Barstool Blog

Time to put the shamrock boxer-shorts and green kool-aid away.  I am officially in panic mode with this team.  Fresh off a demoralizing loss to the Nets, yes, one of the worst teams in league history, the Celtics appear to have hit rock bottom.  Yesterday, the green-team looked uninspired, disinterested, and  uncharacteristically sloppy.  Those are three words we haven't used in the modern Big 3 era, but as Bob Dylan told us - the times they are a-changin.  Never has that sentiment been more apparent than during saturday's matinee on Causeway St., where the boo-birds rained down on the C's, and rightfully so.  Right from the opening-tip you could tell this one wasn't going to go well, unfortunately, it maneged to get progressively worse as the clock-ticked, and the Celtics somehow made the lowly Nets look like the '96 Bulls.

Although the absence of Paul Pierce may provide an excuse for their poor-showings over the last two games, there are obviously deeper issues on this team, and no one, not even the coach, seems to have the remedies.  First, the Celtics have showed an alarming inability to play a full 48 minutes.  They seem to either come out of the gates hot, and eventually collapse, or think they can just wait for the fourth quarter to start competing.  Thats not how it works, and they need to look no further than their success from two years ago, when they throttled everyone in there path, playing every game, every possession like it was their last.  For whatever reason, the effort just isn't there on a consistent basis.  But hey, as a former overweight, overpaid 7-footer, Eddie Curry, from the Knicks once said,  "effort's a funny thing; somedays it's there, somedays it just isn't".  Next, let's get off the coach's case, who, much like the fans, can only sit back helplessly and watch these debacles unfold.  Amazingly, the message baords have been flooded with fans calling for Rivers' head, as they seemingly can't wrap their minds around this team's sudden incompetence.  Lastly, yesterday marked the 456th time that Kevin Garnett has headed to the bench, grimmacing, and clutching that right knee...not good, folks, not good.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again; this team goes nowhere without KG being completely healthy, and at this juncture, I'm less than optimistic.  With Garnett, Pierce, and Allen all dealing with injuries, and just the effects of age in general, the Big 3 are likely starting to feel more like the Golden Girls.

USA/Canada

Can't say I'm overly joyed about this game, as I've made a conscious effort to avoid olympic coverage at all costs.  But, if I did decide to watch an event, it would be today's gold medal hockey game.  The first meeting was pretty exciting, and I'm sure those Candians will be looking for revenge against the Yanks today in Vancouver.  It has the potential to be a great hockey game, not, I repeat, not a reincarnation of the 1980 Olympics, when a group of kids representing the US took down the mighty russians, and their team of professionals.  That was special.  This is not.  In today's game, both the US and Candadian teams will be litered with premier NHL talent, mkaing this more of a glorified all-star game with flags, than a David slaying Goliath scenario like 1980's "miracle on ice".  It might be entertaining, however, to watch the Canadians lose(again) at their own game, in front of their own fans, no-less.  Is it me, or do those frauds think that they are simply entitled?  Just because they're Canada?  Oh boo-hoo, hockey was only good-thing to ever come out of that country, and now it's killing them that the rest of the world has caught up, and loves sticking it to them any chance they get.  Anyways, let's get this game over with, hand out the hardware, wrap up those overly theartical closing ceremonies and get back to both the NHL and NBA stretch runs.

  The biggest story of the weekend, sports or otherwise, is the re-emergence of Mr. Tiger Woods after a near three month hiatus stemming from some "personal" issues.  Unfortunately for Tiger, his personal issues are viewed, and discussed on a global scale, which is a small price to pay for being the most lucrative, and recognizable athlete on the planet.  When grandmothers, housewives, and people who pay little or no attention to the world of sports know who you are, as in Tiger's case, you have officially entered celebrity status, essentially making you fair game for the media and tabloids alike.  So, when get caught cheating on your wife, with over a dozen women no less, expect to see your mug on the forefront of every media outlet imaginable.  Tiger may not think it's justified, he may believe that these issues should remain in the confines of his home, but that's not how it works.  The people that watch his tournaments, buy his products, and show unwavering support have helped fund all of the cars, houses, and yachts he has enjoyed over the last 10+ years, and now they want answers.  But, that's the primary dilemma, Tiger has never had to do anything he didn't want, so the notion of being forced to apologize is extremely unnerving for him, which is why yesterday's statement from Tiger was noticeably bitter and disingenuous.  Similar to a 5 year old who is forced to applogize by his nagging mother, Tiger was simply going through the motions, so to speak.  Throw in a couple of "on the brink of tears" moments, and a big hug from his mom, and I'm getting nauseous all over again.

