The Association, Kendrick Perkins, Jeff Green and a new manicure.

It might be kind of weird, but I've avoided watching "The Association." I have a couple of reasons for this. One of them is that I'm very much bored with reality television and secondly, the Celtics are already incredibly all consuming in my life. I eat, sleep and breathe them. I don't need to watch any additional footage of them, because as you may have guessed, I'm borderline compulsive as is. But today I stumbled on these deleted scenes from Episode 5:

And after watching, and laughing, I decided to sit down, bite the bullet, and watch an episode. Big mistake! It opened up with this incredibly candid interview with Rondo, where he talked to the camera about how hard it's been for him to deal with Perk being gone. Me being the huge water head that I am, I was immediately inconsolable and weeping, so I turned the episode off. I was left with a great feeling of unease. I truly do believe that this team can win a banner and I have great faith in them. I also believe that, in Perks absence, people have built him in to something that he never was, due to the great emotional attachment   we all felt to him. Today I allowed myself to relapse in to missing him, so I got a manicure in his honor. I also included an homage to Jeff Green in this manicure, because I think it's important to embrace our new pieces and have faith in he team as it looks now... And what better way is their to express diplomacy, hope and optimism then through a manicure?

Another clunker: the Celtics lose a winnable one against the Pacers.

C/O Chris Forseberg's twitter.

So here we are, on March 29, still on the dark side of the moon. The playoffs are just around the corner and the Celtics seem to be spiraling downwards. They are currently 51-22 and tied for the 2 seed come postseason. What makes this worse is that they're losing games to teams they have no business losing to: New Jersey, Charlotte and Indiana, for example. I don't know if they'll be able to catch Chicago for the 1 spot. The Bulls have won 8 of their last 10 and their remaining schedule is a cakewalk. Last night they got their bums handed to them by the Sixers. If the Celtics could have pulled off a win against the Pacers, they would have been 1 game behind Chicago, instead of 2, and they would have been .5 games ahead of Miami, instead of being tied... But they didn't get the win, so it is what it is.

Just for the heck of it, I decided to check out what their record was at this time last season. On March 29, 2010, the Celtics were 47-26. That is a full 4 games behind in the win column from where they are today, and that was a season in which Kendrick Perkins played 101 games in a Celtics uniform (playoffs included). I will not chalk this recent Celtic slump up to the fact that Perk is gone. It's just not that simple. Did it shake things up and have an effect on chemistry? Yes. Are the Celtics kinda standing around scratching their heads and wondering what's going on? Yes. But the Celtics are 27-9 with Shaq in the starting lineup and arguably played their best basketball of the season with him starting. I love Kendrick Perkins and it's sad that he's gone- but I don't think he is the end all, be all. This is a team that's fully capable of getting their legs back under them. You'll recall that they lost a whole bunch of easily winnable games last year, too: New Jersey, Washington, Milwaukee, for example, and those all came at the end of the season, like they are now.

Yesterday I read that Chris Mannix from Sports Illustrated went on WEEI and went on and on about how the Celtics have a "horrible attitude,":


“Imagine before the season if we thought getting into late March, early April, ‘If only Shaq and Jermaine can come back, we’ll be OK for the postseason.’ To me, that’s a horrible attitude to have, if that’s what this team is thinking, that one of those guys can come back and be a difference-maker. Once Shaq comes back, he’ll only play for about two months, and who knows what kind of physical shape he’s in at this stage. And Jermaine has given you nothing all season long, so there’s no reason to believe he’s going to add anything to the equation.”


Wasn't being ready for the end of the season and the playoffs the exact reason they were brought here? It wasn't about what goes on in January and February. It was about May and June. There was always the possibility that Perk wasn't going to be around- except at the time that they made the deals for the O'Neals they were probably thinking because of an injury, and not a trade- but the end result is the same. He's not here. The Celtics were out-sized by LA in the finals. It was and still is about having more bodies come postseason time. 


