זה הדבר העיקרי שמעניין היום את הבוסטונאים: האם להשלים את הטרנספורמציה, או לעצור צעד אחד לפני?
לדעתי – אם אני דני איינג' – אני אפילו לא מקדיש רבע מחשבה למה הוא עצמו יכול לתרום כשחקן כי זה דבר משני במקרה שלו. הדבר היחיד המעניין אותי הוא כמה הוא יכול לתרום כמנהיג השחקנים הצעירים. היש לו את זה? ישנה לו טבעת על האצבע, אבל היש לו כושר מנהיגות בחדר ההלבשה? האם הוא יכול להיות מנהיג הצעירים כפי שכריס פול עושה בקליפרס?
עד כמה שאני מכיר את רונדו, הוא מין ALOOF כזה. קצת תמהוני. מאד אינטרוברטי ומופנם. האם יכול הוא להפוך את עורו ולהפוך ל-ELDER STATESMAN של הצעירים? אם כן – אני משאיר אותו. אם לא – אני עושה עליו טרייד כבר השבוע.
כמובן שקיימת שאלה נוספת: מה יכולה הסלטיקס לקבל עבורו? לדעתי לא הרבה. היחידה שרצה אחריו בכל הכוח היא הניקס המציעה את אמארה סטודמאייר "ועוד שחקן". אני יכול לראות את יוסטון מעוניינת בו לקראת הריצה לאליפות כי עם ג'רמי לין היא לא תיקח אליפות.
נחכה ונראה. ישנם רק עוד 7 ימים למשהו לקרות.
Rondo probably isn’t going to accept a role in a rebuilding situation with a rookie coach, Brad Stevens, so look for Ainge to try to mo
e him to the West, with Phoenix and Houston seen as two potential destinations. Dallas has always had interest in the four-time All-Starv, who blew out his right knee last January, but Mark Cuban doesn’t have the assets to make it work.
There's no sense in Boston moving Rondo now unless it can get back a first-rounder or a potential star. No such offer has arisen yet and unless things change drastically between now and the trade deadline, one probably never will.
That's fine, because the Celtics can use other guys—like Jeff Green, Gerald Wallace and the expiring Kris Humphries—to either trim salary or make bigger, riskier moves. None of those players are integral to the team's future and all of them make at least $9 million this season.
Nobody is going to kick down the door to offer a lottery pick for those guys, but they're all more feasible trade candidates than Rondo.
It's always dangerous to put stock in what Ainge says, as he's notorious for misdirection when it comes to the Celtics' actual intentions. But when the logic behind a potential Rondo tradedoesn't really compute, it's easier to believe him when he says Rondo is staying put.
Especially when he's been saying it since way back in November, perBaxter Holmes of The Boston Globe:
People know that Rondo is a big part of our future and that we're not going to trade him. …Guys that are starting All-Star players just don't come around. The special players, the transcendent players in our league, are very difficult to find and acquire. We believe Rondo is one of those guys. He's a very special player. We value him a great deal.
Perhaps anticipating the speculation he expected to see at the deadline, Ainge added: "What's real is, he's going nowhere. That's what's real."
Plus, for all of Rondo's quirks, he's the kind of player potential free agents should want to play with. He's the ultimate pass-first facilitator and might be an attractive playing partner to some of the young talent the Celtics hope to snare.
Fernando Medina/Getty Images
And he's only under contract through next year. So if it turns out Rondo isn't capable of being a centerpiece, the Celtics can try to deal him down the line. There's no urgency to make a move now.
In the end, Rondo isn't a perfect player. But he's on a reasonable deal, is still young enough to improve and might even have another level of development left when he gets a crack at the role of "unquestioned leader."
The Celtics can't get a dollar-for-dollar return in any deal, and they have enough flexibility and assets to improve the roster through other avenues. Maybe Rondo isn't an ideal building block, but he's the best one Boston has at the moment.
Until he proves unfit for the task, the sensible move is to construct a roster around him.
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Ever since he first laced up his kicks in Norman, Oklahoma,Blake Griffin has been one of basketball's most captivating talents.
