finish around the rim.
Also, remember, some of the best rebounders of all time in this game were undersized power forwards, barkley, rodman, even marion, 6-9 guys that are tough and can hustle can also rebound where 7-footers often only get the boards in their area

Sense is starting to prevail. I had forgotten about Brevin Knight. Awhile back I think remembering alot of us wanted him. I’m heading in the Tony Allen direction as backup. As he feels better he’s getting a better handle on the ball and is seeing the floor better. Someone made a remark about him slowing it down a bit. This was a positive statement. Ilguaskas talked about LeBron slowing down, that the game is slowing down for him and he is thinking his way thru it better. I think the same is happening for Tony. I also think that as the bench gets to know each other better TA will get more comfortable in that position if that is what is decided. Yesterday was a huge step forward for the bench.

man, we need to get Anthony Johnson from the Hawks……… he is the only vet in the league that fits this team…. he’s like an older version on Rondo ( Long arms, plays great on-the-ball defense, plays passing lanes ) and he has the experience and jumpshot to boot…. He’d fit this team perfectly as a backup PG