News on Jermaines return after the jump





Jermaine is targeting Thursday for his return to action. A lot of fans are pissed off he waited so long to get surgery. You know who's probably 10 times more pissed off than any fan? The man himself. It's so easy to criticize as a fan, from the outside looking in. Getting surgery is a big deal, and it wasn't a decision that the fans had to make. We didn't have to think about how it would effect our lives and our family, and we didn't have to think about rehab, or if we could play through the pain. We have no idea what pain he was feeling, or what it's like to play through an injury. Below are his numbers for the 17 games he's played this season. He has reportedly spent weeks working out 6 days a week and has lost 12 pounds. He's probably in better shape now than he was at any point during those 17 games and to me, for a guy that the Celtics will probably ask to play 12-15 minutes a game, I think there's a possibility he can still come through. I know most people have no faith in him and doubt he'll be able to contribute anything, because he's only played in 17 games all season. I think it's time to stop throwing dirt on his name. He's who we have, and it's time to buckle down and work with what we've got. Will he be an all star again? Probably not. But that's not what he's being asked to do here. I'm willing to say he might be able to be effective in small increments.

What's wrong with the Celtics?

So I was just looking at the traffic sources for my blog.... And shout out to the person who googled, "What's happening to my Celtics?" and ended up at my page. I, too, would like to know, and I'm sorry that you didn't get any kind of substantive answer after your visit here. But here's my latest theory as to what's plaguing the Celtics. Go with me here. Not to toot my own horn, but in school I was always the really smart kid who was bored because everything was too easy. It was my theory that I need not complete my homework in a timely manner, because I could fool around in class, not put any effort in outside of class, and still get a good grade on tests. That meant my report cards all came home saying stuff like, "Bright student... Further effort required." Or, "Smart child... Why doesn't she try?" Stuff like that. It drove my parents crazy. Unfortunately, I didn't really care. I'm a little bit embarrassed to say that this attitude stuck with me until midway through college. In fact, I'd say it got a little worse in college. I majored in sociology, so a lot of my classes were discussion heavy, and we talked a lot about people and the way they act. I was under the impression that I was smarter and more enlightened than the majority of people in my classes, so I would debate endlessly with them in class until I was blue in the face. I would leave class all worked up at the stuff people said in class... And then I wouldn't do the work. So they'd get a better grade than me, and I'd get mad because I knew I was smarter than them, but they still ended up with a higher grade. Pretty stupid of me.

This, my friends, is what is plaguing the Celtics. I thought I was smarter than everyone, and they think they're better than everyone. And it's actually true- they are better than the majority of other teams in the league. The problem is that it doesn't matter how much talent you have or how good you are if you don't apply yourself. That's why I got B's and even C's (barf), while more dedicated but maybe less intellectually gifted students (teeheehee) got better grades than me, and it's why teams like Charlotte can come in and beat the Celtics. I believe that they're under the impression that they can exert minimal effort and still win. It doesn't work like that. This isn't a new theory. It's what many people thought was going on last year- that they think there's a switch they can flip, to go from playing like doo doo to playing like champs. Except I think it's worse than last year. I think that there's some kind of emotional residue from the Perkins trade. I don't know if it's hostility towards management that he's gone, general sadness in the face of his absence... or even some kind of doubt that they're not as good as they were without him. Let's just hope that they figure it out and flip that switch to champion mode for good. No more back and forth.

And P.S.: I no longer believe I'm smarter than everyone else. It was a tough pill to swallow, but I got it :)

It's almost embarrassing how sad I am right now.... Almost.

This is a team that's supposed to win right now, this year. This is a team with a window- a window rapidly closing, centered around three veterans giving it their all to win before they walk away. As of 2:30 PM today, this was a team that, with their starting 5 intact, had never lost a playoff series. It was a team that prided themselves on chemistry, commitment and fluidity- and a little thing called camaraderie, which is sorely lacking on the majority of other teams in the NBA. It was a team that almost seemed to be exempt from the superficiality of the rest of the league. While other teams grapple with selfish play, the egos of superstars, and a lack of commitment to defense, those were all things that the Celtics could depend on, and proudly stood for. Selfish play? The Celtics mess themselves up over passing, trying to play too unselfishly. Egos of superstars? The three stars at the core have all made tremendous sacrifices in their personal games to cater to the needs of this team. And a lack of commitment to defense? It sometimes looks like the Celtics have more fun protecting their basket than they do on offense. 

