Tag Archives: Glen Davis

Dec 9 2011

Celtics Trade Glen Davis, Acquire Brandon Bass

Glen Davis is headed South to join Orlando! (Photo Credit: Zimbio.com)

By Matt Noonan 

It’s official – reports have confirmed that the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic have completed a sign-and-trade deal, which will send forward Glen Davis to Florida and forward Brandon Bass to Massachusetts.

However, the trade won’t be official until both physicals have been conducted and passed.

Saying, “so long and farewell” to Davis won’t exactly be the easiest thing for team president Danny Ainge, especially since “Big Baby” joined the squad as rookie in ‘07, and was a component of the team’s 17th NBA Championship. Yet, during the past three seasons, Bostonians saw another side of Davis, who not only appeared frustrated, but also demanded a starting job too.

Davis will join a talented unit in Orlando that’ll certainly miss Bass, who finished last season with 11.2 points per game, 5.6 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks.

According to sources, Bass is considered a “tough” player that should gel quite well with Kevin Garnett, while Davis is versatile and should certainly compliment Dwight Howard.

May 12 2011

Lindberg: Overall Thoughts on the Boston Celtics

Despite a promising start, the Celtics stumbled to the finish line and lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals!

By Andy Lindberg 

I hope everyone enjoyed that NBA Championship the Boston Celtics won in 2008, because most likely, you’re not going to see another one for a while.

I don’t mean to sound hateful or rude, but facts are facts and it’s time to face the facts that the last real chance Boston had to win the Finals was with their 13-point lead against the Los Angles Lakers in Game 7 of last year’s Finals.

Unfortunately, they don’t have a bench and will most likely lose Glen “Big Baby” Davis, as he wants to be a starter. Although, most importantly, the Celtics possess no real center depth after two horrific trades buried the closing ability and mean streak of the Green and White.

The Kendrick Perkins trade has been beaten to death. Say what you will about it, but the trade that killed me and the one trade I cannot justify to any degree was sending Semih Erden and Luke Harangody, both excellent of the bench and provided considerable depth, to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a second round draft choice.

Apparently the move was done to open roster spots and reduce luxury tax payments. Although, all of their trades from this past season have reduced the Celtics chances of winning a title at some point within the next decade and opened up the door for the Miami Heat and New York Knicks to “curb-stomp” the Celtics at will in the very near future

The one position the Celtics lacked this past season was a center. Usually, teams would drive into the paint and fetch a beating by Perkins or other “big-men”. Yet, finding that kind of presence on the Celtic team is like finding a virgin in a maternity ward, it’s just not there.

Jeff Green is a solid player and can fill in admirably at small forward or, if needed, power forward, which was what he played in Oklahoma City.

Nenad Krstic was a nice addition, but nice additions don’t make up for mean streaks and power basketball.

Everyone talks about how sports are a business, and we heard that talk float about repeatedly when Perkins was traded. “Basketball is a business.”

Guess what? The world of professional sports is a business that revolves around winning. By making stupid trades and personnel decisions, you’re going against what your business stands for.

However, maybe the Celtics wanted to bring back only their most dedicated and heartbroken fans from the ‘90’s. It would make sense, because the Red Sox and Patriots are both trying to do the same thing, get rid of the “pink-hats.”

The Celtics got their “Big-3” and won a title. They found a formula that worked with complementary players and a solid bench. Now they’ve given it away, and the result is clear.

This doesn’t mean I will stop supporting the Celtics, but instead, it just means that come NBA playoff time, I won’t have to be as invested in Boston because they won’t go far in the future.

So, after all that rambling, here is another poll question for ye fair-weather fans:

May 11 2011

Noonan: Keys to Celtics Games 5 Victory Against Miami

Paul Pierce will need to be at the top of his game, especially he wants to play one more game in Boston!

By Matt Noonan 

It all comes down to one game and one game only, Game 5 between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.

This isn’t the NBA Finals or the game that will decide who gets to keep all the marbles, but instead, it’s that game, the one that will decide if the Heat will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since ‘06 or head back to the TD Garden for Game 6.

Deep down, LeBron James knows this is his game to win, although, he and his teammates know this one won’t be easy. The Heat labeled the Celtics “champions” prior to the first game of the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

So, they gave Boston a leg up, but did Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett or Ray Allen embrace their opponent’s compliment? Probably not, but instead, took the court to conduct their business, but unfortunately, the age factor has caught up to them, as they are starring at a 3-1 series lead that favors Miami.

