Celtics Stuff Live 12/6: Austin Ainge

by Jughead on Dec 6, 2009 12:10 AM EST

It's been a good week for the Celtics.

Sweeping the four game road trip which included back to back games in San Antonio and Oklahoma City, has many fans, including our own crew feeling very bullish about the chances of this Celtics roster once again. The calls of "KG won't be the same" don't seem to ring nearly as true after seeing the ferocity with which Garnett threw down a pair of dunks on the back end of those two games in OKC. Jon, Kevin, and "Justin in the Car" liked a lot of what they were seeing from the Celtics as they were finally playing "Celtics Basketball."

The Head Coach of the Maine Red Claws, Austin Ainge, joined CSL to check in following the Red Claws home opener in Portland on Friday night, and one would imagine Ainge has to be feeling very good about a 4-1 start to his coaching career. Jon, Justin, and Kevin asked Austin about his early season goals for himself and the team, how he has adjusted to the addition of very talented players following his team's training camp, and his reaction to the sold out Portland Expo crowd at Friday night's contest.

Click Here To Download The Show

Subscribe Via iTunes

Tweet Comment 5 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I think Walker is just assigned to the D-League like any young player; it really has nothing to do with his knee surgery. He’d have been assigned to Maine by now even if he was totally healthy.

by JFoss on Dec 6, 2009 11:51 AM EST reply actions

To some extent, that's my thought as well

While I think this will help him round into shape coming off the knee injury, it seems to me that Walker would benefit most at this point from a situation where he can get some regular run and work on the nuances of his game – i.e. not committing silly fouls, cutting down on bad decision-making offensively, improving his outside touch in game situations.

We know he’s an explosive athlete. But since I have my doubts that he would be getting minutes in Doc’s rotation if he were up with the Celts right now, getting him consistent game experience on a court somewhere seems like the wisest move.

-sw

Growing up in the Weinman household, you learn two rules very quickly if you aspire to reach double-digits in the years-of-age category: Hate thy Knick, hate thy Yankee.

Go Celtics, Go Dodgers. -sw

by Steve Weinman on Dec 6, 2009 1:09 PM EST up reply actions

I believe at the present time only first or second year players with NBA team affiliations are allowed in the Developmental League. I wish older player could be assigned to the Developmental League for rehab, if necessary, to see where he is in his rehabilitation process and to get rid of rust in the case of longer rehabs (i.e. Glen Davis, or KG if he hadn’t been ready for preseason camp) similar to baseball’s Triple A League ….It would develop more interest in the Developmental League, and I think it would be good for the players, too, making the NBA teams a little more attentive to the comings and goings of players from a scouting point of view. Go Celts! Go Claws!

by thirstyboots18 on Dec 6, 2009 1:02 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I agree, I think that would be a great move for the NBA & D-League. However, I think that’s slightly complicated by D-League teams being associated with multiple NBA teams. If the D-League gets to the point where it has 30 teams, just like the NBA, that would work much, much better.

It would also allow teams to have a D-League franchise much closer to their home NBA team. Just as it’s better for the Celtics to have a D-League team in Maine than Utah, it’s better for all NBA teams to have a D-League franchise a few hours away instead of half a continent away.

I’ve certainly seen it in Portland with the Sea Dogs, where the affiliation with the Red Sox has boosted interested tremendously. We’ve had a variety of Sox come down for rehab over the past couple years, including David Ortiz. It would be a great opportunity for the D-League. I’m sure that’s their ultimate goal, but they’re not quite there yet – even with the expansion this year and coming expansions next year. I think once the economy rebounds it’ll be easier for them to get to that point.

by JFoss on Dec 6, 2009 2:41 PM EST up reply actions