A 6'10" forward who ran the floor like a gazelle, Griffin's never-before-seen combination of size, speed and athleticism vaulted him into the national spotlight as he evolved from a compelling freshman into a coveted franchise-changing prospect during his sophomore year with the Sooners.
After being selected No. 1 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers, Griffin put the weight of the franchise on his shoulders and began to churn out unprecedented numbers as a rookie.
Since shattering expectations during his first year as a member of the Association, Griffin has been showered with accolades that have helped solidify his status as one of the game's premier power forwards.
With so many notable achievements already under his belt, we're here to break down Griffin's emergence from college stud to NBAsuperstar, his jaw-dropping in-game dunks as well as the development of his game over his first four pro seasons.
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Blake Griffin has been outstanding of late for the Los Angeles Clippers—even without his stellar point guard/partner in crime, Chris Paul.
Now that CP3 is back in action, will Griffin continue to shine?
We caught up with Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times to see what he thinks. Tune into the video above to find out what he has to say, and make sure you hit us up in the comments section below!
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GRIZZLIES ONE FOUL
e Memphis Grizzlies set an odd record in Saturday's 79-76 win over the Atlanta Hawks, becoming the first team in theNBA's shot-clock era to attempt fewer than two free throws in a game.
Veteran guard Courtney Lee attempted and made the Grizzlies' only foul shot, which didn't come until the third quarter. The lone chance was the result of a defensive three-second violation called on Atlanta's Gustavo Ayon.
The previous record-low of two free throws in a game was shared by only two teams, the 1994-95 Cleveland Cavaliers and the 2004-05 New Orleans Hornets. The '94-95 Cavs managed to pull out a win over the Golden State Warriors when they set the record, while the '04-05 Hornets (a 64-loss team) had no such luck against Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns.
Getting to the line has been an issue for the Grizzlies all season, as Memphis ranks 27th in the NBA with 20.1 free-throw attempts per game. The Spurs rank below Memphis at 29th yet own a 37-14 record, but San Antonio is an excellent jump-shooting team that leads the league in three-point percentage (39.3). The Grizzlies, meanwhile, rank dead last in three-point attempts per game (14.3) and 22nd in three-point percentage (34.7).
Where Memphis has excelled is on the defensive end, as an airtight D has vaulted the Grizzlies right back into the playoff picture. Memphis went 12-3 in January while surrendering less than 100 points in all but three games during the splendid month.
February has been a bit rockier, with the Grizzlies struggling to a 2-3 start amid some ugly offensive performances. Saturday's win over the Hawks was followed by an ugly 91-83 overtime loss to the Cavaliers on Sunday that saw the team make just 38.4 percent of its field-goal attempts.
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For Better and Worse: Brooklyn Nets Still Following Last Year's LA Lakers Path
By
Ben Leibowitz, Featured ColumnistUse your ← → (arrow) keys to browse more stories
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
The narrative that has played out so far for the 2013-14Brooklyn Nets has, in many ways, emulated the Los Angeles Lakers' 2012-13 campaign.
Big-name additions, championship hype and huge expectations quickly turned into poor team chemistry, questionable coaching and tempered outlooks.
The Nets, however, are finally turning their season around.
After a disappointing 10-21 start through December, which had first-year head coach Jason Kidd on the hot seat and players hanging their heads in disappointment, Brooklyn has flipped the script.
A 10-3 record during January earned Kidd Coach of the Monthhonors and vaulted the Nets back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Now they have a chance at writing a different story than that Lakers tale.
Additions and Hype
The 2012-13 Lakers reloaded the roster during the offseason with two-time MVP Steve Nash and three-time Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard.
USA TODAY Sports
The Purple and Gold surrendered Andrew Bynum and six draft picks (three first-rounders and three second-rounders) for those two additions, which seemed like a small price to pay at the time.
Prior to the regular season, 87 percent of poll voters said that the Lakers’ title chances were “already a foregone conclusion,”according to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times.