All morning and afternoon long, I tracked what was going on, hoping that the Celtics could get lucky and snag someone really great for a backup three. I read how they might be able to pull Anthony Parker and I read that Nate was potentially going to be traded to a variety of places, from Cleveland all the way to Golden State. And finally, I read two things that stuck with me the most. I read that Perk rejected the idea that he would sit out the rest of this road trip, explaining, "I'm a Celtic." It made me smile, because it was classic Perk. And I read that Danny Ainge didn't think there would be any last minute moves, and that no big transactions were going to take place. At that moment, I felt good. It made me feel like, with all the other trades going on with other teams, I had gotten caught up in the hype of the trade deadline. I felt like the Celtics didn't need to make a rash move like so many other teams were doing, because they had the things that every team needs: consistency and a strong core. And I felt like they could wait it out and see who ended up getting bought out, and then finding a back up three. 

And then, just around 3:00 PM, I read that Perk had been traded. It literally felt like the floor had been pulled out from under me. I immediately thought it was a mistake, or some kind of rumor that had run rampant- especially when I saw that he had been traded for Nenad Kristic and Jeff Green. Then, as it became more and more clear that it wasn't a mistake and that it had actually happened, I felt deeply saddened. That sentiment has stuck with me, hours later. Kendrick Perkins is by no means a perfect basketball player, but he will always be an amazing Celtic. He is the embodiment of all the things this club is supposed to stand for: a hard working, tough, intense player despised by everybody not on his team. Like KG, Perk was bathed in sweat 3 minutes in to the game. He was among the hardest working guy on the floor, and for every shortcoming in his game- most glaringly a lack of offense- he worked hard in every possible way to compensate for it. For the Celtics, he provided the luxury of single coverage on Dwight Howard and other top notch big men. He provoked fear in the paint and he fought hard on the boards. He busted his butt for 8 months to come back early from major knee surgery, and floored me with his play. He was in amazing shape and moved faster and more fluidly than I would have ever expected. Yes, the Celtics won games and succeeded while he was on the sideline earlier this season, but his return undeniably brought a rhythm to the starting five which had been missing before. That rhythm and that familiarity is gone now, and it's so sad to think that it will never come back. I know that the NBA is a business and that at the end of the day, this was a business move... But I can't help but be sad... And mad. And I can't help but think about what kind of effect this will have on the team. This is THE starting five. This is Perk, Rondo's close friend, relied on by our big 3. 

At the end of the day, I know that the Celtics can find a way to win without Perk... Just like they found a way to win without James Posey. But let's face it- since Posey left after the '08 championship, they've never stopped looking for someone to replace him. They've been successful, and they almost won another championship, but they've been on a continual search for the guy that can bring them everything Posey did. They never found him... And they will certainly never find someone to replace Perk. I miss his scowl already. This is the first time in YEARS that I can remember NOT wanting to watch a Celtics game. 

The Celtics have interest in Anthony Parker. Too bad the Cavs have lost their mind.

Marc Stein reports:
The Celts covet an extra playoff-tested shooter/defender as much as the Bulls, with Marquis Daniels out indefinitely and Delonte West missing much of the season so far. Yet it remains to be seen whether either of the two teams is willing to meet Cleveland's asking price.

The Cavs are seeking a quality draft pick or a young big man with promise in exchange for Parker, who’s averaging 11.5 points and shooting 47 percent on 3-pointers in February.

 Sure, the Celtics have young, big men with promise. In fact, there are several: Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis and Semih Erden. Out of those three, Semih is obviously the person that the Celtics would most easily part ways with... But not in exchange for 35 year old, 6'6 Anthony Parker. Not happening. Parker is a high basketball IQ, sturdy player. He would be a good fit for both the Celtics and the Bulls, and the Cavs probably think they can set the bar high because they see there are some desperate teams out there. Try again.

A belated Valentines post: Poignant preparations for the holiday, care of Pierce and Perkins.

Better late than never- you can take notes on this post for next year, so that you may celebrate the holiday in Celtic style. It's a side of the Celtics that we don't often see, but how do the Captain and the Big Man woo their ladies on Valentines Day?