  The big winner from yesterday's presser was Tiger's wife, Elin, who did not accompany her husband to the podium.  Unlike the shamed celebrity wives who have come before her, Elin has elected to not look like a complete and utter buffoon by unconditionally supporting her husband through this ordeal.  Obviously it remains to be seen whether or not she sticks around, but yesterday was a crucial step for all women in similar situation, proving that keeping your dignity in tact is a great alternative to accepting money, bling, or cars in exchange for silence (see Vanessa Bryant, and countless wives of athletes/politicians).  Elin may choose to stay with Woods, and if she does I pity her, but at least she has managed to keep a portion of her pride to this point, and that's pretty refreshing in this day and age.  It's frightening to think about the role models that current adolescent girls have to look up to.  Whether they are looking at girls being sexually promiscuous, abused, or otherwise manipulated, the female youth of America have a less than desirable field of role models to choose from.  That's not to imply that it's all gloom and doom for these girls, but a strong female figure, such as Elin in this context, could be a tremendous force moving forward.

  Now, it's on to the most unpredictable team in sports, the Boston Celtics.  A team that just a week ago looked completely toast, has turned in three huge wins on arguably their toughest road trip of the year.  The trade deadline has passed, and this team looks refocused and ready to reclaim their position amongst the NBA's elite clubs.  Since returning from the all-star break this team has started to play defense with a purpose, conjuring up memories of performances past, and making me giddy in the process.  Last night was likely their most complete game of the season, a full 48 minute display of effort, and playing as a cohesive unit.  Most importantly is the play of Kevin Garnett, which has visibly improved over the last two games.  He appears to have regained some of that lateral movement and explosion that make him so effective on the hardwood.  But above all else, KG has found some of the fire that this team has so desperately lacked.  He's out there barkin', cursing, and employing all of the other intangibles that set him apart.  Again, I don't know if that knee will ever return to full strength, but if it continues to improve, watch out.  Also, glad to Ray Allen rediscover his shooting touch last night.  At one point when Ray was completely zoned in, I saw him run past the Celtics bench shrugging his shoulders, and uttering the words "I'm hot".  In other words, he told his coach to keep the rest of the starters on the bench, and ride the hot-hand, which is precisely what they did.  Lastly, a shout-out to Eddie House, the recently traded Celtic's guard, who undoubtedly played a major role in the franchise's 17th banner.  I'll never forget the daggers Eddie threw at the Lakers in the '08 Finals, or the Garden crowd chanting his name after one of his 3-point barrages.  Thanks for the memories, Eddie, you will be missed.  On the other side of that trade is newly aquired Nate Robinson, a 5'8" spark-plug who should be able to give our bench instant energy and points.  Also, watch out for a Rondo/Robinson backcourt in ball-pressure situations, especially in tight games.

  Alright baby, this is it, tonight is the night.  I'm guessing I have uttered these very words somehwere between 2-4 times a week over the last month.  Every time I thought they (the celtics) were "back" they proceeded to fall flat on their face shortly thereafter.  They would play virtually flawless through the first half, only to completely fall apart in the final two frames.  This has been the Celtics identity since christmas, and the primary reason why the rest of the country has officially written them off, but not this dude. 

  As the Celtics begin a crucial west-coast swing tonight in Sacramento, many fans will be wondering if the team can start to turn things around.  Never has a road game in Sacramento carried so much importance for the Celtics, who will likely use this trip as a barometer for the rest of the season.  The green-team will be playing in hostile environments, while facing some of the best clubs the association has to offer, including Denver and the Lakers.  Hopefully the all-star break was enough time to regroup, drop some of those bad habits, and ultimately forget just how poorly the team performed in the first half of the season.  If I'm Doc Rivers, I revert to training-camp mentality, literally starting over.  We hear about this approach mainly in football, but it may be time to break this group down before attempting to build them back up again.  This team started off the year great, and has a wealth of talent, so it's plausible that the majority of their issues are of the mental variety.  If they can start to get back to the fundamentals and this notion of actually playing for each other, I still think the sky is the limit.