Additionally, three Los Angeles Times writers predicted that the Lakers were going to win the 2012-13 NBA championship, per Medina.
LA Times writer Ben Bolch wrote at the time, “I’m going to stick with my (widely mocked) prediction from last month that you can mark it down with a Sharpie that the Lakers will win the title.”
Even my modest projection of a 59-23 record—third in the Western Conference—with a loss in the Western Conference Finals was waytoo generous.
Unfortunately for Lakers fans, D12 stayed for just one disappointing season, and Nash’s body has started to break down since leaving the safe haven provided by the Phoenix Suns training staff.
Championship hype ended in disaster.
Much like the Lakers, the Nets made a blockbuster deal by addingPaul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry. In the trade, Brooklyngave up Gerald Wallace, MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries, KeithBogans, Kris Joseph, three first-round picks (in 2014, 2016 and 2018) and the right for Boston to swap first-round picks in 2017.
Needless to say, that's a bounty of assets.
USA TODAY Sports
Despite giving up a lot of picks to get those aging stars (still fewer picks than the Lakers surrendered), the Nets were showered with lofty expectations.
Phil Watson of Yahoo! Sports predicted an Eastern Conference Finals showdown between the Nets and Miami Heat in 2014—it could still happen, but let’s just say it isn’t all too likely from what we've seen so far.
The new additions failed to jell immediately, and the team began treading water near the bottom of the Eastern Conference as a result. The January turnaround has truly been the only bright spot.
Thrilled to Move? Not quite.
Brian Babineau/Getty Images
After Howard left Lakerland for greener pastures with the Houston Rockets, Nash divulged his thoughts on The Mason & Ireland Show on ESPN LA 710 radio, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin:
"Ultimately, I think Dwight wasn't comfortable here and didn't want to be here and I think if he didn't want to be here, there's no point for anyone in him being here," Nash said.
D12 never appeared to be fully committed to the Lakers, which became clear when he bolted for Houston last summer.
Much like Howard, Garnett was apprehensive of his new surroundings.
According to ESPN's Chris Forsberg, Pierce had to convince hisBoston Celtics teammate to waive his no-trade clause and accept a trade to Brooklyn.
Since joining the Nets, Garnett butted heads with his new coach due to differing philosophies of back-to-back scenarios. Kidd's stance was that KG shouldn't play in such situations, but "The Big Ticket" fired back by saying, "I just don't want to be told anything. Hopefully I've earned the right to have an opinion in something that I'm doing," per ESPN's Mike Mazzeo.
The former Celtic also became frustrated with the team's losing ways, calling a 5-11 November, "A s—– month," perGabriel Baumgaertner of Sports Illustrated.
Garnett never wanted to leave Boston, and early struggles merely solidified that stance.
Coaching Drama
Losing games that a hyped team is supposed to win is drama enough, but both the Nets and last year’s Lakers have faced comedy and tragedy on the sidelines.
Former Lakers head coach Mike Brown was fired after a 1-4 start. Interim coach Bernie Bickerstaff got the team back to .500 with a 4-1 stint, but Mike D’Antoni took over from there—a move that still hasESPN’s Arash Markazi shaking his head.
Instead of making a serious run at the “Zen Master,” Phil Jackson, the Lakers front office decided to sign D’Antoni because of his rapport with Nash, according to Markazi.
The Nets, meanwhile, decided to stick with rookie Coach Kidd despite their losing ways.
He reportedly berated assistant coach Lawrence Frank with an expletive-laced tirade earlier in the season prior to re-assigning him to doing daily reports, per ESPN's Marc Stein and Ohm Youngmisuk, and intentionally spilled his drink on the court to get a timeout his team didn’t have—which earned him a $50,000 fine from the league.
Kidd’s Coach of the Month honor for January is a great sign of things to come, but there’s been plenty of drama along the way.
Rough Start and Injuries
Both the Nets and Lakers needed to stay healthy in order to develop team chemistry early in the season, but numerous injuries made that impossible.
