The Boston Celtics are going through a rough stretch but are looking ahead to try to grab some wins as the news and rumors ramp up.
Check out the latest buzz below.
Rondo Takes Blame for Losses
Rajon Rondo says that he’s taking the blame for the Celtics’ recent losses.
“It doesn’t matter to me. I’ve been here the longest, I’m the team captain and I’m the point guard. Just like in football at the beginning they blamed Brady a lot. That’s just part of it, and it’s not wearing on me at all,” he told reporters after practice this week.
Rondo has struggled lately in the losses, including Wednesday’s loss in Charlotte.
Asked how to overcome the issues, Rondo said: “You let it go. I’ve played this game for nine years, I’m one of the best at what I do, I make mistakes, I own up to my mistakes, and it’s part of the game.”
Rondo also was asked if his recent trouble with turnovers had anything to do with having new teammates, and new lineup combinations.
It’s getting our chemistry together, and you have to practice,“ he said. ”We just threw Tyler Zeller in the starting lineup. It’s getting the rhythm, getting the chemistry, and knowing what plays we’re going through in the fourth quarter.”
Lakers Should Wait
The Kobe Bryant and Rajon Rondo scrutiny came after the pair had breakfast together recently, and USA Today points out that it’s not secret that Rondo wants to play with Kobe and vice versa.
But it notes that the Lakers should wait until Rondo hits free agency as opposed to giving away assets for the point guard.
“There’s no sense in the Lakers making that move before he becomes a free agent next summer even if they could. In that regard, it’s time for all involved to learn from the mistake [Carmelo] Anthony made long before his ill-fated re-signing with the Knicks,” it said.
“By forcing the trade out of Denver in Feb. 2011 rather than signing with New York in free agency, Anthony played a major part in the Knicks’ depletion of assets that has only grown worse ever since and played such a huge part in their demise. Not only should the Lakers’ almost-bare cupboard be off limits for now, but a midseason trade that helps their efforts in the present could significantly harm their future.”
With a healthy Julius Randle, Rondo, and another lottery pick, the Lakers could very well be back in the mix in the Western Conference. The Celtics, though, will be trying hard to either trade Rondo or re-sign him.
Celtics to Target Anthony?
There are conflicting reports that Carmelo Anthony would be willing to waive his no-trade clause, prompting speculation of teams including the Celtics trying to acquire him.
But Boston Globe columnist Adam Kaufman says that the Celtics should stay away.
“To many, obtaining Anthony – if possible – was considered to be and likely still would be viewed as a no-brainer around these parts. The touch-hungry veteran is averaging 22.9 points this year and has a career-average of 25.2 points. The Celtics desperately need a finisher on offense to complement Rondo, the NBA’s assists-leader, and there’s little question the pair would thrive on the court, provided their enigmatic personalities were properly massaged,” he wrote.
“Rondo would obviously love having another superstar on his side. If C’s president of basketball operations Danny Ainge got clever with the money in his transactions, he could lock up the All-Star guard long-term in free agency this summer and chase that coveted third-wheel. But, if we could pump the brakes for a moment, at least remember the Celts’ offense is superior to the 96.2 points it averaged a season ago, when it ranked 26th of 30 teams. This year, albeit only a quarter of the way into the year, Boston is scoring 104.7 points, good for sixth, thanks to a change in philosophy and an emphasis on fast-paced, up-tempo, shoot-first-and-ask-questions-later offense.
“How many of those less-talented but role-playing contributors and future first-round picks would the Celtics have to deal to land Anthony? Crazy as it is to suggest, his arrival, while great for marketing and PR, might be a detriment to the overall product. It'd be a little much to simply assume Anthony would help transform this club into one that resembled his old explosive Nuggets teams.”
Young Suffers Injury
Rookie James Young is being tested after suffering a right shoulder injury.
Young suffered the right shoulder Subluxation in a D-League game on Wednesday night.
“I guess his shoulder subluxed and they are doing more tests to see the extent of the injury,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Thursday afternoon.
“Those can be very, very short term things, or they can be a little bit longer. That’s the extent of what I know. He’s getting X-rays right now.”
Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe noted that Young had his right arm--his non-shooting arm--in a sling.
Pierce Trade was Good for Boston
The Washington Wizards recently met the Celtics twice, and Paul Pierce came back to face his old team on their home court.
Pierce and Kevin Garnett were traded to the Brooklyn Nets about a year ago, for three first-round picks and a jumble of players.
Due to the trade, the Celtics have nine picks in the next two drafts, and the right to swap picks for some of them.
“It’s a haul that could fast-forward [Danny] Ainge’s rebuilding project by light years,” noted Bleacher Report. The team could also package some of the picks with or without players for a trade or two.
“Couple all that with the team’s current core, and you have a renaissance of riches-to-rags-and-back-again. Marcus Smart, Jared Sullinger, Kelly Olynyk, James Young, Avery Bradley—these are legitimately enticing players. Even if there isn’t a single All-Star among them, their true value is only starting to wax,” Bleacher noted.
“That’s not to say all of them are part of Ainge and head coach Brad Stevens’ long-term plans. As fungible assets in a wildly speculative market, though, they’re as good as gold. It'll likely take another year before the Celtics’ precarious salary commitments flush themselves out. Still, with loads of cap space on the horizon and enviable asset flexibility to boot, Boston stands to be potent players indeed during the 2016 and 2017 free-agency periods.”
That’s all to say, the early returns on the Pierce trade looks like the Celtics got the better deal. Pierce already left Boston while Garnett will likely retire after this year, and he could be traded before the deadline.
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