Well, Paul took to his Boston Globe blog and shared... A lot. Here's my favorite excerpt:

"But in general, there’s always a lot of pampering going on in the Pierce house on Valentine’s Day. It’s almost like another birthday or another holiday for your girl. And I can be romantic. There are definitely certain situations where I’ve been romantic. I’ve put together a nice dinner, put on a nice suit … maybe run the bath water. Make a quick stop at Victoria’s Secret and some of my wife’s favorite spots. Sprinkle some flower petals around the room. I got some romance in my game."

Don't get me wrong. I believe Paul has romance in his game. But I just can't resist myself here- I just really need to know what a nice suit looks like to Paul... Because I love love love the man 10 times over... But off the court fashion choices of his have never been my favorite. Oh there have been some classics, over the years... 

The colors... and the high waters... It's a lot.

And my man CONSISTENTLY wears the knee length jacket, so LA circa 1995. I just don't get it. But I love him, so he can wear whatever he wants. 

After the jump, learn how Perk got ready for February 14th. 

I saw this video on Celtics Life, so big shout outs to them for this good find and a great post. And shout out to Perk for playing florist so well. Cute!

Let's all pause for a moment and reflect on Kendrick Perkins

He was originally slated to make his return after All Star break... Then he was feeling so good that he said he'd be back February 4th... Then he surprised us all and came back to action on January 25, at home against Cleveland. That was 5 games ago, and his transition back has been remarkable.

The rebounds are good. The defensive stops warm the heart of his coach. The inside points are a nice bonus. But the most positive development for Kendrick Perkins is that somewhere on the Celtics tour of the West, he made such a seamless transition that one could forget he’d just come back last week from offseason ACL surgery. Now playing the most minutes at center, Perkins had eight points and 10 rebounds in Tuesday night’s 95-90 win against the Sacramento Kings that secured a 3-1 trip.

That he was smiling at the end, having passed his own psychological test, certainly was comforting. That Perkins made it through the four games in six nights with no physical trouble is a goal secured. “This definitely helps my confidence,” Perkins said. “I think it’s all mental. I keep saying that. A lot of people out there are not 100 percent, so I think you’ve just got to keep pushing, keep grinding. I feel good. My body feels good. I feel like I’m getting in good shape. It’s only five games. I’m just going to keep on pushing from there.”

Remember, this is a player who averaged 10.1 points on 60.2 percent shooting last season. “I’ve still got a lot of work to do, but I’ll tell you when I think I’m there,” said Perkins, who’s made 11-of-18 attempts from the floor (61.1 percent) so far.

Heading into the Sacramento game, coach Doc Rivers didn’t have a definitive call on when Perkins would go back into the starting lineup, but there doesn’t seem to be any reason to wait. “He will in due time,” Rivers said. “There’s no date for it or anything. He just looks good, and I’m happy. He looks great, so as long as he looks good and doesn’t show us anything (that could bring concern), we’re just going to keep him out there.” (source)

Girls talk sports: looking ahead to Celtics-Lakers.

I found this video over at Celtics Life, and it successfully gave me goose bumps, so I decided to share it here as well.

Today is the first rematch between the Celtics and Lakers since Game 7 of the NBA Finals last year. That being said, this is a big game. But oh how things have changed. Since there are story lines galore surrounding this game, I've chosen to focus primarily on the big guys.

Our bigs: Perkins, Shaq, Davis, KG (with some Erden mixed in) VS theirs: Odom, Gasol, Bynum.

What will the reception be of Shaq in LA wearing a Celtics uniform? I'm sure he'll be boo'ed. I'm also sure he doesn't care. Conversely, I think he loves it. Shaq loves drama. What could create more drama than this? He left LA in a storm of controversy 7 years ago and returns today wearing the uniform of their arch enemy. I'm not sure how he's feeling health-wise, but I'm not going to use the Phoenix game as a barometer, because nobody looked good in that game. I think he'll rise to the occasion today and be fired up, zoned in and ready to go. Beyond Shaq still having the fire burning in him to win, today he has the extra motivation to beat Kobe... And I don't think that factor can be discounted.

The return of Perk: It's been said hundreds of times before: Perk didn't play in Game 7, after injuring his knee in Game 6, and many think that the Celtics would have come out victorious in Game 7 had he played. Well, he'll be on the floor today. This will be his 4th game back, and he's looked great so far. Bynum is far more talented and physically imposing than anyone else Perk has seen thus far, so it will be interesting to see how that match up goes. Perk is among the many who believe that the Celtics would have been the champions had he played, and I expect that he's anxious to get out there and prove it on the court today.