Shaquille O’Neal will most likely not play on Wednesday, as he aggravated his calf in Game 4; so don’t expect the Big Shamrock to lead Boston to victory. Rajon Rondo has a dislocated left elbow and Delonte West is beat up. Glen Davis is still attempting to find “himself” while Jeff Green continues to struggle.

Alright, let’s admit it, the Celtics are not who we thought they were, but instead, a group of athletes that are washed up, tired and ready to call it quits.

Really, how much gas is left in their tank? Do they have any drive left? What will it take for Boston to win?

A few ideas on how the Celtics can climb back into the series:

*Well, as I have mentioned previously, it all starts with defense. The old men struggle when it comes to chasing James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh around the court. In fact, James Jones and Mario Chalmers have run circles around the men dressed in Green and White too, which isn’t a lot of fun for Doc Rivers to watch. The Celtics defense needs to contain the Heat on offense, limit them to one shot, but also, secure rebounds too. Miami has taken advantage of Boston’s defense that doesn’t have a true center to snag offensive boards.

*In Game 4, the Celtics did not run their offense quite well, especially in the fourth quarter. The Celtics of old used to swing the ball around the perimeter to set up easy two-hand jams or two-pointers. The game of basketball has and will always be won in the paint, so watch for Boston to utilize Garnett, Davis and possibly, Jermaine O’Neal.

*Another thing the Celtics have to do is rebound. Miami has destroyed them on the boards, both on offense and defense, so the biggest thing they need to do is box-out their opponent.

* Also, can Rondo actually listen to Doc Rivers? It seems that according to sources, Rondo has decided to run the offense his own way at times and has totally ignored what Rivers draws up during timeouts. Perhaps Rondo can listen to Rivers, especially in a win-or-go home contest?

Game 5 will be played, but now the question is can the Celtics force a Game 6 in Boston? That question will be answered soon.

May 1 2011

Wade Leads Heat past Celtics in Game 1, 99-90

Wade was a major factor in Miami's first win of the series!

By Matt Noonan 

Dwyane Wade led both squads with 38 points, as the Miami Heat defeated the Boston Celtics on Sunday, 99-90.

So, while Boston and New England fans begin to panic over one game, let’s actually understand what happened in Game 1 and why the men dressed in Red and White came away victoriously.

Boston’s defense was lousy while their offense seemed almost non-existent at times. The Celtics struggled to have more than one shot on offense because the Heat forced Boston’s players to shoot off balance and take shots that they didn’t want to attempt. Also, the Heat continued their impactful defense, which they displayed against the Philadelphia 76ers during round one.

The Heats transition game completely annihilated every member of the Green and White, but while The Heat ran circles around Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, Jeff Green and Glen Davis, they also earned the momentum, which was never relinquished.

Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh, were indeed impressive, but the biggest star of the game was certainly James Jones who finished with 25 points off the bench. Jones was also 5-for-7 from three-point land and 10-for-10 from the free throw line.

Yet, the biggest mistake Doc Rivers and his team did was attempting to eliminate James from the Heat’s offense and force his teammates to win the game without him. So, case in point, while James finished the game with 22 points, one offensive rebound, five assists and two steals, it’s certainly easy to believe that he felt incredibly comfortable all day, despite all the attention.

All in all, the Heat came to play on Sunday while the Celtics did not. Boston can easily turn around this series by playing defense, but if Miami continues to score on the fast break, then consider the Heat destined to land in Massachusetts with a chance to possibly end this series.

Apr 24 2011

Celtics Sweep the Knicks, Advance to NBA Playoffs Round II

Kevin Garnett led the Celtics past New York!

By Matt Noonan

The Boston Celtics avoided a possible Game 5 at the TD Garden and brought their broomsticks to Madison Square Garden on Sunday, so they could officially beat the Knicks and move onto round two of the NBA playoffs.

However, was this game totally in their control? That’s certainly debatable, as New York attempted to do whatever they could to remain in contention during all four quarters.

Although, despite their valiant effort and Carmelo Anthony’s attempted comeback, the Celtics ended their first round series with a 101-89 win and officially move onto face either Miami or Philadelphia.

Here are our Noontime Sports notes and reflections from Sunday’s win.

*Consider this series sweep a “NBA omen” for the Celtics, but also, Shaquille O’Neal, who didn’t record a single minute against New York. Will he play against Miami or Philadelphia remains a “hot-button” issue, although, neither the Heat nor Sixers have a solid “big-man” that could certainly challenge the Celtics offense, so if Shaq needs another round of rest, I’d say, let it happen. Danny Ainge acquired the Big Shamrock for one reason, which was so he could win one more championship before he retires, so again, having a few extra days of rest won’t be the worst thing.

