tinysands
2007-03-17, 04:25 PM
Celtics shun lottery talk: Boston visits Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) with 6-4 record in past 10
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA031707.01C.BKNceltics.387b874.html
Web Posted: 03/16/2007 11:59 PM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News
Believe this: Somewhere in Massachusetts there are Boston Celtics fans convinced Red Auerbach died before this season's regular-season opener so he would not have to see a club-endorsed dance team prancing on the parquet.
Auerbach was buried the day before the Celtics played the New Orleans Hornets at the TD Banknorth Garden to open the season, the game at which the team's dance team was to have been introduced. The man whose victory cigar symbolized the most dominant period for one team in NBA history always said the Celtics would have a dance team "over my dead body."
He was true to his word.
The passing of the legendary Boston coach and general manager, for whom the NBA's Coach of the Year trophy is named, turned out to be an omen. Little this season would go right for the franchise Auerbach made one of the most successful in all of pro sports.
The Celtics this season lost their best player to a foot injury for 24 games; lost a starting guard when he injured his knee performing a dunk just for fun; lost their best big man for seven games when he had to have an emergency appendectomy; and have been without their best shot blocker for all but two games because of recurring back problems.
Of course, it is a great year to lose games through misfortune. One of the most talented draft classes in years is anticipated. At least two franchise-changing players, Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, are expected to declare their eligibility. Every non-playoff team will go into the May 22 draft lottery dreaming of luck that could turn any team into a contender.
Could it be that Auerbach is still guiding Boston's future fortunes, surrounded somewhere by leprechauns?
Bad lottery history
As the Celtics arrived in San Antonio late Friday night to bed down before a Saturday night game against the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) at the AT&T Center, they brought the second-worst record in the league. Barring an unlikely surge in their final 17 games, they seem certain to finish with more losses than any team but the Memphis Grizzlies. Such a record, of course, will give the Celtics a statistical edge in the lottery drawing.
With Celtics fans looking to the future and hoping for the worst in the present, this season's players have grown exasperated. Paul Pierce, the All-Star forward who missed 24 games with a stress reaction in his left foot, even suggested the club trade the first-round pick for immediate help.
It is impossible for young players to comprehend the value of optimizing lottery opportunity. But the Celtics don't have to look too far back into their own history to understand how thoroughly one player can affect a franchise. In 1997 the Celtics had the best odds of landing the No. 1 pick in the draft that included Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan).
That, said Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) defensive standout Bruce Bowen (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/bruce_bowen), also should prove to fans reveling in every loss that "tanking" is no guarantee of lottery success. Bowen was a Celtic in 1997. He recalls how eagerly the lottery was anticipated then.
"We had all these (lottery) balls," Bowen said, aware the Celtics not only had the league's worst record that season, but owned the Mavericks' lottery chances, as well. "You just never know what may happen."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) defied the odds then and won the right to draft Duncan. Boston has had only three winning seasons since.
Focusing on now
Boston coach Doc Rivers knows the big picture. Recently, though, he took a stand with his players, calling a team meeting to say: "(Forget) the draft."
"Their job is not to think about the draft pick," Rivers said Friday from Dallas. "Their job is to improve every day and every day I get to work with them is important. We have to take care of the now."
The Celtics have responded by winning six of 10 games following Friday's 106-101 loss in Dallas. This may seem like lunacy to Bostonians who have watched Oden and Durant in the NCAA tournament, but Rivers understands the importance of maintaining competitiveness. His message was meaningful. It was, Celtic Ryan Gomes told Boston reporters, "something we needed to hear."
Rivers, a Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) player for two seasons (1994-96), likes his young lineup. It includes 22-year old Al Jefferson, 21-year dunk champion Gerald Green, 22-year old Kendrick Perkins, 25-year old Gomes, 23-year old Delonte West, 21-year-old Sebastian Telfair and 21-year old Rajon Rondo. The coach also understands how difficult it is to win consistently with so much youth.
"Early in the season the young guys all wanted to play," Rivers said. "Then, when everyone went down and they got to play, they proved they're not quite ready. But they're going to be ready someday."
After the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) beat the Celtics at the TD Banknorth Garden on Jan. 22, Rivers got words of encouragement from Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan).
"Tim said, 'Man, two or three years from now this could be something if they all stay together,'" Rivers said after that game.
It could be something frightening for the rest of the league if the Celtics also land Oden or Durant.
For his part, Pierce has been watching college games of late. He knows Oden and Durant have rare talent. He calls them both "special players"
Pierce also is thrilled with Rivers' recent message.
Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) guard Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry) understands the segment of Boston fans who are ambivalent about the team's recent success. He relates even more to the competitive nature of a player like Pierce.
"Certainly, their fan base is looking for some hope, and they understand what might be available in June," Barry said. "They want (the Celtics) to be good, but not too good. As players, you never really play into that. You're just trying to do your job and go out and win as many games as you can.
