Tag Archives: NBA

Jul 6 2012

Will The Celtics Re-Sign Ray Allen?

Do you think Ray Allen will join Miami for the 2012-13 season? (Photo Credit: CelticsTown.com)

By Matt Noonan 

It’s the summertime, which means news can be incredibly slow, which is why Noontime Sports has decided to pose a few questions pertaining toward the various professional sports teams in Boston.

In this particular post, we decided to ask the question: Will Ray Allen re-sign with the Boston Celtics? And below we’ve provided a thoughtful answer.

I doubt it, but I hope my gut is wrong.

Ray Allen is one of the greatest deep shooters in NBA history and it’s certainly possible that a three-year, $9.3 million contract would intrigue the shooting guard to join forces with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Yet, if he wants more money, and what professional athlete doesn’t these days, he’d re-sign with the Celtics, a squad that could offer him more than the Heat.

When Boston acquired Jason Terry this past week, many believed that particular acquisition marked the end of the Allen era in Massachusetts. However, if Allen really wants to win one more championship before retirement, then why wouldn’t he attempt to do it with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce? Wouldn’t that be the ideal storybook ending?

Allen, Garnett and Pierce most likely have one or two years remaining, so I personally believe it would be the wrong thing for him to leave Boston for the NBA’s “evil empire.”

Boston currently has enough cap room to not only re-sign him, but also add additional pieces that could help the veteran squad compete for Eastern Conference glory against Brooklyn, Indiana, Miami and New York.

According to the Palm Beach Post, Miami put on the full-court press on Thursday to persuade Allen to join the Red and Black. And as noted in Ethan J. Skolnick’s blog post, Allen could see more minutes in a Heat uniform, especially if Wade continues to be hampered by a knee injury. He also mentioned that LeBron posted a picture of the shooting guard in a Heat uniform on Twitter this past week, which obviously was designed through Photoshop, but stirred up excitement by the various South Beach supporters.

All in all, I think there is a good chance that Allen will indeed ink his name on a contract that’ll provide him with a Miami uniform. Although, anything is possible, especially in the world of sports, so don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

Expect Boston to produce a counterattack that could possibly persuade Allen to re-join the Green and White for one last title run before he makes his decision.

What’re your thoughts? Do you think Ray Allen will sign with the Heat or return to the Celtics? Feel free to send your thoughts to NoontimeSports@gmail.com or respond to us on Twitter @NoontimeSports or @NoonSportsBlog. 

Jun 28 2012

Shapiro: Boston Celtics Draft Preview

Would Royce White be the right piece for the Boston Celtics? (Photo Credit: IrishCentral.com)

By Lucas Shapiro 

Curious to see whom the Boston Celtics will pick tonight?

Aren’t we all?

How Boston picks tonight will be the first indication of what direction the Celtics will go in the potentially post Big Three era.

Here are ten guys that could be wearing a Celtics jersey at the end of the night:

Royce White, (Sophomore | Iowa State | 6’8″ Forward): Although Danny Ainge recently denied it, rumors have been swirling around the NBA that the Celtics had promised White they would draft him as the 21st pick. And for those not too familiar with White, Jonathan Abrams of Grantland.com wrote an excellent piece yesterday portraying the 6’8″, 270-pound forward. He is arguably the most unique NBA draft prospect in years. His hero is John Lennon. He plays exactly like LeBron James. He has a fear of flying. Yet, what makes White so special is how he has overcome adversity to be where he is today. White did not play one minute at the University of Minnesota under Tubby Smith due to the fact he was arrested multiple times, (he also stole a computer). He ended up transferring to Iowa State where he learned the value of being honest and working hard. The product ended up carrying Iowa State to the second round of the NCAA tournament. White is a physical freak with a high skill level. He played point-forward for Iowa State, despite having the body of a power forward. He’d be an immediate impact for the Celtics because they might be losing Jeff Green and Brandon Bass this summer. They also do not have another ball-handler aside from Rajon Rondo, so White could be that guy for spurts of time. The Celtics will need to figure out how to help White with his anxiety issues and fear of flying, but there is a good chance that White could be an impact player for the Celtics right away.