*Glen Davis certainly snapped out of his “funk,” as he led the bench with 14 points and recorded five rebounds. Davis is indeed one of their more important role players on the Celtics roster because he is expected to secure multiple rebounds on both offense and defense, as well as tally roughly 10-15 points a game. Don’t consider Davis the next coming of Bill Russell or Robert “The Chief” Parish, but hopefully Sunday’s game was a turning point. Also, expect Davis to continue playing roughly 25-30 minutes in round two.

* Kevin Garnett led the team with 26 points and 10 rebounds, which is great, but also a sign that the “Big Ticket” is slowly transforming himself into postseason form. During the first three games of the series, Garnett scored 36 points and pulled down 35 rebounds, which is indeed, typical Garnett, but can he continue this trend going forward? We shall see, but after watching the way he played against the Knicks, it certainly seems like he is incredibly focused and wants to return to the NBA Finals.

* The Celtics defense appeared stagnant through the first two quarters, but eventually ratcheted up their pressure during the second half. They allowed Carmelo Anthony to score 32 points and Amare Stoudemire 19 points. The Knicks turned the ball over 14 times, but also couldn’t compete with Boston on the defensive glass. The Celtics tallied 44 defensive rebounds, which certainly demonstrated the fact that head coach Doc Rivers must have made some changes at halftime.

* Continuing with the defensive theme, expect Rivers and his coaching staff to make sure his defense is ready for their next opponent. Defense was what helped the Celtics earn Banner 17 in ’08, so if the Celtics want to advance to the Eastern Conference for the third time in four seasons, they better play defense.

* Finally, the Boston Celtics recorded their first playoff series sweep since the 1985-1986 season, when they swept the Chicago Bulls in round one, three games to none.

Apr 17 2011

Ray Allen Leads Boston Past New York In Game 1, 87-85

Ray Allen was clutch Sunday, as he helped the Celtics take a 1-0 series lead against the New York Knicks!

By Matt Noonan

This wasn’t a textbook win, but the Green and White, also known as the Boston Celtics pulled out an important win against the New York Knicks at the TD Garden on Sunday, 87-85.

Ray Allen was clutch, especially during the final few seconds, as he sank the game winner, which gave Boston the series lead, 1-0.

Allen struggled at times during the first quarter, but completely bounced back during the second quarter, as he finished the game with 24 points, six rebounds and one assist, but again, despite his slow start, he certainly made up for it during the final seconds in regulation.

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were effective, as both players connected on 11 field goals, which added up to 33-points. Garnett led the team with 13 rebounds, while Pierce added four rebounds, four assists, as well as one steal.

So, it is fair to say that the “Big-3” is back, right?

Hard to answer that question, but after watching a somewhat “decent” effort to beat the Knicks, it is fair to say that the Celtics maybe able to keep the Bruins two back-to-back losses off everyone’s mind in Massachusetts or New England.

Their entire bench complimented the “Big-3,” as they finished the game with eight points, two assists, six defensive rebounds and one block.  Yes, these aren’t great numbers, especially in the post-season, but the efforts of Delonte West, Nenad Kristic, Jeff Green and Glen Davis did not go unnoticed.

Sunday’s game also belonged to the starting-five, which featured Allen, Pierce and Garnett, along with Rajon Rondo and Jermaine O’Neal. Rondo finished the game with 10-points and nine assists, while O’Neal ramped up his play and blocked four New York shots. He also finished with 12-points and four rebounds.

Yet, while the Celtics may want to jump up and down and celebrate in their locker room, this is just one of sixteen wins. That’s right, one of sixteen wins. If the Celtics can win three more against the New York Knicks, they’ll be one step closer to returning to the NBA Finals for the third time in four years.

The NBA post-season is often described as a “journey,” but after the Celtics first win on Sunday, it is fair to say that their quest has started on the right foot and can only get better.

As for New York, Amare Stoudemire led the team with 28-points and 11 rebounds, while Carmelo Anthony added 15-points, four assists and two steals.

Game two between Boston and New York will take place Tuesday April 19, tip-off is scheduled for 7:00pm eastern.

Apr 16 2011

Noonan: Boston Celtics Playoffs Thoughts and Predictions

Are the Boston Celtics ready to earn Banner 18? We'll find out!

 By Matt Noonan

Similar to the Boston Bruins, Noontime Sports has provided a few thoughts on the Boston Celtics, as well as their playoff chances. Will they win their 18th NBA title in franchise history? Who knows, but here is what we believe will happen with the Boston Celtics. 

Thoughts on the Boston Celtics: Well here comes another playoffs series, whoop-di-doo!