KG is better: Last year everyone rooting for the Celtics was happy that KG was healthy enough to be on the floor. We have so much more than that to hold on to this year- not only is he back, but he's really back. He has been phenomenal so far this year. This will not be the same KG who Gasol matched up with last year. Defensively, KG is far more physically equipped to stay with Gasol away from the basket, and to battle with him in the paint. On the offensive end, this year has brought the return of his post-game. Last year the majority of his game was played away from the basket, and he settled for jump shots. It's not that he's turned in to Dwight Howard, banging around down there, but he does attack the paint and is shooting at a high percentage near the rim. Gasol has become a tougher, more physical player since 2008, but I remain that KG can out-tough and mentally shake him. In the same vein, Jerry West recently criticized the Lakers, and accused them of being old and playing lazy basketball. The Celtics as a team are absolutely able to out-tough this Lakers team. To provide an example of how this cold happen, Jerry West said that the Lakers have a tendency to stand around and watch their opponent collect loose balls, as opposed to fighting for them. Outside of that nightmare-ish Phoenix game, the Celtics are generally good for diving on the floor and holding on for dear life.

More after the jump



Bynum is healthier: I've decided to admit something. Last year during the finals, when Bynum could barely walk but still managed to play and had a huge impact in helping his team to win, he gained my respect. Don't get it twisted, though. I don't like him. It was just a really impressive showing of dedication and toughness. So anyway. Now that that's over... Bynum is healthy again, and is a critical part to the Lakers success. With him on the floor, they are 12-4. He can be a nightmare on the boards, so the Celtics really have to try and contain him and keep a body on him at all times. The same goes for Gasol. They're a powerful tandem and they have a lot of success cleaning up the offensive boards.

Miscellaneous things of note

Paul Pierce: How healthy is he? The Celtics will need a big game out of him, but is he physically able to provide right now? He looked mighty beat up in Phoenix, and has been playing through ankle and thigh injuries. 

Rondo: Kobe said he's the key to the Celtics success, and I agree. The Celtics need a big game out of him today. That means he needs to protect the ball, keep the offense fluid and active, and pressure the Lakers defensively. The Celtics are always better when he's on the floor, but he hasn't had a BIG, classic Rondo game in a little while now. Today would be a great day to end that trend. 

The Boston Bench Mob: The bench has to come to play today. They'll get a huge boost with Perk coming off the pine, but they'll need Nate, Marquis and Glen Davis to show up as well. The Phoenix bench absolutely out performed the Boston bench, and we all saw how that ended up. 

My sister and Kendrick Perkins: birds of a feather.

Perk's standing ovation

At one time or another, every person in my immediate family has been a teacher. I live with my sister, and she teaches 6th grade. She's up and out of the door every day by 6:30 AM. Her job doesn't end at 3:00, when the bell rings. To be honest, for a good teacher, the work never ends. My sister is constantly on the job, whether she's talking to parents on the phone, or carefully preparing lesson plans that will both interest and challenge her students, or bringing her students to cultural and recreational events in her free time, to help expose them to things that they would otherwise miss out on. It's a grind. She's been a teacher for 8 years, and she still strives to be better, still works to connect with each and every one of her students. She's kept in touch with students from her first year of teaching, and receives requests from students she hasn't taught for years to write college recommendation letters. I've seen first hand how challenging- and rewarding- the job is, and I don't think teachers get enough recognition for all that they do and for the sacrifices that they make. I can't tell you how many people I've heard claim that teachers have it easy, because they get vacations off and all they have to do is hang out with kids.

Those are probably the same people who say that Kendrick Perkins sucks... And I can't tell you how many times I've heard that. Maybe that has to do with the fact that I used to live in New York, but still. I've heard it said many times that Perk is a trash basketball player. Bob Ryan wrote quite eloquently on the big man in this mornings Globe:

"From the time he arrived here more than seven years ago as an unpolished gem of a prospect out of Clifton J. Ozen High School in Beaumont, Texas, Perkins has never been afraid of work. He has gone from a kid Rivers had no intention of playing to a member of a starting five that can claim never to have lost a playoff series when fully intact. He doesn’t have the name or the finesse of Garnett, Pierce, Allen, or Rondo, but he provides the gristle without which the Celtics cannot fully function.