Jared Sullinger, (Sophomore | Ohio State | 6’9″ Power Forward): Let’s get this straight: Jared Sullinger came back to Ohio State, improved his outside shot, improved his free-throw shooting, improved his shot-blocking, lost weight, and carried his team to the Final Four. Yet, for some miraculous reason he is a possibility for the Celtics in the 20′s, (Boston has picks 21 and 22). This is a guy, who was projected to be a Top-5 pick at the beginning of the year, has been knocked down due to bulging discs in his back. A few years ago, former Kansas forward Darrell Arthur fell in the draft due to concerns about his kidney. Yet, in his three years in the NBA, he has averaged 62 games played in per year, so the fact of the matter is that if Sullinger falls to the Celtics, he will be an absolute steal.

Fabricio de Melo, (Sophomore | Syracuse | 7’0″ Center): The Celtics desperately need size and it is unlikely that either Meyers Leonard or Tyler Zeller falls to them. Melo would be the next best 7-footer available. There are a lot of red flags surrounding Melo. He does not have good hands. He is very raw. He is not very intelligent. But one promising sign about Melo is that he improved drastically during two seasons with the Syracuse Orange. When he first walked onto the Syracuse campus, he could barely contribute. He would get lost in defensive rotations and had a hard time getting up and down the floor. So, he lost a great deal of weight before his sophomore year and looked like a completely different player. He made a major impact on the defensive end. It was apparent after he was ineligible for the NCAA tournament that Melo may have been Syracuse’s most important player this past season. He would be a long-term project for the Celtics, but he could fit in, even if he ends up being a guy that grabs a few rebounds, blocks a few shots, and gives a few fouls, which would pay big dividends for Boston.

Andrew Nicholson, (Senior | St. Bonaventure | 6’9″ Power Forward): Nicholson is relatively unknown to the casual basketball fan. He is a big man with a vast set of post moves, as well as deep range on his jump shot. The big problem with Nicholson is that he is 22-years-old, and still had a body that isn’t ready for the NBA. He was a decent post defender in college, but he only allowed 0.77 points per possession in post-up opportunities, which ranked in the 56th percentile in college basketball. At 6’9″ and 220 pound, Nicholson will need to bulk up if he wants to contribute on both ends of the floor in the NBA. He is not an upside pick, but Nicholson could boost the second unit’s scoring.

Moe Harkless, (Freshman | St. John’s | 6’8″ Forward): Harkless is a small forward with a power forward’s game. He has a great deal of potential and could be a sleeper pick for down the road. Think about how great of a pick-up James Posey was for the Celtics a few years back. Harkless could be a similar type of player. He needs to add some polish to his game, but the upside is there.

John Jenkins, (Junior | Vanderbilt | 6’4″ Shooting Guard): If Ray Allen does not return, the Celtics are desperately going to need some outside shooting. Jenkins is arguably the best catch-and-shoot player in the draft. Boston would be an excellent fit for Jenkins because he would not be asked to do anything else. He has some holes in his game, (lack of quickness), but he would always be paired with two of the best defensive guards in the league.

Should the Celtics trade up for Austin Rivers? (Photo Credit: CollegiateStandard.com)

Perry Jones, (Sophomore | Baylor | 6’11″ Forward): It is unlikely that Jones will fall this far, but it is not out of the question. If he does land on the Celtics, Kevin Garnett might be the one player in the league that can teach him to play hard. In terms of talent alone, Jones is a Top-3 player in the draft.

Arnett Moultrie, (Junior | Mississippi State | 6’11″ Power Forward/Center): The Celtics were the worst rebounding team in the NBA last year. Moultrie is a bit of an enigma in terms of upside, but he certainly can rebound. Would he be an upgrade over Greg Stiemsma? Probably not, but the Celtics are desperate for size.