Are you excited? Revved up and ready for a championship run? Who thinks this Boston Celtics team has what it takes to go the distance?

Stop right there. Who truly believes this group of veterans and young guns has what it takes to earn Banner 18?

Unfortunately, I don’t feel the urge to root for this team primarily because every member of this squad, including head coach Doc Rivers and point guard Rajon Rondo haven’t gotten over the Kendrick Perkins departure from February. Instead of coping with it or learning to move on, the Celtics, who were [41-14] at the time of the trade, fell apart and finished their final 27-games with a [15-12] record.

A majority of their efforts were put into grieving over the loss of Perkins, who may or may not have been the true part of “Ubuntu.” Yet, Perkins was part of that starting five, which featured himself, Rondo, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett that never lost a playoff series. They were the ones who were able to boast about beating the Los Angles Lakers in 2008.

Yet, there were also times when the “starting-5” was missing Garnett or Perkins, but again, this was the core group of guys that defined Celtics basketball, especially in the 21st century, but again, Perkins was a key part to their success, despite all of his fouls and frowns.

On Sunday the Celtics begin their quest for Banner 18 without Perkins or the essential member of team “Shrek and Donkey,” (Glen Davis and Nate Robinson).

There are indeed some new faces, such as Carols Arroyo, Jeff Green, Nenad Kristic and Troy Murphy, but is every Green and White supporter excited to see these guys contribute toward bringing Boston yet another championship? I don’t think so.

If you had the chance to catch part IV of ESPN’s “The Association,” which was a documentary series that followed the Celtics all season, the final chapter clearly summed up the fact that this team is not ready to contend for a championship. Doc Rivers and Rajon Rondo again seem dumbfounded by the trade, but Kevin Garnett though hasn’t lost his mojo.

The Celtics are also faced with the daunting task of wondering how much Jermaine O’Neal and Shaquille O’Neal will help this club. Can they make a difference or be the catalysts in a possible downfall? Both players signed up as aging veterans who wanted one more shot at redemption or possibly the chance to play in a NBA Finals, but unless these two stars figure out a way to stay healthy, they could possibly go down as the two biggest busts in Celtics lore.

There are a lot of questions surrounding the team, but the only way we’ll find out what this team is made of is when the New York Knicks invade the TD Garden for games 1 and 2 on Sunday and Tuesday. After two games, the Celtics may provide us with some answers or ideas, but again, should we call Las Vegas and consider them a lock to win the title? Nope, please don’t!

Although, if Celtics fans learned anything last year, it is that the regular season can’t truly predict what will happen in the post-season or who is a guaranteed winner. Sure, the Chicago Bulls maybe the best team in basketball, but do they have what it takes to win a NBA championship?

Does Kobe Bryant have enough fuel in his tank to lead his Los Angles Lakers to the finish line or will the Miami Heat’s “Big-3” put aside their difference and win their first of possibly seven titles, according to LeBron James?

The NBA post-season is a long and enduring process, but again, who knows where this Celtics team can go, so just sit back, relax and wait until Sunday evening for some answers.

Prediction: Again, this Celtics team is a true “wild-card.” They could win it all or possibly flop out after round one against the New York Knicks. Doc Rivers is definitely one of the top five sideline generals in the NBA, so as long as he can keep his team motivated or focused, then they’ll advance. If any funny business occurs or if the team doesn’t respond to Rivers, then consider it another year without a championship.

The Celtics will most likely win their first round series against the New York Knicks in six games and then lose to the Miami Heat during the second round of the NBA playoffs.

NBA Finals Prediction:  Chicago Bulls vs. San Antonio Spurs, (Bulls win the series in seven games, 4-3).  

Mar 22 2011

Noonan: Bruins and Celtics Playoffs On My Mind

By Matt Noonan

The best part of March Madness is it’s literally a prelude to the NBA and NHL playoffs.

Here in Boston, fans are eagerly anticipating the “second season,” but in all honesty, are the Bruins or Celtics prepared for a possible title run?

Should those who support the “black and gold” or bleed “green and white” pencil in a championship playoff parade in June?

Wait a second… I am getting way too ahead of myself, so allow me to provide an opinionated break down on where both Boston teams stand, as well as attempt to answer the question… are these teams ready for a successful playoff run?

Thoughts on the Boston Bruins:

As of lately, the Black and Gold appear tired, lazy and not prepared for what lies ahead. The NHL made a terrific move on Monday by suspending Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke for the rest of the season, so hopefully, if the Bruins had to play of this particular team, they wouldn’t have to worry about his hard hits or unruly behavior.