  It's worth noting that this road trip is going to coincide with the NBA's trading deadline, and there is no shortage of rumors surrounding the Celtics.  Then again, with Danny Ainge as your GM, your team is always going to be workin' the phones as the deadline looms.  In recent years, Ainge has accompanied the team on this trip, and with gang green heading into Arco Arena tonight, there has to be some specualtion of a face-to-face meeting between Ainge and King's GM Geofff Petrie regarding a potential Ray Allen/Kevin Martin swap.  There's no doubt that Martin, an athletic wing player, is rather high on Danny's wish list, and Ray's contract would be extremely enticing for a team looking to dump salary, such as Sacramento. 

  Kevin Martin is an enticing player for the Celtics as they look to contend this year, and hopefully remain competitive in the future when some of their older vets decline in production.  Martin could be a nice bridge into the future as the window for this current roster is continuously closing.  I do, however, have reservations about Martin being a savior for the current season.  People need to remember that Ray Allen is not the problem with this team.  He is currently mired in a little slump, but this is what happens to shoooters, they go cold.  If people think Ray Allen suddenly forgot how to shoot they're crazy, and I would argue that of the "BIG 3" Mr. Allen is the surest bet to return to the form he was in two years ago.  It's the other two we need to be concerned about, and if they don't, you can bring back Bird in his prime, and it wouldn't make a difference.  Finally, there are other smaller deals that Danny could be contemplating, inlcuding finding a back-up point guard, or another big off the bench.  In regard to these scenarios, the Celtics do have some other expiring deals(Scalabrine, House, and Tony Allen) and mid-level talent(Glen Davis,and a future pick) to offer in exchange.  I know Ainge has been enamored with the likes of Nate Robinson, Kirk Hinrich, and DJ Augustin possibly filling that void behind Rondo, so keep an eye on those names in the next couple of days.

  Almost one week removed from one of the most enjoyable non-Patriot football games ever, Super Bowl XLIV and I'm still in sports heaven.  Throughout the country people are celebrating the cinderella Saints, unless you're in New England where we're primarily focused on Manning and the Colt's sudden descent from the top of the leagues landscape.  Amen New England, there is a football god afterall.  Watching Tracy Porter return that pick was complete and utter sports ecstasy for this bitter Pats fan, a true sports-gasm in every sense.  When you can't win it all you may as well bask in your rivals misery.  All, or at least most of the pain and suffering from our Super Bowl loss just two years ago, had been passed on to all of those whiney frauds from Indianapolis.  I know Dungy, Manning, Irsay and Polian were elated when the Giants stole our chance at a perfect season, and football immortatily, so, to all of them I say enjoy the long offseason as the rightful owner of second place(or first loser) in the league.

  As the confetti rained down on the boys from the Bayou late Sunday evening, the 2009 season officially came to a close, which was good news for the other 31 teams who ultimately fell short of their pre-season aspirations.  Of those teams, no one should be happier than the Patriots who finished the season in embarrassing fashion, a wax job in front of their home fans, in a stadium that they had been virtually invincible in over the last 8 years.  It seemingly signfified the end of an era, as the perrenially feared Patriots looked rather pedestrian throughout their 2009 campaign.  With 2009 officially in the books, GM's throughout the league will turn their collective attention to the draft and the impending free-agent period.  This is likely the most crucial juncture in the Patriots 2010 season, as whole-sale changes need to be made in order to return to the "legitimate contender" status we have become accustomed to around these parts.  Once again, the Pats are loaded with a heavy aresnal of picks for the draft, which could also be used in upgrading their draft position, or even trades for proven veterans.  Recently the Patriots have not drafted well, or sometime not at all, over the past several league drafts.  As the teams unhealthy obsession with "value" has increased, so has there willingness to draft big-time prospects, and their often weighty salaries.  While this philosophy was fine during those dynasty years, it has seemingly become slightly stale to the fans, who have watched the Patriots settle for mid-level picks, and consequently mediocre talent in the process.