'We have kind of been, I don’t know what words to use, but less than ourselves over the three or four months that we have been together, just waiting,' said Allen. 'We have had great success with the guys we’ve been using, but we haven’t had the lineup that has been consistent in the past 3 1/2 years where we have won some big games, including a championship. It was great to see him back on the floor.'

Kendrick Perkins wasn’t supposed to be back until after the All-Star Game, remember? That’s all he had to hear." 

I don't think you can fully grasp just how good Kendrick Perkins is, and how important he is to this team, without consistently watching the Celtics. Sure, the casual viewer can claim that the Celtics may have won Game 7 of the Finals if Perk had been on the floor... but you won't understand unless you've seen how this team plays with him on the floor, and how they play without him. It's not that they're not good without him, because they obviously are. Perk is not a guy that's going to awe you with flashy play, and he won't floor you with his athleticism. You might not be able to point at one thing he did during the game and pinpoint it as a game changer... But that's because it's everything that he does. He leaves it all on the floor, night in and night out. He scares the other team out of the paint, battles under the basket for boards that other players miss out on because they don't want to take the beating it takes to get them (shout out to Luke Harangody for following in Perk's footsteps in this venture), and doesn't worry about scoring. He scores when he can, when he's open, or he'll muscle one up under the basket. He allows the Celtics to go with single coverage on guys that most other teams have to double up on, a la Dwight Howard. And he does it all with one facial expression. 

My sister gets to school at least an hour early everyday to make sure that her classroom is 100 percent ready for her students. She often can't sleep at night, because her brain refuses to stop working, won't give her a break from thinking about how to become better and how to best reach her students. Perk was on a similar grind, clocking some serious time in the gym, allowing him to make this early comeback. The night before his return, he was in the gym until 1 AM, and couldn't sleep when he got home, he was so caught up in the anticipation of making his return. So maybe it's corny, but Perk, for doing all of the garbage work that nobody celebrates and for being involved in every aspect of the game and refusing to ever give up, is like a good teacher.

Recap: Blowout successful. C's head out to the West Coast with a win, Cavs lose 18 in a row.

Picture jacked from ESPN Boston.

Even if the Celtics didn't keep their foot on the pedal (or stay in "attack mode" as is Tommy's favorite thing to say these days) for the complete 48 minutes, they still managed to win by 17... And the game was never really a close one.

I'm not going to do any in-depth analysis of the game right now, because it was a blowout and I want to watch the State of the Union. Here are some important snippets: Paul Pierce scored 17 points in the 1st quarter, setting the tone. Kendrick Perkins didn't start, but he made his return in the 1st frame, and was welcomed by the crowd with a really nice standing ovation. He looked strong and confident. The scowl was back in full force! Heck yeah! He made the first shot he took, and ended up playing 17 minutes, with 7 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Go Perk! 7 Celtics scored in the double figures. Rondo played 43 minutes. Boooo, too much! Ray Allen and Nate Robinson split their time accompanying Rondo in the back court. Nate looked to be in a much better flow playing at the 2 guard (he will probably be one of the main beneficiaries of Delonte's return. Delonte can run the 1 and he can slide over to the 2. And Rondo can catch his breath). Ray hit 2 three pointers, bringing him closer to beating Reggie Miller's record. Paul Pierce headed to the locker room early, but that was apprently just to beat traffic, and not because of any injury.

More loveliness from Perk C/O the Celtics twitter page:

That's it for now! It's State of the Union time. Good night, love bugs!

O...M....G. (Cue the funeral music: It's good to wake up, look in the mirror and the only competition's you." FAB)

The guru himself Chris Forsberg also added this in at the end of his piece on Perk's return: "A scouting report sitting near Perkins' chair in the locker room before Tuesday's game said, 'He's back. Good luck.'"

That is all. 

And because I Love Fabolous, Funeral/R.I.P. to the competition music to commemorate this SPLENDID occasion after the jump. If you ever wanna get hype, you must listen. He is... The best.