Although, aren’t the Bruins known for their hard hits, emotional play and physicality?

Hmm… that was the Bruins of yesteryear, right?

Take the Montreal game from this past February and just hope that all the energy, which resulted in close to 200-minutes of penalties is on display every moment throughout the playoffs. Yet, both Boston and Montreal finished the game with literally enough players for one line, so it may not be the smartest idea to lose 15 players for an entire series, right?

Although, with the playoffs nearly a few weeks away, it’s perfectly normal for any New Englander to seem a tad bit worried about their current play. Between their offense, defense and goaltenders, the Bruins just don’t seem to have the fire in their bellies, which was constantly on display during October and November.

However, over the last six games, the Bruins have only won one and lost five. Any chance they finish the month of March with an identical record to last year, which was [8-8]? Could a brand new month of April brighten up this bunch of rag tag hockey players?

Finally, should the Bruins provide more rest for Tim Thomas, who most recently allowed four goals against an up and down Toronto Maple Leafs squad on Sunday.

What the Bruins need to do is take advantage of winning games on their home ice. They’ll be at home on Tuesday against New Jersey, Thursday against Montreal and Saturday against New York, but can fans count on three wins and six additional points in the standings?

Sure, it may seem like a lot to ask for currently, but it is critical for them to respond quickly and get ready for a “deep” playoff run.

They’ll have some “easy” contests against the New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators, which will literally be “scrimmages” or “tune-up games” that will get them ready for their real opponents, but what exactly do the Bruins need to do?

They need to get rest, play smart hockey and be mentally prepared for these final few weeks. Yes, the season is long, very long, but as long as they can add a few more wins to the win column, they may not be in too bad of shape for their first round opponent, who could be their rival, Montreal.

Thoughts on the Boston Celtics:

Talk about another team that has looked awful and played terribly bad over the past  few weeks. In fact, after reading multiple reports on Tuesday, the word that seems to  describe the Celtics best is “soft.”

Against the New York Knicks the Celtics lackluster offense appeared of sync and  incredibly awful at times, especially during the entire first half. However, the Celtics  are certainly lucky to have veterans like Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin  Garnett, to bale the youngsters out of tough and tumultuous situations. Yet, the  window to win Banner 18 is certainly a lot smaller than it was last season. All three  veterans are older, slowing down and may not have the same “jump” in their step like they did during the ’07-’08 season, so if they want a championship, it has to happen… NOW!

It is easy to imagine that the Celtics remaining opponents won’t give them too much trouble, but against San Antonio, Atlanta, Chicago and Miami, the Celtics need to be at their best, as all four teams are pretty much locks for the playoffs.

Also, capturing the number one seed is vital, so losing to Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Detroit and Minnesota shouldn’t be allowed. It seems more obvious that head coach Doc Rivers continues to learn more and more about his new players, but sometimes, it does seem that Carlos Arroyo, Jeff Green, Nenad Krstic and Sasha Pavlovic seem timid when on the court. Although, Green has been the best out of all five new players, so Celtics fans should have some faith.

Boston should also rely heavily on Glen Davis, who was lethal during certain playoff games last year, but as also, been a threat this past season when teams don’t properly defend him.

Although, rather than sit here and break down this team piece by piece, quarter by quarter and game by game, I’d rather just throw in my very own “two-cents” and say, I am indeed worried about this particular team. They haven’t seemed to fathomed or digested the Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson deal, but have also looked incredibly lazy when on the court. Yes, they have those “must watch” players, but in all honesty, who is going to rise up once the regular season ends? Will Davis or Pierce be the players to watch or will Garnett actually have a somewhat decent playoff run?

There are still a lot of questions that remains with this team, but in all honesty, who exactly knows how far the Green and White can go, especially against Chicago, a team that has always been under the radar all season, but is currently battling for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

If the Celtics want to set themselves up for a successful playoff run, it all begins with good ball movement, playing as a team and doing what they do best, playing defense. Oh and one more thing to add to that list, acquiring the number one seed in the conference, which would provide them with home court advantage.

Oct 8 2010

A. Sherrod Blakely (Comcast Sports Net/CSNNE.com) on Noontime Sports the Podcast

A. Sherrod Blakely from Cocmast Sports Net and CSNNE.com, joined Noontime Sports the Podcast to talk about the upcoming Boston Celtics season. Blakely gave great insight on the team through two preseason games and training camp, as well as explained why the Orlando Magic are a team that deserve the title, “Beast of the East.”

Follow Blakely on Twitter, as well as check out his latest column too on Celtics forward Glen Davis.