Through Jan. 11, 2013, the Lakers posted a 15-21 record. Through that same date in 2014, the Nets were 15-22. Rocky starts have come to define each team.
Nagging ailments to various Lakers ensured that the preseason starting lineup wouldn’t get into a groove, then a torn Achilles ended Bryant’s season in April.
Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images
Brooklyn has also experienced those nagging aches and pains—Deron Williams’ ankles, Terry’s knee, Andrei Kirilenko’s back—but the biggest blow was the season-ending broken foot Brook Lopezsuffered on Dec. 20.
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Both teams lost a star, but the Nets have handled that adversity admirably. They’re 13-8 since Lopez went down, thanks in large part to the play of KG (who has looked far more comfortable as a center) and All-Star Joe Johnson.
Turnarounds and Playoff Hopes
The 2012-13 Lakers entered the month of March with a 29-30 record. They finished the regular season at 45-37.
The Nets have started their own turnaround much earlier by posting a 10-3 mark in January and starting February with a 2-1 record.
The question now is whether or not Brooklyn can get everything rolling in time for the 2014 playoffs.
How far will the Brooklyn Nets go in 2013-14?
The Lakers won both of their regular-season contests without Bryant but got swept 4-0 in the playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs. Getting into the playoff picture with the No. 7 seed didn’t help.
Through Feb. 6, the Nets also hold the No. 7 seed. If postseason play started today, they’d face the two-time defending champion Miami Heat. That’s certainly not an ideal matchup.
Brooklyn is back in the playoff hunt, but the team can’t be contented with the recent 180-degree turn of fortunes.
“It’s a sign that we’re showing consistency with what we’re trying to do around here,” Piece said following a Jan. 21 win over the Orlando Magic, according to the Associated Press (via ESPN).
The consistency has been great, but it won’t mean anything if the Nets can’t sustain it.
If Brooklyn can stay healthy moving forward (an admittedly big question mark), it might be able to climb as high as a No. 3-6 seed. That could ensure a favorable first-round matchup, and, consequently, a more favorable story than the Lakers spun a season ago.
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דובי
5 פבר 2014 07:05:07סגל שנבנה לאליפות וכרגע מתמודד על הפלייאוף.
עם כל הכבוד לקיד על כל מה שכתב מנחם, כדאי ךנטס לפרק דווקא עכשיו.
אם הם יוותרו על שאיפות האליפות לשנה הנוכחית יש סיכוי לתת לקיד קבוצה צעירה ומגניבה עם עתיד גדול.
הגדולה של פורוחורוב תימדד ביכולת שלו להגיד נכשלנו השנה, לא תהיה אליפות ואז לתת למאמן שלו להרכיב את הקבוצה.
The sooner the better
ido moria
5 פבר 2014 13:03:00דובי – בשח אנחנו קוראים למצב כזה OUT OFF MATERIAL. העתיד ממשוכן שם לעוד 4 שנים, זה מה יש ואם זה ג'ייסון קיד ינצח.
גרף הלמידה שלו הוא מדהים, זה יכול להיות מאד מעניין באפריל מאי!!
דובי
5 פבר 2014 18:18:57יש להם אחלה נכסים לטרייד
Berch
5 פבר 2014 08:36:06כבוד. אין מה לומר
I like this Kidd
בכל מקרה אם הוא קורא את המשבות של הבוס שלו אז כבר לא יפטרו אותו…..
זמר מפורסם
5 פבר 2014 21:29:29ברוקלין המציאו את עצמם מחדש בחודש האחרון. מעניין אם הם ילכו על כל הקופה ויעשו טרייד על לופז הפצוע.
מל, מה עם פוסט על הטריידים שצריכים או לא צריכים לקרות עד הטרייד דד ליין בעוד שלושה שבועות? פאו גאסול, אסיק, מונרו, רונדו הם השמות הראשונים שקופצים לי לראש כמקרי מבחן מעניינים.
מנחם לס
5 פבר 2014 23:52:09מחר
רוזן
5 פבר 2014 23:26:51שכחת להזכיר את בלאטץ'.. עושה עבודה מעולה