    As the fan base continues to get frustrated with their team's frugal approach to altering the roster, the honeymoon phase that the Kraft/Belichick tandem has earned will eventually fade, with those 3 superbowl titles moving into a more distant memory.  We all know the team's weaknesses, and the potential players that could fill those spots via free-agency or the draft.  If we enter this season with a similar roster to last season we are in serious sh*t, and I can't emphasize that statement more.  Sorry, but if Tully Banta-Cain is going to be our primary pass rusher again, than you may as well add about three more top-flight recievers for Brady, because this team will need to score 50 points a game in order to win.  It's time to get some studs on that defense to get after the quarterback, and force turnovers, which is the key to winning every game.  There are some good prospects on that defense, such as Mayo and Meriweather, but I would argue that both have been slightly overrated due to the lack of talent surrounding them.  As much as I like Mayo's game, he doesn't appear to be the run stuffing/pass rushing middle linebacker that we need.  And for every interception, or big-stick Brandon Meriweather lays on an opponent, he gets toasted twice in coverage or misses an open-field tackle, so he still has some developing to do.  The most interesting thing regarding this offseason is the approach the team takes towards Vince Wilfork, who has been hoping for a long term contract during the past two summers.  If the Patriots slap the franchise on Vince again all bets are off, as they will likely have to deal with a disgruntled veteran the entire season. Something they need to be very wary of(see Adalius Thomas circa 2009). Vince has clearly earned a contract, and in giving him one, the Patriots could take steps towards repairing their image amongst the leagues players as being "cheap".

  Finally, amidst all of the trade speculation concering Celtic guard Ray Allen, the team(currently on hiatus for the all-star break) must be wondering if they will play another game as currently constituted.  As we know, this year's edition of gang green is really struggling of late, and Mr. Ainge may be forced to "shake things up" before the stretch run.  With Ray's contract offering serious cap relief for other teams, he may become the scapegoat for this team's poor play.  I've felt that Ray would be traded before next week's deadline for quite some time now, so I won't be suprised to see a totally new look Celtics in a matter of weeks.  If this is the end for Ray then I would like to thank him for his time on this team, and his unquestioned help in winning our last championship.  Ray is a great player, but an even better ambassador for the league, and the game of basketball.  As the NBA's reputation plummeted in the mid to late 90's, Ray Allen seemed to be the antithesis to all of it.  Young players were trying to mimick many aspects of his game, but they may have been better served imitating his off-court actions, becoming better citizens in the process.  As the trade winds keep on whirling, keep your eye on players such as Kevin Martin, Andre Iguodala, Caron Butler, and Luol Deng in an exchange for Allen.  Trade or no trade this team's playoff success is still firmly on the shoulders of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, and their ailing body parts.

Bruins

  The Bruins droppped their ninth straight on thursday night, this time falling to the Habs, making the loss even more painful.  The B's have won only two games since the Winter classic, a game many thought would be a turning point for the team.  On the same night the B's suffered that historic loss, Ilya Kovalchuk, the highly sought-after Atlanta Thrasher's winger, is shipped to division rival New Jersey.  As the losses pile up, GM Peter Chiarelli may feel the pressure to trade his coveted draft picks before this year's trading deadline.  This team is desperately waiting for the Olympic break in hopes that the time-off will allow them to recuperate and make an attempt at climbing the standings in the East. 

Celtics

    Things are going considerably better for the green team when compared to the Bruins.  Although a three game win streak is always nice, it's hard to get too excited over wins against the Wiz, Heat, and Nets.  On the bright side, they seem to be closing out games with much more energy and confidence.  Unfortunately, there are still some rather alarming things that I am taking from these games.  Most importantly is Garnett's health, which is clearly still a major concern for this club.  At times he appeas to be moving with some fluidity, but is still lacking the explosion and lateral speed that make him the best defensive big-man in the game.  I am officially concerned that KG may never return to true form.  There are a lot of miles on that body, and any variety of leg injury to a 7+ footer is never good.  In other sports, players are capable of playing through injuries, but in basketball it seems to be a rare occurence.  Many would argue that the players are tougher, which is fine, but when a basketball player isn't equipped with their full-range of motion, or ability to explode vertically, the other team is going to recognize it and inevitably exploit the injury.  If, and when this team returns to full strength they will compete.  Until then, they will probably appear very average, beating the bad teams, and losing to the contenders.