Draymond Green, (Senior | Michigan State | 6’7″ Power Forward): Green does not have much upside, but the Celtics would know what they are getting. Green is a utility player. He could be like a combination of Marquis Daniels and Leon Powe for the Celtics. When they need rebounds, Green could grab them. When they need toughness, Green can bring the toughness. He would be a great complimentary player to a team that has enough stars already.

Austin Rivers, (Freshman | Duke | 6’4″ Shooting Guard): This is the pick that people do not like on the outside, but secretly want to see on the inside. Everyone wants to see Austin Rivers play for his father. Doc might be the only coach that could connect with him. Who knows what would happen if Austin Rivers is selected by Boston, but according to various rumors on Thursday, the Celtics will attempt to trade up for him. One thing is for sure: Rivers to Boston would make for an amazing HBO “Hard Knocks” series.

May 29 2012

Daily Noontime – May 29, 2012

Miami’s Dwyane Wade and LeBron stole the show in Game No. 1, as the Heat defeated the Boston Celtics, 93-79! (Photo Credit: WBUR.org)

By NoontimeSports.com 

Happy Tuesday to everyone, and welcome into this Tuesday edition of the Daily Noontime! Let’s kickstart the four-day work week with some headlines and news from the city of Boston, and state of Massachusetts.

* Miami held Boston to 15 points in the third quarter and 18 in the fourth, as the Heat defeated the Celtics in Game No. 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, 93-79. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade combined for 54 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists and five blocks, while Kevin Garnett paced the Celtics with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

* Miami and Boston will return to the hardwood on Wednesday for Game No. 2 at 8:30pm. With Monday’s win, the Heat currently lead the series, 1-0.

* After Monday’s contest concluded – Ray Allen told the media that he’s battling with his inner self to work hard and overcome the bone spurs in his ankle. He told WEEI’s Paul Flannery, “There’s nothing really to talk about. It’s like a battle within myself that I have to try and win. You always talk, if it was the playoffs would you play? It’s the playoffs.”

* The Boston Red Sox concluded their Memorial Day Weekend with a 7-4 victory against the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. Felix Doubront earned his fifth win of the season on the bump, while Jarrod Saltalamacchia finished the contest 2-4 with two runs, a home run and an RBI.

* Boston is now 24-24, and will attempt to earn their 25th win of the season and 12th at home on Tuesday against Detroit – Daniel Bard opposes Justin Verlander – first pitch is scheduled for 7:10PM.

* Prior to Monday’s contests — the Red Sox continued their 100th Anniversary of Fenway Park by recognizing Trot Nixon. The original dirt dog sported his No. 7 home white jersey, and tossed the out the ceremonial first pitch.

May 24 2012

Daily Noontime – May 24, 2012

Once again, Boston failed to earn an important road win on Wednesday in Philadelphia! (Photo Credit: Boston Herald)

By NoontimeSports.com 

Happy Thursday to everyone, and welcome into yet another outstanding edition of the Daily Noontime! Let’s kickstart the second to last workweek day with some news and headlines.

* Philadelphia outscored Boston, 49-39 during the final two frames, as the 76ers claimed Game No. 6, 82-75. Boston and Philadelphia will conclude their series on Saturday at the TD Garden.

* In the sixth game — Kevin Garnett tallied 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Paul Pierce poured in 24 points and 10 rebounds. Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo each registered nine points, and combined for seven turnovers in the loss.

* After Wednesday’s game concluded, Philadelphia head coach Doug Collins told reporters, “I want more. I want more.” Collins has stated some bizarre comments throughout this particular series, but apparently is confident that the sixth game will fuel him and his team.

* The Red Sox bats produced six runs and 13 hits in a span of nine innings on Wednesday, which helped Boston defeat Baltimore, 6-5. Daniel Bard picked up his fourth win of the season, while Daniel Nava hit his second home run and 11th RBI of the season.