"I know Paul Pierce well, and I know he would not let those kinds of thoughts enter the minds of the young players that they have, because that's a foundation you don't want to build your team on, and I don't think Paul would let that happen."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA031707.01C.BKNceltics.387b874.html
Web Posted: 03/16/2007 11:59 PM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News
Believe this: Somewhere in Massachusetts there are Boston Celtics fans convinced Red Auerbach died before this season's regular-season opener so he would not have to see a club-endorsed dance team prancing on the parquet.
Auerbach was buried the day before the Celtics played the New Orleans Hornets at the TD Banknorth Garden to open the season, the game at which the team's dance team was to have been introduced. The man whose victory cigar symbolized the most dominant period for one team in NBA history always said the Celtics would have a dance team "over my dead body."
He was true to his word.
The passing of the legendary Boston coach and general manager, for whom the NBA's Coach of the Year trophy is named, turned out to be an omen. Little this season would go right for the franchise Auerbach made one of the most successful in all of pro sports.
The Celtics this season lost their best player to a foot injury for 24 games; lost a starting guard when he injured his knee performing a dunk just for fun; lost their best big man for seven games when he had to have an emergency appendectomy; and have been without their best shot blocker for all but two games because of recurring back problems.
Of course, it is a great year to lose games through misfortune. One of the most talented draft classes in years is anticipated. At least two franchise-changing players, Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, are expected to declare their eligibility. Every non-playoff team will go into the May 22 draft lottery dreaming of luck that could turn any team into a contender.
Could it be that Auerbach is still guiding Boston's future fortunes, surrounded somewhere by leprechauns?
Bad lottery history
As the Celtics arrived in San Antonio late Friday night to bed down before a Saturday night game against the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) at the AT&T Center, they brought the second-worst record in the league. Barring an unlikely surge in their final 17 games, they seem certain to finish with more losses than any team but the Memphis Grizzlies. Such a record, of course, will give the Celtics a statistical edge in the lottery drawing.
With Celtics fans looking to the future and hoping for the worst in the present, this season's players have grown exasperated. Paul Pierce, the All-Star forward who missed 24 games with a stress reaction in his left foot, even suggested the club trade the first-round pick for immediate help.
It is impossible for young players to comprehend the value of optimizing lottery opportunity. But the Celtics don't have to look too far back into their own history to understand how thoroughly one player can affect a franchise. In 1997 the Celtics had the best odds of landing the No. 1 pick in the draft that included Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan).
That, said Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) defensive standout Bruce Bowen (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/bruce_bowen), also should prove to fans reveling in every loss that "tanking" is no guarantee of lottery success. Bowen was a Celtic in 1997. He recalls how eagerly the lottery was anticipated then.
"We had all these (lottery) balls," Bowen said, aware the Celtics not only had the league's worst record that season, but owned the Mavericks' lottery chances, as well. "You just never know what may happen."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) defied the odds then and won the right to draft Duncan. Boston has had only three winning seasons since.
Focusing on now
Boston coach Doc Rivers knows the big picture. Recently, though, he took a stand with his players, calling a team meeting to say: "(Forget) the draft."
"Their job is not to think about the draft pick," Rivers said Friday from Dallas. "Their job is to improve every day and every day I get to work with them is important. We have to take care of the now."
The Celtics have responded by winning six of 10 games following Friday's 106-101 loss in Dallas. This may seem like lunacy to Bostonians who have watched Oden and Durant in the NCAA tournament, but Rivers understands the importance of maintaining competitiveness. His message was meaningful. It was, Celtic Ryan Gomes told Boston reporters, "something we needed to hear."
Rivers, a Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) player for two seasons (1994-96), likes his young lineup. It includes 22-year old Al Jefferson, 21-year dunk champion Gerald Green, 22-year old Kendrick Perkins, 25-year old Gomes, 23-year old Delonte West, 21-year-old Sebastian Telfair and 21-year old Rajon Rondo. The coach also understands how difficult it is to win consistently with so much youth.
"Early in the season the young guys all wanted to play," Rivers said. "Then, when everyone went down and they got to play, they proved they're not quite ready. But they're going to be ready someday."
After the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) beat the Celtics at the TD Banknorth Garden on Jan. 22, Rivers got words of encouragement from Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan).
"Tim said, 'Man, two or three years from now this could be something if they all stay together,'" Rivers said after that game.
It could be something frightening for the rest of the league if the Celtics also land Oden or Durant.
For his part, Pierce has been watching college games of late. He knows Oden and Durant have rare talent. He calls them both "special players"
Pierce also is thrilled with Rivers' recent message.
Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) guard Brent Barry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/brent_barry) understands the segment of Boston fans who are ambivalent about the team's recent success. He relates even more to the competitive nature of a player like Pierce.
"Certainly, their fan base is looking for some hope, and they understand what might be available in June," Barry said. "They want (the Celtics) to be good, but not too good. As players, you never really play into that. You're just trying to do your job and go out and win as many games as you can.
"I know Paul Pierce well, and I know he would not let those kinds of thoughts enter the minds of the young players that they have, because that's a foundation you don't want to build your team on, and I don't think Paul would let that happen."