Super Bowl XLIV

  I'm going to keep this short, because I refuse to talk about Peyton Manning for more than a few minutes.  Although I would love to see the Saints pull this one out, mainly to ease to the pain of a horrible Pat's season by watching Peyton suffer the ultimte dissapoointment in sports, I just don't see it becoming a reality.  I'm hoping for a good game, but wouldn't be surprised to see the Colts carve this team up, making for an almost unbearable viewing experience for Patriot fans.  Hopefully watching the Colts win their second title since the Patriots last SB victory in '05 will serve as extra motivation for Brady and Co. to get back to the pinnacle of the league. 

Prediction:  Colts 35  Saints 19

  The month of January was noticably bitter for our Winter sports teams.  Both the Bruins and Celtics turned in rather forgettable performances since the beginning of the new decade, and each franchise will need to make considerable changes in their play if they are to return to form, and make some noise in their respective leagues.  I would argue that both teams have the talent to make legitimate playoff runs, so the necessary changes may end up being partially tactical, but mostly based on maintaining health and ultimately building chemistry.  Other fans, or casual viewers, are resigned to making major changes, in the form of blockbuster trades, and potentially mortgaging the future.  Both teams occupying the TD Garden have the ammunation to make a move, so it will be interesting to see what Chiarelli and Ainge do as the NHL and NBA trading deadlines loom.

  The Bruins have been bitten by injuries, and are currently struggling to keep pace in the Eastern Confernce's playoff chase, while the B's faithful are left wondering what happened to the team that dominated the East just a year ago.  Many can point to the lack of scoring, and the loss of Phil Kessel as the Bruins primary flaw, but Chiarelli had little or no choice but to move the discontent forward, who made it clear that he wanted out of Boston.  In fact, the Bruins GM did rather well in getting a first round pick in the next to drafts from Toronto in exchange for Kessel.  In turn, the B's front office have successfully accumulated enough "chips" to acquire an impact player in a trade.  Making the trade may seem like a no-brainer for some, with the likes of Ilya Kovalchuk reportedly on the training block, but Chiarelli may believe his impact player is waiting in this year's NHL draft. But, as his team continues to struggle and fans get restless, he may be forced into dealing those assets at the deadline, in an attempt to save the current season, and possibly his job.  If the Bruins can start to play well, before the Olympic Break, the GM's job will become much easier, with the notion of standing-pat at the trade deadline becoming a more viable option.  If, however, their current woes continue, the idea of draft picks and potential, becomes extremely difficult for fans to digest.  And with the uncertainty of aquiring talent via the draft, the Bruins future may appear mirky at best.

  With Ray Allen in the final year of a near-max contract, the Celtics are no-doubt fielding calls from teams looking to gain cap-space with the help a large expiring deal like Allen's.  This contract could be just as useful to the Celtics, who may look to get younger this offseason, and would be most likely to do so with the help of this summer's free agent class.  But, the Celtics have been playing poorly of late, and may be able to acquire that younger talent before the deadline, giving the team ample time to salvage this season's title hopes.  As the Celtics struggled against some of the league's premier competition over the weekend, C's President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge may have been the one initiating the trade-calls.  This is a guy who once told Red Auerbach to trade Bird and McHale while they still had value.  It was likely laughed off at the time, but after watching the deterioration of the original "Big 3" in the early '90's, it's hard to dispute Ainge's earlier sentiments.  Ainge is always searching for ways to improve his club, and if he can find a move that makes both economic, and basketball sense, there's no doubt he'll do it.  This guy doesn't get blinded by loyalty, which can lead to bad contracts, and overall poor judgement when running an organization.  He is solely focused on improving the team, and that is precislely what every fan should want from their GM.  The 6'5" Allen has been a great player for the Celtics, and likely an even greater person for the game of basketball, but the best time to move him may be now, so Celtic's brass is likely kickin' the tires on many possibilities going forward.