* Boston is now 22-22, and has won nine of their last 12 contests. The Sox will attempt to earn their 23rd victory of the season on Friday when they welcome the Tampa Bay Rays to Fenway Park.

May 22 2012

Daily Noontime – May 22, 2012

Brandon Bass recorded 18 of 27 points in the third quarter on Monday, which helped Boston defeat Philadelphia in Game No. 5! (Photo Credit: Sporting News)

By NoontimeSports.com 

Happy Tuesday to everyone, and welcome into yet another edition of the Daily Noontime! Let’s kickstart the day with some news, headlines and more news from the city of Boston.

* Paced by Brandon Bass, who deposited 27 points, Boston defeated Philadelphia, 101-85 on Monday in Game No. 5 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals. Boston now leads the series, 3-2, and will attempt to conclude the series on Wednesday when both squads return to the hardwood in Philadelphia for an 8PM match.

* Excluding Bass, Kevin Garnett poured in 20 points, Rajon Rondo added 13 points and dished out 14 assists, and Paul Pierce finished the contest with 16 points and four defensive rebounds.

* According to the NBA stat crew, Bass netted 18 of his 27 points in the third quarter, which is the highest point total during this particular NBA postseason in one quarter. LeBron James tallied 17 points against the New York Knicks in his team’s first round series, but that particular statistic has officially been erased.

* Trailing Baltimore late in the game, Boston’s bats sparked a three-run rally — two in the seventh, one in the eighth — to earn an 8-6 victory against the first place Orioles on Monday. David Ortiz hit his 10th home run of the season, while Mike Aviles recorded his 28th RBI in the win.

* The Sox have now won four of their last five contests, and will look to earn their 22nd win of the season on Tuesday when Felix Doubront pitches against Brian Matusz at 7:05PM.

May 15 2012

Daily Noontime – May 15, 2012

Jrue Holiday paced the 76ers with 18 points on Monday, which helped Philadelphia even their semi-final series with Boston! (Photo Credit: PHLsportsfan.com)

By NoontimeSports.com 

It’s Tuesday, which means this particular week is slowly motoring along! Here are some headlines and news to kickstart your day!

* Four players recorded 10 points or more for Philadelphia on Monday, as the 76ers defended a late rally by Boston to tie their Eastern Conference semi-finals series, 1-1, (Philly defeated Boston, 82-81 in Game No. 2).

* Jrue Holiday paced the 76ers with 18 points, while Andre Iguodala recorded 13 points, six rebounds and seven assists in the win. As for the Celtics, Ray Allen came off the bench and netted 17 points, Kevin Garnett added 15 points, and Brandon Bass registered 12 points.

* Boston and Philadelphia will resume their series on Wednesday in the “City of Brotherly Love” — Tip is scheduled for 7:00PM at the Wells Fargo Center.

* The Boston Red Sox earned their fourth consecutive win, as they defeated the Seattle Mariners, 6-1. Jon Lester tossed a complete game, and allowed eight hits, one earned run, and fanned six batters. Daniel Nava and Kelly Shoppach each cranked one home run, while David Ortiz recored his 26th RBI of the season.

* Boston and Seattle will conclude their two-game series on Tuesday – Josh Beckett opposes Blake Beavan — first pitch is scheduled for 4:05PM.

May 3 2012

Rivers On Celtics Playoffs, Rondo’s One-Game Suspension

Doc Rivers applauded Paul Pierce’s effort in Game No. 2 against the Atlanta Hawks! (Photo Credit: MassLive.com)

By Matt Noonan 

Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers joined Sports Radio WEEI 93.7FM/850AM on Thursday to talk about his team’s first round series against the Atlanta Hawks, and Rajon Rondo’s one-game suspension, too.

