aaron c beals

after reading this article about Jennings getting fined for tweeting after a game, i can’t help but think that the ban on tweeting before, during, and after games (up until the media session) has less to do with the NBA not wanting players distracted in the locker rooms and more to do with the media getting upset about players scooping them.

the other night, i read a fantastic article in the New York Times Magazine about one of my favorite Duke players of all time*. it’s a great read if you are a fan of basketball, statistics, or just love an alternate take on what most people consider a solved problem: points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals determine whether or not you win the game… right?

( * i have no shame in admitting that i’m a huge Duke fan. i’m not from North Carolina. heck, i’ve never even been there. i just happened to tune into a game when i was 11 years old, using an old radio turned down low so my parents couldn’t hear i was still awake. this was in the days of Hurley, Hill, and Laettner… and i was hooked ever since.)

Bill Simmons has been talking about it for years, and it appears the NBA finally listened and added H-O-R-S-E to their lineup for the All-Star weekend. i have been talking about going to an All-Star weekend for years, but now i really need to get out there.

it’s a little dusty in here…

link

from the sublime (Amare goes to Sierra Leone to help build wells) … to the unbelievable (LeBron gets schooled in HORSE).

there’s been a lot of talk over the last few years about flopping and floppers in the NBA, but every time i hear the term, my mind goes to one man: Vlade Divac. it’s always been astounding to me that none of the announcers today reference his flop-abilities. however, i’m finally vindicated by the following video montage, put together by Vlade’s charitable organization:

even though the Celtics couldn’t keep Posey, it looks like we were able to hang on to TonyA and House (Money). certainly, i would rather have a single player (Posey) that embodied tight defensive play and clutch outside shooting, but i’m happy to settle for two players that fit those roles (TA and House, respectively).

dang it.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2008/07/posey_to_hornet.html

Posey, we’ll miss you, buddy.

free agents
i’ve read reports from “none of the free agents are coming back” to “they’re all coming back”. i just hope they get Posey. and it seems like he’s their top priority, which is nice. best case = we re-sign Posey and House. next-best = Posey. devastating = lose Posey and House, keep Pollard and Cassell.

draft
i think it was a solid draft, but the character questions on Giddens have me concerned. the C’s are a team built around character. maybe they’re hoping to pull a Pats / Randy Moss and turn a trouble guy around with strong leadership and winning ways. Erden is “Semih”-interesting, but until he proves otherwise, he’s a soft European player. i’m at the point where i have to assume that about every player from that side of the Atlantic. seriously, who can prove me wrong? i was hoping Dirk would be the one, but he turned out to be the poster child. the only truly hard-nosed foreign players in the NBA have come from South America. Bill Walker is the guy that has me most excited, because if healthy, he fits the mold of the player that won the Celtics the championship this year. the knee injury is a concern, though — don’t need another Wally/Raef/etc. i liked this quote from Walker:

“I’m aware of Leon (Powe),” Walker said. “I want to continue what he’s still doing and make Mr. Ainge look really smart.”

side note: the C’s got Walker from the Wizards on draft night in a trade “for cash considerations”. what does that really mean? the Celtics bought a draft pick? i’ve always thought “cash considerations” and “players to be named later” were shady draft terms.

i realize that i haven’t yet posted about the Celtics’ championship run, which is surprising, given how closely i’ve followed the team through the horrible/soul-sucking post-Bird era. questionable drafts (2001), bad trades (to many to count), bad contracts (blount), bad knees (wally, googs, raef)… and yet i always held out hope. as i said to John my brother Matt during the Finals — “i can’t believe i once talked myself into Jiri Welsch. JIRI WELSCH!”

in what can only be described as karma coming full circle, our half-season tickets happened to land us in the Garden on June 17th for Game 6. it was… well, i still haven’t fully recovered from the shock of the win yet, but Laura said it best: “i think this is the happiest day of your life so far, after our wedding day.” and you know what? she was right.

2004 was incredible. so was 2001, the year that kicked off the whole “Title Town” era. however, those of you who know me well know that above all the rest, the Celtics are my team. basketball is my favorite sport to watch, the NBA is my favorite league (sorry, college hoops — my school just wasn’t D1), and the Celtics… well, let’s just say that my first sports memories are from 1986.

i have more thoughts on the team, the season, and some post-season moves, but those will have to wait for another time.

one last note… as i was driving in to work the day after the win, WEEI had Wyc Grousbeck on (possibly my favorite team owner of all time, because he’s a townie and an unabashed Celtics fan). the hosts asked him for his top 3 moments of the season, and he responded (not direct quotes — i’m working from memory):

1. being handed the trophy and stepping up onto the podium (that wasn’t, by the way, really meant to hold a person)

2. unveiling Red’s autograph on the parquet during opening day

3. earlier in the season, seeing his life flash before his eyes as Glen “Big Baby” Davis flew headlong out of bounds and into Wyc’s seats