On the dynamic of Pierce-Rivers: “I don’t always just come out and say it. Paul [Pierce] knew it because we changed about four sets, all four sets were all Paul, and shoot around, and in the practice we went through our skeleton offense and we went through 10 plays and they were all Paul. So, I didn’t think I had to say a lot. When you do that it’s clear where the ball is going. Whenever I do something like that I think it’s more important that the other four [on the floor] know what the coach’s thought is and not Paul. Paul knows anyway, [and] thinking, ‘wow,’ this play’s for me, that play’s for me, this is nice. [Overall], I just thought it was really important that we worked on all this spacing, and everyone else knew it. The great part about Avery [Bradley] is Avery understands like who he is, and what he does for our team, and he doesn’t really want to handle the ball too much. He knows what he can and can’t do, so he embraced it whole heartedly, so it was easy to do.”

On the play of Pierce in Game No. 2: “Paul rarely talks about having a bad game, I thought that was interesting in between game one and two. He basically said, I have to play better, and I was telling our staff [that] I wasn’t sure what that was translate into because he didn’t do that very often.”

On the NBA Playoff pressure: “I don’t know if we like it or they like it, [but] they embrace it. It doesn’t bother them. I think maybe another way – and in some ways they look like they enjoy it at times. This team – I don’t know how good we are or what we’re going to do, but we do dumb things at times that gets us in trouble, and then we tend to play well when that happens. It’s just an interesting group of guys.”

On Rondo’s play in Game No. 3: “I don’t want him to try and do too much, and try and force himself on the game, just let it come to him. I was really happy after the [first game] we basically stated to him we’re going to get your back, and that’s what you should say, but that doesn’t mean [you’ll] always do it, and it happened. But, I was really happy going onto the bus; Rondo was staying outside the bus door waiting for every teammate, and to shake their hand and say, ‘thank you.’ [And] it was really cool to see him do that. He waited there for each guy and just shook his hand and said; ‘thank you,’ and you could tell that he was really emotional about it, so it was really nice. Adversity sometimes bonds and makes your team continue to grow, and I think we had a lot of that this year, so it’s been good.”         

On Rondo’s Game No. 2 Suspension: “Well, number one you protect him, and number two you talk to him, and just try to get him to understand [that] you can’t do it, number one, and go talk about it. Players more in this day in time tend not to want to talk when things happen [badly], and I try to always get my guys to do the exact opposite – go and talk, get it over with, say you’re sorry and let’s move on, and we’re probably not going to have you the next game.”

On Rondo’s Suspension – Teaching Moment: “I think anything like that has to be. That doesn’t mean it teaches him the point where he’ll never do it again. He’s an emotional kid, he really is, but I think each time you do it, it helps the next time that you may not do it.”

On the future of Rondo – No Big-3: “I don’t worry about it right now, but that is something in the future that Rondo’s growth will be important [for the future of the Celtics]. And especially because he is emotional, and his intensity is great, but when you’re the best player on the team, and at time he maybe the only one. He has to have that understanding that no matter what happens the one guy that we can’t lose is you, and so that is something he’ll have to understand further and better as the years go on.”

May 1 2012

Sideline Observations: Boston Celtics 87, Atlanta Hawks 80

Paul Pierce paced the Green and White with 36 points! (Photo Credit: Zimbio.com)

By Matt Noonan 

Paul Pierce tallied 36 points, while Avery Bradley and Kevin Garnett combined for 29, as Boston rallied to defeat the Atlanta Hawks in Game No. 2 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals on Tuesday, 87-80.

This particular series is now tied, 1-1 and will resume on Friday when both squads invade the TD Garden for Game No. 3.

The Truth: Paul Pierce appeared more determined in Game No. 2 than he did in Game No. 1, as he began the game with a quick bucket, which provided Boston with some early momentum.

Pierce finished the game 12 of 26 from the field, and 1 of 5 from beyond the arc, but still managed to pace the Celtics in the point’s category.

Buckets in the Paint: Against the Celtics on Tuesday, the Hawks rattled off 42 points in the paint. They also secured 30 defensive rebounds, and held the Celtics to just three boards on offense.

Missed Free Throws: With the game hanging in the balance, Atlanta’s Joe Johnson missed a critical free throw with 1:35 remaining in regulation, which opened the door for Boston to secure their first victory of the series.

The Celtics concluded Tuesday’s contest with 26 free throws made compared to the Hawks, who only sank 16 at the charity stripe.

Apr 30 2012

Daily Noontime – April 30, 2012

Don't expect Rajon Rondo to return to the lineup on Tuesday! (Photo Credit: Zimbio.com)

By NoontimeSports.com 

It’s hard to believe, but April is officially coming to a close!

Good Monday to everyone, and welcome into another grand edition of the Daily Noontime! Let’s kickstart the day with some news and headlines from Boston.

* The Boston Celtics dropped their first playoff game on Sunday, as the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Green and White, 83-74. Josh Smith posted 22 points and 18 rebounds for Atlanta, while Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo each paced Boston with 20 points.

* Atlanta and Boston will return to the hardwood for Game No. 2 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals on Tuesday at 7:30pm.

* Sources confirmed after Game No. 1 that Rondo will most likely miss one game for being ejected on Sunday, and possibly two for colliding with referee. If Boston does lose their all-star point guard, they’ll most likely have to rely on Avery Bradley to carry the load.

* The Boston Red Sox had their six-game winning streak snapped on Sunday, as the Chicago White Sox defeated the local nine, 4-1. Cody Ross recorded his 18th RBI, while David Ortiz cranked his ninth double of the season.

* The Red Sox, who’re now 10-11, will attempt to snap their one-game skid against the Oakland Athletics — Clay Buchholz opposes Tommy Milone.

* Kevin Youkilis expressed that despite being a late scratch on Sunday, he believed could have been a pinch hitter. Youkilis is currently dealing with a sore lower back, but hopes to be back in the lineup on Monday.

Apr 29 2012

Sideline Observations: Atlanta Hawks 83, Boston Celtics 74

Josh Smith tallied 22 points and 18 rebounds, as Atlanta defeated Boston, 83-74 on Sunday. (Photo Credit: Bleacher Report)

By Matt Noonan 

The Atlanta Hawks earned a 13-point lead after the first quarter, and never relinquished their advantage, as they went onto defeat the Boston Celtics in Game No. 1 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals, 83-74.

The Hawks now lead the Celtics, 1-0 in this particular best-of-seven series, and will attempt to earn a two-game lead on Tuesday when both teams return to the hardwood for Game No. 2.

Player of the Game: Hands down, I am going to select Josh Smith for this award.

He not only paced Atlanta with 22 points, but also led both squads with 18 rebounds, too. Smith recorded 43 minutes of playing time, and finished the contest 8-of-20 from the field.

Slow Start for Boston: Prior to their first playoff contest, Celtics head coach Doc Rivers elected to sit a majority of his starters.

On Sunday, it appeared that the head coach’s decision may have been the wrong thing to do, as Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett appeared out of sync.

Garnett and Rajon Rondo each concluded the contest with 20 points, while Pierce tallied 12 points. Although, while it’s only one game, it’s fait to state that all three of these players didn’t exhibit the chemistry from the second half of the regular season.

Boston wins the battle of the paint: Despite the loss, the Celtics still managed to tally 36 points in the paint, while the Hawks netted 28. However, Atlanta won the battle of the glass, 50-41.

Other Notes

* Rondo may receive a one-game suspension for bumping a referee at the end of the game. If that’s the case, we’ll most likely not see him until Game No. 3 on Friday, May 4. 

* Boston tallied seven offensive rebounds/ Atlanta recorded 11

* Boston registered 11 fast break points/ Atlanta tallied 10

* Boston went 10-of-13 from the stripe/ Atlanta finished 14-of-21

* Boston’s bench finished with four points combined/ Atlanta’s bench recorded 17 points